The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has started that Nigerians need to enjoy an improved political atmosphere and growth but lamented the the people are passing through the worst primordial and exclusionists political experience under the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Atiku in a statement on Sunday from his Media Office said that a society cannot progress if its politics is convoluted and weaved along primordial considerations.
“In such a time when our country is going through a very difficult time, it is important that we do not allow any kind of primordial sentiment to becloud our politics.
“Politics is meant to be a corrective mechanism. So, even when we are upset about the inexcusable low that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought us in the past seven years, we must ensure that we insulate our politics from the corrosive effect of the ruling party’s failures. A society cannot progress if its politics is convoluted”.
The PDP candidate assured Nigerians that his administration will be a radical departure from the clueless and ethnic and promordial activities of the ruling party that has inflicted so much pain on the citizens. He said that his mission is to rescue the country from the ruling claws of the APC.
He said, “the journey that we have signed on to undertake together is not one that we can accomplish by threading the inglorious path of exclusionist politics. This journey, our campaign, is a rescue mission for our great country and it is a mission that must involve all Nigerians.
“So, while our opponents might think that there is an easy road to victory in divisive politics, we must get the message across to them that Nigeria has seen the worst shade of exclusionist politics and the road ahead is the path of inclusive and unifying politics. That is what we stand for”.
Atiku said that he will reunite the country from it’s balcanized state and ensure equity in the polity.
“We are the Unifiers and the Bridge-builders and we represent the future of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria”.
He called on the electorate that his campaign manifesto and policy document as detailed information on his pathway towards the development of the country.
Support for Obi: Agbaso’s love for the masses bigger than money, group chides critics
A group, Concerned Nigerian Masses Movement, have criticised the recent attack on former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand alliance (APGA) in Imo state, Chief Martin Agbaso, over his recent defection with his supporters to the Labour Party (LP) and support for its presidential candidate, Petyer Obi
The group in a statement issued at the weekend by its coordinator, Emeka Isiguzoro, in Enugu, frowned at what it described as a ridiculous statement from a certain faceless group, alleging that Chief Sir Martin Agbaso was drafted into the Labour Party by the Governor of Imo state, senator Hope Uzodimma, to scuttle the 2023 presidential ambition of the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
They described as a report as a distraction, adding that the purveyors of the fake news went so low to allege that Agbaso was offered N70m by Governor Uzodimma to move to the Labour Party to actualize the task
“Having followed the political antecedent of Ochoudo Martin Agbaso, his love for the masses and desire for a Nigeria that works for all, one would have ignored and not respond to the frivolous and baseless allegation, which no doubt is been sponsored by those who have continued to benefit from the present status quo, and would not like to entrench any process that would work for the country, especially to the benefit of the downtrodden Nigerian masses, which is what Agbaso has stood for in the many decades of his political career
“It has been on record that it was Martin Agbaso’s love for the masses, which he has championed through so many of his humanitarian works across the country, that pushed him into the Nigerian political struggle, where he believed that he can contribute to the emancipation of the suffering Nigerian masses
“Having thrown his weight behind the manifesto of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), it was on record that as the governorship candidate of the party in Imo state in 2007, Agbaso ran a convincing campaign that earned him the total support and votes of Imo electorate, in the election which he clearly won, but was denied by the forces who were afraid of his pro people posture and desire to turn Imo into a working state
“The anti people forces may have mobilized again, this time around, with sponsorship of such frivolous and empty allegations like this, which is not only ridiculous but riddled with lies and blackmail.
“It however sounds funny that the purveyors of this blackmail and fake news failed to look for something that would be strong enough to sell their propaganda, for them to look at Martin Agbaso’s clout, and financial strength, and allege that he collected N70m from Governor Uzodimma, is enough to condemn them to the trash bin and gutters of lies, because those who have followed the footsteps of Ochoudo Martin Agbaso could be asking whether the fake news purveyors and their sponsors really refer to the Martin Agbaso we all know”
The group explained further that “It is obvious that these group are already afraid of what Agbaso stands to bring into the Labour Party (LP), like he did in APGA, which made it a movement and a household name during his days as, a major stakeholder in the party
“Our advice to those who have through the sponsored lies, shown how afraid they are with the intimidating influence which Agbaso has taken to move into the Labour Party, is that rather than taking the “Pull him Down” position, they should cue behind him to not only make the LP strong in the state, but give it a strong identity that would make masses embrace the political party like they did to APGA under his leadership in Imo state.
“Agbaso has always and unrepentantly believed and publicly shown his love for the Nigerian masses, a Nigeria that works for all, which influenced his actions during his days in APGA. This blood and burning desire he has taken into the Labour Party. So rather than being afraid of his intimidating postures, this is the time for him to be encouraged and joined by all to help actualize that which the party and it’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi stand for”
Rivers APC crisis deepens as another ex commissioner, Seminitari, resigns from party
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has continued to take tolls on the party, following the resignation of its key stakeholders with few months to the 2023 general elections
The latest member of the party to resign is the former Commissioner for Information, Ibim Seminitari.
Seminitari, who served as commissioner under the former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and also served as the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, during the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a letter personally signed by her, the former commissioner thanked her former party for the opportunities it presented for her to serve in different capacities
Semenitari’s predecessor, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke, had earlier left the party and was welcomed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with Allwell Onyeso, another commissioner under Amaechi who has secured a PDP senatorial ticket for the 2023 election.
In other high profile resignations from the party, most of them Amaechi’s loyalists, former commissioner and Reps member Dr. Dawari George, rights activists Celestine Akpobari, estranged former state lawmaker, Golden Ben Chioma among other bigwigs had also quitted the party over the weekend.
2023: Imo will remain obedient to APC, says Gov. Uzodimma
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
As the slogan “Obedient” by supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has continued to dominate in major cities of the country, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has stated that his state is politically “Obidient” to only All Progressives Congress, APC rather than any individual nor any other political party.
According to the Governor “We are APC members, We are obedient to APC, not obedient to any individual or any other political party”
Uzodimma who stated this while speaking to the party stakeholders in Owerri, said that the meeting has offered them an opportunity as party members and stakeholders to brainstorm ahead of the general elections in the State.
He reiterated the need for all party members to remain loyal and unwavering despite the provocation and unwarranted actions , saying the APC is the only party that rewards loyalty and work for the progress of all.
Uzodimma further reaffirmed that the days of Godfatherism in Imo State politics are over, and anyone relying on a Godfather or Leader to win elections in the political party-APC, is an unserious politician.
The Governor also revealed that soon his administration will make fresh appointments, promising to accommodate those who lost out in the primaries of the APC.
Uzodimma expressed worry on the PVC registration exercise, lamenting that the number of registered voters in Kano and Jigawa State is more than the total number of registered voters in the South East
APGA set to boycott Ebonyi LG polls
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi, said it planned to boycott the forthcoming local government elections in the state unless the cost of nomination fees is reduced.The party also demanded the State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) to shift the elections date if they were to participate.
The State Chairman of the party, Mr Ricky Okorouka said this in Abakaliki while addressing newsmen after the party’s State Executive Meetings (SEC) on Sunday.EBSIEC had fixed nomination fee for Chairmanship and councillor positions for N1 million and N200, 000 respectively.
The Commission had also announced July 30 for the local government elections in the state.Okorouka said his party had decided not to be part of the election unless the fees were reduced.
“So, if EBSIEC wants us to be part of the elections, it should extend the date and remove the nomination fee so far imposed and that is our position.“They should not use exorbitant fees to disfranchise political parties in Ebonyi LGA polls.
“We had our Executive Meetings, where we involved all the candidates for the 2023 general elections and we deliberated on the forthcoming local government elections in the state.“Our party, APGA has decided that we may not be part of the election unless the N1 million nomination form fee for chairman’s and N200,000 for councillor’s positions imposed by EBSIEC are reduced.
“We also want the date for the election to be shifted,” he added.
Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of EBSIEC while reacting, said the decision on the nomination fees and election date were made and decided by all the political parties in the state, where APGA was represented.
Eze said any complaints on the council elections should be directed to the Commission rather than making comments to distract the process. (NAN)
