I Will Defeat President Buhari In Free And Fair Election – Fayose

It is still a full year and five months to the 2019 elections, but some politicians eyeing the highest office in the land are already positioning themselves to run.

One of such is the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who has not hidden his desire to contest the presidency, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Today in Abuja the Federal Capital, Governor Fayose formally declared his ambition to run at a gathering of party faithful including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani- Kayode and a former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore.

Governor Fayose in his declaration said that he is the Nigerian man to watch out for as the nation moves into another decade.

He referred to the coming back of President Muhammadu Buhari as a sign of him attaining the seat of the President.

“Nobody like me can take out the President from his office, twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.

“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election”.

He further noted that if elected he will ensure workers salaries are paid, exchange rate fixed at a normal rate, reduce the rate of kidnapping by herdsmen, security, the unity of the country, ensuring schools are in international standard and stop molestation of judges.

In his words, “I am the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of its present political and economic stagnation”.

Fayose had earlier said in a Press statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, M. Lere Olayinka expressed optimism of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.

“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”

He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.

“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.

“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.

“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.

“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

I Will Be President Of Nigeria, Fayose Insists

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has once again said he will become the President when Nigerians select a new leader for another four years in 2019.

He said this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital while addressing hundreds of women at an event to commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day.

“I want them to here in the Villa, I will be president of Nigeria Tomorrow, Fayose told his supporters at the gathering.

“Sometimes, it is difficult for people to believe but when it happens, I want you to know that I’ve said so before.”

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in 2017 zoned its Presidency to the North and its national chairmanship to the South, a position being held by Prince Uche Secondus.

While it seems that Governor Fayose’s interest to run for Presidency might be against the party’s arrangement, he informed the PDP leaders in a letter last year that his ambition was without prejudice to the party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

Delivering a speech while formally declaring his presidential ambition on September 28, 2017, in Abuja, he said had“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a free and fair election. Nobody like me can take out the President from his office – twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.”

A Better Change

In furtherance of his show of confidence, the governor told his supporters today in Ado Ekiti that he would not be silenced by any form of pressure or intimidation from anyone or group.

I’m Going Straight To Villa, I’m The Next President – Fayose

He took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that they have failed to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians in the buildup to the 2015 elections.

“All I said about this present APC government; they are leaving and they have stood the test of time,” said Fayose. “For me, greater is he that is in me than he that is there, and in the world.”

“I have fought so many battles, my enemies and opponents have lost all, I’ve won all; I’ve not lost one. We will not allow anybody to cow us; there is one thing I want to remind them, power belongs to God – you are there today, we will be there tomorrow.

“Nigerians want a change, a better change, a change that is not selective; Ekiti, well-represented by Ayo Fayose will be part and parcel of the government at the centre in 2019 by the grace of God,” he added.

Governor Foyese congratulated the women in the state and assured them of the state government’s support to help improve their standard of living.

He noted that although it would be his last participation in the celebration as a governor, he would come from Abuja to attend the event as a president next year.

The event was attended by the governor’s wife, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose; his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola; and rights activist Joe Odumakin among others.

I Was In Kano When Senator Ogembe Was Attacked, Says Bello

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has denied any involvement in the attack on the senator representing Kogi Central, Mr Ahmed Ogembe.

Senator Ogembe was said to have arrived in the state last week and organised an empowerment programme which was disrupted by some hoodlums.

Governor Bello, who condemned the attack on Thursday, faulted allegations that he masterminded the incident, saying he wasn’t in Kogi the day it happened.

“First of all, on that day, I was in Kano,” he said in a phone interview on Politics Today. “I had just received a message of a senator coming home to do empowerment; the next thing was the crisis that ensued.”

Amid the political crisis in the state, the governor said the police have begun investigations into the incident while a lot of arrests have been made.

Reacting to the lingering disagreement between him and another lawmaker in Kogi, Senator Dino Melaye, Governor Bello blamed the rift on his refusal to waste the available scarce resources of the state.

“We are aware of a particular senator who wants elephants to be shared in Kogi State and I refused.

“The people of the state must have value for the lean resources that we are generating, and we are receiving; if that is his problem, so be it,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, some senators had reportedly accused the governor during plenary of introducing policies that could degenerate into a political issue if not properly handled.

He, however, took a swipe at the lawmakers for failing to address national issues such as passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly in November 2017, among several others.

In his words, Governor Bello said: “We have some (men) who are just making the Red Chamber a laughing stock. We have a national budget – up till now, no mentioning of it.

“We have a lot of appointments made by the Federal Government into various parastatals and agencies of government. Today they are lying in the minutes, none is being cleared and several other issues. So when we are talking about threats to democracy, I think they should ask themselves.”

Katsina APC Vows To Win 2019 Election

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Katsina State chapter has vowed to produce more votes than any other state in the country come 2019.

The State Governor, Aminu Masari, made this known during a special grand rally organized by the state chapter of the party.

The event was aimed at receiving hundreds of thousands of decampees from major opposition parties across the three senatorial districts of Katsina state, the rally witnessed the attendance of high ranking persons from the three senatorial districts which are Katsina, Daura and Funtua Central Senatorial Districts of the state.

Decampees from across different political opposition parties in Katsina state among which are former chairmen, former councillors and chieftains have relinquished their respective positions from their respective political parties.

The governor announced that the Katsina state chapter of the party is not only sure of winning the 2019 general elections but working to make sure that not less than 80-90% of the registered voters vote for the APC particularly President Muhammadu Buhari.

Popular among them are Senator Ibrahim Ida of the Katsina central, Hon. Ya’u Umar Gwajo -Gwajo of Daura, the Katsina North and Engineer Nura Khalil of Funtua, the Katsina South.

These decampees are generally considered by both the National and the State chairmen of the ruling APC as full members and that from today they have become on equal footing with each an every member of the party.

PDP Is Dead And Buried – Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State is dead and buried.

The National Chairman warned the APC in Katsina not to give anybody a single vote apart from the APC, come 2019 elections.

“We have a President who is single-minded, focused, determined and has rebuilt the foundation of the nation destroyed by the PDP”.

He made this known in Katsina while receiving hundreds of thousands of decampees from major opposition parties across the three senatorial districts of Katsina state, the rally witnessed the attendance of high ranking persons from the three senatorial districts which are Katsina, Daura and Funtua Central Senatorial Districts of the state.

The Decampees from across different political opposition parties in Katsina state among which are former chairmen, former councillors and chieftains have relinquished their respective positions from their respective political parties.

In an interview with the decampees’ leader, Senator Ibrahim Ida, he described his being in the PDP as a mistake.

He says he was convinced of the need to embrace the truth and that the APC is the best party of today to join.

The efforts being made by President Muhammadu Buhari, to turning around the misfortunes of Nigeria to fortune, like fighting corruption, insurgency, terrorism and kidnapping all because of the common man are some of the initiatives which impressed the decampees.

They equally believe that from 1960 to 2015 non of either the military or civilian leader introduced interventions and support for the weak, old and the young more than Muhammadu Buhari.

APC Looking For Support With Nothing To Show, Says Secondus

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has challenged the All People’s Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to show Nigerians evidence of its developmental impact on the country within the last three years.

Speaking as a special guest at the commissioning of the 8.4 kilometers reconstructed Ughelli-Afiesere-Ofuoma, road project in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta state, Saturday, Secondus noted that the APC had not only failed to fulfil its campaign promises to Nigerians but had succeeded in inflicting untold hardship on the people because they took over power at the centre using propaganda.

“I believe and as the whole country can see that while we are here to commission projects that are directly affecting the lives of the people, the other party is somewhere up-north looking for support with nothing to show.

“I believe that at this stage for three years, the Federal Government should show clearly what they have done like what we have witnessed here today.

“They should go to commission projects and not to look for support and people who will decamp,” he added.

Secondus, therefore, praised Okowa’s efforts in developing his state, noting that he has proven to be among the best governors in the country.

He also encouraged Deltans to intensify their support for him.

In response, Governor Okowa thanked the Governor, while noting that the construction of roads will have a multiplier effect on the economy and engender ethnic integration among groups in the state.

“This is one of the several roads of over 150 of them we are constructing across the state with several of them around the riverine areas.

“We believe that we need to continue to open up our communities to connect themselves and to connect outside the states,” he said.

Meanwhile the APC in the state has launched the one man one vote campaign stating that the era where politicians manipulate elections dishonestly for personal gain is over.

The aim, according to the party, is to sensitize the people against rejecting any attempt by corrupt politicians to coheres them on selling their votes.

Read Also: PDP Is Dead And Buried – Oyegun

Speaking to journalists at the end of the event, Delta state APC Party chieftain and governorship aspirant, Dr Cairo Ojuogbo faulted the frequent visit of the PDP national chairman to Delta state insisting that Okowa’s administration has done nothing to improve the welfare of an average Deltan.

Ojuogbo said; “one man one vote campaign is a process of burying the PDP style of electoral malpractice in Delta state. The delta state government under the administration of Okowa, has no capacity to govern so we must take power back from Okowa.

“They don’t have ideas and that is why you see that the government is a government of nepotism and misappropriation of the state funds through an inadequate budget. But the APC has gotten a better program to move Delta state forward just like the peer states”.

Furthermore, he assured the people that the arrangements on ground would not be abused if voted into power.

“I am not contesting this election because I am from Delta north neither am I claiming superiority over any person. I believe the APC must take power so that there will be change in Delta state.

“The party is supreme, therefore, there must be synergy between the government and the party from the ward level to the state level and that is the way to go”.

“The gubernatorial aspirant further called on all Deltans to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in order to elect candidates of their choice to represent them at all levels of government”.

Abdullahi Adamu Accuses Senators Of Sabotaging APC Govt

Embattled Senator Abdullahi Adamu has accused the Senate of sabotaging the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmaker who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District made the allegation in a statement by him on Tuesday.

He is one of the lawmakers who opposed the amendment of the election sequence by members of the National Assembly, a development that has sparked mixed reactions in the country.

READ ALSO: Buhari Withholds Assent To Electoral Act Amendment

Advising his colleagues, Senator Adamu said: “I believe we need to retrace our steps and reconsider our stand as legislators on matters of public interest. Our party, APC, has the majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, yet we hold the executive prisoner of politics that are unhealthy for the polity.”

“It is such a terrible irony that we sabotage our own government by refusing to do our part in support of the executive; appointments requiring Senate approval are held up. The consequence is that the public has nicknamed the president and his administration go-slow,” he added.

The senator reminded the lawmakers that Nigerians gave them the mandate to deliver, noting that the government has no reason why it cannot acquit itself and fulfil the yearnings of the people with APC’s control of the executive and the legislative.

He, however, alleged that the lawmakers are “consumed with sabotaging the administration and stabbing one another in the back.”

“We forget that in less than a year from now, we shall be required to seek the people’s revalidation of our mandate to sit in these hallowed chambers. What shall we tell them?” Adamu asked.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had agreed to change the sequence in which elections are conducted such that the National Assembly election will come first, followed by governorship and state Houses of Assembly, and finally the presidential poll.

President Muhammadu Buhari, however, wrote to the lawmakers to inform them that he has declined his assent to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act.

The letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, the President noted that amendment to the sequence of the election in section 25 of the Principal Act may infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise, undertake and supervise all elections provided in section 16(a) of the constitution.