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Kwankwaso Declares Presidential Bid …Earns Amaechi’s Approval, Praise …As Tambuwal Finally Defects To APC
All roads, led to the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, venue of Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s declaration of intention to contest the presidential election on the platform of the APC in 2015, yesterday.
The venue, with two major roads leading into it, was effectively secured by combined team of police, military personnel and the civil defence corps members, yesterday.
The situation led to traffic gridlock as many motorists, especially those approaching from the Central Area of Abuja, remained stationary for hours. Business activities were, however, booming with hawkers making brisk businesses.
Kwankwaso, while making his declaration, urged the nation’s youths to “unleash’’ their votes for the right candidate at the 2015 polls.
In a 3,430-word document, Kwankwaso called on the youth to vote for the APC, to ensure change in the nation and actualise their hope.
“We must vote for the APC to bring change to our nation, to actualise hope; to remove despair and despondency. “We must stand up together as one people to fight against corruption, impunity and division. Yes, we must,’’ he stressed.
He said that there would be challenges but Nigerians must unite to overcome any challenge posed in the quest for a greater Nigeria.
“I therefore wish to accept this call and to formally declare my interest to seek for the presidential ticket of our great party, the APC, in February 2015 general elections. “I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join me on this difficult journey to return our country to the pedestal of peace and progress. “I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges but to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult.
“And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however monstrous they are,’’ he said.
Speaking on behalf of the APC governors, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, lauded his Kano counterpart’s “good works”. “I said it at the Buhari declaration that whoever wins the presidential ticket after the APC primaries, all the governors will support him.’’
Gov. Abdulazeez Yari said “the APC as a movement was not formed to be an opposition party. It was conceived but to wrestle power from un-performing governments’’.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Fred Olokor, said when Kwankwanso was a young man 22 years ago as the deputy speaker, “he displayed a high sense of responsibility; he was a true nationalist. “He has seen Nigeria from different perspectives at his young age. I am confident that when given the opportunity, will rule the country with the fear of God”.
Sen. Robert Boroffice, who spoke on behalf of senators present, said: “If he becomes the president, he would fight corruption and give the country a good governance, true transformation to the masses’’.
The Eze Ndi Igbo in Kano, Mr Boniface Ibekwe, in his goodwill message, said “we have come to identify with the aspiration of our governor because he is the kind of leader the country needs.
“He does not discriminate and he supports all ethnic groups to do their businesses in Kano. If other leaders performed like him, the country would be a better place’’.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Governor Abubakar Audu, said he was also at the event on behalf of all former governors.
“The difference is clear because Kwankwanso served Nigeria in many capacities. Nigerians have no alternative but to vote for him. I am optimistic that come 2015 the governor will be inaugurated as president. “This is an opportunity again for Nigerians to re-write the history of the country because Kwankwanso’s rich experience speaks loudly for him”, he said.
Present at the event were Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while Yobe, Borno and Kwara states had their deputy governors in attendance.
Others were former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Sen. Bindowo Jibrilla; Sen. Magnus Abbey; former National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; Mai Bala Buni; National Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazu, and former Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Bala.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday in Abuja defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji. Aminu Tambuwal, said yesterday that he heeded the calls of members of his constituency to dump the Peoples Democratic Party.
He also claimed that certain developments in the Sokoto State chapter of the PDP suggested that he could no longer continue to be a PDP member.
Alhaji Tambuwal, spoke in a brief remarký at plenary to formally declare his defection to the All Progressives Congress shortly after the House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo) moved a motion for the house to adjourn sitting till Dec. 3.
“In pursuit of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and in view of the political developments in my state, I wish to formally inform you of my membership of the APC .”This is in continuation of the great sacrifice and also the need to ensure development of constitutional democracy,’’ Tambuwal said.
“Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you my colleagues for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy.
“May almighty God continue to guide us all”, he told members. The defection ended months of speculation over Tambuwal’s political future.
Members of APC caucus in the house, in a reaction, told newsmen that the development was a historic one. Leader of the APC caucus, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said that the move was consistent with the law, adding that “the APC members would continue to support the current leadership’’.
Similarly, Rep. Samson Osagie (APC-Edo) said that the house, which adjourned till Dec 3, was to enable the lawmakers to consult with their constituents and promote their political interest ahead of the 2015 general elections. Osagie, however, ruled out possible counter move by the PDP against the leadership of the house.
According to him, “there is unity in this house and that is the kind of unity we want to be replicated in every part of this country”. He further described Tambuwal as a bridge builder who had united the house in spite of different political affiliations of members of the parliament.
However, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened the House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for defecting from the ruling PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party reminded Tambuwal of the minority status of the APC in the lower house, in what analysts described as a thinly veiled threat of impeachment.
The statement added that the party’s leadership had met over the matter and might have reached a common decision on what step to take.
Metuh stated further that the leadership had also met with party leaders in the House of Representatives concerning the defection.
The party said: “After a thorough consideration of the matter, the National Working Committee came to a conclusion that the Hon. Speaker, as a responsible elected officer, knows full well what is needful and honourable of him since his new party is in the minority.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that Hon. Tambuwal became Speaker on the platform of the PDP as the political party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives and that this incontrovertible fact has not changed.”
Commenting, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the PDP had always suspected the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.
He said his defection to the APC did not come to him and the party as a surprise, but said that even with the defection, the ruling party still has majority in the House.
Akpabio, who spoke with journalists when he visited the national secretariat of the party in Abuja said as an honourable, he would expect the speaker to resign.
He said, “We have always known the Speaker as a PDP man in name but APC in action and he has proved it to the world. I will only ask him to be honourable and resign especially as the PDP is not in crisis.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (right) with Senator Osita Izunaso and other APC loyalists, during the APC Mega Rally in Port Harcourt, last Saturday
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.