Ijaw Youths Council, (IYC) has accused the Minister of State, Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba of meddling in the appointment of a substantive Rector for the Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowe, Bayelsa state.
The youths, from the nine States of the Niger Delta region appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister to order to avoid crisis.
IYC was of the view that the emergence of Dr. Iwekumo Wanton as the Rector of the oil and gas institution was transparent and devoid of any manipulation.
According to the Ijaw Youths, despite the emergence of Dr. Wanton through a selection process that was certified free, fair and transparent, the Minister is trying to delay his appointment four months after the selection process has been completed.
In a statement by IYC in Yenagoa, signed by its National Spokesman, Mr Ebilade Ekerefe, it said the delay in the appointment of a substantive Rector for the institution despite the authentication of the selection process by the Federal Character Commission and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, was political, sectional and targeted at the indigenes of the region.
“The IYC frown at the sudden interruption in the process as a deliberate attempt by adversaries of the ijaw people to further deprive the ijaw nation of the service of one of its first breed, who is committed in moving the institution forward and competing actively in the academic space.
“We want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister of State for Education to order and should immediately direct the confirmation of Dr. Iwekumo Wanton as the substantive Rector of the Institution.
“We warn that any plan to experiment with the destiny of the ijaw people is a joke taken too far, and will be fully resisted.”
Ebilade pointed out that the position of Ijaw Youths on the emergence of Dr. Wanton is based on his performance in the last three months as the Acting Rector of the Institution which has given stakeholders the hope of a new dawn in the institution.
“He is a young and brilliant administrator that understands the geographical terrain, culture, tradition as well as the struggle and aspiration of the ijaw people.
“It is our conviction that the President fully appreciates the unique peculiarities of the area, and that the location of the institution in a rural, coastal community of Ekeowe requires that any individual appointed to oversee the affairs of the Polytechnic must be thoroughly conversant with the terrain and environment challenges.
“One of the reasons in advancing our support for his appointment as substantive Rector is the fact that he resides fully in the polytechnic campus.
“By this, he has effectively mobilized his management team and all members of staff to fully operate on the campus. This is against the practice of overseeing the affairs of the Institution from Yenagoa as it was in the past.”
That democracy is a game of numbers has never been a subject of debate. It is an obvious fact, both in principle and in practice. In deed, in this universally preferred form of government, the people are rightly the vital engine that powers democratic processes and its actualisation.
Therefore, from this foundational framework, there is no gainsaying that the higher the numbers, the brighter the collective fortunes of groups or individuals that populate a given political party. This, succinctly, is in sync with a popular African adage, ‘a tree does not make a forest’. Or, perhaps, another that says, ‘when a collective urinates in a spot, it conjures a foam!’
These aptly capture the ongoing political and social engineering currently unfolding in Anambra State by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the November 6, 2021 governorship election draws near. In recent times, the fortunes of the APC in the state, as well as the whole of the South East, have continued to receive unprecedented boost, going by the number and calibre of politicians and supporters that continue to embrace the party in a gale of defections from rival political parties.
The phenomenon is so befuddling that today, an APC that only a few months ago grappled with monumental challenges of acceptance in Anambra and the South East region in general, is now the beautiful bride, not only recognized by many as a true national party, but one in which they desire to fellowship together. Eureka! the people appear to have, finally, discovered the political vehicle most suitable to launch themselves back into national limelight and secure a more promising future.
Previously, other opposing parties in the zone had almost succeeded in casting the APC in the ignominious image of an unwanted enemy of the people – a pariah entity and hater of the Igbo race. Deploying a combination of devious post civil war propaganda and modern rejection rhetorics, it was quite easy setting up the APC, as the author and finisher of whatever ill fate that confronted the Igbo, whether at home or in the diaspora.
Senator Andy Uba
For a people so renown in their republican disposition, this was certainly a new philosophy – one unbeknownst to them, forged in the furnace of pure partisanship and crave for personal advancement.
Were it not so, how come almost two decades after, the lyrical muezzin, nkea bu nke anyi (this is our own), has refused to be internalised, and accepted as a rallying anthem in the four other Southeast states of Enugu, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi?
Besides Anambra, why has it been difficult to spread and plant this seemingly good seed in any of the aforementioned states?
How come too, those who promoted the concept, almost to the point of being a religion, upon having a ‘Damascus’ experience left the orchestra for their choir boys?
In deed, how comprehensible is it that the new altar boys continue to desecrate the sanctuary, leaving the Prophetess bewildered as the ship irretrievably heads for the rocks?
The answers to these posers lie in the realisation that it only takes one day of truth to overtake many years of lies.
For the new political consciousness that has suddenly enveloped our landscape, reversing previously held wrong and unfathomable philosophical notions, the maxim that time and truth exonerate victims of falsehood appear to be at work.
Many have attributed this new lease of life for the APC in the South East to many factors. But could it be a mere coincidence that this drastic reinvention of the party in Anambra, particularly, is taking place since the emergence of Senator Andy Uba, as the governorship candidate of the APC in the state? I don’t think so.
Propelled by his Igwebuike philosophy, Senator Uba’s popular Igbo moniker, which when translated, means: ‘Strength in numbers,’ the unfolding scenario in Anambra is the product of a well thought out political re-engineering meant to wean the people off a belligerent disposition hitherto unknown to their forebears.
How come a people famed for their courage in battles, convivial spirit, sense of adventure, voyages, good neighbourliness, technical competences and creative ingenuity in the face of challenges and difficulties now be the very ones to seek answers in ethnic cocoons? Tufiakwa!
Put succinctly, Igwebuike means democracy! Simpliciter! And Senator Uba is not only leading the charge, he lives the full expression of the tag in his efforts to build the APC into a formidable force in Anambra State. He is strategic and deliberate in feeding the fuel of unison and purpose to the vehicle of collective progress and betterment of ndi Anambra and Ndi Igbo in general by widening the doors and coast of the party in the state.
And rather than a desperate, selfish quest to be a lone hugger of the podium, Igwebuike is deploying positive energy to ensure that he attracts quality ndi Anambra, with remarkable leadership, organizational and governance skills, to the APC fold. This, to me, is a commendable leadership and social engineering foresight for the good of Anambra and its precious people. He appreciates the fact that no one knows it all, but in togetherness, a winning team of leaders that would put the interest of the people first, will emerge.
The APC as a brand is benefiting from Senator Andy Uba’s Igwebuike ‘live and let’s live’ political ideology. And the harvest is vividly outstanding, both in quality and quantity.
The obvious sting of ‘how did we get here’ tormenting the hearts of leaders and faithful of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), by the defection to the APC and subsequent reception of Dr. Nkem Okeke, deputy governor of Anambra State, by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, is not lost on political observers. Essentially, it underscores not only the current pleasant allure of the party in the state, but also the swift and steady movement on the pathway to victory.
It is on record, however, that before this stunning development, APC had also attracted several top politicians, including serving and past Senators, past and current House of Representatives members, serving and former state legislators and many others from prominent political parties. And we say, Igwebuike!
Only few days ago, the deputy governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the coming November 6 election, Chief Kenneth Obi, also got enthralled by the APC alurring populist dispositions and dumped his party to join in the spirit of Igwebuike ( Strength in numbers), in the overall interest of Anambra State!
And since democracy is a game of numbers, we are cocksure that with the ceaseless influx of new members and the expected impact of grassroots mobilisation and realignments, APC and ndi Anambra will on November 6, 2021, and beyond, echo a resounding Igwebuike! Surely, Igwebuike wins and wins again. Like in 2007, he will win again in a landslide swell!
Hon. Ogene, a former member and deputy chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, is the Director, Media and Publicity, Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation (SAUGCO)
A group supporting President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria First Movement, NFM has blamed the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele for the nation’s economic woes, noting that the recent introduction of the digital currency e-Naria is the “final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.”
The pro-Buhari group which said the economy has been wobbling since the re-appointment of Emefiele by the president, vowed to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups against the apex bank governor if he failed to resign.
The group Coordinator, Augustine Richard in a statement said many Nigerians were disappointed with the tedious registration processes as part of the requirements for the e-naira.
Richard said Emefiele enjoyed the privilege of being the only CBN Governor to be re-appointed, in spite of this, the group pointed out, Emefiele has failed to use his position to turn the economy around, adding that the launch of the e-naira has prove this point.
NFM said, “the introduction and subsequent launch of the digital currency, eNaira, is perceived as the final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.
“We are ready to champion the call for Emefiele’s removal by staging a one-week protest that could potentially cripple economic activities in Abuja. We’re also ready to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups across the globe in the ‘mother of all protests’ that would hold simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and London against the nation’s poor economic posture.
“Emiefele played a pivotal role in the collapse of the economy since his appointment as the CBN chief and before his arrival, the economy was said to be one of the fastest growing in the world. Shortly after his reappointment in 2019, Emefiele announced a five-year plan that targets double-digit growth in one of Africa’s largest economies.
“His approach to policy implementation, however, has left many in doubt, raising questions on how his key policy move, especially in the context of management of the exchange rate, benefits the economy, and the naira he sought to protect.”
The group further accused the CBN of rolling out various economic programmes which it said have no direct effects on the lives of Nigerians.
Richard further said in the statement that “on July 24, 2020, the CBN launched a series of non-intrant loan schemes under the AGSMEIS, MSMEDF, AADF and other loan schemes. The program attracted a lot of Nigerians, with millions of them seeking to join the program through all due process.
“For more than a year now, nothing has been done. The CBN under Emefile has shirked its primary responsibility of ensuring price stability and has embraced a more developmental role, in the hopes of naira stability.
“As confirmed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rt. Hon. James Faleke, the CBN has failed to submit its Audited Account to the Office of the Auditor General (OAGF) for review, from 2010 to date.
“According to Kalu Ajah, chief executive officer at AfriSwiss Capital Assets Management Limited in Abuja, the CBN has pursued a strong naira policy and had sought to dampen imports. Well, imports have not declined and the naira is far from strong. One wonders if the import restrictions on items and capital controls were necessary or if the CBN should have devalued the naira earlier. I will say Nigeria did not benefit from the capital controls regime.
“The regulatory bank’s aggressive lending policy has been called into question as well, causing some concerns over the bank chief’s stewardship of the banking sector. The CBN is forcing banks to lend, and penalising non-lenders. These are shareholders’ funds being deployed via fiat.
“In October last year, the Central Bank fined 12 banks, including Citibank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank N499 billion for failing to meet lending targets. It is another move that attracted criticism across the board,” he said.
Andy Uba, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the November 6 Anambra governorship election has recorded a boost in his quest to succeed Governor Wily Obiano. The plus to his campaign to become the state’s helmsman, came from Hallmark International Consultancy Company, a research and political risk consultancy firm based in the United States of America, USA which said Senator Uba will win the election.
The APC has received major boosts to its campaign to wrestle the state from ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, particularly with the recent decampment of notable APGA politicians including the Deputy Governor, of the state Nkem Okeke and some lawmakers in the state house of Assembly to the APC
Apart from Senator Uba, the election parades notable candidates vying in the make or mar election, popular among them are Godwin Maduka of Accord, Charles Soludo of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Valentine Ozigbo of PDP and Obiora Okonkwo of Zenith Labour Party.
A statement issued by the HICC vice president for Africa and Middle East, Hayes Rodney, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the interest of the foundation in the Anambra governorship election is non-partisan but designed to help deepen democracy in Nigeria.
Rodney said that Nigeria’s democracy has come of age and therefore needs to continually evolve strategies to strengthen it as it bends the curve, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure the election is free, fair, and credible.
He emphasized the need for INEC to use the electronic means of transmitting the result of the election to ensure transparency.
“One way to restore the people’s interest and trust in the ballot box will be for the umpire to be transparent by also embracing technology in conducting elections and for the security agencies to also ensure lives and properties of the electorates are protected,” he said.
He further explained that the firm has no partisan interest in the outcome of the statewide survey, adding that the election would be left for the people of the state to decide.
He noted that while 18 political parties are registered to participate in the election the organisation only polled six major candidates of six political parties; Accord represented by Dr Godwin Maduka, Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Valentine Ozigbo of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labor Party, ZLP and Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress, APC
Meanwhile, the Andy Uba Campaign Organisation has condemned what it called calumny attacks on its candidate, in the race by APGA.
A statement by the media director of the organisation, Afam Ogene, read in part,”This time, using a poorly scripted propaganda material, they claimed that a certain nondescript character, allegedly, ‘confessed’ that Distinguished Senator Andy Uba contracted him to cause mayhem in the state.
“The General Public is advised to ignore this concocted tale which could only have emanated from the jaundiced imagination of crude propagandists.
“Senator Uba, despite having devoted the greater part of his adult life to the service of Ndi Anambra and Nigeria, is a widely acclaimed perfect gentleman who not only detests violence, but has also never being associated with anything of the sort.
“A cursory look at the concocted tale shows that the story has no source and can’t be referenced to anyone. The parrot news attached at the end of the said article does not also exist, either in print or the internet.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Uba and his APC have been insistent on having the Anambra governorship election hold this Saturday, November 6, 2021.
“In deed, ndi Anambra and Nigerians at large are aware of those who appear not to be ready for the gubernatorial duel, and are therefore conjuring all manner of excuses, including playing games with security issues, so as to force a stalemate.
“With the Independent National Electoral Commission and other political parties, including the APC and security agencies ready for the polls, we advise Governor Obiano, Prof Soludo and APGA to get up and get ready for November 6, 2021 – and quit playing silly games,” Ogene said.
The Rivers State Government and its people have alleged an assassination attempt on a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter-Odili.
They have, therefore, alerted the world to take note, and warned that the Federal Government should be held responsible if anything untoward happens to her, her husband, Dr Peter Odili, or any of their children.
They have, also, given the FG a 48-hour ultimatum to unmask those behind the incident.
In the evening of Friday, October 29, security men, allegedly, numbering about 50, had inexplicably invaded Justice Peter-Odili’s Abuja home to execute a search warrant authorised by a Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna.
The five-hour siege provoked outrage nationwide, and caused an international embarrassment for Nigeria.
Magistrate Iyanna revoked the search warrant later, pleading that he was deceived into granting it.
The initial report was that the security agents were made up of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Police and the Department of State Security Services, and were detailed from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. The story was that the team operates under Malami’s supervision.
A twist was, however, added to it when Malami denied knowledge of the invasion and ordered a probe. To worsen the situation, both the DSS and the EFCC, also, denied carrying out any such operation. The only Security branch mentioned, which has not reacted is the Police.
However, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who rushed to Justice Peter-Odili’s home as soon as he heard of the incident, has, on behalf of the Government and people of the State, alleged that the incident was a straight-up assassination attempt.
Wike spoke on Sunday at a Press Conference at the Government House Rivers, attended by the Elders of the State who, themselves, worried about the incident. And he is pointing accusing fingers at the Federal Government.
He said that from recent events, the Odilis seem to be a target of sinister moves, and warned that should anything happen to any of the Odilis, the Federal Government should be held solely responsible.
Dr Peter Odili was a two-term Governor of Rivers State, while his wife, Justice Peter-Odili is the second highest Justice of the Supreme Court, just behind the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Wike: “We are telling the world, if anything happens to the family of Dr Peter Odili, the Federal Government should be held accountable because they have shown that there is something they are about carrying out.
“If anything happens to my Lord, Justice Mary Odili, the husband and the children, the Federal Court should be held responsible.
“That is the position of the Rivers State Government and Rivers people because enough is enough!
“I will think that it is an attempt to assassinate Justice Mary Odili and the husband and the members of the family because there are no two ways about it.
“And if they had succeeded, all the Federal Government would have told us is we would get to the root of the matter. That’s the normal language. Then, after one or two weeks, everybody will be quiet.
“But this will not be the same because this is an assassination attempt.”
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in a statement signed by its President, Olumide Akpata, says it has taken up the case, and would get to its root.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja for the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding at Glasgow, Scotland.
Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesperson, said in a statement that Buhari is scheduled to deliver a “national statement” at the conference Tuesday, November 2.
“President Buhari’s address is expected to highlight Nigeria’s key priorities and action to tackle climate change as well as progress on the country’s transition to low carbon economy, consistent with achieving the Paris Climate Agreement’, the statement said.
“The Conference, hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, will bring parties together to help accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“Given Nigeria’s leading role in taking climate action and as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, COP 26 will afford a unique opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to work with other parties to make progress on the main goals of the conference including securing global net-zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5C within reach; adapting to protect communities and natural habitats as well as mobilising the much-needed finances to meet the set targets.”
While in Glasgow, President Buhari will be part of some side-line events to be hosted by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
On his entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State, Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
After the Summit, President Buhari will move to Paris, France on an official visit.
The umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the county, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the controversial and unwarranted invasion of the house of the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Peter-Odili by security operatives.
This is even as the CNPP congratulated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the successful conduct of its national convention, urging other political parties to emulate the rancour-free convention and the emergence of the youngest national youth leader in any major political party in the country.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP wondered “why President Buhari is still keeping Malami as the Chief Law Officer of the federation despite several embarrassing comments and actions.”
According to the statement, “Malami’s continued stay in office as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has become one of the biggest threats to democracy and rule of law in the country.
“Under his watch as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, there have been obvious state sponsored invasions of houses of Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Federal High Court, without any justification.
“The CNPP therefore calls on the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to rise up to the occasion and ensure protection of the country’s judiciary and judicial officers in view of the unwarranted threats and intimidation of officers in the temple of justice, using security operatives under Malami’s watch.
“His comments on national issues in recent times have equally portrayed him as a grave danger to rule of law and Nigerian democracy”, the CNPP observed.
Reacting to the successful conclusion of the PDP’s national convention, the CNPP noted that “democracy can only grow in an atmosphere of transparency and fair play.
“The PDP has demonstrated that it is ready to get things right by departing from the era of unbridled impunity in the conduct of its affairs to become an example of a truly repentant political party.
“We commend the emergence of a 25-years old national youth leader of the PDP, a giant step in accommodating the younger generation of Nigerians who have been desirous to contribute to nation building.
“We therefore congratulate all the elected party leaders in the extraordinary convention of the PDP and urge them to work towards deepening of Nigeria’s democracy and promotion of good governance in the country”, the CNPP stated.
The Federal Government has given millions of Nigerians a lifeline, following the extension of the National Identification Number, NIN, and the Subscriber Indentity/Identification Module, SIM linkage.
The FG had, on a couple of times, directed the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC, and the Telecommunication Companies, TELCOs, to extend the deadline for NIN-SIM registration linkage.
Now, the Federal Government has extended the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to the end of 2021.
This was disclosed in a joint statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head, Corporate Communications at Nigeria Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke issued on this weekend.
The statement was titled ‘Stakeholders Applaud the NIN-SIM Verification Exercise as FG Urges Citizens and Legal Residents to Enrol Before the End of the Year.’
According to the statement, the extension was due to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, seeking an extension to ensure better compliance with Government’s directive.
It read, “The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has conveyed the approval of the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the National Identity Number-Subscriber Identity Module data verification. Citizens and legal residents are urged to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide. The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.”
The statement said more than 9,500 enrolment systems with over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres were available in and outside the country to ease the enrolment and linkage process.
It read, “As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.”
The press statement further stated that 66 million unique NIN enrolments have been captured since the enrolment process began, with an average of three to four SIMs linked to the NIN.
It has been difficult for most Nigerians to successfully take part in the registration.
Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) is set to flush out unregistered private security guards as it trained the first batch of Guards in the State.
State Commandant of the Corps, Dr Hammed Abodunrin, pointed out that the training would enhance their performance and efficiency in security duties.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day Train the Trainers Workshop for selected Private Security Guards, who would in turn train other members, Dr. Abodunrin said the Corps was committed to its mandate of registration, supervision, monitoring, training and issuing of certificate of operations to Private Guard Companies in Nigeria.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of NSDC in the State, Mr Olufemi Omole, disclosed that about 4,000 Private Security Guards have been Identified in Ondo State and in a bid to curb any act of infiltration or enlistment of individuals with questionable characters as guards, the Command would ensure proper monitoring.
The statement quoted the Commandant as saying that recruiting miscreants and criminal minded persons as private guards would be very inimical to the Security architecture of the Nation.
According to him, establishments, institutions and individuals hiring private guards should contact the Private Guard Company Department of the NSCDC to acertain their credibility before requesting for their services.
The Commandant further warned saboteurs and illegal practitioners to either follow the due process of Registration and Licensing by the NSCDC or face the wrath of the law.
He affirmed the readiness of the Command Task Force to seal up unlicensed private guard offices in the State.
The occasion was wrapped up with award of Certificates and free distribution of First Aid Kits to participants to enable them discharge their duties as quick First Aid responders during emergencies.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, labeling it a corrupt Party, that has failed Nigeria since it took the saddle Six years ago.
Abubakar added that the nation is on the edge of precipice as the country is going through the most trying and difficult period of its existence.
Atiku was a member of the APC to which it defected from the PDP, months leading to the 2015 Presidential election which ushered the APC into office. However, in the months leading to the 2019 Presidential election, he again defected to the PDP and became PDP’s Presidential candidate.
Atiku made this assertion at the 2021 National Convention of the PDP at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The Wazirin Adamawa appealed to party members and all Nigerians to shun past differences, set aside political machinations and scheming and wrestle power from the APC come 2023.
Speaking further, Abubakar said APC had “comprehensively” failed Nigerians in the past six years but there insists there is an opportunity to set the ship on the right course by atoning for the mistake of past leadership and uniting the country on the part towards greatness.
He said: “I can tell you that I am 70 years plus but I have never seen this country in such a very bad shape, so disunited, so much unemployment, so much insecurity in its history.
“The social and security challenges in all corners along with the lingering tension surrounding the very nature of our corporate existence as a nation, Nigeria is at the edge of precipice because of the lackluster performance and complacency successive administrations in culminating in the gross failure of this APC-led government.
“The APC has proven itself to be unequip to lead the nation. They have shown themselves to be corrupt, in fact, the most corrupt, sectional and divisive party that was never prepared to lead this country. If we had the idea of what it took to lead a diverse, multiethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“The responsibility, therefore, is for us to arrest the downward spiral of the Nigerian nation and save the country from even greater calamities. This is our collective responsibility.”
He added: “We must set aside our differences. We must bring forth our brightest lights and position themselves to rescue, restore and rebuild the foundation.
“This time is a critical juncture for us politicians to work together to return Nigerians on the part of growth and development.
“The unity of key players in the PDP is an extension of the unity of Nigerians. I believe we should return and focus the party on part of competence.
“The decisions we take today will determine the future of trajectory of our party and our beloveth party. We can’t afford to fail and we will not fail. We all put out hands together with sincerity of purpose rescue our great country, Nigeria.”
