Connect with us

GRPolitics

Crises Hits APC Camp

Published

on

•Zonal chairmen move against Oyegun

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be consumed by leadership and factionalisation crises which have blown open as many of its chieftains and top members, including sitting governors and serving federal lawmakers, have signed into the new third force, the Coalition for Nigeria, called for by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

This was as the six zonal chapters of the party have formed themselves into an opposition against the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over alleged indiscretion and lack of transparency, accountability and general mismanagement of the affairs of the party.

Following the call by Obasanjo for a third force, as contained in his statement on the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, it was confirmed on Friday that several high-profile members of the party are part of the new movement

An online newspaper, Premium Times, had on Thursday reported that many of those consulted by Obasanjo were said to have keyed into his plan to ensure a shift from the two major political parties in the country, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as unfit to run the country effectively.

The online news medium revealed that the former president, frustrated by the worsening state of the nation, even after he had repeatedly discussed his concerns with Buhari, had spent the last few months consulting key political leaders in the country.

As of Friday afternoon, a key member of the new movement told Tribune that “the coalition has been activated in more than 70 per cent of the electoral wards across the 774 local government areas,” even as he said “12 governors, about 26 senators and over 100 members of the House of Representatives have joined the coalition.”

The source gave a breakdown of the 12 governors to include nine from the northern part of the country and the remaining three from the South, adding that the target number of governors that would eventually sign into the Coalition for Nigeria project is 24, representing two-thirds of the entire country.

“Initially, the number of sitting governors who have joined the coalition train was nine. But as we speak, the number of governors on the list has increased to 12, while the target is 24 governors to represent two-thirds of the country’s geographical spread.

“Talks are still on with the other 12 governors who have shown interest in the coalition for Nigeria project. These governors are watching events as they unfold,” the source said.

While plans are said to be underway to constitute the leadership of the proposed coalition, with the announcement expected mid-next week, President Buhari and Obasanjo may meet today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Both leaders are attending the African Union summit.

There are concerns on both sides on how the two leaders would manage their differences at that international forum, even as it was not clear, on Friday, if former Head of State, General AbdulSalami Abubakar, would be involved.

APC zonal chairmen move against Odigie-Oyegun

Meanwhile, the haemorrhage being quietly suffered by the ruling APC burst into the open on Friday as the six zonal chairmen of the party have challenged the leadership style of the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, especially his handling of the finances of the party.

The six zonal chairmen namely, Chief Pius Akinyelure (South West), Comrade Mustapha Salihu (North East), Alhaji Zakari Idde (North Central), Inuwa Abdulkadir (North West), Honourable Emma Eneukwu (South East) and Ntufam Hilliard Eta (South South), made the allegation in a petition dated January 17, 2018 and addressed to the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

They said they were worried by the alleged financial and leadership indiscretions of the national chairman which they said may derail the APC from achieving its set goals and subject it to public ridicule.

The APC leadership in the six zones accused the party leadership, led by Chief John Oyegun and which has been in office in the last three years, of lacking in transparency and accountability and generally mismanaging the affairs of the party.

In the memo, sent through the office of the party’s national chairman, the zonal chairmen raised four key areas of indiscretions, which they alleged included the finances of the party, formation of ad-hoc committees, abandonment of the zones and change of party structures.

They said they had observed with dismay that the APC Constitution had been “disregarded since the inception of the NWC, especially in the formation of ad-hoc committees among others.

“This function, which constitutionally is the sole responsibility of the National Working Committee, has been reduced to the whims of the National Organising Secretary, under the watch of the National Chairman,” the memo stated.

The APC zonal chairmen specifically raised issues about the finances of the party, saying, “Article 14b (iii) of the party’s constitution on finances has been grossly abused since the inception of this body.

“The state of the financial affairs of the party is shrouded in secrecy and lacking in transparency such that it makes it virtually impossible for members of the National Working Committee to authoritatively defend the various expenditure and incomes.”

They alleged that the income and expenditure of the party has never been brought to the consideration and approval of the NWC and further alleged that, on abandonment of the zones, the structures of the party, other than the national executives, were not allowed to function as envisaged by the party’s constitution.

“Particularly, the Zonal Executive Committees have more often than not been bypassed by the National Chairman in many of the interventions at the state chapters without due regard to the grand norm of the party,” they said.

The zonal chairmen also said “the continuous change of party structures or officers without due respect and/or recourse to the constitution of our great party is very rife”, describing such as scandalous and abnormal.

“The frequency and brazenness, which the changes take place without due authorization from relevant organs of the party, is intolerable. Kano, Kaduna, Gombe and Ondo chapters are critical examples. Given this misnomer, the structures of the party in the affected jurisdictions have continually been weakened”.

The zonal chairmen then demanded that the constitution of the party be adhered to in the remaining tenure of the NWC, saying all ad-hoc committees must be constituted as envisaged by the party’s constitution.

They also said the NWC should immediately be furnished with the revenue and expenditure profile of the party by the National Financial Secretary and that effort must be made to fund the zonal structures of the party.

“The NEC approved sharing formula of 50 per cent to the National Secretariat, 40 per cent to the states and 10 per cent to the zones from all revenues accruable to the party must be implemented forthwith,” they demanded.

The zonal chairmen also asked that change of the party structures at any level should be as intended by the party’s constitution, while all earlier actions taken in this regard without constitutional backing must be reversed.

South West APC opens talks with AD

The dominant faction of the APC in the South West is reportedly in talks with the former ruling party in the zone, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for possible use of the old platform as part of its strategy to remain relevant in the scheme of things ahead of the 2019 elections.

The concerned APC leaders, who are said to have been left out in the scheme of things at the national level “are now considering AD as their nest zone,” being the party from which APC evolved, metamorphosing from the Action Congress (AC) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

A frontline leader of AD in the South West disclosed to Saturday Tribune that, indeed, discussion was ongoing between the leadership of the two political parties, adding that every option must be considered in the efforts at repositioning the zone in the scheme of things.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity for what he described as political expediency, the AD chieftain said, “Yes, it is true. Some leaders of the APC from the South West who feel that they have been sidelined in the affairs of the party, especially at the national level, are talking to us on strategic engagements. I can’t say more than that for now.” (Tribune)

GrassRoots.ng is on a critical mission; to objectively and honestly represent the voice of ‘grassrooters’ in International, Federal, State and Local Government fora; heralding the achievements of political and other leaders and investors alike, without discrimination. This daily, digital news publication platform serves as the leading source of up-to-date information on how people and events reflect on the global community. The pragmatic articles reflect on the life of the community people, covering news/current affairs, business, technology, culture and fashion, entertainment, sports, State, National and International issues that directly impact the locals.

GRPolitics

Matawalle Commends President Tinubu for Positive Economic Reforms

…Matawalle urges critics to be positive in their narratives

Published

on

matawalle and Tinubu
R-l: President Bola Tinubu and Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle

The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his robust economic policies and reforms, which are yielding significant positive results for the nation. According to Matawalle, these initiatives are contributing to a turnaround in the economy that will benefits all Nigerians.

In the light of ongoing criticism, particularly from some quarters in Northern Nigeria, according to a statement by Henshaw Ogubike, director information & PR at the Ministry, Matawalle urged critics to be positive in their narratives and called on citizens to remain steadfast in their support for the President and to reject divisive narratives.

“It is crucial for Nigerians to stand united behind Mr. President, who is diligently working hard to revitalize our economy through a series of effective policies, programs, and reforms,” he stated.

Matawalle specifically highlighted President Tinubu’s tax reforms as a pivotal element in the country’s economic turnaround. He explained that these reforms are designed to create a more equitable tax system, which will enhance revenue generation for the government while easing the financial burden on ordinary citizens and small businesses.

“By broadening the tax base and ensuring that everyone pays their fair share, President Tinubu is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth. These reforms will not only increase government revenues but also stimulate investment and job creation across various sectors,” Matawalle elaborated.

He further noted that the tax reforms aim to simplify the tax administration process, making it easier for individuals and businesses to comply. This will foster a more business-friendly environment, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, which are essential for driving economic progress.

Matawalle also highlighted several key achievements across various sectors, particularly noting improvements in national security. He emphasized that President Tinubu has made substantial strides in enhancing the capabilities of the Nigerian military through the provision of modern hardware and equipment. Additionally, he assured that military personnel have received timely payment of their allowances and salary increases, which has significantly boosted their morale.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing a renewed commitment to the safety and well-being of all Nigerians, and I encourage everyone to recognize the positive changes taking place,” Matawalle concluded.

Continue Reading

GRPolitics

Matawalle: Our Success Story is Huge

Published

on

Mohammed Bello Matawalle
Dr Mohammed Bello Matawalle in a photograph with the visitors

The Honourable Minister of State Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle has disclosed that the Nigerian Armed Forces have achieved a lot in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other groups that are enemies of the Nigerian State since the advent of this administration but a lot of these success stories are not in the public space due to security reasons so as not to expose the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces who are in the forefront of this fight to danger.

According to a statement by Henshaw Ogubike, director, information and Public Relations at the Ministry, Dr. Matawalle disclosed this during the engagement with the Special Assistant to President on Policy and Coordination/Head of Central Result Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) Hadiza  Bala Usman with the Ministry of Defence  when she presented the 1st – 3rd Quarters 2024 Performance Assessment Report on Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverable at the Ship House, Abuja.

The Minister also informed the SA to Mr. President that before now, the Nigerian airwaves was always full of news of oil theft, bunkering, piracy and all forms of kidnapping. 

But since they assumed office, the country has recorded low occurrence and reduced reports of those activities just as he assured Nigerians of their resolve to do more to make our society safe for all.

Matawalle assured Hadiza Bala Usman of early submission of achievement data to her office for their  reviews.

In a similar development, the SA to President advised the Ministry of Defence to put out more data into the public space to avoid doubts and negative feedbacks on the successes achieved by our Armed Forces in the fight against insecurity. 

Adding that, regional tour of the troubled areas could be conducted to carry out on-the-spot interviews and first hand assessment of rescued individuals whose response will serve as raw and real data to the populace and as evidence that government is not resting on its oars.

Speaking further during the review of the Q1 – Q3 Report, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni gave a detailed submission on the achievements of the Ministry and promised that the Ministry will do more to surpass previous quarter’s report as he poured encomium on the Chief of Defence Staff and all Service Chiefs for their consistency and tireless efforts in making Nigeria a peaceful and safe place.

Dr. Kana tasked the Directors of the Ministry not to relax in their quest to give their best to the service of our dear country.

Continue Reading

GRPolitics

Centre for CSR West Africa calls on Political Parties to embrace Sustainable Leadership

Reporter: SANDRA ANI

Published

on

John Kojo Williams, the co-founder and lead project manager, Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa
John Kojo Williams, the co-founder and lead project manager, Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa

The Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa, a leading CSR and sustainability advocacy organisation in the sub-region since 2015 has called on political parties in Ghana, especially the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC) to embrace and place sustainability at the forefront of their agendas as Ghanaians prepare to vote in a highly competitive general elections this December 7.

In a statement released by the Centre, Mr. John Kojo Williams, the co-founder and lead project manager, espoused that: “Globally, we are at the crossroads of sustainability, our environmental challenges are increasing, climate change is impacting negatively on our society.

Ghana is not exempted from these daunting issues as our rainfall patterns are becoming erratic and continue to adversely affect agriculture. Additionally, rising sea levels are threatening our coastal communities.

As a polity, we must embrace the evolving global trends, our political leaders must recognize the urgent need to take action and our policymakers must prioritize sustainability to safeguard the livelihoods of Ghanaians and the prosperous country every political party plans to achieve for Ghana.

He emphasized: “We must integrate sustainability into the policies we are developing and these could include support for renewable energy initiatives, sustainable agriculture practices, and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. These are practical steps we can implement to help Ghanaian businesses become competitive in a global market that values sustainability. So, in embracing sustainability, everyone has a role to play. Our political parties, leadership of the business community, government agencies and sustainability advocacy organisations must lead the way to a sustainable Ghana.”

The Centre for CSR, West Africa is notable for its CSR and sustainability advocacy projects and events such as the National CSR and Sustainability Conferences and the highly-stringent Ghana CSR Awards (GHACEA). These initiatives, the Centre noted, have helped create better and deeper understanding of the concept of CSR and sustainability among some Ghanaian-owned companies and compelled international companies operating in Ghana, to localise and implement sustainable initiatives they obtain from their headquarters that are usually based in Europe, Asia or the United States.

According to a CSR and sustainability research conducted by Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge UK, which the Centre for CSR West Africa contributed to, Ghana needs to intensify efforts at creating more awareness about sustainability and making it a centrepiece conversation in boardrooms in Ghana. The research also noted that a few Ghanaian-owned businesses are gradually emulating best sustainability practices from the multinational counterparts, as they make effort to replicate projects and initiatives implemented by these companies, but on a smaller scale.

Mr. Williams noted that: “Ghana is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so, all political parties, especially the NPP and the NDC, must commit to establishing an enduring legacy of progress and innovation by embracing and priotizing sustainability in their quest to build a more resilient future for Ghana.”

The Centre for CSR, West Africa at a glance:

  • The Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa, is a leading CSR and sustainability strategy development and policy advocacy organisation in the sub-region.
  • Founded in 2015, the Centre’s flagship national CSR seminars, conferences, awards and events have been attended by leading local and multinational companies, government agencies, academia, regulatory agencies and civil society organisations in Ghana, Nigeria and across West Africa.
  • The Centre for CSR, West Africa is at the forefront of helping all major actors in the CSR and sustainability spectrum demystify the misconceptions around sustainability, deepen understanding on sustainable global trends, develop localised sustainable plans and programmes for the private sector, advise government and regulatory organisations on sustainability policies, and assist in implementing strategies that foster them.
Continue Reading

Trending