BREAKING: Sokoto Gov Tambuwal Leaves APC for PDP

Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
He made the announcement in a tweet on Wednesday via the Sokoto Government House (@SokotoGovtHouse): “I have consulted widely especially with the Sokoto people and they have confidently assured me of my next political move. I hereby defect officially to the @OfficialPDPNig. Power to the People”

Tambuwal Advises Nigerians To Reject ‘Prison Yard’ Democracy

Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, has called on Nigerians to reject what he described as “prison yard democracy”.

He made this known in a statement on Tuesday, as he spoke on the recent happenings in Benue state and Abuja, where security agencies reportedly meddled in the affairs of both the Benue state and federal legislators.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, condemned the “ignoble meddlesomeness, rascality and high-handedness of some security agencies”.
He said the rights of the citizenry are “shackled to the caprices of a few, as if we now run a nation of helpless inmates”.
“If the people of Nigeria are so unfortunate to endure the growling nightmare occasioned by deprivation of most things that a democracy should ordinarily provide; if they are now accustomed to the pangs of hunger, unemployment, shabby infrastructure, poor healthcare and general hopelessness, they should, in the interest of democracy and the youths, stand against anything that has the potential of robbing them of their inalienable rights to live and make choices as free citizens,” he said.
“These are unfortunate incidents, an aberration, a reprehensible attack on the fundamental human rights and privileges of fellow Nigerians and a direct attack on our fledgling democracy.
“We should condemn this crass and impudent exhibition of uncivilized conduct, so that we can keep peace and maintain a civilized society.
“Democracy is about freedom, of choice and association. It is about the people and the supremacy of the will of the people. Democracy, loses its essential value when the overall interest of the people takes a back seat in any supposedly democratic setting.
“Legitimate political choices and movements, including cross-carpeting, are part of a democratic enterprise.
“Any attempt to bully people out of their legitimate, democratic choices is a war against democracy, the rights of the citizenry, that power this unique people-oriented system of governance.
“I also call on our leaders at all levels, to guard their utterances, in order not to drive our nation further down the path of divisiveness and ethnic/religious mistrust. Let us water our democracy, using the fountains of equity, fairness and justice for all.”

 

Buhari Elected Chairman Of ECOWAS

President Muhammadu Buhari was Tuesday in Lome elected the new Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The President’s election was one of the highpoints of the 53^rd Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS which held in the Togolese capital.
A statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu said in his acceptance remarks, the Nigerian leader, who commended his colleagues for his election, noted that he did not offer himself for the post, “but you refused to take my no for an answer.”
He, however, told his fellow leaders that, “I am truly humbled and pledge to serve and work with all of you to deliver on peace, security, good governance and socio-economic development” of the sub-region, and “take our organisation to greater heights.”
The statement added that Buhari also commended his immediate predecessor and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe for successfully hosting two important meetings of the Joint Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and ECOWAS as well as the 53^rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
The new Chairman had earlier been presented with the Emblem of ECOWAS by the outgoing Chairman

Nigeria’s Ambassador To South Africa Resigns, Set To Dump APC For PDP

The Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Ahmed Ibeto, has resigned.
 It was gathered that he is also set to renounce his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ibeto, who was a deputy governor of Niger State on the platform of PDP, was reported to have arrived Nigeria from Pretoria on Sunday and on Monday morning handed over his letter of resignation at the Ministry of External Affairs before returning to Minna on Monday evening.
He, on Tuesday left Minna for his home town of Ibeto in Magama Local Government Area of the state where he was received by over 1,000 of his supporters.
Ibeto is expected to first resign his membership of the APC and assume membership of the PDP and would then join the governorship race.
He was a member of the PDP until the primary election of the party in November 2014, during which he lost the governorship ticket to Umar Nasko, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Babangida Aliyu.
He resigned his membership of the PDP along with thousands of his supporters after complaining about disrespect and injustice.

 

Saraki: APC Issues Query Despite Defection

National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried the senate President, Bukola Saraki, asking him to respond within 48 hours why disciplinary action should not to be taken against him for breaching article 21 of the constitution of the party.
The query comes just as Saraki announced his long expected defection from the party with his associates and supporters to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Tuesday.
The APC in a resolution signed by the National Secretary of the party, Mai Maila Buni, said the politician allegedly flouted the laws of the party with his activities and would be sanctioned if the allegations are proven to be correct.
Some of the allegations against Saraki include: “You encouraged and facilitated by providing an enabling environment for the defection of some senators who are members of the APC to the other opposition Parties.
“That you have deliberately refused to screen nominees for appointments submitted by Mr President who are members of the party from being confirmed by the senate. This has caused untold embarrassment and ridicule to the party and the government.
“That you have organized a public rally in your state where members of the party urged you to decamp to PDP. That as a follow up to the above the Kwara state governor who is known to be your staunch supporter Had made public pronouncements suggesting that he will decamp from the party as an indicator to your formal defection.
“That you used the office of the senate President to cause avoidable delays in the budgetary process and passage of the appropriation act into law thereby frustrating the implementation of the party’s manifesto and programs and frustrating the APC led Federal Government in the actualization of the campaign promises of the party.
“Converting the guest house of the senate President to meeting points and presiding over anti APC activities in the guest house and encouraging defection of senators from the party and presiding over such meetings and compiling a list of the said defectors including some without out their consent.
“Procuring joint letter of decampees from the APC and reading same on the floor of the senate including some who did not accede to defecting thereby causing embarrassment to the party. Inspite of the efforts to address grievances to reconcile aggrieved members, you worked against the process and encouraged the formation of an association which sought to impersonate and pass off the name of the party.”