All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state has endorsed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar for the 2015 Presidential election of Nigeria on the platform of the party
At a news conference today in Yola, capital of Adamawa state, the state Chairman of APC, Hon. Binta Masi Kwaji said that the state executive committee of the party has thrown its weight behind Atiku Abubakar for the APC presidential primary.
“Atiku Abubakar is not just a son of Adamawa State. The
Turaki Adamawa is well-known and well-respected across the six geopolitical zones of our great country, Nigeria. His marriage and business ties cut across tribe and tongue, as do his philanthropy and social obligations.”
The chairman noted that only few politicians can lay claim to such personal and leadership qualities, especially in what she called “the deeply-divided Nigeria we have today.
“We are proud of the outstanding leadership role Atiku Abubakar has played in this country over the past 15 years of democracy, both within and outside government. He has shone as a bridge-builder, stepping in during times of discord to mediate peace within and outside the APC. Without antagonism or malice, he has consistently lent his voice to pressing national issues, offering counsel to the Federal Government at times when those at the top were clueless about what steps to take.”
She described Atiku Abubakar as a leader with a difference, adding that he is a man of the people.
“Without the least meaning to diminish his national and global stature, it is on records that Atiku as an individual has done more to develop Adamawa State than any indigene of the state that is living or dead. His university, the American University of Nigeria has put our state and the whole country on the world’s map of quality education.”
Binta Masi said that Atiku ranks as the highest employer of labour through his many businesses and industrial establishments.
She said that the people of Adamawa state are proud of Atiku on the great strides he had made in areas such as job creation, improvement of the economy, education, infrastructure, transparency in government and the overall welfare of Nigerians.
She said that it was on this note that the entire members of the State Executive Committee supported by the party chairmen in all the local government areas representing the APC in Adamawa State have decided to endorse the
Turaki Adamawa for the 2015 Presidential elections.
“Following a meeting of the party executives yesterday evening, we unanimously resolved that we will give him our full backing towards realizing his ambitions to create a Nigeria for all.
“The party, therefore, urges all APC faithful in the state to support this gesture and also give Atiku Abubakar their full backing. The people of Adamawa must unite to ensure that the 2015 elections bring about the change that we all seek.”  [myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan has warned Itsekiri elders, community leaders and parties in Ogidigben, the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state to stop what he called their “uncharitable and unwarranted” accusations of nepotism and partisanship which they have leveled against him in the wake of the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in the area.
In a statement today, issued by the special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan noted with regret, the unnecessary controversy and acrimony that have arisen over the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony.
President Jonathan expressed his deep sadness over what he called “the very unjust, uncharitable and unwarranted accusations of nepotism and partisanship that have been made against him in the wake of the postponement.”
The President said that he was particularly dismayed by the unseemly resort to the abusive denigration of his personal integrity and the whipping up of divisive ethnic sentiments by parties to the totally needless communal disagreement that resulted in the decision to reschedule the ground-breaking event.
“It should be apparent to all Nigerians by now that while I, as the President may be affiliated to the Ijaw ethnic group by birth, I know fully well that I was elected President of all Nigerians and have always shown by word and deed that I will always uphold the oath I swore on assumption of office to protect and promote the interests of all citizens with justice, equity and fairness to all as I guiding principles.
He said that the elders, community leaders and parties to the dispute over the location and ground-breaking event for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park who have resorted to threats and accusations of partisanship against him in press conferences and paid adverts in newspapers are being most unfair to him and doing a great disservice to continuing efforts to forge greater national unity and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians.
“We assure all concerned persons that as the leader of the nation, President Jonathan is not, and cannot be on the side of any party to the avoidable dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park.
“The project itself was conceived for the benefit of all Nigerians, not just Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos or other ethnic groups in its immediate environment.
“In terms of employment opportunities, it is projected that the Gas Industrial Revolution Park will ultimately create up to three million jobs for Nigerians in its catchment area and other parts of the country.
“All the people of Delta State and Nigerians living in other parts of the country will also benefit greatly from the project by way of improved power supply and other ancillary products such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and more raw materials to boost local industrial production.”
President Jonathan therefore urges all parties to the communal dispute over the location and ownership of the site of the Gas Industrial Revolution Park to cooperate fully with ongoing efforts by the Federal and the Delta state governments to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues so that the project can proceed apace for the benefit of local communities, all Nigerians and investors.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the postponement of the ground-breaking ceremony for the project earlier scheduled for last Friday was not in furtherance of any anti-Itsekiri agenda.
“Rather, it was borne out of the clear need to give all concerned parties more time to achieve the communal peace, understanding and harmony that will greatly facilitate the project’s speedy actualization for the benefit of Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos, Ibos, Isokos and all other Nigerians.
President Jonathan asked the elders and leaders of the concerned communities to heed the pleas of Federal and state government mediators and expeditiously resolve their differences for the good of all and the progress of the country.
He made it clear that he would perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gas Industrial Revolution Park very soon, but that it would be in conditions of communal peace, unity and harmony. [myad]

Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Lafia, the state capital, following unceasing violence in the state capital and its environs.

The governor said that the decision was reached today after an emergency meeting of the State Security Council held at Government House, Lafia.

The governor added that the curfew has become necessary to stop the spate of violence and killings in the state. He explained that the curfew would start at 6pm and end at 6am. [myad]

Factional speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku has accused the Ebonyi state governor, Martin Elechi of mismanaging the N16.5 billion bond obtained from the capital market in 2010 for the execution of certain capital projects in the state, including the International Market, the State Secretariat, Oforekpe Water Scheme and others.

In a letter he wrote and signed, the speaker called on the President to withhold his approval of the second bond of 15 billion sought by Governor Elechi for the state.

Nwazunku further indicted the governor of diverting the bond money noting that the projects that the money was meant for “are scarcely attended to, to the extent that even in the next one-year the project will never be implemented.”

“Since our approval of the second bond, however certain revelations have come to light to warrant keeping the second in view pending a proper detailed briefing of the house on the use of the first bond.

“It does not appear as if the first bond has been properly used in view of the fact that the target projects the bond was meant for was scarcely attended to, to the extent that even in the next one-year the project will never be implemented.

“We have requested for proper briefing on the use of the first bond but rather that do so, all hell has been let loose on some house members. We are, however, not bothered by this state of affairs.

“We have requested for proper briefing on the use of the first bond but rather that do so, all hell has been let loose on some house members. We are, however, not bothered by this state of affairs.

“In view of the fact that the target projects for the first bond obtained will still take over one year to complete, and in view also that the tenure of the present administration will be rounding off in the next 6 months, we respectfully invite your excellency to graciously withhold your kind approval of the new second bond which the Ebonyi state government has applied for pending when our relevant committee is properly briefed on the use of the first bond.” [myad]

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that he wants to represent Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly to enable him push for the oil producing communities to have 10 percent equity participation in oil companies operating in their areas.
Speaking at the weekend at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attended by aspirants and leaders of the party at its secretariat in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan said that he is determined to ensure that the Niger Delta region is no longer short-changed.
Dr. Uduaghan promised to pursue with vigour the participation of oil producing communities in their naturally given resources to address years of neglect and insensitivity to their plight by the oil companies.
“My desire is to ensure that the 10 per cent equity participation by oil producing communities in oil companies sees the light of the day. My passion is to vigorously pursue this goal. This informed my decision to represent my people (Delta South Senatorial District) at the Senate.”
The Governor said he has demonstrated the spirit of sportsmanship in the pursuit of his senatorial aspiration, promising to embrace his opponents should he wins or loses as politics, to him is not a do-or-die affair.
Governor Uduaghan dismissed allegations of imposition and manipulation of the ward delegates lists levelled against him by some leaders of the party, pleading with aspirants to shun mudslinging and falsehood as well as other acts that are capable of inciting members of the party against one another.
Meanwhile, the expanded Executive Committee meeting of the State’s PDP , attended by leaders and aspirants
have elected Chief Edwin Uzor as Acting State Chairman of the party even as it affirmed its position in the harmonized list of ward congress of each local government areas as reached by leaders and elders of the party in the state.
Governor Uduaghan, who is the leader of the party in the state, charged the acting chairman to be firm and steadfast, particularly in this period of the primaries to guarantee a level playing field for all aspirants.
The Governor explained that Uzor was elected following the resignation of the former chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi who left to pursue a political ambition, explaining that the acting chairman would be in charge pending the conduct of state congress to elect a substantive chairman.
Speaking shortly after his election, Chief Edwin Uzor who was the state PDP Auditor, pledged to carry everyone along and to support to Dr. Uduaghan’s Administration’s three point developmental agenda.
Highlight of the meeting was the motion by Chief Nwaoboshi for the retention of the ward delegates list without alteration as prepared by the elders and leaders of the party. The motion for the retention of the list which the Executive committee said will be used for all the primaries were seconded by the Majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya. [myad]

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, Joshua Igbubguru, the Ibenabowei (King) of Bomo Kingdom, has wondered over the rapid development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, attributing it to the minister’s strong will-power.
He emphasized that the Minister’s success story has been as a result of his strong will power and commitment to the Nigerian project.
The Monarch who spoke to newsmen in Abuja today, commended the recent flag-off of the construction of 40,000 housing units for workers by the FCT Administration, describing the scheme as unprecedented in the history of the nation.
King Joshua Igbubguru said that the minister’s
execution of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially through the provision of standard housing and infrastructural facilities is uncommon.
He took a look at the Abuja land swap policy which was introduced by Senator Bala and said that it is another revolutionary measure that has contributed to the acceleration of housing development in the nation’s capital.
“It is, indeed, an outstanding act in vision and courageous leadership for a minister to initiate and embark on the opening of ten new districts in Abuja at a go. You know that before this minister came on board, Abuja was facing serious crisis of scarcity of approved houses and illegal developments everywhere, but today, anywhere you go in Abuja there are thousands of modern estates, offices and houses springing up. “This will go a long way to help achieve the target of decent housing for all and also carter for the large number of people relocating to Abuja from all parts of the country.” [myad]