The Director General of Confederation of All Progressives Congress(APC)  Support Groups,Eng. Kailani Muhammad

Said  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed  to making Nigeria great again, despite harsh economic conditions.

He also said the President means well for the country with the harsh reform policies stressing,”success will surely be achieved if Nigerians play their roles as citizens because they will be the  beneficiaries of subsidy withdrawal. “

Briefing journalists on state of nation at Abuja during the weekend , Eng Kailani Muhammad said the President is known for his ability and capacity to deliver good governance and will not disappoint now that he’s saddled with power as President of Africa’s largest economy .

He also said ,though the policies could appear harsh now ,but with time and proper implementation by the Ministers and other  appointees, Nigerians will grow and be known as the fattest growing economy in the world . 

While speaking on need to recognize members of the Confederation of APC Support Groups who toiled day and night to ensure victory at the presidential polls, Kailani disclosed ,”The president needs experienced; competent  and seasoned administrators, who don’t know how to steal to help him succeed. 

“We are very positive that if the  President engages members of the  Support Groups with capacity and competence,the fear over possible failure on delivering on the campaign promises would have been allayed.

“We know for sure and comfortable that the  President has a system of rewarding hard work ,thus we appeal to him to recognize and  appreciate all our efforts. 

Meanwhile, the DG, who reiterated need for citizens to have hope in Tinubu led administration , implore youths across the country to groom themselves for political leadership. 

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Akpabio associate uncovers ‘multimillion naira’ media budget against Senate President

A political associate of Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr. Jibril Tafida has raised alarm over alleged ‘multimillion naira plot of a dirty media campaign’ against the current Senate leadership.

Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, Tafida said it was an agenda that arose from “transfer of anger, emanating from the just- included ministerial screening, as many politicians thought they would be ministers under the current dispensation”.

He said those hatching the “well-oiled dirty media campaign have already agreed on news angles to take and share with local and foreign media channels in order to reach a wider audience”.

Dr. Tafida called on the Senate under the leadership of Senator Akpabio “not to be distracted from his commendable legislative activism and the leadership of the upper chamber of the National Assembly”.

He then called on Nigerians to ignore “all the negative narratives they see in local and foreign media because the people behind them don’t have Nigeria and democracy at heart”.

Arewa Agenda rue call for Akume’s sackArewa Agenda rue c

A voluntary organization that promotes peace and development in northern Nigeria, Arewa New Agenda (ANA), has raised concern over calls to sack the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

The ANA members led by its Convener and Chairman of Arewa New Agenda, Sen. Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi, voiced their concern in a statement on Saturday.

The statement read in part: “At the heart of the matter is the recent statement by Chief Audu Ogbe, a respected elder statesman, who called for the removal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. Chief Ogbe led a press conference that brought together stakeholders from the Idoma community, expressing their dissatisfaction with the appointment of a Tiv nominee as a minister from Benue State. The stakeholders argued that the move further marginalized the Idoma ethnic group within the State”.

ANA acknowledged the democratic right of Chief Ogbe and his fellow stakeholders to express their opinions on the issue. However, the group raised concerns about the subsequent claims that the appointment was orchestrated by SGF Akume to marginalize the Idoma community. ANA emphasized that such allegations could potentially send a misleading message to the Nigerian public.

The statement further said, “Sen. Akume’s appointment as SGF was initially met with widespread acceptance from various political and social circles across the country. His inclusion was perceived as a balancing factor, crucial for maintaining political stability after the closely contested 2023 presidential election”.

ANA highlighted that Akume’s appointment was a strategic choice to represent the northern region, particularly the northern Christian block, in President Tinubu’s cabinet.

ANA firmly asserted that the significance of Akume’s role transcended local politics in Benue State. They underscored that he played a crucial role in maintaining political equilibrium on a national level. The group expressed its disappointment that Chief Ogbe’s comments had exposed him to criticism, and they called on him and others to retract their statements for the sake of northern unity and broader national cohesion.

Touching on the recent political tensions within Benue State, ANA urged the state’s elder statesmen to step up and ensure peace prevails, preventing further disruption. They reminded the public that the president holds the prerogative to appoint the SGF and that the choice is made based on competence and loyalty. Similarly, the appointment of Federal Ministers adheres to the constitutional requirement of fair representation, ensuring that each state is represented in the cabinet.

In closing, the ANA called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to remain steadfast in the face of these challenges and to focus on his Renewed Hope agenda, which aims to uplift the nation through people-oriented policies.

The forum encouraged all northerners to rally behind SGF Akume and support his efforts as a pivotal figure within the President Tinubu-led administration.

The Arewa New Agenda re-affirmd the group’s commitment to fostering unity, peace, and progress in Nigeria.

NRM Chieftain, Rev Olorunmagba Refutes Claims That NRM Endorsed APC’s Ododo Once Again: Opens Can Of Worms

Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba, the substantive (current) National Financial Secretary of National Rescue Movement (NRM), has reaffirmed the stance that anyone in NRM who claims the party has endorsed APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo, for the Kogi State November 11 governorship election has scammed him (Ododo) big time!

The affirmation came in reaction to the response of Mallam Bala Abdulgafar Dirisu, whom he referred to as “the mere governorship ticket placeholder, who erroneously assume that he has acquired the status of a Kogi State gubernatorial candidate for National Rescue Movement (NRM).”

Idrisu Bala of National Rescue Movement (NRM) who on Saturday July 29, 2023 had staged a Press Conference at NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja Kogi State with some people he claimed to be from five different political parties, announcing that they have adopted the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Usman Ododo on behalf of their party. But in a swift reaction, Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba who is NRM chieftain of Kogi State extraction, debunked the claim, asserting that NRM was not part of any so called endorsement for Ododo as nether the national nor state ever discussed such endorsement.

Then Idrisu Bala responded titling it, “Reverend Olorunmagba Can’t Speak For NRM, We Stand By Endorsement Of Ododo.” Again Olorunmagba insits that the so called endorsement remains scam for at no time and at no level did NRM ever discussed the endorsement of Ododo let alone agreeing to endorse him. He further stated that the response by Bala Idrisu, is not only full of lies and deceitful manipulation, it is also laden with concocted name calling as is his (Idrisu’s) usual manner. For he finds it difficult to sustain intelligent discussion that exposes his errors, without he retorting to threats and name calling. However, “I will not descend with him into the mud, but I will address the lies and the deceptive manipulations he loaded his response with.

“And this will be the commencement of opening of cans of worms as relating to the so called endorsement, to categorically reassert the it was a big scam.

The NRM chieftain said it is laughable that Bala Idrisu said Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba cannot speak for NRM as he is not the spokesman of the party. Yet the same Idrisu in the same statement claimed to be speaking for NRM, warning his fellow member of the National Working Committee of the party. He even went to the extent of claiming to have endorsed a candidate from another party on behalf of NRM.

“The pertinent questions begging for answer remain, is Bala Idrisu now the spokesman of NRM? Or did Mr. Sola Afuye who is the substantive National Publicity Secretary of the party mandated him to speak on his behalf? Or is Bala now the National Chairman of the party or BoT chairman to have
arrogated such “all-in-all power” to himself? The answer is capital NO!

“Secondly, Mallam Bala Abdulgafar Dirisu was only a mere placeholder to quickly fill the gubernatorial space just to beat the deadline of INEC submission, so that if the party later gets a credible governorship candidate, he will be replaced based on the decision of the National Working Committee of the party through an NMC meeting. But funny enough, he started feeling like authentic governorship candidate of the party and without any kind of meeting with other members of the National Working Committee and without even consulting with the NWC he went to Lokoja to claim to have endorsed APC gubernatorial candidate, Usman Ododo, on behalf of the party. Again, I ask, is Bala Idrisu now the all in all of the 47 members of the National Working Committee of the party? We know that the answer is capital NO! It’s of note that even Kogi State Executive Committee was not carried along. Our investigation reveals that he only did the backyard business with just two people who erroneously assume they are the “all in all in NRM”. Yet he falsely claimed that it was the decision of the party.

Bala Idrisu deceptively claimed as follows, “Before the Kogi State chapter of the NRM endorsed, Ododo, all the party members met and the decision was unanimous. Our resolution was forwarded to the national secretariat of our party which finally gave it’s blessings.

The statement above by Idrisu is totally falsehood. The fact is, there was no meeting where such was discussed. Even the Kogi State Executive Committee was not carried along. In fact, most of the members of the National Working Committee as well as state executive only read of it for the first time when the news of the so called endorsement got to social media; apart from the three of them doing the backyard business.

“I put it to Mallam Bala Abdulgafar Dirisu that either at national or state level, he should give the date of the so called meeting he claimed. Present an evidence of the notice of the purported meeting. List the names of those present at the so called meeting (since there must be a quorum for a meeting to hold). Where is the venue of the meeting and who took the minute of the imaginary meeting? According to our constitution, these are the requirements before a meeting can hold.

“The fact remains and I reaffirm that, there was no meeting of NRM where such so called endorsement was discussed let alone agreed upon.”

Thirdly, Idrisu referred to a current and substantive National Financial Secretary of the party NRM as “the estranged National Financial Secretary of the National Rescue Movement (NRM)”. Well, if there is anyone in doubt he/she can check the profile of the party national officers directly from INEC website then you will see clearly, boldly and unambiguously that Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba is listed as the National Financial Secretary. So I don’t need to dwell on this. As it’s obvious that he (Bala Idrisu) doesn’t even know the meaning of the word, ‘estranged’ he used, he might have heard it somewhere and decided to borrow the word.

Fourthly, on the claim of Idrisu that, “Olorunmagba is not residing in Kogi State. He is mostly in Kaduna state and knows nothing about Kogi politics.” The question to him (Bala Idrisu) is that, as he Idrisu is also resident in Abuja, does he assume that Abuja is now the capital of Kogi State, or is Abuja where Bala Idrisu is living now part of Kogi State?

The truth is that Idrisu is an Abuja politician and “I am more on ground in Kogi State than him, as I do travel to Kogi State from time to time, more than him and get involved more in Kogi State politics.

“And to further expose how he has not been on ground in Kogi State. In the last election held on 25 February, 2023. Idrisu contested Senate position for Kogi West compromising seven (7) Local Governments, while I contested for House of Representatives Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, comprising two Local Governments. The total votes I got in the two Local Governments are more than the total votes he got in all of the seven Local Governments he contested, put together. The records are there for anyone to verify. Then who is more at home now when it comes to Kogi State politics?”

Rev. Emmanuel added that it’s time to start opening the can of worms over the scam played out and tagged endorsement. “Initially, I didn’t want to open the can of worms, but since Bala is pushing and dragging the issue, I will start opening them. For each response to him, I will open one.

“In stage-managing the so called endorsement, Bala Idrisu and his partners in their usual ‘arrangee’ characteristics, had to deceitfully arrange for someone to come to claim to be representing Boot Party, and that he is from Kogi State. And the fact is that the person so arranged, is not even a member of Boot Party and he is not from Kogi State. Funny enough, at the end of the so called endorsement, from the money said to have been given to them for the so called endorsement, the share of the money that supposed to be for Boot Party resulted in serious fight. The person who was used to claim to be representing Boot Party was reported to have insisted that since he took such risk, he should get a loin share of the money for Boot Party. But Idrisu and his partners felt otherwise and wanted to collect all the money for Boot Party and just drop peanuts for the person they used. The fight was said to be so serious, to the extent that Bala Idrisu and his people had to frame them up to DSS to arrest those who felt they should not be used and dumped; as they refused to release the money to Bala and co, due to the argument on the sharing formula. They were said to have been arrested and that they had to bail themselves from DSS net.”

This can be clearly confirmed from the DSS office in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The Kogi born NRM chieftain stressed that he decided to give the above scenario to show Bala Idrisu and two others in NRM, “that we are well furnished with adequate information of the scam called endorsement. And more of this kind will still be exposed in my subsequent response as long as they continue to drag the issue.

“I believe that the National Publicity Secretary of our party, NRM in person of Mr. Sola Afuye who I know will always stand on the side of the truth, will also address this issue as time goes on” he concluded.

Kaduna Tribunal: APC optimistic of victory at tribunal – Comrade Musa Mohammed

A member of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, Comrade Mohammed, says he is optimistic of victory in the petition filed by Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan challenging the victory of Sen. Uba Sani in the March 2023 governorship election.

Speaking in an interview with Journalists, after the court seating in Kaduna on Friday, Comrade Mohammed, expressed optimism that APC and Uba Sani would emerge victorious at the tribunal.

”We are sure of victory for Gov. Uba Sani and APC at the tribunal,” he said.

He urged members of the party in the state to remain calm as they await the judgement of the Governatorial Election Petition.

“As democrats, we are calling on members of our great party, APC, across kaduna state, to be calm and to wait for the judgement.

“We are expecting a very positive and good verdict that would enhance the dignity of the judicial system of this country”.

Comrade Mohammed expressed hope that his governor and APC would succeed at the tribunal, and he have high hopes that the court would do the needful in its verdict.

“My expectation, is that our Governor Uba Sani and APC will succeed the petition at the tribunal.
This is because the petitioners don’t have enough to prove their case. The evidence was not overwhelming and it was not clear to everyone of us that the petitioners had no enough and clear evidence.The judiciary will be courageous and bold to deliver justice.”

Peace and Unity: Coalition asks ANA to organize nat’l day for forgiveness and reconciliation

…. Says despite insecurity threats there is still hope for Nigeria

By Tom Garba, Yola

During a two day Round Table Dialogue to Explores Path to Peaceful Coexistence in Northern Nigeria, Arewa New Agenda (ANA) has been tasked to organize a national Day for forgiveness and reconciliation.

The called was made by representatives from diverse ethnic councils, including the Yoruba Community Council, South-South Peoples Forum, Fulbe United for Peace and Development, and Igbo Delegate Assembly where they engaged in candid discussions during the session.

The round table, chaired by Senator Ahmed Abubakar MoAllahyidi, ANA Convener and was graced by notable figures, including National Secretary of the APC Senator Basiru Ajibola, represented by Senator Yunus Akintunde and extensively discussed on “Tranquility Through Ethno-Religious Tolerance & Peaceful Coexistence,”

The event which was aimed to foster unity and understanding among the various ethnic groups in the region, participants responded a continuing dialogue, advocacy, and sensitization efforts will help to address communal conflicts.

Collaborating with like-minded groups to promote tranquility in northern Nigeria and the nation at large ams revisiting the national Almajiri educational program through the ZUBEC model were some of the responses of the participants.

“Encouraging State Governments to create secure environments for all ethnic groups residing in northern Nigeria. And Proposing a National Day of Forgiveness and Reconciliation, in collaboration with government and community leaders.

“Promoting inclusivity in State Governments to reflect the contributions of ethnic communities, establishing inter-faith commissions at the state level to manage ethnic and religious matters. And Reorienting the national orientation agency to actively promote messages of peace in schools.

“Exploring the establishment of a national livestock commission to manage livestock issues and its value chain and urging ethno-religious leaders to educate their followers about respecting cultures and religions.” participants responded

They shared their concerns, reminiscing about a time when peaceful coexistence was the hallmark of northern Nigeria, questing for tranquility through ethno-religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Peace and Unity was the center stage during the two-day round table dialogue held at the International Conference Center in Abuja which was organized by ANA and brought together prominent leaders from diverse ethnic communities across northern Nigeria to address the pressing issue of escalating violence and unrest.

The worried how the northern Nigeria has been plagued by relentless violent attacks, primarily attributed to extremist sects such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.

According to them the attacks have cast a shadow over the region, leaving communities grappling with fear and uncertainty.

It is one of reason that ANA take a bold effort to address the growing menace and initiated the round table dialogue, seeking input from key stakeholders within the northern Nigerian communities.

The participants are however hopeful that the region can reclaim its past glory of harmony and unity. The session yielded a series of resolutions aimed at forging a brighter future for the northern Nigerian states and the entire nation. Some of the key resolutions included:

“The collective acknowledgment of the opportunity to rebuild the social fabric of unity and brotherhood in Nigeria. And Recognition and appreciation for the efforts of the Arewa New Agenda in promoting dialogue among diverse communities.

“Acknowledgment and appreciation for the work of ethnic community leaders and individuals in fostering tolerance and coexistence. And Identification of factors obstructing peaceful coexistence, such as lack of cultural respect, absence of inclusive governance, and inadequate understanding of cultural values.”

The round table concluded with a collective call for the restoration of history education in schools and a renewed commitment to fostering unity and peace across the nation.

And the event signatories were Senator Ahmad Abubakr MoAllahyidi, Mr. Mike Iyangudo, Chief Chikezie Nwogu, Mr. Abdulrazaq Mustapha, and Ardo Aliyu Liman Bobboi, as northern Nigeria navigates its path towards a more harmonious future, the outcomes of this significant round table dialogue hold the promise of renewed hope and progress for the region and the nation as a whole.

NRM Purported Endorsement Of APC’s Ododo For Kogi 2023, A Big Scam!
-NRM Chieftain

The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi State gubernatorial election slated for November 2023 might have been scammed with fake endorsement as the National Financial Secretary of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), who was also the candidate of the party for House of Representatives, Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the February 25, 2023 election; Reverend Emmanuel Olorunmagba has described the so called endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Usman Ododo by his political party, National Rescue Movement (NRM) as a big scam.

Olorunmagba, the NRM National Officer who is a bonafide Kogi State indigene, in a statement issued to Pressmen in Abuja, Nigeria on Wednesday August 9, 2023; stressed that the entire structure of the party know nothing about the so called endorsement. Perhaps an individual has taken advantage of the APC gubernatorial candidate.

“Therefore, if any individual claimed to be endorsing a candidate for an election that the party structure knows nothing about not to talk of being in support, then the candidate so claimed to have gained the endorsement has been scammed, big time.

“In fact, as the National officer of the party, NRM who is from Kogi State, I was shocked when I read the news on Facebook captioned, “2023 Kogi Guber: APC swallows 5 political parties on the march to November election”, because that was the first place I saw it, two days after the jamboree called endorsement. As I read it on Facebook, I copied it and sent to eight (8) of our national officers (members of the NWC of NRM) to find out if there was anything like that, or if there was any meeting either of the NWC or the NMC, the highest ruling body of the party that I was not part of, where such a thing was discussed and agreed. They were also all shocked to have read such a sham as none of them had any prior information until they read it from the link I sent to them. And it was never discussed nor agreed in any meeting in any way,” he said.

Adding that if there must be an endorsement of any candidate, the party structures have to be in the know because any kind of endorsement by any individual without the party structures giving it a nod, to vote and work for such candidate is a big scam.

“No individual or two persons can claim to be endorsing a person on behalf of a party without others working in the same direction. Such can only be for media hype and nothing more,” he pointed out.

According to the Kogi State born NRM candidate for House of Representatives in the last election, neither the national body of NRM, nor the Kogi State chapter is part of such endorsement of APC gubernatorial candidate for Kogi State.

“If the party will later endorse any candidate, all hands will be on deck. All national and state officers will be adequately carried along, so that those of us from Kogi State can all work as a team, mobilising our entire circle of influence to deliver block votes for the candidate so endorsed.

“The most annoying is the caption that APC swallows five political parties in Kogi State and listing NRM as part of the parties so purportedly swallowed. Let’s get this straight, NO PARTY SWALLOWED NRM THAT I AM A NATIONAL OFFICER and NRM is not for swallowing.

“In conclusion, anyone or group of persons in APC dealing with anybody claiming to be coming for any kind of alliance or endorsement on behalf of the party, National Rescue Movement (NRM) has allowed himself to be cheaply scammed.

“As a National officer of the party, NRM from Kogi State and a candidate of the party in the last election, I have the responsibility to clear the air on the misinformation and put the record straight to the public. Those who want to play politics are advised to avoid certain propaganda that can be easily exposed”. he concluded.

It is of note that on Sunday July 30, 2023 the news captioned “2023 Kogi Guber: APC swallows 5 political parties on the march to November election” had surfaced on a section of the media, claiming to be from a group codenamed, “United Progressive Political Parties”, though the group is not registered anywhere, but they claimed that the group, comprise “the All Peoples Party (APP), Africa Democratic Party (ADP), Boot Party (BP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)”. These are the political party claimed to have been so swallowed by APC in Kogi State.

The report also added that the gubernatorial candidates for the parties “declared the withdrawals of their parties and candidates from the forthcoming November Governorship election”.

This was said to have taken place at a press conference held on Saturday July 29, 2023 in Lokoja, Kogi State. According to the report, “the group, United Progressive Political Parties, led by the Candidate of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, Mallam Abdulgafar Dirisu, declared that it has resolved to align with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and endorsed the candidature of Ahmed Usman Ododo the APC.”

Those said to have been “in attendance at the press conference… were Onaji Sunday, APP candidate, Prince Yahaya Mandal, Kogi ADP Chairman, Muhammed Kabir Umar, Boot Party candidate, Bala Abdulgafar Dirisu and Honourable Fatimah Suleman, Zenith Labour Party candidate.”

Election Tribunal: Gov. Uba Sani Will Emerge Victorious – Comrade Musa Mohammed

A member of All Progressive Congress (APC), in Kaduna una State, Comrade Musa Mohammed expressed confidence that Governor Uba Sani will emerge victorious at the tribunal.

Comrade Mohammed also said he has  faith and confidence Uba Sani’s victory as the governor elect will remain firm and unshaken.

He made the statement during an interview with newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday. 

He assured all APC supporters of victory for Gov. Uba Sani and APC at the tribunal.

 “I want to assure all members of All Progressive Congress (APC), and supporters of Governor Uba Sani, that we are standing tall and confident of victory”.

“With what we have before the tribunal, there is no cause for alarm. 

“We believe that by the grace of God, we will glorify God and celebrate Uba Sani victory in the tribunal”. 

“And we really appreciated the people of the State for their support for Uba Sani administration since inception”.

Comrade Mohammed noted that members of the party and the good citizens of Kaduna state are solidly behind Governor Uba Sani and would continue to support him in prayers for him to emerge victorious at the tribunal.

He commended the Governor for his developmental strides in his 70 days as the governor elect.