Mercy Lank
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has rejected and dismissed the purported dissolution of party executive at the ward, local government and state levels by the national chairman, Adams Oshiomole. It said the action of the National Working Committee (NWC) was not only outrightly unlawful but also null and void. The position of the party was contained in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sulyma Buhari. The State Executive Committee is perceived to be loyal to the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. Buhari said in the statement: “We confirm that there is no case of lacuna in the party leadership in Kwara State and there was no ground for the purported dissolution. Thus, the NWC erred in law. Furthermore, the purported dissolution is null and void.
“We recall that for many weeks, party members worked assiduously and painstakingly to elect party leadership at the ward, local government and state levels in Kwara State. The party structure was certified as duly elected by the National Working Committee of APC. The duly elected party structure in Kwara State cannot be overthrown or dissolved by an unlawful declaration from Abuja. “Considering the inglorious role played by Comrade Adams Oshiomole, he has lost the respect of the leadership and members of APC in the 16 local government areas and 193 wards of Kwara State. He has destroyed his human rights credentials. It is crystal clear the emerging dictator is always willing to trample on the rights of other party members whenever his personal interest is involved. “While the party will exercise legal means to protect the constitutional mandates of the party leadership at the ward, local government and state levels, we wish to reaffirm that the Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani – led State Executive Committee (SEC) remains the only authentic and lawful leadership of APC in Kwara State.
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“Despite the distraction from Abuja, the Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani – led State Executive Committee (SEC), the party leadership in the 16 local government and 193 wards of Kwara State shall continue to discharge constitutional functions. All members of the APC in Kwara State should remain calm as we devise legal measures to guarantee the protection of their rights.”
4-3-3: Predicted Man Utd line-up to face Real Madrid and team news
Mercy Lank
Manchester United’s pre-season tour has been far from ideal thus far. There are key players missing through injury and post-World Cup breaks, but that isn’t enough to excuse the worrying performances we’ve been subject to in the United States. The two draws against Club America and San Jose Earthquakes were followed by a win on penalties versus AC Milan and a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Liverpool. It’s a pre-season tour and the lads look like they’ve been ordered to sit back, soak pressure and rarely attack. What’s the fun in that?
With Gareth Bale set to stay at Real Madrid and Toni Kroos available for selection, it will be intriguing to see whether Julen Lopetegui starts with the two United targets. Kroos was always an unlikely one, while Bale gave us false hope. In the early hours of Friday morning, we take on Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Manchester United XI for the game.
Grant – Fosu-Mensah, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Shaw – McTominay, Fred, Pereria – Chong, Sanchez, Mata Joel Pereira is set to go out on loan in the coming days, so I fully expect Lee Grant to start in between the sticks. Mourinho was full of praise for Eric Bailly after playing against Liverpool, despite having an ankle injury. He should feature but the manager may not want to risk him with the number of injuries he already has to deal with, just over a week until the Premier League season begins. Chris Smalling hasn’t trained recently, too, meaning Axel Tuanzebe may need to be called upon for the 2018-19 campaign opener. Luke Shaw is certain to start at left-back, although the right-back role is up for grabs between Timothy Fosu-Mensah and wantaway Italy international Matteo Darmian.
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midfield
Scott McTominay is likely to act as the anchor in Nemanja Matic’s absence. Meanwhile, we fully expect Fred to get his first start in a United shirt, after featuring from the bench against Liverpool on Saturday. That leaves the next spot to either Andreas Pereira or Ander Herrera and, on the back of performance levels on tour, there should be the only one getting the nod. Chong lit up United’s attack when he came on against Club America. The youngster has struggled to replicate that cameo, but I’d still stick with him against Real Madrid for the experience alone, or perhaps hand Angel Gomes the opportunity? Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez, on the other hand, appear to have a great understanding of how to accommodate each other on the pitch. Hopefully, when United get on the ball they use it efficiently rather than giving it back to Real Madrid time and time again.Kwara APC Stakeholders Shelve Planned Protest against Saraki
Mercy Lank
Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state have suspended their plan to carry out a protest at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja against Senate President Bukola Saraki. The concerned party members had earlier planned to stage a protest Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja against Senator Bukola Saraki for alleged anti-party activities, but later dropped the idea.
THISDAY gathered that the group which is loyal to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had complained bitterly against the alleged antics of the Senate President and the suspicion that he was behind the recent defections that hit the party, especially in Kwara state. The suspension of their protest followed Monday’s decision of the APC national leadership to sack the elected state party executives in Kwara state. A source in the Kwara APC told THISDAY that as soon as they got the information on the dissolution of the party executives, it was decided to stop the protest. “It’s no more a protest, the story has changed . Kwara APC stakeholders will storm APC Secretariat to commend the National Working Committee on the dissolution of executives,” the source said. The APC NWC had sacked the party executives in Kwara citing irregularities associated with the congress and anti party activities by the ousted executives. In a resolution signed by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the party said a caretaker committee led by Hon.Bashir Bolarinwa had been appointed to head the state Executive Committee of the party in the state while caretaker committees will be constituted in the wards and Local Government Areas.
According to the resolution, “ the NWC at its meeting of 30th, July, 2018, examined the unfolding developments within the party in Kwara state, specifically the irregularities that characterised the conduct and outcome of the congresses that produced the leadership of the party at all levels (ward, Local Government and state).”
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Transfer Talk :4-2-3-1 How Arsenal could line up with Ousmane Dembele in attack if he completes mega move
Mercy Lank
Following the arrival of Brazilian winger Malcolm at Barcelona, there have been claims that Dembele could exit the Catalan outfit, just a year after signing for them for a stunning £97m from German club, Borussia Dortmund.
The 21-year-old struggled for game time and form last term, an issue not helped by injuries; he has been linked with a move away from the La Liga leaders. Unai Emery is said to be a big fan of the player, which could play a part in Dembele’s decision making, given that he believes he doesn’t have the full trust of his current manager, Ernesto Valverde. What would the Arsenal team look like with Dembele in attack? We hazard a guess…
Goalkeeper
Bernd Leno impressed in the 5-1 mauling of PSG over the weekend in the International Champions Cup and will be confident of being number one come the start of the season. He made good saves and looked assured.
Defence
At left-back, Sead Kolasinac has played a lot in this pre-season and has shown signs that he is likely to improve on last year’s disappointing performances. With Nacho Monreal still not back following his World Cup exertions, Kolasinac has capitalized. Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos should form what would be a great centre-back partnership; the latter is an aggressive, front-foot defender. At right-back, Hector Bellerin must use some of that devastating pace of his to wreak havoc on opposition players; we might hope that he can, perhaps, acquire some of the dark arts after training with Stephan Lichtsteiner. 
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Midfield
Emery favours a two-man defensive midfield pivot. One slot should be reserved for Uruguayan anchor man, Lucas Torreira, who was signed from Sampdoria in a £25m deal. Alongside him should be Aaron Ramsey, who will be tasked with connecting the midfield and attack with his tireless running and forward passes. Further up the pitch, Henrikh Mkhitaryan should start, officially, on the left, but with instructions to cut inside and link with others. In the hole, Mesut Ozil is shoe-in and will be tasked with the responsibility of finding that killer final pass. Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, would be able to play from the right and make intelligent decisions with the ball to cause damage – if he joined, of course.
Attack
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed what he can do last term after joining the club in January. He scored 10 times in 13 appearances, and is expected to build on that in his first full campaign at the Emirates Stadium; could he even be in with a shout of finishing as top goalscorer?
Monday, July 30, 2018
N’Golo Kante offered ‘Paul Pogba money’ to stay at Chelsea
Mercy Lank
Many believe that Kante is the best holding midfielder in the world. And the Blues star now has a World Cup winners’ medal to back up those assertions. Yet, while Kante’s stock soars year-on-year, Chelsea appear to be hitting a sticky patch. That’s lead to claims that PSG have started talks to sign Kante. And in the Times on Tuesday, Chelsea’s response to PSG’s advances is revealed.
Chelsea offer ‘Paul Pogba money’ to Kante After the 2018 January transfer window, news outlets all reported on the top earners in the Premier League. Man United’s Alexis Sanchez is highest paid player in the Premier League. The Chilean earns a staggering £500,000 per week at Old Trafford. Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil is the second highest earner on £350,000 per week. While Paul Pogba is the third in the list as the French star pockets £290,000 per week. According to the Times, Chelsea are willing to significantly up Kante’s pay-packet to be on par with Pogba: Chelsea have offered N’Golo Kante a new contract worth nearly £290,000 a week, which would make him the club’s best-paid player. Kante has been offered a five-year deal worth up to £15 million a season, which roughly doubles his present wage.
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So will Kante accept the new deal? The Times hint that’s the case, noting that Kante hasn’t asked to leave the Blues, while Chelsea are refusing to consider any sale.
Willian:"No, I’m back to England. I’m very happy at Chelsea. I’m very happy living in London,”when asked about a move away from Stamford Bridge
Mercy Lank
The story was about the future of the Brazilian national team. Willian has said that he’s not retiring from international football anytime soon, and he will keep working as soon as he returns ‘to his club’ this summer.
That’s when reporter Mauro Naves asked if by ‘his club’ he really means Chelsea, as the player has been heavily linked to several European sides in the past couple of months. Embed from Getty Images “No, I’m back to England. I’m very happy at Chelsea. I’m very happy living in London,” Willian told Globo.
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Willian’s words make it clear that he’s not the one who would ask for a transfer. He’s said many times how much he loves to live in London, and it seems like his feelings for Chelsea are pretty good as well.
2019: What will happen if PDP fails to give Atiku presidential ticket
Mercy Lank
Segun Showunmi, spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, has revealed that it would be disastrous if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fails to field his principal as its candidate in the 2019 presidential election. Showunmi said Atiku deserved the presidential ticket of the PDP because he had been deeply involved in the Nigeria’s political system and understands the peculiarity of the nation’s democracy very good.
According to him, Atiku had built consensus, and is a nationalist that has the ears of the people, adding that he remained the only person who could give President Buhari a run for his money. Speaking with Daily Sun on why Nigerians should queue behind Atikun in 2019, Showunmi said, “There are many Nigerians but he has unique political qualities that distinguished him from others. Many of the aspirants cannot generate exciting emotions outside of their zone. Some of them are just looking at presidency like ambition; they cannot articulate what they want to do with the opportunity. Nigeria needs a leader that has a global reputation. “Atiku is obviously better than other aspirants including the opposition aspirants. He has a bigger vision for Nigeria. None of the Presidential aspirants could challenge Buhari in the 2019 election and succeed.
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” Atiku is the only person that could do that. It will be unwise for PDP to bring an unpopular candidate to challenge the incumbent President. That would be disastrous. He is open to fresh ideas and he believes that all the tribes should bring ideas to the discussion table so we could collectively and extensively discuss and appease all worrying factions.”
Buhari :I will build infrastructure in igboland, Igboland will never be the same after my administration
Mercy Lank
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured people of the South-East of massive infrastructural development under his administration. He assured that he would leave the zone a better place than he met it.
Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina gave the assurance while representing the President at the inauguration and flag off of a 5.5km road in Isieketa community, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, over the weekend. He lamented the infrastructural decay in the country, inherited by his administration. Buhari assured that he would do all to ensure the infrastructural deficits were tackled. He said, “One thing that is dear to the heart of President Buhari is infrastructure, roads, railway, power, etc. “Nigeria has a lot of deficits in infrastructure and President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to reverse that deficit.
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“We will see that by the time this administration ends Igboland will never be the same again. Igbo will be far better beyond where it has ever been before.”
Buhari is responsible for all the crisis in Benue – Middle Belt leaders
Mercy Lank
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has stated that President Muhammdu Buhari should be held responsible for any chaos in Benue State. The group called the attention of the international community to alleged anarchy by the Buhari-led Federal Government in Benue State. The Middle Belt group in a statement jointly signed by Yinka Odumakin South West, Senator Bassey Henshaw South South, Prof Chigozie Ogbu South East and Dr Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt said the ongoing unrest in the state had the backing of the federal government.
The statement reads in full. It has been reported that a ruthless and desperate plot was hatched this morning which involved drafting policemen from Abuja and neighbouring states to force the majority 22 members of the State Assembly out of the Assembly complex to pave way for the impeached Speaker,Hon Terkimbi Ikyange and six others to sit. The gangsteric operations which was said to have been led by Benue State AC OPS,Emmanuel Adesina saw the minority members sitting without the mace and the clerk of the Assembly, suspending the majority 22 members and serving impeachment notice on Governor Ortom. It is shameful that President Buhari who realised after about four months that his Inspector General of Police did not obey his directive to go and secure lives in Benue State and has done nothing to him is so eager to deploy policemen to the State to enforce illegality for political calculations. We are worried that till date the President and his security team have yet to bring anybody to book for the killing of hundreds of people in Benue. They have only been putting pressure on the governor to suspend the anti-open grazing law and cede land for imperialistic and land -grabbing notion of ranches. It is equally embarrassing that a supposed democratic government would resort to thuggish tactics where political engagement is needed . This is a throwback to full blown dictatorship and the dark days of putting human beings in crate. We want to let President Buhari know in advance that he will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and and order in Benue and any possible loss of lives . We call on the international community to pay particular attention to the on-going subversion of the democratic process in Benue by the Buhari government.
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We stand in solidarity with the people of Benue at this dark moment as evil walks on four legs across their state. They must not flinch or surrender as this shall come to pass .
Ortom:APC impeachment notice "it doesn't make sense, it doesn't mean anything "
Mercy Lank
The governor told journalists on Monday that the impeachment plot does not make sense. He noted that the eight APC lawmakers led by the former Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, held the plenary illegally after a court order restraining him from parading himself as Speaker.
“The impeached Speaker and other principal officers paraded themselves in disobedience of the Benue High Court order that they should not do so until the substantive matter was heard. As law-abiding citizens that is what we encourage. “They sat illegally without the clerk of the House or his deputy. “Eight lawmakers claim to have suspended 22 members. Is this not laughable? It is only in a shithole country that you can do this kind of a thing. The same members without forming a quorum claim to illegally move a motion to serve an impeachment notice on me. “It doesn’t make any sense, it doesn’t mean anything. We are learned people, we have read the constitution, we know the provisions,” he said.
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Governor Ortom then called on patriotic Nigerians and Benue people to rise and resist the action of the APC lawmakers which he described as ‘impunity and rape of democracy.’ “This is not the Nigeria we are yearning for. This is not the kind of democracy we are talking about,” the governor added. The impeached Speaker of the Benue State Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, had earlier on Monday led eight of his colleagues, allegedly under heavy police protection, into the House. The police officers blocked the entrance to the Assembly complex and also barred journalists from covering the plenary. Ikyange told journalists after the plenary, that the APC lawmakers are moving to impeach Governor Ortom, over alleged diversion of state funds and abuse of office.
Breaking:8,APC senators served Governor Ortom impeachment notice
Mercy Lank
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Eight lawmakers of the Benue state House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress, APC, have served impeachment notice to the Governor of the state, Samuel Ortom. Ortom The lawmakers who sat in the state’s Assembly complex on Monday, 30th July, 2018 gained access to the state assembly complex while the police barricaded further access to the house, Ortom’s aide has confirmed.
According to Ortom’s spokesman, Tahav Agerzua, the lawmakers took over the Assembly complex to sit and pass the impeachment notice while the police blocked further access. Meanwhile, a detachment of heavily armed policemen have currently shutdown the Benue State House of Assembly. The policemen blocked the entrance to the Assembly complex, denying workers access. Meanwhile, youths from Benue state have, in the early hours of Monday, as at 5:am, trooped en masse to block the Benue Assembly complex over what they claimed was plots by some politicians loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal government to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom who has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Reports not yet very clear claim the security personnel are currently in a clash with the Benue youths over the alleged invasion of State’s Assembly complex as well as the planned plot to impeach the Governor. Reports also claim the police team is firing tear gas to disperse the youths.
Recall that Governor Ortom had given reasons as to why he dumped the APC to include that his people, the Benue state youths, had forced him to leave the party of cease to be their governor.
Defection:Buhari 'I'm not bothered over members moving out of APC
Mercy Lank
President Muhammadu Buhari said Sunday night that he was not bothered about the defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The President, who was responding to a question during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy, Lome, said most Nigerians appreciated the performance of his administration. According to him, “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us. I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.” Expressing delight in seeing the Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend the performance of his administration.
He assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption. The President noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today, citing the $16 billion reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see the power. Restating his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure, providing loans to farmers thereby cutting rice importation by more than 90 per cent, President Buhari said all recovered illegally acquired assets would now be sold and the money paid into the treasury in the administration’s renewed anti-graft campaign. “I assure you that we are making progress in security as some displaced farmers are returning to their farms. We will continue to work very hard for our dear country,” he stressed.
On its part, the APC Togo Chapter, told President Buhari not to be worried about the defections from the party, assuring him of its support in the 2019 presidential election.
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Sunday, July 29, 2018
Defection:Dogara set to dump APC, join PDP
Mercy Lank
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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, may dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) this week. Dogara, who was absent at a parley by the APC House caucus with the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) recently, delayed his planned defection from the party last week (Tuesday) when 36 six of his colleagues decamped to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Guardian learnt that the speaker, who has allegedly been sidelined from the affairs of the party in his home Bauchi State due to a disagreement with Governor Mohammed Abubakar, is billed to formerly announce his defection at his Bogoro/ Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency this week.Already, a group of concerned members of the House of Representatives under the auspices of Parliamentary Democrats Group (PDG), has applauded the decision by Dogara to dump the APC. Members of the group rose from an emergency meeting yesterday, warning the APC to desist from surreptitious attempts to prevent Dogara from defecting to PDP.Spokesman of the group, Mr. Timothy Simon Golu, in a statement, described as “futile and a sheer waste of time” the desperate attempts by the APC to stop Dogara from going ahead with the decision. Golu, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, said: “It is laughable that the APC is running cap in hand begging the speaker to remain in a party that has for so long failed to acknowledge his relevance and contribution to its existence. “Nemesis has now caught up with the party as the speaker and other men of conscience have decided to pitch their tents with a party (PDP) that recognises that the collective gain of Nigerians is greater than a few primordial interests.“Dogara will defect to any party he chooses without fear of impeachment from his position as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.” According to Golu, Dogara was not elected by the APC to be the speaker of the House of Representatives, and as such, the party cannot take it away from him.“It is common knowledge that the APC worked against his emergence, but other members who saw and recognised his nationalistic spirit voted for him. In any case, he is the speaker of the House of Representatives and not of the All Progressives Congress,” the group stated “If the APC loved Dogara so much and wanted him to remain in its fold, why did they humiliate him during their ward congresses when the speaker and all his associates were schemed out and humiliated even though he is the highest political office holder from the North east and number four citizen in the country.”The group accused APC of impunity and undemocratic practices. “The APC under the leadership of Oshiomhole is a party of pretenders and hypocrites who think they are demi-gods that all must serve and pay obeisance to, whether they do right or wrong.” Golu declared that “Nigerians are now wiser and have fully discovered their gimmicks and games and will no longer be deceived as we approach the 2019 general elections.“Already, the PDP is the majority in the House and we expect more members from the APC.”The Parliamentary Democrats Group, according to Golu, boasts of over 240 members of the House across political parties. “We are solidly behind Dogara and will ensure that he remains the speaker, even after his defection to any party,” he said. But the Director of Strategic Communications, Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign, Festus Keyamo, said the gale of defection from the ruling APC to other opposition political parties would not affect the re-election bid by the president.Keyamo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), maintained that Buhari would still retain his position without the support of the defectors. He expressed optimism that Buhari would regain the lost ground from the south-south and south-east geo-political zones “where he had impressed in terms of provision of critical infrastructure for the citizenry.” Keyamo justified his assertions thus: “The following 12 states, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Niger, with over 30 million registered voters, are where the president had consistently won with considerable large margins in past elections, especially in 2011 and 2015. This was achieved despite the fact that most of those states were being con trolled by political parties other than his own.”
APC to face another round of Massive Defections
Mercy Lank
The raging battle between the presidency and powerful interests in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is far from over as more senators are planning to dump the ruling party. A senior legislative source has given an insight into the “discussion” President Muhammadu Buhari had with the senators that are left standing with the APC last Wednesday. The meeting at the Presidential Villa was called after 13 senators elected on the platform of the party dumped it for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the day before. At the meeting, It was gathered that after dinner was laid out, the president thanked the federal lawmakers for keeping faith with the party, before launching into what the senatorial source described as “self-praise.” “Can you imagine that the president didn’t ask what the problems were with those who defected, those who returned after defecting and those who put off defection at the last minute, those who are still aggrieved and their grievances not yet looked into, and why the party is generally factionalised in almost all the states of the federation. He didn’t give any tangible assurances, reasons or roadmap to peace and how to unite the party.
“He just said they (himself and his caucus) had been trying their best and will continue in so doing. Nothing concrete to assure senators with troubles at home (with their state governors) that the national leadership under him, had things under control. He thanked senators present for being by his side and assured them that the government and the party would continue to do their best. The president mentioned Shehu Sani (one of the senators from Kaduna) for gratitude, but did you not see what happened 24 hours after the presidential commendation? The party in Kaduna said Sani’s suspension was still in force. Look at Ogun (State) and Senator Lanre Tejuosho. The state chapter contradicted the president’s position on his membership of the party. “Well, everybody clapped, smiled, shook hands and left the meeting Wednesday night, but I can tell you things are going to get worse for the president camp. “The questions many senators are asking is whether the president doesn’t know how to conduct the business of politics or he is simply playing games. Many expected him to ask specific questions about the crises in the state chapters and why some still wanted to leave the party, despite his intervention. That meeting has opened a new door. Watch out in weeks to come” the legislative source revealed. The source further explained that beyond the National Assembly defection, the president as the statutory leader of the party should be asking questions about the crises in the state chapters with possible grave electoral outcomes, instead of allegedly relying on the assurances from “Abuja” (leaders outside of their base) politicians.
As fallout of the meeting with the president and the obvious reality that nothing might change, some pro-Buhari senators are reportedly scheduled to meet certain opposition elements (names withheld) in a Middle East country during the recess, to finalize their movement out of the ruling party in September. Though the spirited moves by President Buhari and some leaders of the APC slowed down a number of lawmakers and their planned defection, it was said that that had changed after the meeting. “At least 11 lawmakers are still on the cards of defecting to the PDP from the APC. The said 11 lawmakers are almost at the bus stop. And notwithstanding the pressure from different quarters, the defection would sail through,” a source said. However, it was gathered that the two chambers of the National Assembly are planning a one-day emergency sitting to debate the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 election. The source that confirmed this said that the single day sitting would just have a single item on the agenda, to consider and pass the INEC budget. Sources said that the plan by the Presidency to utilise that planned one-day sitting to effect a leadership change, especially in the Senate was being watched by the leadership of the two chambers. “The leadership of the Senate and the House are watching the situation. When it is safe, the one-day sitting can be called and one thing Nigerians should expect that day is more defections from the APC,” a source added. The source said that the executive and the leadership of the APC “cannot catch” the National Assembly unawares any longer in the game of wits currently ongoing. “Though they don’t have the number to remove SP (Senate President Bukola Saraki), nothing would be left to chance. How can you say they are in the majority? You know their number before Tuesday, remove 13 from it now” the disaffected APC legislative source said.
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Beyond the account given by Saraki on how he foiled the attempt to stop the Tuesday plenary where some APC senators and members of the House of Representatives defected to opposition parties, new information available to Sunday Tribune claimed that a tip-off from a top leader of the pro-Buhari senators saved the day for the Kwara-born politician. Following an alleged disagreement on who should replace Saraki as the senate president after an impeachment plot was allegedly hatched by the pro-Buhari caucus, a leader of the camp was said to have reached out to Saraki on Monday, detailing the plan to take him out and keep him in the cooler. The script allegedly written for the senate president was to start early Tuesday morning when he was to be picked from home to a magistrate court in Abuja (identity withheld) and be arraigned over the Offa robbery saga. The magistrate’s court was expected to decline jurisdiction but a holden charge would have ensured his detention for 21 days (three weeks) for further investigation and eventual arraignment before a high court. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu was allegedly to be taken in by a security agency and be released to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if too much noise is made over his detention. EFCC said he was wanted for alleged money laundering and corrupt practices. Following the reported tip-off by the disgruntled leader in the Buhari camp, Saraki allegedly sought home elsewhere Monday night and came to the plenary the next day, straight from his “emergency” abode. ALSO READ: Oshiomhole’s tyranny of the tongue The convoy supposedly meant for him, which was blocked from setting out at his official residence, was said to be a decoy, to set the security agencies on a wild goose chase. Ekweremadu, though aware of the plot, reportedly stayed back at his residence and allowed himself to be blocked inside, as a way of further exposing what the executive arm was up to. Police denied blocking Saraki’s home despite pictorial evidence contradicting the claim. EFCC said it was in Ekweremadu’s home for the summons it issued on him. After the defection at the Tuesday plenary, security agencies had gone soft on taking the duo in again. While police quizzed Saraki in his office last Thursday, EFCC had been silent on Ekweremadu. Opposition camp in the Senate is also being snitched on, Sunday Tribune learnt, with a North-Central senator identified as the alleged mole. “If he suffered further heartache in APC, information available suggests that the opposition might also deal unpleasantly with him if he eventually defected. If APC became too hot, the said senator is tipped to join Social Democratic Party (SDP) which is in alliance talks with PDP,” the source said. Meanwhile, senators who defected to ADC are reportedly being worked on to resume in September as full PDP senators, to allow for proper change of guard in the senate leadership.
Fake currency producer arrested in Enugu state by Nigerian Police
Mercy Lank
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a suspected fake currency note producer. The Command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement in Enugu on Sunday said that the suspect, one Collins Oputa, was nabbed on July 26.
Amaraizu noted that the feat was achieved by police operatives of the Ogui Police Division of the Command. “Oputa, who claimed that he is a native of Ohaji community in Imo State but residing at 4 Fatimo Close in Ijegun, Lagos State, was nabbed in Lagos. “His arrest followed a manhunt initiated based on intelligence information gathered on his alleged criminal activities of producing and giving the fake currency naira notes to his agents for circulation,’’ he said. Amaraizu said that the suspect had been helping police operatives in their investigation in relation to his alleged criminal activities with his cohorts.
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Upon interrogation, Oputa blamed the situation on satan and pledged to quit the illicit business if he was forgiven.
APC crisis: Remember what Saraki did to his own father in Kwara – Idahosa
Mercy Lank
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Hon. Charles Idahosa, has reminded Nigerians how the Senate President disrespected his (Saraki’s) father, Olusola Saraki, because of his personal ambition in Kwara State.
He said this while insisting that there was nothing like Reformed All Progressives Congress, R-APC, but corruption fighting back. With 2019 getting nearer, Idahosa told Vanguard that whether Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara stayed in the APC or not, President Muhammadu Buhari will win the presidential election. “There is nothing like Reformed APC. Those are junk politicians. If you read a newspaper interview I gave some time ago, I said Muhammadu Buhari was doing very well but that, very soon, corruption will fight back. What you are seeing now is corruption fighting back. “The money in the hands of these people is so much that they are ready to muscle every opposition. What is R- APC? In 2014, 2015, a group of PDP members who felt aggrieved and led by Bukola Saraki, left the party. Saraki is a creation of his father. “Without Dr Olusola Saraki, I don’t think we would be seeing Bukola Saraki. But we all saw what he did to his father in Kwara because of personal ambition. “So, Saraki, as far as I am concerned, has no respect for any constitutional arrangement. He decamped into a party and became the Senate President and he is complaining that he didn’t gain. Dogara became the Speaker of the House Representatives. “Must you jump from one party to the other all in the name of getting positions? Nigerians must learn to look at these people and see them for who they are. “So, if they like, let them stay or go. APC under Buhari will win the presidency come 2019 because Nigerians are wiser. Buhari was a former military governor of the North Eastern State and later Minister of Petroleum and Head of State yet he has no house in Lagos, Abuja, no private jet or oil bloc. “There are some inconsequential generals, if they were in a proper army, they will not grow to become captain. “One of them told the whole world that he didn’t know what to do with the millions he owns, yet in this country we still accept them.
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“Generals who retired at the age 34 or 35 and the only war they fought was some village skirmish!” He said.
Adamu: If saraki is man enough and conviction let him dares move to PDP
Mercy Lank
Senator Abdullahi Adamu representing Nassarawa west in the Senate has revealed what the APC loyalists in the Senate will do to Senate President, Bukola Saraki if he joins the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking to Dailytrust, Adamu said; What does the gale of defections in the Senate portend for the polity as we approach the 2019 elections? Take it from me that our colleagues who are now members of the PDP have made the mistake of their lives; they have committed a political blunder. You can start counting the days of failure that confronts the PDP.
All along, the Tuesday you referred to was only watershed. Those of us who are following the political activities knew they have been plotting to go. But they were not honest enough with themselves let alone the party that they didn’t want to do so at the expense of the offices they hold. They wanted to defect and retain their positions, because they knew the position of the constitution clearly. They tried to stuck on some RAPC to justify, as far as they’re concerned, something they call division. But that failed woefully. So, they found themselves that they couldn’t succeed in the notion of a broken APC. They now said they could go by themselves to make a declaration in the Senate that they’ve left the party for another party. For us, there’s no surprise, because these same guys who are talking of defecting have in actual fact been part and parcel of PDP from the day the president inaugurated the 8th National Assembly. They were led by Saraki. They went into an illicit accord with the PDP, and from then till that Tuesday, they have operated on the agenda of the PDP. They only wore the tag of APC, but they were not for all intents and purposes. Unfortunately for them, the PDP, in spite of the apparent number they want to convince us about what they’re carrying to PDP, still remains the minority party in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives too. The APC alone has 53 on the ground, and APGA is working with us. The constituency of Bauchi South and Katsina where we lost Sen Mustapha Bukar, presumably their by-elections will be held this August, by the grace of God, that will come to our kitty. So, they’ve committed political blunder, to say the least and they’re going to be seen for whom they are. I’m happy.
In politics, you don’t want to lose anybody, there’s no doubt about that. You can win election by one vote. But where a person is inherently dishonest, where a person lives by breaching trust, the sooner you part way with him or her, the better. And that’s what has happened. You’ll see the APC will wax stronger in the National Assembly, because we now know who we are. We now know who is answering his father’s name, and we know those who may not know whose names they will answer. It’s now clear. From all indications, the Senate President is going to dump the APC… There’s no question that he’s going to dump, he’s not in the APC anymore. We were there in the presidency, the APC caucus, but he wasn’t there. So, don’t say he will. As far as we’re concerned, he’s gone. Are you ok with Saraki still occupying the Senate President’s seat? You don’t cross bridges until you reach them. They deliberately, because they foresaw this problem, they went on recess. We were not suppose to go on recess on Tuesday. This is the longest recess we’re having, which is about two months. The whole thing is to give them time to maneuver to do what they want to do, but it is an end game for them. You can see proof that all this while, they wanted to go away, but they want to keep their positions. They want to eat their cake and have it. It’s very clear now. He has pushed everybody to go, and they’ve gone, and he still hasn’t made a formal declaration. It shows the extent of dishonesty of purpose and mistrust. He has no basis for you to know he is a leader who will stand up for whom he is and answer his father’s name, and stand up for the responsibility of whatever action he takes. That’s what it showed. It’s just about office, not about integrity or service. Each time they talk about strengthening institutions, they’re talking about strengthening their bogey position of office. That’s what they’re doing, and that’s why we never agree with them. They will never play along, supporting their own government. You’re an APC man, your party has got a national mandate, you have a president, and you’re still working by the day, every one day, against the president, Muhammadu Buhari. It’s a betrayal. If he had turned up for the meeting with the president, would you people have allowed him? I would have sent him out. I would have told them that ‘you don’t belong here; you betrayed the president. You want to continue with the game of betrayal? Get out of this place.’ There were speculations that some of you were planning to change the leadership of the Senate on that Tuesday, how true is that? I don’t talk about things that don’t happen. If there was an action, manifest, you can ask questions about it. But when you speculate, I don’t go for speculations. We’re talking reality. People said they decamped from one party to another, that’s a reality. I was there when it happened, and I can talk about it like I’m doing now. But whether there was an intention to change the leadership, that is speculation. Do you think there are more black legs in the APC that would want to join the PDP? As far as I’m concerned, again that’s speculation, and everyone of us has a right. If there are black legs, we’ll pick them.
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You were reported to have said that Saraki only collated names of senators without contacting them for defection, how true is that? I didn’t make any statement. I’m making the first statement since this thing happened on Tuesday. You see, people use us now to make a living. I can’t stop it, let them do it. The only thing is that the day they match my toe proper, they’ll know whom they’re dealing with. But if you’re in politics, people fly all sorts of things about you, and when you start to react to every little thing…. They’re drowning, and when a man is drowning and you throw a sword at him or her, he’ll pick it believing that that sword can turn to safety. I’ve been a senator, a ranking senator, and we’ve been together. I know what they say and do on the floor of the Senate. Whether there are some black legs, it’s not for me to say now. But time will tell. The leg isn’t black until it turns real black. Why do you think the 8th Senate has been so chaotic? Because we have the misfortune of having a leadership that has no integrity whatsoever, a leadership that started on a note of breach of trust. Once a person breaches trust, my tolerance level with him is very limited. That’s how it started. How do you see a person who is voted on a platform of a party and from day one he plots to do what that party would not want him to do? And he succeeds, carries on from one thing to another. You don’t have to wait until there’s a change of leadership. Leadership is changing by their action. They don’t have the majority, we have the majority. Let’s come back and have an election. Are you going to move or call for his removal? Let’s wait for the day to come. Let’s hope we’re alive, let’s hope we’re well and do reconvene. And let’s hope the matter comes up. What we’ll do will be determined by the circumstances of the event coming on our laps. Sen Melaye was seen dancing in front of you on Tuesday on the floor and making some statements, what do you think of such action? I’ll not forget one day when I thought we could do things properly, when I thought things happening were not quite in keeping with the integrity that is supposed to govern the affairs of the Senate, I was talking with the Senate President. Some of the things I was pointing as example was that kind of behaviour. He said to me ‘no, forget Dino is a clown.’ That’s what Saraki said to me. He’s alive, let him come out and deny saying that to me. Dino is a clown, so what do you do with clowns? And he was using him up to that day. He came dancing and was like ‘these are the desciple of this government, and Abdullahi Adamu is one of them.’ I don’t care a hoot about that. I have more serious situations than that. A senator dancing before another senator? The Senate is a leveler. Even if I’m 101 years and I’m in the Senate and a boy of 18 years got elected to the Senate, if that was permissible age, by the time we get sworn in, we’re equals. When somebody who is my equal would come before me and start dancing and saying things to agitate me, I’m more matured than that. I got a mission, a more serious one. My mission is for this government to feel effective representation in the Senate and my party to feel they have a good representative in the Senate, to do the bidding of my party and without prejudice protect the interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nothing happens in the Senate will divert my attention. And you won’t stop until you unseat the present leadership? That’s not my mission. That’s a very primordial little thing for me to do. I can’t say change of leadership of the Senate becomes my preoccupation. That will be too mean. The leadership isn’t about me or to unseat anybody. It’s about what the Senate is doing and it’s reputation and whatever we can do to enhance the credibility of the Senate. Abdullahi Adamu will be part of it. With all these things, what do you think Saraki wants to achieve? Saraki is alive, maybe in hiding or maybe he’s free somewhere, you’re free to go and ask him. Find out from him what’s he’s doing or what he wants to do. The man is all out to move, should he move, what will you do? Let him move. If he’s man enough, a man of his conviction, and he wants to go to PDP, let him go. He has got his pawns gone, now he’s the king in the chessboard, let’s see the king move. Will there be a checkmate? Let the king move first. Let him be man enough to move. There’s a king in the Senate chessboard now, what happens if he moves? When he moves, then you’ll see what happens on the board. Are you a castle? Whichever position you want to take, what happens to other players on the chessboard? What move affects where you are? Are you a bishop or a knight? All these come to play. What happens if the king doesn’t move? Then the other players on the chessboard will move him. That’s all.
BREAKING: We are not Interested in 2023 Presidency
Mercy Lank
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Professor Ben Nwabueze, has told whoever is planning Presidency for Ndigbo in 2023 that Igbo Presidency is no longer on the cards of the nationality. They rather said that what would be more beneficial to Ndigbo and indeed the entire Nigerians is a restructured country, where Presidency would become less attractive and no longer an instrument for ethnic jingoism. The group also warned that the country is close to being equated with a failed state given the level of insecurity with attendant killings across states.
It also spoke on the popular restructuring mantra and warned against escalated nepotism that it described as ‘political corruption.’ ILT made their positions known, Saturday, after two days meeting in Enugu, where the group said the focus of the meeting was anchored on the state of Nation and the National question. Addressing Newsmen after the meeting, Deputy Chairman of ILT, Prof Chiweyete Ejike together with the Secretary General of the group, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi said that people were becoming poorer by the day and asked for revise of the hopless situations. Ejike said: “Igbo’s are not concerned about Presidency, we are concerned about restructuring. We want a fair and equitable Polity.
“There is the issue of use of fund not appropriate by the National Assembly. It is not lawful and we are opposed to that. The selective application of war against corruption is not in order. The Case of Maina is a clear example. “Budgeting public fund for private ranching is corruption and a government that is fighting corruption is doing all these. “On the issue of killings, we feel that enough is not being done to stop the scandalous situation and the government should do more in the interest of the nationalities for existential threat. “There was no legislative reason to prescribe the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB. The federal government should deproscribe it because they have right to Self-determination.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
BREAKING:Buhari orders his supporters to Stop campaigns for his Re-election
Mercy Lank
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked his supporters to suspend campaigns for his re-election in order to avoid breaching the rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The president said this in a statement which Femi Adesina, his spokesman. Buhari said he appreciated his supporters’ enthusiasm “borne out of their desire to garner support for an administration that is actuated by nothing else, other than service for motherland”. He added that there would be ample opportunity for them to showcase his administration’s achievements and campaign for him when the time comes.
“It has been observed that some fervent supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari have begun what may be interpreted as political campaigns in their advocacies and advertisements in the mass media,” the statement read. “We appreciate their enthusiasm, borne out of desire to garner support for an administration that is actuated by nothing else, other than service for the motherland, but we hereby appeal for patience, so that the game can be played according to the rules. “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a timetable for political campaigns, and we urge committed supporters round the country (and beyond) to be mindful of such. There will be ample time ahead to trumpet the good works of the Buhari administration, and solicit re-election, all for the good of our country and her people.
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“While a chronicle of the achievements of the administration is in order now, outright canvasing may amount to jumping the gun. We are an administration committed to due process and scrupulous respect for rules, law, and order. “We appreciate our massive supporters nationwide, and urge them to exercise restraint till the race commences officially as stipulated by law.” However, supporters are free to publicize the various achievements of the Buhari administration, he said. According to INEC time-table, party primaries for the presidential, governorship, federal and state elections would begin on August 18 and end on October 7, 2018, while that of the FCT area council elections will commence on September 4 to end on October 27, 2018. The campaigns by political parties for presidential election would begin November 18, while that for the national assembly elections would start December 1.
Amaechi: Buhari even on a sickbed will Win In Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi.
Mercy Lank
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday claimed that the governors of Sokoto and Kwara states, Aminu Tambuwal and Abdulfatah Ahmed respectively, would leave the All Progressives Congress. Amaechi also claimed that Tambuwal had presidential ambition and that President Muhammadu Buhari would win in Sokoto, Kano and Bauchi states in the 2019 general elections even if he (Buhari) is taken to the states “on a sick bed”. The minister told journalists that although he did not wish to speak about political matters, he was sure that despite the defection by the APC members at the National Assembly, the party would win the 2019 presidential election.
When told that the APC might be heading for a collapse considering the gale of defection in the party, the minister said, “That’s according to you. Look, you are not a politician so you can’t be commenting on what you don’t know. In fact, let’s look at it. Unfortunately, I don’t want to speak about this but you are putting me under pressure. “However, no matter what you do, the Governor of Sokoto will leave naturally. He has ambition to be president. If you take a chicken to him he will still go. The same with Kwara. These are people you expect that they will leave.” He said, “On those that defected at the House of Representatives and Senate, where do they come from? They come from areas that the President is comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? We are not God, but it’s one of his comfort zones. “If you bring the President on a sick bed to Bauchi and Kano, he will win and he has never lost election in Bauchi. But that is a bit arrogant on our side; we should not underestimate them. “I am not God. It is only God who can say the APC will win or not. But what is clear is that if you remove the God element, I think we are prepared to coast to victory because Nigerians will certainly reject a second looting. Nigeria can’t survive a second looting. Never!”
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He said the delay by the opposition party to name its candidate for the presidential election about six months to the election would work in favour of the ruling party. “In our time, it was clear who would be the APC candidate one year ahead of time,” he added.
Kwankwaso:Oshiomhole will eat his words in 2019
Mercy Lank
Jannah Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reacted to the comments by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, berating members of the party who defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. Oshiomhole had described the defectors before State House Correspondents in Abuja, as ‘big masquerades with no electoral value’ in their constituencies.
Kwankwaso, who was among the 14 senator that defected during the week, has asked the APC chairman to wait till 2019 to see what they could prove. However, speaking to newsmen in Abuja through one of his aides, Binta Sipikin, the senator said yesterday that Oshiomhole should not be in a hurry to test their political weight but should wait till the next general elections. Sipikin, who said her boss’ electoral values would speak out in 2019, said: “Let me remind him on how Kwankwaso nearly emerged the APC presidential flagbearer in 2015, which clearly shows how popular Kwankwaso is. “It is not a fiction that Kwankwaso in 2015 APC primaries in Lagos came second to Buhari which shows clearly in Nigerian politics he is a force to be reckoned with”.
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She promised that Kwankwaso and his followers would surely show a political difference under the PDP, which he helped to form, “Let me say clearly that by 2019, we will show to the whole world that Kwankwaso is truly a force to reckon with when it comes to Nigerian politics”.
How police, EFCC were used to plot Saraki, Ekweremadu’s impeachment – Senator Ibrahim
Mercy Lank
The Senator representing Kwara South in the National Assembly, Rafiu Ibrahim, has revealed that there were plans to impeach the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu last Tuesday. Senator Ibrahim was one of those who dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last Tuesday.
According to him, while security agents stopped the presiding officers from coming out of their homes, there were plots to impeach them at the National Assembly. He also told Punch that the call for Saraki to step aside as Senate President if he finally joins the PDP was not possible. Ibrahim said, “How is that possible? He remains the presiding officer. They need two-thirds majority to remove a presiding officer, so they should attempt that (to remove him) and let us see how they are going to do it.
“And I know that the majority they are claiming is a phoney claim. But you will see; the list will come out. Why they are crying out now is because their actual plan failed.” The lawmaker added, “The same day the police invited the Senate President to answer some questions, the EFCC also invited the Deputy Senate President. And before daybreak, security operatives had laid siege to their houses. You can deduce what was to happen from that.
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“The plan was to impeach them while they were absent. But to the glory of God and the benevolence of God through man, the Senate President was able to come to the chamber and we had our plenary, and we exercised our right (to defect).”
Friday, July 27, 2018
Kano state governor reacts to Kwankwaso’s defection
Mercy Lank
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Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje says the defection of Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso and other lawmakers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not affect the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor and made available to newsmen on Friday in Kano. ”Their defection will not constitute any problem to our great party, the APC, at all levels. People should keep their eyes (open) to what will happen during election. “Our dear President has been doing the needful in terms of developing the nation, coupled with his efforts in efficient service delivery. “Good governance is at its peak and the war against corruption is successfully being waged. “I want you to go and study the situation on ground in Kano, his (Kwankwaso ‘s) defection does not change the political mood in the state. Nobody cares to be disturbed by their action,” Ganduje said. The Governor said when his predecessor was in the APC, his intention was to vie for the presidency adding, “when it appeared to him, in black and white, that there is no vacancy in the Villa, he now decided to leave on his own.” He said that Kwankwaso should be ready to battle it out at the polls next year. Ganduje said when Kwankwaso secures a presidential ticket from the party he cross carpetted to, then he should wait and see how we will slug it out with him. He said that when the time comes, the senator would fully understand how popular and loveable President Muhammadu Buhari is. “Kano will give more votes to our President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 than what he got in 2015 election. “From the 2015 election to date, those who could not vote because of age limit, are now grown up, meaning they will now be eligible to vote. “Therefore, President Buhari stands the chance to get five million votes from Kano State by grace of Almighty Allah,” he said.