Politics
2019: Cabal Hijacks President Buhari’s Campaign – Vanguard
* Plots to shutout APC NWC members
*Underground battle for campaign funds control rage
*Why presidential campaign council is yet to be set up
*No one can hijack our campaign — APC
* Campaign may last for five weeks
By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja
THE crises ravaging the All Progressives Congress, APC, across some states appear to be eating into President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign
Party sources told Saturday Vanguard that a cabal has hijacked the campaign and there is an intense plot to relegate National Working Committee, NWC, members in the scheme of things.
The plot, piloted by what a senior party official referred to as “presidency hawks” would see the party leadership attending campaigns like guests without strong inputs into the planning and organization. Indeed, it was gathered that some governors, who are at daggers drawn with the APC hierarchy over the recent primaries in which some of their loyalists lost out, want to teach the party leadership a lesson.
How? They can only contribute funds to President Buhari’s campaign if the funds would not be controlled by the APC leadership. President Buhari had months ago named Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi as Director General of his Presidential Campaign Council, with Festus Keyamo, SAN, as campaign spokesman. Since then, a full campaign structure had neither been named by the party nor the presidency.
Why campaign council is in limbo
While some presidency officials had attributed the delay in constituting a campaign council to paucity of funds, it was gathered that some members, who worked in the 2015 campaigns when contacted to serve on the council were not keen on taking up the job. “Many of those, who actually worked during the campaigns were sidelined.
Some people were the eggheads but others took the rewards because of their closeness to Mr President. So, some of those who were practically left in the lurch are not enthusiastic about taking up new tasks because of past experiences. In fact, even those of them who were contacted to be part of some of the various reconciliation committees in the party turned down the offer”, a party official told Saturday Vanguard. The development is in spite of President Buhari’s promise, last week, to reward those who will work for his re-election.
About two years ago, Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari complained about the hijacking of the presidency by a cabal and the neglect of those who worked for Buhari’s election in 2015 and threatened that she might not campaign for Buhari in 2019 unless the anomaly was addressed.
Now, the APC top shot added that the party leadership is not leading the 2019 campaigns because certain forces close to the president have hijacked the process. “One would have thought that with the pedigree of our National Chairman (Adams Oshiomhole) that some of these forces would give him a freehand to organize things, but that is not the case.
Except if the chairman has information on the role we are expected to play, I can tell you that many of us do not exactly know much about the campaigns. The party has only recently been able to convince the presidency on the need to at least kick-start the campaigns before the end of this year and that is why we might be going to Akwa Ibom soon for what might pass for the formal launch of our campaigns.”
Campaigns may begin second week of January, last five weeks The source added that some of the president’s handlers have designed a template that would see the APC presidential campaigns lasting for only five weeks.
Control of campaign funds
Speaking further, he said: “It is not about the capacity of the party leadership to drive the campaigns. I think some people just want to prove to the president that they can do it alone or perhaps some people want to be in control of campaign funds because there is nothing strategic about delaying the campaigns or not naming a campaign council less than two months to the elections.”
No one can hijack our campaigns — APC
However, in his reaction, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said no one can hijack the party’s campaigns. “Hijacked by who? If they hijacked it, to do what? Can they campaign without the president? Can they campaign without the party? We are all working together and there is no issue.
Very shortly, the campaign council will be announced and campaigns will start. Election is February 16 and I keep telling people that campaigns are not all about rallies. There are several platforms of engagement with the voters. Many other aspects are ongoing. Our activities are ongoing. Yesterday, the president commissioned the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport.
That is campaign to show that the same country that was not working is now working. That is what Nigerians are going to vote for in February. Nigerians are travelling this season, they will see activities going on on the roads. The roads that were not free for several hours, they are now going to be spending fewer hours. That is part of campaign.
It is for people to go and see improvements and see possibilities and see that their country is now working. We are going to do rallies across the country. We are a party that is so proud of our achievements and we are very confident that our achievements are speaking for us already”, he said.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
- Christmas Message of Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop of Oyo, Nigeria: Stay with Our World, Lord Jesus December 23, 2024
- Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to President of Burkina Faso December 23, 2024
- Senegal: Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's (TIKA) Greenhouse Project Facilitates Inmates’ Reintegration into Society December 23, 2024
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam December 23, 2024
- Ethiopia: Reconstruction of two primary schools in Tigray's Hawzen District benefits 1,800 students December 23, 2024
- Training police helps safeguard human rights in Liberia’s elections December 23, 2024
- World Food Programme (WFP) and the Republic of Madagascar sign a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen food security and transform agricultural systems December 23, 2024
- Advancing Gender Equality and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Response in Malawi December 23, 2024
- An mpox survivor’s tale of hope December 23, 2024
- United Nations (UN) Emergency Fund allocates $6 million to support refugees fleeing Sudan in Egypt December 23, 2024
- Christmas Message of Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop of Oyo, Nigeria: Stay with Our World, Lord Jesus December 23, 2024
- Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to President of Burkina Faso December 23, 2024
- Senegal: Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's (TIKA) Greenhouse Project Facilitates Inmates’ Reintegration into Society December 23, 2024
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam December 23, 2024
- Ethiopia: Reconstruction of two primary schools in Tigray's Hawzen District benefits 1,800 students December 23, 2024
- Training police helps safeguard human rights in Liberia’s elections December 23, 2024
- World Food Programme (WFP) and the Republic of Madagascar sign a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen food security and transform agricultural systems December 23, 2024
-
Entertainment6 months agoAkanke Amororo: The New Yoruba Movie Everyone Is Talking About + Why People Are Rushing To YouTube To See It
-
Politics7 months agoGov Fubara And One Year of His Signature in Rivers By Nath Odili
-
Business7 months agoFIRSTBANK WINS 2024 BEST SME BANK IN NIGERIA AND BEST SME BANK IN AFRICA BY ASIAN BANKER AWARDS
-
Business5 months agoPROFILE: JESSICA AMARACHI OKU BY CHINEDU NSOFOR
You must be logged in to post a comment Login