The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged the Mai Mala Buni caretaker committee of APC to ensure the promotion of transparency and openness in the management of the party’s affairs.

Sen. Kalu, who is the Senator representing Abia North alongside members of the National Assembly Southeast caucus elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Monday passed a vote of confidence on the interim leadership of party led by the Yobe governor.

The former Abia governor arrived at the national headquarters of the ruling party by 12:30 pm alongside other members of the caucus and proceeded to the office of the national secretary of the committee, Honourable James Akpan Udoedehe where he had a brief meeting before heading to the official residence of the Yobe Governor.

While extolling the leadership quality of Buni, he said ”we need more openness in the party, in order to promote transparency within the party because once the party has transparency in operating in all their activities, things would be easier

“It is easier to win election with popular candidates. It is difficult to win elections when people are imposed. We should avoid imposition of candidates. You are a very experienced party administrator and Governor of the state and you are also very experienced in handling party matters. The caucus of the Southeast APC wants to congratulate you, to enjoin other party members, and to reassure you that we are going to work with you.

Speaking further, Kalu reassured the Chairman of the Southeast APC’s commitment to improving its performance in subsequent elections in the zone.

He said ”I want to specially congratulate and to tell you that we are solidly behind you and we shall support you in your quest to do everything transparently. It is important to have transparency in our party congresses, this will make the party have a bigfooting in the area. We assure you that we from the Southeast shall do better in the next election than we did in the past election.

“We believe that with your honest leadership, the party will go to further heights. How I wish you are not the Governor of a state, we shall not be looking for another National Chairman because we have trust in you and I know you very well and even your capabilities.

Also speaking during the meeting was the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeohca who on her own part advocated for the encouragement and inclusion of women in the party’s activities and elective positions.

She said ”We are going to embark on constitutional review and I want you yo use your office to ensure that you carry everyone along because there is no way we can continue living the way we are living.

“Women are helpmates to the men and in politics, if we don’t have enough women coming up on board, that means we are not doing what God says. From my experience, women don’t have the strength that the men have, so if we continue to leave the constitution the way it is there would be discrimination so we appeal that you give the women more slots.

Spokesman of the House of Representatives Hon. Benjamin Kalu lauded the Chairman’s efforts in the formation of the special tripartite committee which consists of the members of the party drawn from all the arms of Government.

Benjamin emphasized that the committee would serve as a mechanism to resolve issues internally.

He said ”we the APC members of the house are in absolute peace which is very important to what you want to achieve. The leadership of Femi Gbajabiamila is great and we are all carried along. Let us also commend you for spearheading the formation of the tripartite committee which consists of all the arms of Government.

“With this tripartite committee we can resolve issues internally before any matter that can dent the image of the goes out to the public I very much commend the role you have played. I also commend your reconciliation efforts. I also love the fact that you talked about reconciliation in Imo state, though senator Orji Kalu has been championing it. For the party to expand and grow in the Southeast we need reconciliation in Imo state.

So please extend your reconciliation efforts to the Southeast this will help us win more states.

Responding the Chairman Mr. Buni, thanked Senator Kalu for the visit. He restated the committee’s willingness to work with the South-East caucus. He extolled Kalu’s efforts and contributions to the party’s growth and urged him to continue his good work for the party. He also called on women to take up the responsibility of contesting in elections rather than waiting to be given such positions in his words

”I disagree because most times our sisters will come from the position of weakness. In APC there was a time we decided to give free nomination forms to women we did that but there was a very superior argument that came up; which said that the women should come from the position of strength because you can pay for the forms just the way a man can also pay.

READ ALSO: Renowned Business Mogul, Barr. Ojinere Hosts Sen. Kalu Amidst Glamour (Photos)

“When we are talking about democracy, democracy is about contest. You have to contest, there are more women that I know that perform more than men. Even in the National Assembly, you can attest to that.

There are capable hands, even in my state there have never been a time that we didn’t have a woman at the house of Representatives and they are performing and most times even better than men.

“You can see as none of them ever came from the position of weakness, they contest, win elections, and even have more followers than men, women are naturally compassionate.

“Sometimes what they go out to do for the vulnerable out there men don’t even care to do that. So when we are talking about gender issues we have to be more pragmatic we have to come from the position of looking for ways to encourage women to participate in politics.

But when it comes to appointment I agree with you. Appointment is something that either the President, Governor or a local government chairman can do, but it is not about election but when it comes to election I know you won your election I have been following you up and I see you travelling all over canvassing for votes, you didn’t sit in the comfort of your bedroom claiming you are a woman.”

“Unfortunately that is how some women think it should be to be given leadership slots on the basis of just because they are women but its not the way it should be. We have to encourage them to participate and to give them a level playing ground and as a party that is what we are expected to do.

”I also align with your quest to push for the inclusion of more women in party committees and certain processes.” He said

Other lawmakers who spoke were Chinedu Ogah of Ebonyi central and Princess Miriam Onuoha of Okigwe senatorial zone

It was an evening of Glitz and Glamour in Abuja on Sunday as a renowned businessman and construction guru, Barr Henry Ojinere ( Okeosisi Eji Mara Mbaise) played host to Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Senate Chief Whip.

The philanthropist who was visibly happy used the occasion of the “August” visit of Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, highest Igbo political office holder to charge the Nation’s political Leaders to work assiduously to promote the welfare of the masses as well as come up with sustainable programs and policies that will stand the test of time.

Sen Orji Kalu, former Abia State governor in his response lauded Barr Ojinere, describing him as a Pan Nigeria whose patriotism, quest and zeal to better the lots of his countrymen know no bounds.

The Federal lawmaker urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Barr Ojinere’s goodwill.

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Notable Nigerians including Secretary of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Hon M.B. Shehu, Renowned Legal Luminary Chief Gordy Uche SAN, PDP Chieftain and Rtd Customs Deputy Comptroller General Commander Julius Nwangwu were in attendance.

Others are Members of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Obinna Chidoka and Hon Emeka Chinedu Martins, Fmr Member of the House of Reps Hon Emeka Ujam, Fmr SSA to Imo State Governor Hon Obinna Duruaku, and Oil Tycoon Hon Donald Amangbo, Frontline Imo State Youth Leaders Dim Emeka Obasi and Hon Ferdinand Ohalee, Hon Chinedu Uwannah amongst others

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Senator Ali Ndume, the lawmaker representing Borno South in the red chamber and the Chairman of the senate committee on Army has again kicked against the amnesty granted to Boko Haram members 

The lawmaker who urged the federal government to change its tactics in granting amnesty to repentant insurgents after undergoing a six-month De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Re-integration training via the Operation Safe Corridor programme, maintained that it is wrong to grant amnesty to terrorists when the war is still far from over.

Senator Ali Ndume called for more resources to be channelled to resettling the victims of insurgents, while also pointing out that granting amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents without apologizing to the victims and the state cannot bring about the required peace.

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He told newsmen on Sunday September 13;

“The war must be over before we start doing that.

“The military could open up the corridor, allow everybody to enter and start profiling them and keep them somewhere as prisoners of war and train them.

“The current arrangement where the repentant insurgents are granted amnesty without apologizing to the victims and the state cannot bring about the required peace. 

“Despite the difficult challenges confronting the military operation in my area, the soldiers deployed to fight the insurgents have been very wonderful.

“At Ngoshe for instance, the military personnel there, apart from repelling the attacks from the insurgents, have mobilized resources to start rebuilding, through direct labour, houses that were destroyed by the Boko Haram fighters. The soldiers did not know the owners of the  houses they are rebuilding.”

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Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq., a chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, has berated Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, over the attack on former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement to DAILY POST on Monday, Bamgbose warned the Presidential Spokesman to watch his utterances when defending Buhari.

Recall that Garba Shehu, in an article on Sunday, accused Obasanjo of dividing Nigeria, alleging that a recent statement by the former President was an attempt to tear the nation apart.

According to Shehu, Buhari has continued to promote nation-building and the unity of Nigeria, insisting that the difference between the two leaders is clear.

This was after the former President recently made a categorical statement, that Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state and that the country has never been as divided as it has become under Buhari’s administration.

Bamgbose described Obasanjo’s statement as a fact, and an over flogged truth, wondering why the presidency, through Garba Shehu decided to attack the former President and referring to him as Divider-in-Chief.

“This is insulting to the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is an elder statesman,” Bamgbose said.

“Garba Shehu and the presidency should be reminded, the vital role Obasanjo played in Buhari’s presidency.

“Buhari today won’t have been president, without the tacit support of Obasanjo. God can’t be ruled out also.

“Obasanjo publicly tore his PDP card to show his passionate support for Buhari in 2015. He holistically and honestly supported Buhari against Jonathan, a Southerner.

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“It’s really unfortunate, that Garba Shehu turned his face away from these facts, even the presidency. How old was Garba Shehu in 1967, when Obasanjo fought civil war in order to keep Nigeria one nation?

“He was just 5 years, possibly running in the streets of Dutse, naked, while Obasanjo was on the battle front, fighting for one Nigeria.

“It’s, therefore, appalling, for him to denigrate Obasanjo as divider in chief for speaking out his mind. The truth is that Obasanjo is too old to defend failure.

“Pa OBJ is an ICON, Inestimable Citizen Of Nigeria. What Obasanjo did for the North is yet to be equalled by any successive Government, including Buhari’s administration.

“In 1979, Obasanjo, as a military Head of State, handed over to Shehu Shagari, a Northerner against Obafemi Awolowo, his kinsman. In 2007, Obasanjo handed over power to Musa Yar’adua, another Northerner.

“Go ask Muktar Shagari, what Obasanjo did for the North in terms of Agriculture. Obasanjo remains one of the most detribalized presidents that Nigeria ever had.

“The presidency should be grateful to him, not insulting him. Garba Shehu should watch his utterances when defending Buhari.

“There is life after Buhari’s administration. Looking at Garba Shehu’s background, he will go far, his early life is a big encouragement to youths today.

“His father was a driver, mother was a petty trader, but today, it’s a different story. He was NUJ President for 8 years, Atiku’s spokesman, now in the presidency.

“I’ll urge him not to destroy his bright future by insulting Nigeria’s men of Honour in the name of defending Buhari whose achievements are scanty.”

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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to redeploy soldiers around former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, at a press briefing on Sunday condemned the drafting of soldiers to the Benin and Iyamho residences of the former Edo governor.

He said it was shameful and sinful that the Buhari presidency allegedly left people in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kogi and others states to be exposed to Boko Haram and bandits.

PDP accused the federal government of giving Oshiomhole cover to enable him to “perpetrate electoral heist.”

“Not even in the face of our current insecurity should such an impudent and inconsiderate action be considered,” he said while calling on Buhari to send the troops to their constitutional duty posts.

PDP further alerted that some people plan to use frivolous lawsuit to scuttle the September 19 governorship election.

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The spokesman said Nigerians are already aware that Section 87(10) (11) of the Electoral Act prohibits the courts from restraining the conduct of party primaries and the general election by INEC.

“This Section of the Electoral Act has put paid to situations in the past, where groups or individuals who have no real stake in elections were used as cannon fodders by selfish individuals and groups to manipulate the courts and frustrate the electoral process against the interest of the people.

“It is, therefore, clear that the aim of APC is to use the political groups to drag in the judiciary, trigger constitutional crisis in Edo State, the Niger Delta region and the nation at large and blame it on the court.”

PDP added that APC’s calculation is a re-enactment of the similar judicial quagmire that led to the scuttling of 1993 general election which led to a serious national crisis that almost destroyed Nigeria’s existence.

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