Tinubu hijack powers, predeermined convention exercise - Tom Ikimi

Tinubu operated as the core of one of these caucuses, whose membership varied from time to time within the realms of his whims and caprices

FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Tom Ikimi, has said that he stayed away from the party’s recent national convention in Abuja because the APC Governors Forum, AGF, and  former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had already predetermined the outcome of the exercise.

He said that Tinubu and the AGF hijacked the powers of convening the  event from the National Interim Executive Council of the party, adding that same led to the alleged undemocratic manner through which party executives emerged.

Ikimi, in a statement, regretted that Tinubu allegedly arrogated to himself the right to decide for the party, who the national officers should be, adding that he unilaterally appointed  Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as the National Chairman.

Charade

He said: “I did not attend, neither did I participate in the charade called convention. I paid N250, 000 for the form to contest for the national chairmanship on the basis of the overwhelming support I received from my state, Edo State. The form is still with me, which I will return and ask for a refund of my money. I did not step down for anybody. When it became clear to me and many others, including my supporters, that the outcome of the contest would not be determined by a free and fair vote at the convention, most of the delegates, tired and weary after waiting for more than 24 hours for accreditation all day at Eagle Square, departed. The venue was then over run by all manner of people who broke through the barriers.

Secret meetings and caucuses

‘’The National Interim Executive Council was never convened again to approve any of the arrangements before the convention and it was never even accorded the courtesy of a valedictory session. All that transpired thereafter leading to the convention happened mostly at secret meetings and caucuses some of which I have since become aware were convened in Europe. The party was now run as a private property.

“Tinubu operated as the core of one of these caucuses, whose membership varied from time to time within the realms of his whims and caprices. The other known caucus was the APC Governor’s Forum. These two groups hijacked power from the National Interim Executive Council, which is the body known to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. However, it was from these two caucuses that the idea of zoning the party positions emerged. Zoning is a principle alien to our party’s constitution, but if at all it had to be employed at some stage and the process democratically carried out to ensure the equitable distribution of key offices in the party and government to the different geo-political zones in the country, it is my view that the process should be open and transparent and should be approved by the Interim National Executive Council of the party.

‘’Chief Bisi Akande cannot produce any such approval. In addition and in my opinion, I felt strongly that if we were bound to proceed on the basis of zoning that both party offices as well as key offices in government such as President, Vice President etc., should be put on the table and zoned at the same time. My suggestion was motivated by strong information I had received of plots being hatched to steam role a Muslim Muslim Presidential and Vice Presidential ticket for the APC in the 2015 election and with specific individuals in mind as the beneficiaries.”

 

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Tinubu hijack powers, predeermined convention exercise - Tom Ikimi

APC convention: Senator Modu-Sheriff, Tom Ikimi, others set to dump APC

Trouble appears to be brewing in the All Progressives Congress, APC, as strong indications emerged that former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff along with other aggrieved leaders of the party, including Chief Tom Ikimi, are set to dump the party in protest over the outcome of its maiden national convention on Friday.

John Odigie-Oyegun, a running mate to Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in the 2011 presidential elections, emerged national chairman of the APC while Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, emerged national secretary. The duo’s emergence did not go down well with Sheriff, who reportedly sponsored the candidature of former foreign affairs minister Ikimi and Kashim Ibrahim Imam for the two prime positions in the party.

Sheriff or SAS as he is fondly called, who confirmed his displeasure about the convention to a Daily Trustcorrespondent, described the results of the convention as a sham and is contemplating joining another party.

Speaking through his close associate, Dr. Umar Duhu, a former interim national vice chairman (North-East) of the APC, Sheriff said he was not only victimized, but that his associates including Tom Ikimi whose house was used to actualize the merger of APC, were schemed out of positions in the party despite his initial endorsement.

“Sherriff views the outcome of the congresses as a witch-hunt. All his associates including Kashim Imam, Umar Duhu and Tom Ikimi were not considered at the convention despite endorsement. Even though there is appeals committee, Sheriff is angry with the APC but has not decided whether to join another party”, Duhu said last night.

“What happened is a charade that is orchestrated by Buhari and Tinubu’s men who want to actualize their Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and I can tell you that it is not realizable in the present Nigeria”, he added.

Sheriff and his associates are particularly irked by the process that produced Odigie-Oyegun as chairman of the party while nothing has been done to compensate him with other key party positions.

He is also angry that he has failed to get any of his associates to prominent positions within the party and is feeling short-changed at the outcome of the convention.

The former influential governor is said to have thrown his weight behind Ikimi as national chairman of the party but failed to get the very important endorsement of party leaders led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose camp rooted for John Odigie-Oyegun.

At the convention proper last Friday, the picture began to unfold that Odigie-Oyegun, who was the first executive governor of Edo State was the preferred candidate for APC’s top position, when another candidate for the position, ex-Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, was prevailed upon to step down.

It was learnt that Ikimi refused to step down for Oyegun initially even after the party’s leaders made their choice known before the convention. He had to later on following the political horse-trading that saw Sylva withdraw from the race, thereby, foreclosing the chances of an open contest.

Sheriff, sources say, had another card up his sleeves that would enable him pick the national secretary of the party.

But his plan ‘B’ did not see the light of day as the party governors had their way when they moved against Kashim Ibrahim Imam (Sheriff’s choice for party scribe) and instead backed Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe APC chairman, who joined the race at the last minute following the withdrawal of Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah from the race.

This is said to have angered Sheriff and his group, more so as the former governor has been reportedly engaged in a cold war with Tinubu over the control of the party.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, when contacted, said the party will respond to the grievances raised by Ikimi and the others in due course.

Meanwhile, how the APC navigates through this gathering storm remains to be seen as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is on standby, ready to snap up those who are purportedly displeased with the outcome of the National Convention.

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APC convention: Senator Modu-Sheriff, Tom Ikimi, others set to dump APC

Convention crisis: We have started reconciling aggrieved members - Odigie-Oyegun

Following the success of its inaugural National Convention in Abuja on Friday, which produced first executive governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as its national chairman, the All Progressives Congress, APC, says it has begun the process of reconciling aggrieved members.

Indications were rife weekend that some chieftains of APC were set to dump the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a result of losing out in the election of National Executives for the party.

Already, the PDP has reportedly started courting such aggrieved members with the aim of luring them to join its fold.

But the newly elected party chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, said: “We have started our reconciliation, right from day one; we will extend our hands of fellowship to those aggrieved. In my acceptance speech, I called for forgiveness and healing of rifts.

“In one week or two, I will unfold my plans for the party, which will carry everyone along. This mandate is not about me; it is about changing Nigeria for better”.

On the felicitations from PDP on the outcome of the convention, the APC chairman said: “I welcome it but I hope it is a spirit that goes deep down. This is the time for politics of issues; politics of principle and politics that recognises that the cardinal preoccupation of government is service to the masses.

“Service to the people is the main justification for the legitimacy of any government”, Odigie-Oyegun added.

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Convention crisis: We have started reconciling aggrieved members - Odigie-Oyegun

APC crack: I never stepped down for Odigie-Oyegun - Tom Ikimi

Following the national convention of the All Progressives Congress held on Friday, cracks have started to appear in the nation’s main opposition party, SUNDAY PUNCH checks have revealed.

Contrary to feelers from the APC that its leaders emerged at the convention through hitch-free consensus, some notable members of the party have expressed anger over the manner the leaders emerged, threatening future actions.

A notable founding member of the party, Chief Tom Ikimi, in an interview with one of our correspondents, denied reports that he conceded the chairmanship position of the party to the eventual winner, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“I did not willingly step down for Chief Odigie-Oyegun. I was not there. I did not step down for anybody because I was not there. Whoever said I stepped down is telling a lie because I was not at the convention. I didn’t participate. I boycotted the convention,” Ikimi responded, angrily.

Ikimi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was credited as being instrumental in the merger process of the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Congress for Progressive Change.

It was he who announced the merger of the four political parties to form the All Progressives Congress.

Ikimi, who was the chairman of the ACN Merger Committee, had said during the official announcement of the merger and the new name of the party, that the APC was “a recipe for prosperity”

He said, “At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent. And to meet the challenge of that change, we, the following progressive political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved to merge forthwith and become the All Progressives Congress and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for prosperity”.

He also explained that the new party came about in view of the need to promote principles of internal democracy and bring about national development.

On what his next line of action will be, following his discontentment with the convention, he said, “I am preparing a statement which I shall release in the next few days.”

Also, a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State and member of the Senate, Adegbenga Kaka, said he did not attend the convention because he was not officially invited. He said even though he had the privilege to be at the event, he decided not to attend when he sensed irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.

He said, “There was no formal invitation and I was not waiting for any invitation. I perceived injustice and I decided not to go. I was not the only one; many of us in Ogun State did not go.

“The moment they (APC national leadership) decided not to review the appeal committee’s report and take action that would unite the party; and they decided to recognise a faction, then we lost interest in whatever was going on.

“We are waiting. We will do necessary analysis; we will listen and assess all that transpired (at the convention) and take a decision.”

In Cross River State, a co-chairman of the screening committee, who resigned to contest for the position of the national Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, said he would seek redress to correct the manner in which consensus candidates were picked.

Obono-Obla contested against Mr. Hilliard Eta, who emerged winner as the consensus candidate for the position zoned to Cross River State.

He lamented that he was not invited to the meeting where Eta was picked as the consensus candidate.

“What criteria did they use to pick him? Before this convention, a delegate from the state called to inform me that I should not bother; That Eta had been picked. Why so,” he queried?

He said although the issue of consensus candidacy was in the party’s constitution, the manner of picking a candidate should be made more transparent.

Obono-Obla also alleged that during the convention, a list purported to have been endorsed by the APC governors, was sent round indicating the chosen candidates.

He said such a practice was wrong as the fate of contestants whose names were not on the list were known before the conduct of elections.

He said, “I am thinking of seeking redress. Why should they pass a list of preferred candidates. What criteria were used?”

Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged on how a former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, emerged as the first substantive National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, in the early hours of Saturday.

It was learnt that the emergence of Odigie-Oyegun, as the consensus candidate for the post was an arrangement perfected by the leadership and executed by the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led election sub-committee of the first National Convention Planning Committee, at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Odigie-Oyegun’s victory was made possible by a powerful lobby led by a leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. A few hours to the convention, a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tom Ikimi, was the only remaining contestant who could not be prevailed upon to step down for Oyegun.

One of the contestants, Chief Sam Jaja, told reporters at the convention venue that contestants and leaders of the party from the South-South geo-political zone “agreed to zone the position to Edo State.”

This, he said, reduced the number of strong contenders to two instead of the initial four, which included him and the former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva. He, however, declined further comments on what else transpired after that.

It was learnt that Ikimi insisted on going ahead with the contest but could not get a majority of party leaders, who were more disposed to a consensus arrangement, to support him.

When it became obvious that he was in the minority, he stayed away from the convention ground to register his displeasure at the turn of events.

In line with an agreement brokered by the party leaders who met at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro for several hours, the candidate of the APC Governors Forum, who is also a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipire Sylva, Chief Sam Jaja announced their decision to step down for Oyegun. This decision sealed the fate of Ikimi as Oyegun was announced as the sole candidate for the position.

A former governor of Ekiti State, who recently defected from the PDP, Mr. Segun Oni, emerged as Deputy National Chairman (South), while a former national secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lawal Shuaibu, was also returned unopposed as deputy national chairman (North).

The delegates also elected the interim National Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala Gubi, as the substantive National Secretary following the withdrawal of Alhaji Kashim Imam from the race, while the Interim Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was returned unopposed to retain his former position.

However, the process of electing other officers was disrupted by a downpour, accompanied by strong wind, around 2:00am.

The voting process could not be completed as officers and delegates scampered to safety as the wind scattered ballot boxes, canopies and the public address system.

Other notable party members that were absent at the convention were the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, his erstwhile deputy and many other chieftains of the party from the state.

The reason might not be unconnected with the cold war between Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun on who should control the structure of the party.

Some APC senators, who did not attend the convention, expressed mixed feelings over the consensus arrangement that produced the national officers of the party.

Some believe the development could force some members, perceived to be advocates of primaries, to leave the party.

A serving Senator from Ogun State, who preferred anonymity, said he shunned the convention in agreement with his colleagues because of the decision of some leaders in the state to hijack the structure of the party.

But the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said that it is satisfied with the conduct of the convention and the emergence of John Oyegun as the new national chairman.

Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday in Ibadan, the Chairman of the party in Oyo State, Akin Oke, who was at the convention, said, “We are satisfied with the election of Oyegun as APC National Chairman. He is a democrat and a man of clear vision of how an ideal nation should look like. Among the candidates that vied for the position, he was the most acceptable. We have confidence in him because in the days of the Social Democratic Party (defunct) we worked with him and we are satisfied with his leadership qualities.”

Similarly, the former military administrator of Rivers State, Mr. Sam Ewang, has commended the APC for organising a congress that was acceptable to members of the party.

Ewang said, “I am happy about last Friday’s APC congress. The congress met my expectation. I believe things are going to take a new turn completely. Whatever that are needed to be corrected are going to be corrected and that is my joy.”

Copyright – Punch Newspaper

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APC crack: I never stepped down for Odigie-Oyegun - Tom Ikimi

PDP hails new APC leadership

In a rare  show of sportsmanship, the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated the new leadership of the main opposition political Party, the All Progressives Congress.

PDP

While congratulating the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and other newly elected officers for their emergence at their party’s National Convention, the PDP charged them to ensure a vibrant opposition devoid of bitterness, desperation and divisive tendencies.

PDP National Publicity Secretary , Olisa Metuh in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, also told the new leadership to “ensure an issue based opposition that will purposefully and constructively engage and challenge the PDP with decency and maturity as prescribed by democratic tenets and principles.”

Stating that Nigerians deserve a vibrant and patriotic opposition driven only by the national interest, Metuh charged the new APC leadership to “put the unity and welfare of Nigerians ahead of other considerations and jettison all divisive tendencies including unguarded statements that overheat the polity and pitch Nigerians against one another”.

Metuh, however, asserted PDP’s pre-eminent position and widest acceptance among Nigerians across board despite the APC new leadership which it said posed no threat at all.

He added that the ruling party remains the only party that has continued to be committed to the national interest, as well as providing level playing ground for all Nigerians to achieve their aspirations irrespective of religious, ethnic and gender considerations.

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PDP hails new APC leadership

Why I stayed away from APC convention – Shettima

Maiduguri – Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Saturday said he stayed away from  the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja  as a mark of respect for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Shettima

Mallam Isa Gusau the Special Adviser to Shettima on Communication, said this in a statement he issued in Maiduguri.

“Shettima stayed away from the Eagle Square, venue of APC national convention as a mark of respect for victims of series of Boko Haram attacks in Borno that include families of those killed across the state.

“The action is also to honour parents who have remained in despair following the abduction of about 200 school girls at Government Secondary School, Chibok.

“The governor believes that the convention was a legitimate democratic process that must not be stopped in order to defy insurgents.

“Their (insurgents) desire is to suspend and replace liberal and constitutional democracy with violent doctrines that has no religious backing.

The statement said Shettima opted to stay away from the convention in order not offend the sensibilities of victims of the serial attacks in Borno State.

It added that the governor delegated his deputy, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha to represent him at the convention.

The statement said Shettima share in the aspirations and visions of the APC which is to transform Nigeria. (NAN)

 

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Why I stayed away from APC convention – Shettima

Violence mar APC convention in Abuja

Violence erupted yesterday at the secretariat of the Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abuja.

Two APC members were beaten up by some delegates of the party from Abia and Ebonyi states while policemen looked on. One of them who was labeled as “Ngige boy” was stripped naked near the secretariat along Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11 Abuja.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the fighting erupted between delegates of different factions of the party from Abia and Ebonyi States. Some of the aggrieved delegates from both states who spoke to Vanguard alleged that although they were democratically elected as delegates for the party’s convention, they had been denied accreditation by the Convention Committee headed by Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Aliyu Wammako with Senator Chris Ngige as secretary.

One of the delegates from Abia State who identified himself as Uche Emeka accused Ngige, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and National Vice-Chairman of the party for the South-East, Mr Nyerere as being responsible for their plight.

”We were reliably informed that Ngige and Okorocha have instructed that our Chairman who is Fabian Okonkwo and the rest of us from Abia State should not be accredited.

”We have been calling to inquire and we also have it on good authority that they are directly responsible for this. Our state chairman, has been making calls to find out what is wrong, but no answer has been provided,” he said.

Another delegate from Ebonyi State who identified himself as Christian Ali, told Saturday Vanguard he was the secretary of the party in Ishielu local government.

He said,”There are two factions of APC in Ebonyi. One is led by Chief Ogbonnaya Onu while the other is led by Senator Julius Ucha and because of that, there seems to be a power tussle between the two of them.

”We conducted the state congresses and elected Hon Ben Nwobasi who belongs to Senator Ucha’s camp as chairman. Accreditation tags have not been handed over to us because the trio of Ngige, Ogbonnaya Onu and Okoroacha directed that the congress in Ebonyi be re-conducted.” (Vanguard)

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/violence-erupts-apc-convention/#sthash.ej0JrXAv.dpuf

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Violence mar APC convention in Abuja

Tinubu goes tougher, seeking presidency position

• To announce bid after APC convention


• Tips Afikuyomi as Campaign DG

Olawale Olaleye

Former Lagos State Governor and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu may have reviewed his career progression and resolved to go for the nation’s top job, the presidency.

Tinubu, believed to be initially interested in the nation’s vice presidency is said to have concluded plans to announce his bid for the presidency immediately after the party’s national convention slated to hold between June 13 and 14 in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The APC leader, who is said not to be taking chances about his presidential bid, sources say, has tipped a former senator in the state, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, as the Director-General of his campaign organisation.

According to sources, Tinubu has resolved not to be left out in the emerging dispensation and was prepared to give it his best shot possible, especially in the wake of the opposition that greeted his alleged vice presidential ambition through the pairing of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

This latest move, inside sources however claimed, was designed as a bargaining chip to eventually clinch the slot for the vice-president, since it was most likely that the presidential slot would go to the north.

One of the sources told THISDAY that Tinubu was very displeased with the way his vice presidential ambition through a Muslim/Muslim ticket was exposed, hence his resolve to take his ambition a notch up by eyeing the presidency.

His decision to give the presidential bid a shot, another source said may not be unconnected with the possibility that he could sell out if nothing works in his favour, hence a move that would make it even more difficult for the party leadership to push him aside.

Tinubu is said to have seen clearly, certain indications that he and some other notable members of the APC might be played out by the younger elements in the party at the June convention and since there might be nothing left for him, he has therefore come up with a ‘Plan B’ in order to survive the turn of events.

Although one of the sources was not sure how Tinubu intends to pull through both the presidential ambition and the vice presidency since he might be knocked out in both categories, albeit on different grounds that are considered trite.

The source said while the presidential bid looks impossible because of the fact that the party has agreed in principle to zone it to the north where a Muslim candidate is most likely to emerge, his vice presidential bid is literally impossible on the grounds of religion.

But a recalcitrant Tinubu is said to have continued with his plans, regardless of misgivings and would soon announce his presidential ambition with Afikuyomi leading the campaign group as the director-general.

According to sources, the choice of Afikuyomi was borne out of the need for someone who understood the politics of the SDP/NRC (Social Democratic Party and National Republican Convention) days and has built contacts across board to help sell his candidacy and sustain the momentum.

Aside that, Afikuyomi was believed to have come through as his choice DG because the former senator from Lagos Central and West is believed to boast the kind of energy, networking and experience required to execute a project as huge as a presidential election.

These are some of the moves the former Lagos governor is said to be making in the bid to remain relevant both now and in the experience after. But they are moves observers believe would further unsettle the party and set it on a collision course if mismanaged.

Tinubu was recently reported as pondering a Muslim/Muslim ticket that could feature him and a former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s presidential election, a consideration that has since drawn the ire of party members and opposition alike.

Not long after came the indications that he might lose out in the current effort at structuring the party, a development some party members feared could lead to Tinubu selling out in next year’s election like he was believed to have done in 2011.

But many of the observers believe that the truly defining intrigues would not start to manifest in the party until the outcome of its national convention and Tinubu’s alleged ambition declaration.

Tinubu goes tougher, seeking presidency position