SENATE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH BUHARI …OVER PERM SEC’S REFUSAL TO HONOUR INVITATION

THERE were indications, on Sunday, of an imminent clash between the Presidency and the Senate over an alleged attempt by the Presidency to rubbish the senate president.
Pro-Saraki senators are accusing the Presidency of instigating the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Nwaobia, not to honour an invitation by the upper chamber.
Nwaobia had communicated to the Senate that she could not honour its invitation without an approval by her supervisors to do so but the Saraki loyalists said the Senate had the constitutional power to invite Nwaobia and that her refusal constituted an affront to the legitimacy of the senate president.
The Saraki loyalists’ belief apparently rested on the alleged ‘non-acceptance’ of his presidency by the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It will not augur well for our democracy if the Presidency will not allow civil servants to do their jobs. We should not carry the crisis in the APC to the Senate,” a pro-Saraki senator told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday.

SARAKI LACKS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SUMMON PS – SENATOR

The Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabir Marafa, said on Sunday that the Senate President lacked both moral and constitutional rights to summon the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, for briefing on the state of the economy.
Marafa, the spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, who stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, noted that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the constitution to emerge as senate president on June 9, he cannot accuse another person of committing the same offence he had committed.
Our correspondent had reported that the decision of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance and other top officials to decline an invitation extended to them by the leadership of the National Assembly for a briefing on the state of the nation’s economy last week was currently brewing a major face-off between the two arms of government.

AMAECHI, TINUBU MAY CLASH OVER BUHARI’S THINK TANK

There are indications that Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may lock horns over nomination of members of General Mohammadu Buhari’s (GMB) economic think tank that will formulate the retired army general’s economic policy.
Already, Alhaji Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, former chiefeconomic adviser to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who an online newspaper, TheCable, said Buhari has tipped as the head of the think tank, is facing serious opposition from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the online newspaper, “since TheCablereported that the economics graduate of Wagner College, New York, U.S. was tipped to head the economic policy directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, the former head of state and senior APC chieftains have been inundated with calls by concerned Nigerians who kicked against Kurfi’s membership.”

IN 60 DAYS, 60 APC AND PDP CANDIDATES BEGIN BATTLE FOR THE CONTROL OF NIGERIA

Two men will be leading the main political parties in 60 days’ time on February 14, 2015. President Goodluck Jonathan will be carrying the hopes of PDP, and General Muhammadu Buhari will be leading the APC team. Both are the presidential candidates of their parties. They have strengths that they would be leveraging on in the drive for votes, and they also have drawbacks that they would be fighting to overcome.

SOUTH-WEST
LAGOS STATE
Akinwunmi Ambode (APC)
Born on June 14, 1963, Ambode was a former Accountant-General of Lagos State and a former permanent secretary of the state’s Ministry of Finance. He graduated from the University of Lagos in 1984.

VICTORIOUS BUHARI FACES HIS FIRST BIG TEST: CHOICE OF RUNNING MATE

• To face president in rematch, PDP derisively welcomes him to the race
• Atiku concedes defeat, congratulates ex-head of state
Thisday Report
Following his landslide victory on Thursday to emerge the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former military Head of State Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, will be facing his biggest test in the next few hours, as he would have to pick a running mate from a roll call of prospective vice-presidential hopefuls.

Buhari, who by his win at the APC convention has set up for a rematch against President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), got 3,430 votes to beat other contenders for the presidential ticket of the main opposition party.

CONSENSUS CANDIDATE: APC MAY DUMP ATIKU FOR BUHARI

BARRING any changes, the All Progressives Congress, APC is set to adopt former Head of State, Gen. Mohammed Buhari (retd) as its consensus candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigation, yesterday, revealed that the issue featured prominently at the October 17, 2014 National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the party.
It was gathered that the party’s national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the course of the meeting, openly declared his support for Buhari as against the expectation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, another presidential aspirant who was present at the meeting.
A source at the national secretariat of the APC said Tinubu’s open support for Buhari was hinged on the popularity of the former military ruler.

BRACE UP FOR TOUGHER ELECTIONS, BUHARI URGES NIGERIANS

LOKOJA — Former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari has predicted that next year’s general elections will be tough and urged party members to collect their voters’ card and hold on to them.
He called on Nigerians not to vote in those he described as treasury looters, saying provision of free amenities was possible. He rolled out the party’s package for Nigerians, promised improved infrastructure, water, electricity and improved education system for Nigerians, under the APC.
According to him: “The next five months will be very tough, because we want to take over the government, from councillorship to presidency.
“Next election is going to be different and next year is going to be tough because APC is ready for change in Nigeria. We will stop corruption; no more will anybody put government money into private pockets.

2015: OSHIOMHOLE TO VIE FOR APC PRESIDENTIAL TICKET

•Number of aspirants increase as Buhari, Atiku, Okorocha, Kwankwaso, Saraki battle for slot
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is warming up to join the 2015 presidential race.
He is expected to slug it out with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), and Governor Rochas Okorocha (Imo) as well as former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gen. Buhari and Senator Bukola Saraki, are yet to officially declare their interest in the contest.
More members of the party may show interest in due course, according to party sources.
Governor Oshiomhole, it was gathered, has already completed consultations at home and abroad on his aspiration.

OSUN POLITICAL THUGS WILL BE DEALT WITH -JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday assured the people of Osun State that the August 9 governorship election would be peaceful.
He dared political thugs to attempt to disrupt the election and risk being dealt with by security operatives, who would be deployed in the state for the election.
The President, who said this at the Peoples Democratic Party mega rally in Osogbo City Stadium, added that despite protests by some parties, he would make sure that Osun State was well-policed during the election.
Jonathan, who walked round the pitch, alongside other PDP leaders, waving at the thousands of party supporter who had filled the about 30, 000-capacity stadium before his arrival, also restated his commitment to making sure that the votes of Nigerians count.

JONATHAN IN OSOGBO: URGES ELECTORATES TO VOTE OMISORE AS NEXT GOVERNOR

• Says: Vice President’s birthday gift is PDP victory on August 9
• Omisore is the best, Says Vice President
• Akpabio pledges repeat of Ekiti ‘magic in Osun
President Goodluck Jonathan Saturday in Osogbo, Osun state, presented Senator Iyiola Omisore to the electorates of the state, urging them to massively vote for him in the August 9 Governorship Election.
The highpoint of the rally was the official presentation of the PDP flag to the Osun state PDP governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore. The flag was jointly handed over to Omisore by the PDP national chairman, Adamu Muazu and President Jonathan.

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE NEXT LAGOS GOVERNOR

Lagosians, and even outsiders, have been expressing worry about who will take over from Governor Babatunde Fashola to continue the transformation of the state. If you believe media reports – and follow the sign of the times – Akinwunmi Ambode is the man positioned to take over from him next year. That is assuming the All Progressives Congress (APC), the dominant party in the state, wins the governorship election next year – or even that Ambode’s candidature is successfully sold to other APC governorship aspirants.

2015: APC MOVES TO DUMP BUHARI, ATIKU

• Fashola Committee roots for a northern gov
• Forecloses Muslim-Muslim ticket
There are strong indications that the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not look the way of its two main presidential aspirants, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for presidential candidacy.
New Telegraph gathered from authoritative sources that a Strategy Committee of the party headed by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has advised the party to jettison the idea of fielding either Buhari or Abubakar.
Rather, the committee wants the party to look in the direction of a northern Muslim governor if it really wants to challenge the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who is likely to emerge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer.
The suggestion is contained in a two-page document titled “Memo to His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu: 2015, implications of Muslim/Muslim Ticket and the Burden of APC Presidential candidate” distributed to select party leaders at a meeting last Saturday, April 26.

2015: NORTH SHORTLISTS BUHARI, TAMBUWAL, KWANKWASO •DIRECTS KEY PDP MEMBERS TO DEFECT TO APC •PLOTS TO MAKE PDP REGIONAL PARTY

AS the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meets next week to put its house in order, opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is deepening its agenda to wrest power from the ruling party.
Investigation by the Saturday Tribune revealed that the opposition is focusing on areas likely to weaken it in the 2015 presidential poll, such as the fight over its presidential ticket and PDP’s presence in some parts of the North.
Findings showed that the leadership of the opposition party, in conjunction with opinion and political leaders in the north, has narrowed APC’s presidential choices to three; namely Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and General Muhammadu Buhari. While the party has not even elected its leadership, Saturday Tribune gathered that the three men are being encouraged to dialogue by the north as a way of easing tension at future presidential primaries.

I DIDN'T SLAP ANY PRIEST – NGIGE

The senator representing Anambra Central senatorial zone and APC candidate in the November 16 Governorship election in Anambra State, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige has described as false reports that he slapped a priest during Friday’s burial ceremony of the mother of the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government area of Anambra State.
Dismissing the story, Dr Ngige, who spoke through the Director, Media & Publicity in the his Campaign Organisation, Chief Charles Amilo, noted that with Anambra State gubernatorial elections very close, all sorts of rumours will be flying around.

PRESIDENCY REJECTS GOVERNORS’ DEMANDS

The Presidency yesterday rejected the demands by aggrieved governors as part of the terms to settle the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crises.
Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on political matters Ahmed Gulak, yesterday said those demands are not consitutional.
He spoke against the background of Tuesday night’s peace talks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
There were strong indications last night that President Jonathan and the aggrieved G-7 governors will meet again on Sunday to continue the peace talks.

FOUR ‘REBEL’ GOVERNORS MEET JONATHAN

Four of the seven aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors on Tuesday met with President Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja to protest ‘the belligerence’ of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.
Before the meeting, Jonathan had held two separate closed doors meetings with two elders of the PDP and three governors sympathetic to the Tukur-led faction over the crisis rocking the party.
The elders were Dr. Ahmadu Ali, a former chairman of the PDP; and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, an ex-military President.
The three governors that met with him earlier on Tuesday were Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom), Gabriel Suswan (Benue); and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta).

WHY WE PROMOTE NEW PDP, BY ATIKU

It’s All About 2015, Says Lar 
FORMER Vice President and one of the founding fathers of the ruling crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Friday declared that he and his group in the New PDP were only interested in one thing: to rescue and reconnect the party with Nigerians, as was envisaged by its founding fathers.
Atiku, the Turaki Adamawa, told The Guardian in an interview that “the PDP has been going in the wrong direction for far too long” and given what was happening in the other political parties (the quest by their leaders to strengthen them), “you would agree with me that it has become necessary for some of us to rescue the party and put it back track. And that is exactly what has happened.”

PDP INCHES TOWARDS MINORITY IN NASS: 102 REPS, 26 SENATORS BACK ‘NEW PDP’

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the verge of losing its majority in the National Assembly, as more federal lawmakers have backed the splinter group of the party.
By yesterday, four more senators and 102 members of the House of Representatives have joined the fray to back the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction which unveiled what it called the “new PDP”. Also, 57 out of the 102 House members have already signed up, supporting the splinter PDP.
With the four new entrants, the number of senators has increased to 26; 22 senators had on Monday signed up to back the Baraje faction. But the identities of the four senators have been kept secret: a source said those concerned would address a press conference themselves to disclose their identities within the week.
A senator from one of the south-south states who has been having it rough is said to be coordinating the new drive.

JONATHAN’S ADVISER UNCOVERS PDP MOLES

Special Adviser to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said on Monday in Abuja that the ruling People’s Democratic Party had uncovered the moles in its fold sent to destabilise the party.
Gulak stated this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He was reacting to the crisis in PDP which deepened on Saturday when seven governors walked out of the party’s special national convention to form a splinter group.
Gulak, who did not specifically name the moles, alleged that they were sent by the opposition with the aim of breaking the party.

2015 PRESIDENCY: PDP PLOTS CONSENSUS TICKET FOR JONATHAN

LAGOS—Leading officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are in fresh moves to push President Goodluck Jonathan through a rancour-free contest for the party’s ticket for the 2015 presidential election.
The party apparatchik that had earlier proposed the adoption of a right of first refusal for the president and governors are now proposing a double-phased convention to accommodate the concerns of party members aggrieved at the earlier proposal of the right of first refusal.
Among those in strong opposition to the right of first refusal are some two-term governors from the North and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.
In the new move being pushed by party leaders, President Jonathan and first term governors desiring a second term would be considered for a referendum on their achievements in the first term before a party convention. As part of the referendum, delegates to the party convention would be asked to affirm a yea or nay on the president’s performance upon which he would be adopted as the party’s consensus candidate.