PDP now an expert in fake news – Presidency
The Presidency has dismissed as fake news the story about the raid “ordered by Buhari-led government” on the home of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s son.
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, also described as untrue the fairy tale on the alleged blockage of the bank accounts of Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, Mr Peter Obi and his family.
He said these stories should be dismissed “as just another manifestation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s growing expertise in fake news’’.
“Nigerians must be becoming wary by now, of a political party with absolutely nothing to offer in the coming elections and has instead, transformed into a knight in shining armour, slaying the truth.
“In this so-called transformation, PDP has changed into nothing but to a ceaselessly flowing stream of fake news.
“It is impossible to find in Nigeria today, anyone propagating fake news more than the PDP. Our advice to Nigerians is: ignore them.’’
The Peoples Democratic Party had on Dec.8, alleged that the accounts of its vice-presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had been frozen.
The party, in a statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, pointed accusing fingers at the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the alleged frozen accounts.
NAN reports that the EFCC has since dismissed the PDP’s allegation, claiming ignorance of such incident.
UPP lauds Buhari over N500bn Enyimba economic city project
The United Progressive Party (UPP) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent signing of agreement on the N500 billion Enyimba Economic City project.
Chief Chekwas Okorie, the National Chairman of the party gave the commendation in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Okorie said by signing the agreement, the president had demonstrated that his government would support development programmes initiated by state governments without partisan prejudice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the N500bn Enyimba Economic City was signed at the Presidential Villa on Dec. 7, between the Federal Government and Abia Government.
The national chairman described the step as a landmark achievement considering FG’s commitment of 20% equity of about N100bn to the project.
He also lauded Mr. Okechukwu Enelama, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment who hails from Abia for facilitating the approval and his commitment to the project.
According to him, the project is estimated to provide over 650,000 direct jobs and boost economic development not only to the people of Abia, but to all Nigerians.
He said the citing of the project conformed with UPP’s manifesto of job creation, infrastructure development and exploring comparative advantage of each state for national development.
He said in the 16 years of PDP, no initiative of such massive advantages was supported by FG in any part of the South East.
He accused the PDP of willful halting of geometrics power project built to provide uninterrupted electricity power supply to the Ariaria Industrial Area covering about nine out of 17 local government areas of Abia.
He also lauded the FG for injecting N33 billion to the ongoing construction of the Second Niger Bridge which the Federal Government scheduled to complete in 2022.
He listed reconstruction works going on at Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and Owerri-Aba expressway as justification to campaign for the re-election of the president.
Sagging PDP resorts to lies, BMO alleges
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of indulging in cheap lies to shore up its flagging Presidential campaign
This was after the opposition party alleged that some government agencies had frozen the bank accounts of its Vice Presidential candidate Peter Obi, his family members and their businesses.
BMO said in a statement by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke that PDP has now resorted to playing dirty after realizing that its chances of electoral success were bleak
BMO said: “We had recently raised the alarm in the aftermath of the party’s strategy session in Dubai about a resolution to use religious and ethnic sentiments, lies and propaganda as campaign tools
“And not surprising, PDP had been spinning tales upon tales to cast President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy Professor Yemi Osinbajo as well as the All Progressives Congress in bad light in the run up to the 2019 elections
“What is however surprising is that the party’s spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan is willing to stake his reputation as a journalists by putting his name on a statement reeking of outright lie against government agencies that PDP once claimed to have established in good faith”
BMO also noted that PDP’s penchant for raising false alarm is legendary as a number of its members are known to have made spurious allegations against anti-graft agencies
“It’s on record that the party and some of its leaders made a similar allegation of frozen accounts just before the recent Osun state gubernatorial election against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The agency was then accused of freezing the accounts of its governorship candidate Ademola Adeleke and that of his family members including the musician Davido but this turned out to be false.
It added that it would be necessary for the party to name the agency that froze Peter Obi’s account or apologise to Nigerians like it did few months ago for attempting to hoodwink Nigerians
“If indeed PDP is reformed like its leaders claimed, the party should be honourable enough to admit that it was misinformed about the actual status of Obi’s account and apologise for casting the anti graft agencies in bad light
“EFCC spokesman Tony Orilade had not only denied PDP’s claim but also noted that the party only alluded to an unnamed agency
“This is because the opposition party clearly did not have its facts but could just not resist the urge to paint President Buhari in bad in line with its well-known Dubai strategy of lies” ,BMO said.
Ajimobi canvasses for state police
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called for the establishment of state police to curb crime in the country.
Ajimobi made the call at the inauguration of the Oyo State Safe City Control Centre aimed at improving the security network in the state.
“As important as concepts such as democracy is, go around the world and see the best of democracies, there is none of them without its state police, all the states in America, France and other countries.
“State police will be staffed with people from the local communities where they have deep knowledge about the terrain and the inhabitants therein. That is why no crime goes unsolved in the western world,” he said.
Ajimobi said that the control centre was one of his administration’s efforts to ensure the restoration and sustenance of peace in the state.
“Before our administration came on board in 2011, what we had in the state was hooliganism, violence, brigandage and killings. On assumption, we swung into action and started from the restoration of peace and security.
“Our immediate effort in 2011 at stopping crime and criminal tendencies yielded positive results as our special security outfit was instituted.
“If we have not achieved anything since we came on board, we have achieved peace and security which is the major purpose of government,” he said.
He said that the efforts accounted for the state being ranked as one of the most peaceful, adding it was also adjudged one of the five topmost states in the Ease of Doing Business by Nigeria Bureau Statistics.
Ajimobi commended security agencies in the state for working with resilience to reduce crime in spite of poor logistics as well as lack of technology and database in Nigeria.
He assured the people of his administration’s commitment toward combating crime with the use of technology.
Mr Abiodun Odude, the Commissioner of Police in the state, commended Ajimobi for his support to security agencies, adding that this had made their work easier.
“If not for the intervention of the incumbent governor in providing operational vehicles, vehicle batteries, tyres and other needed materials like armoured personnel carrier, the security apparatus would have been grounded in the state.
“No security work can be done without needed materials. OYSSTF(Oyo State Security Trust Fund) has helped refurbish three armoured personnel carriers out of the 12 we have and I can assure you that one APC is equal to 100 policemen.
“So we must show our gratitude to the present administration for the support given over time,” he said.
Chief Bayo Adelabu, the Chairman of OYSSTF Board, said the Safe City Project was another landmark achievement by the administration.
He said the monitoring capability of the CCTV technology pre-empted crime in notable strategic locations in the state.
“Nobody will commit crime if they know they will be apprehended; the realisation that you are being watched is a measure of deterrence against crime.
He commended corporate organisations for their support, calling on others that were yet to contribute as well as private individuals to support the initiative.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the control centre is the hub for the close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in some parts of Ibadan metropolis such as Sango, Mokola and Challenge.
Mrs Buhari’s comments supportive of husband, not discrediting – NABTO
Women of the of No Alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 Campaign group (NATBO) have hailed Mrs Aisha Buhari over her recent comments on how the Buhari-led administration can perform better.
In a statement issued by Princess Marian Tolofari, National Woman Leader of the group, she said that contrary to what many Nigerians may think, the comments were actually a supportive way to draw attention to ills for corrective measures to be taken.
Mrs Buhari had been quoted as saying that the current administration would have achieved all it has done in three years within one year but for two powerful people whom she accused of being the clog in the wheel of her husbands success.
NABTO argued that Mrs Buhari is a pillar of democracy and good governance who had always pointed out areas of possible dysfunction in her husband’s administration, not to discredit him, but to draw his attention to same for corrective measures.
“Women of good character and strong will are always behind successful men, contributing their quota to various endeavours of the men, as the Jewel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated the virtue of a supportive, submissive and loyal wife.
“The Women of No Alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 Campaign group (NATBO 2019) are highly impressed and encouraged by Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari‘s insistence on good governance in the build up to the general elections next year.
“Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari is, no doubt, a pillar of democratic good governance that wants the dividend of democracy delivered to the electorate at their doorsteps.
“The First Lady has credibility and honesty like Mr President as we all know, thus she recently pointed accusing fingers at some government officials trying to be clogs in the wheel of good governance, rather than join forces with them or feel unconcerned,” the Group said.
The Group said they were willing and ready to work with Mrs Buhari to ensure victory for APC at the 2019 polls.
We, therefore, call on great and resilient women of Nigeria to turn out in their numbers on the election days to vote for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress at all levels.
Your Atiku will be defeated comprehensively, FG tells Obasanjo
The Federal Government says though it is the constitutional right of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support a candidate for an election, his endorsement does not guarantee victory.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the government on Monday in Abuja, said Obasanjo’s candidate for the presidential election, Atiku Abubakar “will be defeated roundly and comprehensively’’.
“With due respect to former President Obasanjo, it is his constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice and we urge him to go out and campaign vigorously for any candidate he wants to support.
“He has not hidden his preference for the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and we wish him very best of luck.
“However, I want to assure you that his candidate will be defeated roundly and comprehensively. It is not about endorsement, endorsement does not win election,’’ he said.
The minister also responded to a statement credited to the former President that, “only a fool will sit on the fence when his or her country is being destroyed with incompetence, corruption lack of focus, insecurity nepotism and brazen impunity’’.
Mohammed said he held Obasanjo in high esteem and probably he was not properly briefed on the development in the country to have made such conclusions,.
“The facts are all there that this government has done more than any other governments in three and half years.
On corruption, the minister said that the government had put in place institutional reforms which had confirmed its sincerity and commitment to fighting the menace.
“It is not about putting people in Jail but what are the things put in place to address this endemic problem.
“Take the example of Treasury Single Account TSA, which was not initiated by this government. It is only the Buhari administration that has the political will to implement it.
“Before we came in, there were over 22,000 government accounts in various banks.
“Since we came, we reduced it to one account and from 2015 to date N8.9 trillion has passed through the TSA which is as a result of transparency and accountability,’’ he said.
The minister said that even with lean resources, the Buhari administration had spent more on infrastructure than the 16 years of the PDP administration.
He said there was no state in the country without one or two infrastructure development being embarked upon by the federal government.
The minister said the Administration had commissioned the Abuja to Kaduna standard rail gauge while the 156 km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would be ready for commissioning in March next year.
He said the government had made fund available for five critical infrastructure projects including the Mambilla power project, the East-West Road, the second Niger Bridge, the Abuja – Kano and Abuja-Lokoja-Okenne highways.
Mohammed said the efforts of the administration in diversifying the economy away from oil had yielded fruits with achievement recorded in agriculture, particularly in rice production and solid mineral sectors.
On power supply, the minister said the administration had improved on generation, transmission and distribution than it met them in 2015, while Nigerians are benefiting from its numerous social investment programmes.