How we plotted PDP’s downfall in 2015 – Tinubu says

The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has revealed how the party ousted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
Tinubu was speaking on the theme Strategic Leadership: “My political Experiences”, at the 25th Course of the National Defence College in Abuja on Wednesday.

He stated that people were ready for change as the 2015 elections approached and APC had to develop several strategies to get into power.
One of them was not to contest as separate parties.
Tinubu said: “We had tried that path before; it led to defeat in 2011. A strategic rethink was needed, to attain the goal of ousting the PDP and placing Nigeria on the road to progressive governance. The strategic linchpin would be the merger of opposition parties.
“Time is inadequate to recount the complex journey toward the merger. My firm position was that only a merger would work. Anything short of that would disintegrate due to a combination of PDP enticement and the internal pressures arising from the strong identification of many politicians with their legacy parties. An ad-hoc alliance would be put asunder by these factors.

“Our push for a merger of the old parties into a new entity carried the day. We would join hands to form a collective identity. The CPC and my party, ACN, ANPP along with progressive elements of the APGA formed the party. Key elements of the PDP would later join. For this amalgamation to work, it had to be more than an anti-PDP gathering. It had to present a genuine and positive message that spoke to people’s hopes and aspirations.”
The former Governor of Lagos State, explained that they had to strategize right to the symbol of the party – a broom.
“We developed the theme of change as our strategic message. The broom became an apt party symbol. We would sweep out the old, sweep in

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Wuse General Hospital shuts down

The management of Wuse General Hospital, Wuse Zone 3 in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has announced its plan to shut down services for four days to enable it perform a fumigation exercise.
The hospital announced this in a circular numbered FCTA/HHSS/HMB/WGH/GEN/071/ and signed by the hospital secretary for the Medical Director.

It reads, “I am directed to inform you that the hospital management has concluded arrangement with the Health and Human Services Secretariat to fumigate the hospital from Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th January 2017. The facility will therefore be closed for services from 26th-Sunday 27th January 2017.”
The Management of the hospital said it carries out the exercise every year to make the premises safer for patients and staff.
The hospital, however, directed that emergency cases be referred to other hospitals, adding that it will resume full duties by 30th of January 2017.
“Consequently, Doctors are supposed to stop admission by 23rd January and all patients should be discharged by Wednesday 25th January 2017.

“All emergency cases should be referred to our sister hospitals; Clinical services will resume on Monday the 30th of January 2017 by 8am”.

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PDP says Buhari is protecting his corrupt friends

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption is a ruse, as he is shielding his friends and associates from the law.
This was stated in a statement released by Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesperson for the Ahmed-Makarfi faction of the PDP on Wednesday.

It also said Buhari’s letter to the Senate, defending the corruption allegations against EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu and Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, shows he was targeting only the opposition.
The statement read: “It is no longer news that all those who are serving in the government of President Buhari or who are members of his Party, the APC within the last two years of his administration have all been cleared of any wrongdoing, notwithstanding documentary and other incontrovertible evidences to the contrary.
“The Presidency in today’s dispensation is the ‘judicial clearing house’ issuing clean bill of health to all accused corrupt officials who are members of the APC and friends of the administration.
“It is quite disturbing that the President cleared his SGF of wrongdoing despite the weighty evidence of his ‘Grass-cutting abilities’ uncovered by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, implicating Babachir (Lawal) of complicity in the award of contract relating to the IDP Camp in Borno State amounting to over N200m.”

The party accused the government of double standards in its fight against corruption and different laws.
“One law is for the PDP and other opposition parties and their leaders while the other is for the ruling party, the APC and friends of this administration,” it said.
PDP also recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burati, was cleared of all accusations even after clear evidences were presented against him.
Adeyeye said: “In the same vein, ‘Buhari’s Court’ also cleared the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazzau (retd.) for allegedly owning properties worth over N1.5bn in the United States of America.

“In fact, rather than being prosecuted, he was rewarded with the highest budget vote in the 2017 Budget.
“What about the Case of Jafaru Isa? The President’s friend and confidant was alleged to have taken millions of naira from the purported Arms money but that has also gone under since it was first mentioned in the media.
“While Isa’s case is dead, others mentioned with him are either defending themselves in courts or are being tried in the media to intimidate them into silence.
“Another case worth mentioning is that of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who also has several allegations of corruption hanging around his neck but obviously has being cleared of them.”

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Osinbajo not under pressure to resign – Presidency

The Presidency on Wednesday denied insinuation that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was being pressured to resign.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Femi Ojudu, said it was not true that Osinbajo was being held hostage by some governors who were said to have demanded his resignation from office.

In the statement titled: “State of the Nation,” Ojudu said Osinbajo was on his desk in his office and performing his routine functions having earlier presided over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The presidential aide described the claim as ridiculous and urged the people to desist from carrying fake news.

He said: “I have read many ridiculous stories saying the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is being held hostage by some governors who are trying to compel him to resign.

“I have equally received several calls regarding this. The story is simply not true. It is a fabrication. Don’t be a purveyor of fake news.

“The Vice President is behind his desk carrying out his task. The Federal Executive Council presided over by him has just ended and he has been busy receiving visitors and holding meetings.”

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