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- APC Alleged Primaries Bribe Saga: DSS Submits Report On Oshiomhole To AGF
- Nigeria's 2019 Dreams, Threatened By Certificate Scandals
- JUST IN: See How APC Governor Insulted Oshiomhole Before Buhari - Vanguard Reveals
- APC CRISIS: Hope Uzodinma To Be Declared Wanted – Presidency
- PDP In Dilemma Over Presidential Campaign In South-West
| APC Alleged Primaries Bribe Saga: DSS Submits Report On Oshiomhole To AGF Posted: 17 Nov 2018 04:47 PM PST
The Department of State Security Service, DSS has submitted a report of its findings on its investigation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) for review, Saturday Sun reliably gathered in Abuja yesterday.The embattled party chairman was recently summoned for interrogation by the leadership of the secret police following allegations financial inducement and compromise in the conduct and outcome of the recently held APC primaries. The party leadership was accused of collecting bribes in millions of dollars to favour particular aspirants who eventually emerged as candidates particularly in Imo and Ogun states among others.After being granted bail, Oshiomhole traveled out of the country and returned on Friday last week and thereafter granted media interviews to deny the allegations against him. Some of his friends and supporters have fingered some aggrieved APC governors like, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo among others as the brains behind the DSS probe, an allegation the governors have equally denied.A reliable government official familiar with the probe told Saturday Sun in Abuja yesterday that the DSS has since submitted the report of its findings to AGF Malami for review and appropriate legal advice.According to the source, "I'm aware the Minister of Justice, is on the case. He may take it over or die naturally. The outcome of the review of the DSS investigative report by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation in few days ahead, will decide Oshiomhole' s faith."When Saturday Sun contacted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC late yesterday to confirm whether it has also gotten a copy of the report for further investigation, the anti-graft agency through its spokesman, Tony Orilade said the Commission is not investigating Oshiomhole on the bribery allegation. "We, therefore, don't have a say as to the status of the allegations or the stage the investigation is at the moment, if at all there is such. If and when we are availed with such petition of financial impropriety, the EFCC, being a responsible anti-graft agency, will surely do the needful," the agency's spokesman stated. Efforts to speak with the AGF on the probe report up till 9:30pm yesterday proved abortive as his phone numbers were switched off while text messages sent to him were also not replied. It was however gathered that some of the aggrieved governors are still pressing on with their plan to oust the party chairman, a plan President Buhari and some other APC leaders may not be favourably disposed to because of the instability that will cause three months to a general election in which the president is standing for re-election. One of the governors accused of being behind the plot had told Saturday Sun the allegation is baseless. "No doubt, we have been having meetings with the president but our visits have nothing to do with Oshiomhole's probe. We are only interested in securing the president from some deadly traps because what is happening now is of serious concern to the president. For instance, if we allow them to undermine Amosun in Ogun, fine, Amosun may lose but the president will also lose. This is their game plan. That was the same mistake President Jonathan made and we are trying not to allow President Buhari fall into the same trap", the governor had stated. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had also dismissed the allegation against some of them as baseless. "We have nothing to do with his ordeal, nobody should link us to it please", he stressed and pleaded to be left out of the conversation. Source: The Sun Newspaper Related Topics: #Oshiomhole #APCPrimariesBriberyScandal Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| Nigeria's 2019 Dreams, Threatened By Certificate Scandals Posted: 17 Nov 2018 03:57 PM PST
The muddy waters of power has already made casualty of some politicians as politics, law and morality come to play ahead of the 2019 elections over the issue of academic and other qualifications with many politicians who have tasted the sweetness of office having sleepless nights to remain in the corridors of power amidst resistance by their opponents and 'whistle blowers'.The recent publication of particulars of candidates for various offices by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed a kind of "humility" by many aspirants who simply showcased the minimum academic qualifications required by law which is their secondary school results in order to shut out those trying to undermine them.Findings by Daily Trust revealed that this is unlike what obtained in previous elections when aspirants looked for additional papers to fill in all sorts of certificates in the CF001 as required by INEC in line with Section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), which mandated the electoral empire to publish particulars of all candidates for public scrutiny.Shortly after the latest publication by INEC, the debate on certificates, rather than issues relating to development, took the centre stage of political discuss.President BuhariOn November 2, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued an "attestation certificate" to President Muhammadu Buhari after much furore. Before the presentation, Buhari had been severely criticised by opposition politicians and activists soon after they scrutinized his particulars and discovered that he said his school certificate was still with the military authorities. To a certain extent, the announcement by spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a tweet from his verified handle that WAEC presented an attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to President Buhari "softly" laid to rest, the debate over the matter though some people are still asking WAEC to indicate the exam number of the president, and even questioning the photograph used in the document.  "What will the naysayers say next?" Adesina queried. Buhari had experienced similar criticism ahead of the 2015 general elections when he was an opposition presidential candidate. READ ALSO: WAEC Headquarters In Ghana Said No Record Of Buhari's Certificate – Reno's Viral Post Bindow's WAEC controversy The certificate controversy surrounding the candidacy of Adamawa State governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, came to public knowledge when the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ordered an accelerated hearing of a case of certificate forgery filed by a non-governmental group, Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network, against the governor. There are fears that unless Governor Bindow escapes miraculously, he might likely be replaced by the APC ahead of next year's election to avoid losing the governorship seat to the opposition if the court establishes that he actually forged the result he is claiming. It is alleged that the governor who attended Government Secondary School Miango in Plateau State, did not sit for the final secondary school examination conducted by WAEC and therefore submitted a fake result to INEC in 2015 before he became governor. Those who took him to court had already obtained and published a result with the serial number the governor is claiming but a different name. Ruling on the application for a motion experte brought before him on October 22, Justice B.O. Quadri granted the prayers of the plaintiff for accelerated hearing as well as leave to serve the originating summons on Governor Jibrilla and WAEC at their respective addresses in Adamawa and Lagos. Those joined as defendants are WAEC, INEC, APC and the Nigeria Police. Back in Yola, an APC youth group loyal to Nuhu Ribadu, the Black Cap Revolution, staged a public protest to the state House of Assembly, demanding a probe of the governor over the alleged certificate scandal. The group leader, Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, urged the legislators to investigate the forgery allegations against the state's chief executive to ascertain the truth and do justice to all parties involved. "We are not saying the governor is guilty, we are simply demanding an investigation into the matter. We're law abiding citizens who nurture transparency, integrity and good governance. There is an allegation against our governor that the certificate he presented which earned him the leadership is a syndicated forgery, which is synonymous with corruption," Mustapha said. "We want Governor Bindow to come out clean and clear. We want him to appear before the state lawmakers to defend the allegation. "However, should the allegation hold water, Bindow should honourably resign in addition to withdrawing from the 2019 gubernatorial race and face legal case, lest our state be reduced to the republic of certificate forgery forever," he said. Receiving a letter from the group, the Clerk of the Assembly, Francis Ngangso promised to deliver it to the House leadership for consideration. However, the Speaker of the House, Kabiru Mijinyawa, dismissed the demand at a plenary, saying the House could not investigate a matter that was already before a court of law. Meanwhile, an aggrieved APC governorship aspirant, Mahmud Halilu who is younger brother to the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, has threatened to drag Jibrilla to court for using a fake WAEC certificate. Besides the court threats, the controversy became more interesting when INEC released names and credentials of 28 governorship aspirants in the state as voters and critics discovered that Jibrilla who emerged the APC candidate attached a school testimonial to his nomination form rather than a WAEC certificate. The inclusion of "a mere testimonial" seems to have confused some of his supporters and emboldened his critics while curious voters were seen snapping the document with their handsets and flipping through other papers attached to the form. Efforts to see what Jibrilla presented to INEC ahead of 2015 were not successful. Before he became governor, Jibrilla had served as senator and it is only what happens in the coming days in the court that will unravel the mystery behind his credentials. Ashiru's certificate case and Kaduna PDP There have been reports since Alhaji Isa Ashiru emerged the governorship flag bearer of the PDP in Kaduna State, that there are issues with his credentials. It has remained one of the issues his media team had to battle with it for weeks but just as the matter was about to die down, a major stakeholder in the party, Dr. Muhammad Sani-Bello, brought it up. Dr. Bello, one of the PDP governorship aspirants who later withdrew from the race to support Ashiru, made the observation about discrepancies in the educational qualification of Ashiru formal by publicly making it an issue in the factors that made him resign from the PDP. While announcing his decision to quit the PDP, Dr. Bello said he was not comfortable working with Ashiru as his academic credentials were allegedly under question. He said, "Based on my findings, the documentation of the candidate contains certain flaws which remain unexplained," but made no effort to explain further. Checks by our correspondent at the INEC office in Kaduna showed that Ashiru attached photocopies of all the educational qualifications to his form to substantiate his claim of attending various schools from primary to university. Ashiru in the form said he attended LEA Primary School Kudan, Kufena College in Zaria, Katsina Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic and Bayero University, Kano from where he obtained the LEA Primary Certificate, the General Certificate of Education, June 1980, National Diploma Business Administration, 1985; Higher National Diploma Business Administration 1989; Post Graduate Diploma, Marketing, 1999 and Masters in Public Administration, 2002. The PDP candidate who said he was born on October 23, 1962, said he completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Borno State in 1990. Ashiru explained that there are no discrepancies in his credentials and that his certificates which he presented to INEC for the forthcoming election are all genuine and complete. He described the allegation as a manifestation of the desperation of the APC to create doubt and confusion in the minds of the people of Kaduna State about him. The PDP candidate had contested and won elections four times in the past as he was a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015. Since Dr. Sani has left the PDP, our correspondent learnt that no formal complaint has been sent to the party to interrogate the issue further. There are indications however that one of the aspirants who contested the primary with Ashiru is trying to take up the matter with the party so that the ticket of the party would be handed to him. PDP leaders in the state say the matter is not an issue as they are sure that Ashiru's papers are genuine but the APC, our correspondent learnt, is highly interested in the matter and is trying to establish the discrepancy as a counter-strategy in the scheme towards dislodging the PDP at the polls. Atunwa's problem in Kwara There are allegations that the governorship candidate of the PDP in Kwara State, Razak Atunwa, did not participate in the NYSC programme. Atunwa was alleged to have sourced a forged NYSC discharge certificate which he submitted to the PDP to prove his eligibility for the office of governor. In his previous contest, it was gathered that nobody knew what he presented since the issue of certificate was not as serious as it is today, but Atunwa is said to be a graduate of Law. For this election, it was learnt that Atunwa submitted a secondary school certificate. The development has generated a lot of disquiet in the state and among members of the party, with insinuations that if fully established, he might likely be replaced by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the erstwhile national publicity secretary of the APC who recently followed Senate President Bukola Saraki to the PDP. Sources within the party say things have really "fallen apart" and the "centre can no longer hold." It was rumoured that one of the PDP aspirants during the primary election who is close to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, blew the whistle about the fake NYSC certificate. Findings revealed that Atunwa remains the preferred choice of Bukola Saraki even though other forces within the party want someone else. It was gathered that the aspirant who blew the whistle believes that if Atunwa is eventually dropped as the PDP candidate, he might get the ticket but surprisingly, Atunwa's name appeared in the INEC list as the PDP candidate for the next year's election. Meanwhile, Atunwa while reacting, said, "I did not submit any unsupported NYSC certificate as suggested by you. "I strongly advise that you verify each and every assertion you wish to make. You may wish to make formal enquiries/verifications of all institutions concerned. "You should also be circumspect enough to authenticate the provenance of any document you may be handed if it's not from a formal and official source." Atunwa may survive the heavy wind because of the support he enjoys from Saraki who is the political leader in the state and considering that he only submitted his secondary school certificate. But, in the event he must be replaced, many feel the ticket might be given to somebody from Kwara North, including Zakari Muhammed, Aliyu Ahman – Pategi and Shaaba Lafiagi, while others feel Malam Bolaji Abdullahi might still be the lucky man. Adebayo Shittu screened out The Minster of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu could not also actualize his dream of becoming governor in Kwara State after he was screened out by the APC over his failure to participate in the NYSC. Shittu, a SAN who has already gone to court to seek interpretation, said he believed serving as a member of the House of Assembly soon after graduating from the Law School was enough replacement for the NYSC programme. READ ALSO: PDP Wants President Buhari To Explain To Nigerians What He Derives From Appointing Fraudulent Characters Into Very Sensitive Positions - NYSC Saga What the Constitution says Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution sets out that a person can vie for the office of president of Nigeria if he has certain qualifications and with the exception of age, the qualifications are similar to other offices such as governor, member of the national or state assembly. The requirements include being a citizen of Nigeria and attaining the required age, being a member of a political party and sponsored by that political party, and must have been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent. Section 318 (1) of the Constitution defines what school certificate or its equivalent to mean a secondary school certificate or its equivalent, Grade II Teacher's Certificate, City and Guilds Certificate; or Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and service in the public or private sector in the federation in any capacity acceptable to INEC for a minimum of 10 years, and attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to INEC for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year, and the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC and any other qualification acceptable to INEC. A lawyer speaks An Abuja-based lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Agbo Madaki, says there are reasons why many politicians are desperate to forge their way into public office, despite the fact that the basic requirements are not difficult to come by. "Mind you, the law did not say you must have a degree or HND. But the truth is that ours is a culture of flaunting what we don't have. Unfortunately, that has become part of our culture such that you find people who don't possess some of these higher certificates and the tendency is for them to forge so that people now regard them as having what ordinarily they don't have. I think low self-esteem is part of the problem here," he said. "And that is also possible because people have been forging successfully in this country. That is not to say that the law is weak because forgery is a criminal offence in Nigeria and punishable by both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code. "However, the problem here is that of selective application of justice. Simply because most of the people involved are the elite or people of high means, in other words, the rich and famous, they often escape without prosecution," he said. "Law enforcement in Nigeria is weak and porous. Why the offenders escape is because the law enforcement mechanism in Nigeria is weak. I believe the Nigeria Police, by virtue of their training, have the capacity not only to investigate but also to prosecute, especially going by the Supreme Court decision recently. They should ensure that the offenders are apprehended and prosecuted," he said. Source: Daily Trust Newspaper Related Topics: #2019Election #Buhari #CertificateScandal #INEC #WAEC Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| JUST IN: See How APC Governor Insulted Oshiomhole Before Buhari - Vanguard Reveals Posted: 17 Nov 2018 02:57 AM PST
Despite last Saturday's statement by the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that his encounter with the Department of State Security Services, DSS, was not an arrest as being speculated, Saturday Vanguard learned that the forces against him were unfazed in the resolve to achieve preconceived objectives.Already, exclusive reports by some influential online platforms had indicated that the DSS in its report to the Presidency, recommended the prosecution of Oshiomhole over its alleged findings.Saturday Vanguard could not confirm the veracity of the existence of the report from the DSS and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, but top party sources said there was nothing like that.They, however, said the protest against the Chairman at the office of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the said DSS report were part of the efforts of those opposed to Oshiomhole at achieving their aim.One of the sources said the ultimate objective was to co-opt President Muhamadu Buhari in the anti-Oshiomhole camp.He said it would be difficult to get the President's support for the move, adding that those against Oshiomhole had since lost the President's support for failing to accept the solutions he (Buhari) proffered as the leader of the APC. In fact, he told Saturday Vanguard that there was a day the President asked one of the aggrieved governors, who was visiting him at the time, to speak to Oshiomhole on the phone in his presence so they could resolve the matter. He added that instead of having the peace talk President Buhari suggested, the governor started insulting Oshiomhole on the phone, using unprintable words. This scene which happened in the presence of the President, was said to have lasted more than 30 minutes. The scenario was said to have convinced the President that the aggrieved governor and others were being driven by self-interest. The source, who was even privy to the conversation Oshiomhole had with the DSS, said top party members and political office holders, have resolved to defend the chairman. He noted that this support played out when Oshiomhole honoured the DSS invitation, adding that the party chieftains and public office holders immediately mobilised in solidarity, threatening to defend the national chairman at all costs. Sources privy to the event told Saturday Vanguard that the party members, who were taken unaware immediately mobilised to Oshiomhole's Abuja residence when they got wind of the matter. Prominent among those, who immediately responded to the situation was a top presidency official in charge of the administrative workings of the government, a serving governor, and minister among others. The scandalized officials were said to have threatened that should the interrogation continue, they would not mind if their defence of Oshiomhole's integrity led to the implosion of APC. However, Saturday Vanguard further learned that contrary to insinuations that President Buhari had prior knowledge of the operation, the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were called when it had ended. The duo were said to have been rattled that such treatment was meted to the party's National Chairman. The incident, one of the sources said, was hatched by some top political office holders, who seem to have influence over some officials of the institution that was used. The aim was to intimidate Oshiomhole into signing a resignation letter which would be presented to the public. To achieve this, he was presented with a series of allegations of financial impropriety allegedly made against him. Money from Lagos State governor The allegations included the collection of money from Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; senators; Kano State aspirants; Zamfara State aspirants and Imo State APC members among others. These accusations, which the source described as cheap, were brought before Oshiomhole, who was said to have punctured them with superior and logical responses. Saturday Vanguard learned that Oshiomhole, who saw the claims as laughable and pedestrian, told them that it was illogical to suggest that he collected money from Ambode when the outcome of the primaries in Lagos was not even being challenged by the governor. On the allegation of collecting money from senatorial aspirants, it was learned that the APC chairman considered it a cheap one since he did not succumb to the pressure of being financially induced by those seeking higher offices. APC primaries in Kano In fact, the source said the allegation implied that those behind the matter could go to any length in their bid to oust the National Chairman. The source, who said Oshiomhole's response to the questions exposed the intelligence level of those, who made the allegations, said questioning him over APC primaries in Kano was needless. His reason was that Oshiomhole gave the party a new lease of life in Kano with the return of a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau to APC after Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso's defection. Explaining further, the source said: "What happened was the handiwork of a few people, who used the influence they think they have to intimidate the chairman. They wanted him to resign his position as the National Chairman to pave the way for their selfish interest. They invited Comrade and he honoured the invitation as a law-abiding citizen. He was taken aback when they started asking him questions about issues that didn't exist. "Even the President was not aware of it as some people claimed. "The President and the Vice President were informed about the incident on phone and they were very angry because it is obvious that some people who are not comfortable with comrade's resolve to ensure that candidates were not imposed on the party are ready to make the party implode. "They asked him questions regarding Kano State, Imo State, and Zamfara State among others. The funny aspect is that they said he collected money from Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode. "That was just a petty lie because the outcome of the Lagos primary was not a subject of controversy and Ambode did not even kick against the emergence of the winner. "In addition to that, they said he collected money from senators. That is absolute nonsense because Comrade is a former governor, who has attained the peak in public office. "How could he have collected money from a senator, who collects about N13 million monthly? The allegations against him lacked substance. Governors, ministers "The morning after the incident some governors, ministers and other top functionaries visited his house and were threatening to defend comrade, adding that they didn't care if the party experienced an implosion. That scene is better imagined. "Of course, their reaction was expected because the incident was on the heels of threats by an aggrieved governor that comrade would be forced out of office. "The call by the opposition that the Interpol should arrest comrade was unnecessary because he committed no crime to have warranted such. "It even showed that the main opposition party in this country does not engage in constructive criticisms. "If the incident had happened to the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus they would have described it as an abuse of power. "Since Comrade is the victim, it does not amount to an abuse of power anymore. That is the kind of destructive politics people play in Nigeria. It should be on record that nobody would be allowed to bend the rules of the APC. "Even Comrade and President Buhari do not have that power to subvert the will of the people. Oshiomhole's position on the matter is simple. He stands for the rule of law not imposition of candidates. "That is the reason he refused to succumb to all attempts at making him allow illegality in states where arrangements have been concluded to impose candidates on the people." Source: Vanguard Newspaper Related Topics: #Oshiomhole #Buhari #APC #DSS #EFCC Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| APC CRISIS: Hope Uzodinma To Be Declared Wanted – Presidency Posted: 17 Nov 2018 02:01 AM PST
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, will soon be declared wanted.According to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, the Panel will soon secure a warrant on the Senator.Chairman of the panel, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla said his panel would any moment, obtain arrest warrant on Uzodinma.Obono-Obla said this followed the lawmaker's evasion of the panel to answer questions over alleged fraud.He told Vanguard that once Uzodinma was declared wanted, he would be picked up by any law enforcement officer wherever he is sighted."Well, that man still didn't honour his own words and he's still evading arrest. We learnt he has run away to Imo State but I can assure you that we will arrest him. "We are going to court to get a warrant of arrest so that any police officer or law enforcement officer can pick him wherever and whichever part of the country he is found. "Well, I don't want to let the cat out of the bag but we will do that very soon." The senator was said to have been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by security men last Sunday. However, Senator Uzodinma has denied being arrested when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja. Related Topics: #HopeUzodinma #OkoiObonoObla #APCImoState Sharing is caring. Share this story  | ||
| PDP In Dilemma Over Presidential Campaign In South-West Posted: 17 Nov 2018 12:37 AM PST
The leadership of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), appears to be in a dilemma on how to design the appropriate campaign message to woo voters in the Southwest geopolitical zone for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.The various political parties will soon commence their presidential campaigns in line with the campaign timeline released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).Presently, the PDP cannot boast of any of its key positions occupied by members from the Southwest at the national level within the party hierarchy.The highest position held by the Southwest in the party's hierarchy is that of Deputy National Chairman (Southwest) which is being occupied by Elder Yemi Akinwonmi from Ogun State, The Nation reports.Investigation by our correspondent at the weekend revealed that it was one of the key issues that dominated discussions in a meeting held by the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar with key party stakeholders in Abuja Wednesday night.Those that attended the Wednesday meeting included the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governors elected on the platform of the party, among others. Our correspondent gathered that some stakeholders have pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) having Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, may constitute an uphill task for the PDP campaign in the Southwest. On the other hand, the PDP has picked Atiku's running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, from Anambra State in the Southeast geopolitical zone; while the party's National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus is from Rivers State, in the South-South geopolitical zone. This, according to some of strategists, has stripped the Southwest of any representation in key positions within the PDP. In their submission, this makes the situation more difficult for the opposition party, considering the fact that the entire six states in the Southwest are being controlled by the APC. More so, the fact that the Buhari administration also parades a number of South Westerners in key positions in Buhari's cabinet and other key federal agencies may also give the ruling party an edge in the zone. They have cited the Ministries of Power, Works and Housing being manned by one of the prominent sons of the Southwest, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. The case of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which is being headed by another South Westerner, Mr. Babatunde Fowler from Lagos State. Similarly, some analysts have argued that restructuring of the country, which the PDP has projected as one of its key campaign points, is an elitist concept that does not strike any chord with the voting masses in the zone. "For instance, what is the Yoruba word for restructuring and how do you pass the message across to the market women, artisans and the masses that form the bulk of the voting population", a PDP chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity said at the weekend. The source also described the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG) and that of the Speaker of House of Representatives that the PDP promised the Southwest as uncertain, stressing that it's only if the PDP wins the Presidency that that can be fulfilled. In a swift reaction however, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, disagreed with the postulations, saying that prevailing circumstances have changed voting dynamics in the country Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, Ologbondiyan said, "Nigerians are not talking about who occupies certain positions. They are interested in who can give them power and make ease of doing business available. "Nigerians are interested in who can save them from hunger, starvation, killings, bloodletting and all the pain that the Buhari government has imposed on them. "The issue is not about who occupies what positions. It is about that candidate that understands the nuances of our nation. That candidate that can turn our economy around and make life better for Nigerians. "Having said that, it's important to state that the PDP is interested in the value of life. The PDP is interested in the equitable distribution of wealth in the nation. The PDP is interested in making life better for the average Nigerian. "As such, every group and every geopolitical zone will be well captured and well represented when we form government. "This is the type of division that the Buhari administration has continued to set Nigerians against one another with all manner of ethnic crises. But Nigerians have come to resent this approach. "It is unfortunate that even the President is so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians that he does not realise that this is not the time Nigerians will be thinking about who comes from where. For now, Nigerian are only keen on good governance". Source: TheNation Newspaper Related Topics: #Atiku #PDP #SouthWest #2019PresidentialElection Sharing is caring. 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