News
APC Crisis: Youth group calls for unity, supports Buni-led CECPC
A youth group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) has thrown its weight behind the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.
Recall that there has been a leadership tussle in the party with Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, announcing last week Monday that he has replaced Buni as Chairman of the CECPC.
The National Secretary, Senator Akpanudoedehe has also been rumored to have been sacked by the ruling party.
Amidst the controversy, the party afterward announced that Governor Abubakar was only acting as Chairman pending the return of Buni who is said to be on a medical trip.
But addressing journalists at the party national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, the Leader of the group, Prince Mustapha Audu said his group is solidly behind the party leadership.
He said “We are in support of our chairman, his Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, we are in support of the secretary, Senator James John Akpanudohede and we are in support of Mr President 1000%. Anyone bringing any issue at this critical point is clearly an enemy of the APC.
“Nine days to the national convention of the party, all hands should be on deck. We saw the letter this morning by our national youth leader, Bar ishmeel Ahmed, we believe we should be working hand in hand to deliver for the party and the convention.
“Their is no need fighting each other at this stage, all we need is to support the party and chairman to carry out the convention. We are ten million members of this support group and we whole heartedly support Mr President, the caretaker committee chairman and the secretary” he added.
Speaking further, member of the group, Princess Zahra Audu stressed the need to unite as a party to ensure a successful national convention.
She said “It is very important to come together as a party and allow the law. INEC has all received letters and notifications from the chairman and the caretaker secretary, the president has also sent a letter with clear directives that we should return to status quo immediately and we should stop all the internal rancour and all the internal issues.
“To be honest with you, we are all politicians, we all have different interests. We need to put the interest on Nigerian people, the interest of Mr president and the interest of the APC above all our personal interests.
“We must have our convention and after the convention, we can come back to being politicians but for now we must think about the APC, we must think about our the party not our personal interests”.
On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari through a letter to the party, waded into the leadership crisis rocking the APC, backing Gov Buni as the chairman of the party.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of State of emergency in Rivers State, saying it discredits Nigeria’s image.
The declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara packing for six months, while the elected members of the State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
Jonathan stated this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
He said elected officials have been removed from office in a very disappointing manner.
Contrary to Jonathan’s view however, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, expressed support for Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.
“The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.
“The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”
But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.
Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
-
News6 days agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
Politics1 week agoCPDPL accuses Adeyanju of orchestrating smear campaign against FCT Minister Wike
-
News6 days agoReport of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police
-
News6 days agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
News5 days agoPlateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm
-
Sports7 days agoMerino gives Arsenal win over Chelsea
-
Interview6 days agoSenators Natasha-Akpabio saga should have been resolved privately – Rev. Mrs Emeribe
-
Politics3 days agoOpposition leaders announce coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027