News
Niger APC Chairman, Jikantoro told to resign over open support for Governor Bello’s Senatorial ambition, as aspirants plans protest
The Niger State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently in disarray with aspirants questioning the impartiality of the State Chairman, Alhaji Haliru Zakari Jikantoro as a result of his open declaration of support for the Senatorial ambition of the State governor, Alhaji Sani Bello.
In a trending video, he was seen declaring openly for the State governor to clinch the 2023 Senators ticket, a development that has set the State APC on the keg of powder as aspirants said, such a man cannot preside over a free, fair and credible primary elections of the party.
This is even as the governor was adjudged to under performed in office in the last 7 years, thereby closing in the chances of APC day by day.
CAPITAL POST gathered that aspirants are calling for Alhaji Jikantoro resign from office before the primary election slated to take place any time soon.
An aspirant reacting said: “The Chairman had in the trending video, openly declared that though as the party Chairman, he is not supposed to take side with any aspirant ahead of the party primaries, he has no choice than to throw his weight behind the Senatorial ambition of the Governor who is vying for Niger North Senatorial District.
According to a source, if the Chairman fail to resign, and the National jeadquarters would not listen to them, they will protest and make sure they fight back.
The Chairman was said to have made the declaration when he played host to a former Commissioner for Land and Housing in the state, and House of Representatives aspirant for Agwara/Borgu Federal constituency, Barrister Mouktar Ibrahim Nasale in his office in Minna.
According to the Chairman in the trending video which is in possession of our correspondent, “I am not supposed to do this as the Chairman of the party but am saying this to the hearing of anybody who cares to listen that I am fully in support of the Governor’s aspiration.
“In fact, I am not only in support, I am in the fore front of the struggle, and I want the whole world to know about this”, he declared.
However in another forum, the Chairman was quoted to have said that he will give all aspirants a level playing ground as he will be neutral to everyone during the forthcoming party primaries.
The Chairman’s contradictory comment was made when a member of the House of Representatives, representing Chanchaga Constituency and Governorship aspirant in the state, Alhaji Umar Bago paid him a familiarization visit in his office in Minna.
In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Musa D. Sarkinkaji shortly after the Chairman received the governorship aspirant in office, quoted him to have said that he will not take side with any aspirant ahead of the party primaries, assuring that “every aspirants would be given free playing ground within the party constitution”.
This double speaking by the Chairman has drew a lot of reactions from aspirants vying for different positions ahead of the party primary elections, wondering if the Chairman could be trusted in conducting a free and fair primary elections.
Some of the aspirants who spoke to our correspondent, but did not want their names in print, described as unfortunate, the open declaration of support for the governor ahead of the party primaries.
“This is the most unfortunate comment that could come out of a party Chairman who is expected to be neutral to all aspirants in the party. This kind of comment could spell doom for the party at the general election if the people discover any foul play”.
Another aspirant who is vying for the State House of Assembly seat, in his reaction said that the chairman, by his biased comment, has demonstrated that he can never be neutral and therefore can not be trusted, but warned that any attempt to manipulate the forthcoming primaries in favor of a particular aspirant will not go down well for the party in the general election.
“The party may have its way in the primary, but certainly at the general election, the people will have their way. The Chairman should learn from past mistakes of other parties who tried to impose candidate on the people”, he submitted
.
Another explosion has rocked the Soku oil
facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sunday’s fire is the second in a week after an explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, thus raising concerns of sabotage.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO active across the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its executive director, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported an early morning explosion accompanied by fireballs at the facility, which is operated by Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The cause of fire at the gas station in Toru LGA was not yet clear at the time of the press, but speculations about equipment failure to sabotage or even deliberate attack was rife.
It marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week, intensifying concerns over the state’s oil infrastructure.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The latter incident was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
In response to the escalating security challenges, President Tinubu took decisive action by suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The move followed allegations that the governor failed to protect the state’s critical oil infrastructure.
Tensions have further heightened following a viral video in which some youths issued warnings against the governor’s impeachment.
The recent string of explosions has raised alarm among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, a region already grappling with environmental degradation and security issues tied to oil production. With fires still raging at the Soku facility, calls for an urgent investigation and enhanced security measures around oil infrastructure have grown louder.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
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.
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