Politics

Oyegun-must-go Project Heats Up in APC

Published

10 years ago

March 16, 2016

Prominent forces within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have secured President Muhammadu Buhari’s backing to dispense with national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Ripples reports.

Investigations revealed that the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Council (NEC) and most members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as well as leading National Assembly members have decided to do away with Oyegun.

Oyegun, it was gathered, has become a dispensable commodity according to the forces against him because of his mishandlings of several issues in the party.

The national chairman is being accused of committing serious infractions that have created needless troubles for the party.

It was learnt that all these infractions have been collated and explained to the Presidency, which has since decided to go with the Oyegun-must-go project.

Sources said President Buhari was initially opposed to the campaign to send Oyegun packing because their relationship dated back to 2007 when the President contested under the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) with Oyegun playing prominent, visible roles.

Buhari was said to have balked at the idea, according to findings, because of the suspicion that the move was just a campaign of calumny against the former Edo State governor.

He was however swayed over after the infractions committed by Oyegun and how they have affected the fortunes of the party were tabled before him.

The President was said to have told the party chieftains that with all the evidence against the national chairman, he was no longer fit to continue in office.

Buhari however reportedly insisted Oyegun should be given a soft-landing to avert a major backlash that will trail a forced resignation or sack.

Prominent among the infractions the anti-Oyegun elements presented was his handling of the Kogi governorship supplementary debacle that produced Yahaya Bello.

It was learnt many NWC and NEC members actually endorsed James Faleke to fly the party’s ticket but they were allegedly shut down by Oyegun.

Oyegun, many of them alleged, was bought over by Bello, a wealthy business merchant, with a whopping N300million “as fuel money” after a visit to the chairman in Abuja.

This ‘fuel money’, APC chieftains alleged was why Oyegun stuck out his neck for Bello even when some prominent members begged for Faleke to continue the inconclusive election.

It was learnt that the party’s leaders succeeded in proving this allegation to Buhari at a meeting last week in Abuja.

The national chairman is also accused of hobnobbing with Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over charges of false declaration of assets.

Oyegun was said to have angered party chieftains when he recognised Saraki few days after his emergence in defiance of the APC’s directives.

His enemies were believed to have told Buhari it was despicable for the chairman to have recognised Saraki even when it was obvious the President was livid about his emergence and avoided him for months.

“If our chairman could recognise a rebellious Senate President when the President was still angry with the process that produced him, it shows he was throwing his weight around.

“Look at how the mess has created troubles for the anti-corruption war. The National Assembly is clearly obstructing the President’s policies and programmes.

“By recognising him without clearance from the Presidency, Oyegun compromised the party. He boasted Saraki’s defiance and slighted Buhari,” a source privy to the Oyegun-must-go project confided.

The source added that the March 22 NWC meeting in Abuja will be the beginning of the end for Oyegun while his fate might be sealed on March 23 when the BoT meeting holds.

The March 24 NEC meeting, according to the plan, will serve as the platform to push Oyegun out.

Already there are pressures on him to turn in his resignation so as not to give the impression that he was edged out.

Oyegun, who returned from a 10-day leave on Monday, it was learnt, has been lobbying to save his job.

But sources said the party has suffered greatly under him.

“We are drifting. There is no discipline and we are not in charge. We need a chairman who can rein in things for the President so that Buhari can concentrate on the business of governance,” a NWC member told Ripples on Monday night.

RIPPLES

News

‘Give Them Their Money Directly’ — Tinubu Warns Governors Over LG Allocations

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

lagoslately

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to state governors over the handling of Local Government (LG) allocations, insisting that funds meant for LGs must be paid directly to them in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
Speaking on Friday at the 15th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the apex court has once again made its position clear, leaving no room for ambiguity. According to him, compliance is no longer optional, as the judgment is binding on all tiers of government.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly’. If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” the President said, adding that he has chosen to be patient and respectful with governors.
However, Tinubu warned that continued delay or refusal to implement the ruling would attract consequences, noting that enforcement could begin through FAAC disbursements if necessary.
Emphasizing the rule of law, the President said the ultimate authority remains the Supreme Court and its judgment must be obeyed without excuses.
“We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he concluded.

Politics

‘I’ve Bragged To U.S., EU Partners That Nigeria Will Implement State Police To Tackle Insecurity’ — Tinubu

Published

2 weeks ago

December 19, 2025

lagoslately

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing state police as a key strategy to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, revealing that he has already communicated this resolve to international partners in the United States and the European Union.

According to the President, insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria, and addressing it requires bold structural reforms beyond conventional federal policing. Tinubu stated that the current centralized policing system is overstretched and inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, making decentralised policing an urgent necessity.

He explained that state police would allow for better intelligence gathering, quicker response times, and security solutions tailored to local realities. By empowering states to take greater responsibility for security within their territories, the federal government believes crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence can be tackled more effectively.

Tinubu also noted that discussions around state police are ongoing, involving consultations with state governments, the National Assembly, and other key stakeholders. He emphasized that proper legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse of power.

The President’s statement signals a renewed push for constitutional reforms that have long been debated in Nigeria. Many security experts and political leaders have argued that state police could strengthen internal security, while critics have raised concerns about potential misuse by state actors.

By openly assuring international partners of Nigeria’s intention to implement state police, Tinubu appears determined to move the conversation from debate to action, positioning the reform as a cornerstone of his administration’s security agenda.

Politics

Douye Diri Orders Autopsy To Reveal Cause Of Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death

Published

2 weeks ago

December 14, 2025

lagoslately

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has ordered a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, bringing clarity to an incident that has left the government and residents in deep shock.

The directive, announced shortly after the tragic development, underscores the governor’s commitment to transparency and due process. By mandating a medical examination, the state government aims to dispel speculation, address public concerns, and establish the facts surrounding the deputy governor’s sudden passing.

As condolences continue to pour in from across the country, Governor Diri urged Bayelsans to remain calm and respectful while investigations are ongoing. He assured the public that the findings of the autopsy would be communicated appropriately, as the state mourns the loss of a key leader and reflects on the legacy of service left behind.