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The Segun Oni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on Kaduna Chapter Crisis has given an assurance that the different factions will soon reconcile their differences as it begins a fact finding mission to the state on Sunday.
Oni, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, gave the assurance, when he addressed newsmen shortly after he led other committee members to the site of the demolished factional secretariat of the party at 11B, Sambo Road, in Kaduna.
The APC stalwart said the committee was on a fact finding mission and its report would be used by the Bola Tinubu Presidential Committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“Let me say that we are here on a fact finding mission; the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is very concerned with the crisis rocking the party in the state.
“We do not want acrimony within our family and we don’t want a situation where some members will feel bad and aggrieved. That is why we are here.
“ We are also here to appeal to both sides or all the sides that you should sheathe your swords and give us time to put this report together,“ Oni said.
Oni, who apologised to the factional party leaders led by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi and owner of the demolished Secretariat building for arriving at the venue behind schedule, agreed to hold the meeting behind closed doors at 8 p:m. on Sunday.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the committee billed to meet with the leadership of the Danladi Wada faction of the APC at its demolished secretariat by 11:00 a.m., arrived the venue at 3:41 p.m..
It would be recalled that the national headquarters of the APC had set up the committee following the demolition of the Kaduna APC factional office which was trailed by public outcry.
The committee chaired by Oni has as members the party’s National Auditor, George Moghalu, and National Woman Leader, Rahmatu Alliyu.
Oni said on arrival that the committee would meet with Gov. Nasir el-Rufai and later proceed to the residence of the party’s National Chairman, Northwest Zone, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, whose house was also demolished by el-Rufai on April 6, 2017.
He appealed to the aggrieved party leaders to allow peace to reign in the state.
Hunkuyi, who received the committee on arrival, told members of the committee how leaders of the party had waited for six hours before leaving the venue of the interface.
The federal lawmaker also informed the committee that while the chairman of the other faction was invited by the NWC for the next National Executive Committee meeting, its own chairman (Danladi Wada) was not invited.
“If there will be reconciliation, there should fairness and justice shown to all,“ Hunkyi said.
Earlier, Sen. Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central ) had addressed newsmen on behalf of the group, insisting that the factional APC chairman, Wada, remains the authentic acting party chairman in the state.
Sani, who passed a vote of confidence on the Oni-led committee, however, left with other leaders of the party before the arrival of the visiting reconciliation team.
“The notice was that they would here by 11:00 a.m. but all communication to hear from them has remained futile.
“ We still have confidence in the committee,” Sani said.
(Edited by: Mufutau Ojo)
(NAN)
The Segun Oni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on Kaduna Chapter Crisis has given an assurance that the different factions will soon reconcile their differences as it begins a fact finding mission to the state on Sunday.
Oni, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, gave the assurance, when he addressed newsmen shortly after he led other committee members to the site of the demolished factional secretariat of the party at 11B, Sambo Road, in Kaduna.
The APC stalwart said the committee was on a fact finding mission and its report would be used by the Bola Tinubu Presidential Committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“Let me say that we are here on a fact finding mission; the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is very concerned with the crisis rocking the party in the state.
“We do not want acrimony within our family and we don’t want a situation where some members will feel bad and aggrieved. That is why we are here.
“ We are also here to appeal to both sides or all the sides that you should sheathe your swords and give us time to put this report together,“ Oni said.
Oni, who apologised to the factional party leaders led by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi and owner of the demolished Secretariat building for arriving at the venue behind schedule, agreed to hold the meeting behind closed doors at 8 p:m. on Sunday.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the committee billed to meet with the leadership of the Danladi Wada faction of the APC at its demolished secretariat by 11:00 a.m., arrived the venue at 3:41 p.m..
It would be recalled that the national headquarters of the APC had set up the committee following the demolition of the Kaduna APC factional office which was trailed by public outcry.
The committee chaired by Oni has as members the party’s National Auditor, George Moghalu, and National Woman Leader, Rahmatu Alliyu.
Oni said on arrival that the committee would meet with Gov. Nasir el-Rufai and later proceed to the residence of the party’s National Chairman, Northwest Zone, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, whose house was also demolished by el-Rufai on April 6, 2017.
He appealed to the aggrieved party leaders to allow peace to reign in the state.
Hunkuyi, who received the committee on arrival, told members of the committee how leaders of the party had waited for six hours before leaving the venue of the interface.
The federal lawmaker also informed the committee that while the chairman of the other faction was invited by the NWC for the next National Executive Committee meeting, its own chairman (Danladi Wada) was not invited.
“If there will be reconciliation, there should fairness and justice shown to all,“ Hunkyi said.
Earlier, Sen. Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central ) had addressed newsmen on behalf of the group, insisting that the factional APC chairman, Wada, remains the authentic acting party chairman in the state.
Sani, who passed a vote of confidence on the Oni-led committee, however, left with other leaders of the party before the arrival of the visiting reconciliation team.
“The notice was that they would here by 11:00 a.m. but all communication to hear from them has remained futile.
“ We still have confidence in the committee,” Sani said.
(Edited by: Mufutau Ojo)
(NAN)
Sen. Shehu Sani, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, has said political parties need to have a sense of focus and guiding principles to promote national development.
Sani said this at a colloquium organised by the Centre of China Studies (CCS) for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Abuja.
The senator said political parties could learn from the experiences of the CPC which has an ideology centred on service to the people.
He added that the CPC had been able lead China’s development process “with tenacity and commitment”.
“Ideology is very important; it gives a sense of direction, focus and guiding principles to achieve what we want to but this is very much lacking.
“Nigerian political parties are almost about 60 to 70 and if you pick the constitutions of these parties, it is like a photocopy from one party to another that is why it is easy for members to port.
“Ideological confusion exists within political parties; you can see a clear direction in many nations of the world but in Nigeria, that is difficult.
“Communist party has proven itself to be a reliable force, not only for China, but as a force for the good of humanity.”
He also said that nation building went beyond the integrity and discipline of the leader.
He further called on the Chinese Government to promote “favourable trade and business relations” with Africa to support the region’s economic growth.
In his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara noted that China had been an important partner in promoting development in Nigeria and Africa.
Dogara recalled that the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation had shown the Chinese Government’s commitment to development in the continent.
“It is in the light of this that we believe the 2017 National Congress of the Communist Party of China will most assuredly provide another opportunity to consolidate on the gains of the on-going bilateral relations between Nigeria and China in particular, but Sino-African Relations.”
Also, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian described China and Africa as “trustworthy friends and sincere partners”.
Zhou reiterated that the 19th CPC National Congress would “give a fresh boost” to China-Africa Cooperation and China-Nigeria strategic partnership.
The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened in Beijing on Oct.18.
The congress, which is held every five years, would have party delegates elect the new leadership of the CPC with uttermost priority given to political integrity and progressiveness when considering a candidate.
The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on Friday commenced the building process of its “Writers’ Village,’’ after 32 years of acquiring the land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Malam Abdullahi Denja, the president of ANA in his address at the foundation laying ceremony in Mpape, Maitama Extension of the FCT said that the land was given to ANA in 1985 by late Major-Gen Mamman Vatsa , then Minister of the FCT.
Denja said that Vatsa donated 61.20 hectares of land members of the association which he was a proud member.
“Since then it has been a story of lack of capacity, failed promises, betrayal and trespasses; what we have left today of the original 61.20 hectares is about 36.9 hectares.
“On Jan. 24, 2013, after surviving a long battle over this same land with a supposed developer, ANA did a ground-breaking ceremony.
“We also did a turning of sod, under the auspices of the current developer, Korlie Mobs Venture Limited (KMVL).
“But we are here today to do the foundation laying Ceremony and to announce to the world that the period of actual development of the land towards realising the dream of Vatsa and that of all Nigerian writers has come,’’ Denja said.
According to the ANA president, when eventually completed, the edifice will house the national headquarters of ANA, 50 room hotel, residency chalets, 500-seater auditorium, archives and depositories.
He explained that the association’s strategic plan for 2017-2022 already had the development of the land as a priority.
He commended the efforts of previous leadership of the association who kept the dream alive in spite of the challenges.
“I therefore call on the Federal and State governments, corporate institutions, national and international donor agencies, individuals and groups to join hands with us as we build a place for literature culture in Abuja.
Also, Senator Shehu Sani, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Debt said the commencement of the writers’ village was a sign of good thing to happen to Nigerian writers.
Sani, a profound writer, said the structure would be relevant in many years to come adding that generations would come to know about it and use it for the development of Nigerian writers and literature.
He however admonished the association to take the process gradually.
“The development of United State and even the United Arab Emirate did not start in one day; there were completed through a gradual process.
“I know that writers had to wait for proceed from books before they could earn some money, but I believe we will get there.
“My strong adviser is that we should be gradual; our target should be to fence this area and build an office that would help to actualise this.
“The Chinese said that the journey of one thousand mile start with a step; that should be our focus,’’ Shehu said.
Also speaking, Dr Wale Okediran, the Chairman, ANA Land Development Committee said that ANA Congress had in 2016 resolved that some form of development must take place at the village before 2017 convention.
“A meeting of the ANA Land Committee with the developer, KMVL took place in February in Abuja.
“One major decisions taken at the meeting was the urgent need for a foundation laying ceremony to take place as soon as possible.
“It is my hope that with today’s ceremony, a concerted effort will be made by the developers for an appreciable development of the writers village before the next ANA convention,’’ Okediran said.
The Land Committee Chairman appreciated patrons of ANA and team of lawyers and developers who had struggled tirelessly over the past years “to make today’s dream a reality.’’
He also solicited for more financial and moral support from Nigerians towards the completion of the project.
High point of the occasion was laying of the foundation block by Sani, Denja, Okediran, Shaw and others dignitaries at the event.
Side attractions include recitation of a poem written by Miss Halima Muhammed, entitled:’ The Mask’’ and another by Mrs Joan Orji, entitled “Mpape’’ written by Denja.
Edited by: Ekemini Ladejobi
(NAN)
