NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Plateau APC has learnt from its mistakes —Rep. Dafaan

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By Mark Longyen

Rep. John Dafaan, Member, House of Representatives (APC-Plateau; Mikang, Shendam, Quaan-Pan Constituency), says the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in Plateau has learnt from the mistakes that led to its defeat in 2023.

Dafaan, a former Chief of Staff to the immediate past Governor of Plateau and  Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the lessons learnt would help the party to bounce back in 2027.

According to him, it is the scorecards of APC members from Plateau, who are currently holding political offices at various levels, that will determine the party’s chances of dislodging the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“In retrospect, I think we have learnt our lessons from the errors and the mistakes that culminated in the APC’s defeat to PDP in 2023 in Plateau.

“Our scorecards should be able to speak for us in 2027, depending on how we deliver from now to 2027, we will make the difference and bounce back.

“Let the PDP lay its scorecard. We will also lay our own scorecards. And that is what will speak for us,” he said.

He, however, said that leaders of the APC were in the arena of governance and busy delivering dividends of democracy to the people, hence, 2027 should not be viewed as the ultimate goal.

Dafaan, who was declared the winner of the 2023 constituency election after the Court of Appeal sacked its erstwhile PDP occupant, said that he won in the eyes of the Law and by God’s grace.

He urged his opponents and those aggrieved by the outcome of the contest to accept it in good faith and join hands with him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate.

“So, people should live with it and accept the fact that this is God’s will. And, once you accept it, you will live in peace. I am a man of faith.

“The law has spoken. I do not have any argument about that. All I know is that this is my time!

“At the high court and at the tribunal, when the judgement was against me, I just went to appeal. And the grace of God spoke for me.

“God has destined that I will lose six months and collect the rest,” he said.

Dafaan described his experience in the last one and a half years in the National Assembly as exciting, challenging and tedious, adding that the job is “not a walk in the park”

“The most exciting thing about being in the National Assembly is that it gives you a broader perspective of how your people can be better empowered.

“The challenge is that, despite the fact that there are opportunities for our people to be better, the constraints in governance make it difficult to translate these basic things to fruition.

“This is because we only legislate and lobby as legislators. The real action is done by the executive. But the role of the legislature is now assumed to be an executive role,” he said.

The lawmaker said that, in spite of the challenges he faced, he had been able to “weather the storm” and is delivering dividends of democracy to his constituents.

He said that he had been able to provide potable water to his people by drilling about 18 boreholes across the three local government areas that make up the constituency.

Dafaan said that because his constituents are basically agrarian by tradition, he distributed two trailers of chemical fertiliser across the entire constituency in 2024.

He said that he also built, equipped and electrified the Community Secondary School in Baap(Quaan-Pan LG); would soon complete an inherited one in Demshin(Shendam LG); and also trained some youths on ICT.

He said that he had lit up most of the constituency’s communities with solar panels, while efforts are underway to link Mikang and Quaan-Pan LGs to the national grid.

“I intend that we should be able to put the two LGAs on the national grid, but for the time being, we are trying to give them solar light.

“We have also empowered some people, who have now opened business centres within the three LGAs.

“We are also working on having an ICT centre that will be like the training hall for all those interested,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Progressive Governors to back Tax Reform bills

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By Naomi Sharang

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has announced that the Forum will collaborate closely with the National Assembly to strengthen engagement on the proposed Tax Reform Bills.

Uzodimma disclosed this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with progressive governors in Abuja on Wednesday.

He reiterated the Forum’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s reform initiatives, particularly the proposed Tax Reform Bills, which aim to improve Nigeria’s taxation system and administration.

The bills under consideration include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

Addressing security concerns in parts of the North-West, Uzodimma noted that security agencies are actively tackling the situation and assured the Forum’s continued support to enhance national safety.

He added that the governors discussed key national issues, including measures to back the Federal Government’s reforms and create additional palliative programmes to mitigate their effects on citizens.

Uzodimma stressed the importance of unity among the governors to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in driving national prosperity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

 

Buhari welcomes APC’s victory in Ondo

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By Mufutau Ojo

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State which returned Gov. Lucky Aiyeditawa.

In his reaction to the outcome of the election, the former president said the voters had spoken lucidly and loudly about the confidence they have in the party and the governor.

Buhari said in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Sunday that the voters had expressed their wish through the ballot box, adding that this should be respected by other stakeholders.

The former president said the election’s outcome had shown that democracy remained strong and could not be easily overturned in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.

He, however, challenged the governor-elect to put in place policies that engender economic growth, tame high unemployment and inflation while pursuing welfare programmes to make life better for the people.

Buhari also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in reducing observed shortcomings in previous elections.

He wished Aiyeditawa and his team a successful tenure in office. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Wike, 27 Rivers lawmakers not APC members – APC Chairman 

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By Angela Atabo

Dr Tony Okocha, Chairman of the All Progressive Congress(APC), in Rivers,  has said that FCT minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of the APC.

He told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that the 27 Rivers lawmakers currently in a bitter political struggle with Gov. Siminalayi Fubara were also not members of the APC.

“People say Wike has decamped to the APC. They also say that the 27 lawmakers currently fighting with Fubara have defected to the APC.

“I need to make this clear to everyone. Much as I wish to have them in my fold, none of them has agreed to join us.

“I am the one that should  know if they did. But, clearly, they have not.

“What the lawmakers did was a political gimmick.

“I tried to woo them, but they kept vacillating and did not.

“To defect, they must go to their wards, register and get their membership cards. None  of them has done that,” he said.

Okocha was particularly categorical in declaring that Wike would not leave the PDP.

“Wike will never leave the  PDP.

“He has always said that PDP made him what he is. He has always said that he would remain there.

“He is an ardent believer in PDP. He is not likely to leave that group,” Okocha said.

He, however, said that Wike is a member of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“In Rivers, I am 001 in APC, but in the Renewed Hope Agenda, I am 002. Wike is 001,” he explained.

He also spoke on Wike’s influence on Rivers’ politics

“Wike has done so much for Rivers, so he is strong.

“In the next 10 years, Wike will continue to influence the political direction in Rivers.

“It will be difficult to uproot him.

“Aside from his many projects scattered throughout the state, he has touched people’s lives directly. Such people will always be behind him,” he said.

He described Wike as a politician that could identify with every good cause irrespective of political party.

“Once the cause is good and will give him a platform to serve his people, Wike will be part of it,” Okocha said.(NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai/Ephraims Sheyin

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