Author: Phenomenal

The Media Subcommittee of the Convention Planning Committee of the APC has described as strange news and totally untrue, the media report that the subcommittee spent N800 million at the party’s convention.

The Media Subcommittee was headed by Gov. Abdullahi Sulaiman of Nassarawa and co-chaired by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture.

The Secretary of the subcommittee, who is also media aide to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, condemned the report, saying the subcommittee was only allocated N100 million.

He revealed that initially, the subcommittee submitted a budget of N360million but N100million was approved.

The statement read in part: ”The report in the Daily Telegraph that the Media Subcommittee of the Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa, co-chaired by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture. spent a whopping amount of N800 million is strange news, totally untrue.

”If that huge amount of money was spent on media work at the convention, we make bold to say that we were, and still are unaware of the what, who, when and how it was expended.

”The subcommittee, which I served as secretary got the total sum of N100 million only. We thank the governor for giving us venue, tea and coffee.
We submitted a budget of about N360 million.

”When the Finance subcommittee said that even the N100 million paid us was in excess of our budgetary allocation, we scrambled backwards, canceling commitments duly entered into for billboards, production of documentaries, lamp pole ads and so many other things.

”Some we could cancel, others were irreversible.

”On the assurances given by our leaders, we negotiated a token of commitment to TV networks for Live Coverage, with everyone agreeing that was a must-do for the convention.

”At the very end, we could only pay half of that amount to each of the stations, hoping that the leadership of the party will take responsibility for the payment of the balances due as a matter of honor.”

According to him, the expenses sheet accounting for the N100 Million and the detailed report of the work by the subcommittee has since been sent to the party and shared with the committee leaders and its membership.

He stated that, in the course of doing this work, all payments to third parties were done by a committee member in the presence of at least two other members, saying this was in a bid to rise above scandal.

”In view of the astonishing revelation of the money allegedly spent by our committee in this report, we strongly suspect that our account, rendered to the party, detailing out every of our expenses may have been the trigger for the ongoing investigation and the reported suspensions.

”Whatever be the case, we are absolutely in support in the ongoing probe into the convention finances.

”To convince anyone that the party is ready to continue with the cleansing of the nation being carried out by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, it must first cleanse its own house.
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”On this, we stand with former Gov. Abdullahi Adamu, the new Chairman as he carries out this exercise. Nothing should be hidden under the carpet,” he further maintained.

A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

Amaechi, in a statement, said this at a consultative meeting with executives, delegates and other party faithful at the Rivers APC Secretariat on Friday.

The Minister of Transportation indicated that in his bid to become the President of Nigeria, which he is thoroughly qualified for, he was neither desperate nor disloyal.

The two terms governor of Rivers said it was sad that many politicians did not understand the concept of loyalty.

“Loyalty is not when you are not chosen, you become disloyal, loyalty means you follow the man that leads you, that you have surrendered to his leadership.

”If you don’t follow, it means you are not loyal, you are only benefitting from the man politically and economically. The day he’s not able to give you that economic reality, is the day you become disloyal.

“I am a very loyal person, and those who are disloyal, I wish them well, those who want to do whatever they want to do, I wish them well,” he said.

According to him, the opportunity will be given to everybody and all will run this presidential election.

“We will run and I am loyal to the President and I am loyal to the Party.

”If the party says it is me, thank God. If the party says it is not me, whoever the party chooses, I will support.

”If the Party and President chooses anybody, I will support the person, if the party chooses me, I will be glad and say thank God,” Amaechi said.

On his part, Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Emeka Beke, assured Amaechi of the party’s support and votes in the presidential primaries.

“Sir, go home and sleep, Rivers delegates will vote for you, and I know my brothers who are statutory delegates will vote for you.

“This is because all of us seated here today from Rivers State have benefitted from you, from your leadership and this is the time to pay you back. We will stand with you.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank our brothers from other states, who have stood by our leader, Amaechi, I thank all of you. God Almighty will stand with you as you have chosen to stand by him.

“But one thing I will tell you is that our leader is a man of one word. When he says yes, his yes is yes, when he says no, his no is no, and I know that he’s a man that will not forget all of you that stood by him.

” By the grace of God you will be the presidential flag bearer, I will be the chairman that will produce Mr President, I will be the Chairman that will produce governor of Rivers State,” he said.

Amaechi also visited the Paramount ruler of Rebisi Kingdom in Port Harcourt, Eze Victor Woluchem, who expressed delight over his decision to run for the office of President in 2023.

While welcoming Amaechi, Woluchem commended his developmental strides in the state and the country at large.

“Your Excellency, Rivers State loves you for a reason. Your developmental projects has impacted and continues to impact our people and are all over the State for people to see.”

“I might not be able to enumerate all that you have done for this country.

”Nationally, as Minister of Transportation, you have put Nigeria on the map as a country with modern railway system, with modern Seaport and facilities to enhance our waterways and the industrialisation that comes with it.

“Indeed the history of this state will be incomplete without the mention of your name. Nigerians are excited over the likely possibility of a Rotimi Amaechi Presidency.
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” You are indeed a champion among equals, therefore, there is no doubt that you are the right person to take over the mantle of the leadership of this great nation come 2023,” paramount ruler said.