National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur on Wednesday reacted to the merger by opposition parties in the country, saying the PDP will defeat the newly formed party come 2015.

Parties including the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, yesterday announced that they have come under one roof to be known as All Progressive Congress, APC.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Tom Ikimi, who heads ACN’s merger committee said “At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent”

“And to meet the challenge, we, the following political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC have resolved to merge forthwith and become All Progressive Congress and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for peace and prosperity.

“We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc, and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.”

“The resolution of these issues, the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for peace, democracy and justice are those concerns which propel us.

“We believe that by these measures only shall we restore our dignity and position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. This is our pledge.”

The other parties were represented by Annie Okonkwo (APGA), Garba Sadi (CPC), and Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP).

But in his remark, Tukur said the ruling party would apply the talent of Argentine soccer superstar, Lionel Messi, in dealing with the new coalition.

His words: “If you go for a contest, you have the striker. You know Lionel Messi?,” he asked.

“PDP is Messi in that contest. We will dribble them like Messi. Tell them chairman said PDP is the Messi”

 



The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has congratulated the major opposition parties in the country for successfully forming a new platform, All Progressive Congress, APC).
A statement issued on Thursday by Rotimi Fashakin, spokesman of CPC said the new party will rescue “Nigeria from the ruinous hold of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.”
The party said: “Paradoxically, the new Party so formed shares the same acronym with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which is a vehicle for transporting Soldiers for combat.”

“Indeed, the new Party (APC) shall be open to all Nigerian Patriots that are ready to fight against the free-fall-slide-to-the-abyss of the Nigerian state by the PDP’s precipitous rule in the last 13 years.”

“As a Party, we endorse the entry of the All Progressive Congress into Nigeria’s politics as an ideologically based political association that is intrinsically structured to providing an alternative platform for the Nigerian people,” Fashakin said.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has expressed satisfaction over the coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria {ACN}, All Nigeria Peoples Party {ANPP}, All Progressive Grand Alliance {APGA} and Congress for Progressive Change {CPC} to form a new alliance.
A statement by Osita Okechukwu, spokesman of CNPP while praising the parties for putting aside their difference for the purpose of a new beginning said: “When news filtered in that the governors of the merger political parties met in Lagos few days ago, we said is this real life or is it true that the leaders of the merger political parties can forego their mini-kingdoms in the interest of our dear country.”
“For us the consummation of the merger is a milestone in our march towards true democracy and we salute those who made it possible. History books in liberal democracies throughout history underscore the import of two major political parties.”

“CNPP is therefore, relieved that the birth of APC will no doubt return Nigeria to true democracy, put paid to the inordinate ambition of the leaderless Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} to foist a one party state in our political landscape and rule Nigeria for 60 years, without commensurate performance and fresh ideas, benched only on Do-or-Die tactics.”

“It is our considered view that the stage for 2015 elections is now set, on one hand the conservative PDP with anti-peoples programmes and on the other hand; the APC anchored on the ideological spectrum of center of the left, pro-peoples programmes.”

“We call on other progressive political parties to join the APC in their resolve to halt the dangerous drift of Nigeria into a failed state.”

“Finally, we challenges the Professor Attahiru Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission to set forth at dawn, by jump starting concrete preparations for the 2015 general election; for we will frown at cancellation of elections for the inability of the printer to submit election materials as was the case in the 2011 National Assembly election.”

Theo Walcott has finally committed his future to Arsenal, after he put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Arsenal, worth £100,000 a week.

“Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Theo Walcott has signed a new long-term contract,” a club statement on the official site read. “The 23-year-old forward has already made 244 first team appearances since joining Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006, during which time he has scored 56 goals.

“Walcott has also established himself as a regular England international during his time with Arsenal. Having signed for the Club at the age of 16 from Southampton, Theo soon won a call-up to England’s 2006 World Cup squad. Later that year, he became the country’s youngest-ever full international at 17 years and 75 days when he faced Hungary. Walcott currently has 30 international caps.

“The lightning-fast forward is enjoying another good season and is currently Arsenal’s leading goalscorer with 14 goals in all competitions. This tally includes two hat tricks – at Reading in the 7-5 Capital One Cup victory and also against Newcastle United in the 7-3 Premier League victory at Emirates Stadium.”

Talks had stalled since last August, after the forward rejected a five-year offer worth £75,000 a week. Arsene Wenger reacted by putting the England international on the bench, but eventually yielded to the 23-year-old’s demands, after his sparkling form – Walcott is Arsenal’s top scorer with 14 goals.

“We are all delighted that Theo has signed a new contract. He joined us as a 16-year-old and since then has developed very well to become an extremely important player for both Arsenal Football Club and England,” Wenger said.

“Theo is a strong player and also a great person, and the combination of his ability and pace always make him such a valuable asset either from the flanks or down the middle. Theo’s contract extension now gives us a strong nucleus of ambitious young players who have committed to the Club and want to be successful with us as a group.”

Walcott himself, who would have been free to leave in the summer, was delighted to pen the much improved deal.

“I am very happy to have signed a new contract here at Arsenal. Thanks to everyone for their continued support, especially the manager, everyone at the club and most importantly the fans. I have made it clear from the start that I wanted to stay at Arsenal so I am pleased we have agreed a deal that everyone is happy with. What’s important now is for the team to realise its potential and win trophies,” he said.

 

Nollywood top actress and mother of four, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has decided to return to music, as she prepares to release a new album this year.

It would be recalled that since the release of her first album titled ‘Gba’ in 2006, the actress has not done any major work in terms of music.

Omotola who has been kept off music by her busy schedule in the movies and most recently, her reality show, ‘The Real Omosexy’, is back in the studio with plans to feature award winning, Senegalese-born star, Akon as a special guest in the new album.

In preparation for her forthcoming album, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde disclosed she has “enlisted help from the producers of Akon’s Konvict Music.”

‘I am currently working with Grammy award winning producer Kendrick Dean and Verse Simmonds from Konvict music and we are working towards featuring a special guest’, she had told NET.

 

We reported a week back that the super star couple, 2 Face Idibia and his wife Annie were planning an elaborate wedding for February, but right now, there’s another preparation going on.

It has been confirmed that Annie Macaulay who is presently in Dubai for her wedding preparation is also pregnant.

Unlike the unverified news that went viral last year August claiming that she was heavy with a child, a close friend of Annie has confirmed that “Annie is indeed pregnant and is in her first trimester.”

We have further confirmed that preparations for the flamboyant wedding are in top gear.

You will recall that a few weeks ago, Annie was in New York with friends including model/actress Kendra Etunfunwa, to shop for her wedding gown.

She is presently in Dubai to endorse her wedding venues. She was spotted this week at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel in Dubai with her friend Mary Koko.

While she was away, she posted this photo of 2Face with their daughter Isabel saying “Don’t break daddy’s neck ooooo!!!! #dont u jus love their mischievous look? miss my babies!”