Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has begun counting her losses following her inability to win at the just-concluded Peoples Democratic Party primary election held in Cross River State. She had applied to represent the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency at the forthcoming National Assembly elections in the state. The 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award winner stated on Twitter that she was saddened by her loss, but cautioned her fans against blaming the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, for her woes.
Intimating her online followers with the way and manner she lost out in the political permutations, Henshaw insisted that the primary election she participated in was not manipulated.
“The primary election was conducted in an orderly manner. It was fair and transparent. Sadly, I did not make it. My congratulations to the winner.
“However, my governor (Liyel Imoke) encouraged me through the process. He is not at fault,” the Nolywood actress stated on Twitter.
But actor and movie director, Desmond Elliot, has commiserated with Henshaw over her defeat at the PDP primary election.
Elliot, who won the APC ticket to represent the Surulere I constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, said he was proud of Henshaw’s magnanimity in defeat.
“Katie (Henshaw) I know you. You are a strong woman. Nollywood is proud to have a woman of substance. The women are glad you are on their side. Nigerians are blessed because you are one. I salute you. Congratulations because you are a winner,” Elliot wrote on his Twitter page.
The actor, however, argued that the APC remains the best political party in the country, as it offers young Nigerians the opportunity to contribute their quota towards nation building.
Stating that he would not disappoint his constituents if elected in 2015, Elliot noted that the APC was the only credible platform capable of empowering the youth.
“What more can I say? A party that thinks about the future of its youths, a party that has almost 70 per cent of its members in the house of assembly below the age of 40.
“Do you call it ingenuity? I call it empowerment. We will not disappoint the youths of Lagos State. Wouldn’t you rather vote APC? I would,” he added.
Also, popular musician, 9ice, has insisted that he is still in the race for the APC ticket to represent the Ogbomosho North/South and Oriire Federal Constituency of Oyo State at the National Assembly.
Describing the rumour being peddled online that he had dropped his political ambition, 9ice tweeted, “Against popular propaganda, I’m still in the race and by God’s grace. I will see it through to the end. Thanks.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied being at loggerheads with state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
The minister refuted reports that she has been withholding allocations and other funds due to some APC-controlled states.
Okonjo-Iweala particularly described as untrue a report that she had started to release funds meant for Ekiti State, which she allegedly withheld during the tenure of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Writing on Twitter, Okonjo-Iweala, through her Special Adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, stated that those making such allegations should leave her out of “Ekiti politics.”
Describing the claims as “cheap and false propaganda,” the minister stated that she enjoyed a robust relationship with all the state governors, irrespective of the political parties that they belonged to.
“Any story about a delayed Ekiti refund for political purposes is absolutely false and a cheap propaganda. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala deals with governors on professional and not partisan basis.
“For example, she is working on the Safe Schools Initiative with the North East governors. Please, leave her out of Ekiti politics,” the minister argued.
On the state of the economy, the minister claimed she had been having a running “battle” with the lawmakers at the National Assembly, as well as with the governors of the 36 states of the federation on ways of getting it right.
Admitting that poverty and unemployment was assuming an alarming dimension, Okonjo-Iweala explained that using a high oil benchmark for the 2015 budget, in view of the falling oil prices, poses a great risk to the Nigerian economy.
“Okonjo-Iweala has been warning about the risk of high benchmark and low savings. She is never triumphalist. She gave citizens credit but said poverty and inadequate jobs are realities.
“As the finance minister, she has championed prudence, helped established the Sovereign Wealth Fund, a national mortgage system, YouWin. She’s no peacock,” the minister added.
No comments:
Post a Comment