Category: Featured

By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja, Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Bassey Anthony, Uyo

• Their action in order, says party spokesman

• Party holds ad-hoc ward congresses in Anambra, Enugu, others

Some of the presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are already making alternative plans for their political career in the event that they fail to clinch the ticket later this month.

Three of the aspirants, according to investigation, are believed to be targeting the party’s senatorial tickets as a fallback option while another has his eyes on the governorship race in his state.

Seventeen aspirants were screened by the party on Friday with two disqualified.

“They have chosen not to put all their eggs in one basket,” a party source said yesterday of the aspirants working on their plan B.

Sources said three of the aspirants with plan ‘B’ are from the North while one is from the South.

It was further gathered that two of the aspirants had previously held top positions in the federal legislature.

One of the shadowy senatorial aspirants currently holds an elective office in his state, while the other does not hold any political office at the moment.

The shadowy governorship aspirant currently holds a top elective position in his state for which he is eligible for re-election. He was previously a federal lawmaker and cabinet minister.

The fourth presidential aspirant, who is from the South, currently holds an elective position in his state and he is not eligible to re-contest.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, appeared to have confirmed the development on Friday when he described himself as one presidential aspirant without a plan ‘B’.

“What I want is the PDP presidential ticket. I did not purchase any senatorial form because I don’t have a plan B. That is why I am asking you to support my presidential aspiration,” he told reporters soon after his interactive session with the PDP Presidential Screening Committee in Abuja.

However, the PDP leadership said the affected aspirants violated no rule if indeed they purchased multiple nomination forms.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the action was in order.

Ologunagba said: “There is nothing wrong if any aspirant purchased multiple nomination forms for different elective positions.

“It’s like paying for Mercedes Benz and Toyota at the same time and abandoning one for the other.

“As a matter of fact, an aspirant can even purchase as many as five nomination forms and choose one and abandon four.

“There are people who purchased nomination forms and even abandoned all at the end of the day. It is allowed.”

Justifying the action further, Ologunagba cited the cases of the incumbent Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, during the 2019 elections.

He said: “You may recall that Tambuwal purchased the 2019 presidential and governorship nomination forms but ended up contesting for governor at the end of the day.

“You may also recall that Saraki also purchased both the presidential and senatorial nomination forms in 2019 and eventually settled for the senatorial election.

“So, like I said earlier, an aspirant cannot be said to have broken any rule by purchasing more than one nomination form.”

Saraki and Tambuwal had contested the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP but lost to former President Atiku Abubakar.

And while Tambuwal re-contested and won his seat as Sokoto State governor, Saraki contested and lost his Kwara Central senatorial seat to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP had on Friday screened the 17 aspirants seeking the party’s presidential ticket.

PDP Panel thumbs up Enugu Ward Congress

The Enugu State Electoral Committee from the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the conduct of the ward congresses of the party in the state as peaceful, transparent and credible.

Chairman of the panel, Prince Vincent Yandev Amaabai, said in Enugu that the congress went well across the 260 electoral wards in the state.

“The list of the three ad hoc delegates that emerge here is what we will send to our PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.

“Nobody can change anything.  It is what you people do on the ground here that we will submit to Abuja,” he said after going round the state.

Exercise stalled in Anambra as chieftains ‘hijack’ panelists

But it was a different story in neighbouring Anambra State where the exercise failed to take place following alleged hijack of the panel by some chieftains of the party in the state.

The Nation gathered that the panel members were hijacked by some powerful chieftains of the party in the state and quartered in a popular hotel in Awka.

Federal and state lawmakers and other party chiefs were sighted at the party secretariat in Awka discussing the development.

The angry party members vowed to come back to the party’s secretariat today to await further development.

Edo PDP elects ad hoc delegates ahead of party primaries

The Edo State chapter of the party organised ward congresses across the 192 wards in the state to elect ad hoc delegates ahead of the party primaries.

Chairman of the Edo PDP Ward Congress Electoral Committee, Dr. Kingsley Emu, who addressed the State Working Committee at the party secretariat in Benin City ahead of the commencement of the exercise, said the ward congresses would produce 576 ad hoc delegates from the 192 wards.

The exercise across the 192 wards of Edo State was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The chairman noted that each ward is expected to produce three ad hoc delegates in line with the party guidelines.

PDP delegates in A/Ibom allege diversion of materials

Thousands of prospective delegates of the People’s Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom on Saturday alleged diversion of materials.

Our correspondent, who monitored the adhoc delegates, elections across the state observed that they were stranded in their various PDP offices.

Materials meant for the state party office located at Atan Offot Uyo the state capital, were instead shared at Maintain Peace Movement office at Udo Udoma office Uyo for movement to different destination.

However, at the time of filling the report no single party office across the state had received any material for the election while investigations revealed that they have been diverted to private homes of party chieftains working for MPM.

According to Mr Willy Etim an aspiring delegate from Uruan Council area,” We gathered that the National officials brought to organise the election got compromised by MPM members to help work for Pastor Umo Eno’s emergence and they obliged. We are waiting here for materials since 8am and now its 2pm no news.

Several calls put to the Party Chairman Mr Aniekan Akpan for his response was not answered while text message to him is yet to be replied as at press time.

By Bolaji Ogundele, Jide Orintunsin, Julian Okoro and Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

• Faleke, Babachir Lawal, Adejare pick form for Tinubu

• Nnamani joins race, Oshiomhole dismisses rumour of declaration

• Party chairman defends N100m price tag for nomination forms

• APC member sues to disqualify Emefiele from primary

Contrary to speculations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to decide on which part of the country will get its 2023 presidential ticket.

Party Chairman Abdullahi Adamu said yesterday that the decision would be taken at a later date by the entire APC.

He spoke on a day associates of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, picked up his expression of interest and nomination forms for him.

The day also saw the immediate past governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, buy his nomination form and a former senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani, declared his interest in the race.

Speculations about a planned ‘declaration’ for presidency by a former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole sparked confusion in the polity.

Adamu, during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja to present the APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming election in Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, said he could not preempt the party on the zoning issue.

“I am today privileged to be the chairman of the party. The party is greater than me. The party has not made a decision and I cannot preempt what the party decision will be,” he told State House Correspondents in contradiction of a statement by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai just before the APC national convention last month.

El-Rufai had said back then that “our expectation is that our presidential candidate will come from somewhere in the south.”

He added: “It is up to the southern caucus of the APC to now propose to us an acceptable candidate.”

Adamu declined to respond to another question from reporters yesterday on when ministers  who intend to contest in the election would resign ahead of the primaries.

”Thank you very much for your question. Our luck is that I happen to be a lawyer and the issue you are raising is in court right now. So, it will be sub judice for me to discuss it at all,” he said.

But he replied critics who had taken the party to task over the N100 million fee fixed for its expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidential primaries.

He said the party had no regret for its decision on the cost of the forms.

He said: “Yeah, I’ve been listening, with rapt attention, to the hues and cries from our lovers and from our adversaries. We have no regrets whatsoever.

“We did some homework, we know what it takes to go through primaries, go through presidential campaign, go through election for the President. We know what it takes.

“We also do know that there are citizens who are qualified to contest, but who are not serious contenders, who will just want to take anything cheap by the roadside, and assert what they call their rights and create problems for our party.

“We’re also aware that some parties that have no chance whatsoever to win presidential election in Nigeria, they will sponsor people in parties that have prospects for winning the election, to create problems for us, to divert our attention, whichever party is involved in that.

“Over and above that, yes, we are the ruling party. Yes, we need to set examples in what we do. But I ask you: I don’t know which part of the country you come from. If, God forbid, your traditional ruler dies today, contestants to that office will go for more than N100 million. It’s no news.

“When I contested for the Senate, all I paid was just a token: N5 million, N10 million, including the expression. When my colleague wanted to be chairman of the party, in the days of Adams Oshiomhole, it took him N500,000.

“Today, for me, just as an example, to contest the national chairman of our party, I  had to pay N20 million to contest.

“Alright, and even the enormity of work that has to be done, and this work will be done with money. We don’t want to continue going a begging.

“So, I want to say that we’re able to mobilise sufficient funds to support our efforts to win elections. Some protests may be well founded, I have no quarrel with that. But the propensity of this, that people just assume it’s the ruling party.

“I will not quarrel with that, every one of us has the right to express himself, and I’m in full support of these obligations. But we wear the shoes for our party and we know where it pinches us the most.”

On fears in some quarters that the process of settling for the party’s presidential candidate could tear it apart if not carefully handled, he said “God will not allow that to happen to us.

“We will come out by the grace of God, at the appropriate time [with] the candidate the convention will choose.

“I do not want to speculate, but my duty as chairman is to listen to party men, party leaders, stakeholders, to see what is going to be the best when the time comes, and I’ve always found it easier and more noble to get to the bridge before I jump to cross it. We are not yet there.”

The APC National Chairman was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by the Ekiti State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Kebbi State governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu; and the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Group picks nomination forms for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu

A delegation of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) yesterday picked his expression of interest and nomination forms for the May 30 APC Presidential primary.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and Hon. James Faleke led a crowd of supporters and members to the International Conference Centre in Abuja to pick the forms.

Speaking with newsmen after picking the forms, the former SGF said the APC National Leader was more prepared for the assignment than any of the other aspirants.

“Nigeria under Tinubu will be better off economically,” he said.

Lawal described Tinubu as the brand to beat at the party primary and in the 2023 general elections.

On Tinubu’s chances, Lawal said: “If we were not sure we have chances to win this election, we would not waste our N100 million. Everybody is free to buy the forms if he has N100 million. The choice is his. He has the money.

“But as far as we are concerned, we are only fulfilling the constitutional requirement of campaigning and going for election. We don’t foresee any opposition in the contest.”

He did not see the large number of presidential aspirants as a problem, saying: “We are not worried in our camp. I am not worried as a person.”

Also speaking, Faleke said: “Asiwaju at the appropriate time will deliver his address to us. But I know that this country under Tinubu will be better off. The economy will be better off because he is an economist. He is not a lawyer, he is an economist.

“He will deal with the economic situation of this country. He did it in Lagos, and the security challenges in Lagos were solved by him. He will solve the same security challenges.

“He is a man who rewards loyalty, who ensures that people who work are also taken care of. He will ensure that employment opportunities are better off; the issue of strikes will be a thing of the past.

Okorocha buys nomination form, vows to create wealth for Nigerians 

Also yesterday, the Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, was presented with his own expression of interest and nominations forms bought by the New Nigeria Movement.

He said at the event in Abuja that Nigeria, at this time, needed a wealth creator who could identify and stimulate the economic potentials of the country.

He described the majority of those in the presidential race as mere wealth managers who are not perfectly fit for the task of reengineering the country to work.

He said: “There are so many in the presidential race. I am not the best aspirant but I am who Nigeria needs to change the ugly narrative.

“In Nigeria we are going through an abnormal situation; our country is associated with poverty, insecurity and others and an ideal person is needed to champion the nation.

“Nigeria requires a builder, not a manager. What I see happening is that many managers are aspiring to manage the nation, but you must build first bringing in the managers. My only agenda is to create wealth for Nigerians.”

Okorocha also advised APC delegates to vote wisely, adding that “I know you will be under intense pressure brought by religious, ethnic and political sentiments, but one question you must ask yourself is what has been your gain. If you cast your vote by sentiment, don’t blame anyone later.”

Earlier, spokesman for the New Nigeria Movement, Prince Ebunola Martins, said the group was propelled to purchase the nomination form for the former Imo governor by the desire to rescue Nigeria.

I’m in the race to solve Nigeria’s problems, says Nnamani 

Formally declaring his interest in the presidential race yesterday, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, said he was propelled by his desire to solve Nigeria’s problems, just as he did as head of the National Assembly between 2005 and 2007.

But he complained about the N100 million charged by the party for the expression of interest and nomination forms.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to set rules to regulate the cost of nomination fees as well as campaign expenses.

He pledged that if elected as president, he would deepen democracy, defeat insecurity and entrench a new culture and structure of productivity that will grow the country’s economy, arrest social anomie and reinvent nationalism and democratic citizenship, even in the midst of global economic and social crises.

Nigeria, according to him, needs to be reinvented to be a modern, democratic state that prioritises the socio-economic wellbeing of its citizens, to be restructured from inefficient consumption to production and to be led with integrity and compassion.

He said: “In 2005, we met the problem of lack of credibility and effectiveness of the legislature. We fixed it and bequeathed to Nigerians a legislature that could protect democracy and promote stability.

“My profile for the job of the president is not just degrees, it is not only my extensive experience in best global companies, it is majorly my performance in my last high office.

“When you have held public office in the past, your next job audition should be based on your performance scorecard, not merely on your CV. My scorecard in previous leadership positions speaks for itself.”

“Nigeria needs a man or woman who recognises that the strength of any nation in today’s world is human capital, and therefore is willing to give young people the platform to bring their innovation and passion to change the country.

“With about 30 per cent of Nigerian young persons, we need value-based leadership that creates an environment of democratic freedom and fosters innovation. That is the leadership I promise to provide for Nigeria.

“In 2015, we needed a Buhari to take Nigeria away from the misdirection of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We will all agree that President Muhammadu Buhari met enormous challenges. In spite of the challenges we face, we have to acknowledge Mr. President’s patriotism that manifests in the unshaken belief that Nigeria will move past the current problems and setbacks.

“In 2023, we need a leader who knows how to work across the divides and lead a coalition for competent and dedicated Nigeria to lay foundations for social stability and prosperity.”

Confusion over purported Oshiomhole’s declaration

The polity was jolted yesterday by speculations over planned declaration for the presidential race by a former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The social media was awash early in the day with news that the former Edo State governor would make an announcement to that effect in Abuja by 3pm.

However, his media aide, Victor Oshioke, said later in the day that the  “proposed formal declaration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the office of President, Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of APC which was advertised to hold today (yesterday), April 29th 2022 at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture Abuja is hereby postponed.

“The new date for the event will be communicated appropriately.

“We are deeply sorry for the inconveniences this unavoidable postponement may have caused numerous supporters of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole across the country.”

However, another source close to Oshiomhole dismissed news of the ‘declaration’ as unfounded.

Oshiomole himself could not be reached last night.

He did not immediately respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him on the issue.

APC member asks court to disqualify Emefiele from primary

An  All Progressives Congress  (APC) member in Rivers State has filed a suit at the State High Court,Port Harcourt seeking the  disqualification of  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor  Godwin Emefiele, from the party’s forthcoming presidential primary.

Naapah Bariledum, who is a member of the APC in Ward 4, Khana Local Government Area,claims   Emefiele is  not eligible to participate in the process on the strength of provisions  of the 1999 Constitution.

The APC Constitution and the CBN Act ,according to the plaintiff ,are also not in support of Emefiele’s participation in the primary election.

He said the CBN governor has failed to meet the conditions stipulated by the CBN Act which would have given him the  legal right to have a valid membership of the APC before participating in the primary.

He asked the court to declare any interest in the presidential race by the CBN governor a nullity.

Other defendants in the suit are the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission sued.

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is under pressure from his key advisers and some former members of his cabinet to ignore calls to join the 2023 presidential race.

He is unlikely to switch camps to the All Progressives Congress (APC) either, The Nation learnt authoritatively yesterday.

The APC, on its part, is unwilling to fulfill a major condition from Jonathan: his adoption as the party’s consensus candidate in the 2023 election.

Sources close to the ex-president said yesterday in Abuja that many of his leading advisers and ex-ministers told him last Wednesday to forget about ditching PDP for APC.

Their stance, according to sources, stemmed from alleged feedback from the camp of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC leadership that they were “not forthcoming on automatic presidential ticket for Jonathan.”

The advisers got to know that Jonathan was advised to “go and try his luck” like other aspirants.

According to some of the advisers, it was also glaring that APC presidential aspirants were not prepared to support the ‘consensus option’ for the former President.

“We have looked at all the options Jonathan presented and we asked him to shelve his ambition and plans to move to APC,” said one of the sources.

Continuing, he said: “Up till Wednesday, he had not got a firm commitment either from Buhari or APC to be the consensus candidate.

“He is also not in a position to win the APC presidential primaries because he has no structure in place barely a month to the primaries.

“In fairness, we felt there was no possibility of wielding the state apparatchik in his favour to earn the APC presidential ticket.”

Another reliable source said: “Some members of the cabinet of the ex-President told him that it was in his interest to be an international statesman than to drag himself into the murky politics of the 2023 presidential contest.

“More importantly, we made him to realise that he could not get our backing if he shifted to the APC that maligned his administration, hounded, arrested and jailed some of those who served in his cabinet.

“In fact, we asked him what he would tell Nigerians for shifting his political base from PDP to APC. It just does not add up.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Jonathan was in a tight corner because of a few elements pushing him to defect to APC. But at the end of the day,  he would be the loser.

“He was going to lose much of his political goodwill to indiscretion, because many of his advisers and supporters would not follow him.

“The conditions attached to consensus candidacy were so cumbersome that most APC presidential aspirants would not step down for him, no matter the pressure from Buhari.

“They had started stoking the fire that Jonathan was not eligible to contest having been sworn in thrice as Acting President and President. This was just a smokescreen of what he should expect from APC.

“But the ball is in his court to decide what he wants for himself.”

From the APC itself came a hint that Jonathan and others were offered a waiver to defect to it.

A source in APC said: “So far, Jonathan has gained a mileage to enable him come to APC. Instead of one year mandatory membership to contest for any position, the new National Working Committee (NWC) has given potential defectors like Jonathan an open card. They can join and aspire to any elective level.

“I am aware that the party cannot adopt and pronounce him as a consensus candidate because APC has opted for indirect primary election.

“Jonathan is a heavyweight; he has what it takes to win a presidential primary election and he should be courageous enough to join the race. All I know is that with Senator Abdullahi Adamu in charge, the contest will be free and fair.”

The legal status of his candidacy for the presidential office has however made many APC leaders to be cautious of promoting the ex-President.

Only last Thursday, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said Jonathan was unqualified to contest next year’s presidential election on account of constitutional provisions barring him.

His words: “The former President is disqualified from contesting the said election by Section 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, which provides as follows: ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.

“Some people have said that the amendment is not retrospective and, therefore, cannot apply to Dr. Jonathan. Assuming without conceding that the amendment is not retrospective, it is submitted that under the current Constitution a President or Governor cannot spend more than 2 terms of 8 years. In other words, the Constitution will not allow anyone to be in office for more than a cumulative period of 8 years.

“It is not in dispute that Dr. Jonathan became the President of Nigeria in 2010 following the sudden death of President Umaru Yar’adua. He later contested and won the 2011 presidential election. Having spent 5 years in office as President, Dr. Jonathan is disqualified from contesting the 2023 presidential election.

“The reason is that if he wins the election, he will spend an additional term of 4 years. It means that he would spend a cumulative period of 9 years as President of Nigeria in utter breach of Section 137 of the Constitution which provides for a maximum two terms of 8 years.”

Responding last week to renewed agitation by some of his supporters for him to contest, Jonathan had said: “Yes, you are calling me to come and declare for the 2023 presidency, yes I can tell you that the political process is ongoing; just watch out.

“But the key role you must play is to pray that Nigeria gets a president that will carry the young people along and work very hard to see that some of the country’s problems raised are dealt with.”

By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja, Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt, Simon Utebor,Yenagoa and Aiwerie Okungbowa, Asaba

• Two disqualified as ex-VP, Wike, Saraki, others face panel

• Aspirants await decision on zoning as NEC meets Wednesday

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday hit back at Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, saying the governor has no basis for rubbing shoulders with Atiku.

Atiku and Mohammed, who are both seeking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at next month’s primaries, were among the 17 aspirants of the party screened yesterday by a committee it set up for that purpose.

Two of the aspirants were disqualified by the committee.

All the aspirants are now eagerly awaiting the decision of the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) on the zoning of the presidential ticket.

Mohammed had fired the first salvo last Sunday when he said on Channels Television that he was more qualified than the former vice president.

“I’m more prepared to run for the first seat under the platform of the PDP. I’m strong and agile. I’ve built bridges and I’ve good will across the country,” he said in response to a question on his endorsement by Northern Elders in the PDP as one of the two consensus candidates ahead of the primaries.

He added: “The only thing that will make me step down for anybody is when Nigerians or party leaders reject me.”

He was immediately responded to by an ally of Atiku, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, who said the governor was punching above his weight.

He said Mohammed was “dancing naked in the market square,” adding that “nobody is against your contesting for president and squaring it off with Atiku Abubakar and others, but you do not have to descend to the level of insult. You have reeled off your pedigree. What about Atiku, are you comparing yourself with him?”

Next came the spokesman for the Mohammed Campaign Organisation, Prof. Udenta Udenta, who asked the PDP to call Uzamere to order.

He called Uzamere “a meddlesome interloper who peddles political dirt as a way of life” and threatened to dress him down.

He added: “Unbecoming characters like Senator Uzamere, whose stock in trade is to damage people’s reputation as a means of getting on in life, and, indeed, the campaign organisation they are affiliated to or associated with must be cautioned by the NWC to avoid the situation from getting out of hand.

“The PDP must reign in those using uncouth language against other aspirants.

“This will be our last restrained response to his unprovoked attack. Next time, we will remove our gloves and go bare-knuckles with such unsavory individuals.”

However, Uzamere told Udenta yesterday that he was ready for his fight.

His words: “There is a popular saying that those the gods want to destroy, they first make mad. Those who do not know where the rain started beating them won’t know when it stops raining. My dear Gov. Bala Mohammed you are dancing naked in the market square and only a true friend will draw your attention to your foibles, as you begin to derail.

“Nobody is against your contesting for president and squaring it off with Atiku Abubakar and others, but you do not have to descend to the level of insult. You have reeled off your pedigree. What about Atiku, are you comparing yourself with (him)?

“It is always good to remember who we were, where we started from, at what point fortune smiled at us, and who we really are.

“Atiku Abubakar is not the best man on earth, but there’s no basis for comparison between you, Bala Mohammed and Wazirin Adamawa. You were a Special Assistant to  Minister Isa Yuguda appointed by Atiku Abubakar and his principal  President Olusegun Obasanjo, who (Isa Yuguda) you betrayed and humiliated.

“Before this appointment, you worked with several ministries and we are yet to see or hear of your extraordinary achievement in any of these ministries.

“You became a Senator in 2007, long after Vice President Atiku Abubakar had served for 8 years as VP. A senator that almost lost his seat through a recall by his dissatisfied people but for the saving grace of your colleague senators who recommended you for ministerial appointment to Goodluck Jonathan.

“Or have you forgotten? I’ll remind you. I as convener, together with Senators Emmanuel Paulker, Nasif Suleiman and Gada, formed the National Interest Group (ING), a pressure group that convinced the National Assembly on the emergence of Jonathan as President, under doctrine of necessity.

“To give ING a national outlook, we invited and persuaded you of then ANPP stock, to chair the group. President Goodluck Jonathan had offered the group a ministerial slot, and to save you the embarrassment of a recall by your people, we gave you that slot. This marked a major turning point in your life.

“Before your turning point in life, Atiku Abubakar had won election as Governor of Adamawa State before he left it to become Vice President. Where were you? A journalist chasing scoops from Atiku Abubakar’s office?”

PDP disqualifies two presidential aspirants

The PDP last night disqualified two of the 17 aspirants seeking its presidential ticket to contest the 2023 election.

The two disqualified aspirants are to forfeit the N40 million each of them paid for the expression of interest and nomination forms.

The chairman of the presidential screening committee, Senator David Mark, announced the disqualification of the two aspirants but declined to reveal the identities of the affected aspirants and the reason (s) for their disqualification.

He merely said the two aspirants did not meet the screening requirements. He did not elaborate.

He however said the two disqualified aspirants were free to appeal the decision at the Screening Appeal Committee set up by the party.

When asked if the screening committee made any recommendation to the party to refund the N80 million nomination fees paid by the aspirants, Mark said: “Why should the party refund the money? What will be the reason now?”

Mark, who briefed journalists after the exercise, said: “We screened 17 aspirants, which is quite a number. We cleared 15, two have not been cleared.

“Now don’t ask me those who have been cleared and those who have not been cleared, because I won’t tell you.

“We haven’t released the result to them. So if you ask questions in that direction, you are wasting time.

“I think on the whole that is what we have done. And we are quite satisfied with the standard of the aspirants by and large. And we think that any one of them who gets the ticket would win the election in 2023”.

Speaking further on the exercise, Mark said the screening went well and that the panel was thorough with the assignment.

The chairman of the panel added that the report of the screening exercise would be submitted to the leadership of the party later in the night.

Continuing, he said: “This night, we will submit our report and those who were not cleared have a right to appeal. I am sure they will go on appeal because there is an appeal panel”.

He described the 15 aspirants cleared by the committee as qualified enough to win the party ticket and also win the 2023 election.

Other members of the screening committee are: Chief Celestine Omehia, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Edward Ashiekaa, SAN, and Mrs. Hilda Makonto.

Also on the panel are Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Hajiya Hassana Dikko, and Dr. Esther Uduehi.

Miss Chinedu Nwachukwu served as administrative secretary to the committee.

The 17 aspirants screened were: Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, Pius Anyim, Peter Obi, Sam Ohuabunwa, Dele Momodu, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Udom Emmanuel, Nyesom Wike, Bala Mohammed, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Ayo Fayose, Cosmos Ndukwe, Charles Ugwu, Chikwendu Kalu, Tariele Diana Oliver (female aspirant).

My courage stands me out, says Wike

Emerging from the screening, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said he would ensure a strong and productive leadership in the country if elected as president.

Asked what transpired between him and the panel, he said: “I told them that it’s obvious that the major problem in this country today is the issue of insecurity. If you cannot tackle insecurity then there is nothing to talk about.

“I believe that if you bring (reduce) the situation of insecurity to a level where people are happy then you can talk about the economy. So, you can’t talk about the economy without talking about the environment being safe.

”You cannot talk about improving agriculture when people cannot go to the farm. So, everything revolves around security and that requires also a strong leadership. That also requires a courageous leadership and that is what I have.”

I will appoint Minister of Stomach Infrastructure if elected president – Fayose

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, promised to appoint a “Minister of Stomach Infrastructure” if he emerged president.

He told reporters after his interactive session with the committee that when they asked him about his stomach infrastructure policy while he was governor of Ekiti State, he made it very clear that it would be part of his policies if he emerged president.

“I made it clear that I will have a minister for stomach infrastructure and welfare of the people,” he said.

He, however, added that as much as tarring roads and providing other infrastructure was good, that would not be sufficient for hungry citizens.

“So, for me stomach infrastructure is part of being supportive of the ordinary Nigerian. Stomach infrastructure under my watch as president of Nigeria, will be a major theme.

“No one is saying here that you will not do the needful in terms of developing the country, part of development is the welfare and well-being of the people.”

Stating his position on zoning, Fayose insisted that for posterity’s sake, PDP must zone its presidential ticket in order not to cause confusion in the future.

Obi: I’ll respect party’s decision on zoning

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, said he would respect the PDP zoning policy on the presidency.

“The party has the final say. I can’t have a thought,” he said.

“I’m a member of a party. If the party says this is where they want the party to go, if you are a member of an organisation, you respect that organisation. And that is why I said whatever we do, the most critical thing is what do we do to pull Nigeria out of poverty and create a future for the teeming unemployed youths of Nigeria?

“We must change our polity and change what other nations are doing, and that is building a better nation for their people.

“We can’t go on round and round things that are yesterday. Let’s think about tomorrow. How can a great nation like Nigeria not do well? Simple, change it from consumption to production.”

When asked about his chances of defeating other presidential aspirants to become the party’s flag bearer, Obi said the decision will be made by the voting delegates.

“My chances are for the delegates to decide,” he said.

Court remands Federal lawmaker, Farah Dagogo, in police custody 

A member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, was yesterday remanded in police custody by the Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, was whisked away from the PDP’s Zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt on Thursday 24 hours after Governor Wike, declared him wanted for allegedly sponsoring cultists that attacked the state PDP office.

Dagogo was taken away from the screening hall by a detachment of armed policemen and was arraigned on Friday by the police.

The police charged the lawmaker with conspiracy to felony and cultism, but the Presiding Chief Magistrate Amadi Nna initially declined to entertain the matter saying cultism was beyond the jurisdiction of the magistrate Court.

But Nna after considering some facts made available to him ordered that the defendant should be returned to the police custody and adjourned the matter to 9th of May, 2022 for to hear bail application.

While Dagogo remained in police custody, the zonal secretariat of the PDP was busy screening other governorship aspirants from states in the South-south.

But a former Member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to immediately and unconditionally release Dagogo.

Peterside argued that Dagogo’s arrest had no locus standi in any known Nigerian Law including the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

PDP can’t afford intra-house crisis in Delta, say Ayu

National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday said the party could not afford to go into next year’s elections as a divided house.

Ayu spoke in Asaba, Delta Capital at the inauguration of Ralph Uwechue Road and Storm Drainage projects executed by the Delta State Government.

“It is normal to have family disagreements within a political party, but whatever the disagreements we may have, let us ensure that it remains a family disagreement,” he said in a veiled reference to the disagreement between former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori and the incumbent, Ifeanyi Okowa, over the PDP governorship candidate for next year’s elections.

Both gladiators are backing different aspirants for the position.

Ayu said: “Nothing whatsoever should be done to damage the unity of purpose which has brought about this great development and our winning streak.

“It is said that divided we fall and united we stand. The PDP family in Delta must remain united and I have no doubt in my mind that come next year, the governor of this state and all members of the state and National Assembly will all come from the PDP.

“We don’t lose elections in Delta and we are not going to, particularly with the performance of Governor Okowa.”