Category: Featured

The battle over zoning and consensus candidacy is raging in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Presidential aspirants, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and eminent banker Mohammed Hahayatu-Deen are pushing for consensus.

Following reports that PDP’s committee has recommended that zoning be jettisoned for a free contest by aspirants, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the move is meant to deprive the South, particularly the Southeast, of the ticket.

Objecting to the alleged neglect of zoning, Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Prof. George Obizor, said the plan to throw open the ticket is suicidal.

He pointed out that the opposition party is violating the provision of its constitution on zoning and rotation.

Another contender, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, said consensus would not work.

The former governor said the arrangement was undemocratic, adding that it was dead on arrival.

Fayose, who has obtained his nomination form, vowed not to step down for any aspirant at the primary.

The former governor, who spoke on Channels, also faulted the alleged decision of the 37-man panel on zoning.

However, the Zoning Committee Chairman, Benue State Governor Samuel Orton, clarified yesterday that the party has not thrown the ticket open to aspirants from the six regions.

Also yesterday, PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorcha Ayu, who received another presidential aspirant, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, at the party secretariat in Abuja, said all the 13 aspirants were competent and would do better than President Muhammadu Buhari if elected.

Tambuwal, who continued his mobilisation, met the PDP National Assembly Caucus over his ambition.

In Akwa Ibom State, traders pledged to support the presidential ambition of Governor Udom Emmanuel with N500 million.

Yesterday, the pro-consensus group met with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Port-Harcourt.

Fayose rejected the insinuation that the PDP would only give its ticket to an individual that can win the election.

He said some of those ‘who-can-win-election’ politicians were ‘paperweights’.

He said while the party was trying to bring everybody together under the same umbrella, it should not be in a hurry to forget the history of some chieftains.

Fayose said Atiku and Saraki abandoned the party and returned a few years ago.

Rejecting the push for consensus, he said: “With due respect to the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, what was PDP’s performance in the presidential election in 2019? We only won with 20,000 votes even in Adamawa in his home state. This tells us something fundamental.

“Coming to the former immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki, how did PDP perform in the last election in Kwara? We lost. What does that tell us? And in Sokoto, how did we perform?”

Fayose said those saying some people were better than others in politics should not forget statistical facts of how the party performed in the last election.

He said though he was part of the party’s zoning committee, he decided to bolt out when it was becoming clear that the committee was tending towards reneging on the zoning agreement.

Fayose said: “I was with them, but I decided to leave them as I saw a trend in the discussion. I decided to take my nomination form and I won’t step down for anybody.”

Fayose said it was wrong for the party to jettison zoning, adding that, in 2019, the ticket was zoned to the North, hence, all Southern aspirants stepped down and supported the deal.

He said the committee made a mistake in its decision.

According to him, the committee arrived at that decision on the excuse that the party did not start the process early and that some people had purchased the nomination forms.

Fayose said: “I believe the committee made an error for not zoning. They say it was because the process did not start on time and some had purchased forms.

“The last primary we held in Port Harcourt, it was a Northern affair and so the South withdrew and supported the party’s candidate.

“If some of the people who came back to our party had become president while in APC, will they come back to the PDP?”

Fayose insisted that it was the turn of the South to govern Nigeria in 2023 and not another northern president to replace Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who is from Katsina State in the terror-ravaged Northwest zone and whose two-term tenure will elapse in May 2023.

He said it was the South that should be mouthing the idea of a consensus candidate and not the North.

The ex-Ekiti governor said: “I saw those going around for consensus.

Who will step down for who? You ask me to step down? I won’t step down.

“They said they want all of us to come to a consensus. I have obtained the form today (yesterday). I am not going to step down. Who knows if it is me Nigerians want to vote for? Do you know the mind of Nigerians?

“Who will step down for who? I won’t step down for anybody. Any meeting or anywhere they talk about consensus is undemocratic.

“Consensus can only work where we all agree and that is why I obtained my form today.

“I will go to that election; I won’t step down. Any meeting that they want to talk about consensus, as good as that language sounds, is undemocratic.

“Let them choose me (as consensus), that is the only solution,” Fayose added.

About 13 aspirants have reportedly purchased the PDP presidential nomination form.

 

Ohanaeze: jettisoning zoning violates PDP constitution

In a statement in Enugu, Obiozor wondered why the PDP decided to jettison zoning when it is the turn of the South and particularly, the Southeast.

He said: “For the purpose of clarity, rotation and zoning principle is engrained in the PDP constitution in 2009. Article 7 (2) (c) states: ‘In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices, and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.’

“Such unscrupulous violation of the zoning principle that has been well-entrenched in the PDP constitution simply changes the rules of the game in order to deprive Ndigbo the opportunity to produce a president for Nigeria.”

According to Obiozor, who deplored the unconscionable shifting of the goal post at the middle of the game: “It is a political blunder and betrayal given what Ndigbo have suffered in our own country and most recently for supporting the PDP.

“History has never been kind to betrayers and the treacherous. The machinations and conspiracies to deny Ndigbo their due place in Nigeria is an ingratitude that daily cries to God.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide reiterates the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum led by Chief E. K. Clark that any party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect the support of the Middle Belt and the entire South.

“It is, therefore, curious that the PDP should commit political hara-kiri at a time it is struggling for fresh air.

“It is unfortunate that the PDP glamourises inordinate ambitions; any political ambition that undermines nation-building should be checkmated.

“One of the roles of a political party in a democracy is nation-building and for the PDP to shirk its responsibilities is an unfortunate path to Golgotha.

“Let it be known that it runs contrary to the indomitable Igbo spirit to swallow any form of indignity, disdain or condescension from anybody or group.

“It is, therefore, highly inconceivable that the Igbo will validate a party or group that runs roughshod over its sensibilities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is hardly any society that can develop amidst crises. Development is a product, an effect that arises from peace, unity and national coherence.

“On the other hand, the basics of peace, unity and sustainable national development are justice, equity and human dignity.

“In order words, to expect sustainable economic development rooted in injustice is mere shadow-chasing.

“This is an irrepressible scientific, philosophical, historical and moral assertion that may be ignored at one’s peril.”

Obiozor urged Igbo presidential aspirants to remain focused and undaunted.

“This is because history will always vindicate the just,” he said.

 

Ortom: NEC will decide on zoning

Ortom dismissed insinuations in the media that the committee has thrown the presidential ticket open.

He said the committee was misquoted.

The governor spoke on Arise ‘Morning Show’.

Ortom said those who were not part of the meeting of the committee wanted to “force words into the committee’s mouth”.

“I want to clear the insinuation that the zoning committee has thrown open the presidential ticket. I did inform the media yesterday (Tuesday) that the committee had adopted a unanimous position to be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. Where did I say that the committee had thrown open the presidential ticket?”

He added: “The committee will present the report to NEC. It is NEC that has the final authority on the zoning of positions.”

 

Obi: let the best candidate emerge

Obi called on the leadership of the party to adopt a process that would allow the best among the 13 presidential aspirants to emerge as a candidate.

Obi gave the charge yesterday at the Abuja secretariat of the PDP, shortly after submitting his nomination documents.

He said: “I said it last year. I said that I will look at the zoning trajectory and by the time I declared, I said that it was no longer the issue of zoning. I am contesting because I am qualified for the position.

“We are in a crisis situation. What the party can do is to allow the best candidate to emerge. Our country is in a crisis situation; we are now using over 90 per cent of our budget to service debt.

“So, in this situation, you need to bring in a competent person, a good manager of resources. We need to manage our resources, that is the crisis we face.”

 

Tambuwal seeks power devolution

Tambuwal stressed the need for devolution of power from the centre to the federating units.

Deploring the present over-concentration of power at the federal level, he said the country cannot develop under the present system.

He spoke yesterday during a consultative interactive session with PDP members in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Tambuwal had, in 2018 lost the PDP ticket to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a keenly contested primary election held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

He said: “Why I am here is because of what I tried in 2018. And to the glory of God, God made this possible for Atiku Abubakar to emerge as our party’s flagbearer in Port Harcourt.

“The season is here again and I have the strength and support of several well-meaning leaders and members of our party to try again this time around

“I can make it to be the standard flag bearer of our party come our convention on May 28, 29, this year, God willing.”

Receiving Obi at the party office, Ayu said: “All our candidates that have bought forms so far are people that, if given the opportunity to run this country, will do 1,000 times better than what President Buhari and the APC have done in the last six years.”

Turning to Obi, the party chairman said: “When people of your quality show interest in our party to run for the presidency, we know that we are the right party to rule this country.

“We have the quality and we believe Nigerians will give the PDP the opportunity for one of you to lead the rescue mission, come 2023.”

Ayu chided the APC-led Federal Government for turning Nigeria into a debtor nation without justification and for committing over 90 per cent of federal revenues to debt-servicing.

 

Traders pledge N500m support for Emmanuel

Traders in Akwa Ibom have pledged to support the presidential aspiration of Emmanuel with the sum of N500million.

The traders under the aegis of the Akwa Ibom State Traders Association extolled the achievements of the governor in the past six years.

Emmanuel’s presidential nomination form was recently purchased by the Berekete family in Abuja.

Speaking during a media parley with reporters in Uyo, the state capital, the President of the Association, Mr. Idorenyin Raphael, said the governor is qualified for the position.

 

 

 

Wike holds closed-door meeting with aspirants

Wike held a closed-door meeting with some presidential aspirants: Mohammed, Tambuwal Saraki and Hayatu-Deen.

Wike said the aspirants were interested in promoting the unity of the party ahead of the primary and general elections.

He said: “Our interest is the unity of the party. Our interest is to make Nigerians happy by making sure that by 2023, PDP takes over the reins of government because Nigerians are patiently waiting.

“And I can assure you that we are going to work as a team to make Nigerians happy.”

The leader of the delegation, Saraki, said their discussion focused on identifying the best way to ensure unity within the party and among the presidential aspirants.

 

 

The Federal Government yesterday debunked insinuations that government had been overwhelmed by persisting insecurity.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who said this while addressing State House correspondents, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, explained that terrorists who attacked a military base at Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State on Sunday were successfully repelled and that many of them were neutralised.

There were reports on Tuesday about the attack, which was said to have claimed between 11 and 17 soldiers as well as three vigilantes.

Some military equipment, including two armoured personnel carriers (APCs), were also said to have been destroyed by the invading terrorists.

Mohammed said the details of the casualties suffered by the terrorists on Sunday were unavailable in the public space because the military have not been displaying details of their successes in the war against terrorism in the media.

He blamed the media for providing oxygen for terrorists by publishing their activities.

“But clearly the last three, four, five days, the military recorded massive victories against terrorists and bandits, either in the Northeast or in the Kaduna, Niger axis.

“I know that on Monday, there was a very successful aerial interjection where scores, if not hundreds, of bandits/terrorists were eliminated. Even when we’re able to identify where the bandits are, sometimes, out of fear of collateral damage to the innocent civilians, you choose the time you want to strike.

Read Also: APC to consult Buhari, governors on timetable for primaries

“But I just want to assure you that the administration is not unmindful of your anxieties and your concerns. But probably because we are in charge, we can assure you that there’s really, really no cause to feel that the government is overwhelmed, not at all. We are not overwhelmed. The last few days, I think, have confirmed that.

“Unfortunately, when we inflict these victories on the bandits for many reasons, we do not come out and say we have killed so many because it’s continuous. But very soon, Nigerians will feel the impact of these victories,” he said.

The minister blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for laying the foundation for the currently hunger in the land.

Also, the FEC approved N36.1 billion for Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto Road in Nasarawa State.

Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola told State House correspondents that the council approved the contract for the rehabilitation of 118.9 Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto Road in Nasarawa State for N36.130 billion”.

Other memos were presented to council during the meeting for road rehabilitation projects and maintenance of airports across the country.

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said council approved N5.65 billion for the maintenance of air terminals in Abuja and Port Harcourt for three years.

FEC also approved N469.6 million for parts of L3 x-ray machine for clinics in Abuja, Kano and Lagos airports.

Sirika said the approvals centred on the maintenance of infrastructure and improved service delivery

“In this case, it’s for two terminal buildings and for the total sum of N5,653,341,739.07. This will include, of course, the VAT, which is 7.5 per cent. It’s for a period of three years.

“The maintenance will run at the two airports and it’s awarded to Messrs. CCECC, who were the company that, in the first place, built those facilities,” he said.

 

The candidate of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) in the June 18 Ekiti governorship poll Segun Oni on Wednesday narrowly escaped assassination in Efon Alaye in Efon local government area.

It was gathered that gunmen suspected to be thugs stormed the SDP Secretariat located in the heart of the town where Oni was expected to meet with his supporters in continuation of his consultation tour ahead of the poll.

A source in the town told The Nation that the thugs shot sporadically into the air forcing people to scamper for safety to prevent being caught in the web of the melee.

According to the source, vehicles were damaged and several members of SDP sustained varying injuries.

They are receiving medical treatment in undisclosed hospital in the town.

The Director of Media and Publicity of Engr. Segun Oni Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Jackson said it took the intervention of security operatives attached to the ex-Governor to repel and dislodge the arm-weilding attackers

He said: “The convoy of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation was brutally attacked with gunshots, cutlasses, sticks and stones by the fierce-looking thugs at Efon Alaaye in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State yesterday.

“The campaign train which had toured nine local governments since Monday and fully received by large turnout of members and supporters of the Social Democratic Party ( SDP) was attacked with gunshots, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons at the center of the town around 3.30pm.

“Shortly after the Efon Local Government members and supporters of the SDP had converged at the venue to wait for the arrival of the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Segun Oni, the thugs started to shoot guns and attacked the SPD supporters with sticks and cutlasses.

“Some supporters were badly injured and vehicles in the convoy were damaged by thugs before the arrival of a detachment of police which overpowered the thugs
An officer of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps was not spare by the thugs as they attempted to snatch his gun. He was wounded but refused to surrender his gun”, he said.

When contacted, Ekiti Police spokesman. ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the attack.

Abutu said the gun-wielding political thugs invaded the campaign ground of the former Governor and made spirited efforts to disrupt it.

“Yes, the hoodlums came to the venue with dangerous weapons to disrupt the consultation process of the SDP candidate, Engr Segun On but our men were able to out the situation under control.

“The police have begun investigation and arrest will be made and those behind it will surely have a case to answer”.

Real Madrid captain and striker, Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in the champions league quarter final to give his team a boost against Chelsea

A terrible mix up between Édouard Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger allows a tap in for Real Madrid’s star man to make it 3-1

Real Madrid have now finally defeat Chelsea for the first time in history of the UEFA Champions League

This game put Real Madrid ahead of return leg at Santiago Bernabeau.

 

 

Details shortly…..

After nine days in captivity, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Alwan Ali-Hassan, has regained freedom from his abductors.

Ali-Hassan was on March 28 kidnapped by bandits who bombed the Abuja-Kaduna train with over 362 passengers.

Read Also: Train attack: NRC promises to rescue hostages

Confirming his release to The Nation, a senior official at the bank said, Ali-Hassan regained his freedom on Wednesday.

The official, who did not specify if any ransom was paid to his abductors, said family and friends of the bank’s managing director are grateful to God for his release.

He said: “We are grateful to God for his release and we pray never to witness this. We also pray others get released soon”.

The sacked Chief Imam of the Apo Legislative Quarter mosque, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, has maintained there was nothing wrong with his criticisms of the Federal Government over the Kaduna terror train attack.

He told Channels TV that what he said was in order.

He explained he simply asked the Federal Government to do the right thing by tackling the incessant insecurity across the nation.

Making reference to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack on April 1, 2022, Khalid said he only demanded the President should have done more than he did.

Read Also: What you probably didn’t know about sacked Abuja Chief Imam Nuru Khalid

He stated he will gladly submit himself to the torture of hell if his demands are sinful even though he knows they are not.

According to him: “What I did was right. It was never wrong because I said it was unfortunate for us to experience what happened for Nigerians in the train. It was unfortunate.

“And I said, the President, His Excellency supposed to do more than what he did.

“And I said if they are only concerned with voting and elections, with counting votes, then we are going to speak that language to them and give them conditions, which is secure Nigeria before 2023 or we don’t vote again.

“What we are asking for is security. If it is a sin to ask for a secure Nigeria, I am ready to go to hell for that. But I know it is not a sin to ask for a secure Nigeria.”

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has sacked Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as the Lagos chairman.

It also announced Seyi Bankole as the new head of the Lagos chapter.

The Nation had reported NURTW suspended MC Oluomo before he pulled out from the national body.

The National Administrative Council of the union made this known in a statement titled: ‘Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council.’

Read Also: NURTW suspends MC Oluomo

The statement was signed by its National President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa and General Secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

The union said the decision was based on the provisions of the union’s constitution.

“MC Oluomo has been sacked as Lagos chairman. We had a meeting last night. We have replaced him.

“His earlier withdrawal from the union holds no ground. That’s unacceptable to us,” a national officer said.

Details shortly…

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent on Wednesday when Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, held a closed-door meeting with some presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) ahead of the party’s primaries.

It was gathered the aspirants deepened discussion on a consensus presidential candidate for the party to reduce internal rancour ahead of the election.

Aspirants present at the meeting, which held in Government House in Port Harcourt were Bauchi Governor Senator Bala Mohammed; Sokoto Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and a former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Dr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Wike said the aspirants were interested in promoting the unity of the party ahead of the primaries and forthcoming general elections.

Read Also: Wike inaugurates Customary Court of Appeal’s president

The Governor expressed their interest in developing a formidable strategy that would enable the PDP coast to victory in the 2023 presidential election.

He said: “Our interest is the unity of the party. Our interest is to make Nigerians happy by making sure that by 2023, PDP takes over the reins of government because Nigerians are patiently waiting. And I can assure you that we are going to work as a team to make Nigerians happy.”

On his part, the leader of the delegation, Saraki said their discussion was on identifying the best available way in ensuring that there was unity within the party and among the various presidential aspirants.

He said Nigerians were looking up to the PDP as the only option that would provide the needed direction for the country.

He said: “We are here to have a discussion and we just finished talking about how best way for us to reunite our party, bring unity among all those who are aspiring to lead this country under PDP.

“We all realize the importance of this and PDP is the only option ready to redirect this country in the right direction and bring progress and provide a better future for our people.

“We have been to some of the other states and today we are here with Governor of Rivers State, a key stakeholder of this party to discuss frankly.

“He has given us his views and make some suggestions and we will continue to work with that as we move away from here. But the key thing is unity, the key thing is to put the country first and put the party first.”

Anambra Governor Charles Soludo has appointed a 15- member Truth, Justice and Peace Commission to stop the activities of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

The committee is headed by human rights activist, Prof Chidi Odinkalu with Amb. Bianca Ojukwu as Secretary

A statement on Wednesday by Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, named other members of the committee as Mr Charles Oputa (Charley boy); music icon Onyeka Onwenu; Dr. Joe Nwaorgu; Dr. Udenta Udenta; Dr. Uju Agomoh; Rev. Fr (Msgnr); Jerome Madueke and Canon Dr. Okechukwu C. Obi-Okoye

Others are: Dr. John Out; Mr. Ngozi Odumuko; Dr. Joe Abah, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu; Mr. Sam Egwuatu and Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu.

Read Also: Kanu reacts as Soludo offers IPOB amnesty

The committee, the statement explained, will seek a restorative justice approach for truth-telling or real facts, for the healing of the victims of the violence, accounting for responsibility and accountability of the actors, conditional mercy for the repentant perpetrators, restitution for certain losses and rehabilitation of the perpetrators, for the overall aim of restoration of peace and justice as well as the promotion of development in the State, and the region/Nigeria.

It has a six-month timeline to conclude the assignment from the date of inauguration.

No date has however been fixed for the inauguration of the committee.

Details Shortly…

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed Executive Order 11, which mandates the government to institutionalise maintenance of public buildings, into law.

Signing the new law just before the commencement of the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Buhari directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) to set up maintenance departments in line with the provisions of the new Executive Order.

He pointed out that the maintenance of public facilities has gone beyond just a culture but an economy, providing employment for a good number of Nigerians.

He said the order now gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy, following its earlier approval by the Federal Executive Council.

Read Also: Nigeria to become Africa’s fertilizer powerhouse soon, says Buhari

Buhari added that the government had already started utilising the policy to give a facelift to some of its buildings like the Federal Secretariat Abuja and 24 others spread across the country.

“Since the approval of the policy by the Federal Executive Council, the federal government has consciously started the implementation of maintenance of strategic facilities like the federal secretariat Abuja and federal secretariats in 24 states of the federation, where at least 40 people are now daily employed in each of those 24 secretariats.

“The office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has approved the establishment of a department of federal public assets maintenance as a vital step in support of the implementation of this national policy, which is unprecedented in our history and approach to maintenance.

“In order to ensure the fullest implementation and impact of the policy, it is my pleasure to sign this Executive Order that ties maintenance direct to our economy.

“By this Order, I expect Ministries, Departments and Agencies to set out and ensure the operation of their maintenance departments and make necessary procurements for their maintenance in accordance with the provisions of the public procurement act,” he said.