The Nation Newspaper

Tag: chair

  • New chair, ED for Leadway

    The Board of Leadway Assurance has appointed Mr. Umar Yahaya as its Chairman. He replaces its founding Chairman, the late Alhaji Hassan Hadejia-Shettiman Hadejia.

    According to a statement, Mr Yahaya is a former director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and New Africa Merchant Bank Limited, among others.

    He is also a director of Fidelity Bank Plc, First Pension Custodians and a Trustee of PZ Cussons.

    Also, Ms. Adetola Adegbayi, has been named Executive Director, General Business. She joined Leadway Assurance 18 years ago as an Assistant Manager, and rose to the position of General Manager (Business Services and Special Risks) in 2009. She is a lawyer with varied experience in legal research, corporate legal practice, insurance and financial services.

    According to Hassan-Odukale, the appointments of Mr Yahaya and Ms. Adegbayi, reflect the dynamism within Leadway Assurance and its robust governance structure.

    The Life Business, General Manager is Mr Shadrack Sivhugwana, an actuary and Fellow of the South African Institute of Actuaries.

  • How Akpabio became PDP Governors’ Forum chair

    How Akpabio became PDP Governors’ Forum chair

    President Goodluck Jonathan declared a “war” against Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chair Rotimi Amaechi at a session with the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday night, it was learnt yesterday.

    He told the governors that he could not work with Rivers State Governor as the chairman of the NGF because the governor had not been fair to him as the nation’s number one leader.

    According to sources who know what transpired in House 7 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President was visibly angry that he had been allegedly maligned by Amaechi over the oil wells dispute between Rivers State and Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the President said in view of the attitude of the governor, it would be difficult to work with Amaechi.

    It was also learnt that a video clip of an event in Calabar was shown to the governors to strengthen the President’s case against Amaechi.

    A source said: “The President made his point that no one can hide under the NGF to rubbish him in any manner. He told the PDP governors that he had had enough.

    “At a stage, the President said he was prepared for the worst, rather than allow Amaechi to tarnish his integrity. He asked the PDP governors to call Amaechi to order.

    “Those at the session saw a video clip of an event in Calabar in which Amaechi purportedly indicted Jonathan on the rift over oil wells between Bayelsa and Rivers states.”

    It was also learnt that the President got angry and said: “I cannot work with Amaechi as the chairman of the NGF.”

    Another source quoted the President as saying: “If there is any issue, let us sort it out physically, man-to-man, instead of someone hiding under the Governors Forum to score cheap points.

    “At that point, a pin-drop silence enveloped the venue because it was an open declaration of ‘war’ by the President.

    Asked how the governor responded to the President’s speech, the source said they were all speechless at the session which had the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and acting National Secretary, Barrister Onwe Onwe in attendance.

    With the comments of the President, the governors were boxed into a corner when the idea of a PDP Governors Forum was broached.

    “I think the plot was already hatched before the President called for the meeting. That was how Governor Godswill Akpabio emerged as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum,” the source said.

    Asked why no governor could make any input, the source, who pleaded not to be named, added: “The fear of backlash accounted for it. With the vituperations against Amaechi, no governor needed to be told to keep quiet.

    “The mood at the meeting suggested that the Presidency could clampdown on any of the governors. So, it was better to beat a tactical retreat.”

    But barely few hours after the forceful emergence of Akpabio, Northern governors in PDP regrouped to reject the “imposition”.

    They said the North ought to have produced the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, going by the fact that 15 out of 23 members of the newly formed Forum are from the North.

    Another source added: “The governors are insisting that the election of the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum ought to be thrown open.

    “They want the choice of Akpabio revisited because it was not democratically done. That is another challenge facing the NGF.”

     

  • PDP BOT Chair: Ahmadu Ali, Iwuanyanwu, others refuse to step down for Anenih

    PDP BOT Chair: Ahmadu Ali, Iwuanyanwu, others refuse to step down for Anenih

    The leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a serious challenge from members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) over the planned use of consensus in filling the vacant position of the board chairman.

    The Presidency is one with the party leadership on the issue.

    However,the BoT members are pushing for voting to elect their chairman which some chieftains see as an unacceptable departure from the consensus tradition of the party.

    Party sources told The Nation in Abuja that no less challenging is deciding which of the geo-political zones will provide the BoT Chairman in a manner that will not distort the zoning formula of the PDP in 2015.

    About 20 top ranking members of the party are understood to have already obtained forms to occupy the seat which was vacated in June by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In the race are a former Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih; a former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali; a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; ex-President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

    Also to contest are a former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP),Chief Don Etiebet, who is a returnee to the party; a former Chairman of the BOT of ANPP, Chief Harry Akande and 13 others.

    Some who did not apply but are being pressurized to join the contest are Second Republic Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and a former acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

    It was learnt that none of the applicants is willing to step down for another including Anenih whose BOT chairmanship was hijacked in 2007.

    A highly-placed source said: “Members and some of the aspirants are pushing for outright election of the next BOT chairman of the PDP in line with Article 12.77 of the constitution of the party.

    “They said the election will prove to the party leaders the level of acceptability of such a candidate to the leaders of PDP.

    “The fear of the presidency and the leadership of the PDP is that election could create bad blood within the trustees and lead to crisis.

    “The Presidency and party leadership believe that consensus, which had guided past choices of BOT chairman, could strengthen the unity of the party. The party thinks that it is ridiculous to ask leaders within the age bracket of between 70 and 80 years to face election.

    “That is why the BOT has not been able to fix a date for the election. The party leadership is weighing consensus option. But where it fails, the aspirants may have to go for the ballot.

    Another source said: “Ordinarily, some party leaders prefer Anenih to compensate him for the loss of the BOT office in 2007 but some aspirants do not want to step down for him.

    “They also said that since Anenih has just been made the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, he should forget the NPA.

    “Also, Article 12.77 ( c ) of the PDP Constitution says the BOT chairman and Secretary shall serve a single term of five years. Some of the aspirants are of the opinion that Anenih had served his term.”

    According to findings, if the party succeeds in adopting consensus, it may look within and beyond the 20 aspirants.

    The third source said: “This is why some party leaders are pushing for Ekwueme, Baraje and Oyedokun who are rated as highly-experienced in party and conflict management.

    “But the main challenge is the zone which should produce the BOT chairman. While the South-East is strongly pushing for it, the North wants it in line with zoning tradition in BOT.”

    Article 12.77 of the PDP reads in part: “The BOT shall elect a chairman and secretary from members of the Board. The chairman and secretary shall also be members of the National Executive Committee.

    “Without prejudice to the provision of this Constitution, ensure that the person to be elected chairman and secretary respectively are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party.”

     

    THOSE IN THE RACE

    Chief Tony Anenih

    Senator Ahmadu Ali

    Chief Harry Akande

    Chief Ken Nnamani

    Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

    Chief Don Etiebet

    Chief Shuaib Oyedokun

     

    UNDER PRESSURE TO ENTER

    Chief Alex Ekwueme

    Alhaji Kawu Baraje

     

  • ‘Tukur recognises me as Ogun PDP chair’

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State Mr. Adebayo Dayo yesterday said the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, recognises him as the chairman of the state chapter.

    Dayo said Tukur’s comments during his visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the state capital, was a confirmation that his Exco was authentic.

    In a statement, Dayo faulted claims that Tukur endorsed the Dipo Odujinrin-led group.

    He said: “What our respectable National Chairman said was that whoever the people elected is the chairman of our party in Ogun. We are aware that the sacked National Auditor, Mr. Bode Mustapha, manipulated the remarks of the National Chairman to suit his selfish interest.

    “While the National Chairman knows that our exco emerged from the March, 2012, congresses organised by the Dayo Soremi-led Harmonised Exco, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies, the Odujinrin group’s purported election was not witnessed by INEC representatives.

    “Even the Congress Monitoring Committees of the party has declared the purported congresses null and void. Again, the November 16, 2012, judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which sacked the Odujinrin group, confirmed the position of the committees.

    “What is more, INEC and the several court judgments have also affirmed our Exco. So, if the National Chairman says whoever is elected by the people is the Chairman, then, with all sense of modesty, he could not be referring to any other person but me.

    “Our party is led by people who have respect for the rule of law and will not do anything to the contrary. It is hoped that with the wise comments made by our National Chairman, the issue of who is the Chairman of the Ogun State PDP has been settled once and for all.”

    Dayo said he hoped that the reconciliation committees set up by the party’s national leadership to settle disputes in the various chapters across the federation would sort out all pending issues.

    He said he was ready to work with “genuine party leaders” to reposition the party.

     

  • Amosun suspends council chair, others

    Amosun suspends council chair, others

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday suspended the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Patrick Ogunde, the vice-chairman and councillors.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, gave no reason for their suspension.

    The government said it was in line with Sections 39 and 43 of the Ogun State Local Government Law, which approve the suspension of the Executive and Legislative arms of the councils for 90 days by the governor.

    The government has constituted a Panel of Enquiry to look into issues that led to the suspension. It will submit its report within 14 days.

    The panel members are Chief Wole Adesiji (Chairman), Mrs. Ayoola Afolabi, Mr. Bayo Adeyemi and Mr. James Omotosho of the Ministry of Justice (Secretary).

    The Head of the Local Government Administration (HOLGA) has been directed to manage the council’s affairs.

     

  • I’m still in ACN, says Offa council chair

    The Chairman of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Prince Saheed Popoola, has said it is untrue that he has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or pledged allegiance to former Governor Bukola Saraki.

    Popoola said the misunderstanding followed his comments at the palace of the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, when Saraki visited the monarch after his father’s death.

    In a statement yesterday in Offa, the council chairman said: “I wish to debunk in strongest terms the claim that I have defected to the PDP or submitted myself to the political leadership of former Governor Bukola Saraki.

    “The insinuation understandably flew from the fact that I honoured the call of the Offa monarch to join him in hosting Saraki, who came on a ‘thank you’ visit to Offa. At the Olofa palace, I indeed acknowledged the political strength of the late Oloye Olusola Saraki, that I got some appointments through him and that he left behind a politician of note in his son, who incidentally is the leader of the PDP in Kwara.

    “Indeed, I share the call by the Olofa that Offa should not be isolated in development, regardless of it being in the hands of the opposition. “Whatever comments attributed to me amounted to sheer political joke/banter. But at no time did I in truth declare allegiance to Bukola Saraki or the PDP. I have no reason to do so. I remain a bona fide member and chieftain of the opposition ACN on which platform I was elected.

    “I hope this would put paid to whatever mischief being done. Offa remains an ACN-controlled local government and would remain so until the people feel otherwise.”