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Tag: chairman

  • Ebonyi APC chairman suspended

    Ebonyi APC chairman suspended

    The Southeast Zone of All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Ebonyi State Chairman Ben Nwaobosi.

    In a statement by its Southeast Publicity Secretary, Hyacinth Ngwu, the party said: “Following the report of the Fact-finding/Disciplinary Committee set up pursuant to APC Constitution/Article 21B (II) by the Southeast Zonal Committee to mediate on chairmanship crisis in Ebonyi State and pursuant to the committee’s recommendation submitted to the zonal Executive on October 14, the zonal executive committee met on October 27 and resolved to sustain the suspension of Nwaobosi as Ebonyi State chairman.”

    According to the statement, the resolution was signed by 14 of 15 members of the zonal executive committee members.

    Relying on Article 21 D (vi) of the party’s Constitution (of October 2014, as amended), the state APC Executive Committee had passed a vote of no-confidence in Nwaobasi and suspended him from office.

  • Gunmen kidnap LG vice chairman in Zamfara

    The Vice Chairman of Anka Local Government Area in Zamfara, Alhaji Yahuza Ibrahim, has allegedly been kidnapped.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad, disclosed this to newsmen in Anka on Wednesday.

    Muhammad, who was in tears, said he received the report of the incident from the victim’s home village, Wiya, in the early hours of Wednesday.

    He said eye witnesses from Ibrahim’s village said gunmen drove into the settlement on Tuesday night and fired gunshots into the air before they took away the vice chairman.

    He said shortly after he received the report, he got a phone call from a hidden number in which a male voice spoke to him in Hausa language and asked for a ransom of N5 million to facilitate the safe release of the victim.

    “It was then that we realised that the kidnap was real and had been carried out by bandits who hide in the nearby bushes,” the chairman said.

    He said he had already reported the matter to the state government as well as all security agencies in the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Muhammad Shehu, however, said he could not confirm or deny the report because he was on his way back to the state from a trip. (NAN)

  • APC is one family, says Chairman

    APC is one family, says Chairman

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Isaac Kekemeke, at the weekend said the party had resolved  its internal wrangling.

    Kekemeke said the dust raised after the primary election had settled,adding that the party is united and indivisible.

    The chairman spoke at the state secretariat in Akure, where the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu informed the executive of the party from wards to state levels of his campaign’s arrangement.

    He said the APC in the sunshine state is one and united under his leadership.

    Kekemeke said the candidacy of Akeredolu was settled without any dispute or rancour.

    “As members of the State Executive, we remain committed to the victory of the APC in the election.

    “We have resolved to remain united and focus and we are appealing to our party members to remain calm and begin to work for our party with the assurance that our party is capable of taking care of their interest in an APC government.

    “We resolved that no matter the differences, we remain indivisible and one family.”

  • Gunmen kill Okiitipupa PDP Chairman

    Gunmen kill Okiitipupa PDP Chairman

    The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, Mr Niyi Pirisola was Friday assasinated by suspected hired killers.

    Pirisola who was also the former Chairman, Caretaker Commitee  in the Local Government was reportedly killed in his house in Ilutitun via Okitipupa in the early hours of the day by unknown
    gunmen.

    Details of his killings were still sketchy as at press time.

    The state chapter of the PDP has called on the Police and other security agencies in the state to investigate the killing of Pirisola.

    The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Banji Okunomo said the killing of the PDP leader called for serious investigation as the state is approaching an election period.

    Okunomo who expressed shock at the inhuman act, also called on all security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

    According to him “this is necessary because of the sensitivity of the times that we are in Ondo State considering that the state is preparing for its governorship election, which holds in November 26, 2016.”

    “The PDP cautions against anything that could heat up the polity and impede the transition process that is being prepared for in our dear Sunshine State.”

    Okunomo stressed that the state has been widely acclaimed as one of the most peaceful States in the country, saying;”we must not allow hoodlums to tamper with this track record or dent our image in any way.”

    A relative of the deceased politician said the deceased politician was killed at the gate of his house by suspected assasins.

    His words; “the deceased went to church for vigil on Thursday evening and returned in the wee hours of the day and he was shot at his gate when he was about to enter his compound.”

    “The late Pirisola was murdered by gunmen who followed him from the church to his house in Ilutitun”

    He said the deceased had no premonition of his death, as he had no personal issue with any individual before his untimely death.

    He said the matter had been reported to the Police for proper investigation, while the family will meet on funeral arrangements.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Femi Joseph confirmed the incident.

    He said his men have commenced investigation into the matter.

    Joseph added that no suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Pirisola, adding that efforts are on top gear to bring the perpetrators of the devilish act to book.

    The PPRO noted that the Police are on top of the situation and urged admirers of the late politician to remain calm till the Police conclude their investigations.

    He urged members of the public with useful information on the killing of Pirisola to inform the Police.

  • Type of Chairman PDP needs, by George

    Type of Chairman PDP needs, by George

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Deputy Chairman Chief Olabode George is an aspirant for the national chairmanship. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the protracted leadership crisis and his plans for the party.

    Why do you want to be the national chairman of the PDP?

    It is because the party needs a serious surgery to bring it back to where we were. There is the need for us to rebuild the party. As one of the party managers who has experience, as the national vice chairman, national deputy chairman and deputy national deputy chairman overall, I have worked with so many committed and loyal people and we delivered. The ship of the party is in comatose. So, people said, why can’t you go for the national chairmanship, if it is zoned to the Southwest. That’s why I decided to take up the challenge; to really build our party and transform the platform.

    What’s the assurance that the convention will still hold, in view of the court order obtained by Senator Modu Sheriff?

    A court of the same jurisdiction gave Makarfi the order to hold the convention. There is another order that there should be no convention. They are courts of the same jurisdiction. If it is an Appeal Court that gave that order, then, we will obey it. Since there is no higher court that has given an order, we are going ahead with it. The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfim has said that it will hold.

    Could you shed light on the zoning, which has torn the Southwest PDP apart?

    No. It has not torn any zonal chapter apart. We had an election. Before the national convention, you have started from the ward, local government, state and zone. The national delegates emerged from the local governments. The procedures and processes were approved by the NEC. Sheriff chaired that NEC meeting. He obtained a form for the national chairmanship, filled the form and appeared for screening. All those processes made him to cease as the national chairman. All those parading themselves as the factional chairmen and zonal officers have ceased to be officers. We held our zonal congress where new leaders were elected. The constitution is very clear. They are just trying to create unnecessary trouble. But, a lot of negotiation is going on now to cool everybody’s temper and allow sanity to reign. i pray that there will be reconciliation before the convention. What is causing the problem personal ambition, and ego. the problem is not structural. Many meetings are going on and I am sure we will get to the end of it.

    What edge do you think you have over other chairmanship aspirants?

    The only thing I have done since 1998 was to have been one of the managers of the party. experience cannot be retired by any human being, which means you can use your wealth of experience till you die. If you have experience, you will reduce the stress and time of decision making. I was the Vice Chairman (Southwest). We won five of six states during my tenure. I became the Deputy Chairman (South). We won all the states in the South, except Lagos. Then, I became the Deputy Chairman overall we won 28 states out of 36. I was at the party secretariat for 10 years. Can you ignore that? With the crisis that is on now, I draw an analogy. as a master mariner, a sailor, we have the ship of state of the PDP at sea. It is facing a turbulent storm. Water is coming in. If you don’t have an experienced, competent captain, the ship will go down. What you need to do is to stabilise the party and bring the ship safely back to harbour. That is the need of the party at this  point in time. It is not for a green horn. It is not for somebody who is just two years old in the party. Will you give yourself up for surgery for a fresh medical doctor who has just graduated or you will prefer an experienced, tested surgeon. The PDP is the biggest and the largest party in Africa. Somebody who has just joined a house and still being shown the kitchen, the toilet and still learning the rope, suddenly, he wants to be the head of the house. It takes time. The PDP is not a tribal party. It is not a mushroom party. That is the only strong national party. That’s why we have not gone under. No matter the wind that blows, we will survive. We have the constitution. We have the culture and ethos that are not written that guide us. I was the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign that brought Yar’Adua and Jonathan in. I have been involved in conflict resolution across the zones; in Ife/Modakeke crisis, Ngige crisis, in the Northwest.

    What is the assurance that the PDP Governors’ Forum, which is an influential bloc in the party, will support your ambition?

    I will take my case before them. The PDP Governors’ Forum is a special bloc. But, that is not the only forum that can lift the party up. It is a collective responsibility. I know some of them. They have been senators, House if Assembly and Representatives members, commissioners and so on. The mistakes of the past should not be repeated. We don’t want the party to go into ruins. There you be consultations and analysis before you settle for somebody. For me, the will of the Almighty God will be done.

    Why are some aspirants not obeying the zoning directive?

    The reason for zoning is this: we realised that tribal and religious party of hold did not know how how to share power. The founding fathers who formed the PDP took up the division of the country into six zones. Chief Solomon Lar, Bola Ige, Alex Ekweme and Adamu Ciroma said the top six  positions should be zoned to the six geo-political zones. The positions are the President, Vice President, senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and National Chairman of the party. After eight years, the positions are re-zoned. The positions zoned to the North will come to the South and those zoned to the South will go to the North. It was for fair play and balance. When is zoned to a region, the region will zone them to the states. But, nobody is prevented from contesting. It has been there for 16 years. When the Southwest was to have the Speaker, it didn’t  have it. So, when the chairmanship came, it was decided that it should gp to the Southwest. In Switzerland, the Presidency is rotated.

    You supported Jimi Agbaje for governor. The two of you are not contesting for the chairman. What led to the parting of ways?

    There is no parting of ways. We are human beings. We were told some people from outside the zine are pushing him to contest and so on. The caution should have come from him. This is democracy. He wants to try his luck. He is less than two years old in the party. We must be weary. he is not a kid. If it is wish to do it, so be it. But, let the will of the Almighty prevail. There is a time for everything. The people will also think whether they want to entrust the PDP to a green on, that is an issue.  I supported his governorship bid. if this is how he should pay back, I wish him the best of luck in life. As you lay your bed, so you will lie on it. All the stakeholders met in Akure and they unanimously endorsed Chief Olabode George in Akure. That means they recognise what i have done. That is gratifying for me.

    If you become the national chairman, will you be able to lead the party to victory in 2019

    I can assure you, that, with the power of the Almighty God, we will win. We will present our acore card to the PDP and they will look at it in relation with the APC. But, we would have worked hard and stabilise the party.

  • Residents flee as cultists mark anniversary

    Residents flee as cultists mark anniversary

    Residents of Fakale, Igode and Emuren communities, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have started fleeing their homes.

    It was learnt that the residents were afraid over the reports that suspected cult members of the Eiye Confraternity planned to unleash mayhem during their anniversary on Monday (today).

    It was gathered that some dwellers of Odo Kekere, Odo Nla and Itapara within the LGA had also vacated their homes, saying the cultists had vowed to cause bloodbath to mark the August 8 anniversary.

    Our correspondent had reported that some communities in Ogun State were under siege on July 7th, when some suspected Aye Confraternity members killed 11 persons, while marking the 7/7 anniversary.

    It was also reported that some other cult members stormed the Ogijo area last Wednesday and killed four residents.

    The head of Igode community, Chief Rafiu Idisu, told our correspondent on Sunday that no fewer than 70 residents had packed out for fear of being attacked in the coming August 8th celebration, which the cultists tagged, ‘8/8.’

    Idisu said he had drawn the attention of the Chairman, Sagamu LGA, Mr. Lola Awoniyi, to the tension in the community and urged the police to nip the pending attack in the bud.

    He said, “For the past three days now, there has been information across the community and its environs that Eiye cult members will attack people to mark their anniversary on Monday.

    “People have started leaving ssince then, especially those who live on new sites. About 70 residents have fled and residents in other communities such as Fakale, Itapara and Odo Kekere, are doing same.

    “I have informed the council chairman and he promised to do something about it. We want the police to position patrol vehicles around the communities to protect us because we have no place to run to. We don’t want a repeat of what happened on July 7th 2016.”

    The Secretary, Oodua People’s Congress, Fakale, Idris Lawal, said his members were aware of the development and had mounted surveillance at strategic points in the community to foil any attack.

    “We are fully prepared for them. We have assured our people to be calm, but those who are afraid have left. Policemen are also on patrol,” he added.

    The council chairman, Awoniyi, said security agencies had been informed to forestall any breach of the peace in the areas.

    He said, “We have alerted all the necessary security agencies to the threat. As the chief security officer of the council, necessary steps have been taken to forestall any attack. So, security wise, the communities are safe.”

    The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, said policemen had been deployed in different parts of the state to check cult activities.

    He said, “The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, has made it clear that whoever parades himself as a cultist will be treated like an armed robber, kidnapper or murderer. The CP has ordered all the Divisional Police Officers to be on their toes.

    “Our Special Intelligence Bureau officers are at various parts of the state to nip in the bud any mob attack. People should not fear harassment from anywhere. They should go about their business in a normal way; we are on top of the situation. Nothing is going to happen in those communities because policemen are on the ground.”

  • Pensioners to Oshiomhole: Pay us as parting gift

    Pensioners to Oshiomhole: Pay us as parting gift

    Again Pensioners in Edo State on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Benin, the Edo State Capital appealing to the Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole pay pension arrears spanning between 10 to 42 months also include unpaid gratuities to retired workers from the state civil service.

    This is coming barely when Nigeria Union of Local Government Workers equally protested the non-payment of their salaries running into months. However, Governor Oshiomhole last week had denied not owing local government workers salaries.

    The protesters mostly dressed in black attire stormed the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, noted that their woes become compounded due to the non –harmonization in the payment system adding that some pensioners still earn N2,000 per/month.

    They lamented that the dehumanizing living condition of pensioners have saw some of their members been evicted from their homes by their landlords while many now takes refuge in churches and abandoned buildings in the state.

    Comrade Pully Noruwa, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Edo State Chapter who spoke on behalf of the pensioners however appealed to the Governor to use their pension as parting gift to them as his administration winds down.

    “We want you to help us to beg Oshiomhole to pay us our money. We have borrowed a lot of money that we can’t pay back, he has promised to pay us and we are looking forward to the day the miracle will happened. Some old pensioners are earning only N2,000 per/month and we have been appealing that the pension should be harmonised.

    “Our landlord can no longer exercise patient anymore, some of us have been evicted from their homes while others now sleep in church premises. We appeal to the governor to pay all the arrears and to also open the pension board.

    They also noted that  one thousand persons who retired since the dissolution of the pensions board are yet to have their pension documents processes and consequently enrolled into their monthly pension emoluments adding that “ some of these pensioners are very sick, weak and have no money for medical treatments neither can they meet other financial obligation in their respective homes,” they concluded.

  • Oyo Lawmaker’s killers: We are robbers, not assassins

    Oyo Lawmaker’s killers: We are robbers, not assassins

    *as police parades four suspect, declares three others wanted

    One of the four suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Gideon Aremu, on July 1, 2016, Ayobami Adedeji (23) has disclosed that they were mere robbers and not assassins as it was insinuated.

    Adedeji and three other suspects; Adediran Oladapo (31), Kareem Isiaka, and Sodiq Adedeji (20) were paraded by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade at the Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan on Monday.

    The lawmaker from the Labour Party, representing Oorelope constituency, was until his death the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Public Relations and Security.

    He was killed in front of his house in Alakia area of the state as he alighted from his car to open his gate. Three gunmen on a motorcycle were said to have trailed him to the house and shot him severally after a brief argument according to family source.

    In an attempt to quicken the arrest of the killers, the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi placed a N5m bounty on the heads of the gunmen responsible for the murder of the lawmaker.

    Narrating how the lawmaker was killed, Adedeji said they did not know the status of late Aremu before one of them called ‘Abbey’ shot him after collecting his mobile phone and money.

    According to him, we met at our usual Awo joint in Beere area, Ibadan, to carry out a robbery operation at Adegbayi, Ibadan on that fateful day.

    “We did not track the lawmaker to his residence but it was one of us called Abbey that his mother reside in Adegbayi that brought the job to rob the lawmaker to us. I did not know why Abbey shot him, but the only thing they gave me was N40,000 which was my share of the operation.” he said

    Adedeji who also confirmed to be an ex-convict said he is was jailed last year for selling Indian Hemp but was later pardoned after spending a year at the Agodi prison in Ibadan by the State Attorney General.

    The suspect claimed that he became friends with Abbey, Kola Mission, Yusff Ikire at Awo joint, around Ogunmola compound in Beere after he was released from prison.

    He noted that on the day they killed the lawmaker, they took off from the Awo joint after consuming Indian Hemp served to them by one Dele Awo.

    But one of the arrested suspect, Sodiq Kareem, who is a criminal receiver claimed that he was not aware that the killed lawmaker’s phone he bought was a stolen one.

    “It was Kola and Yusuf that sold the lawmaker’s phone to me for N12,500 but I could not make use of the phone because it was locked and has a security code, so I gave it to Kareem Isiaka aka Alfa to unlock for me or sell. Alfa sold it to Adeniran Oladapo for N16,000” he said

    Also, Alfa confirmed collecting the phone from Sodiq to sell but did not know that it was a stolen phone.

    Oyebade said that the arrest was made possible by a combined team of Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and detectives from the Oyo State Police Command.

    “The suspects did not have the knowledge of the status of the lawmaker. As robbers their intention was to rob him of valuable property in his possession. The victim was killed because they thought he could identify them due to a torch flashed on them during the operation.” he said

    The police boss declared wanted three of the fleeing suspects which includes; Abbey, Kola Mission, and Yusuf Ikire, adding that anyone with useful information that could lead to their arrest should contact the police command.

    He saluted the patience of the family of the victim, the understanding of the state government and the people of the state.

    Oyebade assured that no criminal will commit crime of any magnitude in the state and get away with it.

    Lauding the effort of te police, The lawmaker representing Ibadan North State Constituency II, Mr Olaleye said the effort of the police in the arrest of his colleague is very commendable.

    “It is very clear to the world now that Honourable Aremu was not killed politically but by arm robbers. It’s not up to two months now and they have expose the face of this evil perpetrators and am sure those that flee too will soon be caught” he said

    Also, Oyebade commissioned‎ the Secretariat of the Police Officers Wife Association (POWA) and a new police station in Ogungbade, Ibadan.

  • Ondo PDP gets factional chairman

    Ondo PDP gets factional chairman

    •Governorship aspirants to pay N500,000 levy

    Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected a factional executive.

    The faction, which is led by Prince Biyi Poroye, is loyal to the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff- led national executive.

    A statement by its spokesman, Mr. Ayo Adeuti, at the weekend, directed the party’s governorship aspirants to pay N500,000 to the faction.

    The statement reads: “The Ondo State PDP Chairman, Prince Biyi Poroye, has directed all the party’s governorship aspirants for the November 26 governorship election, to pay an administrative charge of N500,000 to the party’s account.

    “Our chairman also directed all aspirants and members to await further directives from the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on guidelines and timetable for the primary election.

    “We wish to implore our patriotic members to remain calm, as PDP is one united family and our leaders are working hard to bring all members on board.

    “PDP members must remain law-abiding and shun any act  capable of causing disaffection or thwart the peaceful initiative of our national leaders.

    “We thank our loyal members for their steadfastness and abiding faith in the party.”