The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Excos

  • Crisis hits Ekiti PDP as Fayose ‘orders sack’ of councillor, excos

    The crisis rocking Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over this year’s governorship race has deepened.

    Governor Ayodele Fayose has allegedly suspended some party chieftains believed to be loyal to former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    An elected councillor for Ido-Osi Ward, Abiodun Daramola, and the PDP chairman in the ward, Sunday Ojo, as well as seven ward women leaders in Ado-Ekiti were allegedly suspended on the orders of the governor.

    The latest action is causing tension in the party and is believed to be against the spirit and letter of the David Mark Reconciliation Panel on Ekiti PDP Crisis.

    Daramola told our reporter on phone yesterday that some policemen from Ido Police Station stormed the council secretariat with handcuffs to arrest him.

    According to him, the policemen said they were following the instruction of the governor not to allow him (Daramola) to sit at plenary with his colleagues in the council legislature.

    The councillor said he was saved from arrest because of the personal relationship he has with the policemen.

    He added that his fellow councillors told him that he was punished for being an “Adeyeye boy”.

    But the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) declared the suspension of the party chairftins as “illegal, unconstitutional, null and void”.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, PAAM’s Director of Media and Publicity, Niyi Ojo, described the suspension as “a huge joke by a shameless jester”.

    The statement reads: “One is embarrassed that a governor did not know the rudimentary provisions of Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution in respect of elected officials.

    “He unilaterally selected the chairmanship of the councils and councillors through YES and NO balloting system and he has gone ahead to render them robots that should not have the minds of their own.

    “He believes in gangsterism, thuggery, intimidation and coercion as a tool in politics of Ekiti, as if he is the Emperor of a conquered territory. This is a governor who has rendered every party man poor by denying them adequate party patronage, and he is now forcing them to do his bidding.

    “We are members of the PDP and not Ayo Fayose’s Democratic Party. All other loyal party men and women should not bow to this act of cowardice from the governor.

    “We knew all along that a leopard cannot change its spot. We knew that the tyrant will never abide with the resolutions of Senator David Mark Reconciliation Panel and we shall not chicken out from the battle to save the soul of the PDP from Fayose.”

    The State PDP Chairman, Gboyega Oguntuase said: “Whatever decision taken has not been communicated officially to the party. But we reserve the right to look into it.

    “We don’t want our people to be reading meanings to it. But such matters will be looked into dispassionately and nobody will be punished for an offence not committed.

    “But in a political party, you are not expected to lead an unregulated life.”

  • U.S. Exchange Programmes alumni inaugurate excos

    Alumni of the United States (U.S.) Exchange Programmes have held their maiden election, with the chairman of transition committee, Dr Jude Ememe, becoming the first president of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Association.

    The non-profit association was formally established in June by the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, with objectives to create platforms for past participants in American government’s fellowship programmes to foster partnership in promoting value-driven leadership, good governance, professionalism, human rights, freedom and responsible civic engagement in the country.

    •Members of the alumni association’s executive after their inauguration

    The election was held at the American Corner in Victoria Island, Lagos last week. The process, which was supervised by an employee of the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Mr Austin Emeano, started at 11:45am and lasted for about two hours.

    Others elected into the executive arm of the association are the Vice President for Operations, Dayo Isreal, Vice President for Programmes, Vice President for Fundraising, African Farmer Mogaji, Ms Mojisola Onifade, General Secretary, Dr Abosede Adesalu, Assistant General Secretary, Olorunfunmi Adebajo, Financial Secretary, Johnson Nweze, Treasurer, Abosede Oyeleye, and Publicity Secretary, Mike Okwoche.

    Speaking on behalf of the executive members, Dr Ememe thanked members for the confidence reposed in them, promising not to disappoint the faith members had in them to lead the association.

    He said: “We thank all members who came out despite their tight schedules to be part of this voting process. It goes to show how passionate we are about the alumni association and we look forward to robust engagements in moving forward.”

  • FCET Umunze gets new SUG excos

    FCET Umunze gets new SUG excos

    A new set of Student Union Government (SUG) executives have emerged from the 2015/2016 SUG elections at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in affiliation with Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

    The elections, which was held on Tuesday, 1st March 2016, saw Okoye Augustine, a 300 level Industrial student, emerge President in the election.

    He defeated four other contestants.

    Okeke Grace emerged Vice President, unopposed while Okoli Chinonso was also elected Secretary General, unopposed.

    Ezeokafor Tinatamar emerged Assistant Secretary General, defeating Uwaeke Chukwuemeka. Uka Barnabas emerged Treasurer, unopposed.

    Ebubeoha Jane emerged Financial Secretary defeating three other aspirants while Nnadi Goodluck was elected Public Relations Officer defeating his closest rival, Mokwugwor Vivian.

    Okafor Kenechukwu emerged Director of Socials defeating three other aspirants.

    Others elected are; Madu Emmanuel (Director of Health and Sanitation, unopposed) and Ibeh Innocent (Director of Transport, unopposed)

    The SUG election is coming years after the ban for Students Unionism was lifted by the current Provost of the College, Professor J.O Ogbuagu since it was banned in the 2012/2013 Session when the students embarked on a peaceful protest due to some misunderstanding between the students and the management in the late 2013.

    Since the ban, Student Union Caretaker Committee has been adopted by the Institution to pilot the affairs of the Students.

    The Dean Students Affair Unit, Okafor C.U alongside the outgoing Student Union Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ezeonyedika Raphael made sure that the SUG election was a success.

    With the new development, the students of the Institution were very pleased with the management for restoring the Student Unionism.

    Nnadi Goodluck, Public Relations Officer elect of the Student Union contributed much ado to this important report.

     

  • Jubilation as Cocodia joins Restoration Excos

    Jubilation as Cocodia joins Restoration Excos

    Chief Collins Cocodia seems to be one of the most loved politicians in the Bayelsa West Senatorial District especially judging from the crowd that turned up to felicitate with him in a ceremony to mark his elevation as a commissioner in the Restoration Cabinet of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The event centre was congested as lovers of Cocodia trooped to Osiri Road in Yenagoa to grace the occasion. Most notable politicians in the senatorial district and friends of Cocodia from other parts of the state were present.

    An elder statesmen, Chief Thompson Okorotie, was the Chairman of the occasion. Chief Ayakeme Whisky, an aspirant for the senate, was present. Serving and former commissioners as well as traditional rulers and chairmen of community development committees took the centre stage to welcome the new Commissioner for Youth Development.

    It was like the affairs of the women as different women groups adorned in their best wrappers and blouses to match took over the arena. They danced alongside Cicodia to good music. In fact, the elevation of Cocodia from the office of the Sagbama Representative of Dickson to a commissioner excited them.

    It was also a period of counseling as many lovers of Cocodia took to the microphone to advise him. Governor Dickson had before the party swore-in Cocodia.  The Governor while addressing him noted that, as a new member of the Restoration Team, he should strive hard to bring his wealth of experience garnered in his previous portfolio to bare on his new assignment.

    Dickson said Chief Cocodia’s appointment was based on the hard work, trust and zeal, he brought to bare on his previous job, which has endeared him to the present administration.

    His words: “I also want to charge you now that, we are going into a more political time, so use all the skills that you have. You are a well known and tested politician. Bring all the skills that you have to bear on the process of supporting the government of restoration.

    “The present administration’s stance on issues of development and prosperity, transparency and accountability as well as criminality is well known and as such the new commissioner should work towards meeting the expectations of the government and the people.

    “Now you have joined the first 11 team of the restoration team. You have come into government at a time that the character of our government has been well formed and properly established.

    “We are known as a government of transparency, prudence, focused; we are known as a performing government all over our state and country and even beyond.

    “We are also known as a government that abhors corruption; a government that does not tolerate violence and criminality.

    “We are a government that has come to bring about development and to spread prosperity. These are the essential principles upon which our restoration government is erected.”

    Apart from the governor, Cocodia also got good dose of advice from his guests. Okorotie thanked God for the appointment and asked him to make good use of it.

    “Whatever position you are occupying, get the best out of it. Whatever you are doing, do it well”, the elder told his son.

    Also, the chairman community development committees, Mr. Are Toru thanked the governor for appointing their son as a commissioner.

    The elated Cocodia said his appointment was divine. He said he would work hard to make his ministry relevant in the scheme of things. He disagreed with people who claimed that there was nothing in the ministry.

    He said:  “There were earthly calculations before, but now God has done his calculation. The governor has extended his bridge. Some people say that some ministries are better than others, but to me all of them are the same.

    “I believe that wherever you find yourselves, you should do well with the position. Some even say there is nothing in some ministries. To me, I will squeeze water from the rock and make something happen. God has considered me worthy for elevation.

    “I want to guarantee you that we will deliver all our candidates come next elections. It is a divine call for me to serve the state in a bigger capacity. Some years back, l was just an office assistant.

    “I didn’t know that my elevation will be this sudden. Since l am in charge of the youths, I want to promise you that 2015 will be peaceful. Bayelsa will be peaceful and we will try to create jobs by looking at ways to lift embargo on employment.”