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Tag: Kola Ologbondiyan

  • PDP to N/Assembly: Impeach Buhari

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the National Assembly to immediately pull the full weight of all legislative instruments against President Muhammadu Buhari to save the nation from imminent collapse.

    A statement signed by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said President Buhari crossed the line by placing the country’s democracy in jeopardy, thus setting the nation on the path of anarchy.

    The statement said, “The invasion of our highest legislative institution by agents of the Buhari-led executive, a few months after the Senate mace was blazingly carted away by armed hoodlums, is condemnable, reprehensible, unpardonable, and completely unacceptable.

    “With this siege, barely a week after presiding officers of the Senate were held hostage at their residences, it has become clear that the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) intend to forcefully overrun and ultimately shutdown the highest lawmaking organ of the Nigerian government and pave the way for the total suspension of constitutional rule in the country.

    Read Also: “You must join Buhari to transform Nigeria’

    “The PDP notes in this administration’s quest to foist a fascist regime on our country, the APC-led government has taken several steps and actions tending towards the suspension of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including direct usurpations of the duties and powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary in governance.

    “Nigerians and the international community will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of this plot, which included the phony medical trip to London for President Buhari as an alibi to exonerate him from any blame for this sordid assaults on democracy.

    “The PDP, therefore, calls on the Government of Britain to support Nigeria at this perilous time by not shielding President Buhari in London. Nigerians urge the British government and other members of the international community to immediately condemn and totally reject the ugly developments in our country.

    “President Buhari and his APC have consecutively and deliberately put our nation and its democracy on harm’s way and the National Assembly, as representatives of the people, must eschew all partisan interests and save the nation by immediately deploying all legislative instruments against President Buhari before it is too late.

    “It is instructive to state that if today’s assault on our legislature had succeeded, it would have been the second time Muhammadu Buhari would have toppled constitutional rule in our country.

    “Finally, the PDP commends Nigerians, who marched out in their numbers today, in response to our earlier call, to resist this brigandage against our nation even as we urge them to remain alert, as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”.

  • PDP accuses Presidency of inducing senators to impeach Saraki

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of inducing senators to impeach the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    The opposition party also alleged that the government was in the process of forcing the reopening of the Senate, contrary to Section 12 of the Senate Standing Rules.

    The Senate is currently on annual recess and is expected to resume session on September 25, to begin legislative business.

    But the PDP said the Presidency was offering each lawmaker $1 million to impeach Saraki for defecting from the APC to PDP.

    The Presidency however, said its call for the National Assembly to resume duties was to enable the federal legislature process the 2019 election budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari had, a week before the National Assembly proceeded on its annual vacation, submitted a budget of N242 billion for the INEC for the consideration of the lawmakers.

    But at a media briefing at its Abuja secretariat on Monday, the PDP queried the timing of the submission of the INEC budget seven months to the general elections.

    Read Also: Resign now, Falana tells Saraki, others

    Besides, the party, through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Presidency does not have the powers to order or call for the reopening of the National Assembly, as suggested by the presidential liaison officer for the Senate, Ita Enang.

    Ologbondiyan said, “What Enang had done is just a mere wish. He does not have the power to order or call for the reopening of the Senate.  He is just expressing his personal wishes.

    “As a matter of fact, Sen. Ita Enang has been the chairman of the Senate Rules and Business Committee both in the House and in and the Senate. Would he have listened to anybody from outside the chamber to come and dictate to the presiding officers.

    “It is unfortunate that people who have experience in legislative practices and procedures, when they get to the executive arm, instead of telling the executive the limit of their powers, they pretend to know it all, and by so doing, they mislead the executives. That is exactly what Enang is doing.

    “There are set rules: Section 12 of the Senate Standing Rules puts the opening  of the Senate within purview of responsibility of the President of the Senate and the operational word there is “may”; that is if the Senate President is convinced to reopen the Senate.

    “We must not allow those who have no respect for laws to take charge of our lives because what they are plotting to do have a huge capacity to create anarchy for the nation.

    “This is not a local government parliament, we are talking about our national parliament and some characters are sitting somewhere and dominating ideas that suit their own interests. And they want to use that to subdue what the rules and the laws say. It is totally unacceptable”.

  • PDP alleges plot to impeach Fayose

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

    A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned the sponsors of the alleged plot to desist or attract “dire consequences”.

    The PDP further alleged that the impeachment plot was being arranged in connivance with the Police, warning the development was a recipe for crisis in the state.

    Read Also:Kashamu blames Fayose’s ‘arrogance’ for PDP’s defeat

    The statement said, “The PDP is aware that the plot is a desperate bid by the APC to rush into the Ekiti Government House to remove and tamper with documents and evidence confirming the rigging of the July 14 governorship election, ahead of the sitting of the election tribunal.

    “Having realised that there is no way their daylight robbery at the poll can stand in the court, the APC is now employing all desperate means to subvert the course of Justice.

    “This explains why a detachment of the Police can be hurriedly deployed to besiege the Ekiti State Assembly Complex last night without a formal request by the Speaker, the Clerk or the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is the chief security officer of the complex.

    “The PDP states that any resort to underhand measures to impeach Fayose, without the constitutionally required 2/3 of the members of the House, particularly at this time, when the lawmakers are currently on their annual recess, will surely be resisted by our members”

    Accusing the APC of plotting crisis all over the nation and resorting to the use of harassment, intimidation and brute force against the people and democratic institutions, the PDP warned that the development portends grave danger for the nation.

    “Now that the political and parliamentary establishment of the Ekiti House of Assembly has loudly declared that they do not require the services of the detachment of policemen, PDP charges the APC to immediately withdraw their armed agents from the premises of the House of Assembly.

    “Finally, the PDP urges the judiciary to be firm in standing by the truth on the Ekiti election and not be cowed or intimidated by the threats and pressure coming from the APC.

    “Nigerians know the truth regarding the rigging of the Ekiti guber election by the APC and are now looking up to the judiciary for justice in the matter”, the statement added.

  • Ekiti poll: PDP accuses INEC of doctoring results

    The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of doctoring the results of last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election, beating the PDP candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it reached the conclusion after a crucial meeting Tuesday night, where all the facts relating to the election were received and reviewed.

    “After a thorough examination of all hard facts, the NWC reconfirms that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) doctored the result of the election to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, the party said.

    The party noted that apart from huge discrepancies between the actual votes cast at the polling centres and the results released by INEC, there were evidence that INEC pulled down the original result from its data base to accommodate the alterations.

    Read Also: Ekiti politicians were clever in vote buying, INEC

    The statement continued, “The NWC also has evidence indicating that the original result was in favour of the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka before the figures were altered.

    “The NWC, after very exhaustive examination of all facts reconfirms that the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, clearly won the July 14, 2018 governorship election.

    “The NWC therefore calls on the leadership of INEC to immediately correct their results, apologise to the people of Ekiti state and be ready to admit their falsifications before the tribunal so as to return our mandate which was stolen at ‘gun point’ on July 14”.

  • Ekiti 2018: PDP deplores alleged attack on members, ballot snatching

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has deplored alleged harassment, intimidation and attacks on its members and supporters by thugs in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the condemnation in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, and said that PDP took a serious note of the situation during the election.

    Ologbondiyan said that the party believed that the whole world also noted the attacks suspected to have been carried out by its opponents and some compromised security men during the election.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Fayemi wins polling unit

    According to him, the entire world witnessed the desperation to hijack power in Ekiti through terrorization, snatching of ballot boxes and ferocious assault on the people, who turned out peacefully to cast their votes.

    The party spokesman added that “the PDP is monitoring all events and will make our formal position on the entire process known in due course”.

    He called on all PDP members and supporters in the state to continue to be at alert and monitor all results to the end.

    “Monitor all results to the very end to ensure that nobody, no matter how highly placed, alters any result that is in our favour.

     

     

     

  • PDP cautions NYSC over Adeosun’s alleged forgery

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to cover up the alleged forgery of its Exemption Certificate by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

    The Minister is presently embroiled in controversy over her NYSC Exemption Certificate, which she was alleged to have forged in 1999.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party reminded the NYSC that the matter was already in the public domain and that any attempt at cover up would hurt the Corps’ reputation.

    The statement said, “Moreover, Nigerians are closely monitoring this issue and the public is already aware of pressure on the NYSC leadership to announce a misplacement of relevant files and other excuses to achieve a dead end in the investigation.

    Read Also: Alleged forgery: PDP wants Adeosun sacked, prosecuted

    “The NYSC must therefore know that its reputation is highly at stake as Nigerians are already agitated over the questionable delay by the Corps in coming out with an answer on a direct issue that requires a simple computer or even manual file check at its headquarters.

    “Indeed, a simple process of matching the serial numbering, date and authorizing signature on Mrs. Adeosun’s certificate does not require a lengthy investigation or the current shenanigan going on at the NYSC headquarters.

    “NYSC is advised to have in mind that in this age of global Information Communication Technology (ICT), there is nothing anybody can do to suppress or distort facts, even in the public service.  Any attempt to cover up will invoke the wrath of Nigerians and irredeemably rubbish the integrity and respect the Corps has earned over the years.

    “The NYSC must therefore not allow its reputation to be dragged in the mud by the discredited All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration that has become notorious for concealment of fraud and sharp practices by its officials”.

  • 2019: APC suffering from pre-defeat trauma, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is on the “throes of death” and that its “panic-stricken” leadership has resorted to fabrications and cheap blackmail against those leaving their sinking ship in droves.

    The opposition party said the APC has become intensely nervous and chaotic over the soaring popularity of the PDP as well as the surge of Nigerians, across board, into its fold as a “repositioned and rebranded party”.

    The party also said it was not surprised that the APC, out of frustration, has resorted to sponsoring of spurious publications filled with deceptions, fabrications and lies against the PDP.

    A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, added that the ruling party was particularly unsettled by the “huge successes” recorded by the Liyel Imoke-led PDP Contact and Integration Committee, in seamlessly galvanizing alliances among stakeholders across other parties, including those returning from the APC.

    Read Also: I’ll remain in APC- Marafa

    The statement said, “The APC is further disconcerted by the spirit of accommodation, agreement and oneness of purpose that pervade the alliances among old, new and returning members of the PDP in our key structure across all the states of the federation, particularly in Sokoto, Kogi, Kwara and Kano states, where all new and returning members have been accorded very warm reception.

    “We know that the APC will stop at nothing in its sneaky efforts to cause confusion among our members, including suggesting that there are disagreements where none exists.

    “What the APC, in its depravity and desperation, has failed to note is that the PDP had, since its repositioning, made adequate arrangements, ahead of time, to accommodate all interests and alignments in this collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of President Muhammadu Buhari, come 2019.

    “The APC should come to terms with the fact that as the name of our great party connotes, the rebranded and repositioned PDP remains a party of all Nigerians and will continue to provide equal opportunity for all Nigerians to freely aspire, even for the highest position in the land, irrespective of creed, tribe or even previous party affiliations.

    “We advise the APC leaders to further accept the fact that their party is now beleaguered with a demystified and unpopular presidential candidate and an unelected National Chairman who is overburdened by corruption allegations and as such can no longer produce a President that will be acceptable to majority of Nigerians.

    “We therefore charge Nigerians to continue in their rally with the PDP as the epicenter of a new broad-based political engagement to rescue the nation and return her to the path of peace, unity and economic prosperity, come 2019”.

  • Mass killings: PDP declares 7-day mourning

    …Directs party flag to fly half-mast

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declared seven-day mourning for victims of gruesome killings by marauders and bandits in Plateau state and other parts of the country.

    Consequently, the party has directed that its flags at all its offices and formation at all levels across the country be flown at half-mast during the seven-day period, in honour of the victims.

    Read Also:Plateau killings: Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara in Aso Rock

    In a statement on Tuesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party urged the people of Plateau State to exercise their rights as global citizens, work with other public-spirited Nigerians and groups and take President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to the International Court of Justice at the Hague for acting helpless in the face of continuous mass killings in our country.

    The statement said, “The PDP firmly holds that the life of every Nigerian is sacred. All Nigerians must be protected whether they are Birom, Basange, Ebira, Tiv, Idoma, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Gbagyi, Yoruba or from any other tribe whatsoever.

    “The fundamental duty of government all over the world is the protection of lives and we can no longer afford to continue to fold our hands while compatriots are daily hacked down by marauders”.

  • PDP bemoans Plateau killings, blames Buhari, APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the gruesome killing of over a hundred innocent Nigerians in communities in Plateau State by marauders on Sunday.

    The PDP said if President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had heeded wise counsel by the PDP and Nigerians, such killings would have been averted.

    In a statement on Monday by its spokesman,Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP insisted that President Buhari’s failure to address and bring to book, the perpetrators of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country was emboldening insurgents and marauders to further attack and murder defenseless Nigerians.

    “It is most disheartening that compatriots are being killed daily because those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding lives, care less about the wellbeing and safety of the people, as they focus only on their ill-fated 2019 re-election bid.

    “Even when the Zamfara State governor, Abdul-aziz Yari cried out that he was overwhelmed by the spate of insecurity and killings, the Federal Government gave him an ineffectual response laced with their trite blame game.

    “We urge Nigerians to note that since the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and other states, no concrete steps have been taken by the APC administration to strengthen and fortify the security architecture in the troubled areas.

    Read Also: Buhari: Plateau killings regrettable, painful

    “Instead, what we are witnessing are inactions, impotent assurances and blame games that have continued to compromise security in the areas thereby creating opening for marauders to continue to ravage our people”, the statement added.

    The PDP said if the APC and its Federal Government had channeled the same energy and resources they have deployed to fighting perceived opponents towards fighting marauders and insurgents, the security challenge would not have been as devastating as it is today.

    Continuing, the opposition party said, “We now find ourselves in a situation where government attaches no value to the lives of Nigerians so much so that top security officials flout presidential orders and even abandon their security duties in troubled areas while the President, as the commander-in-chief, takes no strong steps to reorder his parade.

    “The PDP particularly agrees with Nigerians that if the over 7,000 security personnel, police surveillance helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers were not withdrawn from their primary security duties and drafted to be part of the APC national convention, the marauders would not have had a field day in this Plateau attack.

    “Furthermore, the PDP calls on the APC and its government to come out clear on what they stand to gain by allowing these killings and bloodletting to fester, as if the lives of our citizens have become worthless.

    “Finally, while the PDP commiserates with the families of the victims of the attack, we totally reject these killings and demand an immediate concrete step to get to the root of the matter and end this bloodletting in our land”.

  • PDP knocks Presidency over statement on Plateau killings

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked the Presidency for blaming weekend’s killings in some Plateau communities on opposition politicians.

    The attacks, which were reportedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, left about 100 persons dead, over 50 houses burnt and many persons injured.

    In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP described the Presidency’s statement as extremely callous, inhuman and brazenly divisive.

    The opposition party expressed shock that at a time Nigerians expected the Presidency to take immediate steps to restore order, safeguard the lives of the people, exert justice and bring succor to victims, it chose to toe the path of divisiveness, which the party said, was capable of worsening the tensed situation in the land.

    The statement said, “It is unfortunate that rather than taking actions to get to the roots of killings and banditry in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari resorted to political colorations by engaging in his usual blame game of unnamed politicians.

    Read Also:APC convention a charade, mockery of democracy – PDP

    “It is equally disgusting that the Buhari Presidency relegated the main issue of the murder of our citizens and how to track down the perpetrators and bring them to book, thus confirming the fears of most Nigerians that this administration does not care about the lives of the people.

    “PDP insists that the basic responsibility of government, which is to ensure the safety and harmonious living of all Nigerians, ensure that our laws apply at all times and circumstances, without any fear or favour, has been completely abdicated by the Buhari administration, thereby leaving our people at the mercy of marauders”.

    The opposition party further stated that it’s shocking that the President, who is considered the father of the nation, had no soothing or reassuring words for the agonizing victims of the attack.

    The party said rather, the President has chosen to aggravate their pains with the unguarded comments attributed to him by his media aide.

    The PDP demanded an unreserved apology from President Buhari over the comments, which it described as manifest insensitivity to the plight of the victims of the Plateau massacre.