The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kola Ologbondiyan

  • PDP crisis will end soon, says Mark

    PDP crisis will end soon, says Mark

    Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

    Senate President David Mark believes that the crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon abate.

    Mark, according to his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, spoke when he visited Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in Dutse.

    He pleaded with party leaders and supporters across the nation to work towards a permanent reconciliation.

    He urged the stakeholders of the party to work together and ensure that the party survives its challenges.

    He said: “When the crisis in our party started, I called my brother and friend (Governor Lamido) and asked him if what I was hearing that he was leaving the party was true. He replied me that he is not a fool. He said ‘How can I leave the house I built for somebody else?’ He spoke with courage.

    “We cannot solve the problems of our party by running away from it. Governor Lamido is courageous and he speaks from his heart always. We must all work together to make sure that the PDP survives.”

    The Senate President commended the zonal, states and local government executives of the North-West geo-political zone for ensuring the continued unity of the party.

    He said: “The PDP problem is winding to an end while the problems of the other party are beginning to emerge. It is our (PDP) turn to sit down, rest our back and begin to laugh now the same way they were laughing at us.”

    He stated that the Senate is united, adding that the “Senate is not partisan because we are not Senators of parties but Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    He commended Lamido for “truly providing noticeable democratic dividends for his people. Your democratic dividends are not songs that are being sung only on the pages of newspapers. The change in Jigawa is commendable because it is noticeable.”

    Lamido described his guest as a nationalist who has taken up the responsibility of providing hope for Nigerians.

    The Senate President commissioned a number of projects including the new Deputy Governor’s lodge, the State House of Assembly Complex and the State Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, among others.

  • Mark, Ekweremadu call for peace, tolerance

    Mark, Ekweremadu call for peace, tolerance

    •Governors to Nigerians: emulate Holy Prophet

    Senate President David Mark yesterday urged Nigerians to put aside ethnic, political and religious differences and build a united and peaceful nation where everyone will feel free and safe.

    Also, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu advised Muslims to pray and work for the nation’s peace and progress.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja to mark today’s Eid-el-Mawlud, Mark warned politicians to desist from making inflammatory statements or casting aspersions on opponents ahead of 2015.

    He said politics should be a call to serve and not a call for battle.

    The statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammad “should renew our faith and bond of unity as one people, one nation, our diversities notwithstanding.”

    Mark said: “We can achieve this by adopting a give-and-take approach.”

    He noted that some events posed a danger to the nation’s corporate existence, saying: “The unity and indivisibility of Nigeria cannot be compromised for anything because we have more to gain.”

    Ekweremadu urged Muslims to pray and work for the peace and progress of Nigeria.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate president enjoined the Muslim Ummah to emulate the life of Prophet Mohammad.

    He said: “On this occasion, we should reflect on Prophet Mohammad’s teachings and legacies of unity, integrity, peaceful coexistence and love for one’s neighbour.”

    The Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday urged Muslims to celebrate today’s Eid-el Mawlud with prayers for solutions to the challenges facing the country.

    The forum, through its Chairman and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, urged believers to reflect on the challenges facing the country and renew their faith in Allah.

    In a message by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum urged Muslims to emulate the life of Prophet Mohammad.

    Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has enjoined Muslims to emulate the virtues of Prophet Mohammad, as enunciated in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith.

    The governor said Muslims should work for peaceful coexistence with other religions.

    Yuguda, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ishola Michael Adeyemi, assured that his administration would continue to provide tight security and an enabling atmosphere for the residents.

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam advised Muslims to celebrate today’s Eid-el-Mawlud by promoting love, peace, harmony and co-existence.

    In a message to Muslims by his Director of Information, Mr James Uloko, the governor noted that the birth of Prophet Mohammad symbolised a new beginning.

    He urged the people to put their differences aside and work for the greatness and prosperity of the nation.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday urged Muslims to imbibe the virtues and ideals of patience, equity and obedience as exemplified by Prophet Mohammad.

    The governor said today’s Eid-el-Mawlud should be for sober reflection and prayers for the nation’s unity and coexistence.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, the governor said: “As we commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammad, let us reflect on our polity and see how we can build a virile nation.”

    Amosun enjoined Muslims to show love through selfless service, honesty and tolerance.

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday urged Muslims to imbibe the virtues of humanity, love and kindness as exemplified by Prophet Mohammad.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the governor said these were virtues that endeared Prophet Mohammad to people of all races and faith.

    He advised Muslims and other Nigerians to use today’s celebration to reflect on the state of the nation.

    Ahmed said: “Nigerians, irrespective of religious and ethnic diversity must reflect on issues that can strengthen our nationhood.”

    The governor urged Muslims and all Nigerians to pray for good governance and inter-religious harmony.

  • Mark urges politicians to avoid unguarded utterances

    Mark urges politicians to avoid unguarded utterances

    Senate President David Mark yesterday urged politicians to guard against utterances and actions capable of overheating the polity.

    Mark made the plea in a New Year message in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

    He advised politicians to respect the rule of law at all times and uphold the fundamental rights of other citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.

    “For me, I crave for a country where every citizen is a stakeholder, where there is justice, peace, equal opportunities and where no one is oppressed or marginalised.

    ‘Since we got it right in 1999, we must not in any way do anything that would take the nation back to the dark days again.

    “After all, God did not make mistake in keeping us together,” the statement said.

    The Senate President praised Nigerians for their perseverance, resilience and total commitment to the ideals of nationhood in spite of the daunting challenges facing the nation.

    He also praised the “indomitable” spirit of the citizens and urged them to continue to work assiduously for the peace and unity of the country.

    “I do not know of any other country that is so blessed with human and natural resources.

    “All we need do, therefore, is to honestly harness these resources for the good of all,” Mark said.

    He contended that the challenges facing the nation were surmountable because other developed nations at various times overcame similar difficulties to evolve into greatness.

    “The only difference is that the people resolved to identify the problem and proffered a common solution.

    “This is what we need in our own case, to reason together like one people and to solve our problems like one people’’, he added.

    He assured that the National Assembly would continue to focus on legislative actions geared toward promoting the welfare and interest of Nigerians.

    Mark pledged sustained cooperation of the legislature with other arms of government to ensure speedy passage of the 2014 Appropriation Act.