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Tag: National Chairman

  • $2.1b arms cash: I never collected money from anywhere – Secondus

    …Challenges FG to publish voucher, says we will meet in court

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus Tuesday denied collecting N250million out of the $2.1billion arms cash allegedly squandered by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    He challenged the Federal Government to publish the voucher(s) which he allegedly signed to collect the purported arms cash.

    He said it was unfortunate that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system, had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC.

    But he was silent on alleged 54 vehicles purportedly bought for him from the proceeds of Strategic Alliance Agreement between Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Secondus, who bared his mind in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were desperate to frame him up.

    The statement said: “The attention of the media office of the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has been drawn to the desperation of the Federal Government and its ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC) to frame him up with some blatant fabrications ostensibly to distract him from carrying out his responsibility of rebuilding his party.

    “The National Chairman would ordinarily not want to join issues with the government on a matter already in court but noted regrettably that the administration has great contempt for the court and the rule of law and has instead chosen to use blackmail and media persecution to defame and discredit their enemies. A gimmick Prince Secondus said has failed because Nigerians have come to know the antics of the drowning government.

    “The Federal Government and its agency in their desperation to forge documents and defame him, forgot to reconcile their lies; the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji. Lai Mohammad and the EFCC couldn’t agree on the date of the purported money collection and whether it was collected by him Secondus or by a faceless fictional Chukwura that has no surname.

    “While they may have embarked on a wide search since 2015 for the surname of the so called aide of the National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed claimed in his press conference on Good Friday March 29th, 2018 that Secondus collected the money on 19th of February, 2015, EFCC on their part on April 16th, 2018, eighteen days after said the money was collected on February 9th, 2015 and in another version still quoting the same EFCC claimed February 2, 2015.

    Secondus said he will not succumb to blackmail and intimidation on his mission to reform the PDP.

    He said it was sad that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system, had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC.

    The statement added: “Secondus restated his earlier declaration that nothing, not even the blackmail and intimidation lined up against the opposition by the Federal Government would be enough to stop him from carrying out the reform of his party, the PDP, as the programme is aimed at repositioning the party with a view to rescuing Nigeria from the disaster called APC administration.

    “Prince Secondus described as unfortunate and tragic the fact that anti-corruption agency like EFCC founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC administration to witch hunt and harass perceived enemies of government just to impress and keep job.

    He challenged the government and any agency that have anything against him that just cropped up because he is trying to rebrand his party to bring such evidence to the court and stop character assassination in the media.

    The statement said: “There’s no need to be talking about a case pending in court in the newspapers.  If the government has anything to say, they should file it before the court as demanded.”

    “The National Chairman’s office is aware of a grand design by the government to stop at anything to tarnish his image. But he said that the move would fail.”

    Secondus asked the Federal Government to release any evidence linking him with the purported collection of N250million from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The statement said: “He (Secondus) challenged the government to come out with the vouchers with which he was said to have signed, adding that such signature would also be subjected to forensic analysis.

    “I never collected any money from anywhere. I didn’t ask anyone to collect money for me as well and I didn’t sign any voucher to collect any money.

    “It is pure blackmail which will never work. If they are cooking up anything, with the aim of blackmailing me, it will fail. I know that the task of uprooting this non-performing government would be horrendous. But God is always on the side of the people.

    “I can understand the frustration of a party that enjoyed enormous goodwill from Nigerians three years ago but got it squandered with its ‘nepotic’ and insensitive administration.

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and treachery will return the APC from the exit gate where Nigerians already pushed them to, awaiting 2019.

    “The departure date for the APC has already been announced and the flight schedule would not be cancelled, because Nigerians cannot wait to see them off.

    “Finally, the media office of the National chairman said that they are not oblivious of the fact that this government does not believe in court because they see rule of law as antithetical to their own agenda and understanding of democracy but noted emphatically, that truth must prevail over lies and propaganda especially as the populace have cried out to God for a rescue.”

    Read Also: Secondus gives Lai Mohammad 48 hours to retract statement

  • Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta leaders of thought under a new platform of Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), have prepared a new template for sustainable peace and development of the region to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The new body, which said it had been mandated by the coalition of the Niger Delta agitators to negotiate for the region, expressed optimism that the meeting with Buhari would hold in October this year.

    The group of elders emerged a few weeks ago after the coalition of Niger Delta militants passed a vote of no confidence in the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    The elders drawn from all the states in the Niger Delta region including Cross River met at the palace of Ibedaowei of Opokuma Kingdom, King Okpoitari Diongoli, in Opokuma, Bayelsa State, at the weekend, to adopt the new template.

    The National Chairman, PNDPC, His Royal Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the new body was put in place to selflessly fight for the development of the region through dialogue with the Presidency.

    Ayemi-Botu, a former National Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (OMPCN) and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, said the body was formed to change the negative narratives of the region.

    He said: ”This is an all-encompassing Niger Delta people, who in consonance with our sons and daughters, agitating in the creeks, come together to see how we can provide a lasting solution to the age-long marginalisation and problems of the region.

    ”This body is independent of any other body. We have set up a strategic planning committee and after a month, we are now ready with our own vision and mission. We have just gone through it, circulated it among our members and in our subsequent meeting, we are going to adopt it and the world we know what we stand for.

    ”So, our being here is to show that we are a different set of people from the region that has the interest of the people of the region at heart. And we will in this October meet with the Presidency to discuss and come out with what and what we are going to do to better the lots of the people of the region.

    ”We know the problems of the region and we are going to present these problems to the Presidency. We want to make the Niger Delta region like ‘Dubai of Nigeria’ because nature in its infinite mercy has bestowed on us the ‘black gold’ which is the economic livewire of the country.

    ”Over 98 per cent of the gross domestic product is coming from oil; but because we have bad leadership, people who are self-centred, people who only feel to better themselves and leaving the rest to suffer, that is how we are where we are. But it is no longer going to be business as usual.”

    He insisted that the group was not partisan adding that members comprised traditional rulers, religious leaders, eminent persons, technocrats, among others.

    He said the activities of the group since its formation were the reason for the relative peace enjoyed in the region following commitment by militants to ensure ceasefire.

    Ayemi-Botu said: ”You see last year when the agitators or freedom fighters  went to the creeks and started destroying the economy. That added to the recession but when we came and asked for peace, they sheathed their swords and allowed peace to reign.

    ”The production that was up to 2.2million barrels went down to 700,000 barrels, but as at August when we met them and they embraced peace and ceasefire, you can see that our economy has jerked up to 2million barrels per day and the recession is gone.

    ”We pray that given the time and understanding of the Federal Government, the peaceful situation in the country and the upsurge in the production of oil in the country will continue and Nigeria and Niger Delta will not remain the same again.”

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, said the body was not formed to fight any group but to advance the peace, security and development of the region.

    ”Our mission is to see how we can advance the fulcrum of the Niger Delta people. We are not a political party, we have activists, clergy men, opinion leaders and we came together when we realised that there was a problem about leadership,” he said.

  • NGO asks state to submit areas for intervention

    NGO asks state to submit areas for intervention

    A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) – Global Survival for Grassroots Development and Empowerment Initiative (GSGDI) has requested its members to propose areas, where their states need immediate economic intervention for the betterment of the citizenry. 

    The National Chairman, Hon. Olalekan Eshinlokun, who made this requests after the executive members of the organization took their oath of allegiance in Abuja, said that the United Nations (UN) has already asked his NGO to submit a N2.1billion for the purpose.

    Speaking with The Nation, he noted that GSGSDI was only requesting for N1.5billion to lift so many Nigerians from poverty.

    According to him, the organization will procure 30,000 wheel chairs for disabled Nigerians’ buy grinding machines for people, assist to take care of the sick people in the general hospitals across the nation. 

    His words: “some organizations outside the country said we should write a proposal of N2.1billion but we believe that is too much so we are just writing a proposal of N1.5billion to them to empower our people. 

    “We will use the money to buy grinding machines for people to grind pepper, to empower the women, youths and also buy 30,000 wheel chairs for the disabled . We will share about 500,000 wheel chairs to each state. We will also go to the general hospitals to assist the sick that are also in need. And we will intervene in other economic areas that the states will outline for assistance. 

    “Nigerians are suffering. The disabled people are suffering. Women are suffering. So we want this group to empower them.”

    He said that besides the UN, women in Canada, and almost 20 organizations outside Nigeria are supporting the GSGDI in its humanitarian service.

    Eshinlokun revealed that his organization will soon present a bill for the establishment of a security outfit that will absorb most Nigerians youths, urging the governments to provide camps in each state of the federation. He also urged the National Assembly to support the bill when it is presented to them. 

    According to him, members of the organization are from the six geo-political zones of the country. 

    Owing to Nigerians apathy to casting their votes, he asked members of the organization to get their voters cards for them to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming elections.  

    He said: “With voters cards we will be able to gather all our members so that when election comes everybody will vote for the right person. This is because Nigerians are no longer interested in voting. In this coming election, we are voting for the right person not a party.”

    Asked comment on the National Assembly move to regulate NGOs, he described the move as a step in the right direction, noting that 80% of organizations are owned by politicians. 

    Olalekan added that “Any NGO under a politician should be monitored and stopped. They should go to CAC to know the right NGOs.”

  • APGA reaffirms Agbaso as acting National Chairman

    APGA reaffirms Agbaso as acting National Chairman

    •Says Victor Oye remain suspended

    The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reaffirmed Martin Agbaso as the Acting National Chairman, in accordance with decision of the Court of Appeal which sacked Victor Oye.

    The party said it was laughable that the Victor Oye-led group was challenging the decision of the court, describing such move as an attempt to ridicule the judiciary in the state.

    The Appeal Court in Enugu, on July 10, validated a High Court order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and deal with the Martin Agbaso-led APGA, following the suspension of Victor Oye as National Chairman.

    A statement by the Acting National Publicity Secretary Onapuruagu Ukaegbu said the party’s programme ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra remained unchanged. It said the August 18 primaries will hold as planned in Awka.

    The statement read: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) notes with amusement and derision, the bastardisation of the Anambra State judiciary by the state government, under the watch of Governor Willie Obiano, in their hallucinated attempt to prop up their puppet chairman, Victor Oye.

    “The Awka High Court judicial rascality is of no moment. Article 20(4) of APGA Constitution, under which Oye was suspended, is explicit and does not require a national convention and should not have befuddled the judge in his mischief and misapplication.

    “Also, the Nnewi Interlocutory Order does not call for much discussion, being a rehash of the earlier ex-parte Order vacated by the same court as being offensive to Section 87(II) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

    “The provisions of the Electoral Act are clear and robs any court the jurisdiction and powers to bar persons, parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting primaries or election.

    “Chief Martin Agbaso remains the national chairman of APGA until the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court decides otherwise. The party’s programme and activities for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State is on cruise control and unstoppable.”

     

  • APC governors, NWC meets Wednesday

    APC governors, NWC meets Wednesday

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of the Progressives Governors Forum will Wednesday meet with the national leadership of the party to chat the way forward for the party.

    Although the agenda of the meeting was not known as at the time of the report, it was gathered that second anniversary of the government and efforts to get the party out of the current financial mess will top discussion at the meeting.

    This is the second time the governors will be meeting with the National Working Committee of the party this year.

    During the last meeting which took place in April, the governors promised to hold regular consultative meeting with the leadership and help it source funds to finance its activities.

    The party has been enmeshed in acute shortage of funds which has made it impossible for them to hold constitutionally mandated meetings such as the National Executive Committee meeting and the midterm convention.

    The party has also found it difficult to settle debts some of which date back to campaign period.

    It was also not clear as at press time whether the governors have fulfilled their promise to help the party source funds from within even though the party is said to have installed a software that will automatically deduct N100 from the phone of members monthly as membership due.

    The meeting which will be presided over by the National chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun is expected to be attended by the all the governors elected on the platform of the parry.

  • Islamic group urges Muslims to embrace farming, shun begging for alms

    Sheikh Abdullahi Balaau, National Chairman, Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’a Wa’iqamati Sunna (JIBWIS), on Monday called on Muslims to embrace farming to earn a living and shun begging for alms.

    Bala-lau made in Gombe when spoke to journalists about his visit to Gombe State.

    He said that the executive officers of the group were touring the state, as part of their efforts to sensitise Muslims to the need to be self-reliant by engaging in farming, as advocated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said that his advice to the Muslim faithful would aid efforts to boost their income and living standards in particular as well as the country’s food security in general.

    Bala-lau said that if the people took to the proposition, it would also reduce the rate of beggars in the society.

    He said that visit would also enable JIBWIS leaders to interact with members of the group across the country.

    He, however, said that the organisation had instituted a committee to look into ways of empowering members with start-up capital to enable them to set up farming businesses.

    Bala-lau urged the citizens to continue to pray for peace in the country and good health for Buhari to enable him to succeed in his nation-building efforts.

  • ‘Sheriff is authentic PDP national chairman’

    ‘Sheriff is authentic PDP national chairman’

    Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki, representing Ekiti Central, has declared that Ali Modu Sheriff is the authentic national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She made the declaration yesterday in Ado-Ekiti while speaking with reporters at the end of a three-day capacity building training on Information Communication Technology (ICT) she organised for 100 beneficiaries in her senatorial district.

    Mrs. Raji-Rasaki, who chairs the  Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, said the era of impunity was dead in the PDP.

    She said the Court of Appeal judgment, which affirmed Sheriff as national chairman, had afforded the party an opportunity to put its house in order.

    The lawmaker said recent developments in Ekiti and at the national level, would enable the PDP prepare ahead of the 2019 general election.

    She described the Court of Appeal judgment as a “new lease of life’’ for the party.

    The senator, who distributed free laptops to participants, said anybody who wants to make impact in today’s world must be empowered technologically.

  • Ondo: I’ll not lobby INEC over PDP’s guber candidate – Sheriff

    Ondo: I’ll not lobby INEC over PDP’s guber candidate – Sheriff

    The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has vowed not to lobby the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the party’s candidate for Ondo governorship election.

    Sheriff stated this in a statement signed his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Inuwa Bwala in Abuja on Tuesday

    He said the clarification was important against the widespread speculations linking Sheriff with controversies surrounding the emerges of two PDP candidates for the election.

    While Sen. Ahmed led-National Caretaker Committee submitted the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede to INEC, the Sheriff-led faction also submitted to the commission the name of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as PDP candidate for the election.

    He said that as a law abiding leader, Sheriff was bound by whoever INEC publishes as both candidates in contention were respectable members of the PDP.

    Sheriff pledged that he would treat their issues based on merits and in accordance with the law.

    He further dismissed insinuations that he was behind several petitions against INEC.

    He said that he had done his duty by submitting a name to INEC, and expected that the commission would act in accordance with its own mandate.

    “Sheriff is not unmindful of events leading to the emergence of the two candidates, but wishes to assure Nigerians that steps are being taken to resolve all such issues even beyond what INEC may do.

    “This is to avoid past experiences occasioned by internal bickering in the PDP.’’

    He assured the people of Ondo State that PDP leaders have been working to ensure that the party wins in the forthcoming elections, “immaterial of who fly’s its flag.’’

    Sheriff said he was not aware of any alleged move to blackmail INEC because he had high regards for the commission.

    He, however, urged INEC to ensure that the PDP was not short changed in any future election, but should allow the people’s votes to count.

    Sheriff denied authoring or  authorising any petition to be written on his behalf as was being mischievously alleged in some sections of the media.

    He warned that people should stop using his name to settle scores.

  • PDP national chairman not zoned to Southwest, says Dokpesi

    PDP national chairman not zoned to Southwest, says Dokpesi

    A national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, has said the party did not zone the position to the Southwest,  but to the South.

    He spoke yesterday in Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.

    “I think the media is helping in confusing the matter regarding the national chairmanship position of our party, PDP, as there was no time the leadership of the party at the national level zoned the chairmanship position to anybody.

    “Chairman of caretaker committee made it clear that as the Presidency is zoned to the three geo-political zones in the North for 2019, so national chairmanship is zoned to the three geo-political zones in the South.

    “That is the position that will be sustained and maintained till the convention in Port Harcourt.

    “I am contesting for this chairmanship position to unite members of the party so the party can come out stronger and victorious in 2019,’’ he said.

    Dokpesi said PDP was the only party that could provide support as well as make Nigeria’s economy stable and great.

    He urged Nigerians to support the party for the development of the country.

  • Southwest PDP faction zones National Chairman, others to six states

    Southwest PDP faction zones National Chairman, others to six states

    •Party leader: Mimiko, Fayose violate court order with Akure meeting

    The crisis rocking the People Democratic Party (PDP), Southwest zone, heightened yesterday as some factional zonal leaders rejected the decision of two governors, Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), zoning the party’s national chairmanship to Lagos and Ogun states.

    Factional National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe and his Secretary, Chief Adepegba Otemolu, announced that the position of the PDP National Chairman is open to all aspirants from Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos states.

    The faction also proposed that the following positions should go to the following states: National Vice Chairman (Ondo/Ekiti), National Treasurer (Oyo/Osun) and National Deputy Publicity Secretary (Lagos/Ogun).

    The faction said the announcement followed the outcome of an extra-ordinary meeting of the party’s Southwest Zonal Executive Committee yesterday at their Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The two governors and some PDP leaders on Monday in Akure agreed to zone the PDP National Chairmanship to Lagos and Ogun states.

    Ogundipe, who address a news conference after their meeting yesterday said the three blocks in the region have their representatives at the national level, adding that the leaders have resolved to throw the office of the national chairmanship open.

    According to him, section 27 subsections 2A and 2B allows everybody who is interested in the position to contest.

    “We are doing everything possible on the reconciliation of our great party. You are not unaware that there are issues, especially the issue of zoning. I want to assure you that we don’t have any problem for now.

    “We have decided and resolved that after our meeting in Port Harcourt last week, where the position of the party’s National Chairman and the National Treasurer were zone to the Southwest, it is logical for us in the Southwest to come back home and do justice on how to share the position that was zone to the Southwest.

    “I want to inform you that we have three blocks in the Southwest and we need to decide as to how we resolve the issue of sharing. We have the Lagos/Ogun axis, Oyo/ Osun axis and Ondo/Ekiti axis.

    “All the zonal leaders have come together today at the zonal headquarter to do justice to the three positions.

    “Therefore, we have resolved that Ekiti/Ondo axis, which has me as the National Vice Chairman, will continue with that position. The position of the National Treasurer, will go to Oyo/Osun and the office of the National Publicity Secretary will go to Lagos/ Ogun axis.

    “As to the position of National Chairman of our great party, it is open to the three axes.”

    He appealed to the party’s leadership to support the reconciliation process of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ikweremadu, to reposition the party for future elections.

    Other executives at the briefing include Vice National Secretary (Southwest)Chief Pegba Otemolu and the National Deputy Auditor (Southwest) Adekola Rasaq.

    Also, Ogundipe, in a telephone chat with reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, accused Mimiko and Fayose of violating the order of court by convening the Akure meeting.

    He insisted that factional zonal chairman, who convened the Akure meeting, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, was sacked by a June 24 judgment delivered by a Federal High Court, Lagos, hence he lacked the power to do so.

    He said what transpired at the Akure parley amounted to illegality and contempt of a valid order delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    He said: “Democracy is all about rule of law and PDP leaders and members should not be seen to be violating same.”

    According to him, the citizenry are looking up to the PDP as the main opposition party to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

    Also, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and former Deputy Senate Chief Whip, Chief Clement Awoyelu, described what transpired in Akure as a “waste of time”, saying the party has procedures for nominating candidates for positions.

    Awoyelu, who is also the first Ekiti State PDP Chairman, maintained that the party constitution must be followed and delegates empowered to participate should not be denied the right to do so.