The Nation Newspaper

Tag: new exco

  • Protests mar Kwara PDP congress

    Protests mar Kwara PDP congress

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state congress in Kwara state was characterized with protests by aggrieved party members.

    While a group wanted the incumbent executive of the party led by Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo to return unopposed, another group preferred voting to elect new leadership for the party.

    The situation led to unnecessary delay in accreditation of delegates.

    The irreconcilable differences led to non accreditation of delegates of delegates from Kwara central zone in the exercise that lasted till wee hours of Wednesday.

    Disenchanted members of the party led by Senator Ayinla Folorunsho, vowed to resist affirmation being introduced by the incumbent state executive committee of the party.

    They accused the state chairman of the party, Iyiola Oyedepo, of a plan to scuttle the process of injecting new blood into the executive of the party with his insistence affirmation instead of congress as directed by the national body of the party.

    Addressing reporters Wednesday in Ilorin, Folorunsho warned that angry members of the party would not allow the congress to hold provided the incumbent executive insisted on affirmation.

    He threatened that in the event that the state executive failed to conduct the congress, members of the party would be left with no option than to convey its grievances to the national headquarters of the party.

    He said that “there is supposed to be PDP congress, and that is what is going on. But there is a mixture of things. The present executive wants to do affirmation. We members of the PDP want a congress. It is the congress that the national leadership of the party asked us to do, and all along, the state chairman has been saying that there would be no congress, that they are going to do affirmation. We members of the party are not going to allow affirmation but congress.
    “It was the national body that announced that all states except Kogi, Edo and Ondo, all the rest including FCT must go for congresses.”

    Also speaking, another member of the party, Dr Abdulganiyu Abdulbaki, said the current executive of the party wanted to perpetuate its impunity while members would not allow such to recur.

    He called for the dissolution of the current executive of the party to pave the way for the emergence of new people with fresh ideas.

    Abdulbaki also warned that things would not go down well with members of the party if the duly recognised list was not used at the congress.

    Meanwhile, the state police command said it has arrested nine persons for alleged public disturbance during the congress.

     

  • Cross River CAN inaugurates new exco

    Cross River CAN inaugurates new exco

    The Cross River State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has inaugurated it’s new state executive members in Calabar.

    The event which was held at the Apostolic Church, Edgerley Road, and themed “Unity in Diversity” was attended by church leaders and members from various denominations.

    The new chairman of the Association, Archbishop Joseph Ukpo (Emeritus), said for CAN to survive as a united Christian organisation, ecumenical dialogue must be taken seriously.

    He said no religion can exist in isolation anymore and any religion that is not open to others becomes irrreligious as exemplified in fundamentalism and religious fanaticism.

    He said the Church promotes the spirit of dialogue in the world in order to resolve conflict, advance common good and strengthen human solidarity.

    Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ivara Esu, charged the new executive council  to build on the achievement of predecessors to ensure good working relationship among Christians and other people in the state irrespective of their background.

    He urged religious leaders to constantly pray for the government to deliver on its promises  to improve the lives of the people of the state.

    The deputy governor said the government was open to Godly counsel to enable them take the state to the heights desired.

    Commissioner for Information Mrs Rosemary Archibong was grateful to God for keeping CAN together, through a peaceful election.

    While describing the church as an epitome of unity in diversity, she urged that they continue to work together as a viable army for God.

    “As diverse as we are in the body of Christ, we need to be ready to be used by God to bring down most difficult situations,” she said.

    South South chairman of CAN, Archbishop God-dowell Avwomakpa, urged that despite all challenges, Christians should still keep faith in God.

    Prof Mrs Ebele Eko presented a keynote address on the theme of the event.

    The new executive council has Archbishop Joseph Ukpo as chairman, Rev O. B. Ekpenyong as Vice Chairman, Elder James Ekabua as Secretary, Ms Olive Effanga as Financial Secretary and Apostle Frank Umo as Treasurer.

  • Oyo TAMPAN to inaugurate new Exco

    Oyo TAMPAN to inaugurate new Exco

    The Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Oyo State chapter, will inaugurate its new executive body on June 10.

    According to the programme announcement the event, which will hold at the Glory View Hotel, Bodija, Ibadan, will be attended by top dignitaries like Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade, who interestingly is a patron of the association.

    Other dignitaries expected to grace the event include Mrs Florence Omole; Alhaji Yekeen Omisore; Oloye Lekan Alabi and Chief T.A. Omotosho among others.

    Speaking with The Nation, the Public Relations Secretary (PRS) of the association, Sola Popoola, said the inauguration of the new executive body is expected to kick-start the activities of the association, which she said is targeted at drawing global attention to the positive sides of actors and actresses in Nigeria.

    “With the inauguration of the executive body, we intend to seize the opportunity to place measures that will highlight the good sides of actors and actresses, especially in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood. The association is ready to move forward the movie industry in Nigeria by making sure that our members do the right thing at all times, while their interests are taken care of in all areas.”

    The new executive members include Rose Odika, Governor; Adewale Taofik, Deputy Governor; M. A. Ogunkola, Secretary; Yussuf Dauda, Assistant Secretary; Jelili Arigbabuwo, Treasurer and Sola Popoola, Public Relations Secretary among other executive members.

    Guests at the event, which she described as a funfair, would be entertained by fuji music act, Taye Currency.

    While maintaining that the association would work towards bringing the glorious days of the make-belief industry, the PRS urged all stakeholders join hands and ensure the actors and actresses get commensurate reward for their efforts.

  • Why new exco was inaugurated, by Tukur

    Why new exco was inaugurated, by Tukur

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur yesterday defended the prompt inauguration of factional executive committee for the party in Rivers State.

    He said the decision was in line with the party’s decision to obey all court verdicts.

    Speaking in Abuja at an interactive session with reporters, Tukur also defended the gubernatorial ambition of his son, Awwal Tukur, in Adamawa State, noting that the creation of a level playing field for all aspirants irrespective of social status should be paramount to the party’s leadership.

    Denying the suggestion that the party appeared to have taken sides with the promptness with which it inaugurated the factional executive on Tuesday, Tukur said: “The PDP does not remove anybody. We don’t remove a winning team. It is a court matter and I have nothing to do with it. If people feel cheated, they go to court and if the court decides, I have nothing to do with it. What they decide, we take over from there.”

    Explaining his son’s ambition, which has pitted him against Governor Murtala Nyako and other stakeholders in his Adamawa home state, the party chair said: “My son was in politics before I became the chairman. He was in the House of Representatives before I became the chairman. I leave my son to be what he wants to be. I cheer him up, if he is looking for leadership; why not?

    “My job as chairman of the party is not to promote any individual or stop any individual from expressing his desires. I have already told my party members and my God that I want to lead this party based on equity, justice and fair play. And I said, no imposition.

    “Let the members of the party decide whom they want as their leader in every level; that is where I stand. Whoever they want should be their leader. I am not interested if he is my son or she is my daughter. And so what if you are my son, or my daughter?

    “Those who are governors, are they not sons of some individuals? If they are not my daughters, are they from the tree? They are sons and daughters of some people. If he says he wants to be governor, I will clap for him.”

    He also spoke on the Boko Haram menace, describing the sect’s activities as evil that should be condemned by any well-meaning Nigerians.

    “Boko Haram is a bad omen and they are bad. They are not Boko Haram, they are evil. That is what I can say.

    “How can you justify the bombing of mosques and churches; bombing of a market places; bombing of motor parks; bombing of people along the streets; bombing of police stations; and bombing of barracks; bombing of banks and all that. What I can say is, ‘let good confront the evil’.”