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Litigations responsible for PDP’s ineffective opposition role – Dokpesi

A Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) national chairmanship aspirant, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has blamed the party’s inability to effectively perform as opposition on protracted litigation over its leadership since 2015.

He stated this on Monday night when he led some members of his campaign organisation on a consultation to former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina.

We have heard severally from leaders and former heads of state that the PDP had not played proper role as opposition party.

We had no chance and no opportunity, because we had been in court all through.

It was not due to lack of competence or courage, but due to the fact that we had been in court processes,” Dokpesi said.

He said that there was now a vacuum in the party and a need to put in place a duly elected National Working Committee in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution.

He said that the committee must be headed by a man of courage, vision and integrity who had “paid his dues and demonstrated passion and commitment to the party´s advancement”.

According to Dokpesi, getting the right person for the position of the party´s next chairman is not about pampering, but about being firm and resolute.

He pointed out that it was only people with track records and zeal to fight for the party that should be chosen for such position.

He described as miscarriage of information claims that the party´s chairmanship position had been zoned to the South-West.

The truth of the matter is that there was no meeting where the PDP as a party, decided that its chairmanship position should be zoned to the South-West.

The Constitution of the PDP unequivocally states that zoning shall take place, but it shall take place in the North, South and East.

It is cheap propaganda and mischief to state that there had been a zoning to the South-West, the aspirant said.

He, however, added that preferences could be made because it was a family affair that should be devoid of any form of bitterness.

Dokpesi, who is founder of Daar Communications, noted that the party was presently fighting against impunity, saying that some of its members took laws into their hands and had despised its Constitution by manipulating it.

He said that it was unfortunate that such persons were being applauded and made heroes of the party, while others took advantage of the situation.

He advocated direct primaries for the party in future, saying it would allow its financial members to vote and elect their candidates for elections and leaders.

Dokpesi prayed that whoever emerged as next national chairman of the party would be committed to it and ready to take it through its challenges and return it to power in 2019.

It is not just electing a chairman for the sake of electing him, but electing someone who is able to take us through the fire-lines and make sure that we regain power in 2019, he said.

He pleaded with the former minister to rise to the occasion as one of the mothers of his campaign team to assume her role in the interest of the party and the country.

In her remarks, the former minister said that Dokpesi was the right person to lead the PDP for many reasons, adding that she had known him since 1981 as a man of high integrity.

If the PDP chairmanship position is something I can give on my own, I will give it to Dokpesi in front of everybody,” she said.

Maina described Dokpesi as a man of selfless service who had committed his time and resources to the advancement of the PDP, adding that he was a bridge-builder who had friends across the country.

She promised to galvanise support for the aspirant and ensure that he became the next national chairman of PDP “in the interest of the party and the country.

She prayed God to grant him victory in the race because, according to her, he has done a lot for the party to deserve being its national chairman.

I believe in your capabilities, because I know who you are and I believe that if you become our national chairman, we will all go to rest,” the former minister stressed.

The PDP has scheduled its National Convention where new leaders will be elected to end the tenure of its National Caretaker Committee, which had been extended two times.

NAN

October 24, 2017
Edo Assembly directs EIRS boss to furnish house with financial details

The Edo House of Assembly on Monday directed the Chairman, Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr Igbinidu Ineh, to provide it with financial details of the service, within two weeks.

The Speaker, Adjoto Kabiru, gave the directive when Ineh presented the 2017 budget performance of the service to the House.

Kabiru said the brief presented by the chairman was not detailed enough.

“The Internal Revenue Service is purely a financial based agency, so you have to go back and prepare a more suitable brief and present to the House within two weeks,’’ he said.

The House also received brief from the Commissioner for Justice, Yinka Omorogbe, who informed it that plans were underway to constitute a citizen rights centre in the state.

Omorogbe said that the centre, if constituted, would serve as an alternative dispute resolution.

Meanwhile, Kabiru has constituted two ad-hoc committees.

The first committee, led by Chris Okaeben, (APC Oredo West) was mandated to visit industries ahead of the presentation and passage of 2018 budget.

The second committee, led by Mr Roland Osoro, (APC Orihionmwon South) was mandated to carry out assessment of all ongoing projects in the state.

The House committee Chairman on Health, Justin Okonoboh, (APC Igueben), was also directed to meet with all the heads of primary health care centres in the local government areas to review their state of existence.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Court charges man with attempted murder

A 32-year-old man, who allegedly attempted to kill a woman with broken bottle, was on Monday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, David Abel, is facing a three-count charge bordering on attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Babatope Julius, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 8, at noon at No. 3, Ago-Owu St., Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.

Julius said the accused tortured a woman, Mrs Funke Giwa, with broken bottles over a false allegation that she killed one Rasaq Bello.

“Abel had tortured Giwa because she was accused of killing one Rasaq Bello which eventually proved to be false. His act also caused fear in the neighbourhood, leading to the alert of the police,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 44(4), 230(b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Olajuwon, granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Further hearing in the case has been fixed for Nov. 13.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Kwara Election: Cleric warns youths against violence, hooliganism

Pastor Segun Olawale of Divine Favour Chapel, Ilorin, has warned youths against violence and hooliganism in the Nov. 18 Local government election in Kwara state.

Olawale, who gave the warning in Ilorin on Monday while speaking said that youths must say no to violence as election draws near.

He said youths must not allow themselves to be use as thugs to scatter polling units during election.

The cleric also advised them to shun violence and be disciplined

“Youths must be seen as symbol of peace. They should go out to use their thumb to elect their favourite representatives instead of being lure into violence by politicians.

“Youths must not turn themselves to violence tool. Politicians don’t worth sacrificing life for. Pursue your dream and shun violence, “he said.

The cleric, however, advised politicians to accept whatever may be the outcome of the election.

“Politics should not be a do or die affair as thought by many politicians. We must learn to accept defeat and work together for the growth of the society, “the pastor said.

According to the state electoral timetable, the election would hold on November 18.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Pellegrino says Southampton must keep fighting for points

Southampton must continue to fight for every single point in the English Premier League, manager Mauricio Pellegrino said on Monday, following Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Moroccan midfielder Sofiane Boufal ran almost the length of the pitch to score a stunning 85th-minute goal at St Mary’s Stadium to score.

It helped the Saints post their third win of the season.

Goals have been in short supply for Southampton — Boufal’s wonder-strike was their eighth of the season — but Pellegrino said he was happy with the team’s style of play.

“In football in the Premier League you have to fight for every single point,” the Argentine manager said.

“We play a very difficult team and to beat them you have to do a lot of things. I am happy with how we play and we have to continue,” he added.

“To sustain and to win games you have to play well. You have to play better than the opponent… This is our job and I will repeat that the attitude of the players is right. It’s good.”

Southampton, who are 10th in the league with 12 points from nine games, travel to 12th-placed Brighton and Hove Albion in the league on Sunday.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Motorists to FG: Reconstruct Ose Bridge in Edo state

Motorists on Monday appealed to the Federal Government ( FG ) to urgently reconstruct the old and narrow Ose Bridge at Owan West Local Government in Edo to prevent vehicles from plunging into the Ose River.

Several vehicles from the western part of the country going to Abuja had plunged into the river killing many of the occupants.

The bridge is situated between Ifon, a village in Ondo State and Uzebba, a town in Owan West Local Government in Edo.

The road, constructed in the 1970s, is the only link for motorists from Afemai, Owan West and East Local Government Areas to the western part of the country.

Besides, it is the only short route for motorists from Esan in Edo and the eastern part of the country to the western states.

According to one of the motorists, Mr Edeki Aigbogun, who resides in Uzebba, the bridge is a death trap whenever it rains.

“It is situated at a slope and whenever it rains, the bridge is always flooded, prompting drivers to wade through the flood at their own risk because it has no railings.

“The situation makes it more difficult for the drivers to see the edges of the bridge whenever it is flooded.

“Many vehicles had plunged into the river because the bridge has little or no demarcation from the river,’’ Aigbogun said.

Another motorist, Mr Dada Okun, said the narrow bridge, which could not accommodate two vehicles at a time, was built by a construction firm, Niger Cat in the 1970s.

Okun said the bridge required an upgrade due to the surge in the number of motorists that use the bridge to prevent loss of lives.

He said that aside the Ose Bridge, there were two other bridges at Igwue Obi, whose base and sizes had been depleted by erosion.

He said that residents of Uzebba had on many occasions provided palliatives by sand-filling the edges of the bridges but their efforts were always washed away by rainfall.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Klopp must take blame for Liverpool ’s poor defence – Schmeichel

Juergen Klopp should accept whatever blame comes from Liverpool FC’s current defensive frailties and stop shifting blames, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has said.

The Dane said Klopp unfairly shifted the blame for Liverpool’s defensive frailties onto Dejan Lovren by hauling him off in their 4-1 Premier League loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Harry Kane scored a brace while Son Heung-min and Dele Alli also got on the scoresheet to hand Liverpool their second league loss after September’s 4-0 hammering by Manchester City.

Defender Lovren was responsible for Tottenham’s second goal when he failed to cut out Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris’s long throw-in which allowed Kane to find Son.

Read Also: Liverpool Vs Man United: EPL resumes with rivalry fixture

Liverpool manager Klopp responded by replacing Lovren with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on 31 minutes.

“What he’s done now is put all of the responsibility on to Lovren. He will now be in the headlines for this, and that’s really unfair. It should be the manager,” Schmeichel said.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Dickson calls for bi-partisan approach to restructuring Nigeria

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has urged the Federal Government to set up a bi-partisan body to develop framework for the restructuring of the country.

Dickson in statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Francis Agbo on Monday in Yenagoa, said restructuring debate should cut across party lines as the issues at stake were relevant and fundamental.

He said the bi-partisan body should consist of federal officials, political parties, governors, state and national assemblies, organised labour, socio-cultural organizations and other critical stakeholders.

The governor also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently take steps to unite country as the nation go through a difficult phase in its history.

Dickson believes that proponents of restructuring “are true patriots”, adding that the National Assembly alone would not be able to amend the Constitution sufficiently to address concerns and fears of Nigerians.

“The present attitude of the Federal Government and the President on the issue of restructuring is something I disagree with.

“I believe that this country has to have a meeting and discuss how we can make Nigeria more stable, prosperous and a Nigeria that can last and stand the test of time.

“Those of us talking about restructuring are the true lovers of this country. There are those who feel they have advantages they want to protect and preserve, so they want the status quo maintained.

“In that case, you are either talking about individual, regional or ethnic interests, so such people are not talking of the Nigerian interest.

“Those of us calling for restructuring are protecting and preserving Nigeria’s corporate interest. The buck stops at the table of Mr. President. He has got to rise up to the occasion and unify this country more.

“The country is too divided and left to drift for too long with this division. The division is getting deeper and deeper by the day and that is not good for the country we love.

“Nobody should tell anybody in Bayelsa or any Ijaw or Niger Delta man that they love Nigeria more than us.

“They don’t even understand the sacrifices we are making to keep Nigeria going. So, when we talk about restructuring, we are talking as Nigerian patriots.” Dickson stated.

NAN

October 23, 2017
NDLEA arrests 86 people for alleged drug trafficking in Edo

The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) has arrested 86 people, suspected to be trafficking illicit drugs.

The Commander of the agency in Edo, Mr Buba Wakawa, said in Benin on Monday that the suspects were arrested between July and September this year.

According to him, the suspects are made up of 61 males, including a Malian and 25 females.

Wakawa said that 2, 930 kg of hard drugs were seized within the period and that 46.8 hectares of suspected cannabis farms were also destroyed.

The commander said the cannabis farms were estimated to be producing 217,414 kg of cannabis.

According to him, a breakdown of the seized drugs are: cannabis (2,929.6 kg), Tramadol (159 grammes), Swino (four grammes), Vegha (26 grammes), Codeine (29 grammes) and Heroin (20 grammes).

He said that the agency had successfully prosecuted one Obiora Nkemokonam, who was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for possessing 20 kg of cannabis.

Wakawa said that two vehicles and two motorcycles had been impounded from suspects in connection with the seizures.

He said that 37 drug-dependent people had also been counselled and reunited with their families, while three other peole who were currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Wakawa lamented that the drug menace was not showing signs of abatement, calling on stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

“Drug seizures in the state are on the increase, while cannabis farms are overwhelming.

“Cases of drug abuse are also posing greater challenge daily as more victims are getting trapped in the web of drug abuse.

“This calls for greater commitment on our part to resist the activities of drug cartels.’’

He appealed for increased funding and logistics support to the command to enable it to surmount its problems.

NAN

October 23, 2017
Police arrest man for allegedly killing commercial sex worker

The police in Enugu State have arrested a man who allegedly stabbed a commercial sex worker to death on Sunday, following a disagreement he had with the woman.

The Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ) SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement he issued on Monday, said that the incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. at Onuato Street, Enugu.

Amaraizu said that the victim accompanied the suspect to his apartment where they had a disagreement which resulted in a scuffle that led to her death.

He said that the suspect, who picked up the sex worker at Rangers Avenue on Oct. 22, had agreed with her that he would pay her N4,000 after passing the night with him.

The PPRO quoted the suspect as disclosing that he had drunk to his fill and that on arrival, because it was already getting late, he demanded that they had sex immediately.

“His request did not influence anything as the deceased allegedly requested to finish what she was inhaling in order to be in the mood for the business of the day.

“The accused maintained that after several hours of pressuring her and without any answer, he slept off and woke up before 3 a.m.,” Amarizu stated.

The police spokesman said that the accused immediately ordered the sex wrker to leave the apartment since the aim of bringing her appeared to have been defeated.

“The accused said that the deceased resisted the order and allegedly warned him to beware as she would not succumb to any person’s threat whatsoever.

“She later headed for a kitchen knife that was seen in the kitchen spot of the suspect’s room after allegedly biting him.

“The accused further revealed that a fight suddenly broke out between them and as the deceased tried to stab him to death with the kitchen knife, he overpowered her,” he said.

Amarizu quoted the suspect as saying that the kitchen knife went straight to the stomach of the deceased and he finally stabbed her on the neck region and she died.

The police spokesman said that the accused later wrapped her body and hurriedly arranged to travel to Lagos.

According to him, the suspect was nabbed, following a tip off from members of a local vigilante.

He said that the body was recovered from the apartment and deposited at the mortuary of the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu, as investigations into the incident had commenced.

NAN

October 23, 2017