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Tag: PDP chieftain

  • Eid-el-Fitr: PDP chieftain Abidikugu felicitates Muslims, seeks prayers for Nigeria

    Eid-el-Fitr: PDP chieftain Abidikugu felicitates Muslims, seeks prayers for Nigeria

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Dr. Kazeem Adesina Abidikugu, has felicitated Muslim Ummah in the on completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

    He congratulated Muslim faithful for witnessing the 1st Day of the month of Shawwal.

    A statement by Abidikugu urged Muslims to use opportunity of the season to make more supplications to Allah SWT over national challenges. 

    Abidikugu, who was a PDP House of Representatives aspirant  for Ibadan South East/ North East Federal Constituency during the process leading to the 2023 general elections, urged residents of Ibadan and the entire Oyo State to celebrate with modesty and in peace with their neighbours.

    He called on them to be security-conscious before, during and after the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

    The UK- based Psychiatric Consultant said: “I  felicitate the Muslim Ummah in Ibadan and Oyo state for witnessing the 1st Day of the Shawwal and the successful completion of the Ramadan Fasting.

    Read Also: PDP chieftain Abidikugu urges Christians to embrace love at Easter

    “I pray that God in His infinite Mercy accept your worship as Ibadah and grants answers to all your prayers.

    “I will like you to use the occasion of this celebration to pray for the progress of Ibadan land, Oyo State and the country in general. Kindly pray for improvement of our country’s economy.

    “I also solicit your prayers for our leader and governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, that God continues to guide him as he labour to make Oyo State to live to its name, the ‘Pace Setters.

    “Let’s also celebrate with modest and peacefully with our neighbours. I wish you a successful celebration “

  • Rivers official, PDP chieftain, others paraded

    •Wike protests

    A senior Rivers State official and a military officer are among the 35 suspects paraded yesterday in Port Harcourt for alleged electoral offences.

    Paraded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham are: Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning Dr. Reason Onya and the representative of Ahoada West Constituency in the House of Assembly, Nwanaka Okpokiri, for allegedly rigging last Saturday’s elections.

    The Camp Commandant of the Government House, Port Harcourt, Oyoku Ifelle, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt and thirty one others, including policemen, suspected thugs and ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among them two women, were also paraded.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham paraded the 35 suspects through 6 Division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, at a crowded news conference at the 6 Division, Port Harcourt on the discoveries and arrests made by troops in conjunction with other security agencies between February 22 and 23.

    All the 35 suspects were handed over to the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the state Police Command, Ahmed Kontagora, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, at 5:50 p.m. yesterday.

    The Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Violet Appolo-Ibizugbe, said no corps member died in the state during last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls, contrary to rumours doing the round.

    Appolo-Ibizugbe said: “Rivers State NYSC management has been inundated with the rumour of the death of a corps member during the last presidential and National Assembly elections in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State on February 23. Management wishes to inform the general public that no corps member was killed before, during and after the February 23 elections.

    “While we commiserate with the family of the late Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree, an INEC ad hoc staff member, who unfortunately died on her way back from electoral duties in Degema LGA, we wish to state that she was not a corps member and that NYSC, Rivers State did not lose any corps member during the February 23 elections.”

    The GOC also disclosed that a lot of manoeuvres by political actors were witnessed in the division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, during last Saturday’s elections.

    He noted that the manoeuvres were normal in a democracy, but stressed that most worrisome and dangerous was the employment of thugs by some desperate politicians to disrupt a legitimate national process for their pecuniary gains.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “Equally of grave concern is the daring attempt by the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to compromise security agencies, particularly troops of 6 Division, with hefty financial inducements to help him in his illegitimate act of thwarting a free and fair electoral process to his favour while accusing the Nigerian Army and its command hierarchy of bias daily.

    “Apparently, Governor Wike must have underestimated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has overtime reiterated and demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to being apolitical, neutral and unbiased. He (COAS) has also left no one in doubt of our total and absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari).

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated allegations will make us bulge. While we do not intend to take issues with any one, however, it has become expedient to bring to the notice of the general public the actual reasons behind Governor Wike’s attrition against the Nigerian Army and its leadership, with the hope that he will finally sheathe his sword and publicly apologise to the Nigerian Army, as we present the shocking discoveries.”

    The GOC said on February 15, “one Barr. Emma Okah” (Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications) issued a statement, alleging that a very senior officer of the division attempted to tamper with INEC’s sensitive materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Port Harcourt.

    He noted that a rejoinder was immediately issued by the headquarters of 6 Division, which not only rebutted Okah’s allegation, but also demanded an apology from him within 72 hours or face legal action. The commissioner had “arrogantly” refused to heed the advice, he added.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “On February 23, 2019 at about 8:45 am, following a tip-off on attempt by Governor Wike’s aides to induce and compromise troops deployed at the CBN, Port Harcourt premises, Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division and four other police personnel: DSP Oyoku Ifelle (Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt), Sgt. Akanu Garba, Inspector Hycent Oboi and Sgt. Nketan Chucks, were arrested by a team from headquarters of 6 Division.

    “Preliminary investigations discovered the sum of N2,250,000 in a Range Rover car belonging to the DSP. Other items recovered are four INEC 2019 electoral tags, customised Rivers State Government House brown envelopes, while the sum of N500,000 was found in the Toyota vehicle belonging to Major Akpoge Peter Ubah, which he confessed was given to him by Rivers Governor’s aides, in addition to offer of a well-furnished accommodation for the period of his tour of duty.

    “On the same day (February 23), at about 7 a.m., a member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Nwanaka Okpokiri, in company with Dr. Reason Onya, visited our troops’ camp at Akinima (headquarters of Ahoada West LGA of Rivers) and requested to be acquainted with the Commander of the troops at the location. Hon. Okpokiri offered the officer some amount of money he removed from his pocket, but the officer not only rejected the offer, but he sent the duo away.

    “While the officer and his men were manning a check point at Mbiama Bridge (Ahoada West LGA of Rivers), a white Hilux vehicle, with a Rivers State Government registration number: L02-03RV RIVERS and eight occupants, was stopped for routine search and clearance. A carton and two bundles of INEC 2019 presidential election ballot papers were discovered in the vehicle. Preliminary investigation reveals that none of the occupants of the vehicle is an INEC staff, INEC’s ad-hoc staff or security agent.

    “During the course of on-the-spot interrogations, Hon. Okpokiri and Dr. Onya appeared at the spot and tried to convince the suspecting troops that the vehicle is part of INEC convoy that was left behind and that the vehicle should be allowed to go, because the electorate was waiting. When the vigilant officer refused to be convinced, Dr. Onya immediately placed a call to Governor Wike and His Excellency (Wike) requested to speak with the officer, who declined and requested the governor to please call the GOC.

    “After much resistance, the officer gave Dr. Onya his mobile number to pass to Governor Wike, which he did via Whatsapp message. Within ten minutes, Governor Wike placed a call to the officer.”

    The GOC also played the recorded telephone conversation between the officer of 6 division and Rivers governor, with Wike promising to send money to the army officer, through the Rivers commissioner (Onya), who recently stepped aside during the building collapse in Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt.

    Wike vows to take GOC 6 Division to Criminal Court

    R ivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration is writting  to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarhem, for alleged crimes against humanity.

    Wike insisted that the GOC should explain why the 6 Division stormed collation centres in Ikwerre, Emuoha and Okrika local government areas with electoral officers.

    He accused him of stealing electoral materials and concocting results.

    According to the governor, Gen. Sarhem, has the blood of Rivers people on his hands and issuing “false” statements will not save him from prosecution.

    A statement by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said he addressed a news conference in response to allegations by the 6 Division that he tried to compromise soldiers. He described the allegation as “false, malicious and diversionary”.

    The statement reads: “We are doing a petition to the International Criminal Court, demanding justice for those killed by the GOC and his lieutenants.

    “We will also send a petition to all the major embassies in the country on the atrocities committed against Rivers people by the GOC and his soldiers. We have already sent a petition to the Chief of Army Staff on the GOC’s criminal actions.”

     

     

  • PDP chieftain: Kashamu working for APC

    A LOCAL chapter chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has accused the party’s governorship candidate in the Gateway State, Senator Buruji Kashamu, of working for the opposition.

    “The senator’s mission is clear – create problem in the PDP and pave the way for the APC to retain power, even when it is clear that the people are yearning earnestly for a new vista and a new government by the PDP,” the chieftain, Mr. Akinlade Segun, said in a statement.

    But, Kashamu had in letter to the PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, insisted that he did no wrong as all his actiones enjoyed judicial backing.

    In a November 4 letter to Secondus, the senator accused the party chair of failing to call the actors in the Ogun PDP dispute for possible reconciliation.

    He said the party chair erred by faulting INEC’s recognition of the Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun PDP in his November 1 memo to the electoral umpire.

    Akinlade said that the senator has succeeded in destabilising the PDP by unilaterally throwing himself up as the party’s standard bearer in next year’s governorship election.

    In a statement titled: “Time to tame Kashamu and his nuisance”, Akinlade alleged that a highly-placed person on the corridors of power was backing the senator to have his ways.

    He wondered how a party member who was suspended twice and expelled for undermining the party could be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the PDP candidate.

    The statement reads: “Twice, he has been suspended; once, he has been expelled from the PDP over several unabated anti-party activities. The PDP said it ‘took disciplinary action against Kashamu and his co-trabellers for hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in ways that were detrimental to the interest of the PDP.’

    “In all the times Kashamu got suspended and expelled from the PDP, he always found his way through the judiciary to get court injunctions to upturn the decision of his party.”

    According to Akinlade, the senator was out to tarnish the image of the judiciary “as he boasts in public of knowing his way around the judiciary to get whatever court injunction he wants for any situation.

    He said something must be down to stop the senator from always using the judiciary against the party, as the trend could stain the judicial system.

    “In all of these, observers have also argued and posited that Kashamu couldn’t be doing all thess onslaught without back up from highly placed people in the government, Akinlade said.

    On the claim that Buruji made be an opposition’s agent working against the PDP interest, Akinlade said:  ”He is doing their bidding and they are in return robbing his back with the necessary support he needs to destabilise the PDP.

    “His latest is his emergence as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State. How did that happen? Where did he hold his primaries? Who conducted the primary? These are questions begging for answers.”

    The senator announced his emergence at the weekend as the governorship candidate of the Adedayo Bayo-led faction of the PDP, adding that the factional party chair was expelled by the PDP alongside Kashamu few months ago.

    His latest action did not eliminate any element of surprise. It only justified allegations that Kashamu has been working for the APC to the detriment of the PDP.

     

     

  • Gunmen kidnap lecturer, PDP chieftain

    •Lecturer’s family beg abductors

    A lecturer in the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma Dr. Ndutimi Dudafa and a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bibi Oweifa have been abducted by gunmen.

    It was gathered Dudafa was whisked away from his home in Gbarantoru in Yenagoa  Local Government Area at about 8pm last Thursday.

    He was reportedly driven way on a speedboat parked at the waterfront by the assailants.

    But Oweifa was said to have been accosted by the gunmen at the state secretariat annex in Yenagoa.

    Oweifa was rumoured to have concluded plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his ambition to contest the state’s House of Assembly seat.

    It was learnt the politician, an indigene of Bumoundi, in Ekpetiama clan, Yenagoa was kidnapped at about 3:30 pm on Friday.

    The gunmen, who were dressed in military fatigue, bundled their victim’s Personal Assistant out of the vehicle and took Oweifa away.

    Oneida is the Vice-Chairman of the state peace and reconciliation committee.

    On July 11, youths, elders and women of Gbarain/Ekpetiama, adopted him as their sole candidate for Yenagoa Constituency 2.

    The family of Dudafa, the abducted lecturer, confirmed the travails of their son and appealed to the kidnappers to release the don unconditionally.

    The elder brother to the victim, Chief Ineye, described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said the family is going through trying times due to the unfortunate incident, stressing the family has been traumatised by the sudden abduction of the Sociology department lecturer.

    “We are appealing for his unconditional release in the name of God, let them consider that God exists and free him.

    “We are passing through a traumatised period because of this unfortunate abduction of my brother. I appeal to the security agencies to do everything humanly possible to have him released”.

    But when contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat said he was yet to be briefed on the incidents.

     

  • PDP chieftain, supporters join APC

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, commenced his campaign in Ekiti East Local Government yesterday, with a call on the people to reject the continuity agenda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The campaign, which started at Isinbode, saw the APC candidate addressing supporters of the party at Omuo-Ekiti, Eda Ile, Ikota, Araromi, Omuo-Oke, Ikun Araromi and Ilasa.

    The APC candidate said during the tour of that also took him to parts of Ikole Local Government, that the development of the state was not a major concern of Governor Ayodele Fayose-led administration, judging from the apparent neglect of many of the communities in terms of infrastructure.

    Fayemi also lamented the non-payment of workers’ salaries, a development, he said, had increased poverty in the state.

    Similarly, the APC flag bearer decried the inability of the Fayose administration to make education free in public schools, as is the case in other Southwest states.

    The APC candidate, who described the PDP government as a fraudulent administration, said Fayose had practically abandoned the people, by using flimsy excuses to hide his incompetence and insensitivity.

    In contrast, he said all the projects carried out by the immediate past APC government under his leadership are still standing in every part of the state.

    Fayemi also promised to create jobs, if elected as governor in the July 14 election, starting with the resuscitation of the now rested state traffic management agency, fire fighters, Peace Corps and the Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) scheme.

    He said Fayose administration’s hostility to the private sector had led to the exit or collapse of many businesses in the state.

    He said his administration would create conducive atmosphere for private businesses to thrive and boost job creation for the teeming youths.

    Fayemi urged Ekiti people to work for the success of the APC in the coming election, so that they can witness a better life.

    The former minister also formally received into the APC fold a prominent PDP chieftain in the state, Chief Tunde Adetiba, and his supporters in Omuo Ekiti. Prominent APC leaders in the campaign train include Fayemi’s running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu; wife of the candidate, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; APC State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe; former commissioners and council chairmen, among other leaders.

  • Insecurity: PDP chieftain urges Kwara govt to be pro-active

    Nurudeen Adeyemi, a senatorial hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara South Senatorial district of Kwara state, has re-emphasized the need to restore economic vibrancy in the zone and guarantee the security of lives and properties. He insisted that the senatorial district has what it takes to grow economically if government plays its constitutional role of providing security for the citizens and their properties.

    “The number one job of any responsible government is the safety and security of its people, as the people are the most precious commodity of any society. Armed bandits have successfully and repeatedly hit many of our cosmopolitan centers in Kwara South causing unnecessary friction in the economic activities of the zone.

    “Banks that are the backbone of many economic activities in the area have shut down completely in Oro and Omu-Aran for many years and the latest attack in Offa threatens their continued existence in our zone.

    He decried the high level of neglect in the zone, “Our people are not secured, face dilapidated schools, hospitals without adequate facilities and supplies, and deplorable roads abound here. It appears the unimaginable have taken over us with our resulting to prayers to solve problems that governments are mandated to tackle and solve”.

    Adeyemi, who made a donation of five hundred thousand naira towards the ongoing ‘Offa Self Help Security Initiative,’ that is aimed at providing infrastructure to support the stationing of about 300 mobile police officers in the town, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, decried the high level of neglect in the zone, saying “our people are not secured, our schools are dilapidated, hospitals are without adequate facilities and supplies and our roads are deplorable.”

  • Five held for allegedly killing PDP chieftain

    Five held for allegedly killing PDP chieftain

    Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Mr. Heaven Ogogbo Ihuigwe.

    The incident occurred on September 16 at Ogbogoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State.

    Ihuigwe was the Ogbogoro Ward 16 chairman.

    His body was dumped on a cassava farm.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration, Cyril Okoro, said yesterday in a statement in Port Harcourt that men of the IGP monitoring unit, led by Benneth Igwe, arrested the suspects.

    Okoro, represented by Police Commissioner Zaki Ahmed, said the death caused panic.

    The statement reads:  ”Following a tip-off, men of the IGP Monitoring Unit arrested Ifeanyi Okoro, 25, living at Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government. He confessed to have been involved in the murder of the PDP chieftain. His confession led to the arrest of three others- Ajade Niyi, Austin Isotec and Chief Joseph Iwuoku aka Uduakonmiri, whose confession led to the arrest of the fifth suspect, Clement Yusuf. The sixth suspect simply identified as Yaye is at large.”

    Okoro, who said the suspects have allegedly confessed to the crime, added that they would soon be arraigned.

    The lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor II, Michael Okechukwu Chinda, has urged the police to ensure that justice is done.

    Chinda, accompanied to the parade by the victim’s widow, Salome, praised the police for arresting the suspects.

    The widow lamented that she has been experiencing hardship since the death of her husband, “as I now take care of our five children.”

    She urged the police to ensure justice.

  • PDP chieftain mourns Kwara monarch

    PDP chieftain mourns Kwara monarch

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, has described the late Olomu of Omun-Aran in Kwara State, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, as an epitome of unity, whose reign heralded growth and development.

    Balogun spoke in a statement on his behalf by his political group, Nurudeen Adeyemi Contact Team (ENACT).

    Adeyemi, who is president of Igbomina Community in North America (ICNA), said the late Olomu lived his life for the unity and development of Igbomina land.

    Read also: PDP National Convention: Dokpesi, Adeniran rejects outcome

    The statement reads: “The reign of Oba Oladele was not only peaceful, but was characterised by development and unity of purpose among all sons and daughters of Omun-Aran.

    “Igbomina nation has lost one of its leading traditional rulers, whose contributions to the development of the race will be sorely missed.

    “The late Olomu stood for everything good and was always bothered about how to move our race forward”.

    The Kwara South senatorial hopeful prayed God to grant Omun-Aran community, Olomu-in-Council, Igbomina community and Kwara at large the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • We’ll defeat APC again – PDP chieftain

    We’ll defeat APC again – PDP chieftain

    The Councilor representing Ayetoro ward two in In Ido/Osi Local Government legislative Council of Ekiti State, Mr. Seun Owoola over the weekend boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will fail in its attempt to recapture the State in the governorship election slated for June 23rd 2018.

    Speaking to News Men on Sunday during a get-together with Muslim faithful in his Ayetoro-Ekiti community to celebrate Sallah, Owoola who is the Chairman of the council’s house committee on health said the people of Ekiti will not allow what bedevilled them during the reign of immediate past Governor of the state and current Minister of Steels and Mineral Resources, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to befall them again.

    He blamed the inability of the state Governor, Ayo Fayose to pay workers salaries regularly on several bank loans and N32bn bond obtained by Fayemi, stating despite the drop in allocation from Abuja to states, about N1billion is deducted monthly from Ekiti State statutory allocation for loan servicing and repayment.

    “APC will not be allowed to smell Oke Bareke government House for now. Ekiti people have not recovered from their ordeal in the hands of Fayemi. The loans Fayemi took when he was Governor are largely responsible for irregular of payment of workers salary today.

    “N913million is deducted monthly from the source out of our monthly allocation from federation account to service and repay the loans obtained by Fayemi from various banks and the N32bn bond he took from the capital market.

    “The testimony from witnesses who had testified at the ongoing Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing how Fayemi spent some of our funds when he superintended over our patrimony is a point of reference.

    “You can imagine a governor giving an oral order to a firm to supply 236 vehicles without passing through the state Tender Board? Today, N400m has been said to have been expended on the construction of new Governor’s office in Ekiti State whereas there’s no governor office anywhere.

    The council chief said majority of the people of the State are solidly behind Fayose to hand over to a worthy successor, stressing that the performance of the APC led central government is another reason why the people of the state will not vote for the party candidate in 2018.

    “Are you telling me we should vote for APC to compensate them for increasing a litre of petrol from N87 to N145 thereby increasing the expenditures of the common people and killing many Small and media scale enterprises? He asked rhetorically

  • PDP chieftain commends Buhari for signing extradition treaty

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governorship aspirant in Cross River State, Chief Patrick Okomiso, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Extradition Treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries which he said would further strengthen the anti-graft war and other bilateral relations.

    Okomiso told The Nation in Calabar that the treaty would help the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to trace stolen funds taken to Dubai and recover them for speedy prosecution of looters of the country’s common wealth.