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Tag: PDP leaders

  • Wike attends PDP leaders’ meeting in Abuja

    Wike attends PDP leaders’ meeting in Abuja

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday attended the meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Abuja.

    Also at the meeting were two of his G-5 colleagues – Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    The meeting was summoned by the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohamme, to discuss the protracted crisis in the party, the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27 and preparations for 2007 polls.

    At the meeting, held in Bauchi State Lodge in Abuja, the party’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Chinwe Nnorom, sent a notice on the inauguration of new Board of Trustees (BoT) members.

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      Governors at the meeting inluded Peter Mbah (Enugu),  Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).

    Others included Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.

     BoT members at the meeting were former Governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi), Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa),  Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and former Senate President Bukola Saraki (Kwara).

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was absent.

  • Bayelsa: Dickson probes activities of PDP leaders in last elections

    Ahead of the November 2nd governorship election, the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, inaugurated committees to investigate the activities of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and his appointees in the just-concluded general elections in the state.

    It was gathered that the party leaders, commissioners and other aides were apprehensive following the insistence of Dickson that they  must render accounts of their actions in the last elections.

    But the governor while inaugurating the panels christened ‘Stocktaking Committees’ at the Government House, Yenagoa, said they were not designed to enforce discipline in the party adding that issues of sanctions remained the exclusive preserve of the PDP leadership.

    Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy and Central Chairman of the committees, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), said: “These committees are to evaluate the performances and roles played by party leaders and government appointees in the last election in the state and ensure the enforcement of operation deliver your units.

    “The assignment given to the committees is not aimed at enforcing discipline in the party. Issues of discipline are exclusive preserve of the party leadership.

    “All party members, appointees of restoration government are directed to cooperate fully with the committees, the results of various units will be submitted to the party chairman by the Secretary to PDP.”

    The governor charged the committees to be fair to all members and to avoid looking at their assignments as opportunities to settle old scores.

    He gave them seven days to submit their reports and urged them to get all required materials from the party leadership.

    Addressing the committees, he said: “You are working for the interest of the party. So, if you make mistakes in some places we will correct you.

    “Go with open mind and your report will be submitted in the central working committee within seven days or one working week and we expect you to get everything needed for your work through the party.”

    The committees were inaugurated in each local government area with Brass, Kolokuma-Opokuma, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama having six members each.

    While committee in Nembe Local Government Area comprised eight members, those of Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa have seven members each.

    In his response, the Chairman of Brass Committee, Sam Ateke, described the assignment as very important saying it was aimed at repositioning the party ahead of the election.

    He said: “The committee at the central level chaired by the deputy governor himself indeed shows the importance that is attached to the job expected to be done.

    “In that case we that are appointed as chairmen and members thank the governor for finding us worthy to be appointed to serve at these levels.

    “I want to on behalf of my colleagues say that we understand the intentions of the party and we know the importance attached to it.

    “PDP at state level wants to do everything possible to see that we have gone through one election by the grace of God and we have done well. We are going to face another election and we need to reposition the party.”

  • Ondo APC hails PDP leaders for defections

    The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for defecting to the ruling party in the last few weeks.

    The Ondo APC said the action of the defectors showed they were politically savvy and conversant with the signs of the time.

    A statement by its spokesman Alex Kalejaye said the decision of the former PDP members to join the ruling party was informed by two major factors, including the laudable achievements of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in less than two years in office.

    He said: “The performance of the APC-led government in Ondo State has made nonsense of all that was achieved in the years of the holocaust.

    “The governor has proved that so much could be achieved in building infrastructure and agriculture without compromising the welfare of the people where there is a will and good management of scarce funds.

    “The other factor bothers, pitiably, on the steady decline in the fortunes of the PDP in Ondo State.

    “The recent mega rally, in which barely over 1,000 genuine members were in attendance, attests to the fact that the PDP is no longer a threat in Ondo State.

    “It is an indication that the party has lost whatever remains of its influence in Ondo State, where it left tears and sorrow in its trail.”

    The party assured the citizenry that the development strides of the current administration would be sustainable, adding that no part of the state would be left out.

  • PDP leaders using propaganda to undermine Buhari, says Abe

    The lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, has accused leaders of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using propaganda to undermine the success of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    He congratulated members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the party’s victory in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Abe, a governorship aspirant on APC’s platform in Rivers, yesterday in an online statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, spoke at Abam-Ama in Okrika Local Government Area, during a stakeholders’ meeting of Team Abe, a political pressure group in Rivers APC.

    He noted that the governor-elect in Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was well known to the masses, while little or nothing was known about his major rival, the candidate of PDP, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The senator said: “Everyday, Nigerians heard in the media about Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and the then candidate of APC in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, but when Ekiti people got to the polling units, they realised that Fayose was not a candidate.

    “Nobody knew the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State. They only knew Fayose and Fayemi. The lesson from Ekiti State is that those who want to serve the people should be allowed to come out and talk to the people.”

    Abe, who also chairs the Senate Committee on FERMA, declared that the propaganda and deceit against the APC-led Federal Government, which PDP leaders were trying to sell to Nigerians, collapsed with last Saturday’s defeat in Ekiti State.

    He said: “I want to congratulate the APC. The victory in Ekiti State is a victory for all Nigerians. PDP leaders are going round Nigeria with messages of hate and deceit, as well as using social media platforms to demonise our party (APC) to bring down the administration. The Ekiti election was their testing ground and they collapsed and failed abysmally.

    “Whenever PDP leaders came to Rivers State, they would refuse to acknowledge the many positive things President Buhari had done in the state.”

  • PDP leaders mount pressure on Adedoja to withdraw case

    PDP leaders mount pressure on Adedoja to withdraw case

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are mounting pressure on one of its national chairmanship aspirant, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, to withdraw his case against the party and its new chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

    The former university don is praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify the party’s recent convention, which threw up Secondus as the new helmsman, saying that it violated the PDP constitution and his fundamental right.

    Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, contested for the chairman along with Secondus, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Professor Tunde Adeniran during the national convention held at Eagle Square, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The convention chaired by former National Caretaker Committee (NCC) chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was organised by the PDP National Convention Planning Committee, led by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    While aspirants from the Southwest, including Chief Bode George, Mr. Jimi Agbade, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, withdrew from the race, Adedoja and Adeniran insisted on their right to contest. According to the poll result, Adedoja scored zero.

    However, few days after the national congress, the former minister headed for the court to challenge its outcome, claiming that he was wrongfully excluded from the exercise.

    Adedoja alleged that his name was omitted from the ballot paper during the exercise, thereby denying himself and his supporters their constitutional rights to vote for him. He therefore, urged the court to declare the outcome of the convention null and void.

    A party source said Secondus and the Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, were worried by the suit by Adedoja after the party was just recovering from the protracted litigation foisted on the party by the rift between PDP governors and embattled National Chairman Senator Modu Sheriff.

    To prevent fresh legal crisis, efforts were being made by the new National Executive Committee and Dickson Panel to prevent its escalation by reaching out to the plaintiff for amicable settlement of the case, the source added.

    According to the source, the PDP national leadership is trying to reach out to Adedoja on four fronts to reconsider his position in the interest of the party.

    “We are not folding our arms. Adedoja is claiming that he was wrongfully excluded from the chairmanship race at the convention. I cannot say whether he is right or wrong. But, the party does not need any litigation at this time. In the last two years, were have been in and out of court.

    “That is why Secondus is reaching out to all aggrieved, including the former minister. Apart from efforts being made by the PDP NEC, the Reconciliation Committee is also planning to resolve the matter as a family affair. Dickson is planning to get in touch with Prof. Adedoja. Also, Southwest elders and the zonal leader, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, and his executive are not aloof. They are also appealing to him to withdraw the case. I also know that the governors are following the events with ken interest. They will favour the option of dialogue.

    “Also, the leaders of the party from Oyo State are mounting pressure on the former minister to have a rethink. I know Senator Rashidi Ladoja, former governor and party leader in that axis, is also making frantic efforts to pacify the professor so that he can see the withdrawal of the case as a special sacrifice. I must say that there are also dissenting voices who believe that, instead of going to court, Adedoja should have followed the laid down procedures for the ventilation of grievances and resolution of conflicts in the party.”

    Olafeso, the PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said the party will reach out to the aggrieved aspirant and other chieftains, adding that the priority of the party is to ensure unity and cohesion.

    He added: “Our primary focus after the convention is reconciliation. The party is reaching out to the aggrieved. We can peace in the PDP and we will always pursue the agenda of peace.”

     

  • PDP leaders fight dirty over race for chairman

    PDP leaders fight dirty over race for chairman

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remain divided ahead of the party’s December 9 convention.

    The convention, which is billed as the panacea for the multifarious crises rocking the party, seems to be a harbinger of another major disagreement.

    Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a chairmanship aspirant, has petitioned the party over the list of the panelists who will conduct the ward delegates’ election, saying they are Uche Secondus’ men. Secondus is also running.

    Another aspirant, Chief Olabode George, yesterday advised Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi to resign “forthwith” because “he has been severely compromised … he is already tarred and soiled in the muddy waters of partisan prejudice. He can no longer play the role of a neutral arbiter”.

    George’s campaign organisation, in a statement, accused Makarfi of destroying the PDP for personal gain.

    But Makarfi urged George not to blame his frustration on him, adding that it is because he had not done George’s bidding that he launched an attack against him.

    The statement signed by Director-General of the George Campaign, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliu, said: “Apparently spurred by personal ambition of contesting for the Presidential office in 2019, Makarfi is brazenly allying with a particular aspirant in the Southsouth to deliberately distort the process, muddle equity and invariably destroy the democratic process for transient personal gains.”

    “Makarfi’s action, to put it mildly, is sickening, untoward, blatantly tendentious, totally stripped of the typical moral high ground that often defines a well-meaning, God-fearing arbitrating leadership.

    “Everywhere you look, Makarfi is planting the agents of his favorite Southsouth candidate to stage manage warped and skewed congresses in an undisguised mockery of all the normative patterns of our founding fathers whose enduring forte about equity, justice and fairness is now being flung into the gutter. In a way, Makarfi is evidently resolved to repeat the farcical malady that characterised the debacle in Port Harcourt last year.

    “We have equally resolved that we will not be led along this ruinous path again. Never.”

    “Makarfi should now do the most honourable thing by walking away and face his ambition squarely. He cannot use a privileged non-elective position to wangle undue advantage to his own side. It is patently unacceptable.

    “ We need to redeem our party by being faithful to the great ideals of our founding fathers. We really believe that elders of the party across the nation should summon an emergency summit to deliberate on the right way to restrategise our party and rectify the wrongs on the ground.

    “All the elders across the zones must take it as a priority that this party can only be redeemed and restore to its winning ways when we are all sincere, genuine, and anchored on the path of salvaging righteousness”.

    Accusing George and Adeniran of crying wolf where there is none, Makarfi, in an sms to our correspondent’s enquiries, said George and a few other chairmanship aspirants mounted pressure on him to micro zone the chairmanship to the Southwest to favour them but that he resisted.

    “I have refused to do so because I don’t have the power. Only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can do that.

    “I saw a letter today alleging that five out of about 160 congress committee members are aligned to a particular candidate.

    “Assuming that is so, then how about the remaining 155 members? Who are they aligned to? They should just campaign hard to win.”

    Power brokers in the PDP may have resolved to mobilise support for Prince Uche Secondus based on some political calculations.

    A party source who spoke with our correspondent in confidence on Tuesday, said key stakeholders were of the strong opinion that a national chairman from the Southwest would easily be overwhelmed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) machinery in the zone.

    According to them, with the APC controlling five of the six states in the Southwest, it would be difficult for a PDP national chairman from the zone to make any meaningful impact in the zone.

    “More so, we can’t say for sure that we are going to retain Ekiti State, which is the only PDP state in the Southwest come 2018. So with the situation on ground, it will be politically-unwise for PDP to elect a national chairman from the Southwest,” the source said.

    Secondus defends his candidature

    Chairmanship aspirant Uche Secondus has denied that the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Working Committee is working in his interest.

    Secondus dismissed the insinuation that he was drafted into the race by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    He said he only consulted widely by selling his candidacy to governors, former governors, critical party leaders and delegates, thereby having an advantage over others.

    The aspirant said although he vied for national deputy chairman at the botched Port-Harcourt convention, the dynamic nature of politics made him to seek the highest party office.

    He denied the allegation that the Makarfi interim leadership was working for his emergence, saying that it lacked substance.

    Secondus said while other contenders were mounting visible campaigns across the regions, he consulted underground and secured the support of those that matter in the party.

    He lamented that some aspirants decided to mount campaigns of calumny and blackmail against him because he had been ahead of them in consultation and mobilisation.

    Acknowledging the sentiments that the slot should have been micro-zoned to the Southwest, the former acting chairman said the consideration that the party should be led by a competent person who can deliver in 2019 displaced the sentiment.

    He said: “I will deliver my state and my zone in 2019 election and other leaders will deliver their states and zones, and our party will win the election.”

    Secondus said the campaigns against him were borne out of the fact that he had become a candidate to beat at the convention.

    He chided those criticising him for allegedly misappropriating party funds, saying that their allegations were unfounded.

    Secondus directed them to the party secretariat for a thorough investigation and verification from the party’s treasurer and director of Finance.

    He said he had abstained from the love of money, based on the moral instruction of his mentors, including the late Senator Melford Okilo and Pa Dappa Biriye.

    Secondus added: “I can describe myself as a founding chieftain of the party. I have been there from the beginning. I was a state chairman. I was the national organising secretary. I had served as the national deputy chairman and acting national chairman. I know the party and the challenges facing the party.”

    He described himself as the most qualified person to steer the affairs of the party, recalling that he had served as acting national chairman, following the exit of Alhaji Adamu Muazu as chairman.

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  • PDP youths give Sheriff seven-day ultimatum to apologise to Jonathan

    PDP youths give Sheriff seven-day ultimatum to apologise to Jonathan

    A group of youths in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the National Chairman of party Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff must apologise to former President Goodluck Jonathan for walking out on him and other PDP leaders at the party’s stakeholders meeting in Abuja last week Thursday.

    The youths, under the aegis of the Almagamated PDP Youth Leaders Nationwide, said that it was an embarrassment for Sheriff to have walked out on the former President who they described as leader of the party.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the group, Segun Aderemi said that Sheriff disrespected the party by walking out on Jonathan and other party leaders during the  stakeholders meeting.

    Adeyemi added that while the youths would not want anyone to disrespect Sheriff, as a leader in the party he would not be allowed to disrespect other PDP leaders.

    The group gave the party chairman seven days within which to tender apology to Jonathan and other party leaders, for embarrassing them through his conduct last Thursday.

    “We witnessed what happened that day, when he walked out on the former President. Would Sheriff be happy if any member of the party embarrassed him the way he embarrassed Jonathan that day?

    “He has to tender an unreserved apology to the former President, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other leaders of the party.

    “We insist he should tender unreserved apology.  We strongly believe that he is going to do the needful”, Aderemi stated.

    He said the youths don’t against have any issues with Sheriff or the chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, stressing that the goal was to ensure timely resolution of the leadership crisis in the party.

    Aderemi explained that the Almagamated PDP Youth Leaders are made up of youths from Both the Sheriff and Makarfi camps.

     

  • PDP leaders renew assault after Ondo election loss

    PDP leaders renew assault after Ondo election loss

    Makarfi, Sheriff factions quarrel

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have renewed their bitter rivalry —no thanks to the party’s loss of last Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election.

    The Ahmed Makarfi faction yesterday rejected the results of the poll, won by the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling for the cancellation of the election. The Ali Modu Sheriff camp blamed the loss on the rival Makarfi camp.

    In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party described the election as a charade, saying it did not reflect the will of the people.

    But the Sheriff camp insisted that PDP lost the poll as a result of impunity, which manifested in the imposition of a candidate and lack of respect for the party’s constitution and the rule of law.

    The Makarfi camp said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rigged the poll for the APC, which it accused of vote buying.

    Adeyeye said: “It is common knowledge that the APC agents openly bought votes of the electorate in the full glare of security operatives who did nothing to prevent such dastardly violation of the Electoral Law.
    “It is not surprising that the electorates in Ondo State became so vulnerable to the corruptive influence of the APC because of the harsh economic situation in the country, inflicted on Nigerians by the APC administration, which has indeed made all Nigerians virtually beggars in their own country.

    “Nigerians will recall that we had persistently called for the postponement of the election before Saturday, for at least two weeks to enable our party campaign and prepare properly for this election as a result of the setback orchestrated by Justice Okon Abang and the charlatans in PDP who allowed themselves to be used by the APC to destroy our chances in the Ondo State election.

    “The actions of INEC in collaboration with the APC led administration left us no time to campaign and sell our candidate and party manifesto to the electorates in Ondo State.

    “Our persistent call for the postponement of the election, which was backed and supported by more than 20 other political parties were all rejected by INEC which was acting the script of the APC.

    “It was a carefully planned and well orchestrated strategy to rig the election well in advance by preventing the PDP from planning and campaigning for the election. The APC has hereby introduced a new formula of rigging election in Nigeria.

    “In view of the fact that the election was blatantly manipulated from the beginning to the end to favour the APC, we vehemently reject the results of the November 26, 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

    “The election and all actions leading to it fell short of laid down principles guiding conduct of elections in Nigeria. We have instructed our candidate and the Ondo State chapter of our party to proceed to the Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election.

    “We call on the Judiciary to redeem Nigeria’s image on this matter as we request for the total cancellation of the election in Ondo State.

    “Finally, we congratulate our candidate, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and our party in the state for the gallant performance at the poll, despite the severe injuries inflicted on us before, during and after the election.

    “We call on all our members and teeming supporters nationwide and Ondo State in particular to remain calm and continue to work with the leadership of the party to move the PDP forward.”

    But the Sheriff camp insisted that it was the culture of impunity that caught up with the party in the just concluded election, citing similar trend in the 2015 general election, which cost the party victory in Benue, Kogi, Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi and Adamawa states.

    A text of the address signed by the faction’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and read by the faction’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, in Abuja yesterday, the camp blamed it all on the Makarfi faction.

    “An analysis of the 2015 general election shows that the entire ten (10) states mentioned above are in the North. The South South would not have survived if President Goodluck Jonathan did not hail from the region. Of course the figures that emanated from the South East were abysmal.”

    Oladipo said leaving the administration of the party to the whims and caprices of the governors could ruin the chances of the PDP in future elections, adding that the party was denied a say in the choice of the candidate for the Ondo election.

    “In all these difficult times, only three Governors have been the architects of the destruction of the party. Some, like Governors of Taraba, Gombe, Bayelsa, Cross River and a few others have been very cooperative and are willing to let the party grow. They have shown maturity, understanding and sagacity in the affairs of the PDP.

    “In Edo State, we told all who cared to listen that the party hierarchy was defective and that the leadership needed to be changed to allow the 60 stalwarts of the PDP who defected to APC to return to the fold. Of course the Governors refused. There was no surprise to the result.

    “In Ondo State, the script was written in 2013 when Governor Mimiko returned to PDP. All members he met on the ground left the party for him and he took over the PDP. The structure was handed over to the Labour Party.

    “If Olusola Oke had not gone to AD and Mimiko managed leadership sportsmanly, PDP would have won the election convincingly. In the election, APC scored 244,842 votes while PDP scored 150,380 and AD scored 126,889 votes. It is a fact that the AD votes belonged to PDP and the simple arithmetic shows why PDP lost; our votes went to Oke and AD.

    “When Mimiko returned to the PDP his fellow Governors appealed to him to allow for harmonisation but he refused. All the PDP members led by Olusola Oke left the PDP for him. In choosing a candidate to succeed him, he did not allow the PDP members to buy forms. He mainly anointed Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) who was returned unopposed.

    Party members cried to the high heavens that Jegede is from the Central zone where Mimiko hails from. Their cries fell on deaf ears. On the other hand, the authentic primary was conducted where six (6) participants were involved and Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR emerged.

    “Jimoh hails from the South. He campaigned vigorously and convinced the people to vote for him. But alas, Mimiko will not allow him carry the party flag.

    “Mimiko used the instrumentality of state government to overwhelm Jimoh but could not overwhelm the masses and voters. Of course the result is out there for all to see.

    “It is of general knowledge that the Governors invited Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff to chair the PDP.  When he assumed office, he put in place a committee to conduct a national convention to elect people of good character to run the affairs of the party.”

    Quoting a former Vice President and an elder of the PDP, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Oladipo said until the people who champion impunity leave the PDP, the party cannot make progress.

    The faction absolved the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari of any blame for PDP’s defeat.
    “The question is was it President Buhari or the APC who sourced Sen. Sheriff for the PDP? Was it the APC who chaired the Zoning Committee that zoned the chairmanship to Sheriff?

    “The answer is No. We therefore call on all Nigerians to discountenance the idea that Sheriff is working for the APC. Sheriff was offered the senatorial ticket in the last general election after he left the APC. Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff is a complete PDP faithful whose desire it is to reposition the party.”

    Ojougbo also said the accusation that Mr. Sheriff was doing the bidding of Nigeria’s ruling APC is not tenable.

    He said it was PDP governors who invited Mr. Sheriff to be the chairman of the party. He also said when he (Sheriff) assumed office, he put in place a committee to conduct a National Convention to “elect people of good character to run the affairs of the party”.

    Ojougbo said although the faction does not comment on individuals, but “for the sake of the survival of the party we take exceptions to the utterances of Prince Adeyeye”.

    He said Mr. Adeyeye, spokesperson of the Ahmed Makarfi PDP faction, is attacking Mr. Sheriff’s faction believing that he will be awarded the governorship ticket of Ekiti State.

    The Sheriff faction, however, warned that if the PDP is not restructured, even if he ( Adeyeye) is awarded the ticket “which we know Fayose will not do, it will be an exercise in futility and a waste of time like Eyitayo Jegede’s”.

    Mr. Ojougbo said Mr. Sheriff is the agent of change for the PDP and multiparty democracy in Nigeria.
    “Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remains the only and authentic National Chairman of the PDP and the NWC remains the only administrative body authorized by law to run the party.”

    He concluded the briefing by calling on all party members to unite or the PDP will be dead forever.

     

  • Adeyanju hails Mimiko at 62

    Adeyanju hails Mimiko at 62

    • .-RSays, he is ‘Perfect Nigerian mentor’.

    In Nigeria, we have an acute shortage of real heroes and mentors. Most people who occupy leadership positions are people who go into politics do so to make a name or fill their pocket with money. Many of them are not interested in mentoring a new generation of leaders.

    I have had the privilege of meeting leaders of all categories and I can say without mincing words that most people in Nigeria who become leaders have no business with leadership. I have spent hours with some leaders and from whom I waited eagerly for words of inspiration and motivation that never came.  Quite a number of them spent time focusing on mundane issues, caught up in the web of materialism. There is nothing inspiring about them or their leadership lifestyle.

    I was introduced to Governor Olusegun Mimiko the Iroko by my older brother (Femi Fani-Kayode) who had a very soft spot for me and had repeatedly told me that if I was to develop leadership skills, I needed a visionary leader as a mentor. He believed Governor Mimiko was that leader. He spoke to me about how ideologically inclined Governor Mimiko was.

    From that first meeting, I could immediately tell that Governor Mimiko was going to have a strong impact on my life. He spoke about issues – socio-political, economic, historical and personal – with a knowledge and passion that was both iluminating and inspiring. At that first meeting, he told me that his abiding principle in his interaction and discussion with younger people was the desire to ensure that every conversation was a teaching moment, an opportunity to pass on wisdom, an opening to motivate.

    It was at this first meeting that he gave me, perhaps, the best analogy about leadership that I have heard. Iroko, as he is fondly called, believes that a leader is like a medical doctor, sworn and committed to daily apply himself to treating the patients who come to him.

    In the years that have gone by, I have often been a guest at his table. Meal times in the Mimiko household are an occasion not just to break bread in fellowship but to have enlightening trans-generational conversations about a wide range of issues.

    It was at his meal tables that I gleaned my first leadership lesson from him. Governor Mimiko has a core group of people with whom he has shared friendship for well over 20 years and with whom he often shares a meal, particularly breakfast. Their friendship is real and deep in a manner that enables them to talk to him frankly and help keep his feet on the ground. These are people who are not scared to vehemently oppose him on any matter, people who can look him in the eye and tell him how wrong his train of thought or intention on any particular issue is.

    The lesson I took from that is how important it is to have a core group of people with whom I can emulate such friendship. In a country where people often become trapped by power, surrounded by yes men and unable to get a true picture of the real perception of the public on issues, such friendships are a key ingredient to success.

    It was also from him I learnt my second and third leadership lessons. At the time he made his intention to run for office public, he was opposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Anyone who knows Baba knows that he does not oppose in half measure. It was a struggle that involved the use the apparatus of state to temporarily deprive Mimiko of the mandate of the people which was freely given to him.

    The two things that struck me about that struggle are – how Governor Mimiko has never said anything negative or derisory about Baba in public (at least to my knowledge) and how he remained committed to his goals until the Supreme Court delivered its landmark judgment that signified victory.

    From this tussle I learnt how important it is to be respectful – even to people who consider themselves your enemy. I also learnt the importance of patience and perseverance.
    As the years have gone by, I have seen Governor Mimiko apply his principles and ideology to governance. A very generous family man, I have seen him implement a number of policies and programmes designed to improve the welfare and lifestyle of the people he leads. These policies mirror his personal beliefs about life and what the minimum standard of living should be.

    One of such policies is the Abiye programme – a programme designed to provide free and qualitative healthcare for pregnant women and children aged 0-5 years. The cardinal objective of the programme is to eliminate maternal mortality and infant mortality as much as possible.
    This programme, which involved the establishment of Agbebiye/Mother & Child centres spread across the state and the establishment of the Ondo Mother & Child Hospital in Oke-Aro, compelled traditional birth attendants to refer pregnant women to nearby health facilities where they can receive qualitative healthcare before, during and after delivery.
    In its 3 years of operations, the Ondo Mother & Child Hospital has handled over 25,000 under- five children, 17,000 pregnant women, 1,000 gynaecological patients, 10,000 safe deliveries and 2,500 caesarean sessions free of charge.
    This has helped reduce the State’s alarming maternal mortality rate from 745 per 100,000 live births in 2009 to 172 per 100,000 live births in 2015. My research shows me that this figure will be significantly lower when the statistics for 2016 are released.

    This programme has helped Ondo State become the only State in Nigeria to achieve MDG goal 5 of reducing Maternal Mortality by 75%. As a result, the State has won two editions of the Bill Gates Leadership Award.

    Another of such programmes is the State School Bus programme. This simple programme involves the use of government provided buses to ferry children in uniform to and from school absolutely free. Established on June 12, 2012 the School Bus Programme provides transportation of an average of 53,000 students monthly. A report I saw showed that prior to the inception of the programme, most student spent an average of N100 getting to and from school daily. A simple calculation will show that this programme helps parents and guardians save around N113 million monthly.

    Iroko is one of the most humble Nigerian leaders I have ever met. An experience I can never forget is an incidence when I travelled to see him. By the time I got to Akure, I discovered that he had left for an urgent engagement in Owo – a 45 minute drive away.

    He asked me to turn around and gave me directions on the phone. I got to where he was to discover that he had stopped his convoy and waited for us on the road for over 20mins. When we got to where the governor was standing, Churchill Umoren my friend who had travelled with me was so amazed that he kept saying how “How can a governor park his convoy for 20mins and wait for a small boy like you?” My reply was that Iroko personifies humility.

    The Governor did not stop there, he left his bulletproof car and joined me in mine, a 2003 Toyota Corolla which did not have air conditioning, for the duration of the trip and asked Churchill to enter his car so we could talk privately. That incident with Governor Mimiko is a regular occurrence. I believe the he forgets most times that he is the Governor of a state.

    I could go on and on speaking about the polices and ideology of governor Mimiko and how they have affected the lives of the people he leads. When you meet the Iroko, you can never be in doubt as to where he stands: he stand for restructuring and true federalism. His programmes and policies are about the welfare of the people he leads. Every social services provided for the people are FREE, the schools, hospital, school buses, etc.

    I could speak about the Medical Village in Ondo town which houses the Gani Fawehinmi Mother and Child Hospital, Kidney Care Centre, the Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre and the University of Medical Sciences (First of its kind in Africa).
    I could also speak about his Cocoa Revolution Project (CRP) which has seen Ondo State grow to account for over 40% of Nigeria’s total cocoa production and which saw chocolate produced in partnership with the chocolate giant, SPAGnVOLA, with cocoa beans from the Oda Cocoa Estate win the 2015 Silver Award from the London Academy of Chocolate.

    When I wanted to contest for the position of National Publicity Secretary of our great party few months ago, Iroko was the first person I consulted before I took the big move. His words were: “If PDP is serious and ready to change, it will ensure you get it unopposed. This will send a loud sound to Nigerians and especially the young generation that the party has changed. This party will be lucky to have you as Publicity Secretary. You young people will start a revolution with the party. Nigerians will trust the party again if you guys are the face of the party”.

    At another time, I took some young politicians to him and he was speaking and motivating us and these were his words: “There are too many people without conscience in politics. They have no soul and I am so discouraged to the point of giving up on many occasions but it is every time I see you guys that I say to myself I must not give up; there is still hope.”

    But this was not meant to be a political piece on Governor Mimiko. It is an article written in celebration of a father, mentor and friend. It is an article written to share with its readers a little about this man who has helped shape the course of my life in so many ways.

    I write this to celebrate Governor Olusegun Otaibayomi Mimiko at 62. Sir, if you see this – may the Lord bless you, and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you. May there be many more years to celebrate.

    Happy birthday!!!

    Signed:

    Deji Adeyanju

  • Police denies carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’

    Police denies carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’

    The Edo State Police Command has denied allegations that it has been carrying out ‘politically motivated arrest’.

    State Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Felix Imosili, had accused the police of increasing political tension by allegedly reluctant to arrest persons involved in pulling down the party’s campaign banners and posters in parts of the state.

    Chief Imosili said PDP leaders were frequently called police stations to bail persons whose arrest he said were politically motivated.

    Imosili stated that the Police stopping of the PDP campaign at Igueben local government because the governor was coming to the area for APC campaign was capable of creating political tension.

    In his reaction, State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said those arrested by the police included some members of the National Youth Service Corps caught carrying out voter registration at the residence of a politician in Fugar, Estako Central local government.

    Ezike said the politician was arrested and charged to court.

    He disclosed that some persons were caught with INEC’s voter register and they were released after clarification from INEC officials that document could be downloaded from the Internet.

    The police commissioner said the PDP campaign rally at Ekpon in Igueben was cancelled because Speaker Justin Okonoboh first applied to holding political gathering in the area.