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Tag: PDP

  • ‘Lagos PDP confused’

    ‘Lagos PDP confused’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has described the comments on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as uninformed.

    The PDP had urged Ambode to declare his assets or “be regarded as a pretender governor”.

    But in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the APC said: “Lagos PDP is lost and needs help to survive the demeaning fate it faced in Lagos and the country.

    “PDP Lagos continues to make us believe it exists in Lagos where it has been dealt serious electoral blows year in year out. Lagos PDP is an unserious group that periodically amuses itself with such hollow vituperations as asking Governor Ambode to declare his assets or be regarded as “pretender governor”-whatever that means.

    “This can only be the fruits of uncoordinated thoughts of serial losers who have no inkling on how to handle its latest round of electoral defeat.

    “Governor Ambode is full of energy, full of ideas, robust, capable and totally committed in dealing with the complex problems of a mega city like Lagos for which he is elected.

    “Distracting him through such baseless and laughable display of crass ignorance and naivety, as Lagos PDP, is an exercise in futility for majority of Lagosians knows that Lagos PDP is gone for good in Lagos.”

     

  • Ogbeni and the Ebudola prospect

    Hardball just heard Iyiola Omisore, beaten Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, tell Governor Rauf Aregbesola to resign! That drew a throaty and instinctive laugh.

    But on a second thought — what if Omi’s suggestion was right; and the governor did resign, what then?  Would that, open sesame, magically clear the backlog of workers’ salaries?

    Then, the laugh returned — now, not instinctive, but a full derisive guffaw that sent Hardball’s frame convulsing. How could anyone be capable of such infantile thinking — and a wannabe governor and two-term senator?  Ha!

    But don’t get Hardball wrong. It is never salutary to owe workers’ salaries — even for one day, given the level of poverty and suffering in the land. Now to talk of seven months!  The workers would just flip — and who wouldn’t?

    That is why Hardball joins the nationwide appeal to all state governments owing workers to do everything possible to find means of paying them.  But even that, beyond the sound of one’s voice, is as vacuous as they come.

    This is because though the states in the eye of the storm are the present object of hate and ridicule (and just as well, for when the pocket hurts, nothing can placate it but cash), the real culprit was the criminal profligacy of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency.

    This was a government that made arguably more money than any previous government, yet left the central till in a shambles. It was also a government that declared no less than one out of every five barrels of crude daily stolen, yet declared itself powerless!

    These were the crises, coupled with the fall in global crude prices, that have put most of Nigeria’s 36 states in financial quandary, with no less than 24 owing salary backlogs. Indeed, Hardball would go to this extent: since the old Federal Government caused the problem, the new Buhari Presidency should view it as a national emergency, and help to clear this monumental national shame.

    Of course, that is not to say that many states were not careless in their fund-husbandry.  Indeed, not a few have been remiss. Such behaviours should be decried.  Still, Hardball would be wary of Omisore’s grand wisdom (more of cheap folly, really) of the governors to “resign”, when that is no solution.

    That takes the matter back to the State of Osun. Ogbeni Aregbesola must be a very lonely man now, being walloped left, right and centre by subversive sympathisers of his workers, milking the Osun civil servants’ misery to make triumphalist political statements.

    Even many, that Hardball calls clinical sympathisers, have harangued the governor, their all-wise accusation ranging from his near-childish zeal for infrastructure; and utter failure to appreciate his cash flow before embarking on gigantic projects. But thank God: not even the most reckless have suggested Aregbesola diverted Osun money to personal use.

    In truth, Ogbeni must have learned some hard lessons from his present odyssey. But even when his spirit is at the lowest, he must remember Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Ebudola (insults-turned-praise) experience.

    When Awo was building the future by his radical policies, which necessitated higher taxation and sundry present discomfiture, his opponents went to town, emotively blackmailing him; and goading the ultimate beneficiaries to rebellion.  Those were the “Omisores” of Awo’s age.  But who remembers them today?

    Ogbeni must find solutions to this cash meltdown — and fast.  But beyond that, he must not surrender his vision — for developmentally, Osun never to be the same again.  If he doesn’t falter — and he must not — the Osun generation next would, in future, adulate and venerate Aregbe, while Omisore would have been buried and long forgotten, in the dust heap of history.

     

  • Alkali: we have been vindicated over APC crisis

    Alkali: we have been vindicated over APC crisis

    Prof. Rufai Alkali, the former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has reiterated his earlier claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not prepared to govern a complex nation like Nigeria.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, he reminded Nigerians of his earlier call on the leadership of the APC, before the handing over of government “to plan more and talk less”.

    But he alleged that he was instead castigated by the APC’s spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    He was reacting to the selection of the leadership of the National Assembly and the responses from stakeholders within and outside the APC.

    He said: “I have observed with keen interest the scenario in the National Assembly that resulted in the election of Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of NASS and what attracted my attention more, though not surprising, were the incoherent and contradictory responses from the leaders of the APC.

    “This is indeed a clear confirmation of my earlier warning to the APC to plan more and talk less. Undoubtedly, things have started falling apart in the APC.”

    On the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP as Deputy Senate President, he said: “Whoever said that the PDP is dead and buried should please show me the cemetery and the grave where the PDP was buried.

    “Nigerians should not forget the fact that some of the members of the PDP who joined the APC went there as a result of some circumstances, but the souls and minds of most of them are still in the PDP.”

  • Southeast APC faults Ekweremadu on zone’s voting for PDP

    Southeast APC faults Ekweremadu on zone’s voting for PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast has berated Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu for his statement that Ndigbo will vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) again.

    The party said the Southeast, if given another chance, would not vote for PDP because according to it, ‘impunity will no longer triumph’.

    A statement by the party’s spokesman in the zone, Osita Okechukwu said: “With President Buhari’s program to revamp Enugu coal, build refineries, fix our roads, improve electricity among other projects, we see the Southeast and Southsouth providing the critical supplement to President Buhari’s vote bank in 2019.

    “Whereas, we do not begrudge our dear brother for his re-election, it beats our imagination that he relied on gossip-terrorists in reaching the conclusion that the Southeast and Southsouth will be marginalised; this is miles away from the truth.

    “We are at a loss as to why Ekweremadu chose to play this spoiler game, by wittingly or unwittingly throwing spanner on our wheel to clinch the coveted office of Deputy Senate President. Pundits may grab his unintended headline that we have been settled.

    “To us, without being immodest, one may amass wealth with the office; but Deputy Senate President in real-politics is more symbolic than substantial.

    “For the records we appeal that the Southeast and Southsouth, especially we of the APC stock should not be denied any position due to us because of our brother’s unintended headline that we have been settled.

    “In sum, we re-affirm our implicit confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will not marginalise or penalise neither the Southeast nor the Southsouth; for Mr. President has repeatedly maintained that he belongs to everybody and that the past is gone”.

  • NASS: Tinubu can resolve APC crisis – Majekodunmi

    NASS: Tinubu can resolve APC crisis – Majekodunmi

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Majekodunmi, on Friday expressed the confidence that the crisis within the party resulting from the emergence of the leadership of the eighth National Assembly would be resolved soon.

    Majekodunmi,  said the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has the political sagacity to handle the matter and urged him to begin the process of reconciling all the parties involved in the crisis.

    The medical doctor – cum politician who spoke with  reporters in Abeokuta at the weekend, said given the immense contribution of Tinubu to the successes recorded by the party, the onus on him to save the ruling party from what could lead to its factionalisation.

    According to him,  the former Lagos State governor has the skills needed to call a meeting of the major stakeholders of the party where the crisis which erupted over the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as Speaker, House of Representatives respectively, can be settled once and for all.

    Majekodunmi, a close associates of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, maintained that going to court by the aggrieved party will bring further damage to the APC.

    He said, ”  It is important for the leadership of the party to learn from and also move a step ahead of what happened when both Hon. Dimeji Bankole and Hon. Aminu Tambuwal were elected Speaker of the House of Representatives even when they were not the preferred candidate of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which did not sanction them.

    “With what Asiwaju Tinubu has done in the past, the time has come for him to deploy his political know-how to tilt the leadership of the party towards genuine reconciliation through a meeting of the necessary stakeholders which will make Nigerians not regretting voting for the party in the last general elections.”

    The Baagbile of Egbaland further enjoined the APC National Leader not to have any candidate for any position among members of the party, stating that his role in the present political dispensation should be that of father to all with no preferred or anointed member.

    He said the APC has to be careful not to give room for the opposition to come to limelight, noting that the PDP will always be happy to capitalise on the foibles of the ruling party to catch the attention of Nigerians.

    “It is in the interest of the leadership and teeming members of the party not to play into the hands of the opposition party whose major prayer will be for the APC to fail and disappoint Nigerians through its actions and in-actions,” he said.

  • Saraki: PDP warns Presidency, APC over NASS Clerk

    Saraki: PDP warns Presidency, APC over NASS Clerk

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any attempt to intimidate or harass the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and the National Assembly Service Commission for performing their statutory functions in Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly.

    The PDP said any attempt by the Presidency and the APC to transfer their frustration to the Clerk would amount to witch hunt and victimization, saying what happened at the legislature was as a result of the ruling party’s ineptitude.

    The opposition was reacting to a statement by presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, indicating that the Clerk to the National Assembly was adequately requested to shift the time for the Assembly’s inauguration, to enable President Muhammadu Buhari address the APC lawmakers but that the Clerk ignored the request.

    No fewer than 51 APC senators were shut out of the process leading to the election of the President of the Senate and the deputy. Only 57 of the 108-member Senate participated in the election where Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu were elected as President and Deputy President respectively.

    But in a statement issued on Thursday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said Shehu’s statement amounted to putting undue pressure on civil servants in the National Assembly for performing their legitimate duties, describing it as a serious signal which should not be ignored.

    The statement added that it was unfortunate that the APC displayed its arrogance and disrespect for the dictates of the constitution by attempting to adjust the President’s promulgation order on the National Assembly and seeking to put their interest over and above the supreme law of the land.

    “It is a clear mark of disrespect to the constitution for the President and his party to fix a meeting for him to address their legislators the same time he had directed the Assembly to be inaugurated in line with the constitution.

    “For 16 years that PDP nurtured democracy in this country, there was never a day it attempted to arm-twist or intimidate the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to do its bidding given our recognition and respect for the independence and sanctity of the legislative arm.

    “The National Assembly is the citadel of democracy and represents the collective voice of all Nigerians. The PDP, even in opposition will continue to protect its sanctity and will therefore resist any attempt by the APC to undermine its independence and those of other democratic institutions in our country,” the statement added.

     

    The party noted that the position of the APC and the Presidency clearly negates President Muhammadu Buhari’s well-received and praised assertion in his inaugural speech that he belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody as Nigeria’s President.

    “By the last minute attempt to shift the inauguration time for party interest, the President violates his Presidential oath to defend the constitution and serve the nation without fear or favour and irrespective of party, religion and tribe, as he did not consider the interests of other political parties and the generality of Nigerians,” the party said.

    The PDP further stated that emerging events have continued to justify its position that the APC was ill-equipped and unprepared for the enormous challenge of ruling the country, adding that such became glaring in the way and manner the APC handled a very vital issue like the inauguration of the National Assembly.

     

  • PDP, Atiku, Ahmed, others greet Saraki, Dogara

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have congratulated the Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    A statement yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described the development in both chambers of the National Assembly as victory for democracy.

    It assured that it would continue to partner with like minds in other political parties and groups to ensure that the nation’s democracy, was sustained in the overall interest of the people.

    “What is paramount to the PDP is the sustenance of our democracy and the wellbeing of our people, irrespective of creed, class or ethnicity. The PDP is therefore willing and ready to partner with like-minded individuals in other political parties and groups to sustain our democracy, ensure good governance and promote the unity and stability of our dear nation. Nigeria as a nation belongs to all of us. Its interest therefore must be put over and above personal, partisan or group interests at all times.

    “In this regard, the PDP notes with gratitude, the immense contributions of the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark for the decency and mature manner with which he ensured the smooth take off of the 8th National Assembly”, the party added.

    The statement also commended the PDP Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus for “successfully galvanising” PDP members in both chambers of the National Assembly, which it said, contributed to the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    The PDP charged its members in the National Assembly to continue to uphold the tenets of democracy and enforce the constitutionally vested parliamentary role of check and balances to ensure the much desired accountability and probity in the polity.

    It urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept the will of the people, respect the independence of the legislature.

    Atiku congratulated the newly elected leaders of the National Assembly, admonishing them to see their elections beyond the narrow interests of their political parties.

    The former Vice President in a statement from his media office, said with the elections of its presiding officers, the 8th National Assembly should swing to work and put the overall national interest beyond the personal political interests of its members.

    He said with the election of its presiding officers, the 8th National Assembly has prepared the ground work for a full legislative business and reminded every member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives of their responsibilities to their constituents, which, he said, is to put national interest before their individual political interest.

    Atiku added that Irrespective of the political mix through which the presiding officers emerged, the 8th National Assembly should never lose focus of its role as a partner in progress with the other arms of government, especially the executive arm.

    “The Nigerian people look up to the new National Assembly to work with the executive arm in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and joblessness in the country. Their election is indeed a call to duty, and it is a call for which they cannot afford to fail the nation,” he said.

    Ahmed and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, hailed the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President.

    Ahmed, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr Muideen Akorede, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Kwara State, I congratulate my leader, distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, the new Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly. His emergence not only reaffirms the supremacy of popular will, it also underlines our collective preference for a credible legislature and our confidence in Senator Bukola Saraki’s capacity and competence to lead it.”

    Ahmad described Saraki’s emergence as liberation of the National Assembly and respect for sanctity of the Constitution.

    Ahmed, in a statement by his media aide, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Sanni, said the senators have demonstrated maturity and zeal to deepen the country’s democracy by ensuring the independence of the first arm of government.

    He expressed confidence that the National Assembly under the leadership of Saraki would serve as the voice of Nigerians, check and balance, and stabilise the nation’s polity, stressing that the Senators had demonstrated that the nation’s constitution supercedes any other sentiment.

  • Saraki dumps APC to run with Ekweremadu

    Saraki dumps APC to run with Ekweremadu

    • Bloc votes
    • plan collapses
    • Ex-Kwara governor shuns Ndume, Goje, others

    Plans to get Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect to vote en bloc for principal officers during today’s inauguration of the Eighth National Assembly collapsed yesterday.

    There was also a split among the PDP governors on who to support between Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Bukola Saraki for Senate president.

    But The Nation learned this morning that at a meeting of PDP Senators-elect in Abuja, 28 agreed to back Saraki/Ike Ekweremadu ticket; 17 agreed to back Lawan/Akume ticket. That was after Saraki decided to work with PDP in a desperate move to win the race.

    Some senators and members-elect rejected the suggestion by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose that PDP senators should vote Saraki.

    Lawan at the weekend emerged the choice candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a mock election by the party’s senators-elect. But the Saraki camp rejected the straw poll and vowed to contest for the position on the floor today.

    The APC is the majority party in the Senate, with 59 senators-elect. The PDP has 49 senators.

    It was learnt that at a meeting held by the PDP caucus on Sunday night in former Senate  President David Mark’s residence in Apo, Abuja, the divided PDP senators-elect and their governors were said to have threatened to draft one of them into the race if the APC failed to agree on a consensus candidate.

    Some of the PDP senators said to be rooting for Saraki allegedly suggested that they should forge a vibrant opposition on Tuesday by voting against the APC consensus choice as a signal of what form of opposition to expect in the Senate in the new dispensation.

    The PDP senators were said to have contended that voting against APC’s preferred candidate would signpost a resolute stand to keep the PDP alive.

    A source at the meeting said a former principal officer in the Seventh Senate was the brain behind the proposal.

    The source said most of the senators disagreed vehemently with the suggestion.

    Those opposed to the suggestion, it was learnt, averred that toeing the line of action would only serve the interest of a few, particularly the governors, rather than that of the PDP as a party.

    The source noted that most of the senators agreed that “we should wait and see what the APC senators will come up with”.

    He said: “The surprise of the night was that some of the governors who former President Goodluck Jonathan laboured to install were those at the vanguard of the Saraki project, a man who practically destroyed PDP.

    “Most senators at the meeting viewed supporting Saraki as robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    “They contended that it will be bad politics to reward a man who took up arms against his party, destroyed it and moved to build another one.”

    The meeting was said to have ended without the Senators taking a final decision on who to back for Senate president.

    A former acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP Chief Bode Ojomu, yesterday warned the party against supporting any of its defectors from either being the Senate President or the Speaker.

    Another source said: “At the end of the day, we could not agree on bloc votes for any of the candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. Governor Fayose pleaded with party leaders to see the battle as one between the PDP and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He begged the party to ‘clip’ Tinubu’s  wings.

    “But some senators-elect warned Fayose against going personal. They queried the morality behind PDP supporting candidates who defected from the party to the APC. They alleged that their defection led to the defeat of PDP at the polls.

    “The governors were also split on who to back for the National Assembly offices.”

    “At the end of the day, we could not reach a consensus on casting our votes en bloc for either of the candidates. I can tell you that everyone is on his own.”

    The difficulty in arriving at a consensus has created an upset in Saraki’s camp.

    It was gathered that those who are pro-Saraki were trying to strengthen the accord between their candidate and the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

    The latest plot will lead to Saraki dumping Senator Ali Ndume as his favourite for Deputy President of the Senate.

    Another source added: “They will continue to sell a dummy to Ndume that he will be Deputy President of the Senate if Saraki gets the ticket.

    “But as soon as Saraki wins, they will nominate Ekweremadu who is expected to deliver the bloc votes of the Senators-elect from the SouthEast in collaboration with Senator Andy Uba.”

    Uba and Ekweremadu could not be reached for comments last night.

    It was gathered that the collapse of consensus by PDP has created a serious setback for Yakubu Dogara who is seeking to contest for Speaker of the House of Representatives with the party’s candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Dogara could only garner support from 55 out of the 209 APC members-elect for the House of Representatives.

    Another source said: “Dogara had banked on permutations that 120 PDP members-elect will vote for him but his hope was dashed last night by the split in the party.

    “In fact, to earn the support of PDP, he was mandated to mobilise at least 70 members-elect from the APC. But Dogara is stranded as he could only secure the backing of 55 members-elect from the APC.

    “As it is now, the moves to frustrate Gbajabiamila’s aspiration have failed. This is why they have resorted to blackmail and wild-chase in the court.

    “Some pro-Dogara members-elect were also last night whipping up religious sentiments to set the core North against the party’s candidate.”

    Ojomu warned the PDP against supporting any of its defectors from either being the Senate President or the Speaker.

    He said those who defected from PDP to APC could not turn back to the party they decimated for succour.

    Ojomu, in a statement, warned the PDP against playing politics of “pay back time” against the APC.

    The statement said: “It is worrisome to observe that many of those who walked out were former PDP members who joined the APC and are acting out exactly the same script of ‘give a dog a bad name to hang it’ adopted as strategy to exit from the PDP for their safe landing in the APC.

    “Today, by their actions and inactions alongside, other several factors left PDP comatose and one wonders if everybody acted like them who will be PDP senators and House of Representatives members to be now courted to defend their interest for victory at all cost against their ruling party’s official position.

    “They decimated the PDP and now want to rely on it as strength to climb to number three and four in our nation. That’s crass opportunism and the PDP leaders in the Red and Green Chambers should not provide themselves as ready tools for self-serving pursuits.

    “Strengthening party supremacy, party discipline, national stability and cohesion in government are the gains of PDP in National Assembly, standing firm that any political party official position or policy shall stand.

    “Nigeria needs men of stable character. After all, those who stand for nothing fall for anything. The men and women that constitute the Nigeria’s Legislature must stand for something and in these circumstances it is principled position on party supremacy, notwithstanding that the former A.C.N botched that principle in the choice of speakership in 2011.“

    Ojomu said the APC had the right to put forward those who should be on its platform in the National Assembly leadership.

    The statement said: “Let it be noted that if the party was ever right to sponsor senatorial/House of Representatives candidate for election, it must also be right to determine who to put forward on its platform.

    “No responsible political party in a democratic process that outlaws individual, independent candidate for elective offices will abdicate its historical and natural responsibility to present a sole candidate for each of the NASS Principal Offices.

    “It will be unconventional for APC to watch helplessly for its members to contest in a free for all manner in the Red and Green Chambers.

    “The gladiators need to drop sophistry in their argument and be educated that there is nothing undemocratic in the ruling party adopted open balloting process as opposed to secret balloting that was preferred by contending parties. Option A4 adopted in the Third Republic with SDP and NRC was adjudged one of the best democratic processes this country has ever witnessed. You queue behind your preferred candidate or party.”

  • Crisis hits Edo PDP

    Crisis hits Edo PDP

    Internal crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party Monday reared its head at the inauguration of the sixth Edo Assembly.

    There has been pressure on the state leadership of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, to step down after the party failed to secure majority seats at the State Assembly elections.

    The crisis became public knowledge as the party leadership sent three letters to the new Speaker of the State Assembly, Victor Edoror, nominating three different persons for the position of a minority leader.

    Edoror representing Esan Central was nominated for the position of a Speaker by Hon Folly Ogedengbe representing Owan East constituency.

    The nomination of Edoror was supported by Henry Okhuorobo representing Ikpoba-Okha constituency while Hon Crosby Eribo representing Egor constituency nominated Bright Osayande for the position of the Deputy Speaker.

    After the swearing-in of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, a letter from the State Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Osaro Idah, nominating other principal officers of the House was read.

    Those nominated by the APC were Folly Ogedengbe for Majority Leader, Elisabeth Ativie (Uhunmwode) for Deputy Majority Leader, Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West) for Chief Whip and Kabiru Adjoto (Akoko-Edo 1) for Deputy Chief Whip.

    Speaker Edoror however expressed regret on the inability of the PDP to nominate a single person for the position of Minority Leader.

    The first letter signed by Nicholas Osemwende who claimed to be the party secretary urged the Speaker to reject the nomination of ‘the fake outgoing leadership of the PDP.’

    He said ‘no meeting was held to discuss whom to nominate’ but said Monday Ehighalua representing Esan West should be made Minority Leader.

    Another letter signed by Chief Orbih nominated Igbas M.D representing Esan North East II for Minority Leader.

    A third letter signed by one Jacob Iriogbe nominated Patrick Iluobe representing Esan North East I for Minority Leader.

    The letter reads, “We urged you not to accept the nomination of the state party leadership. They are yet to account for the fund spent during the election.”

    Speaker Edoror set aside the three nominations and said the party would be given time to send the name of one nominee.

    Edoror promised to work in harmony with the Executive and captain the assembly to safety.

    He said the assembly under his leadership would uphold the integrity of the party for the good of the state.

    Security operatives at the Assembly however harassed and detained journalists who were at the Assembly to cover the inauguration.

    Trouble started when journalist were peeved that the security operatives allowed politicians and their boys into the chamber but refused to open the door for journalists.

    After several protest by journalists, some policemen dragged Aliu Ozioruva of the Guardian into their detention room and accused him of breaking government property.

    One police sergeant pushed out the Punch reporter, Alex Okere, for insisting that his colleague be released.

    The pants of the Nation reporter, Osagie Otabor, was torn as policemen dragged him out.

    Aliu was later released after one hour before policemen allowed journalist in.

  • PDP hails Mark, Ekweremadu, others for successful stewardship

    PDP hails Mark, Ekweremadu, others for successful stewardship

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed Senator David Mark and Senator Ike Ekweremadu for the mature leadership they provided for the last National Assembly.

    The party also commended the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha for their efforts in steadying the ship of the last House despite unpredicted daunting challenges.

    A statement yesterday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the leadership of the party noted the efforts of the last National Assembly under Mark in ensuring unity among lawmakers and leading the federal legislature to provide the much needed direction for national development.

    The party also showered encomiums on Ihedioha and other PDP leaders in the last House of Representatives for their steadfastness to the party and the nation at large.

    “The leadership of the PDP and members of our great party nationwide appreciate the commitment of our leaders and members in the Seventh National Assembly for their selfless contributions to the development of our nation.

    “Indeed, we are pleased to underscore that in line with the undying values, tradition and manifesto of the PDP, our leaders and members in the last Senate and House of Representatives respectively, amply demonstrated that the true essence of statesmanship lies in employing its uncommon values to the benefit of the people rather than self and for this, we are very proud of them.

    “This reflects in their commitment in oversight functions as well as many landmark people-oriented legislations, especially the amendments to the 1999 constitution to further reflect the wishes and aspirations of the citizens while strengthening the unity and stability of the nation,” the party added.

    The PDP also listed the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, which further guaranteed personal freedom and greater transparency in governance; amendments to the Electoral Act for credible, free and fair elections which the nation enjoys today at all levels, among scores of other important legislations passed under the PDP-led National Assembly.

    It expressed satisfaction with the performance of the leadership in the last National Assembly, saying it laid “very solid foundation” upon which the nation’s legislature can always leverage for greater productivity in the interest of all.