The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • Southwest as progressives’ stronghold

    Southwest as progressives’ stronghold

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a battle of supremacy in the Southwest. The proposed governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states, which is the first plase of the battle, will reveal their strengths and weaknesses, ahead of the 2015 general elections Group Political Editor  EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are warming up for battle in the Southwest geo-political zone. On June 21, eyes will be on Ekiti State, where voters will troop out from 130 towns and villages to make a choice. The candidates are Governor Kayode Fayemi (APC), Mr. Ayodele Fayose (PDP) and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele (Labour Party). Also, on August 9, voters from 30 local governments will make a choice between Governor Rauf Aregbesola (APC) and Senator Iyiola Omisore (PDP). In the two states, gladiators are on the field canvassing for votes.

    Fayemi is seeking re-election on merit. Even, key opposition figures have attested to his performance in the last three and half years. Apart from restoring peace and fostering development, he has presided over a transparent government. But, in Nigeria, performance is not the only criterion for winning an election. The war scholar and pro-democracy activist is seeking the renewal of his mandate at a time the PDP is scheming to bounce back in the Fountain of Knowledge. While Fayemi is campaigning based on his achievements, the opposition, which is pushing for power shift, is relying on the federal arsenal, police control, financial muscle and capacity for manipulation.

    Fayemi’s challenges are former Governor Ayo Fayose, who was removed from office in 2006, and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives, who defected to the Labour Party (LP) last year. His running mate is Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, a Professor of Education and princess of Ado-Ekiti. Fayose and Bamidele are yet to name their running mates.

    In 2011, Fayose contested for the Senate as the LP candidate. He lost to Senator Babafemi Ojudu. Bamidele became a member of the House of Representatives that year on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Aregbesola has the people behind him. Since his stolen mandate was restored, the governor has not relented in the work of development. Like Fayemi, Aregbesola has fought the infrastructure battle, restored the dignity of the state and given hope to the indigenes. His challenger is Omisore, who was impeached as the deputy governor in 2002. The Ife-born politician is a veteran governorship contender, having tried his luck thrice, but without success.

    Traditionally, the Southwest is the stronghold of the progressive bloc. When power shifted to the conservatives in the past, it was not without controversy and dire consequences. It was due to the fact that only progressive governments have tried to satisfy the peoples’ yearning for ‘life more abundant’. From the days of the Action Group (AG) led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Southwest had placed its hand on the welfarist plough without an intention to look back. In the Second Republic, the zone built on its First Republic’s antecedents by embracing the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), also led by Awo. Even, in the post-Awolowo era, Southwest could only embrace the leftist platforms, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now, the APC.

    When the reactionary elements made the first attempt to capture the zone in the First Republic, it was disastrous. Although the leader, Awo, was caged, his followers did not disperse. The conservative leaders succeeded in installing the late Chief Ladoke Akintola, the leader of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), as the Premier. But, for four years, his administration was full of tension. In 1965, the traitor’s time was up. Up to now, the memory of the wild wild West lingers. It symbolised the rejection of interlopers. The event drew the curtains on the First Republic.

    Thirteen years after the first military interregnum, the progressives bounced back. The five states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Bendel and Lagos were administered by the ideologically inclined Awo’s lieutenants. who implemented the four cardinal programmes of free education, free health services, full employment and rural development. Reminiscent of the First Republic, the enemies of the zone hijacked power in Oyo and Ondo states. The reaction of voters was spontaneous. The two states were in flames, once again. Electoral terrorism led to killings and destruction of property. Peace and tranquility took flight. Instructively, certain events heralded the trouble in the dominant group in the zone in the two dispensations. Desperate conservative politicians capitalised on the cracks on the wall to rig the polls.

    In 1999, the Southwest was about putting its house in order. AD was a promising party. It was growing in leaps and bounds. But, the political lessons of the past were lost on the leaders. As the AG crisis led to a bitter rift, the Afenifere crisis led to a split in the AD. Also, in 2003, AD governors, backed by Afenifere leaders, had a pact with PDP National Leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It paled into a wrong calculation. The election of 2003 was a festival of rigging in the Southwest. The resultant earthquake shook the zone to its foundation. The former President, it was said, tricked the governors. After mobilising for his second term ambition, they met their waterloo. Only former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu survived the onslaught. Between 2003 and 2007, Ondo, Oyo. Ogun, Osun and Ekiti states groaned under the PDP.

    From Lagos State, the progressives picked up the gauntlet. Leading the soldiers of democracy on the battle front was Tinubu. After three years of struggle, the coast for clear. Not only were the mandates restored in Ekiti and Osun states, the PDP also suffered defeat during the 2011 governorship polls in Oyo and Ogun states.

    Since 2011, the opposition has been on the prowl in the zone. Will the PDP dislodge the APC on June 21 in Ekiti and August 9 in Osun? Time will tell.

     

  • ‘Pray for peace’

    ‘Pray for peace’

    Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), yesterday urged clerics to pray for God’s intervention in the problem of insecurity confronting the nation.

    Akpabio gave the charge when he led his counterparts on a visit to host Sule Lamido, in Dutse.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governors are in Dutse for a meeting of the forum.

    Akpabio said the level of security needs God’s intervention for solution.

    The governor said people now hide under the insecurity bedeviling the nation to inflict mayhem on political opponents.

  • Four Kwara PDP members held for ‘possession of firearms’

    Four Kwara PDP members held for ‘possession of firearms’

    •APC condemns PDP over violence

    The police in Kwara State have arrested four suspects, believed to be members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for alleged possession of illegal firearms.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zanna Ibrahim said the suspects were arrested yesterday morning at the home of the PDP State Chairman, Solomon Edoja.

    It was also gathered that a PDP member in the House of Assembly was invited and interrogated by the police in connection with the allegation.

    Ibrahim said: “Four suspects were arrested in Oyun area at the house of the PDP chairman yesterday. One of the suspects, Olorunfemi Sola, was caught with a locally made gun and one live cartridge.”

    The DCP, who said investigation was still going on, added that further investigations would reveal the identity of other suspects.

    Edoja said that the embattled lawmaker was invited by the police to explain what he knew about the matter.

    He said: “Some hoodlums were sighted outside the premises of my lodge this morning and we discovered that about 90 per cent of them were not PDP members. They were there to foment trouble.

    “When police arrested one of them and searched him thoroughly, he was caught with life ammunition and you will agree with me that it is typical of hoodlums to mention names of prominent person when arrested.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what it described as “current spate of wanton destruction of lives and property” as a result of desperation and greed for political relevance.

    The party’s Interim spokesman, Sulyman Buhari, said it was disturbing that PDP has extended its gangsterism to blood-letting and senseless killings in a state known for peace and harmony.

    Buhari said the fracas, which took place at the PDP secretariat in Sango – Ilorin, between supporters of a former senator and the chairman of a federal commission at Ajikobi central ward in Ilorin, has once again brought to the fore the kind of greed and selfishness of PDP members.

    “Ordinarily, the APC would not have bothered itself with happenings in the PDP, but because of our concern for innocent people, who might be affected by the fracas.

    “The APC calls on the police to probe the senseless killings and punish the perpetrators.”

     

  • ‘Gaidam not joining PDP’

    ‘Gaidam not joining PDP’

    Yobe State House of Assembly Speaker Adamu Dala-Dogo said yesterday that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is not joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Answering questions from reporters in Damaturu, Dala-Dogo said the governor had never indicated any interest in the PDP.

    “He is the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) consensus candidate for 2015 election. The decision will be ratified during the party’s primaries,” the speaker said.

    Dala-Dogo dismissed the speculations on the governor’s defection plan, saying it was a desperate propaganda by the PDP.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations that Gaidam had been offered the governorship ticket to contest under the PDP.

    “Both Nigeria’s constitution and APC constitution did not bar the governor from contesting the governorship seat,” he said.

     

  • INEC defends decision to conduct supplementary election in Ondo

    INEC defends decision to conduct supplementary election in Ondo

    •PDP: only election tribunal can adjudicate on electoral matters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended its decision to conduct supplementary elections in areas where election did not hold in Ilaje/Eseodo Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

    On Sunday, the commission declared the by-election inconclusive.

    It said the difference between the votes polled by the first runner up, Mr. Kolade Akinjo of the Labour Party (LP) (23,926), and the second runner up, Mr. Adewale Kukute of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (22,628), is less than the number of registered voters in areas where the election was cancelled or did not hold.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi, said the winner would be announced when election is conducted in areas where it did not hold.

    Orebiyi said the commission would announce the date of the supplementary election.

    The PDP said only an election tribunal can adjudicate on electoral matters.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Akure, the state capital, PDP alleged that the LP was planning to approach a court to seek an order that would compel INEC to declare Akinjo winner of the election.

    According to PDP Chairman Ebenezer Alabi, there was no election in Arogbo Ward Two because alleged LP thugs blocked the waterways to prevent the arrival of INEC officials and the supply of ballot materials to the ward.

    He said the LP allegedly took the action because the ward is a stronghold of the PDP.

    Alabi said: “In their calculations, they were unmindful of the provisions of the Electoral Law, which mandates INEC to declare the election inconclusive, if a candidate did not score a wide margin that would have rendered the outstanding votes inconsequential.”

    He said there was no election in New Jerusalem polling unit in Arogbo Ward One because of the unavailability of the voter register.

    Alabi said there were no elections in the five units of Ogogoro community in Mahin Ward Two, adding that election materials were hijacked in Mahin Ward One, particularly in Legha and Piawe units.

    He said INEC conducted a free and fair election, adding that electoral materials and INEC officials arrived at polling units on schedule.

    Alabi alleged that huge state resources were spent on the by-election by the state government.

     

  • I have no desire to shed blood, says Omisore

    I have no desire to shed blood, says Omisore

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said his desire to serve the people is not at the expense of the blood of any citizen.

    In a statement by his Media Director, Prince Diran Odeyemi, Omisire said his governorship ambition was about the people.

    He said: “It is from the people that I draw my inspiration and determination to serve them.”

    Omisore said the August 9 governorship election would be a step forward from the “overwhelming support that brought him in as the generally acceptable candidate of Osun PDP”.

    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised a false alarm that last Saturday’s PDP primary would be marred by violence, urging the police to investigate the source of the party’s claim.

     

  • Present your blueprint, Osun commissioner tells PDP

    Present your blueprint, Osun commissioner tells PDP

    Osun State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration Ajibola Bashiru has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to come out with its blueprint for the state. Speaking to The Nation yesterday in Lagos, he said Osun State people will not be dragged aback by the “visionless” PDP, “which did not impact positively on the people when it ruled the state”. Bashiru said: “The opposition should present its plan, if it has any better plan than what we are implementing. It is not enough to tell lies about what was done and not done. If it has genuine plans, let it present it that, instead of merely saying it wants to run a government of integrity.”

    He said for the PDP to come up with Senator Iyiola Omisore as its flag bearer in the August 9 governorship election shows that “it is not serious and is trying to take the state off track”.

    Bashiru said Omisore’s campaign that he wants to embark on a rescue mission was a misuse of words, adding: “It is absurd for somebody who was part of an administration that ran the state aground for seven-and-a-half years to say he is embarking on a rescue mission, unless we do not know the meaning of ‘rescue mission’.

    “The only way he can talk of rescue mission is to reverse to the conditions of unemployment, poverty, insecurity and bad governance that characterised the past PDP administration.”

    Bashiru said since Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed office, peace has returned to the state.

    He said: “A thousand of our supporters were detained. Some ran out of their communities when the PDP was in power. Today, there is an atmosphere of peace and tolerance in the state. We urge our people to be wary of the people of yester-years, who depleted our state. We now have good governance and cannot allow ourselves to be taken back to the bad old days.”

    Describing Omisore’s emergence as the PDP’s candidate as “unfortunate”, Bashiru said: “He could not even influence the tarring of the road leading to his house, not to talk of his senatorial district.”

    He said Osun people deserve the best and would not be dragged back to the “dark days when the PDP was in charge, even though the administration was illegally constituted”.

     

  • I have no desire to shed blood, says Omisore

    I have no desire to shed blood, says Omisore

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said his desire to serve the people is not at the expense of the blood of any citizen.

    In a statement by his Media Director, Prince Diran Odeyemi, Omisire said his governorship ambition was about the people.

    He said: “It is from the people that I draw my inspiration and determination to serve them.”

    Omisore said the August 9 governorship election would be a step forward from the “overwhelming support that brought him in as the generally acceptable candidate of Osun PDP”.

    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised a false alarm that last Saturday’s PDP primary would be marred by violence, urging the police to investigate the source of the party’s claim.

     

  • ‘Three killed’ in Kwara PDP ward congress

    ‘Three killed’ in Kwara PDP ward congress

    There was tension during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congress yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    Three people were said to have been killed when party supporters engaged one another in a shootout over alleged imposition of ward executives.

    Commissioner of Police Ambrose Aisabor said seven people have been arrested.

    The commissioner confirmed the death of only one person, saying that the police will investigate the incident and any person found culpable will be arrested.

    Eyewitnesses said trouble started at Sango area of the metropolis, when some PDP supporters, believed to be thugs, engaged themselves in a free-for-all over alleged imposition of ward executives.

    It was gathered that a policeman shot into the air to control the crowd but his gun fell down and was picked by some hoodlums, who refused to release it to the police.

    The development led the police to forcefully retrieve the rifle from the hoodlums and in the process, another policeman shot at some suspected hoodlums.

    Some hoodlums took advantage of the crises to set up bonfires in the area, thereby obstructing traffic.

    Similarly, at Ajikobo Central ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area, the exercise, which started smoothly in the morning with large turnout of members, turned violent.

    Eyewitnesses said it was disrupted midway.

    Party officials were said to have insisted that members present their membership registration cards, bearing holders’ photographs, before they could be allowed into Ansarul Islam Primary School, Okekere, venue of the congress.

    But the situation degenerated to a rowdy session.

    Prof Shuaib AbdulRaheem and Senator Gbemisola Saraki hail from Ajikobi ward.

    The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Maryam Muhammed, expressed disappointment at the outcome of the event.

  • Present your blueprint, Osun commissioner tells PDP

    Present your blueprint, Osun commissioner tells PDP

    Osun State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration Ajibola Bashiru has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to come out with its blueprint for the state. Speaking to The Nation yesterday in Lagos, he said Osun State people will not be dragged aback by the “visionless” PDP, “which did not impact positively on the people when it ruled the state”. Bashiru said: “The opposition should present its plan, if it has any better plan than what we are implementing. It is not enough to tell lies about what was done and not done. If it has genuine plans, let it present it that, instead of merely saying it wants to run a government of integrity.”

    He said for the PDP to come up with Senator Iyiola Omisore as its flag bearer in the August 9 governorship election shows that “it is not serious and is trying to take the state off track”.

    Bashiru said Omisore’s campaign that he wants to embark on a rescue mission was a misuse of words, adding: “It is absurd for somebody who was part of an administration that ran the state aground for seven-and-a-half years to say he is embarking on a rescue mission, unless we do not know the meaning of ‘rescue mission’.

    “The only way he can talk of rescue mission is to reverse to the conditions of unemployment, poverty, insecurity and bad governance that characterised the past PDP administration.”

    Bashiru said since Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed office, peace has returned to the state.

    He said: “A thousand of our supporters were detained. Some ran out of their communities when the PDP was in power. Today, there is an atmosphere of peace and tolerance in the state. We urge our people to be wary of the people of yester-years, who depleted our state. We now have good governance and cannot allow ourselves to be taken back to the bad old days.”

    Describing Omisore’s emergence as the PDP’s candidate as “unfortunate”, Bashiru said: “He could not even influence the tarring of the road leading to his house, not to talk of his senatorial district.”

    He said Osun people deserve the best and would not be dragged back to the “dark days when the PDP was in charge, even though the administration was illegally constituted”.