The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • G7 governors intact, insists Aliyu

    G7 governors intact, insists Aliyu

    GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said yesterday in Kano that the G7 governors are still ‘intact’ regardless of the recent defection by five of them from the PDP to the APC.

    Only Aliyu and his Jigawa counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido, remain in the PDP out of the seven Governors opposed to what they called undemocratic style of the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Aliyu, on a courtesy visit to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, one of the five that defected, described the G7 as intact and solid, but only pursuing the same objective through different approaches.

    “We are still together as one indivisible body. We communicate, exchange ideas and are pursuing the same objective. Our goal is never different, for your information,” he said.

    What is unfolding in public, according to him, should not be misconstrued to mean that the group is now divided.

    Aliyu, who was accompanied by former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima declared that nothing can separate him from Governor Kwankwaso.

    “All we are doing is a unified idea. We are only strategising towards the same objective,” he said.

    His host spoke in the same vein.

    He said: “Those of us that went ahead were to chart the way for those we left behind for the political commanders to finish one or two things before joining us. Be rest assured that they will join us.

    “We share everything together and people should be rest assured that we are engaging in a political strategy.”

     

  • Mandela was too good to be lost, say Tukur, Okorie

    Mandela was too good to be lost, say Tukur, Okorie

    National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described the late Nelson Mandela as a marvel, contending that the former freedom fighter cannot be replaced by any other person.

    Explaining that the demise of Mandela was a loss to the entire world, Tukur condoles with the immediate family of the legend and the government of South Africa, saying, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria and myself join in your grief and the sense of loss of the generality of South Africans. There will not be another Madiba because Mandela is irreplaceable.”

    Tukur also said “Mandela will be remembered as a no-nonsense nationalist, who fought bravely and strongly for the freedom of his people and their emancipation from the shackles of colonialism and apartheid. He aligned with his people to fight the great evil and scourge represented by apartheid.”

    In his condolence statement, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the National Chairman of United Progressive Party ( UPP) lamented that “a global Iroko has fallen.”

    He said “the leadership and members of United Progressive Party join millions of people around the world to mourn the death of Africa’s illustrious son, Nelson Mandela at a ripe age of 95years. The global iroko and colossus has fallen.

  • PDP chieftain begs ASUU to end strike

    PDP chieftain begs ASUU to end strike

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Richard Lamai, has appealed to the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off the lingering strike.

    He, expressed disappointment at the protracted strike and the insensitivity with which the future of Nigerian youths was being treated.

    He, however, said ASUU should not see calling off the strike as a mark of weakness but as a demonstration of their patriotism and commitment to better the lot of Nigerian students.

    The National Coordinator of Project Reloaded, made the appeal at the Maitama Headquarters, Abuja.

    He wondered why there seems to be no end to their demands in spite of the federal government’s firm commitment to addressing the problem.

    “As a matter of fact, several well-meaning Nigerians within and outside the country have pleaded with ASUU to reconsider its hard stance on the matter. We all are in agreement that something drastic needs to be done to salvage the education sector. This was what informed the setting up of NEEDS assessment committee by President Goodluck Jonathan which Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state was appointed to chair.

     

    “The Nigerian student has suffered enough and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) should sheathe their sword by calling off the strike and partner with the Federal Government to build a sustainable and effective educational system,” he said.

     

  • Prince Tonye Princewill at a crossroads

    Prince Tonye Princewill at a crossroads

    The talk in town at the moment is the decision of Rivers political bigwig, Prince Tonye Princewill, to declare support for President Goodluck Jonathan and his hesitation in quitting the PDP even after Governor Rotimi Amaechi had bid farewell to the ruling party.

    It will be recalled that in 2007, he ran for governorship on the platform of the now defunct Action Congress. In the build-up to the 2011 governorship election in Rivers State, he had deployed his political machinery, Princewill Political Associates, to campaign for Governor Amaechi’s re-election.

    But political observers believe that he is currently in a quandary as to the political path he would follow, considering that the Presidency may throw its weight behind Nyeson Wike in the 2015 governorship election.

  • Sylva, others dump PDP for APC

    Sylva, others dump PDP for APC

    There were uncertainties in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State on Wednesday following an indication that the former governor of the state, Mr. Timipre Sylva, had finally dumped the party for the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Sylva, an estranged member of the PDP, who took succour in the fold of the Kawu Baraje-led new PDP was said to have joined the APC with his array of supporters.

    The former governor, who was denied a second term ticket by the PDP was said to have taken the decision in his bid to bounce back to political relevance.

    Sylva was conspicuous at all the gatherings of the nPDP that culminated in the merger of the splinter group including five PDP governors with the APC on last week.

    He also posed for pictures along with the defecting members of the PDP after the merger was consummated in Abuja.

    When The Nation inquired about Sylva’s fate, a source close to him said the former governor had toed the path of his leaders in the nPDP.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said: “His fate is known. You know he was a principal member of the nPDP and he was involved in all the meetings and negotiations before the merger.

    “He contributed in midwifing the process. If the nPDP has joined the APC, it means he has also joined the APC. He can’t back out from the decision of the nPDP.

    “Also you remember that PDP dumped Sylva and denied him a second-term ticket despite all the sacrifices he made for the party including his contributions to the election of President Goodluck Jonathan. So if Sylva and other like minds decided to dump the party for APC, his action is justified.”

     

     

  • Anxiety over plot to declare Amaechi, Wammako, others’ seats vacant

    Anxiety over plot to declare Amaechi, Wammako, others’ seats vacant

    Desperate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders renewed yesterday their push for the removal of the five governors who dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The plan is to use the court to declare vacant their seat, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The governors are Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers), Murtala Nyako(Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano), Aliyu Wammako(Sokoto) and Abdulfatai Ahmed(Kwara).

    The hawks in PDP are said to be considering filing an ex-parte motion at any high court which will lead to a declaratory order asking the governors to leave office immediately.

    But President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have asked the PDP leaders behind the plot to pull the brakes on it because of its likely consequences on the nation’s political environment.

    One of the lawyers engaged in filing the suit last night however said: “We have not yet filed any document in court.

    “I think the President has not agreed with the PDP leaders who are pushing the matter. The President has asked them to stay action.”

    It was learnt that some PDP leaders were shocked by the threat which the defection last Tuesday might pose to the PDP’s electoral fortunes.

    They were said to have agreed on creating legal hurdles for the governors.

    It was learnt that the party has already secured the services of a 10-man legal team, including Chief Alex Iziyon (SAN), who is more or less the counsel to the President; Phebian Ajogu (SAN), Austin Alegeh (SAN) and a Northern constitutional Lawyer.

    A source said: “We learnt that the PDP is either considering filing a motion ex-parte or pushing for accelerated hearing of its application.

    “But some leaders of the party are in favour of a motion ex-parte. Once the application is granted, the five governors will be asked to vacate office immediately or be ejected from office.

    “In fact, the PDP is banking on the invocation of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution to support its application. This Section was invoked by the Supreme Court to declare Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State.

    “The party is claiming that the governorship tickets of the five governors belong to the PDP and not the occupants.

    “Also, we learnt that the party might apply the principle of ‘Case Stated’ to compel a Federal High Court to ask for interpretations of Section 221 from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to seal the fate of the governors at the lower court.”

    As at press time, a meeting of the APC governors was being convened at Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro District, Abuja.

    The session, expected to be closed door from 9pm, might go far into the night.

    One of the APC governors , who spoke in confidence, said: “This is our first meeting after five PDP governors joined the progressives club. We are going to chart the way forward for the party to make the merger of the New PDP and the APC to work.

    “We will also take time to discuss issues affecting our governors, including plans by the PDP to declare the seats of the five governors vacant.

    “The PDP is capable of any mischief; we are also going to put our legal team on standby.”

    The National Chairman of the merged New PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said: “There is no law backing the declaration of a governor’s seat vacant.

    “Why are they just talking now when some PDP governors have joined the APC? I was the one who received ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim when he defected from PPA to PDP. Was Ohakim’s seat declared vacant? Wasn’t Governor Isa Yuguda in ANPP before joining PDP? What of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State who defected to PDP from PPA. Did all these governors vacate their seats?

    “This is not the first time the PDP has tried to declare the seats of our members vacant. Some of our members in the National Assembly have actually sued Bamanga Tukur.”

    Another leader said the conditions for removing governors are contained in Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Section 188 reads in part: “A governor can be removed by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with Section 188 or 189 of this Constitution.”

    Section 188 says in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.

    “Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third member of the members of the House of Assembly is (a) presented to the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State; (b) stating the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified.

    Section 189 says in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State shall cease to hold office if (a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of the Executive Council of the state, it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and (b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this sub-section is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”

  • Buhari, APC are no threats, says Shema

    Buhari, APC are no threats, says Shema

    Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not pose any threat to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja, he said the involvement of former presidential candidate, Muhammad Buhari, with the opposition party would not be a threat.

    The governor said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government had touched the lives of the people and that would be its advantage in 2015.

    He said: “I believe in service and I believe in God. You know my business is that of the PDP and that of the people and leaders of the PDP. That’s how it starts and that’s how it ends.

    “I don’t take time discussing other parties or other individuals. My party is doing well and we will even do more for Nigerians.

    “I am confident because we have done a lot of work. Go there and see for yourself. Politics is about service, it is about the fear of God, it is about managing resources, human and material.

    “To the best of my ability, we are doing just that in Katsina and we are confident that with the services we have delivered to our people, God will not let us down.

    “I tell you, my business is to strengthen my party; to continue to work to build bridges and to reduce the level of the problems we are having.

    “Any human organisation the size of the PDP will have challenges anywhere in the world. Even in families, the large extended African families have challenges.

    “So our size demands challenges and demands all hands to be on deck. But the challenges are not insurmountable because PDP remains the only platform that is owned by all Nigerians, it doesn’t belong to any section of the country or individual, it belongs to all Nigerians. There is no section, no religion, no tribe that is not in PDP.”

  • Edo widow shuns PDP’s largesse

    Edo widow shuns PDP’s largesse

    Mrs. Joy Ifijeh, the widow who was upbraided by Governor Adams Oshiomhole for putting her goods on the road, yesterday shunned the N250,000 gift given by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She was not present at the launch of an empowerment fund to cater for widows in the state by the state chapter of the PDP.

    Mrs. Ifijeh, who apologised to Governor Oshiomhole for putting her goods on the road, was given automatic employment and a cash gift of N2 million by the governor.

    The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said they launched the Widows Empowerment Programme because the party had received N1 million since it posted the video clip of the governor’s encounter with the widow on facebook and YouTube.

    He described the governor’s job offer and the cash gift as a ‘Greek gift’ that would not wipe the tears of widows in the state.

    Orbih presented the N250,000 to Mrs. Pat Erhabor for onward transmission to Mrs. Ifijeh and made a personal donation of N50, 000 towards the widows’ fund.

  • APC: Bamidele unfit to govern Ekiti

    APC: Bamidele unfit to govern Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said the member representing Ekiti Central Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, a.k.a. MOB, is unfit to rule the state.

    It described Bamidele’s defection to the Labour Party (LP) as a welcome development by the APC and Ekiti people.

    In a statement by its Publicity Director, Segun Dipe, APC said Bamidele is “puerile” and, as such, could not have realised his governorship ambition in the party.

    It said: “Just like Macbeth, Bamidele has premised his governorship ambition on some prophesy. He has been dishing out fables as facts without minding whose ox is gored and without recourse to the party that gave him the opportunity to rise to the level he finds himself, including the position he presently occupies in Abuja.

    “In various interviews, Bamidele claimed to have practically dragged Governor Kayode Fayemi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the defunct Action Congress (AC) and introduced him to APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2006. Such lies could only have come from someone who desires power at the devil’s cost.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu and Dr. Fayemi met and worked together in the early 1990s, when they were both involved in the pro-democracy struggle. Whenever the story of Nigeria’s political activism is told, Fayemi’s name is constantly mentioned and placed in the front burner as against Opeyemi’s claim to infantile activism. This is in the public domain.

    “Fayemi never joined PDP or any other party before joining the defunct AC. Apart from his role in the human rights and pro-democracy community, Fayemi brought the Department for International Development (DFID) to Ekiti during the administration of former Governor Niyi Adebayo (1999-2003). Opeyemi was at that time a commissioner in Lagos State for nine years and we cannot remember what positive development he brought to Ekiti.

    “Our party’s position is that while Bamidele is qualified to contest the governorship poll like anyone else and free to realise his dream on any platform of his choice as provided for by law, he is not the kind of candidate the APC wants to present to the good people of Ekiti.

    “He is incompetent to govern Ekiti State by our party’s parameters and that of the now discerning Ekiti people. Opeyemi has just completed two of his four-year assignment at the House of Representatives and is yet to give the party his report.

    “The incumbent, Fayemi, is our tested and trusted choice. He became our party’s governorship candidate through internal democracy and has raised the bar of governance beyond the feeble reach of the likes of Bamidele, whose only stock in trade is giving individuals peanuts. He thinks if Fayemi could do it, he too can do it, forgetting that trajectories differ. Opeyemi and his ilk should remember that God does not necessarily use the qualified, but would rather qualify those he uses.

    “Here is a person who cannot be trusted with any private matter. He is not a team player and prefers to be served than to serve. He has made himself available as a willing tool in the hands of the enemy. What name should we call such a person? Opeyemi is an epitome of deception and feudalism. He is good at giving peanuts to individuals, instead of committing his resources to lasting projects for the benefit of the majority.

    “This is no longer permissible in Ekiti. Our people abhor deception and autocracy and do not want to serve anyone. They want to be served by a well-meaning person, who understands their needs and would meet them selflessly.

    “Bamidele’s claim to fishing Fayemi out is a complete lie. He is not a man that can be saddled with an integrity search. If he had such an opportunity to single-handedly make someone a governor as he claimed, the person would have been himself. But this would have violated the political configuration of the state.

    “His Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) has produced three governors in the past, with two from his home town, Iyin-Ekiti. Most importantly, change, just for the heck of it, cannot be sold to the people, who are still enjoying the dividends of democracy being served by our party through the Fayemi administration.”

  • APC leaders call for unity

    APC leaders call for unity

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have pledged to work together as a team to actualise the party’s plan to return power to the people in 2015.

    Speaking at a reception organised for him by the APC in Surulere yesterday, Alhaji Rasheed Shitta-bey said his return to the party would strengthen its unity.

    He said what the party needs to be successful in future elections was to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

    Shitta-bey said APC states have made remarkable progress in infrastructural development, which is a benchmark for assessing good governance.

    He said the unity in the APC must be jealously guarded because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not comfortable with it.

    Shitta-bey, who was unanimously nominated as the supreme leader of the APC in Surulere, commended the fighting spirit of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for achieving unity between the North and the Southwest.

    He said: “This is the first time in the history of this country that the North and Southwest are working together. Ithank Asiwaju for this success and call on others to support him, so that we can achieve the change the country needs.”

     

    Also speaking, a leader of APC in Surelere, Hon. Hakeem Danmola said the return of Shitta-bey has further decimated the chances of the opposition in the state.

    He said: “The return of our leader, Shitta-bey to the fold is what we have looked forward to. We are happy because his coming will make Surelere impregnable by the opposition.”

    “His coming back is a blessing for APC, he had left us in the past and for him to come back we are really happy because he is a kind father, who has the mobilizing skills for political and social cohesion. This he will put to use as we march toward 2015, when our party will take over the rein of leadership of this country,” he said.