The Nation Newspaper

Tag: People Democratic Party

  • Ekiti PDP suspends Fayose’s core loyalist indefinitely

    The crisis rocking the Ekiti chapter of the People Democratic Party, PDP has deepened as the party in Oye local government on Sunday suspended a former lawmaker, Hon. Samuel Omotoso from the party.

    Omotoso who represented Oye constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly in the 5th Assembly was suspended Indefinitely from the party for alleged involvement in anti- party activities.

    Omotoso, a close Ally of Governor Ayodele Fayose, is a medical doctor and one of the lawmakers suspended indefinitely from the 5th assembly for sundry offences, shortly after Governor Kayode Fayemi took over last year.

    According to a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti by the party, Dr Omotosho was suspended for allegedly engineering parallel executive in Oye local government.

    The letter conveying the suspension of the former lawmaker was unanimously signed by Oye local government party Chairman, Hon. Sunday Ojo and other executives of as well as the chairmen of the 11 wards in the council.

    According to the statement, “the party has consequently constituted 3- man committee in strict adherence to the party’s constitution to investigate the allegation’.

    “The committee is to conduct unbiased investigation and make necessary recommendations within two weeks on the allegation’”.

    The party leaders, however, passed vote of confidence on the PDP chairman in Oye local government, Mr Sunday Ojo, saying the era of imposition was over.

    Read Also: Poll: Kogi indigenes in Ekiti back Bello

    In a swift reaction, Omotoso, former chairman, Ekiti Assembly Committee on Information, said the suspension lack content of validity, describing it as a ruse.

    He added that those who orchestrated the purported suspension are bunch of jesters whose lineage are cloudy in the party.

    Omotosho noted that the leader of the group, who claimed to be chairman of the party at the local government level was already on suspension by the State Working Committee of the party and has no statutory powers  to suspend him.

    “I want you  to ignore the group as they were only seeking for relevance. The sponsor has been suspended by the most powerful political organisation in Ekiti, the SWC, so I don’t know where he got that power from”.

     

  • INEC begins announcement of supplementary result in Bauchi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has commenced announcement of result of the supplementary guber polls held Saturday, 23rd of  March, in Bauchi State.

    The announcement commenced on Sunday morning around 9:30am after much delay from the electoral empire who kept collation and returning officers stranded for almost 18 hours.

    A Returning officer, Husesanni Malemi of the United Progressive Party, U.P.P. had earlier berated INEC saying he had to spend the night at the  headquarters of the electoral empire after waiting  in vain for several hours.

    “This is not acceptable, we know this is part of an orchestrated plan to  subvert the will of the people ” He alleged.

    It would be recalled that the  absence of the Returning Officer in charge of Bauchi State gubernatorial election, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, had delayed the announcement of the outcome of the governorship re-run elections in the state.

    Read also: Supplementary polls: Ortom leads in nine of 13 LGA’s of Benue

    The situation created anxiety among the supporters of  the People Democratic Party supporters in Bauchi State who kept vigil few kilometres from the INEC office.

    As at yesterday around 2:pm in the midnight,  they were seen venting their anger over the delay in the announcement , alleging that “INEC is up to something”

  • Akala wins unit for Atiku, also senatorial, House of Rep.

    The former governor of Oyo state and gubernatorial candidate of Action Democratic Party, Alao Akala  won his polling unit, unit 13, ward 10, Ogbomoso North for People Democratic Party.

    He also recorded victory for his party, the ADP,  in the senatorial and House of Representatives elections.

    PDP led the presidential election with 189 votes; ADP 60 votes; APC 33 votes.

    Read also: Akala plans to manipulate Ogbomoso results, APC alleges

    In the unit, Oyo North Senatorial district ADP led with 222 votes while PDP and APC had 46 votes and 37 votes respectively.

    ADP amassed a total of 230 votes, PDP has 39 votes while APC has 38 votes.

     

  • ‘Adopting JCI’s active citizenship ideal will enhance our value as a Nation’

    Deputy Governorship candidate for People Democratic Party in Lagos, Haleemat Busari has said that the active citizenship value of Junior Chamber International is what every Nigerian citizen should adopt towards attaining  global relevance as a nation.

    Busari said at the investiture ceremony of Victoria Island Chapter of Junior Chamber International where a new president for the Chapter was sworn in.

    She said that adopting the value will allow people to get involved in the development of their local environments up to the state and national levels.

    Busari who also mentioned that she was a member of the organisation when she was in school said  that the JCI’s Active Citizen ideal is a value that can be used to running sustainable, needs-based projects that create measurable results in communities.

    “Active citizenship can be as small as a campaign to clean up your street or as big as educating young people about democratic values, skills and participation”, she said.

    Also speaking during the investiture program, Chief Executive Office, Eximia Realtor Co. Limited, Hakeem Oguniran urged business owners and members of the organisation to always find new ways of doing things to give room for innovation and advancement in whatsoever endeavour they find themselves in life.

    Oguniran who spoke on the topic “Leadership and Business” said that business owners all around the world are facing challenging time in their businesses, a sign that shows that nations are being crippled with economic recession.

    He said that business owners must triple their efforts and be consistent if they want to live above their daily business challenges.

    “You need to have gut to survive in an environment like this because it is tough to do business in Nigeria, but in it all you must keep your head up”, he said.

    In her inaugural speech, the Chapter President of the organisation, Olamipo Adeola promised that she will never back down in the fight to make the country and world at large a better place.

    “I declare to you today, that we, as an organization will awaken the consciousness of the  youth’s responsibilities to Nigeria  and the part we must play to accelerate our growth towards greatness”

    She pointed that JCI as an organisation has trained the members to go beyond just speaking but proffering and making the changes we want to see in society.

    “Famous authors have proclaimed that the change you want to see starts from you and at JCI we operate on this unambiguous phrase”, she quoted.

     

  • Seven Osun PDP governorship aspirants withdraw from race

    At least seven governorship aspirants of the People Democratic Party in Osun State have withdrawn from the primary election of the party going on in Osgbo, the state capital.

    Those that stepped down from the race before commencement of the primary at the GMT Event Centre are former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello; a lawyer, Dr. Ayoade Adewopo; a university don, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye; former chairman, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun a State, Chief Lere Oyewumi; former chairman, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Engr. Jide Adeniji; former Minister of Youths Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; and former Senator representing Osun Central in the Senate, Chief Ogunwale.

    Read Also: Osun PDP screens 11 governorship aspirants

    But Senator Ademola Adeleke, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Barr. Nathaniel Oke and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, still remain in the race.

    The governor of Bayelsa State, Sierake Dickson, is the chairman of the party’s electoral panel conducting the primary where over three thousand delegates would be voting to elect the party’s candidate.

    Unlike the All Progressives Congress that used  direct primary on Thursday to pick its flag bearer, the  PDP is using delegate method to elect the party’s candidate.

  • Balarabe, Makarfi, others react to Buhari’s decision to seek re-election

    Some Nigerians have welcomed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019, saying it was a good decision, as it would help consolidate the gains recorded by his administration, if re-elected.

    However, some members of the opposition political parties said in separate interviews with the News men in Sokoto and Kaduna that the President won’ t find it easy going for second term.

    Alhaji Sidi Ali, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Sokoto State, said, “Buhari has all it takes to re-contest and the decision is a welcome development.

    “He is governing well and has the capacity to continue with the good work, and I am sure more good transformations will happen in the country, if he is re-elected.”

    Malam Kasimu Chiyama, Chairman Dadin Kowa Youth Association in Kwannawa, Sokoto state expressed joy over the announcement.

    “We will support him fully because he is the only candidate that has been good to Nigerians.”

    Two Sokoto residents, Hajia Hauwa’u Magode and Abdullahi Maiyogot expressed excitement over President Buhari’s position and prayed Allah to continue to guide him.

    However, Mr Samson Samuel, a student, faulted the decision, saying the President should consider his age and health status.

    “The APC will surely make a mistake by nominating Buhari to re-contest.

    “Buhari is a good leader but in recognition of his age and health status he should have rested, as he had spent most time during this tenure on medical treatment abroad.”

    Read Also: Buhari secure soft landing for Oyegun, others

    Also, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Governor of Kaduna State welcomed the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019.

    Musa, a chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party ( PRP ) said in a telephone interview that his party would, however, come up with a strong candidate to challenge Buhari in the elections.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is welcome on board, but we want to assure Nigerians that the PRP has a presidential candidate to field in the 2019 general elections,” he said

    Similarly, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, former National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the People Democratic Party ( PDP ), said in a text message that: “It’s no news that he is contesting, it would have been news if he had announced the opposite.”

    The Sokoto state Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, said Nigerians should vote out the APC or prepare for “another four years of hunger.”

    “Buhari’s age and health condition are all in Allah’s hand, but what is more of concern is good governance and ability to transform the country better.

    “Nigerians should vote PDP to avoid continuous hunger and maladministration that subject people to hardships,” Aliyu said.

    President Buhari had announced his intention to go for second term at the National Executive Council meeting of APC held in Abuja.

    NAN

  • I need to consult records over Metuh’s case – Dasuki

    I need to consult records over Metuh’s case – Dasuki

    Retired Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA), said on Wednesday he needed to consult relevant documents to enable him to recall any transaction with former People Democratic Party, (PDP) spokesman, Olisah Metuh, being tried over alleged N400 million case.

    Dasuki made the statement at the Federal High Court, Abuja, when he appeared as a subpoenaed witness in the ongoing trial of Metuh.

    The former NSA, who was led in evidence by Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), counsel to Metuh, told the court that he had been in the Department of State Security Services custody since December 2015.

    He added that he could not remember if he had any dealings with Metuh in 2014 in respect to the amount for which the Federal Government was currently prosecuting him.

    “It will be difficult for me to remember without reference to my records, details of any monies paid to Metuh or Destra Nig. Ltd. (the second defendant in the matter) in 2014 as three years is a long time.”

    When Etiaba sought to know when he thought he would have access to his records, Dasuki said that would be possible as soon as the authorities holding him released him on bail.

    “I am unable to answer any questions in regards to his charge without consulting my records.

    “I stated earlier that I have been in custody so it is only when the authorities holding me decide to obey the three bail orders granted by three different courts and one ECOWAS court judgement asking that I be released and release me, I do not know,” Dasuki said.

    He, however, told the court that he was awaiting a Supreme Court ruling concerning his release on bail.

    At this point, Etiaba told the court that the witness was willing to testify but needed time to access his records in order to help the court in the matter.

    He prayed the court to grant an adjournment and direct those holding the witness to allow him to have access to his records.

    According to him, the directive that Dasuki should be produced in court has been honoured and so this new directive should also be honoured.

    Mr Tochukwu Onwubufor (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, aligned himself with the submissions of Etiaba, noting that an adjournment was necessary to allow the witness consult his records.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, however, opposed the application for an adjournment.

    He based his argument on the grounds that some of the documents needed to be used to cross examine the witness such as the e-payment mandate were in the court’s records.

    Tahir asked the court to discountenance the arguments canvassed by Dasuki’s counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN) that his client was not in the right frame of mind to give evidence, having been incarcerated in the last two years.

    He said that this was because there was no medical report before the court to prove it.

    The prosecutor urged the court to compel the two defendants to make use of documents already tendered as exhibits in court and not entertain the application for adjournment.

    The judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned the matter until Friday to rule on the application for adjournment.

    The judge had earlier struck out a motion argued by Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan in which he prayed the court to set aside the subpoena issued on him.

    Abang struck out the motion on the ground that he had no jurisdiction to entertain the motion because Jonathan had not been formally served with the subpoena as required by law.

    He said that the former president could only raise issues against the subpoena after he was duly served.

    The judge had also dismissed an application by Dasuki asking the court for an adjournment in respect of the subpoena on him and pending the determination of his appeal in the Court of Appeal.

    He said that since Dasuki was not a defendant but a witness in the matter, he had no “locus standi” to seek for an adjournment.(NAN)

  • 2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    2019: Global affairs analyst nudges Tinubu to declare for presidency

    A Global Affairs Analyst, Ayoola Lawal has called on the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of Nigeria in 2019.
    Lawal noted that Asiwaju Tinubu can compete for the position if President Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in running in 2019.
    According to him, the outcome of the last meeting by the South-West leaders of the APC in Ibadan, Oyo state capital indicates that APC  is still on course and zoning of the highest office of the land is not yet on the party’s plate.
    “The South-West leaders pride the party in its ideology of choosing a party flagbearer on the pure merit of winning the majority votes according to the party arrangement.
    “Based on the reiteration that the presidency on the platform of the APC is not yet zoned which makes it open to any citizen of Nigeria that meets the criteria of the party irrespective of the region or zone he or she belongs,” he said.
    The Global Affairs Analyst observed that the non-zoning system produced President Buhari in December 2014, when he emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC for the March 2015 general elections amongst other candidates from different zones of the country.
    He further said: “As a global affairs analyst, an unrepentant advocate of good governance, and a patriotic socialist that is studying and following the activities of political leaders and underdogs across the globe especially Nigeria, I personally call upon the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step forward to join the race in becoming the next President of the most populated black nation on earth in 2019 if Mr. President is not interested and, if Asiwaju still has the ambition.
    “If I may recall, Asiwaju Tinubu boldly and pleasantly expressed his wish and dream time and again of becoming the president of Nigeria during the presidential party rallies that I was opportune to attend in 2015.
    “However, he categorically stated the reasons for not joining the presidential race then which were constructively convincing and purely patriotic, that he needed to walk the path of history of the great nations that supported, elected and trusted their generals and old men with experience to rescue them in their nation’s darkest times.
    “Then, nobody could refute that Nigeria was in an unchartered water, in an auto-pilot state economically and security wise with ruthless corruption across the board, Boko Haram onslaught without hope in sight and Nigeria was heading for the rock.
    “Indeed, Nigeria was in her dark time in the tight grasp of 16-year misrule from the People Democratic Party (PDP). Now, the coast is quite clearer for Nigeria, the war is won, and Nigeria is on the course to regain her past glory and join the league of lion nation again.
    “Thank God for the APC-led administration of president Buhari and aided by a ceaseless demand of good governance by Nigerians. I will implore other young patriots to step up and give political leadership a shot for the sake of our generation and the future of our nation.
    “As I am imploring more younger and competent patriots both in Nigeria and Diaspora to engage in active politics, it is high time the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu, slept over his ambition again, take the bull by the horn and ready to take the baton from our great leader, president Buhari to continue the master plan of APC in leading Nigeria to her dreamland.”
    Lawal stressed that besides the facts that Asiwuju Tinubu has proven himself as a savvy entrepreneur, center-left political genius that understands the value of a rock-solid political platform and what it takes to unify people across board irrespective of tribe, political belief, education and social class and networks, he is also an astute leader with eye and heart for identifying potentials both in human and material and finally inspiring them for the best of his society and humanity.
    “I would have called for the continuity of President Muhammad Buhari as the president of Nigeria till 2023 because of what he stands for, but in all fairness, my hero, president Mr. Buhari has given is best to Nigeria even in his challenging state of health, so well in as promised in his election campaigns.
    “It is time for him to go back to Daura to savor his successes, take care of his challenging health, spend more time with his families and loved ones, and be a mentor to Asiwaju in his next herculean tasks as the next president of Nigeria and Nigeria to take great care of him and other old citizens,” he summed.
  • ‘Okowa running Delta state without budget’

    ‘Okowa running Delta state without budget’

    The former Deputy National Chairman of Alimodu Sheriff-led faction of the People Democratic Party (PDP) who recently joined the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh has accused the Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa of massive corruption and running a government without a formal budget passed by the state House of Assembly as required by law.

    Ojougoh said in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari that the Appropriation Committee of the State House of Assembly has not sited the state budget since the beginning of the year, adding that the Speaker of the House, merely signed the last page of the supposed budget without any form of estimate and submitted same to the governor who affixes figures as he wishes.

    While asking the President to order the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Delta state government over alleged “blank 2017 budget and appropriation” for the state, challenged members of the state Assembly especially members of the Appropriation committee to show the World copy of the 2017 appropriation which they passed into law.

    He alleged that ten members of the Delta State House of Assembly informed him in confidence “of the high level of fraud that is currently ongoing in their legislative House.” 

    The letter reads: “Mr President, it is with heavy heart distress and grief that I write you this letter, Mr President; I am an Indigene of Agbor, Ika South L.G.A of Delta State, former member of the House of Representatives, former Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate and SSA to the President, former National Vice Chairman South-South of the PDP and immediate past National Deputy Chairman of the PDP. 

    “This is to bring to your notice the hydra-headed corruption and malignant impunity that is currently dancing and celebrating in the Delta State House of Assembly.

    “Mr President, ten (10) members of the Delta State House of Assembly informed me (in strict confidence; that their names and families be protected) of the high level of fraud that is currently ongoing in their legislative House where they ply their trade as Lawmakers. According to them, they were emboldened when they learnt that I had left the PDP on 16th September 2017 and they felt the urgent need to now confide in me that I have left the PDP.

    “The very important issue at hand is that the members confessed to me that up till 3rd day of October they have not seen, sighted or read a copy of the Delta State 2017 budget.

    “The Hon. Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori signed only the last page of the budget and returned same to the Government; the Government then fills in the blank arbitrarily and apportions appropriation at will.

    “The Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the Delta State House of Assembly and the entire members have not sighted the budget break down and estimates as the conventional practice, the actions of the Speaker with the active connivance of the Government amounts to the issuance of a blank 2017 budget and appropriation for Delta State.

    “Mr President, I dare any member of the Delta State House of Assembly to produce a copy of the approved budget estimate signed by the Chairman Appropriation Committee, the Clark and the Speaker, let any member display same on any website.

    “Mr President, I had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Sam Oyovbaire on issues of impunity and corruption in Delta State. For your information Prof. Sam Oyovbaire presented Dr Okowa to the Urhobo nation and Okowa was accepted by the Urhobos due to the person of Prof. Sam Oyovbaire.

    “I told Prof. Sam Oyovbaire that he has a name and integrity to protect, that he should disassociate himself from the mess going on in Delta State.   

    “I therefore in all humility call on Mr. President who is credited by the International Committee not to own a single house and bank account outside Nigeria, who won the presidential general election against an incumbent President due to your anti-corruption credentials to kindly deploy your good offices to cause a thorough investigation into the fraud currently in Delta State through the Blank Budget and appropriations issued by the Delta State House of Assembly by the anti-graft agencies.

    “Mr President, I am 58 years old, a soldier of truth, if I cannot stand to defend my people on matters of this nature and injustice, then I will not be fair to my God and conscience. It is most excruciating and painful that our hard earned State resources are being stolen in broad daylight.

    “Mr President, I humbly on behalf of the good people of Delta State plead and solicit of you to passionately cause and direct the relevant Government Agencies to investigate the above allegation against the Delta State House of Assembly.

    “I want to assure you, as the 2019 general election draws near, that over two (2) million votes are at stake in Delta State, your reward for addressing the fraud in Delta State shall be total unequivocal support for you and your Government and your Great Party the APC. Mr President, Delta State is dying. Kingly direct the EFCC, DSS, ICPC and Code of Conduct to investigate.”

  • Conference gets more support

    Conference gets more support

    The organisers of the Conference of All Nigeria Progressives Merger Group in the United Kingdom have expressed joy over the number of people participating in the forthcoming conference.

    The event is in the response to Nigeria’s changing political landscape emanating from the progressive parties’ merger. It is designed to examine the complex realities of contemporary Nigeria as a nation at the crossroads; a nation in search of strategic direction to sustainable nation building in the face of poor governance and the democratic paradox imposed on the Nigerian State by the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    The conference is scheduled for Thursday, 20 June 2013 at the Hilton Docklands, UK is fast gathering momentum as a global event.

    Some of the topical issues to be delivered and discussed at the conference by eminent global players in politics, intellectual communities and business leaders include: transforming Nigeria: challenges, prospects and realisation road map growing out of poverty: emerging agricultural markets for developing countries moving the nation forward: the dividing lines, tragedies and possibilities mobilising, re-orienting and re-energising the masses: a way of national emancipation

    “The opposition in Nigeria has its work cut out for it. The imperative before APC is to provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform capable of providing efficient and effective services built on internal democracy.

    “We believe that one way of ensuring that the emergent All Progressives Congress (APC) develops into the political party of our dream is for the international community to engage the leaders of the emerging APC at every possible opportunity. This will be very beneficial for the party, the international community and Nigeria,” the group said in a statement.