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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • PDP knocks Presidency over statement on Plateau killings

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked the Presidency for blaming weekend’s killings in some Plateau communities on opposition politicians.

    The attacks, which were reportedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, left about 100 persons dead, over 50 houses burnt and many persons injured.

    In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP described the Presidency’s statement as extremely callous, inhuman and brazenly divisive.

    The opposition party expressed shock that at a time Nigerians expected the Presidency to take immediate steps to restore order, safeguard the lives of the people, exert justice and bring succor to victims, it chose to toe the path of divisiveness, which the party said, was capable of worsening the tensed situation in the land.

    The statement said, “It is unfortunate that rather than taking actions to get to the roots of killings and banditry in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari resorted to political colorations by engaging in his usual blame game of unnamed politicians.

    Read Also:APC convention a charade, mockery of democracy – PDP

    “It is equally disgusting that the Buhari Presidency relegated the main issue of the murder of our citizens and how to track down the perpetrators and bring them to book, thus confirming the fears of most Nigerians that this administration does not care about the lives of the people.

    “PDP insists that the basic responsibility of government, which is to ensure the safety and harmonious living of all Nigerians, ensure that our laws apply at all times and circumstances, without any fear or favour, has been completely abdicated by the Buhari administration, thereby leaving our people at the mercy of marauders”.

    The opposition party further stated that it’s shocking that the President, who is considered the father of the nation, had no soothing or reassuring words for the agonizing victims of the attack.

    The party said rather, the President has chosen to aggravate their pains with the unguarded comments attributed to him by his media aide.

    The PDP demanded an unreserved apology from President Buhari over the comments, which it described as manifest insensitivity to the plight of the victims of the Plateau massacre.

  • APC Convention is a quit notice signal to PDP, Fayose – Presidency

    The Presidency says the All Progressive Congress (APC) convention holding at the Eagle Square, Abuja, would be a quit notice signal to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, gave the assurance to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing convention arena.

    Enang, who said he expected a peaceful poll at the convention, said the successful completion of the occasion would also indicate a quit notice to the Ekiti State’s incumbent governor, Ayo Fayose.

    NAN reports that the governorship election in the state, which is scheduled to hold on July 14, has the immediate-past Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, as the APC gubernatorial candidate.

    ”It is a signal to PDP and Ayo Peter Fayose that we have served him quit notice and that he will quit.

    ”With the strength of APC in the Federal Government at the federal level and the strength of APC in Ekiti State, we will win Ekiti and we will sack PDP from the seat,” Enang said.

    He said he expected a fruitful and rancour-free convention.

    He urged the winners and losers in the ongoing convention to display a spirit of sportsmanship.

    ”My words for the winners today, be magnanimous in victory, and for the losers, be also accommodating. Let all those who lose also play into the party, let those who win accommodate those who may not win today,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, said the convention would go well and come out successful.

    ”You can see that everybody is happy to be here. We are lucky that we have Muhammadu Buhari as our president; everybody loves him.

    ”No matter the differences or disagreement in the generality of membership, the president’s position as a beloved leader and mentor is sacrosanct. And I think that will contribute largely to the final successful outcome of this convention,” he said.

  • PDP mocks Buhari’s ‘image laundering’ trip to Morocco

    …says Nigerians can’t be deceived

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed what it described as “image rescue effort” by President Muhammadu Buhari during his last visit to Morocco.

    A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the reception given to President Buhari by the Moroccan Prime Minister, Saadeddine Othman, was a poorly packaged deception to sugarcoat his deep-seated disdain for Nigerian youths.

    The party observed that President Buhari’s “sudden praise-singing” of Nigerian youths in faraway Morocco was only a desperate afterthought aimed at reversing the public opprobrium he earned himself over his “lazy youths and lovers of freebies” comment, and not borne out of genuine regard for the youths.

    The statement said, “Unfortunately for Mr. President, our youths now know better and can no longer fall for his tricks.

    “Every Nigerian is aware of President Buhari’s disdain for our citizens and his reported comments in Morocco as inconsistent with his known beliefs and dispositions.

    “Nigerians recall that in a most recent gaffe, Mr President described the members of our National Assembly as idle and unproductive just as he dismissed our youths as unfit to run for Presidency in 2019, even while signing the “Not Too Young To Run” bill into an Act.

    Read Also:Nigerians intellectually aggressive, economically ambitious – Buhari

    “Perhaps, this explains why his handlers resorted to heavily edited press statement on the Morocco visit”.

    The PDP said President Buhari’s visit to the Moroccan Prime Minister cannot wash away the “disgraceful invectives” he openly poured on the energetic and vivacious Nigerian youths at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Lindon, in the presence of other world leaders.

    The party said it would need another CHOGM in London to remove the President’s “lazy and lover of freebies” stamp on youths.

    “The PDP is aware of the desperate bid by President Buhari to stop at nothing to beguile the citizens once again that election is around the corner.

    “However, it is important to inform him that Nigerians now know his true colours and will reject any design to take them on a second ride to nowhere.

    “President Buhari should therefore end his gimmicks and let go of straws. He should amply come to terms with the fact that the only expectation Nigerians require of him is to tender a direct apology for his abysmal performance and get prepared to leave the stage for a more innovative, and people-oriented President which Nigerians will elect on the platform of the PDP, come 2019,” the statement added.

  • I don’t have OBJ’s backing to run for presidency, says Duke

    A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said that his ambition was not backed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Duke, a former governor of Cross River, who recently declared his intention to run for the exalted office, told newsmen in Lagos that though he remained close to Obasanjo, his decision to run was personal.

    “I am not hypocritical. I am close the former president but he is neither my sponsor nor backup. However, those who come up with these propaganda also go to get the ex-president’s endorsement.

    “I will not keep people aside because of what others think. I need everybody’s support but I am running as Duke and nobody’s stogie.

    “I will be putting myself up to run. How it pans out is not what I can say’’ he said.

    On the zoning in the PDP, Duke said that it would not deter him from running as it remained his constitutional rights.

    “Let the people decide. Zoning is undemocratic. I am running as a Nigerian. Zoning has never brought out the best in us. It brings compromise,’’ he said.

    He, however, said that his candidature and final platform would be determined on what unfolds in the party.

    “There are talks going on with other platforms. When these talks are concluded, then Nigeria will know my final stand. I remain a bona fide member of the PDP,’’ he said.

    Duke said that there was need for every Nigeria to get involved in governance in one form or another saying: “Things don’t just happen. Folks make it happen.’’

    On Tinapa Holiday Resort in Cross River which was his pet project, Duke lamented that it was neglected by subsequent governments.

    “Tinapa was completed. It would have been making trillions of Naira for the state if successive governments had continued with the project.

    “With continuity it would have been moving. Tinapa is just a metaphor for poor governance and problem of continuity in governance.

    “We built Tinapa to drive development in Cross River. Continuing with such a project would have made the state less dependent of subvention,’’ he said.

  • Relegation of traditional rulers fueling insecurity – PDP chieftain

    A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Dr Ja’afaru Sa’ad has associated the protracted security challenges affecting the country to the relegation of the key roles played by  traditional rulers in conflict mitigation.

    Sa’ad, who holds the traditional title of Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday, that the traditional rulers were  more  closer to the people than government.

    He added that because they live among their people and knows everyone, it was easier for them to fish out suspicious characters that may constitute security threat to their communities.

    According to him, the system works in such a way that potential threats are eliminated or tamed before becoming a communal issue.

    “In no distant past, one cannot just enter a place, particularly in northern part of the country and settle without showing himself to the village head or district head.

    “You must seek their approval and they would carry out a background check on you to ensure you will not constitute a security threat to the community and their people before you are given permit to stay.”

    He said that situation was, however, different lately because of the continued disregard to the contribution of traditional leaders to social harmony, peaceful coexistence and the maintenance of peace and security.

    He nonetheless noted that whenever there is a crisis in a community, the government still ran to the traditional leaders seeking for their intervention to resolve disagreements and restore peace.

    “Unfortunately, these are the same people governments no longer have regard for, treat them with disdain and only come to them when things gets out of hand.

    “Take Kaduna State for example where more than 4,000 village and district heads were sacked by the state government.

    “The government just wake up one day and decided to interfere with the centuries-long tradition of the people that even the British did not tamper with during the colonial period,” he said.

    He also spoke on the recent appointment of 77 district heads in Kaduna state to replace the sacked ones, saying that the action was illegal.

    Sa’ad claimed that High Court in Kafanchan had issued a restraining order against the government on the sack of the over 4, 000 traditional chiefs.

    He advised the state government to reinstate the sacked traditional heads and encourage them to restore peace, and tackle criminality in their domains.

    “What we need in Kaduna state is the creation of more districts in view of the increasing population in the state; collapsing the districts into just 77 would make it nearly impossible to carry out their traditional tasks effectively,” Sa’ad said.

  • I will return to NASS in 2019 – Igbinedion

    The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, has boasted that she would return to her office in 2019.

    Barr. Omosede who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is serving her first term.

    In a post-apparently to taunt her opponents, Omosede said, “In my Office today and yes I will be back here in 2019  because I am happy to represent the people of Ovia Federal Constituency.

    An aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Dennis Idahosa, had in a press briefing said there was a huge gap between the Barr. Igbinedion and the people of Ovia.

    He further said that his desire to replace Barr. Igbinedion in the House of Representatives was because of the failure to attract developmental projects to the constituency.

    His words, “When God gives me the opportunity to serve, a whole lot of things will be done differently. Not only has the occupant misses a lot of important deliberation as a result of her focus primarily on her personal business instead of the assignment of representing the people, she has also failed to attract development projects to the constituency.

    “Though I respect her as a woman, but I believe she is incompetent. So, I am going to close this gap by being a vibrant and good representative to the people of Ovia.

    “There is no opposition in Ovia as far as I am concerned. We are going to win them out rightly; we are going to unite out party, strengthen areas of weaknesses and come 2019, we will not only win in Ovia federal constituency, we will win across the state.”

  • 2019: Umahi throws Ebonyi House of Assembly contests open

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that his administration and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would favour no candidate during the 2019 general elections’ for House of Assembly.

    Umahi made the assertion on Monday at Ezillo, Ishiellu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebony during a solidarity rally in his honour.

    The governor had earlier at several fora, canvassed for the re-election of all the House members.

    Umahi, however, noted that the only exceptions were the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker with all the contestants required to organise rallies in their constituencies to test their popularities.

    “We are appealing to the ‘divine mandate’ his (political structure) for peaceful primaries because we are not going to stop anybody from contesting.

    “Continuity will, however, benefit Ebonyi people but we are not going to impose unpopular candidates on the people during the elections.

    Read Also: Ebonyi Assembly Chief Whip arraigned for alleged certificate forgery

    “I will attend the rallies you are going to organise individually because it is not only the delegates that will elect you during the primaries,’’ he said.

    Umahi said that his vote during the election would be tied to those of the House of Assembly contestants and the masses needed not to be disfranchised in the process.

    “We will support any contestant that mobilises the greatest number of people because I don’t want to take risks during the election.

    “You should therefore, go back to the field and mobilise the people and not go to sleep because the governor has endorsed you,’’ he said.

    He said the elders of the state would sit and decide on the National Assembly positions to avoid possible crises.

    “We will not allow the other parties to benefit from our situation but ensure that all matters concerning the positions are resolved amicably without rancour.

    “I thank the people of Ishiellu for the reception and commend them for maintaining the peace we instituted in the area, especially at the Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities,’’ he said.

    Chief Austin Umahi, the PDP South-East Zonal Vice-Chairman, commended the people for supporting the governor and urged them to massively vote for him in the 2019 elections.

    Umahi, who is the governor’s elder brother, noted that the best support for the governor was for the people to massively register in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    “Ebonyi is a PDP state as other political parties exist on the pages of newspapers, magazines and the social media,’’ he said.

    Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the PDP Chairman in Ebonyi, also assured that the party would not endorse any candidate but allow all contestants to freely pursue their ambitions.

    Mr Henry Eze, Chairman of the council, said the reception was to thank the governor for his numerous favours to the people in areas of infrastructure, empowerment and political appointments among others.

    Stakeholders pledged their solidarity to the governor as he was given the chieftaincy title of “Achinagbara Oha’’ meaning the seed that spreads to all by the council’s traditional rulers.

    NAN

     

  • Ekiti 2018: 40 candidates to battle for governorship seat

    …Two women among candidates published by INEC

    A total number of 40 candidates on the platforms of various political parties are to contest for the governorship seat of Ekiti State on July 14.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday published the names of candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by their parties.

    Their names were forwarded to the electoral umpire to beat the May 15 deadline for the receipt of candidates’ names.

    The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding the incumbent Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola while Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is running on the platform of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Two women are among the candidates jostling for the Ekiti governorship seat. They are: Mrs. Margaret Ilesanmi of Accord (A) and Olajumoke Saheed Democratic Alternative (DA).

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: INEC promises not to compromise standard

    Published on the list are: Comrade Shola Omolola of Action Alliance (AA), Mr. Lawrence Ogundipe of Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Dr. Jide Ayenibiowo of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mr. Olaniyi Agboola of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Ayodele David Adesua of African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Also on the list are Otunba Segun Adewale of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr. Lucas Arubuloye of AGA, Mr. Stephen Oribamise of All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Rev. Tunde Afe of Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Malam Saheed Jimoh of African People’s Alliance (APA), Mr. Tope Adebayo of Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) and Evangelist Gbenga Adekunle of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Prince Adegboye Ajayi is representing Better Nigeria People’s Party (BNPP), Mr. Olalekan Olanrewaju of Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Pastor Stephen Oladejo of Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr. Adewale Akinyele of GPN, Mr. Tosin Ajibare of Independent Democrats (ID) and Temitope Amuda of Kowa Party (KP).

    Former Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal of Labour Party (LP), Mr.Olabode Jegede of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Mr. Sunday Balogun of Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP), Comrade Sunday Ogundana of National Conscience Party (NCP), Former Senator, Dr. Bode Olowoporoku Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (NDCP) and another ex-Deputy Governor, Chief Adebisi Omoyeni of PANDEF are on the ballot.

    The list also include Mr. Ayoyinka Dada of PDC, Mr. Goke Animasaun of Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), Mr. Stephen Obasanmi of Providence People’s Congress (PPC), Mr. Ebenezer Ogunsakin of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Mr. Akinloye Ayegbusi of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    The names of Dr. Olusegun Adeleye of United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Femi Bade-Gboyega of Unity Partyof Nigeria (UPN), Mr. Ayodeji Faokorede of Young Democratic Party  (YDP) and Mr. Temitope Omotayo of Young Progressive Party (YPP) were also listed as candidates.

  • Changing people’s perception about PDP, paramount for success – Chieftain

    An Elder statesman and Chieftain of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi, Alhaji Bello Kirfi, has advised members of the party to map out strategies of changing the perception of the public about the party.

    Kirfi, one time stalwart and Chieftian of the party, gave the advice in Bauchi on Saturday during a reception organized in honour of the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Babayo Gamawa.

    According to him, mistakes have been committed during the previous administration, as such all hands must be on deck to clear all doubts in the minds of the electorates for them to renew their trust in the party.

    He also advised the electorate to votes for credible candidates during the forthcoming general elections.

    Also speaking, the National Chairman of PDP, Mr Uche Secondus, represented by his deputy, Mr Yemi Akinwumi, assured that the party would not impose any aspirant on the electorate.

    Also read :  APC, INEC planning to rig Ekiti poll – PDP

     He promised that the popular candidate would be the presidential flag-bearer of the party in 2019 elections.

    Secondus also called on politicians to shun violence and conduct their affairs peacefully for democracy to thrive.

    In their various goodwill massages, former senators from Bauchi, Ibrahim Gumba, Bala Mohammed and Abdul Ningi, described the celebrants as a vibrant and active member of the party.

    In his response, Gamawa thanked party members for their support and the opportunity given to him to serve the party.

    He advised aspirants to shun malice and support each other for successful election.

  • Buhari’s ill health affecting his performance, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has noted that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot effectively discharge his official duties as a result of his ill health.

    Buttressing this point of view, the PDP said the President’s latest medical trip to the United Kingdom was a confirmation that “President  Buhari is unwell, ailing and unfit to attend to state matters.

    Addressing the media in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said it’s very unfortunate that the President and his handlers had chosen to shroud the issue of his persistent illness in secrecy whereas the government prides itself on claims of transparency and integrity.

    “Nigerians will recall that shortly before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, Mr. President, without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly, as required by the constitution, undertook a private visit to the UK, where his doctors are known to reside, five clear days ahead of CHOGM. Nigerians were left in the dark for the period despite demands for full disclosure by the PDP.

    “Only last week, two days after his departure from the United States where he had gone for a state visit, Mr. President went ‘missing’ again. When concerns began to mount on his whereabouts, the Presidency claimed he had a ‘technical stopover’ in the UK, citing flight issues, only for revelations to emerge from the same Presidency, on Monday, that Mr. President was actually in the UK to see his doctors.

    “In these circumstances, Nigerians were taken for granted, deceived and treated like lesser men and women without reasoning capacity, while our nation, at those periods, was left with no leadership as Mr. President refused to transmit power as required by the 1999 Constitution, as amended”.

    While stating that it has no objection to the President taking care of his ailing health, the party said Nigerians have come to detest the deception, lies and beguiling that have trailed the handling of Buhari’s  health issues.

    The PDP said it’s more concerned that Nigerians are being kept in the dark about the nature of the President’s ailment and the identity of the doctors and the hospital attending to him.

    The main opposition deplored a situation where a siting President would continue to embark on medical tourism abroad when his administration has completely refused to address the poor state of the health sector in the country, even as medical personnel are currently on strike across the nation.

    “In conclusion, we urge the Presidency to note that shrouding the issue of President Buhari’s illness in secrecy, just for political gains, is neither in the interest of the President nor that of our nation at large.

    “Sordidly, the handlers of Mr. President appear to be more concerned about the next election instead of the consequences of a failing health and the blatant breaches of our constitution. The PDP therefore counsels President Buhari to be well guided and take charge of his health challenges”, the PDP added.

    Read Also:Breaking: Buhari on a four-day U.K trip to see his doctor