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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Stop representing PDP, Sheriff tells Gana

    Stop representing PDP, Sheriff tells Gana

    The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has advised the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee to stop speaking for the party.

    Represented by his National Deputy Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougbo, at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Sheriff described the Gana-led committee as “illegal”.

    The committee was constituted on Nov. 10, 2016, by the National Caretaker Committee of the party headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, which was disbanded by the recent judgment of Appeal Court, Port Harcourt.

    The court, in the judgment declared Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the party.

    The committee had been visiting founding and prominent members of PDP, including former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, Chief Tony Anenih, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Sheriff said that the report of the committee, which was submitted to the scrapped national caretaker committee on Feb.17, 2017, would not be useful in the ongoing effort at re-positioning the party.

    “Prof. Jerry Gana going round the country on behalf of the PDP is unacceptable to the party.

    “I have the report of Gana here where he recommended that all members of the Sheriff group should be suspended from the party.

    “We find it very uncomfortable that a person of Jerry Gana’s standing, if actually he wants to help the party as at this time of crisis, would recommend that a faction or members of the party should be expelled for their political beliefs.

    “That is very unbecoming of a man of Gana’s status. So, we take very serious views to his going round as whatever committee he calls himself.

    “The committee was not set up by the party and we are giving notice that forthwith, he should discontinue with it,” Sheriff said.

    On the party’s national convention, Sheriff said that the Standing Committee on Reconciliation’s report submitted by its chairman, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, had been adopted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    He said that the report had become a working document of the party.

    The chairman expressed displeasure over media report that Makarfi, as chairman of the unrecognised caretaker committee said that Dickson’s committee was illegal.

    He insisted that the committee was legal, adding that its recommendations were not Dickson’s but of the committee of the party.

    Sheriff said that majority of the party’s stakeholders were in full support of political resolution to its leadership crisis, except for the caretaker committee, which had vowed to pursue legal approach.

    He, however, assured that the party’s NWC was capable of conducting free, fair and acceptable national convention in due course.

    “The reason why the caretaker committee is protesting is that they have seen that the table is now crumbling fast under their feet.

    “All the organs of the party are cueing into the reconciliation and when the reconciliation pulls through, they are out and Sen. Makarfi can only come as member of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    “They get subvention from the governors every month and when reconciliation happens, the N50 million monthly subventions from governors will stop.

    “Secondly, Makarfi wants a situation where he will tailor-make the convention to suit his interest because he has come out to say that he will be contesting the presidency of the country.

    “We are very mindful that we are not going to tie our party around any individual, and that is why the national chairman, Sheriff said ‘look, I am going to throw everything open’,” he said.

     

  • Ex-Zamfara governor Shinkafi defects to APC

    Ex-Zamfara governor Shinkafi defects to APC

    Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi, a former Governor of Zamfara on Sunday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Shinkafi, who became the state governor in 2007 on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2008.

    He however lost to the APC in 2011 and had since then remained in the opposition.

    Shinkafi announced his decision to join the APC at a ceremony in Gusau, the state capital.

    According to him, it is the outcome of a long negotiation between me and stakeholders who have faith in me and my leadership qualities.

    He told all his supporters to join him as he strived to make the APC stronger.

    Shinkafi said that after series of meetings with stakeholders, he had sincerely made up his mind to join the APC.

    He also announced that all his former cabinet members, including his former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mamman Bawa, had joined him in the APC.

    The return of Shinkafi to the APC might be a grand plan by the stakeholders in the state to re-elect him as governor in the 2019 elections.

    Alhaji Muntari Anka, who served as a deputy governor with Shinkafi, also moved to the APC in Anka Local Government constituency a fortnight ago.

     

  • Orji Kalu says Buhari’s return stabilised polity

    Orji Kalu says Buhari’s return stabilised polity

    A former governor of Abia, Dr Orji Kalu, says the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from the United Kingdom on Friday has brought stability into the polity.

    Kalu told newsmen in Lagos on Sunday that Nigerians were happy that the president was back in good health.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president went on vacation to the UK on Jan. 20, and also met with his doctors during the trip before returning on Friday.

    Kalu said: “Now that the president is back, I am very happy; we have been praying.

    “Both Christians and Muslims have been praying because the country has been so polarised that the fabrics of our nation have been eaten with tribalism and religion.

    “So I am very happy that the president is back and I want him to listen to his doctor’s advice and continue to take his medication, if any’’.

    The former governor noted that the president had kept his campaign promise of restoring peace to the North Eastern part of the country, which had been facing insurrection from the Boko Haram sect.

    “I know that the president has done well in the area of defence and pursuing Boko Haram; I congratulate him as Commander in Chief.

    “I also praise the service chiefs – the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector General of Police as well as the Director of State Service for their backup operation on Boko Haram,’’ he said.

    He, however, called on the government to intensify efforts towards improving the economic situation in the country.

    “Buhari took over when there were a lot of doubts in the economy; he took over when the oil prices went down sharply.

    “And whenever your expenditure is more than your income, then there is already recession.

    “So I am not sure that recession is just going to end so soon.

    “I believe now that the president is back, he should be able to fine-tune the economic team and put some recovery policies in place’’.

    He advised the economic team to be more serious, out looking and no to take anything for granted.

    “The most important thing government should look into is the issue of electricity and internal security.

    “Internal security and electricity are the engine room that drives development and the future of any country.

    “I believe these things can be done,’’ Kalu said.

    He also commiserated with the families of Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, former governor of the Old Western Region and Brig.-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, former governor of the defunct Bendel State, who passed on recently.

    Kalu said their wealth of experience would be greatly missed by the country and he prayed God to grant them eternal rest.

    NAN reports that Kalu, formerly a staunch member the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 defected to the ruling APC.

    The former governor had told the gathering that he joined the APC to help “diffuse tensions that the party is an ethnic or religious contraption”.

     

  • Former PDP leader worried over 2019 elections dates

    Former PDP leader worried over 2019 elections dates

    Former National Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, said fixing dates for 2019 general elections now was an “unnecessary haste’’ by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The commission had on Wednesday announced Feb. 16, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 2, 2019, for Governorship, State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Councils polls.

    An INEC National Commissioner, Mr Solomon Soyebi, who announced the dates in Abuja, said it was part of efforts by the commission to standardise and ensure certainty of timetable for general elections in the country.

    Soyebi gave instances of countries, including US, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland where dates for general elections were standard and known calendars.

    Secondus in a statement on Friday in Abuja said that it was shocking for INEC to have released timetable for 2019 general elections when it had more pressing issues to attend to.

    He alleged that INEC announced the dates without consultation with critical stakeholders like political parties and civil society groups whose inputs were always sought before final decisions were taken.

    He described the action as part of the INEC determination to carry out designed agenda of the ruling party on the elections.

    Secondus called for the dissolution of INEC as presently constituted, “with men and women of integrity as a measure to save the country’s democracy’’.

    He said that the commission was currently operating without Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in 33 states.

    “It is curious that an electoral commission that is yet to be properly constituted has before it many unfinished matters, including voter education and enlightenment.

    “As we speak, Anambra gubernatorial election is due later this year and the state has no REC to carry out all the needful as enshrined in the Constitution before the election.

    “Since last year, Nigeria’s Senate had raised alarm over the implication of non-constitution of INEC but while the National Commissioners’ positions are filled, over 30 seats of RECs remain vacant,’’ Secondus said.

    He, however, acknowledged that statutorily, the President had the responsibility to appoint the RECs subject to the confirmation of the Senate in line with Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. (NAN)

  • Dickson meets Ibori behind closed doors 

    Dickson meets Ibori behind closed doors 

     

    …Niger Delta, PDP crisis dominate discussions

     

    Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has met behind closed doors with former Governor of Delta State and ex-convict, Chief James Ibori.

    It was gathered that Dickson visited Oghara, the country home of Ibori and seized the opportunity to hold talks with the former governor, who recently returned to his village after serving jail terms in the UK for money laundering.

    Dickson, who spent some hours meeting with Ibori on Thursday, reportedly discussed the crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and issues affecting the Niger Delta region.

    Confirming the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to Dickson, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson in a statement said the governor spoke about the roles Ibori could play for peace to permanently reign in the region.

    They were said to have discussed how Ibori could rally major stakeholders towards tackling some of the peace and security challenges in the region.

    “The two leaders equally discussed likely windows of opportunities for criminally minded youths in the region to be more meaningfully engaged as well as protect some of the critical national assets of the country within the region”, the statement said.

    Dickson was said to have earlier spoken with his Delta State counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, before holding the meeting with Ibori.

    The governor expressed satisfaction with the disposition and resolve of Ibori to support current measures at tackling the security challenges in the region.

    Dickson was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Talford Ongolo, some members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite.

  • Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises, says APC

    Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday reassured residents that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) would fulfil all his electoral promises.

    The APC reiterated this in a statement in Akure by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya.

    Adesanya promised prompt payment of workers’ salaries, job creation through industrialisation and agricultural revolution as well as peace and stability.

    Reacting to the advice by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) against creation of new local council development areas, Adesanya said: “Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises.”

    PDP had warned the governor against his proposal to create new local council development areas out of 18 local government areas promised during Akeredolu’s electioneering campaign.

    Adesanya stressed that there would be creation of local council development areas as promised by Akeredolu during campaign.

    “Contrary to what played out during the last administration, APC-Akeredolu is poised to steer the state’s affairs in the right direction and also deliver the true dividend of democracy to the good people of Ondo State,’’ he said

    Adesanya berated PDP for leaving behind a whooping debt of about N150 billion, eight months unpaid salaries of workers and several months of unpaid allowances and gratuities of pensioners.

    “What moral justification has Ondo-PDP leadership to advise APC-Akeredolu’s government?”

    “We view your advice as anti-developmental and evil against the people of the state.

    “It’s a clear attempt to derail our government so as to create bottleneck and distraction for Akeredolu.

    “The former government has no useful ingredient at its disposal to complement the efforts of this current administration,” he said.

  • Jonathan commends PDP leaders on effort toward resolving crisis

    Jonathan commends PDP leaders on effort toward resolving crisis

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday commended leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their support to ongoing efforts toward resolving the differences in the party.

    In a statement Mr Ikechukwu Eze, his Media Adviser, in Abuja, Jonathan urged the party faithful to ignore rumours and false information being peddled as the outcome of ongoing dialogue in the party.

    He promised to address the public on the outcome of the consultations at the appropriate time.

    He said that there had been media speculations since the meeting between him and the PDP Governors on Tuesday and stated that the speculations were being presented in contradictory perspectives.

    “I wish to urge the public and well-meaning PDP members to ignore such misleading conjectures as they are obviously the handiwork of those who do not wish the party well.

    Fayose
    Fayose

    “They are therefore not happy with the current reconciliation efforts.

    “The fact that Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayo Fayose, promptly addressed journalists at the end of
    the meeting, clearly showed that there was no ambiguity in the message.

    “He said that an agreement was reached on seeking a political solution in resolving the differences.

    “It is obvious that those behind the misleading publications have failed to achieve their aim as I have seamlessly continued with the consultations and reconciliatory meetings,” he said.

    pdp
    Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi

    The former president said that since his meeting with the governors, he had also met with other key PDP
    leaders in line with his resolve to carry all the organs of the party along.

    According to him, these leaders included Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT), Sen. Walid Jibrin, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

    Jonathan said that he was determined to continue on the path of inclusive dialogue.

    He assured that he would do so by working with the governors, the BoT, National Assembly members and other key stakeholders “until the internal dispute is finally resolved’’.

    He urged the public and loyal party members to continue to support the peace process and not to listen to rumours.

  • Again, Obasanjo says PDP is dead

    Again, Obasanjo says PDP is dead

    … Prays against similar fate befallen Nigeria

    Nigerians, particularly members and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that are still hoping for a revived PDP someday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a word for them.

    Obasanjo for the second time in less than three years, said the party is dead, sunk and gone, praying that the fortune of Nigeria should also not  sink – apparently like that of the PDP.

    The former Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP reiterated his position on Friday while replying comments by former National Chairman, Alh. Ahmadu Ali, about their past relationship in government during an International Symposium titled: “Purpose and Utilitarian Values of Presidential Libraries” at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The event, which also include the grand opening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, to mark the 80th birthday of the ex-President was organised by the Centre for Human Security (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

    The ex – President recalled that he brought Ali to lead the once powerful and largest party in Africa because of his truthfulness, saying PDP was controlling 30 out of the 36 states of the federation when Ali and him were leading it but lamented that its fortune sank when the duo left the stage.

    He noted that while Ahmadu Ali served as the National chairman of the party, he  ensured its stability and effectiveness but lamented that the party is now down and out following an intractable internal crisis.

    Obasanjo: “Ahmadu Ali is truthful and that was why I brought him to head the PDP and all went well when Ahmadu Ali was the National  chairman. We were controlling 30 out of the 36 states, when Ahmadu and I left, the fortune of the PDP began to sink.

    “Whether you believe it or not, today PDP is sunk and gone. May the fortune of Nigeria never sink like that of the PDP” with the audience responding in a thunderous “Amen.”

    And responding also to avalanche of eulogy from dignitaries – Nigerians and foreigners, during the symposium, he said the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library was established to correct one of his mistakes of the past, especially not collecting and archiving materials connected to his time during the civil war.

    He said: “somebody among the speakers said God has always given me the opportunity to correct my wrongs. I will say God has done that for me not in all cases but in most cases and this Presidential Library is actually an act of God which he has given to me to correct one of my mistakes of the past and I have said this very often.

    ” I was in the war front, it was very one significant thing in my life and in the life of Nigeria. I was military head of State, it was one significant thing in my life and in the life of Nigeria but I was not as mindful as I should have been about collecting materials that were connected with those events, the war front and civil war both on the vandals side, we called them rebels side or if you like the Biafrans side, they called us vandals, we called them rebels.

    “But we did collect something, when I was also the Military Head of State I didn’t pay much attention to collect materials, where I should have paid attention to.

    “So, by 1988, it occurred to me that these are mistakes, I looked at some of the materials we got from the war fronts, they were in very bad state of neglect so what I did was to try and micro-film what we could micro-film.

    “I also learnt a lesson, when you are in a position to keep materials and preserve them for prosterity, you should do so and I never knew there will be another opportunity, so, God created another opportunity for me to correct the mistakes of the past.

    “God is the God second chance and for some of us He is not God of second chance but God of many chances and I will be internally grateful to God for the opportunity he has given me but more importantly whatever I might achieved, I take responsibility but whatever I might achieved it would not have been possible without the people who have helped me in life to be able to achieve what I have achieved.

    “Take the Presidential Library for example if not for the members of Board of Trustees I will have fallen by the roadside and that will have been another mistake because it got to a stage that things were rough, things were rough and we are just putting heads together, it is God of many chances.”

    He urged the youths who attended the programme not to be mindful of their current position – whether poor or weak, assuring that “If he (given his poor background) could make it this far, they can also make it.”

    He advised them to share whatever ideas they have with others,  for the growth and development  of  Nigeria.

    The ex – President said having passed the kiln of life including marking time in prison without being killed by his jailers, he has nothing anymore to fear save God.

    Dignitaries who took turn to speak on the “Purpose of utilitarian Values of Presidential Library, hailed Obasanjo for establishing the OOPL, describing him as an “iconic legend.”

    Former US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Mr. Andrew Young, said that without Obasanjo, Africa might still be in a desperate position, adding that, “it is time for Nigeria to realise and make amendment where it’s lagging behind”.

    “There is no human being  in Africa that has experienced what Obasanjo has gone through in the last 50 years, “One thing about him is that he is the same way same person whether in New York, UN, World Bank, White House or china, he does not change. He does not give a damn whom he makes mad,” he said.

    He said Obasanjo should be celebrated, adding that  “the presidential Library will help others to understand his work.”

    Also speaking, Tracy Roosevelt, grand daughter of former US President, Franklin D Roosevelt, explained that a Presidential Library is a place, meant to bring together the memories of the past and to also bring men and women together for higher goals.

    Roosevelt said Obasanjo gave the gift of the Library to his people, to share the memories of his past with his people.

    “There are 14 presidential libraries in the United States of America  (USA), but, the first  Presidential Library in Africa was created by Obasanjo in Abeokuta,” she said.

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    • As BoT chair warns against divisive tendencies

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has welcomed the decision of key party stakeholders to find a political solution to the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the party had, after a meeting Tuesday night, resolved to adopt a political solution to the crisis.

    Sheriff is locked in supremacy battle with the Ahmed Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee, which commands more followership than the Sheriff camp.

    A statement on Wednesday by the Sheriff-backed National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, commended Jonathan and the governors for resolving to settle for a political solution.

    Oladipo’s statement said, “The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP Governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party.

    “The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process”.

    The statement called on workers at the party secretariat who have stayed away from their duty posts in solidarity with the Makarfi camp, to resume duties immediately.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin has called on members and supporters of the party to shun divisive tendencies.

    In an SMS message to newsmen on Wednesday, Jibrin urged members to stay away from party meetings with tribal, religious and sectional undertones.

    “Such meetings are suspicious and full of sinister motives aimed at dividing or killing the party. Right from its formation, the PDP has never been portrayed as a northern or southern party.

    “Therefore, nobody should unnecessarily bring in any disagreeable methodology in the handling of the party’s affairs.

    “The PDP is a national party that embraces every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion. Any attempt to drag members into such divisive meetings will be resisted, considering especially that party leaders are busy trying to find a way forward. Everyone should remain calm refrain from taking any rash decision”, the BoT chair stated.

  • Jonathan, PDP Govs meet over crisis in party

    Jonathan, PDP Govs meet over crisis in party

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday met with governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    Although agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that the festering leadership crisis in the party was top on the agenda.

    Governors that attended the meeting included Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Benedict Ayade (Cross River); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo.

    The meeting, which was being held in Jonathan’s private office, located in Maitama, Abuja was said to have started about 6pm and was still in progress as at 8.45pm.