The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • PDP calls on Buhari to fire Amaechi

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to demand the immediate resignation of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi as the Minister of Transportation to demonstrate the President’s integrity.

    The opposition party accused Amaechi, who is the Minister of Transportation and Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation of using government fund to campaign for Buhari.

    In a statement on Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party noted that through his actions,  Amaechi has demonstrated the height of corruption both in Buhari administration and the person of his campaign DG.

    The PDP wondered how Amaechi will compare President Buhari to the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who the party said, has been generally accepted as the next President of Nigeria, stressing that Amaechi has finally lost touch with Nigerians.

    The statement said, “If Amaechi has not lost touch with reality, how would he be comparing Atiku Abubakar, who is widely celebrated by Nigerians across board, due to his integrity and proven competence in managing resources, to President Buhari, who Nigerians know is responsible for the grinding hardship, hunger, starvation and escalating insecurity in the nation in the last three and half years?

    “How can Amaechi compare Atiku Abubakar, a known and tested nationalist, who has become the rallying point for national rejuvenation and reawakening to President Buhari, who has sunk the nation deeper into the sea of nepotism, divisiveness, dissensions and agonizing despondency?

    Read Also: Amaechi to unveil book on Niger Delta

    “How can any one compare Atiku Abubakar, an epitome of wealth creation and youth empowerment to President Buhari whose tenure will only be remembered by Nigerians for hardship, unemployment, job losses, wealth destruction, economic frustrations and destruction of institutions that engender good governance and freedom?

    “Is it not an aberration to attempt to compare Atiku Abubakar, who played key role in a government that paid our nation’s foreign debt, to President Buhari, whose administration specializes in accumulating debts, borrowing money to service debts and plunging our generations yet unborn into bondage?

    “How can Amaechi compare Atiku Abubakar, a promoter of democracy and fundamental human rights to President Buhari whose administration has stood down all known democratic virtues, and relishes in violation of human rights, disobedience to court orders, disdain for constitutional order and condoning extra-judicial killing, harassment and illegal detention of citizens as detailed in reports by international bodies?

    “While it is a settled fact that President Buhari cannot be a match to Atiku Abubakar, we understand Amaechi’s frustration as a beleaguered salesman of a derelict product, but he should have known that for Nigerians, Atiku Abubakar represents light and a brighter future whereas President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) represent a national misfortune.

    “Amaechi is aware of the murmurings and frustration even in the Presidency regarding President Buhari’s failures in governance and that most of his ministers, aides and political associates no longer believe in his re-election since Atiku Abubakar emerged as PDP Presidential candidate.

    “Finally, the PDP counsels Amaechi to prepare to return to Rivers state to face his multiple corruption indictments instead of trying to promote a failed candidate”.

  • Anxiety in PDP over presidential campaign in S/West

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be in a dilemma on how to design the appropriate campaign message to woo voters in the Southwest geopolitical zone for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
    The various political parties will soon commence their presidential campaigns in line with the campaign timeline released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Presently, the PDP cannot boast of any of its key positions occupied by members from the Southwest at the national level within the party hierarchy.

    The highest position held by the Southwest in the party’s hierarchy is that of Deputy National Chairman (Southwest) which is being occupied by Elder Yemi Akinwonmi from Ogun State.

    Investigation by our correspondent at the weekend revealed that it was one of the key issues that dominated discussions in a meeting held by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar with key party stakeholders in Abuja Wednesday night.

    Those that attended the Wednesday meeting included the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governors elected on the platform of the party, among others.
    Our correspondent gathered that some stakeholders have pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) having Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, may constitute an uphill task for the PDP campaign in the Southwest.

    On the other hand, the PDP has picked Atiku’s running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, from Anambra State in the Southeast geopolitical zone; while the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus is from Rivers State, in the South-South geopolitical zone.

    This, according to some of strategists, has stripped the Southwest of any representation in key positions within the PDP. In their submission, this makes the situation more difficult for the opposition party, considering the fact that the entire six states in the Southwest are being controlled by the APC.

    Read Also: Ayade berates PDP over primaries

    More so, the fact that the Buhari administration also parades a number of South Westerners in key positions in Buhari’s cabinet and other key federal agencies may also give the ruling party an edge in the zone.

    They have cited the Ministries of Power, Works and Housing being manned by one of the prominent sons of the Southwest, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

    The case of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which is being headed by another South Westerner, Mr. Babatunde Fowler from Lagos State.

    Similarly, some analysts have argued that restructuring of the country, which the PDP has projected as one of its key campaign points, is an elitist concept that does not strike any chord with the voting masses in the zone.

    “For instance, what is the Yoruba word for restructuring and how do you pass the message across to the market women, artisans and the masses that form the bulk of the voting population”, a PDP chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity said at the weekend.

    The source also described the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG) and that of the Speaker of House of Representatives that the PDP promised the Southwest as uncertain, stressing that it’s only if the PDP wins the Presidency that that can be fulfilled.

    In a swift reaction however, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, disagreed with the postulations, saying that prevailing circumstances have changed voting dynamics in the country

    Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, Ologbondiyan said, “Nigerians are not talking about who occupies certain positions. They are interested in who can give them power and make ease of doing business available.

    “Nigerians are interested in who can save them from hunger, starvation, killings, bloodletting and all the pain that the Buhari government has imposed on them.

    “The issue is not about who occupies what positions. It is about that candidate that understands the nuances of our nation. That candidate that can turn our economy around and make life better for Nigerians.

    “Having said that, it’s important to state that the PDP is interested in the value of life. The PDP is interested in the equitable distribution of wealth in the nation. The PDP is interested in making life better for the average Nigerian.

    “As such, every group and every geopolitical zone will be well captured and well represented when we form government.

    “This is the type of division that the Buhari administration has continued to set Nigerians against one another with all manner of ethnic crises. But Nigerians have come to resent this approach.

    “It is unfortunate that even the President is so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians that he does not realise that this is not the time Nigerians will be thinking about who comes from where.
    For now, Nigerian are only keen on good governance”.

  • Ayade berates PDP over primaries

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over what transpired in the primaries in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
    Although the governor never mentioned the party by its name at any point during, the occasion, he left no one in doubt, what he was referring to.
    Speaking about it for the first time publicly during the launch of the State Microfinance Bank in Calabar recently, Ayade, who called Agara to stand with him on the podium said, “I would like to call my brother, Chris Agara, to please come up here. Let us shame the devil. Let us shame the enemies. Let us shame all those who thought that they can put a fight between two brothers. We have conquered. Our politics has no business with our brotherhood. My brother you are welcome.

    “This is a brother indeed. He is the only brother that can also give his right eye to protect me. It is my brother that even in pains, with all enemies gathered in his house, he said instead of me to hurt my brother, I would rather not be politics. This is politics with ethics. This is true brotherhood. My brother who has said, he would rather forget politics and stand by his brother. But you will be shocked that people we have literally helped in the days of their poverty, they connived to conspire and carry rumours and stories to destroy brotherhood of over 30 years.

    Read Also: 2019: Ayade urges NYSC members to be neutral, firm

    “But God is strong. God has shamed them. If that is all we have achieved in this politics, that blood is stronger than politics. That is what Chris Agara has demonstrated. That inspite of it all, that he has spent more money than any other candidate in this state, a party that is so unfair and has got no conscience, a man came ready for election and you take out his name from the ballot. You take out his name because you know he is too powerful. When people use God given opportunities to do injustice, injustice would wait for them. So for my brother, I asked you to be strong and abide in the faith of God because it is God’s will. But for those who the devil has used to stop the instrumentality, challenge and direction of God at the fullness of time, Holy Ghost would visits them with their own mighty fire.

    “The devil will rise, the demon will rise, but Jesus when he rises, he would quench all of them and he has brought peace and calm, he has brought tranquility, he has restored brotherhood and in his own words, it has only deepened our brotherhood. We would put them to shame. He is going to direct, the campaign, direct the politics, direct the future, and together we would build a better Cross River State.”

  • Tambuwal warns PDP supporters against idle talks

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has warned supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state against gossips and idle talks.

    Tambuwal spoke on Thursday night during a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Sokoto.

    The governor said that avoidance of gossips and idle talks by the PDP members was necessary in order to consolidate the recent popularity attained by the party in the state.

    “Our meeting today was convened to dispel insinuations of an imaginary rift among the party leaders in the state.

    “Such rumors were being circulated by the opposition in order to create doubt in the minds of the people of Sokoto state against the PDP.

    Read Also:Tambuwal promises to mobilise support for Atiku

    “I therefore wish to generously clarify that the leaders and the leadership of PDP in Sokoto state are united and focused,” Tambuwal said.

    He said that his administration was committed to running an open door policy and welcomed constructive suggestions, pointing out that this could lead to the party’s victory during the 2019 general elections.

    Earlier the former governor of the state Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, reaffirmed that the party remained united in the state.

    Bafarawa explained that there was no misunderstanding between him and Tambuwal, adding that rumors of such a misunderstanding were false and baseless.

    He appealed to the people of the state to continue to support the governor in his efforts to preposition the economy of the state.

    NAN

  • 2019: Igbo support for Buhari still intact – Nwosu

    Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Uche Nwosu, Friday dismissed the reported endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by a section of Igbo leaders as a ploy to create the erroneous impression that the Igbos are backing the PDP.

    He said that the support for Buhari by the Igbo is still intact.

    Nwosu stated that the endorsement by the selected leaders at the Enugu Summit does not reflect the position of Ndigbo and will not affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Southeast.

    Read Also:PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over our candidate’s acceptance

    According to him, the Southeast has nothing tangible to show for its support for the PDP during its sixteen years in power to warrant the endorsement of its Presidential candidate or any other.

    The former Chief of Staff, who is also a stronger contender for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured that despite the post primary crisis rocking the party (APC) in the zone, President Buhari will still record landslide victory.

    In his words, “we are not losing sleep over the recent endorsement of Atiku by some Igbo leaders; the action will not change the reality on ground. The Southeast will deliver Buhari in 2019 because it is our best option. We cannot be distracted with the PDP’s Greek gift of Vice President, our focus as a people should be Igbo Presidency in 2023.

    “One important question we should be asking ourselves as Ndigbo is what did we benefit from the PDP for the 16 years it was in power to warrant the endorsement of its candidate, as against what we have recorded within the three years that President Buhari is in power”.

    He continued that, “most of the political decisions of some of our leaders are self-serving and not in the overall interest of the Igbo but this time we are committed to pursuing the best political option for the Igbo, which is supporting President Buhari’s second term.”

    Nwosu also added that, “the fact that majority of our party members are not happy with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole over the manner he handled the party primaries across the zone does not affect our support for President Buhari. In fact it is beyond personal considerations, it is about the interest of Ndigbo and we will deliver President Buhari in 2019. The support for President Buhari is borne out his unequalled integrity and uprightness, which is what the country needs most now”.

  • PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over Atiku’s acceptance in S/East, other zones

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the spontaneous and overwhelming acceptance accorded its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South East is a manifestation of the trajectory that awaits him in all the geo-political zones across the country.

    The opposition party said the acceptance demonstrated the settled resolve of Nigerians across board to vote out the President Muhammadu Buhari administration because for what it described as its manifest failures in governance.

    A statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the PDP was aware of how the acceptance of its candidate has sent jitters to the APC and President Buhari, adding that it has having belied claims that Mr President and the APC were making inroads into the Southeast.

    Read Also: PDP, a damaged product, says APC

    The statement said, “With the assemblage of all leaders of note in every sector from all the five states of the Southeast receiving our candidate, it is settled that President Buhari and the APC do not have any support in the zone.
    “This acceptance could not have been less significant because the Buhari-led APC administration has no achievement, of any sort, in the entire zone.

    “The PDP commends the people of the Southeast and Nigerians in general for their courage in collectively resolving to rally with Atiku and our other candidates to rescue our nation from shackles of the Buhari administration and return her to the path of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity”.

  • Buhari must go, Atiku tells Igbo leaders

    Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar stormed the venue of the Igbo elders, religious and traditional rulers just as they were about rounding up.
    He came with a message  “Whether I am president or not, Buhari must go in 2019. Our economy must be fixed.”
    He arrived in a large entourage that was led by the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus. In the entourage were the senate president, Bukola Saraki , Babangida Aliyu, Gbenga Daniel, Dino Melaye and other party chieftains.
    Atiku ‎told the full house of Igbo leaders that he and Peter Obi would correct all the anomalies visited on Nigeria by the Buhari administration.
    He pointed at the security apparati in the country and decried the situation where all the security chiefs were from one part of the country.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo lash out at restructuring advocates

    “It aches ‎my heart when I receive texts listing the lopsided appointments of security chiefs. The appointments do not reflect federalism. This is not federalism,” he said.
    He promised to bring back to life the coal industry, regretting that coal which use to power the whole of Eastern Nigeria before the war was abandoned.
    He promised to give all it takes to make Nigeria a united and progressive country.
    “A combination of Peter Obi and I, you can trust will fix the economy.”

  • PDP, a damaged product, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the main opposition Party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a damaged product showing no regret for its retrogressive old practices which brought the country to its knees.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in a statement in Abuja that it is becoming increasingly clear to the electorate that the PDP is not a party to either be trusted or taken seriously as it has missed out on the opportunity to apologize and show remorse for the cruelty it wrought on our country while in power.

    Issa-Onilu accused the PDP of spreading fake news, misinformation and distortion of facts as focal campaign strategies for the 2019 elections.

    The APC said it supports ongoing global media attention and efforts to check the proliferation of fake news particularly as the country gears up for campaigns ahead of the 2019 elections

    “The consequences of fake news are often dire as it inflames perceived divisions in our communities; fuels hate speech, leads to violence and distorts democratic processes, among others.

    “Disturbingly, the country’s main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its discredited agents, have continued to deploy the loathsome strategy of fake news, misinformation and distortion of facts as focal campaign strategies for the 2019 elections.

    “While the APC is not surprised at the PDP’s typical theatrics in an attempt to evade scrutiny for its 16 years of mis-governance, it is instructive to the electorate that no lessons have been learnt by the prodigal party. It is indeed clear to the electorate that the PDP is not a party to either be trusted or taken seriously as it has missed out on the opportunity to apologize and show remorse for the cruelty it wrought on our country while in power.

    “What we witness instead is its weekly disgraceful and embarrassing shadow chasing through fake news and spurious allegations. PDP cannot pull the wool over the eyes of the good people of this country. It can cry wolf for all it cares, Nigerians won’t be deceived.

    Read Also: Suspect held for attacking APC defectors

    “PDP remains a damaged product showing no regret for its retrogressive old practices which brought the country to its knees in terms of our infrastructure, economy, security, values and standing among nations of the world.

    “Instead of engaging the electorate on serious issues of development such as health, education, economy, foreign policy, security, corruption, pension, job creation, infrastructure development among others, the PDP and its agents have chosen to populate the mainstream and social media space with ludicrous fake news and infantile conspiracy theories, moving from one absurdity to another.

    “While the PDP ups its game as a crybaby, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is busy building a new Nigeria for our collective progress, peace, unity and prosperity. We are restoring our country to its deserved standing among the comity of progressive nations; fighting corruption and repairing our value system, diversifying our economic revenue base, creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians, particularly the poor; bringing succour to the insurgency-ravaged North-East; reforming the oil industry, power, defence, pensions, and other critical sectors; creating a world-class transportation system, amongst others.”

  • Ekiti governorship election dispute: APC opens case Thursday

    …INEC closes case after 16 witnesses, 31 exhibits

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will on Thursday opened its defence in the ongoing hearing of a petition challenging its victory in the governorship election held in Ekiti State on June 14 this year.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Olusola Kolapo are, by their petition, marked: EPT/ EKS/GOV/01/18 challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare APC’s candidate, Kayode Fayemi as winner of the election.

    INEC is listed as first respondent in the petition, while APC and Fayemi are listed as 2nd and 3rd respondents in the petition being heard by the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which now sits in Court 17, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja.

    On Thursday, APC’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) indicated the party’s readiness to open its defence after lawyer to INEC, Charles Edosomwan (SAN) announced the closure of his client’s case.

    Owonikoko told the tribunal that the APC was ready to open its defence on Thursday. He said the party would make judicious use of the 10 days allocated to it to conduct its defence.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Thursday, Edosomwan tendered more documents before announcing the closure of his client’s case.

    Edosomwan tendered certified true copies of Form EC40G and Form RF40G, documents detailing where the governorship election was cancelled.

    He also tendered Form EC40G for Okemesi 3 Registration Centre and Aramoko Ward 2 in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

    The INEC lawyer equally tendered Form RF40G for Imesi Registration Area and Ilu Omoba Registration Area in Gbonyin LGA.

    Owonikoko and lawyer to Fayemi, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) did not object to the admission, as exhibits, the documents tendered by Edosomwan.

    Lawyer to the PDP and Kolapo, Rowland Otaru (SAN) objected to the admission of the documents and promised to supply his reasons for objecting at the address stage.

    Tribunal’s Chairman, Suleiman Belgore admitted the documents as exhbits, after which he invited the 2nd respondent (APC) to open its case.

    In response to the judge’s invitation, Owonikoko stood up and promised APC’s readiness to commence it’s defence on Thursday.

    Justice Belgore then adjourned to Thursday (November 15).

     

     

  • Show your scorecard, PDP tells Osinbajo

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to show Nigerians the scorecard of the three years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, instead of bandying figures of debts incurred by the past PDP administration.
    The opposition party asked the Vice President to desist from  “peddling rumours” in an attempt to cover the rot and failures of the present administration.
    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, instead of juggling figures and making false claims about the nation’s debt profile.
    The statement said, “It is already a settled fact that the nation’s debt profile escalated under the profligate, uncreative and incompetent Buhari administration, which crippled our once robust economy, pushed it into recession, turned our nation from a growing economy to a debtor country and world’s poverty capital.

    “Despite being busted, Vice President Osinbajo is labouring to deceive Nigerians by converting domestic borrowings in Naira, under the APC, to US dollars, so that the very high exchange rate will make it look smaller in dollars.

    “This is despite verified figures even from agencies of government showing an accumulation of 29.6% debt under Buhari as against the 20.14% under the Yar’Adua and Jonathan administration and the 0.44 % under the Obasanjo administration.
    “Nigerians are therefore alarmed that Osinbajo, as a Professor of Law, cannot guarantee productivity, credibility, transparency and honesty in governance, but has rather allowed himself to be turned into a vendor of propaganda and false claims for a corrupt administration, now hanging on straws.

    “Prof. Osinbajo is reminded that he is the head of Buhari’s bungling economic team and should therefore, not in anyway, parade himself as if he has no blame at all in the manifest failures of this administration.

    “What Prof. Osinbajo has refused to come to terms with is that Nigerians already know that the Buhari administration, wherein he is a major actor, is the most corrupt in the history of our nation and that no amount of concealments, propaganda and false claims can erase that fact.

    “Furthermore, Nigerians are no longer swayed by Prof. Osinbajo’s homilies and lip service to fiscal federalism, which he is now mouthing, just because the 2019 general election is around the corner.

    “Instead of lending himself to be used to beguile Nigerians, Prof. Osinbajo should use the remaining days of the discredited APC administration to advise himself and President Buhari on life after office, especially as leaders, who manifestly failed their people, when they trusted them the most”.