The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • PDP gives INEC 24 hours to publish list of ad hoc staff

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to within 24 hours publish the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that would play any form of role in the forthcoming general elections at all levels.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, who made the call at a press conference on Monday in Abuja said that the list should be published for verification by stakeholders.

    Ologbondiyan said that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list within 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that the commission had been compromised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He accused the INEC leadership of plotting to rig the forthcoming general elections for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He also called on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on its watch list in the conduct of the elections.

    Ologbondiyan however, urged all members of the PDP, and all meaning Nigerians to vote for the party and protect their votes.

    Reacting to the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that less than two weeks to the general elections, the commission could not afford to be distracted by baseless allegations.

    Oyekanmi said that the Commission was not a political party and would not allow itself to be dragged into unnecessary controversies at a time like this.

    “The INEC has been conducting general elections since the past 20 years.

    “During this time, especially since 2010 and particularly from 2015, the commission has introduced many innovations to improve the electoral system.

    “One of such innovations is to ensure that no member of any political party is engaged to participate in the conduct of elections.

    “I therefore call on any political party or individuals with information on how the Commission plans to or has engaged members of any political party as ad-hoc staff for the upcoming general elections to make such information public and mention specific names.

    “It is not enough to make wild allegations. It is incumbent upon those who make such allegations to also provide the proof,” Oyekanmi said.

    He assured that INEC would conduct free, fair and credible general elections, and for which it needed the support of all Nigerians.(NAN)

  • PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi, on Monday said the party would address the challenges facing the economy, if elected.

    Obi gave the assurance in Lagos while addressing traders at the Alaba International market, Ojo, Lagos.

    Obi was accompanied on the campaign visit to the market by the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje.

    Obi, who addressed the traders in Igbo, said the PDP was the answer to the various problems bedevilling the economy as the party had a workable blueprint to cause a turnaround.

    Besides, he said the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had a good understanding of the economy “having successfully managed the economy as Vice-President in the past“.

    Obi added that Atiku had managed several private companies successfully and that he would bring his acumen and experience to bear on the economy.

    Obi said with his experience garnered as former governor of Anambra State and in business, he and Atiku would put the economy in the path of recovery.

    Obi said a vote for PDP would mean that the issues of high poverty rate, unemployment and other signs of poor economy were tacked holistically.

    The PDP candidate added that Agbaje was passionate about what he called a free and progressive Lagos and urged residents to vote for him.

    Read also: NLC may endorse Wabba, others for second term

    Speaking, Agbaje said Lagos residents could trust him to deliver real and impactful governance, if elected.

    He promised to fix roads leading to markets in Amuwo-Odofin area of the state, while assuring traders of the right environment for their businesses to thrive.

    “We are going to fix roads leading to markets in this area. We will fix all roads to ease your businesses, regardless of whether they are state or federal roads.

    “Since you pay your taxes to the state, we will respond to your needs. We will not abandon you, that I can promise,” he said.

    Agbaje said he would protect the interests of all who reside jn the state, irrespective of whether they were indigenes or non-indigenes.

    He said the state thrived on its cosmopolitan nature as people from different parts of the country had contributed to her development.

    The PDP governorship candidate urged residents to vote for Atiku/Obi, him and other PDP candidates for progress not only in the state but for the country.

    NAN reports that both Obi and Agbaje later visited traders in ASPAMDA market and Trade Fair complex.

    They urged the traders to vote for the PDP in the general elections, assuring them the party would implement policies to boost the economy, if elected.

    They also said the party would give the necessary support to entrepreneurs and businessmen, who, they said, were the engine room of the economy (NAN)

  • PDP exposes INEC’s ‘rigging’ plans

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted of alleged fresh plots by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the main opposition party, INEC has been taking directives from the Buhari Presidency and the APC on how to manipulate the electoral process at various levels.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja Monday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the electoral body of having collected a list of people that will serve as electoral officials, including ad-hoc staff and returning officers at the polling units, from APC state governors and candidates, across the federation.

    Stating that the directive was handed to INEC by the Presidency, the PDP claimed to be privy to how the lists were populated with APC members and agents of the APC candidates, after clearance by the APC leaders in various states.

    Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP vehemently rejects this wicked plot by the Buhari Presidency, which is tailored to ensure institutional manipulation of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and collation of results at the polling units, which is the base of the elections.

    Read Also: We’re ready for polls, INEC reassures

    “The PDP holds that by following the directive of the APC in such dubious rigging scheme, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has violated section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act (as amended) and shows that he is in clear deficit of the required political will to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

    “This is especially in the light of the boasting by agents of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to give the INEC chairman what they describe as the ‘Onnoghen treatment, and frame him, if he fails to comply with their rigging plans”.

    The PDP demanded of INEC to, within 48 hours, publish the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that will play any form of role in the election at all levels for verification by stakeholders.

    The party insisted that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list with 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that it has been compromised by the APC and this could lead to a very serious crisis with very dire consequences, as the PDP will never allow anybody to rig it out in the election.

    “The PDP wants Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that the fate of our nation lies in his hands. It is left to him to decide whether he would end as a national hero or as a villain.

    “Furthermore, the PDP calls on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on their watch list and proceed to impose travel ban on them as well as hold them directly responsible should there be any form of rigging in the February 16, 2019 Presidential elections.

    “Finally, the PDP directs all its members, teeming supporters and all well-meaning Nigerians across the nation to get ready to vote out President Buhari and protect their votes with all the energy available to them in the defence of our democracy and freedom as a people.

    “If President Buhari believes he is popular, he should make himself available for a free, fair, transparent and credible election. Anything short of this is completely unacceptable to Nigerians.

    “This is because Nigerians have already reached a consensus to vote out the incompetence, hunger, nepotism, pretense and manifest lies which the Buhari President truly represents”.

  • ‘Those endorsing Atiku are political jobbers’

    The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has dismissed the Sunday’s endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar by a group of regional blocks, describing it as a gathering of ‘shameless exponents of political adventurism.’

    The group said those endorsing the former Vice President are political jobbers, freelance activist and free-wheeling influence peddlers.

    It added it not surprising members of the socio-cultural groups the individuals claimed to be representing have already disowned the purported endorsement.”

    In a statement by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said: “These are men who in spite of their advanced age are known to be political middlemen who have been out of job in the last three and a half years of the President Buhari administration.

    “That virtually all of them have been disowned by the core membership of the socio-cultural group they are supposed to be representing say a lot about their credibility.

    “One of them Pogo Bitrus, who claimed to be the President of the Middle Belt Forum is from Borno State but is presenting himself as the leader of the umbrella body of the people of North Central Nigeria, as the name suggests.

    Read Also: Endorsement of Atiku, a fraud, says APC

    “It is even on record that Bitrus was the leader of the Chibok community in Abuja but was removed because of his romance with the Jonathan administration at the height of the clamour for the return of the abducted Chibok girls in 2014.

    “As for the Afenifere, it is clear that the duo of Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Yinka Odumakin are using the name as influence-vending franchise on behalf of a group of people they have no mandate to represent”.

    BMO stated the arrowheads of the endorsement are PDP members and sympathisers who were also in the forefront of support for the failed re-election bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “This purported endorsement, which Atiku Abubakar is already celebrating, is nothing more than a case of party members backing their Presidential candidates by subterfuge, as is usual with the PDP.

    “Only recently we saw the PDP faction of Ohaneze led by John Nwodo endorse Atiku Abubakar, but few days later, the Anambra State Government and Ohaneze Youth Council led the deluge of dissenting voices which insisted that the people of South East should be allowed to vote in line with their conscience.

    “As for Ango Abdullahi, the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has questioned his right to speak for and on behalf of the Northern Region.

    “So these so-called Nigerian leaders and elders, led by a known PDP Chieftain, Edwin Clark that claimed they opted for their party’s Presidential candidate because he is ‘capable’, are clearly not representing anybody aside from themselves.

    “And just like in 2015, the fake endorsement is dead on arrival because the people who matter and who heartily received President Buhari at campaign rallies across the country are ready to make their votes count on February 16 by giving him a resounding victory”.

  • Two injured as PDP, APC supporters clash in Delta

    At least two persons were reportedly injured in Abraka community, Ethiope council area of Delta state on Monday during a clash between supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Also, the week-long violence, which hit some parts of Effurun in Uvwie council area of the state of persisted on Monday as suspected political thugs engaged in gun battle in different axis of the area, spreading panic.

    The Nation gathered trouble started in Abraka, the host community to the Delta State University (DELSU), when a chieftain of the PDP identified as Elder Kelly was assaulted by suspected APC thugs.

    The incident led to a reprisal on some leaders of the APC in the community by suspected PDP thugs.

    According to a community source, the ensuing free-for-all left two persons with various degrees of injuries.

    The source said: “Followers of the PDP member felt he was assaulted by a member of the APC. This caused the clash between the parties.”

    When reached, spokesman of the Delta state police command, Mr Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), confirmed two casualties and injuries.

    However, he said the situation was under police control.

    Read Also: Obi is our son – Delta traditional rulers

    “Let me start by saying that as we speak, peace and calm have returned to Abraka.

    “I think it is important to tell our people that it is an election, not war, whoever wins eventually is still a Delta person. There really no need for all these violence,” Aniamaka said.

    At Effurun, the supremacy battle among political thugs loyal to the APC and the PDP continued on Monday around Jakpa junction, Effurun Market, Orhumarho and the adjoining areas.

    The development shut businesses with residents of the area stricken with fear.

    A community source informed The Nation that gun-wielding thugs were running after each other in the area, shooting sporadically and causing panic in the area.

    Although no casualty was reported on Monday, a resident of Uti area, off PTI Road informed of consistent police harassment of unharmed members of the public.

    He narrated how a policeman shot a resident who went to draw money from an ATM machine in the leg.

  • No rift over campaign funding, says PDP

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has denied rift among its leaders over the handling of campaign funds, describing media reports on the alleged rift as laughable, infantile and diversionary.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused unnamed agents of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) of having sponsored the said report.

    The party said for the APC and agents of the Buhari campaign to descend to the level of fabricating stories to create a non-existent scenario, showed that the APC and the Buhari Presidency have finally come to their wits end and are now suffering a pre-defeat trauma.

    The statement said, “The PDP is aware that the Buhari Presidency and the APC have become so frustrated over their dwindled electoral fortune in the face of the soaring popularity of the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar that they are now attempting to inject crisis into the PDP campaign in order to divert public attention from their own failures and rejection.

    “For President Buhari’s information, the Atiku Abubakar campaign is owned and driven by the Nigerian public and will never have the kind of rifts that have been ravaging the APC campaign, where their leaders, including their National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, went on the run from security agencies over allegations of siphoning funds from aspirants and candidates.

    Read Also: PDP to Buhari: You can’t rig this election

    “Unlike the Buhari Campaign Organization, which is practically a den of looters and sanctuary of persons indicted for corruption, which have been running its campaigns with looted funds, the Atiku Presidential campaign have been running a transparent and people-driven campaign, anchored on the volunteered support of overwhelming majority of Nigerians”.

    The main opposition party counseled President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to note that their resort to smear campaign will not help their cause.

    Nigerians, the PDP said, would never be distracted from their collective resolve to vote in Atiku Abubakar as the next President.

    The party restated its confidence in Atiku’s proven capacity and will to return the country to the path of national cohesion and economic prosperity.

  • Rig with IDPs and face the consequences, PDP tells INEC

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has dared the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rig the 2019 general through the use of  the Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs).

    It said the electoral umpire will face the wrath of Nigerians.

    National chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, who spoke at a campaign rally in Bénin City said the consequence of rigging the elections would be grave as the people will definitely pour out their anger.

    He said Alhaji Atiku, when elected, would rescue the country from poverty, hunger, and mass killings.

    “INEC should not use the IDPs to rig the elections; otherwise there will be wahala (trouble)”

    Presidential candidate one PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who described himself as the bridge between between the younger generation and the elderly told the people to vote for him and all PDP candidates.

    He urged Nigeria youths should strive to  takeover the mantle of leadership of the nation for her growth and survival.

    Alhaji Abubakar appealed to Edo people to guard against all forms of intimidation and manipulations on elections day at all polling units

    Abubakar who promised to turn around the country’s socio-political and economic framework for a better future for all Nigerians said he would tackle hunger, unemployment, killings, insecurity and other social vices.

    The former Vice President said the problems were inflicted on the citizens by the present All Progressives Congress led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Abubakar said he would ensure the country remained a safe investment haven for small, medium and large scale businesses while other economic benefits are to come the way of all sectors of the economy to boost the welfare of the citizens.

    According to him, “I have told Nigerians that I am a bridge between the generation and my generation. Virtually all of you are young Nigerians and my government will ensure that 70 percent of youths are in my government. It means we have to prepare you to take over the reins of power, to take over the leadership of this country so you have your businesses and enterprises so that while you are doing your businesses, you will succeed.

    “I want you to continue on the path of prosperity. If you vote stay there, don’t go until they declare the results. You see how they brought people from Niger. APC has caused hardship, drive them away, send them away. Kick them out. Buhari must go. PDP people I love you, I trust you,” he stated.

    The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Osi Orbih assured Alhaji Atiku and his PDP campaign train that members of the party are ready to ensure its victory at the polls come next month.

     

     

     

  • Over 3,500 PDP members defect to APC in Delta

    …as Ogboru storms Udu/Ughelli South

     

    No fewer than 3,500 members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC, during Chief Great Ogboru campaign train to Udu and Ughelli South local government areas.

    Ogboru and the senator representing Delta Central senatorial District at the National Assembly, Ovie Omo-Agege also said that the party will not be intimidated in the forthcoming elections by the PDP rigging tactics.

    Speaking at Ughelli south stadium in Otu-Jeremi and Otor-Udu while on governorship campaigns they said, “Members of the APC and Deltans will resist any intimidation from the PDP because APC is poise to liberate Delta State from the hand of PDP monopolistic rule.

    According to Ogboru, “The PDP is a party of darkness and it is only in APC Deltans can see light and development and he appealed to those who have sold the Permanent Voters Card to go and retrieve them back because votes will count in the coming elections.

    “Deltans should give the same support to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC administration as they are supporting us because if he fails we fail.

    “Do not worry about Delta liberation because if you vote me and APC, Delta state will move forward”.

    Also, Senator Agege said, “Buhari sent us message and we are speaking under his authority because we have his mandate.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has done well for the Urhobos and Deltans in general and the only way to pay him back is to vote for him for the second tenure.

    “Almost every road in Delta State are been constructed by the NDDC under Buhari administration and the APC”.

    At Otu-Jerem and Udu, over 3,500 former PDP faithful and leaders led by Chief Freeborn Ayoma and Hon Alfred Urhukpe defected to the APC.

  • Atiku denies perpetrating corruption while serving in Customs Service

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed allegation that he used his position in the Nigerian Customs Service to perpetrate acts of corruption.

    Abubakar made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja at a town hall meeting organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Daria Media with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

    The town hall meeting tagged: “The Candidates“is a two-hour televised series which features Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of four leading political parties.

    The parties were selected from the results of multiple polls aggregated by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the custom allegation followed the controversial importation of 53 suit cases into the country in 1984 by a first class traditional ruler in the North.

    Abubakar was the Customs Officer in Charge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport when the suitcases were brought into the country.

    He also refuted allegations that one of his wives had a case of money laundering to face in the United States of America, and could therefore, not travel abroad since the allegation.

    It would be recalled that a United States Senate report had accused Atiku Abubakar of laundering over $40 million in suspicious funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008, using his fourth wife, Jennifer.

    According to the report, which was written by the US Senate Sub-committee on Investigations, most of the funds were through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts.

    Read also: 2019 Election: Ganduje urges Nigerians to vote for Buhari‎

    Abubakar, in the town hall meeting, however, refuted the allegation, saying his wife had never been indicted or accused of such offence.

    “My Wife has not been indicted and she has not been charged, so there is no way you can hold her accountable, she has been traveling to America very often,“ he said.

    The PDP presidential candidate stressed that he had the experience to ensure the development of the county and make it the envy of other nations.

    According to him, the present All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has not been able to deliver on its three cardinal campaign promises in 2015, which included security, economy and fighting corruption.

    He said the administration had also performed below expectations, adding that he had the business experience which he acquired over time to ensure the development of the country.

    Abubakar said that he is the bridge between the future and the present, stressing that he had all it would take to get the country working again.

    He also noted that there was so much bottleneck in the country`s judicial system, adding that his administration would change the narrative if he became the country`s next president.

    He further said that he would introduce a judicial reform that would address the bottlenecks in the judiciary, using legislative process as was obtainable in other countries.

    Abubakar, who was the country`s Vice President under the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration also said that if elected as the country`s next president, he would sustain the fight against corruption.

    NAN reports that Abubakar had a fractured relationship with Obasonjo, his former boss, but had to mend fences with him after he won the PDP ticket to fly the party`s flag in the coming presidential election slated for Feb. 16.

    Mr Peter Obi, Abubakar`s running mate and a former Governor of Anambra, who also featured at the town hall meeting, said Atiku had the capacity to address the country`s growing unemployment statistics.

    “If you look at his cumulative experience, his age notwithstanding, you will agree with me that he had  what it will take to address the country`s developmental challenges,“ he said.

    Obi also refuted allegations that as governor of Anambra, he used his position to register a company with most of his family members as shareholders, saying he left large sums of money in the state account at the end of his tenure.

    The platform provided an opportunity for the studio audience which included Civil Society Organisations, Diplomatic Corps and some members of the general public who had applied online to directly interact with the presidential candidate and his running mate.

    The event was also streamed online at www.dtv.media to enable Nigerians in the diaspora and those not near television screens to participate.(NAN)

  • Atiku has learnt his lessons, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said he could vouch for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to reposition the country.

    Obasanjo made the statement in Lagos while speaking at the 2019 Island Club Quarterly Business Lecture.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Abubakar had earlier delivered his lecture themed: “My vision to get Nigeria Working again”.

    Obasanjo, in his remark, said he believed that Atiku had the experience, the capacity and passion to move the country forward.

    He said Nigerians should no longer find his support for the former vice president strange going by what he said or wrote about him in the past.

    He reiterated that he stood firmly by whatever he said in the past about Atiku and indeed President Buhari.

    He, however, said the PDP candidate had demonstrated what was expected of a committed and sincere leader by owning up to his past mistakes and showing remorse.

    Obasanjo added that Atiku had not only apologised to his political party and the nation but also apologised to him for the past disagreements he made as his deputy.

    He said that Atiku was not infallible like every other human being and that he, (Obasanjo) would be playing God by not forgiving the former Vice-President.

    “I have been called names because of my position on Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa.

    “Everything I have said as far as I have knowledge of Atiku, I have not retracted and I stand firmly by them because they are to the best of my knowledge true.

    “And neither has what I have said and written about Buhari been controverted, if anything, they have been confirmed and proved beyond any shadow of doubt.

    “But Atiku has done things which are absolutely imperative for a leader to be followed and believed.

    “First, know who you are and present yourself as you are – a human being in blood and flesh and susceptible to human mistakes and human frailties.

    “Don’t cover up with sanctimonious veneer of bogus integrity, incorruptibility, uprightness, goodness and false figures and statistics, all of which are contrived to deceive, to cheat, to plunder and to destroy.

    “Atiku never claimed to be a saint and I never described him as such. I will never so describe any human being alive let alone calling him a Messiah.

    “On an occasion in the past when I said that someone was not a Messiah, some Nigerians out of bad “belle’’ were up in arms.

    “For me, as a Christian, the only Messiah I know and have is Jesus Christ and even then, the man aspect of Him was imperfect while the divine aspect of Him was perfectly messianic.

    “Secondly, a leader must be honest to himself and to the people he serves or he wants to serve.

    “He must identify and acknowledge his situation, mistakes, shortcomings and inadequacy; show remorse where and when he has erred, seek forgiveness and repent; and not passing the bulk or keep blaming others and fail to accept responsibility.

    “Atiku accepts responsibility for his mistakes, shows remorse and seeks forgiveness from his political party and subsequently from Nigerians.

    “He asks for forgiveness from me and as a believer, a Christian as such, I forgave him in accordance with the teaching and instruction of my Saviour.

    “For, if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.

    “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins (Matt 6:14-15 NIV).

    “If anybody blames me for forgiving Atiku, I leave such a person with God Almighty, especially as both Christian and Islamic clerics joined Atiku to visit me to seek forgiveness.

    “Anybody who does not forgive when forgiveness is sought with contrite heart cannot be a true believer and should not expect the forgiveness of God,” he said.

    He said past disagreements notwithstanding, Atiku demonstrated great leadership qualities when he was in office as Vice-President.

    Read Also: PDP: Atiku is a consummate democrat

    Obasanjo said he believed with the experience and courage of Abubakar, he remained the best candidate to move the country forward.

    “I must reiterate that Atiku is not a saint. Who is? But from what I know of Atiku, he will be a performer in all respect. I can say that again from my personal experience.

    “He knows the problems and he handled some of them in the past.

    “We now know that both Buhari and Atiku have issues and all of us as human beings have one issue or the other in different magnitudes.

    “But judging both of them empirically and for the task at hand, Atiku will perform much better than Buhari.

    “And he will seek for good and able people around the country and beyond and make use of them to achieve his mission and vision for the general good of Nigerians and the country,” he said.

    Obasanjo claimed that the state of affairs under All Progressives Congress (APC) had been disappointing and called on the citizens to effect a change with their votes.

    He also commended Island Club for providing the platform for leaders to articulate their visions for the country through the lecture.

    He said the series of the Club’s lecture had helped enriched discourse on nation-building.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prominent Nigerians at the lecture included Senate President, Bukola Saraki, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce.

    Others at the lecture included a PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George, PDP candidate in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje and a former governor of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.