The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Ochei: PDP can’t retain power in Delta

    DELTA State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Victor Ochei has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot retain power in the state.

    He spoke at Ughelli during an interactive session with the APC faithful in Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency.

    According to him, “no previous administration in the state has so depleted our commonwealth as this Okowa”s.

    Ochei said it is disheartening that the Okowa administration has inflicted unimaginable hardship on Deltans by scrapping some programmes as the Edu Marshall, Free Maternal Care,, Free Education and selling off Delta Line, the state transport company where over three thousand workers were rendered jobless.

    The aspirant urged party supporters to ensure that this form of governance boosted adding that the first step towards accompplishig the task is to choose him (Ochei) as the APC gubernatorial flagbearer in Delta State.

     

  • Saraki: Nigeria needs vibrant, youthful President to develop

    •     Senate president condemns killing of aid worker in Borno

    The Senate President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Bukola Saraki has said Nigeria cannot develop except with a vibrant, youthful and full-time President.

    The Senate president said even developed democracies now rush for energetic, vibrant, focused and capable youthful leaders to have an edge over other countries.

    Saraki spoke on Monday night during his visit to Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum at the home of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja.

    The Senate president expressed worry that Nigeria had become disunited without good leadership capacity.

    According to him, there is insensitivity and impunity all over the country.

    He said: “Where we are as a country today is too serious for us to take lightly. The Nigeria that we have today has never been so disunited. When you go to many parts of the country, people will tell you, ‘Do I truly belong? Are we part of this country called Nigeria?’

    “On top of that, over a number of years, we have seen series of impunity. People are not held accountable. There is no inclusiveness in government. There is insensitivity and lack of empathy. These are big issues…

    “So, the first thing that is key to us is how to unite this country. What kind of President can unite this country?

    “These are the issues that are driving suspicion, pulling us apart. Anything else we talk, development, among others, can’t happen unless we bring everybody back.

    “As such, he must somebody who can represent, somebody in any part of the country can say ‘I think he represents Nigeria’;  ‘I think he will be fair to me, whether I’m a Christian or Muslim’ or ‘I think he will be fair to me, whether I’m a northerner or southerner’. That gives us an opportunity of a platform to move forward.”

    He added: “Secondly, more importantly, I think what has been one of our major problem is capacity. I think over the years we have voted on sentiments. We have left capacity and ability and used sentiments to decide who leads us. That is why we are where we are today.

    “But we need s President who has the capacity, has the vision that can drive and perform.”

    Without capacity on the part of the leadership, he said, that Nigeria cannot progress even though God has continued to be blessed the nation.

    “There is no country that can provide for its people, take them out of poverty the way we are going about it.”

    Also, Saraki condemned the killing of a humanitarian worker from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, by Boko Haram terrorists.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate president noted that the killing represents a new low by Boko Haram insurgents.

    He urged the military to rescue Leah Sharibu and the other two Red Cross workers still in Boko Haram captivity.

    Saraki said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, the 25-year-old female international aid worker who was abducted and killed by Boko Haram.

    “Such horrific actions have no place in Nigeria. I join all Nigerians and the international community in condemning this killing in the strongest possible terms.

    “The killing of aid workers, who choose to go into trouble spots in Nigeria and around the world represents a new low by the insurgents, as humanitarian workers are some of the most courageous and selfless people on the planet.

    “Additionally, the continued abduction of the late Saifura’s ICRC colleagues, Hauwa and Alice, by the militants, alongside the captivity of the young Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, must end.”

  • Atiku vows to end nepotism, if elected as president

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said he will end nepotism, ethnicity and religious fanaticism in Nigeria, if elected president in 2019.

    Atiku spoke in Jos yesterday while addressing party faithful and supporters at the party’s state secretariat.

    While wooing the delegates, he pledged to unite the country, if elected, adding that his administration would not be an era for promoting religious, tribal or ethnic interests or showcasing outright nepotism.

    “If I eventually get the ticket of our party and become president, I will end nepotism, ethnicity and religious fanaticism which we are presently facing.

    “I am urging you delegates to vote for me during the primaries; I want to give you the Nigeria that you deserve; my administration, if elected, would not be an era for promoting religious interest.

    “It will not be an administration for promoting interest on tribal or ethnic lines or showcasing outright nepotism; it will be an era of uniting the people and bringing everyone together.”

    The presidential aspirant appealed to party leaders and delegates in the state to support his bid to clinch the party’s ticket during its primary election.

    He added that he possessed the political, economic and administrative strength to lead Nigeria from poverty to prosperity.

    The state party Chairman, Mr Damishi Sango,  urged Atiku and other aspirants to work hard to ensure unity in the party after the presidential primaries.

  • My heart with Buhari in 2015 polls, Says Akpabio

    Says PDP didn’t do even one kilometre road in Akwa Ibom

     

    The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Monday said that his heart was with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election despite being a member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    He spoke with State House correspondents after leading elders and leaders from his state to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akpabio, was the Senate Minority leader before his defection to the APC, in August.

    He alleged that throughout the PDP’s 16 years in office at the federal level, there was not even one kilometre road project by the federal government in his state.

    He was optimistic that Akwa Ibom will be the first state from South South that will be won be the APC in the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: I sacrificed my Presidential ambition for Buhari – Ribadu

    According to him, what remained of the PDP in the state was mere carcass as the body and soul of the party had joined the APC.

    He said that over two hundred and sixty six thousand new members have registered with the APC after him and some other people dumped the PDP.

    He assured President Buhari that no single indigene of South South will vote against President Buhari in 2019, even as he said that there would not be any defection from the APC that will affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

     

    Details later

     

  • ‘Don’t burst bubble, you don’t have immunity against calamity’

    A leading Presidential Aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid bursting the bubble capable of truncating Nigeria’s democracy.

    He condemned what he termed as intimidation of the opposition, saying that, “I am cautioning APC, they should not be smiling and grinning, we must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power, and think that they are immune from calamity.”

    Makarfi, former Kaduna State Governor and 2-term Senator (Kaduna North), also said that Nigeria’s survival will depend on how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies conduct the 2019 general elections, saying that their conduct may mar or make the nation’s peace.

    Makarfi who spoke to Journalists in Kaduna on Monday said INEC must conduct free and fair general elections in 2019, just as he urged the security agencies to be professional in their conduct.

    The former governor who scored both INEC and security agencies very low in their performances so far, noted that, their conducts could make and mar the country either before, during and after the elections.

    The former Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP noted that this could spell doom for the nation as the action or inaction of these two agencies could threaten the country’s peace and survival.

    Speaking on the APC led government, Makarfi urged the government to desist from intimidating or harassing opposition governors, saying that, they should always remember that there tomorrow as, ‘What goes around comes around.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi

    He said, the sitting government should not use the comfort of power to denigrate PDP governors, saying, PDP governors, aspirants must be allowed to operate according to the dictates of the country’s constitution.

    He said, “I was shocked when I saw the news in an online medium that the 2019 elections may be postponed, but thank God, I later saw INEC coming out to deny making such pronouncement. That not withstanding, that was the most dangerous news I ever read, that was very reckless.

    “You see, the interest of Nigeria is larger than interest of any of us. How we conduct this elections and how we manage this electoral process will largely determine the fate of Nigeria.

    “INEC and the security agencies must know that, the fate of this country squarely lies on their shoulders. It is not even about history being kind to them, it is about how they will end up. Therefore, they must conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    “When you see some moves like freezing of accounts, monitoring of opposition Governors. Because, I have never heard where an APC Governor’s account is being frozen. If Governors do certain things, is it only PDP Governors? The APC Governors may be doing worse, but you never hear that happens to any APC Governor. While elections are approaching, you don’t hear of APC members, aspirants accounts being frozen. But here (in PDP), even accounts of family members of aspirants are being frozen. They should remember that, there is tomorrow, because what goes around comes around and questioning that, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you are doing anything to anybody, do it to everybody. Our governors must be left alone to work, our aspirants must be left alone to do their politicking and campaign unmolested like other aspirants.

    “From what I am seeing, I am not comfortable, and if Nigerians keep quiet, then it is like harbouring what is wrong. People must speak out. If it happens to someone today, it can happen to you tomorrow. You don’t have to be in politics, but it means, once you dissent, anything can happen to you. As journalists, yours is to report but once you keep on reporting objectively, then something can happen to you.

    “So, for me, I think INEC and security agencies have a lot to do and so far, I am not impressed, but they must remember that the fate of Nigeria lies squarely on their shoulders. PDP and other political parties will do what is right.

    “I am cautioning APC, they should not be smiling and grining, we must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power, and think that they are immune from calamity.

    “We are all not immune from calamity; nobody knows when calamity will come. We all have a stake, we all have responsibility, be you PDP, APC or any other political party and especially INEC and security agencies and other agencies that are used to muzzle down the opposition, they must remember that the country comes first, not any government or political party”.

  • Lagos is now one party state, says Salvador

    The former Lagos State chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Moshood Salvador on Saturday said the state has become a one party state, following his defection with  thousands of PDP members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Addressing party thousands of party members and stalwarts at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos. He said with his exit, the PDP was completely dead in Lagos.

    Salvador added that in the 2015 election, the PDP and APC polled over 98 percent votes, leaving less than two percent for the other parties.

    He said with his defection with thousands of former PDP members to the APC, there was no more opposition for the ruling APC in Lagos.

    “I must say with all emphasis that Lagos is now a one party state.  With these people that move with me to join the progressives PDP is dead in Lagos.

    “We don’t expect people to join any other political party except the APC. We have records of the abysmal performance of other political parties in Lagos during the last election.

    “We are going to secure 3.5 million vote for Lagos State governorship candidate and over five million for the President in the 2019 election.

    Read Also: Lagos Akwaaba Travel Fair ends on happy note

    “This will be my contribution to the APC in the 2019 election. We hope to garner 99.5 percent votes for the party.”

    Salvador urged the Southwest to return to the progressives, noting that they have noting to gain with the PDP.

    He urged Osun State electorate to vote the APC candidate in the September 22 election, noting that the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration had impacted on the state.

    In his remarks, Lagos APC chairman, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun said Salvador had always been a progressive and would remain in fold.

    He thanked the new members for throwing away their torn umbrellas, stressing that the APC is a family where justice and equity is the hallmark.

    Balogun maintained that the new members would enjoy their stay in the party, noting that the genuine PDP member have moved to the APC.

    “We thank you all for coming to the APC, the this is the party for those who desired justice, equity and fairness. You have taken bold steps to throw away the thorn umbrellas and embracing the broom revolution.”

     

  • Anambra PDP wants another caretaker ahead of 2019

    …wants VP slot for Southeast

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP in Anambra State, has called on the party’s National leadership to give the state another caretaker committee by dissolving the current one for peace to reign.

    It has also, advised the party to allocate the vice presidential slot to the southeast region for balance.

    And those to be selected for the VP slot should be either the former Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi or the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu .

    The call came on Saturday from a group in the party, Fresh Congress Group in Anambra State led by Rev.  Pastor, Emma Obiora.

    The statement which was made available to reporters, declared on Saturday that the method of extorting money from the aspirants had started again, where the party’s hierarchy imposed unpopular candidates on the masses.

    Read Also:  Delta PDP major financier defects to APC

    The group which consisted of all the grass roots politicians in the state , said they  were capable of spilling the milk, if the right things were not done again

    They therefore, hailed some of the lawmakers in the state, who they claimed had done enough to deserve another chance from the electorate irrespective of party affiliation

    Such people included Hon. Onyebuchi Offor, Hon. Chris Azubuogu, Hon. Chukwuma Onyema,Senator Uche Ekwunife, Hon Obinna Emenaka and  Hon Ben Nwankwo, adding that the group was still investigating others

  • Dogara’s defection not House matter, says Spokesman

    …We will deal with it when we resume, lawmakers

    …as Majority Leader Gbajabiamila keeps mum

    The decision of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to pick People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a personal decision that it has nothing to do with the House of Representatives, the Spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas has said.

    Dogara, a member of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) was reported to have picked PDP’s Nomination and Expression of Interest forms on Wednesday.

    It would be recalled that prior to Dogara’s purchase of the forms, he had denied having endorsed the decision of two of his aides that defected to PDP.

    However, when asked what the decision of the Speaker to seek re-election on the platform of another party portends for the position of the Presiding officer of the House, Namdas said it was a personal decision that has no connection with the House.

    He said:  “This is a personal decision, the Speaker can pick forms from wherever he wants, but as a House, we cannot stop anyone from wanting to pursue his aspirations as he deems fit.

    “However, let me say it here, that I am still in APC and we are still in the majority. We will have to wait till the House resumes before we can officially make a comment on this.

    “You know, formal notice is usually given and read on the floor on a situation like this, so we have to wait to get an official communications from the Speaker”.

    As for the consideration of the budget for 2019 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Spokesman said lawmakers would be available as soon as the leadership of the National Assembly communicates to that effect.

    “We are waiting for the report of the joint Committee on Electoral Matters, as soon as they are through with their job and the leadership gives the go ahead, we will reconvene to consider it”.

    The Majority leader of the House has refused to comment on the defection of Speaker Dogara.

    Several calls and text messages to his phone were not returned.

    However, a National Assembly source, who pleaded not to be named, said the media report of the purchase of the forms was a huge disappointment to the Speaker’s group.

    Read Also: Dogara’s aide joins PDP for State Assembly race

    According to him, the purchase of the form was meant to be a top secret, “It was not supposed to be a public knowledge for now. According to their plans, the defection was supposed to carry the same weight like the earlier defections of the over 36 members in the House and that of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    ‘I can authoritatively tell you that that was why the forms were obtained secretly, someone else was sent to procure them.

    “As it is now, the cat is out of the bag, the formal defection, on resumption from the annual recess would no longer carry the same effect, it would be like, we already know. His body language has indicated that much anyway.

    “As a matter of fact, Dogara and Governor Tambuwal are working in concert about the defection but I assure you, when we resume and we confront them with a list of defections from PDP, they’ll be shocked”.

    On his part, Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) expressed disappointment at the Speaker, who kept his decision to his chest while discussions were ongoing about his status in APC.

    “Even though it was a personal decision, which I must respect, I am still disappointed because he didn’t show any sign of having made up his mind about leaving all the time we were discussing his stay in APC.

    “All politics is local and the issue of cross-carpeting is a personal decision, but the sad thing is that he should have informed us earlier. We have been having meetings with him, thinking he is part of us.

    “Notwithstanding, APC is still in the majority in the House, so on the issue of his Speakership, we will decide that when we resume”.

    When contacted on the phone, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) said he has been indisposed and not aware of the Speaker’s picking of PDP Nomination form.

    Jibrin was reported to be working to remove Gbajabiamila as House Leader for allegedly working to unseat Dogara.

    He later denied it on his Twitter account stating that the issue had been resolved and that Gbajabiamila remained the House Leader.

    Similarly, calls to the Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema as  well as Tajudeen Yusuf for their comments on the development were not returned.

  • Kogi: PDP task National Chairman on fairness, equity

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has been charged to make fairness and equity the bedrock of his decision over who emerges as senator to represent the Igala Bassa nation and not an MoU that would destroy the PDP in the state.

    Speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Lokoja, Mallam Ahmed Suleiman, Kogi State Chairman of Kogi PDP Youths and Masses Advocacy, warned against imposition.

    He called for free and fair primaries that would produce the party’s flag bearer.

    According to Mallam Ahmed, any attempt to impose the sitting senator on the people would mean, that Ankpa district would have had a shot at the Senate for sixteen years, at the detriment of Idah that has never had a shot.

    Read Also: Two PDP factions sell nomination forms

    He noted that the Dekina federal constituency has through Senators Alex Kadiri, Nicholas Ugbane and Ahmadu Ali, represented Dekina district for a record four times, saying that any other term for a senator from Dekina federal constituency in 2019, would leave Idah district, without a  shot at the Senate.

    He therefore asserted that, for fairness and equity, Idah federal constituency should be given the opportunity in 2019, disclosing that the district parades some of the brightest and intelligent aspirant presently seeking to represent the district.

    He drummed support for Victor Adoji, from Idah federal constituency, as the best option for the Igala Bassa nation, pointing out his representation would change the narrative of misrepresentation the area has witnessed over the years.

    He cautioned against the imposition of candidate or automatic ticket to any aspirant, without a free and fair primaries, as an action that would impact negatively on the re-positioning of the PDP.

  • Yerima Shettima picks House of Reps form

    …says APC has failed Nigerians

     

    The famous northern youth coalition leader, Yerima Shettima has declared to contest for house of representative from Kaduna north, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) saying that the All Progressives Congress, APC government has failed Nigerians.

    Shettima while picking his nomination form at the PDP secretariat in Kaduna said his decision to contest was informed by the way and manner ‘those who did not struggle for democracy have bastardized the system.

    Read Also:I’ll deliver, Gombe APC House of Reps aspirant assures

    According to him, “Those of us who struggle for this democracy to the point of been incarcerated can no longer watch for democratic value to collapse totally.

    “We realize it is totally impossible for the people’s desired change to come without us getting involved , and on that ground was why some of us feel it’s time for us to submit ourselves to service to humanity and our people .

    “We will ensure that Nigeria moves to the next level, and ensure that people understand what legislative job is all about.

    “From all indication it appears that the APC led government have nothing to offer the country. So people of like minds and patriotic Nigerians must begin to come on board to ensure that democracy is been sustained.

    “We took our time to study coming of this government APC from 2015 to 2017. I took my time as the leader of my organization (Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF) for two years to be sure of our taught.  We envisage the combination of character that form the party APC, and realize that this government have nothing to offer.

    “On that basis we begin to critically analyze and objectively criticize some of their policies,” he said.

    Shettima, who is contesting for the position of Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, however urged electorates to vote for PDP in all elective positions and expressed optimism that they will emerge victorious.

    “Nigerians have come of age, and have understand the nitty gritty of politics. Level of poverty is at its pick, the consciousness of politics is high, and Nigerians know who they want,” he said.