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Tag: Peter Obi

  • Igbo endorse Atiku/Obi ticket

    Igbo leaders comprising elders, traditional and religious leaders as well as women groups, yesterday endorsed the joint presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

    In a five-point resolution issued at the end of the summit with the theme “Ndigbo 2019 and Beyond” held in Enugu, the leaders said that the position was based on the restructuring agenda put on the table by Atiku/Obi, which four zones of the country had agreed on.

    The resolution was read by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

    It states inter alia: “The Igbo people of Nigeria held a 1 day non-partisan and inclusive Summit convened by Elders, Traditional and Religious leaders on Wednesday 14th November 2018 to consider Ndigbo’s place in the polity especially in light of the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    “The summit deliberated on the State of Ndigbo in Nigeria today especially after years of exclusion from the center.  This country has never been so divided as it is today.  We Igbos have always yearned for a level playing field with justice, equity and fairness.

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    “The Summit recognized the nomination of His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi Former Governor of Anambra State as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP and fully endorses this nomination.  It was acknowledged that this nomination puts Ndigbo back in the center of governance.  It is therefore important that Ndigbo should rally behind the Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “We identify with the Atiku/ Peter Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by 4 zones of the country namely: South South, South West, North Central and South East.  We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak the center will continue to be weak.  We equally move to appreciate the position of the Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity.

    “In conclusion, the Summit reiterated that the time is now for Ndigbo to mobilize and organize effectively to realize the Atiku/Obi ticket.  We are not campaigning against anybody, we are simply campaigning for our very survival.  Igbo votes must count wherever Ndigbo live in Nigeria.”

  • I didn’t nominate Peter Obi, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has denied nominating Mr Peter Obi as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate.

    Wike said the visit of four Southsouth governors to President Muhammadu Buhari had no political connotation, noting that the governors were in the Presidential Villa to discuss the development of Niger Delta.

    He spoke in an interview with Channels Television Roadmap 2019.

    Wike said: “I never nominated Peter Obi.  But the mere fact that the Vice Presidential Candidate is coming from the South-East does not give the zone the sole right to nominate a person , since the entire country will benefit.

    “When the South-East said they were not consulted before Peter Obi was nominated, where did we meet as a party to agree that the Vice Presidential Candidate must come from the South-East. But we said if the Presidential Candidate believes he has somebody to work with, we said so be it “.

    On the new minimum wage, Wike said the review could only be sustained when the nation’s revenue sharing formula was reviewed.

    “I will never oppose the upward review of minimum wage  for workers. But the revenue sharing formula must be reviewed. Assuming a state like Zamfara gets N3 billion monthly, and their monthly wage bill is N4 billion, then the state will not survive.  Labour should understand the situation.’’

    “You cannot talk of sustainable new minimum wage when you have not reviewed the revenue sharing formula.  More of the money should be moved from the Federal Government to the states that bear the burden of governance.  If there is no review of the revenue sharing formula, then we are not being fair.”

  • Peter Obi meets with EU, WEF delegations on 2019 election

    The vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday in Abuja met with delegations from the European Union (EU) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss the need to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 and also how to grow the nation’s economy through collaboration.

    Obi who stood in for the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the separate meetings, told the EU delegation that efforts should be made to stop the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from intimidating candidates of opposition political parties who, he said, now live in fear.

    A statement released in Abuja by the Atiku campaign office said that the EU should insist on a level playing field for all candidates and parties during the 2019 elections in Nigeria, adding that “there is a need to get the country back to its feet and make it better for our children”.

    Obi was also quoted to have said that campaigns should be based on issues so that the electorate and the international community can come to grasp with the problems of the country, as well as the solutions being proffered by each of the political parties and their candidates.

    Has was similarly quoted to have said that there was need for agencies like the EU to strengthen and support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The former Anambra Governor said that judging from what happened during gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, INEC needs to show that it remains an unbiased umpire in future elections in the country.

    On the issue of vote buying, Obi described the incidence as a new phenomenon that must be stopped.

    Read Also: Why Atiku picked Peter Obi as running mate

    “I contested and won elections when I was in a smaller party. Where would I have gotten the money to buy votes if it was the case then and how would I have gotten back the money especially when I am going to serve the people”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    On the new found unity of the PDP, the vice presidential candidate said the evidence could be seen from the outcome of the party’s free and fair presidential primary election conducted in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on October 7, 2018 where all the presidential aspirants agreed that it was the best so far.

    On whether there was need for a fresh EU election observer group following the impending expiration of the tenure of the present group, Obi said that Nigeria deserved a replacement based on the role EU would play in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2019

    In his comments, the head of the EU delegation, Ketil  Karlsen was quoted to have said that the election observer group has been consulting stakeholders in Nigeria to ascertain whether or not it would be necessary for the Union to send a new EU election observer mission.

    He said that the EU mission had been operating in Nigeria since 1999 and that the Union had invested over 100 million Euros in Nigeria’s election processes since then.

    While speaking with officials of WEF at a separate meeting, Obi emphasised the need for closer working relationship with African countries, especially Nigeria, saying that most governments in the continent do not want to work with the forum for fear of being criticised.

    He said that many governments in Africa implement activities that are “transactional instead of transformational” and therefore needed help to shape their policies.

    “A lot of work needs to be done in Africa because things are tough. The presidential and vice presidential candidates of the PDP have a clear picture of what the economic priorities are  and what the international community feels about the country”.

    “Nigeria needs to do something immediately for its economy to be put back on track and something has to be done immediately”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    Leader of the WEF delegation, Nontle Kabanyane was quoted to have said that the Forum was ready to strengthen relationships and to implement more activities in Nigeria through a collaboration that would lead to national transformation.

  • ‘Protest against Obi’s VP nomination suspicious’

    The protests by some youths for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to drop Mr peter Obi as its vice presidential candidate has been described as ‘suspicious and diversionary’.

    Mr Valentine Obienyem, Media Aide to Obi said this in a statement in Awka on Wednesday.

    Some youths under the aegis of “The Northern Youths Leaders Forum” met with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday and urged Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar to reconsider the choice of Obi or risk losing their support.

    Obienyem in his statement entitled “RE: Northern group to Atiku: Drop Obi or forget 2019’ said it was a case of inventing problem where none existed.

    The media aide said the announcement of Obi as Atiku’s running mate elicited widespread approval and jubilation because it was adjudged as the best by most Nigerians.

    He described Obi as humble, hardworking, knowledgeable, detribalized Nigerian with in-depth knowledge about the economy and conversant with the myriad of problems of the country.

    According to Obienyem, any person truthful to himself will agree that never in the history of Nigeria did naming of running mates elicited comparable reactions.

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    “One is, therefore, at a loss as to the reasons informing the protest. Since leaving office, Obi has been busy visiting schools all over the country, from Cross River to Sokoto.

    “Obi has been busy diagnosing the problems of the country and offering solutions.

    “Obi has been busy preaching the unity of the country and how good governance will solve the problems in Nigeria, caused by cumulative years of leadership failure that make the protest under review suspicious,” he said.

    Obienyem wondered why such protest should hold in Ota and what the intentions of those behind it were.

    He said they would not be distracted with such antics but remained focused on efforts to proffer solutions to national economic challenges.

    “Why protest in Ota? Who is behind the protest? What does the project intend to achieve? Is it true that the planning of the protest was revealed almost a week ago?

    “Why is it that when you have failed to see any fault in Obi, you are bent on inventing one?

    “These are necessary questions which any sincere inquirer will deem appropriate to start with.

    “We do not need such a distraction now, what we need is joining of hands together as we collectively seek solutions to our problems,” he said.

  • 2019: My nomination is about the masses – Obi

    Former Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi says his choice as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to ennoble his people.

    Obi said this on Friday in Enugu during a visit to the state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    It would be recalled that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Oct. 12 announced Obi as his running mate, a situation that generated mixed reactions from party chieftains in the area.

    Governors of the PDP and party chieftains from the zone subsequently met and expressed their dissatisfaction that they were not consulted prior to the announcement.

    However, Obi, who said he was in the state to seek the support of Ugwuanyi, pointed out that his candidacy, was about Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.

    The former governor said that the success or otherwise of his nomination would depend on the leaders of the South East.

    Obi said that if elected into office, he would attract meaningful development to the area, adding that the time to address the yearnings of the people was now.

    “This nomination is about our own area. We cannot continue to say we are marginalised. These are some of the opportunities to address whatever we think is not in our positions,” he said.

    Obi said that his record as governor was not in doubt, adding that he believed in the masses.

    Responding, Ugwuanyi described the former governor as a `trusted’ party man and a household name in the zone as well as in Nigeria.

    The governor said that the PDP enjoyed great followership in the state, adding that they were appreciative of the massive support the party enjoyed during the 2015 general elections.

    Ugwuanyi said that he had no doubt that the party would also do very well in the forthcoming elections in the state.

    The governor congratulated the entire PDP on their successful and peaceful convention in Port Harcourt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obi also visited the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo in his Enugu residence.

    Nwodo, while receiving him said that the apex Igbo socio cultural organization would soon convene a meeting to take decision on the direction of the people in the coming election.

    He described Obi as humble and incorruptible adding “your incorruptibility in government speaks volume.

    “I look forward to when Ohaneze will take a decision on which party the Igbos will vote for and I wish it will be yours,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Atiku’s campaign council: Umahi denies rejecting appointment

    The Ebonyi State Government has debunked insinuations on social media alleging that the state governor, David Umahi, has rejected his recent appointment as the South-east coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign.

    A state official also said Mr Umahi has pledged loyalty to Mr Abubakar’s presidential campaign.

    Mr Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has selected a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as his running mate.

    Mr Umahi, who is also of the PDP, has in the past declared his fondness of President Muhammadu Buhari and recently criticised the mode of selection of Mr Obi; a factor that may have fuelled the rumour.

    The Ebonyi governor’s stance was explained after Friday’s State Security Council meeting.

    The government also denied speculations that the governor had concluded plans to distribute bags of Abakaliki rice branded with campaign pictures of Mr Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    Mr Umahi’s stance was declared by the Ebonyi State information commissioner, Emmanuel Onwe.

    He said the reports that the governor was working for any other presidential candidate other than Mr Abubakar and his running mate was false, wicked and malicious.

    Mr Onwe said his principal considers his appointment as the South-east coordinator of Atiku/Obi campaign organisation as a great honour and would discharge the duties thereof with immense commitment and dedication.

    Read Also: Peter Obi visits Ugwuanyi, Nwodo

    He urged the general public to disregard any other reports to the contrary, describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    The social media has been awash with reports alleging that the governor had rejected his appointment.

    The governor was said to have disclosed his rejection of the appointment during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

    But Mr Onwe said there was no time the issue of Atiku/Obi election or campaign was discussed during the meeting.

    “The governor never rejected his appointment as the Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organization for South-East”, he said.

    “The social media report to that effect is false and should be disregarded. I was at the exco meeting of yesterday, at no time was such thing discussed. The governor considers the appointment as a great honour and would discharge his duties in that regard with great commitment and dedication.

    “They also said that the governor has concluded plans to distribute bags of rice with the pictures of the presidential candidate of the APC; that is also not true.

    “The governor does not know any other Presidential Candidate except that of his party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi,” Mr Onwe said.

  • Aba explosion: Atiku gives N20m to victims

    As Ikpeazu promises to offset medical bills of hospitalized victims

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate has donated N10 million to the victims of the pipeline fire which killed scores of people at Umuaduru and Umuimo communities, Osisioma Ngwa council area, Abia State.

    Atiku, who was represented by his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, said he was saddened by the incident and consoled the families of those who lost their lives.

    “Our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is out of the country. He would have been here by himself; he insisted that we must come to sympathize with our people. We commiserate with the Governor, the people of Abia state, Osisioma Ngwa council and the families who lost their loved ones in the incident.

    Continuing Obi said, “When we were riding to the community, the governor said the government should check the quality of pipes being used and how to secure the pipeline to avoid a recurrence. We will join hands to fix our land so that we won’t record such incident again”.

    Gov. Ikpeazu, while expressing gratitude for visit and donation of money, pledged to offset the hospital bills of the victims and urged those who were yet to access medical attention to do so without further delay.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku’s costly mistake

    The governor also promised to help rehabilitate those who suffered losses in the incident to enable restart their businesses and directed the Commissioner for Health to ensure that the victims are taken of at the hospital.

    “I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to those who ran away and those at traditional homes should come out to access medical attention. Let them present themselves to the hospitals. Those who have been rendered orphans and those who lost their properties and businesses will be assisted. We are determined to provide succor and help for those who are alive. We cannot replace everything, but we try to make the situation a little bit bearable.”

  • Ohanaeze youths raise reconciliation committee

    The Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide yesterday raised a reconciliation committee to interface with aggrieved Southeast leaders, who felt sidelined in the selection of former Anambra Governor Peter Obi as running mate.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the weekend named Obi as his running mate in the presidential election.

    Leading other stakeholders in the zone after a meeting at the weekend, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu said they were not aware of the selection of Obi as Atiku’s running mate.

    They said they were not consulted before the selection in line with agreement they reached with Atiku before he clinched the party’s presidential primaries.

    In a statement yesterday after its meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the youth wing of Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze, led by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said it has a plan to liaise with all parties involved to reach an amicable resolution.

    The group said it has appointed a renowned academic and London-based scholar, Obinna Ukpabi, to spearhead the reconciliation efforts and to ensure that peace returns to the Southeast over Obi’s choice.

    In the statement, Isiguzoro appealed to the governors to see the process that threw up Obi as Atiku’s running mate, as a divine.

    He urged other aggrieved Igbo leaders to rally around Obi and unite for the challenges ahead in order to ensure that Southeast is 100 per cent PDP in the forthcoming presidential election.

    The statement reads: “OYC asks those who lost out in the bid to become Atiku’s running mate to allow the collective interest of Ndigbo to thrive above personal interests and support Peter Obi to deliver the zone in the forthcoming presidential election.”

    The group dismissed insinuations that the Southeast is divided on Obi’s choice as Atiku’s running mate and that it will affect the fortune of PDP in the Presidential election.

    It said: “This is false and untrue as Southeast is solidly behind the choice of Peter Obi as running mate to Mr Atiku’s.”

    “We implore our leaders to be mindful of their resolutions before the public as it can be misunderstood by other tribes and zones that Igbos cannot manage their successes and electoral fortunes which had been the bane of our progress since 1999.”

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths (Worldwide) commended the PDP and the former vice president for choosing an Igbo son as the vice presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.

    The commendation was given through a statement issued in Owerri yesterday by its Acting National President Dr. Kingsley Dozie and Emeka Odom, its Assistant National Legal Adviser.

    It said that Igbo youths would make themselves available to advice the PDP for choosing Obi.

    The group said it had already started discussing and liasing with youths of other ethnic nationalities on how to have a productive and people-oriented election.

    It said: “To restructure Nigeria is our priority now and we’ll get it right this time. The choice of the former governor, Peter Obi is great. He was not wasteful in the management of resources while serving as governor.

    “Peter Obi is a good choice. He will bring business intelligence into governance. He is not corrupt and as a governor, he was not wasteful. Igbo youths are very happy.

    “Obi’s success story as a businessman would help in reviving the nation’s economy if elected in 2019. The decision to pick him, we believe, is based on his outstanding performance as governor of Anambra state.”

    The group said that Obi, as a successful businessman, will be expected to translate his wealth of experience into good governance for the nation.

    They expressed optimism that the former Anambra State would not disappoint Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria at large.

    The group had earlier commended the PDP for electing Atiku as its presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.

    Its leader, Dr Kingsley Dozie, described the former vice president as an apostle of restructuring.

    He promised that his group would liase with its parent body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, alongside “our brothers after our consultations and get it right this time.

    “The party’s primary was free and fair and the most credible presidential primaries. Igbo youths are pleased with the party’s style of leadership and particularly the restructuring agenda of its candidate which placed him first in the race.

    “Consequently, the leadership of Igbo youths, led by Kingsley Dozie, shall mobilise all Igbo youths, home and abroad, to ensure that a better candidate who places our interest as a priority and who will genuinely restructure Nigeria emerged as the president of Nigeria come 2019.”

    Dozie said that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing was now out to protect, preserve and promote the welfare of Ndigbo through massive mobilisation of the youths to vote for a preferred, detribilised and someone who would put smiles on the faces of people in the forthcoming presidential election.

    He urged the youths to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying doing so remained the surest way to electing credible candidates.

  • Lawmaker donates medical facilities to Anambra community

    Residents of Okpoko, Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State have expressed appreciation to a lawmaker from the area, Chukwuka Onyema, for donating medical facilities to the community.

    Onyema, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, had renovated some primary health Centre in the area, one of which he handed over to the Anglican church in the area, as well as a brand new ambulance.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the center, at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Okpoko, the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, said the facilities would reduce the health challenges bedeviling residents of the area.

    He said pregnant women and other patients would no longer encounter difficulties accessing medicare in the area, promising to make available a mobile phone number in the event of emergencies.

    He however cautioned against the abuse of the ambulance, stressing that it should be strictly used for the purpose it was purchased.

    “The ambulance shall remain standby for responses to emergency health cases and there won’t be any payment for its use,” the bishop said.

    Earlier, the lawmaker, Onyema, disclosed that the gesture was targeted at attracting affordable medical health for the people of the community.

    “Okpoko is a rural area that comprises more of middle income and low income earners. We need a health centre where the sick would not be asked to pay any fee before they can be attended to,” he said.

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    He also explained that the decision to hand over renovated and equipped health centres to the church, was to ensure they were managed effectively and efficiently.

    Onyema however regretted that most of the institutions given to local governments became moribund with time due to mismanagement.

    He said, “It was the immediate past governor of the State that initiated the practice of handing over schools and hospitals to churches and one can attest to the fact that these institutions have experienced a radical improvement.

    “I realized that when Mr Peter Obi partnered with the church in schools and hospitals, they picked up. So I decided to toe that line.

    “Normally, health centres are handed over to local governments and most times you find out that when those hospitals are handed over to the local government, the hospital facilities and vehicles end up being run down.”

    Expressing optimism of the churches’ ability to take care of the facilities without government’s supervision, the lawmaker maintained that the ambulance was purely for emergency cases within the community.

    On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the Primary Health Centre, Dr Ejikeme Okonkwo, hinted that the centre was in a deplorable state before the lawmaker’s intervention.

    He assured that the centre would provide 24 hours emergency services, including ultra sound scan machine, HIV clinic, maternal child healthcare, among others.

    “The people will now be happy as they will be coming to a cleaner, cheaper and better equipped healthcare centre,” he stated.

  • Why Atiku picked Peter Obi as running mate

    The Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel yesterday gave reasons why former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, was picked as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    In a statement last night, Daniel said Mr. Obi’s choice was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, all experience which Nigeria is in great need of at this point in time.

    “This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity,” Daniel said.

    In line with its pre-primary election zoning formula, Atiku yesterday picked ex-Governor Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election.

    With the development, the party has returned to the winning formula of the defunct National Party of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 in which ex-President Shehu Shagari paired with the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

    PDP’s zoning of the VP slot to the South East was allegedly designed to woo the Igbo who had been complaining of marginalization.

    Since the conclusion of PDP presidential primaries, party leaders have narrowed the choice of vice presidential candidate to the South-West and the South-East.

    But Atiku and the party leadership have opted for the South-East in order to address “the marginalization of the zone.”

    Already, the PDP has given a copy of the nomination form to Obi to fill with the ex-governor having audience with Atiku at about 5 pm yesterday.

    It was also gathered that a South-South governor may be appointed as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the PDP.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the PDP leadership had presented some guidelines to Atiku on how to pick his running mate.

    A top source said: “Earlier on Monday, the PDP presented guidelines to Atiku and eventually, it was agreed that ex-Governor Peter Obi fits into the criteria set out.

    “The concession of the slot to the South-East was also in line with the wish of Atiku.

    “In its power sharing formula, the PDP had conceded the VP slot to the South-East and reneging on the agreement would have been fatal for the party in 2019.

    “Apart from being a prudent leader, Obi has rich experience in the private and public sectors which will help him manage the nation’s economy as the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).

    “The banking sector, which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy, will have a new lease of life with Obi in charge.

    “More importantly, the marginalization of the Igbo was one of the issues which PDP had promised to address.

    “Since Ekwueme lost the presidential primaries to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Igbo have not had a fair share of power at the centre.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The nomination of Obi will foster the nation’s unity and create a sense of belonging for all tribes.

    “It is like a return to the winning formula of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1979 and 1983. The ultimate objective of PDP is the preservation of the nation’s unity.

    “More permutations by the PDP will emerge in the next few weeks. We want to make the election of the PDP a fait accompli with interplay of dynamics.”

    At press time, it was gathered that a South-South governor could be appointed as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organization of PDP for 2019 poll.

    It was learnt that the said governor is on the verge of completing his second term, a development which has narrowed the choice to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

    But consultations were still ongoing last night on the campaign structure.

    A reliable source said: “The thinking in PDP over the DG of the 2019 campaign is to pick a governor from the South-South who is almost completing his second term.

    “The idea of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki being the DG is out of place because he leads the National Assembly, which is a strategic arm of government. He has a lot at hand; we do not want to distract him or any of the serving governors.

    “I think the DG might be a PDP governor who is almost completing his second term in office.”

    Although the source was not forthcoming, it was learnt that the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, might be appointed the DG.

    “Dickson played a key role in mobilising support and perfecting strategies which earned Atiku the presidential mandate, “a member of the National Working Committee of PDP added.