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Tag: PPA

  • The Call set to premiere December

    Arhawho Prosper, a corp member serving in Plateau State is set to debut a movie, The Call, dedicated to corps members this December.

    Prosper who also doubles as a Film Director and script- writer described the movie as one that centers on the struggles of NYSC and the challenges people face when they are being posted to their Place of Primary Assignments (PPA).

    “The movie is about a set of corpers who were posted to their PPAs without any befitting accommodation. But the twist doesn’t stop there, they begin to have issues. Tribal differences come in, in all of these they have to coexist and learn to live in peace,” Prosper said.

    Speaking about what inspired the movie; Prosper stressed the essence of service with impact, girl child education and the poor systems corp members face on a day-to-day basis.

    “First of all, I am a corp member. Corp members don’t really hold in high esteem their NYSC experience. Anything that leads you to a PPA means you should impact in people’s lives.

    Secondly, there is the issue of Girl child education which is not really encouraged.

    Not to talk of poor systems set in place and poor accommodation facilities.

    Of course, there are several lessons to be learnt from The Call. Arhawho Prosper stressed the essence of impact irrespective of location.

    “You don’t have to be posted to Lagos to make impact. Being posted somewhere up north is the will of the divine. Corpers should be joyful and coexist amongst different tribes. In the movie, Gbenga, the Yoruba Corper learns to try massa- a native northern food and also falls in love with one of his overage student (Halimah).” He explained.

    The Call has been set to premiere December 2018.

  • APC chairmanship: Ebri lauded for stepping down for Oshiomole

    A former governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in Cross River State, Mr. Goddie Akpama, has lauded ex-governor of the state, Dr Clement Ebri, for voluntarily stepping down for Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for the position of National Chairman in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

    Akpama, now a member of the APC, said Ebri showed exemplary leadership by conceding to the former Edo State governor.

    He told reporters in Calabar that by sacrificing his personal aspiration, Ebri had demonstrated that the interest of the party was greater than the personal interest of any individual member of the party.

    “What His Excellency did by stepping down was very exemplary. Despite the fact that he had massive support from delegates across the country, he sacrificed his interest for the greater interest of the APC, and that singular action amounted to the success of the National Convention last Saturday.

    “His action and stance is responsible for the complete unity within the fabric of the APC at the national level. I advise that henceforth, politicians in the states and across the country should emulated his example of self sacrifice, and put it into practice,” Akpama said.

    Akpama who was also a former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said he was elated that Ebri displayed his leadership quality by leading delegates from Cross River State to a successful convention, thereby, establishing himself as a true and natural leader of the APC in the state.

    “From the formation of the party, and even before the convention the Cross River State chapter of the APC was in crisis, and lacked direction, an indication that the party lacked a central figure that had put himself forward for members to rally round for the success of the party. I am happy, and I am confident most members of the party are happy that Ebri put himself forward to played the much needed leadership role, which was hitherto absent. His Excellency, Ebri, from all we have seen has distinguished himself as the leader of the APC in the state”, the former governorship candidate said.

    He also stated that by joining the race, Ebri demonstrated that Cross River State was no longer in the backwaters of Nigerian politics and can never be taken for granted any longer.

    He also congratulated Oshiomole on his emergence as National Chairman.

  • ‘I don’t regret dumping PPA for PDP’

    ‘I don’t regret dumping PPA for PDP’

    Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi is a member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, representing Afikpo North East Constituency. She speaks in this interview with Ogochukwu Anioke on the six month suspension slammed on her by her colleagues, challenges and political aspirations.

    THE belief in some quarters in the state over your suspension by the state House of Assembly is that Governor David Umahi is after you because of your national assembly ambition. What is your take on that?

    Before I won the State  House of Assembly election, I had a pact with myself that I will only do one term. And there is nothing on earth that will make me change my mind. It has nothing to do with my governor. This is my own decision and I have every right to take such decision. I would rather be out of politics than go back to the state Assembly. This is not arrogance; this is a resolve I made even before winning the election.

    I had never even met the governor when I told myself that I will do only one term in the state assembly because I knew nothing about politics prior to winning the last election. I had not met or seen many of the politicians I know today in the state, including my governor. I do not mean to disobey his order; this is something I cannot compromise on for anything on this earth. It is a personal decision.

    You left Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which earned you lots of criticisms. Do you regret joining the PDP?

    No, I do not regret joining PDP. I don’t like the feeling of regrets because no matter how bad a situation turns out, there are great lessons to take away from it. You can’t eat your cake and have it. You cannot benefit a lot from the lessons situations taught you for free and at the same time regret the situations. Joining PDP to please my governor was the right thing to do at that time.

    I was in the fore-front of promoting his developmentl strides, which are real, and so it was an easy decision to make; when he insisted I join PDP. I don’t regret taking that decision to leave the PPA and join my governor in the PDP. I am learning from the situation today rather than regretting it. It is never over until it is over. I was once in PDP before moving to PPA to win my election.

    I have no regret whatsoever and I am not trapped or cornered. I am the architect of my decisions and will take personal responsibility for the outcome of every decision I make. I am not a child. I don’t feed through my nose. Therefore, I welcome every consequence of my decisions in life. I am 47 years old, a middle aged woman. I am old enough in all ramifications; I take responsibility for all my actions.

    Being suspended for six months means that your constituency, Afikpo North East will not have any say and representation for that period. Do you have any plans to fight and get back to where you were duly elected to be?

    I will do the best I can.

    Without any godfather, you won the 2015 House of Assembly election through a relatively unknown platform. How are you going to go about the present challenges you are facing, which many people believe is political?

    I came into Nigerian politics because I want to do things differently from the norm. I wanted to prove to the world that a Nigerian politician can put her needs last before the need of others.  And I am living it. I have spent millions of my own money working in my constituency. I have not built a single thing for myself. I started work as soon as I was elected with my own money, even before I received a penny as a legislator.

    A state of the art facility, which I built for my people would be unveiled in less than two weeks. I am in politics to affect lives, to affect positive changes and to tone down the bigmanism associated with it. I am not in politics to look sexy or to build personal houses. I am not in politics to acquire wealth for myself. I am not into politics to bear endless titles. I came in with good intentions for others.

    Be that as it may, if I am not in politics today, I will still be fine. I have killed and buried my ego. I have no ego to feed. I am not ashamed to work, to do any work, I got to do. I am a natural servant and can serve anyone with pleasure and dedication. I am not lazy. My life should not start and end with politics. If I am not in Nigerian politics today, I will be just fine. I am contented with whatever I have.

    Have you reached out to the governor since the House of Assembly suspended you, possibly to intervene?

    Yes, but he is yet to grant me audience.

    Your admirers, supporters, friends and constituents are worried about your suspension, what is your word for them?

    I am grateful for their concern, but I am assuring them that I will continue to work hard towards my goals and vision. It is going be a bumpy ride, but nothing good comes on a platter of gold. I will be roughed up, I will be humiliated, mocked and debased, but in the end, my good intentions will see me through.

    To your ‘traducers,’ what is your word to them?

    Whether you pushed me or pulled me; drained me or fuelled me, stayed by my side or left me, loved me or hated me, hurt me or helped me, you are part of my growth and I thank you.

  • Ezeemo: PPA ‘II beat PDP in Anambra

    Ezeemo: PPA ‘II beat PDP in Anambra

    Chief Godwin Ezeemo is the governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in Anambra State. In this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, he speaks on zoning and his chances at the poll.

    Why do you want to be governor of Anambra State?

    There is vacancy at Agu Awka right now. This is the time for all Anambrarins, who feel they have something to offer this state, to go for it. We all live here and know how things work here. In as much as the current administration is doing its best, that best is not enough and that is why I said there is vacancy in Awka.

    Their best may be best for them and their rating, but for a good number of Anambra people who yearn for good leadership, seeking for an individual that has character and love for the black nation, an individual that is contented and has ideas on how to move this state forward. That is exactly what Anambra needs now, and that is why I’m gunning for this position. I think I have all these qualities and I can use them to help, assist in building this state and getting to that height we all desire our dear state to be.

    Leadership that is only interested in money making can’t make it for us. Leadership that is interested in segregating among the youths of Anambra state cannot make it, leadership that is interested in favouring a particular group of people because they are in the corridor of power, leadership that will look after youths, leadership that will empower children is my dream. It is an abomination to me in this 21st century to see children hawking on the streets while others are in school, it is not acceptable. We must as a matter of sincerity and duty, empower these children. We will declare free education; at least, from primary to JSS 3 so that these children can be empowered and by so doing, we can eliminate the type of problem we are having today.

    We will at the same time look at harvesting the talents we have in this part of the world.We must go back to our good days in athletics, we have to harness these talents, give them special training. Everybody cannot be engineers and lawyers. Some can be football stars, volley ball and tennis stars, while some can be Olympians to get medals for the state. But, what is going on now, nothing is happening and nobody is interested at all. These children will grow up to adult hood but, nothing happens to them anymore, it is not going to be acceptable anymore.

    For this purpose, I will build a sports city in every local government of Anambra state. It will include a standard stadium, a standard swimming pool, a standard lawn tennis, a quality track and some other important games. We should give our children the opportunity of showcasing what they have and may be change the life of their families.

    What is your reaction to the high cost of nomination forms by political parties?

    I agree with you that the cost of these forms seem to be high and I have in one time confronted one of the national leaders of PPA on why it should be so because it will be better, in my opinion, to have greater number of people coming to vie for positions when they are available because the volume of money seems to be very high. But they have explained to me why it is so.

    They said that part of the money is used to run the political party. They also said they will organize the primaries from the money and it involves a lot of logistics. I agree with them because our own political party charges less, there are some political parties that charge more. Politics is not a small enterprise. It is expensive not because of the money that is being shared, but because of what is involved. People have to be transported, public address system and venue have to be booked, bill boards have to be raised and so on.

    Where we are getting it wrong is giving this money out direct as bribery. It is suppose to be the electorates judging candidates based on what they can be, who they are and what they can offer. Today, our politics is based on how much money you can share or give. So, without being misunderstood, politics requires lots of money.

    What is your position in zoning?

    There is no zoning in Anambra that is formal. I want Anambrarins to look to the fact that Anambra South have had this type of argument in the past when Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was the governor. There was this contention that he should be allowed to continued, but he was stampeded because he didn’t do well. I learnt also that his brother, Dr. Obinna Uzor from the same South indicated interest to get the position again, but nobody gave him the chance and power was shifted to the Central that held to it for 11 years.

    For the sake of equity, the past administration said, let us shift  power to the North, but, the truth is that the governor is not doing very well which was exactly what happened in 2003 that made Mbadinuju lost the PDP ticket. Ordinarily, it would have been unfair for the South to be denied that ticket. So, the argument of the power going to the North does not hold waters, whoever that is saying that is saying that at his own personal aggrandizement. Mention all of them, I can confirm it and tell you what they are gaining. What they are saying is not in the interest of the Anambrarians. I spoke with a lot of stakeholders from there and they said it could be either be South or North so that we can meet up with what Central has done already. So, the only animal we don’t know how to dissect is an animal that has not been killed before.

  • Anambra poll: PPA holds primaries July 22

    Anambra poll: PPA holds primaries July 22

    The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) said on Saturday it would conduct its Anambra State governorship primaries on July 22.

    The Anambra State governorship election holds November 18.

    The PPA Chairman, Mr. Peter Ameh, announced the date at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja when he received the party’s governorship aspirant, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, who was at the party secretariat to pick nomination and expression of interest forms.

    Ameh described Ezeemo as a worthy party member who has shown faith with the party over the years.

    He said: “As it stands, he is ready to participate in the July 22, 2017 party primaries. We will be the first party to conduct primaries and we will start our campaign ahead of all other political parties.

    “What we will be looking at is the quality of the candidate. A candidate that has character and ready to fight corruption.

    “First and foremost like I told you, we are working on a system that ensure people must participate in party primaries. People don’t just jump ships and say they are going to contest elections.”

     

     

  • APC, PPA decry N9m poster fee in Anambra

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) are at loggerheads with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) government in Anambra State.

    This followed the imposition of N9million on governorship aspirants for the November 18 election.

    The fee was imposed by the  State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), led by  Jude Emecheta.

    The agency in February, said  aspirants who wanted their posters pasted anywhere in the state must pay N3million naira.

    Emecheta speaking to reporters yesterday in Awka said payment was sacrosanct, as it would be used to clean-up the environment .

    According to him, “the agency will ensure that posters and other campaign materials do not deface the state”

    “No election posters are permitted to be pasted on public buildings, traffic lights, poles and round-abouts. Politicians should direct their aides to paste their campaign materials on approved boards to avoid prosecution”

    “The  fee is not to witch-hunt any aspirant, but simply to ensure that things are done well.’’

    But the APC State Chairman, Emeka Ibe, said the fee was exploitative, outrageous and would be resisted in court.

    For Mattias Emeke, the PPA State Chairman, the agency was afraid of Governor Willie Obiano losing the election.

    “We can assure the agency that we will reject the order because it is unconstitutional.’’

    Mrs. Angelina Okoye a politician said that the order was uncalled for and urged the agency not to pollute the polity with unnecessary levy.

    APGA State Chairman  Norbert Obi said the government had good intentions in coming up with the policy.

     

  • PPA candidate quits job

    PPA candidate quits job

    The governorship candidate of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Comrade Thomas Sadoh, has resigned his appointment as a broadcaster with a privately-owned television and radio station in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Comrade Sadoh said he resigned his appointment to enable him focus on his campaigns and be neutral, according to the tenets of broadcasting.

    He spoke to reporters at the Benin Airport, shortly after he arrived from Dubai, where he said he met with some Edo indigenes to present his agenda.

    Sadoh said he decided to contest for the governorship to bridge the gap between the haves and haves not in the state.

    He said: “I won the ticket while I was in Dubai. The party’s leadership agreed to that. The two other people who contested with me stepped down, so I automatically became the candidate of the party.

    “We cannot continue to suffer while some people continue to milk us dry. There is no greater commitment than this. I came out because I really want to do this and I know that my chances are brighter than you can ever think.”

    On whether he has the financial resources to campaign for the election, Sadoh said he believes the common man in the street would willingly support his victory.

    He added: “It is sad that people are raising structure and later collapse them. I am here on my own volition and I have consulted before embarking on this. These people are behind me to ensure that we take over Osadebey Avenue on November 12.”

  • ‘PPA ‘ll make life better for youths, women’

    ‘PPA ‘ll make life better for youths, women’

    The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Pauline Adegbe,  has promised to create better opportunities for women and youths, if voted into power.

    She said most of the promises made by politicians to better the lives of women and youths have not been fulfilled, assuring that she will transform the state.

    She said: ‘’I have seen that lots of things are not working, especially when you look at the challenges faced by our youths and women. That is why I am in the race to address them. Some of these promises made right from when we were very young have not been met.

    ‘’Even though I am a woman, I know I can provide for Lagosians what they want in terms of social benefit and education.

    “Though in this part of the globe, women have not been accorded the respect they deserve. There is always the doubt that woman cannot perform as politician, but people are beginning to see that we have the will power and capacity to make society better.’’

    Adegbe said that women have endorsed her candidature, adding that she will not disappoint the electorate.

    ‘’The response I have got so far from Lagosians, especially women, has been tremendous. I really appreciate God for that. They have applauded my courage and bought into the manifesto of the PPA.’’

    She explained that her party will embark on infrastructure development. Noting that the present administration has tried, the standard bearer said she will double the effort to ensure the Lagos State competes with some of the best cities in the world.

    She said youths would be trained on vocational skills, the streets boys called ‘area boys’ would be rehabilitated, young girls would be encourage to earn decent living, instead than taking to improper ways of livelihood.

    She said that the PPA government will ensure that accidents are reduced on the roads by discouraging motor cycle operators from plying major roads and restrict them to certain areas. ‘’As a mother I am not happy about the carnage on our roads. We will work in that area and see how best to reduce accidents.’’

    She said her government will ensure every child of school age goes to school. She added: “We are aware that some of our parents pay through the nose to put their children in private schools, but we will tackle this by ensuring that government schools accommodate these children, whose parents are poor.

  • PPA dissolves Ebonyi Exco

    •Over anti-party activities

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) has dissolved its Ebonyi State Executive Committee (exco).

    It said its action followed insubordination and anti-party activities.

    The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Peter Ameh, in a statement in Abuja said the decision was taken at the NWC meeting on December 19.

    He said NWC, in line with the constitution, ordered the reconstitution of the Exco, with Ezeali Stephen as the chairman, while Divine Ogbonna would serve as the secretary, Ogbonnaya Nuribo, deputy chairman (North) and Nkama Olisa, deputy chairman (South).

    The statement reads:  “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) hereby announces the dissolution pursuant to Article 10(D) (iii) of the constitution of the party of the Ebonyi State Executive Committee (Exco).

    “This decision was arrived at during the NWC meeting on December 19.

    “The reasons for the dissolution are insubordination, anti-party activities and conduct likely to embarrass the party and bring it into hatred, contempt and ridicule, contrary to Article 12(A) (ii) (a,b,c and d) of the constitution of the party on the part of the dissolved state Executive Committee.

    “Notice is hereby given to the former chairman to hand over the party’s bus and other property to the new chairman.”

  • PPA to adopt presidential candidate

    PPA to adopt presidential candidate

    •National Chair honoured in Anambra

    The Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) said it will reveal who it will adopt as the Presidential candidate for the 2015 elections after its primaries.

    This was revealed at the weekend in Anambra State by the leader of the party in the State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo after the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Peter Ameh was honoured with a Chieftaincy title.

    He was given the Akagbuwarauzor of Eri Kingdom by the monarch, Igwe Chukwuemeka Eri.

    Ezeemo, while briefing reporters said PPA would take a critical look at the emerging candidates and choose one who according to him, would take Nigeria to greater heights.

    He said the favoured candidate would receive a huge boost from the teeming members of the party, but the character and Integrity of the candidate would be considered before the adoption.

    Furthermore, he said PPA was not like some parties with huge crowds without being like minds, adding that the party was just like a family with people of integrity.

    According to him, “We in PPA are looking for only like minds and so far, we have succeeded with that, we are currently satisfied with the way we are today and in our judgment, we are doing well”

    “Our members have imbibed the culture of getting things done and done well without rancor”

    “In PPA, we are not looking at money, but the character of the people coming in and that is why we are satisfied with how we are now, people are free to come to the party but I can only tell you that we don’t just accept anybody” Ezeemo said .

    Ameh said that the party was currently positioned for greater heights.

    He said that the honour done to him in the State would spur him to work hard to achieve greater feet in the administration of the party and general relationship with the people.