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Tag: Senator Godswill Akpabio

  • APC Senatorial Primary: Shehu Sani, Akpabio, Yari, Uduaghan cleared unopposed

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared unopposed former Akwa Ibom and Delta State Governors, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani as Senatorial candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

    Also cleared unopposed are Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Sokoto state Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, former Benue state Governor, George Akume and former National, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Adebayo Adeyeye.

    Also, the three senators representing Lagos state, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Solomon Adeola and Gbenga Ashafa as well as Senator Ajayi Boroface, Yele Onogunwa and Omotoyao Alasoadura from Ondo are flying the party flag unopposed as they emerged the only cleared aspirants from their states.

    Senator Ahmed Abubakar, Senator Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa) Senator Yusuf Abubakar (Taraba), Governor Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Senator Tijanni Kaura, Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara), Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra) and Suleiman Abdu Kwari (Kaduna) are also running unopposed.

    In the list of cleared aspirants released by the National Working Committee and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, former Kano state Governor is to battle for the Kano Central Senatorial ticket with Hajia Laila Buhari, while Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun is to struggle for the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket with Senator Adeyemi Tejuosho and Ganiyat Oladunjoye.

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is to contest for the Oyo Central Senatorial district ticket with Senator Taslim Folarin and five others, Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura is to slug it out for the Nasarawa south ticket with Senator Salihu Hussein Egye, while Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima is contesting the Borno Central ticket with Ali Bukar Wurge.
    Also, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan is contesting the Yobe North Senatorial ticket with Mohammed Lawan Yahuza, while Imo state Governor; Rochas Okorocha is listed as contesting the Imo West ticket with Senator Hope Uzodinma who is also contesting the governorship of the state.

    However, two former governors who have been in the senate for a long time, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State and Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) were conspicuously missing on the list and it was not clear whether they were screened out of the contest or decided not to return to the Senate.
    The National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said at different fora that it will be ungodly for the party not to reward loyal senators who stood by the party in its trying period, resisting all attempt to lure them away from the APC.

  • Emmanuel to Akpabio: I’ll expose facts about your administration if you dare me

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has drawn a battle line with his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    Emmanuel at a grand endorsement rally Monday by the people of Eket Senatorial district held at the Onna Township Stadium said he would expose facts and figures about Akpabio’s administration if he was challenged.

    The governor said he was ready to spend his personal resources to hire International, National and Local media to present facts to the world as only such avenues would convince the whole world about who is who in the state.

    Read Also:Akpabio still a member of the PDP – Senator

    “I have heard things, and I want to challenge any who thinks he has the truth to come out, I will use my personal money to hire CNN and other international media, AIT, Channels, NTA and  AKBC, let’s present facts to Nigerians, let’s see who would tell the truth and who will also tell a lie”.

    “However the issue on ground is Akwa Ibom, it’s about the development of this state, it’s about our children in public schools who are excelling in international competitions, it’s about the price of garri that we have drastically dropped, it’s about the unity of this state which we believe in”.

    He thanked the people of Eket Senatorial District for the endorsement and assured that the overwhelming encouragements from all parts of the state has indeed boosted his determination, not just to declare but to do more.

    He said his administration has within the last three years touched areas that were never touched in the state; he enumerated such areas to include; Mbo, Ini and other interior parts of the state which have been visited with dualized roads, improved healthcare facility, power infrastructure, International market and a modern sports facility in Eket.

    Chairman on the occasion and a former deputy governor, Mr Etim Okpoyo who have been missing in political scenes since the return of democracy said he decided to come back to politics due to convincing evidences of performance by Udom Emmanuel “If I were not convinced, I would not have been here”. He said

    Meanwhile Factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom state, Dr Udoma Bob Ekarika, and a onetime governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP has defected back to PDP.

    Also to abandon the state chapter of the APC is the Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Emmanuel Udoh and the 2015 Director General of the Party’s campaign organization, Obongifiok Annie Asikpo.

    While addressing the Eket grand endorsement rally, one of the APC bigwigs, Asikpo described the APC as a party of bad people.

    He said having identified some good people within the party, he decided to pull them all back to root to enable them contribute to the development of the state.

    “APC is a party with majority of bad people, but I discovered that there are still very many good people in APC, so I decided to shake the party and bring every good person back to the PDP,” he said

    Asikpo recalled that Senator Godswill Akpabio in 2011 declared that 109 senators were not equivalent to one governor, saying that he and others with him have also joined Akpabio to reject all 109 in place of one governor.

    Addressing the rally, the faction chairman of the APC, Dr Udom Bob Ekarika said they were back to the PDP to celebrate Udom Emmanuel’s already concluded victory in 2019.

    “You cannot change the goal post in the middle of the game. Come rain come shine, Udom Emmanuel will be sworn in come May 29, 2019 because when the will of the people is galvanized for action, no stone or steel can stop it, be rest assured. I am coming from a very useless party and I will tell you more about them when we settle down”. He said

    Receiving the decampees, State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Obong Paul Ekpo promised to ensure same rights and privileges to the returned members, he hinted them that Udom Emmanuel has been adopted as sole candidate of the party.

    “Welcome back to the home of Victory and prosperity. You are entitled to participate in all activities and benefits herein. We have adopted Udom Emmanuel as sole candidate of the People’s Democratic Party In the state,” he said.

  • Akpabio still a member of the PDP – Senator

    The Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Gershom Bassey, Tuesday said Senator Godswill Akpabio, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was still a PDP member on the floor of the hallowed chambers.

    Speaking with reporters in Calabar Tuesday, Senator Bassey however stated that the defection issue of the former Akwa Ibom governor was not a big deal.

    Read Also:To declare my seat vacant, Saraki’s must be declared vacant, says Akpabio

    He said, “He has not defected on the floor of the Senate. His defection is outside the Senate. For now he has not crossed carpet in the Senate. So he has done nothing illegal or wrong for now. In the Senate he is still in the PDP. We have not seen his letter. The letter has not been read on the floor and his seat is still in the PDP fold. So as far as we know he is still a PDP man. Until he tells us in the chambers then we would cross that bridge.”

    Also commenting on issues about the reconvening of the National Assembly, Bassey said there was never an official notice to that effect.

    “The media may have gotten ahead of itself in announcing the reconvening because there was no official notice to that effect. Normally when the National Assembly reconvenes it is the clerk of the NASS that sends out the notice. That is the rightful person. I am sure there was no such information from his office. So I think that the media having listened to a press conference by I think by one of the House of Reps men. But if you listen carefully to that press conference he didn’t say anything definite but I think the media just took it that it was definite. There was no plan and there has never been any plan to reconvene. What they did after the meeting of the leadership last week was that they were going to consider it. There was no commitment towards any particular date for reconvening,” he said.

    He also condemned the recent taking over the National Assembly by men of the Department of State Services.

    “I have condemned the invasion of the NASS. It is absolutely unacceptable. It is a coup against our democracy and that is the way we see it. I have called for a comprehensive independent enquiry into the incident. We have to get to the root of it. It is not enough to fire the DSS boss. I have seen the DSS man as a highly professional person. Anytime he has come to the NASS he has always been extremely professional in his presentations. So I don’t think that man would just wake up on his own and acts like that. Someone must have given him instructions. So we need to get to the bottom of it. Or he was misled, one of the two, but we have to get to the bottom of it,” the Senator said.

  • Emmanuel sacks two commissioners linked with Akpabio

    Ahead of the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has sacked two commissioners  loyal to Akpabio.

    The commissioners were sacked with immediate effect for what was called “act of disloyalty”.

    Read Also:Osinbajo, Tinubu, others welcome Akpabio to APC

    They are the Commissioners for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Development, Mr Ibanga Akpabio, and Culture and Tourism, Mr Victor Antai.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, said  the two commissioners had to be removed from the State Executive Council for disloyalty to the governor.

    Ibanga, who is a younger brother to Sen. Godswill Akpabio was sacked alongside Antai for receiving Akpabio, a former governor of the state and Emmanuel’s predecessor, at the Ibom International Airport on Tuesday.

    Akpabio flew into the state preparatory to his plan to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Udoh said the commissioners had to be removed from the state executive council following their “reluctance to comply with good governance processes.’’

    “With the development, they have been mandated to handover to the Permanent Secretary in their respective ministries before close of work on Wednesday August 8,’’ he said.

    The commissioner stressed that the duo showed complete disloyalty to Emmanuel and therefore could not continue to remain in the state executive.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpabio on Tuesday tendered his resignation as the senate minority leader and will formally defect to All Progressives Congress Wednesday.

     

  • ‘Kids must run to, not from school’

    The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has been installed as the first Chancellor of Ritman University (RU) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

    Chairman of the Board of Trustees Senator Bob Effiong performed Akpabio’s investiture. Effiong was assisted by Mrs Essien Otu Usendia, who represented the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Adamu Abubakar Rasheed.

    Mrs Usendia, who is the NUC Director of Inspection and Monitoring, said the university, since its inception, had adhered to all extant policies of the commission in line with best practices. She said the school had not been found wanting by the commission for unwholesome practices.

    She said: “Ritman University is the 137th university to be approved by the NUC and became 57th privately-owned varsity and one of Nigeria’s 162 universities.”

    Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council Prof Nsongurua Udombana said apart from being ceremonial head, a chancellor is the political representative of a university to the world. He said by the university’s rule, a chancellor must be a highly respected and prominent member of the society who has interest in promoting academic excellence.

    Udombana said Akpabio fitted the description after waging an “aggressive war” on illiteracy during his tenure as governor of the state. The Pro-chancellor hailed the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and his management team for demonstrating “the sacrificial spirit that causes great things to happen”. He appealed for public support to make the university an institution of first choice.

    In his acceptance speech,  Akpabio said he foresaw the university becoming a foremost centre for research and development in the league of Harvard University. He said every child should be made to run to school rather than run from school as he was chased away from school at childhood for not having money to pay his fees.

    Akpabio also noted that the university is strategically located in Ikot Ekpene, which was the first centre of local government administration in Nigeria.

    The VC, Prof Celestine Ntuen, described the school as “an all-round educational institution, which offers the best of everything”.

    The installation was preceded by the university’s third public lecture, delivered by Effiong Johnson, a professor of Theatre, Communication and Aesthetics on the theme: Theatrical comic genre and the therapeutic: A discourse.

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom was represented by his Deputy, Moses Ekpo. Also in attendance were the former and first military governor of the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga; Commissioner for Education, Prof Victor Inoka; Senator Anietie Okon and Ime Umoh, among other dignitaries from government, the academia, traditional institutions and corporate sector.

  • Akpabio, Enyong put smiles on faces of constituents

    Akpabio, Enyong put smiles on faces of constituents

    Constituents in Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District and Uyo Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State last week counted their blessings with smiles and gratitude as their lawmakers at the National Assembly came home to impact on their lives.

    Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio was at the best of his elements as he commissioned people-oriented projects across his senatorial district much to admiration and endorsements of his people.

    Likewise, the lawmaker representing Uyo Federal Constituency, Hon. Mike Enyong empowered no fewer than 200 women of his area with cash for them to venture into and sustain their small scale businesses.

    Communities visited by Senator Akpabio went agog as the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State commissioned standard Borehole Water Project at Ibiakpan Ikot Obioekere in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the State.

    Also commissioned was a 20-stall open market shed at Utu Edem Usung market in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

    Other projects commissioned included Open Market Stores at Urua Akpan Ibom, Midim and Two solar powered bore hole water projects at Ebibit Afaha Obong and Ikot Akpan Idem all in Abak Local Government Area.

    Senator Akpabio assured the people of his effective representation at the Red Chambers while appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for approving Constituency projects for the Senate. He also acknowledged the role of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki in the implementation

    of Constituency projects across the different Senatorial Districts in the Country.

    He charged the communities to protect the projects executed in their domains against vandalisation.

    The team had previously visited Ini and Ikono local government areas for the commissioning of market stores, tastefully-furnished classroom blocks with seats and fans and solar powered borehole projects with 3.5km radius.

    The Senate Minority Leader was accompanied by his wife, members of the State Executive Council from the Senatorial District, Council Chairmen, political stakeholders, student leaders, women and youth groups, among others.

    Community leaders described the gesture of Senator Akpabio as unprecedented and thanked him for touching their lives in many ways through the projects.

    The commissioning was part of the over 50 Constituency projects executed by the Senate Minority Leader across the 10 Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District.

    In the same vein, Enyong doled out Five Million Naira to 200 beneficiaries to embark on small scale businesses as a means to alleviate poverty among his constituents in fulfilment of campaign

    promises to the people.

    The financial assistance by the Uyo federal constituency lawmaker was another gesture in addition to 46 women leaders from all the wards in the Local Government of Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai, Uruan and Uyo Council Areas within the federal constituency who are already in the

    monthly pay roll of the federal law maker.

    The largesse which Engr. Enyong explained as a follow up to last year training program on skill acquisition for women of the federal constituency supervised by the National Human Right Commission to train women on effective management of scarce resources, self-reliance and entrepreneurship to prepare women in the face of economic recession that confronted the nation in the past years.

    Addressing the beneficiaries, Engr. Enyong recounted importance of women in nation building and noted that a woman is a society in miniature as any assistance given to them would influence the larger society positively and described woman as good managers of scarce resources.

    Hon. Enyong further encouraged women to revive activism in them as shown by women of old who fought the obnoxious tax policy that led to Aba women riot of 1929.

    Hon. Enyong told women of Uyo federal constituency that apart from the cash disbursement for small scale businesses, he had secured job placement for youths in different establishments such as Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Central Bank of Nigeria, National Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), among others.

    In an interview with newsmen, Barr. Jummai Usman Msheila who represented the Executive Secretary of National Human Right Commission that monitored the disbursement of the funds said when women are empowered the society is affected positively.

    She said, Akwa Ibom was among the Twenty States in the Federation where the funds was disburse and commended office of the Secretary of the Government of Federation for setting up a mechanism for monitoring such that the Law Makers will not escape with the funds.

    Responding, the PDP chapter women leader of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government, Mrs. Ime Ekpenyong said women have no other means to appreciate Engr. Enyong than pass a vote of confidence on him and moved a motion for his adoption for second term in 2019.

    The motion was seconded by the Chapter youth leader of PDP in Uruan Local Government Mr. Richard Eyo.

    Engr. Enyong said the same people who adopted him for second term in 2019 were the same that adopted Governor Udom Emmanuel and assured the people that they would not be disappointed in their choice for Udom in 2019.

     

  • Buhari may present 2017 budget December 1

    Buhari may present 2017 budget December 1

    …MTEF unrealistic, Senators insist

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari may present the 2017 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on December 1, 2016.

    Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, gave the hint Wednesday while contributing to the debate on the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    Akpabio said that the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Tuesday made reference to the fact that the President Buhari may be coming to the National Assembly to submit and read the 2017 budget on 1st of December 2016.

    The information came as the Senators overwhelmingly described the MTEF and FSP as largely unrealistic.

    The lawmakers took turns to tear the MTEF and FSP to shred rooting for the fiscal document to be returned back to the Presidency.

    Saraki saved the day by appealing to his colleagues that though the assumptions and estimates in the MTEF were largely incorrect they remained assumptions and estimate.

    The Senate President noted that it was the responsibility of the Senate to work on the document and use its capacity to produce a realistic document.

    Akpabio said, “We can see that we don’t have a perfect document in our hands but of course we are looking at assumptions and assumptions may not necessarily be correct. I want to suggest that we send it to the committee. Of course, the committee will invite the relevant agencies and ministries of government.

    “They will come up with a more realistic MTEF/FSP because I believe also that looking at the date that this was submitted to the Senate, (4th of October) and we are debating it today on the 23nd of November. So, a lot of indices must have changed. Wednesday, you made reference to the fact that the President may be coming to the chambers to submit and read the 2017 budget on 1st of December.

    “If that is the case and we send this (MTEF) back and wait for it to come and debate it, it means that we will not be able to meet that deadline. But if we send it to the committee level, they may come up with something within the next three days that will be much realistic.”

    So, my appeal will be that the committee members should take into cognisance all the submissions and observations made today; so that we can come up with a more realistic MTEF and FSP.
    The Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper is proposing a budget that will be predicated on an oil revenue benchmark of $42.5 per barrel for the period 2017 -2019.

    The non-oil revenue for 2017 -2019 is guided by the improved efficiency of collection and expected growth in non-oil GDP, and accordingly customs collection, Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax and FGN Independent Revenue are non-oil sectors the government is expecting revenue from in 2017.

    The proposal also shows that the government is projecting a 3.02% GDP growth in 2017, while inflation is expected to moderate at 12 ‚92%.

    The GDP growth would be driven by strong performance in agriculture, wholesale and retail, construction and real estate sectors ‘ among others.

    Similarly, the GDP growth for the medium term is based on the assumptions of average oil production of 2.2mbpd‚2.3 mbpd and 2.4mbpd for 2017,2018 and 2019 respectively with average benchmark oil price of USD42.5pb,USD45pb‚ and USD50pb for 2017,2018 and 2019 respectively as well as an average exchange rate of N290 per dollar. It is also based on an average growth rate of 9.69% during the period.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah who presented the MTEF noted that the document is designed to reposition the Nigerian economy from the shores of recession to a sustainable inclusive growth path.

    “The fiscal strategy for the 2017 -2019 MTEF / FSP therefore is framed to fundamentally restructure the economy for enhanced productivity, efficiency and accountability in the management of national resources with the intent of unlocking the real sector and private sector potentials for bolstering growth.

    “The focus of the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP is the utilization of targeted spending in critical sectors that will translate into quick transformative capabilities and strong linkages with medium term development plans to achieve a more developed infrastructure base to stimulate real sector productivity, job creation and increased private sector investment.

    “The 2017 budget will be guided by six principles namely realism, credibility, allocative strategic, prioritization, transparency and accountability and social safety nets

    “The policy outline in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper are in line with the Change Agenda of this Administration,” Na’Allah said.

    The consideration of the fiscal document followed a closed session of the upper chamber during which senators were said to have attempted to persuade themselves not to throw out the document.

    It was learnt that the Presidency refused to rework the MTEF and FSP the Senate rejected on November 3rd, 2016.

    A reliable source said that “the same MTEF we rejected and returned to the Executive was sent back to us to consider. Nothing was changed, nothing was reworked, it was the same it was submitted in October.”

    Almost all the senators who contributed to the debate agreed that the projections in the MTEF/FSP were unrealistic.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Enoh (Akwa Ibom Central) said the first thing to consider is the broad, the basic assumptions that are contained in the document including the assumptions of the daily oil production of 2.2 which has not changed from where it was in 2016.

    Enoh said, “I think with the backdrop of a lot that is happening in terms of oil production the government especially the executive arm has to put in place a proper engagements strategy in the Niger Delta if it hopes to achieve this because as I speak am sure we are losing on a daily basis more than 600,000 or 800,000 barrels a day.

    “If that is what we are doing and then we are predicating daily production in 2017 at 2.2 then the government needs to do quite a lot in terms of the oil price benchmark of $42.5.

    “Talking about the exchange rate of N290 when in spite of the exchange rate we have figures that rotates the upper limits into as much as N350 not minding what is happening in the parallel market

    “In looking at the 2017 projections, the one that is most startling in terms of the projections that has increased is bad. VAT in 2016 was about 1.2, 1.4 but in 2017 it was projected about 2 trillion and I think that there is no real basis if for example as at September VAT indicated just about 55 percent then why are you now increasing it by more than 1trillion.”

    Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) in his contribution noted that by passing the MTEF, the Senate was giving the leeway to the President to present the 2017 budget.

    The lawmaker said that the first thing the Senate should have done was to consider and analyze the performance of the 2016 budget.

    Senator Adeola added, “Going through the document before us, I want to say that the Economic Team of the government is in disarray. The document before us is not realistic. We should return it for the Economic Team to rework.”

    For Senator Suleiman Adokwe, (Nasarawa South) the problem is the bureaucracy, who have a template they recycle every year.

    Adokwe lamented that it appears there is no economic blue print to get the country out of recession.

    Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobe North) agreed the most of the assumptions in the document were unrealistic.

    Sentor Usman Bayero Nafada warned that if the MTEF was not well done, the 2017 budget would fail.

    He wondered why the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele would inform Nigerians that the exchange rate stood at N305 to one dollar while the government would sent a document containing N290 to one dollar.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) said that Senate has the constitutional power to adjust the document as it deemed correct.

    Barau also said the assumptions were wrong.

    On his own Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) said “Mr. President, if we speak the truth, we would die, if we lie, we would die. So I have chosen to speak the truth and die.

    “I want to say this document that I have before me, this MTEF proposal and projections of the 2017 to 2019 is a lie. This document is not truthful, it is not honest, it is not transparent and it is not factual.

    “We want to know the level of compliance of the MTEF we passed last year and it is for three years, 2016-2018. What are the new amendments, Is this MTEF predicated on the loan that the executive is requesting to take. We want to know and that is not stipulated in this MTEF. We also want to know the whether the rate of N290 exchange rate per dollar is it realistic? Is this the truth. Governance is about the truth, it is about honesty, it is about transparency, it is about opening yourself to the people.

    “The GDP is going down and this MTEF document is telling me that it is going up. So, how do you corroborate this fraud. We should not be talking about deficit to GDP in realistic term we should be talking about deficit to revenue. How much of our revenue is being used in servicing our debts.

    “You need to tell us, we need to know that what percentage of our revenue you are allocating to servicing debts but that question is very, very painful to me because recently in international forum the minister of budget and planning blatantly displaying ignorance of not knowing even what the debt profile of the government is.”

    After the debate and appeal by the Senate President, the lawmakers agreed to refer the document to the joint committee on Appropriation, Finance and Budget and National Planning for further legislative action.

     

     

  • Makarfi takes PDP reconciliatory meeting to National Assembly

    Makarfi takes PDP reconciliatory meeting to National Assembly

    The National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s National Assembly Caucus met Wednesday in Abuja to further the reconciliatory moves in the embattled party.

    While the PDP Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi led his team, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, led the party’s National Assembly caucus to the meeting which held at the National Assembly.

    The meeting led to a vote of confidence on Makarfi and his team as moved by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and seconded by House of Representative Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor.

    Senator Ekweremadu flagged off the parley congratulated Makarfi and his team on their appointment.

    He reminded committee that the PDP is now at an important time in history that required the ingenuity of all members to rebuild the fortunes of party.

    He added that the party had had its fair share of ups and downs “but Nigerians expect much from us.

    He pledged the total loyalty of all members of the caucus to the Caretaker committee to ensure its success.

    Akpabio on his part noted that Nigerians who watched what transpired at the party’s convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital saw the selection and appointment of the Caretaker committee was unanimous.

    He said, “Our party selected the Caretaker Committee and made you, Your Excellency, Makarfi, chairman of the committee. There was no election. The party has the absolute power to inaugurate any committee.

    “You have the power to do anything that will ensure the acceptability of our party by Nigerians. There is no division in PDP, the party is one. What happened in our great party was a storm in a tea cup. We are proud of what you have done to reposition the party.

    “For you to have decided to come and consult with the representatives of the Nigerian people, you have done well. We don’t have Villa, the National Assembly is the Villa of the PDP, you have done well. We will support you 100 per cent to ensure that PDP is fully accepted back.”

    Hon. Ogor reminded Makarfi that the task before him aimed at rebuilding the party is enormous.

    The House of Representatives minority leader further reminded Makarfi that one of his major tasks is to lead the party to a successful convention.

    He added, “We in the House of Representatives pledge our loyalty and assure you that we will be with you day and night to ensure that you succeed. The responsibility is that come 2019, Nigerians will be given the government after their heart. Nigerians have already seen the difference between what and black.”

    Makarfi said that the doctrine of necessity came to play once again at the PDP convention in Port Harcourt.

    He noted that faced with the challenge of bringing harmony and peace to the party, PDP stakeholders had to take certain decisions in Port Harcourt.

    Makarfi said that the Caretaker Committee was inaugurated to heal the wound in the party as well as to bring peace and unity of purpose to the fold.

    He said, “Responsibilities were put on our shoulders. We are not representing any bloc of interest; we are representing PDP, we are here for PDP, we are here for Nigerians.”

    Makarfi said that on Monday, they attended a meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where they made useful contributions.

    He noted that to have attended a meeting convened by the electoral umpire was indication that peace has returned to the PDP.

    “We are here to say thank you for the roles you played to get us on board. We also ask other members of our great party who may still be aggrieved to join us to rebuild our party. Politics is about the will of the people, the will of the majority. If today stakeholders in our party say we should stay aside, we will stay aside. We have come to tell you that our doors are open all the time,” Makarfi said.