Peoples
HURIWA calls on DSS to arrest Bauchi senator for ‘threatening’ Igbos
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on the Department of State Services, DSS, to immediately arrest Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa who is currently representing the Bauchi North Senatorial District at the National Assembly and one Isa Tafida Mafindi for openly threatening to attack the people of South-eastern Nigeria. Newsmen had reported that the senator who backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘civil war’ threat, said the Federal Government would have no choice but to clamp down on the Igbos. Bulkachuwa described members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as terrorists attacking security operatives and destroying government property in the region. Reacting, the Human Right Writers condemned the DSS’ failure to arrest the Senator despite the open t...
PDP tasks federal government on Dangote refinery shares
The Peoples Democratic Party has advised the Federal Government to ensure transparency in its planned acquisition of 20 per cent shares in Dangote refinery. The PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja. Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP has nothing against any genuine and honest incentives for private refineries, but we insist that such must not be used as avenues for siphoning funds from national treasury. “The transaction must be made completely open, in terms of conditions for crude barter trade, duration, equity sharing and signatories among other things.” Ologbondiyan urged the National Assembly to take advantage of its oversight power on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to ensure that the deal was transparent. “The PDP insists...
PDP optimistic ahead Lagos council polls
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State on Sunday said that its fortune remained bright in the forthcoming July 24 local government election in the aquatic state. The PDP Chairman in Lagos, Adedeji Doherty, expressed this optimism in an interview with newsmen. He, however, said that there was the need for a constitutional review that would take away the conduct of grassroots election from state apparatuses. According to him, the step has become imperative to bring democracy to grassroots elections, being the most important election that is closest to the people. “The fortune of PDP is bright, but the main thing is that the party in power usually takes control of all the apparatus to win grassroots elections. “There should be a constitutional amendment to make sure that the c...
Anambra election: PDP aspirant urges delegates to shun monetary inducement
Dr Godwin Maduka, a major contender for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Nov. 6 election in Anambra has urged party delegates to shun financial inducement. Maduka, America-based medical practitioner-cum politician, made the call while addressing journalists on Sunday in Awka on the need for party delegates to cast their votes without fear or coercion. He advised delegates to shun monetary inducement and develop boldness to vote for a candidate who has the capacity to develop the state.a He said though he has enough money to buy delegates at any cost but saw an act as undemocratic and should be discouraged for the people to get a sound polity. “Our delegates should be political active and not be passive any more in affairs that concerns their generation ...
PDP congratulates Edwin Clark at 94
The Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, as he marks his 94th birthday. The party’s felicitation was contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday in Abuja. Ologbondiyan described Clark as an unrelenting patriot who had remained unshaken in his commitment toward the unity, stability and development of the nation. He said: “Our party salutes Chief Clark for his steadfastness and outspokenness toward the entrenchment of democratic tenets of rule of law, justice, fairness, and equity in the context of true federalism in our country. “Indeed, Chief Clark’s contributions to nation building form a strong pedestal upon which our nation is striving to find solutions to the my...
Ondo governor: No land in southern Nigeria will be ceded to invaders masquerading as herdsmen
The Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has declared that “no inch of the space delineated and known, currently, as South West, and indeed the whole South, will be ceded to a band of invaders masquerading as herdsmen under any guise.” Akeredolu made the declaration in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant Special Duties and Strategies, Dr Doyin Odebowale. The declaration was sequel to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, on the position of President Muhammadu Buhari, on the farmer-herder clashes and what was termed as “Deep Rooted Solutions to the herdsmen attacks”. Shehu had in the statement revealed the presidency’s position that ranching and revival...
Rivers governor: PDP will suffer if I leave
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will suffer if he leaves for another party. Wike made the assertion on Monday while briefing newsmen in Government House, Port Harcourt, the state’s capital. Newsmen report that the governor’s claim is coming barely one week after his Cross River counterpart, Ben Ayade, dumped the part for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor also claimed that he would win election in any party he joins, stressing that PDP in Rivers State lack political detractor. Governor Wike, who described himself as asset to the national opposition party, accused some members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) of been “tax collectors”. He said, “If I leave PDP tomorrow, the party will suffer… S...
SERAP urges President Buhari to tell Nigerians spending plan for James Ibori loot, others
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to disclose spending details of the $700 million looted funds reportedly recovered by the Federal Government in the past four years, including the list and location of projects completed with the money, as well as details of the contractors that executed the projects.” SERAP also urged him to “direct Mrs Ahmed to disclose how the government plans to spend the returned £4.2m Ibori loot, including details of planned capital expenditure, and whether there is any plan to ensure that the money and any future returned Ibori loot would be spent to achieve justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption in...
Cross River PDP stakeholders: We’re not defecting with Governor Ayade
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Lawmakers and Stakeholders Forum in Cross River have pledged not to follow the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers and the PDP stakeholders forum at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, promised to remain in PDP, saying Cross River remained a stronghold of the party. Sen. Geshon Bassey, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said that Ayade did not consult them before his defection, adding that “even if he did, we will not follow him. “As far as I know, till date, the National Assembly caucus remains intact. I don’t see any of us leaving. We are legacy members of the party, who have been in this party for the past 15 to 20 years. So, we are not going anywhere. “We were not consulted and...
Anambra guber: Zoning favours APC, not APGA, PDP – aspirant
An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Dr Amobi Nwaokafor, has argued that if zoning is to be a consideration in the Anambra State governorship election, the APC should be favoured since it has not ruled the state. Speaking after submitting his declaration of interest and nomination form at the party secretariat he insisted that having governed Anambra State previously, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should allow APC to test the seat. He also argued that since Awka indigenes never occupy the position too, he stands a better chance to benefit from zoning. The former President General of Awka Progressives Union also described himself as the best candidate for the race to occupy the states’ number one seat. He argued that with his wealt...
House speaker welcomes Governor Ayade’s defection
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed joy over the defection of the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party is opened to all. Gbajabiamila in a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said Ayade’s action has once again shown that “APC was the party to beat in the country.” The Speaker said the Cross River State governor has taken the right decision and shown a good example for others to follow. He said the ruling party remains open to all, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join the APC to move the country forward. The Speaker noted that APC will continue to be just and fair to all its members. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PD...
CISLAC raises concerns over Nigeria’s debt profile, coronavirus accountability
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has expressed concerns over $2.18 billion foreign loan request to the Nigerian Senate to fund the 2021 Appropriations Act, by President Muhammadu Buhari. It has therefore urged the National Assembly to insist on an analysis of debt repayment strategy to be in place as its key priority to approvals. In a statement by Executive Director, CISLAC and Head of Transparency International – Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, he said national public finance management regime is meant to save the nation’s economic system from collapse: rescuing jobs, supporting livelihoods and bailing out many businesses on the brink. He warned the government to avoid the catastrophe that the international finance institutions forced on Greece: destroying ...
