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Tag: ekweremadu

  • PDP will form alliance with other political parties to defeat APC in 2019 – Ekweremadu

    As part of moves to reposition the party ahead of the 2019 elections, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is making frantic efforts to form alliance with other political parties to regain the central (federal) government in 2019.

    Ekweremadu revealed this in Abuja on Friday.

    In his words: “What you are seeing today is the party’s efforts to rebuild and reposition itself ahead of 2019.

    “Going forward, you are going to see other developments.

    “We are also reaching out to a number of political parties, who are prepared to come on board to join us to rebuild our country, to regain our country, to be able to roll back recession.

    “We are looking forward to a new, improved PDP and we believe that this development will usher in a new era for PDP.”

    Ekweremadu’s disclosure follows the declaration of the Ekiti State Governor and newly inaugurated Chairman of the PDP’s governors forum, Ayodele Fayose who declared that he will ensure the party reclaims power from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

  • I am not defecting, I stand firm with PDP, Ekweremadu tells APC

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has said he is not contemplating leaving the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or any other political party for that matter.

    Ekweremadu stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Hon. Okey Ozoani.

    The statement reads in part: “Senator Ekweremadu is not contemplating leaving PDP. He is more concerned about fixing the country’s biting economic and security conditions and other challenges than saving his job as the Deputy President of the Senate.

    “It is his view that Nigeria has to first exist for us to have political parties to belong to or political offices to occupy. Studies have shown a direct relationship between economic conditions and survival of democracy.

    “The primary responsibility the Constitution places on our government is to cater for the wellbeing of the citizens as well as security of their lives and property. When such are threatened, everyone should necessarily get serious and preoccupied with contributing his or her quota to salvaging the country.

    “Besides, he is most grateful to his colleagues for the confidence they continue to repose in him and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He is grateful for the solidarity that the Senators have continued to accord them”.

    Hon. Ozoani, while appreciating Ekweremadu’s supporters and well meaning Nigerians who have continued to contact the Office over recent media reports, assured them that there was no cause for alarm. He urged them to continue to pray for the Senate leadership, the Senate, the National Assembly, and indeed the government and the entire nation.

    “By strength alone shall no man prevail. Therefore, let us get down on our knees and continue to present the government and the country before God”, Ozoani added.

    Recall that Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamafara Central) on Wednesday, 11th January 2017, moved a motion asking the Deputy Senate President to cross over to the ruling All Progressive Congress.

    Recall also that the PDP had earlier warned that attempt to impeach Ekweremadu because of he belongs to the opposition party will cause anarchy in the country.

     

  • Any attempt to impeach Ekweremadu as DSP is call to anarchy – PDP

     

    Opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said any attempt by senators elected under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to impeach Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu because he is not a member of the party (APC) will lead to anarchy in the country.

    The party was reacting to comments made by Senator Kabiru Marafa, where he called on Ekweremadu to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to retain his seat.

    In a statement on Thursday released by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, PDP said any attempt to remove Ekweremadu was a call for anarchy.

    The statement said: “Fortunately, there is no section or clause of the Nigerian Constitution (1999 As Amended) that provides that one must be a member of the Ruling Party before he/she can be elected into any position in the Senate or the House of Representatives.

    “Equally, it is very distasteful and uncharitable for any senator to stand on the floor of the Hallowed Chamber and ask his colleague to violate the Constitution by cross-carpeting from his own party to join the ruling party. Note that it is Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not Senate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “It is indeed laughable for Senator Marafa to cite the internal issues in the PDP as a reason for Senator Ekweremadu to decamp. For the umpteenth time, let us reiterate that there is no faction in the PDP. A party is only factionalised when its organs are in disarray but this is different in the PDP where all the organs are intact behind the National Caretaker Committee under the chairmanship of H. E. Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON. A mere rebellion by a small interest group within the Party cannot be referred to factionalisation of the Party.”

    The PDP added: “In view of the above, any member of the PDP using the current leadership disagreement caused by the Rebellious Group led by the former Borno State Governor, Senator Sherrif to decamp is doing so at his or her peril. Senator Marafa or any other member of the APC has no power to make such demands on a member of the PDP.

    “Let us remind Senator Marafa that Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected as Deputy President of Senate by majority votes from both the PDP and APC senators. Any attempt to remove Senator Ekweramadu for being a member of the Opposition Party and not because of a constitutional breach or incompetence is a call for anarchy.

    “The current situation in the Senate where the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President are from different parties should not continue to appear strange to Senator Marafa and his likes in a democratic system.

    “For instance in the Second Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umezeoke was from opposition NPP while the Senate President was from the Ruling Party, the NPN, and both of them worked harmoniously with the cooperation of the Executive in moving the Country forward.

    “Finally, we call on our members in the National Assembly to remain strong and united behind the Deputy Senate President with the determination not to allow the APC truncate our hard earned democracy through their undemocratic tendencies.

    “To the APC lawmakers in the National Assembly, do not forget that Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must work together to protect her in order to advance our democracy.”

     

  • Pray for quick economic recovery in 2017 – Ekweremadu urges Nigerians

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has urged Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy in the New Year.

    This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja on Saturday.

    Ekweremadu, who expressed concern over the current economic hardship in the country, said the nation’s leadership needed divine guidance for right economic policies.

    He called on the Federal Government to put the right policies in place to boost investors’ confidence while spending more on infrastructure and critical sectors to ensure economic growth.

    “No doubt, 2016 will be remembered for unprecedented economic hardship for Nigerians, irrespective of social status, political, ethnic, and religious leanings.

    “Therefore, we must all join hands to seek the face of God for quick economic recovery and peace in our land.

    “Importantly, those in charge of the economy must rise to the occasion.

    “We must assemble the best hands, irrespective of where they come from, to lead the nation out of the economic wilderness’’, he said.

    The deputy president of the senate also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and political elites to improve on electoral process ahead of 2019.

    He said, “we must restore the confidence of our people in the ballot box.

    “They must freely vote and their votes must count, devoid of all forms of intimidation, manipulation, and political excesses.’’

    He wished Nigerians a happy celebration and a prosperous New Year.

     

    NAN

  • We must look beyond oil to move Nigeria forward – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised Nigerians to look beyond oil to secure economic prosperity for the country.

    Ekweremadu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, said the days of oil as super foreign exchange earner for the nation were numbered or probably over.

    Ekweremadu gave the advice at the one year anniversary celebration of the Brickhall School, Abuja, founded by former Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Joy Emodi.

    The deputy president expressed concern that not so much attention was given to education as much as oil, which would soon become valueless.

    He said the way to go for sustainable growth of the country was education for both the young and old.

    “Our economy is in the throes of pain today because we thought the oil windfall would last forever.

    “Even, while it lasted, we dismantled all the necessary structures, such as fiscal federalism, that would have encouraged competitive development and massive investment in human capital.

    “Without prejudice to the place of petroleum resources in our national life, we must face the reality that the days of oil as super earner of foreign exchange are numbered, if not over.

    “Those who still look up to petroleum resources for the revival of Nigeria’s weather-beaten economy live in the past and are only building castles in the air.

    “Prosperous global economies are knowledge-driven and the future only belongs to those who equip their citizens with quality education right from birth.

    “This is a major reason most African nations, including Nigeria, are abjectly poor despite their rich oil and mineral resources.

    “Meanwhile, many of their contemporaries, such as South Korea, with very little or no mineral resources, are among the world’s leading economies.

    “We must look beyond oil; and we must necessarily invest in education if we intend to make any headway. It is not a matter of choice, but imperative.’’

    The deputy president of the senate urged privately-owned educational institutions to emulate the Brickhall School in providing high standard, but “pocket-friendly’’ education.

    He also urged government at all levels and public-spirited individuals to prioritise support for educational institutions through provision of adequate supervision, infrastructure, grants, donations, and tax rebates.

    “A situation where government is only interested in collecting exorbitant taxes from privately-owned educational institutions, leaving them to fend for themselves in terms of access roads, security, water, power, and other social infrastructures is exploitative.

    “The development is also unacceptable because it has virtually driven them beyond the reach of the poor.

    “Governments should be able to provide subsidised lands and other support in exchange of specific percentage discount for the poor to access privately owned educational institutions,’’ he said.

    He commended Sen. Joy Emodi for consistently exhibiting innate drive for excellence and national development through the provision of quality education.

    According to him, Brickhall School has demonstrated that private-owned educational facilities could provide high quality education at affordable costs devoid of exploitation.

  • Forgery: FG dumps fresh police report indicting Saraki, Ekweremadu

    Forgery: FG dumps fresh police report indicting Saraki, Ekweremadu

     

    Indications emerged Saturday that the Federal Government will no longer be pursuing the case of forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, allegedly masterminded by Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Recall that the police had submitted a fresh report of investigation to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice through the National Prosecution Coordination Committee indicting Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    The Federal Government had, on October 7,2016, withdrawn the charges of criminal conspiracy before an Abuja Federal High Court. It was learnt that the AGF’s office got fresh police investigation some days after the charges were withdrawn.

    Secretary of the NPCC and a Special Adviser to the AGF, Sylvester Imhanobe, said that though the AGF office received the report, it would not change the earlier decision to withdraw the charge.

    However, an anonymous source in the Federal Ministry of Justice told Punch that the Federal Government also, partly resolved to stop pursuing the case in order to “bolster the rapport” with the Senate, which President Muhammadu Buhari “desperately needs to push through a number of its policies.”