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Tag: Governors

  • Governors meet today on doctors’ strike, COVID vaccination, PIB, others

    Governors meet today on doctors’ strike, COVID vaccination, PIB, others

    The nation’s 36 Governors are to meet on Wednesday (today) to examine pressing national issues, including the ongoing strike by resident doctors, the planned commencement of the second phase of the COVID- 19 vaccination, among others.

    The Governors will, at the 33rd teleconference meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), also aggregate their views on the Water Resources Bill, pending before the National Assembly and issue a response on the issue to the Water Resources Minister.

    According to a statement by the spokesman of (NGF), Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the meeting would equally dwell on the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill (PPIB, the refund of withholding taxes (WHT) and Stamp Duties, the Nigerian Postal Service Bill, 2021 and issues surrounding the collection of Stamp Duties.

    The statement reads: “Three pro-poor issues will feature prominently on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s 33rd Teleconference meeting, the 10th in 2021 which takes place on Wednesday 18th August 2021.

    “The Director General of the NGF, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru in the invitation to the meeting itemised the National Poverty reduction and growth strategy, the second phase of the Covid 19 vaccination and other health updates, as well as the on-going strike by the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), and the campaign for building a new mindset for a united Nigeria as some of the crucial issues to dominate the meeting.

    “The meeting which promises to be very heavy on solving critical national questions will also dwell on states’ participation in Nigeria Electrification Project and Solar Power Naija, in a presentation by the nation’s Rural Electrification Agency.

    “The Nigerian Security Minting and Printing Company will also address the Forum on how to leverage Modern Security Document Solutions.

    “The Campaign on Building a New Mindset for a United Nigeria will be anchored by Ambassadors of Voice for Change led by Bala Ahmed & Zack Orji

    “Other items on the agenda, according to Mr Okauru, include an update on the refund of withholding taxes (WHT) and Stamp Duties, the Nigerian Postal Service Bill, 2021 & Collection of Stamp Duties, and the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill where the governors are expected to identify next steps among other issues.

    “The health update by the NGF Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab will be embroidered by another update on the 2nd Phase of Covid-19 Vaccination by Dr. Faisal Shuaib, while the Gov. Okowa Committee of the NGF will brief governors on its appraisal of the PTF thus far.

    “The NGF Chairman, Dr John Kayode Fayemi’s keynote address to the Association for General & Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMN), where he enjoined doctors to honour they Hippocratic oaths by seeking other means of pushing their demands and avoid resorting to strikes, will round up the health section of the deliberations.’’

  • PDP governors urge NASS to to entrench Electronic transmission of results

    PDP governors urge NASS to to entrench Electronic transmission of results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum on Monday urged the National Assembly to entrench electronic transmission of election results will guarantee free and fair polls in the country.

    The governors elected on the platform of the PDP who made the remarks at the end of its 11th meeting held in Bauchi also accused the President Muhammadu Buhari government of using underhand tactics in arm-twisting PDP members to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Those present were: Okezie Ikpeazu(Abia); Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); Udom Emmanuel, (Akwa Ibom); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Samuel Ortom (Benue).Others were: Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Seyi Makinde( Oyo); Nyesom Wike( Rivers) and Zamfara Deputy Governor Mahdi Aliyu.

    In a communique signed by the PDP governors forum, the meeting was hinged on the state of the nation.

    In the course of the meeting, the PDP governors reviewed the deteriorating state of our democracy, the economic and security situation in the country, the state of the PDP as the main opposition platform in Nigeria, and arrived at the following decisions:

    “On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Governors identified with the need for a free, fair and credible elections in the country and called on the National Assembly to entrench Electronic transmission of results of elections in the nation’s electoral jurisprudence.

    “The meeting requested Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the only body empowered by the Constitution to conduct elections, to deploy appropriate technologies necessary to ensure that the votes of every Nigerian is counted and made to count. The meeting further called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), especially, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT), Telephone Companies (Telcos) and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that universal access and service of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are provided especially in rural, un-served and under-served areas of the country before the 2023 General elections.

    “The meeting condemned the attempt to foist on all political parties, one method of conducting primaries, that is, by DIRECT METHOD ONLY, through the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The Governors noted that the method is prone to massive rigging, as evidenced by a situation where President Buhari scored about 15 million votes in the 2018 APC Direct Primaries only to score 15 million votes from the entire country in the 2019 General Election. The Governors advised that political parties, should be allowed to decide whether to use direct or indirect method of conducting primaries as part of internal democracy in political parties.

    “The Governors reiterated, once again, the need for the NNPC and other revenue generating agencies of Government to strictly abide by the Constitution by remitting all their Revenue less cost of Production into the Federation Account as provided for by S.162 of the Constitution.

    “The meeting condemned, once again, the use of underhand tactics to arm twist some PDP Governors and other stakeholders to join the APC, a political party that has wrecked Nigeria’s economy, turned Nigeria into a killing field and has nothing to offer Nigerians but misery and bad governance.

    “The Governors condemned Mr President and APC for turning the Presidential Villa, that belongs to all Nigerians, into the new APC headquarters, where coerced PDP members are being paraded at intervals.

    “On the economy, the meeting admonished the APC Federal Government to collaborate more with State Governments to stem the unemployment scourge affecting the youths of Nigeria, through technology and increased production in all fields of endeavour, reiterating that Government should stop paying lip service on the Ease of Doing Business, as foreign direct investments have continued to fall partly due to obstacles placed on foreign companies wishing to invest in Nigeria. A glaring example is that of FACEBOOK who insisted on investing in Nigeria rather than Ghana, and is being frustrated by regulatory authorities.

    “On security of lives and properties, in addition to our earlier recommendations, it is time to bring the activities of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists to an end, through increased use of military equipment, traditional means of conflict resolution and technology for surveillance and the development of the political will to flush them out. Kidnapping, banditry and terrorism ARE NOT BUSINESS VENTURES as claimed by APC but heinous STATE CRIMES, that is destroying the Nigerian economy, the educational and social future of our children and causing significant social upheavals in society, the PDP Governors admonished.

    “The PDP Governors enjoined all Nigerians of goodwill to take advantage of the ongoing registration of Voters by INEC to register to vote, thereby arming themselves with the necessary tools in the struggle to RESCUE NIGERIA from the APC maladministration.”

  • Governors bow to pressure, approve uniform template for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature, judiciary

    Governors bow to pressure, approve uniform template for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature, judiciary

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has approved a uniform template for the implementation of the Memorandum of Action on financial autonomy for State legislatures and judiciary.

    The forum disclosed this in a communiqué signed by its Chairman and Ekiti State Gov. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday night, in Abuja, after its 32nd teleconference meeting.

    It noted that the template was signed with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASUN) to facilitate the implementation of financial autonomy for the State legislatures and judiciary.

    The template was developed following a joint meeting of the State Attorneys General and the Commissioners of Finance held on June 25, on the directive of the Forum.

    The forum expressed its concern over certain proposed amendments to the Principal Stamp Duties Act by the Senate.

    It noted that the amendment sought to remove the powers to administer and collect stamp duties from the Federal Inland Revenue Service or their State counterparts, depending on the nature of the transaction, to the Nigeria Postal Service.

    “The provisions of Section 163 of the 1999 Constitution requires that Stamp Duties on transactions between a company and an individual should be paid to the FIRS and returned to the state of derivation”, the forum noted, as it resolved to engage with the National Assembly on the matter.

    On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the communique stated that the governors were in full support of the unbundling and commercialization of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), but were, however, concerned with the proposed ownership structure of the NNPC, which was handed to the Federal Government.

    “The NGF recommends that given that the corporation is owned by the three tiers of government, NNPC Limited, the new incorporated entity, should be owned by a vehicle that holds the interest of the three tiers of government.

    “For now, the institution that is positioned to carry out this mandate is the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    “This amendment, as well as the proposed 3 per cent share of oil revenue to host communities and 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins, will be responded to at relevant channels, including the National Assembly and the National Economic Council (NEC)”, the forum said.

    The forum also stated that it would take a position on the planned privatization of assets of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) as listed by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), because it was done without due consultation with state governments, who are also shareholders of the company.

    “ NDPHC is incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act as a private limited liability company with shareholding fully subscribed to by the federal, state and local governments with a mandate to manage National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) in the country”, the forum noted.

    The Forum threw its weight behind the launch of the NGF Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative (PISI) developed to tackle insecurity, conflicts and violence in the country.

    It stated that the launch of PISI on July 8 heralded an important milestone for the NGF as it sought to build a more inclusive and collaborative platform to drive an urgent country-wide response to security challenges in the country.

    The communique noted that Fayemi had briefed the governors on the inauguration of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with a mandate to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

    It added that state governors were enjoined to nominate focal persons, who would consolidate policy strategies put in place by State governments to end poverty in the country.

    The focal persons would be inducted into a Technical Working Group, chaired by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, and co-chaired by the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, the communique said.

    The forum also acknowledged receiving an update from the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the recent rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases and called for consensual action to prevent a third wave in the country.

    “Following the update, the Forum called on all state governors to revive their COVID-19 protocols and collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take appropriate and immediate actions to flatten the transmission curve.

    “The forum will interface with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 to accelerate processes required to fast track the delivery of additional vaccines for the country.”

    It stated that an update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability – Program-for-Results (PforR) was also presented at the meeting, in addition to another update on the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus – Programme for Results (Nigeria CARES), from Mrs. Firo Elhassan, NGF’s Programme Manager.

    Following the update, the forum resolved to interface with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMBNP) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to ensure speedy approval and commencement of the programme, in line with the 2021 budgets of States.

    Another presentation by Princess Miriam Onuoha, Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Disabilities on the adoption of the Discrimination against Person with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018) was also received.

    Thereafter, the forum expressed its commitment to actively support, through the NGF Secretariat, the domestication of the disability law in states where it had not been passed.

    Since 2018, at least 12 States had passed disability laws, including Ekiti, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Jigawa, Ondo, Bauchi, Anambra, Niger and River State.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Suburban Fiber Company, Mr Bruce Ayonote, also made a presentation to the forum on the Roadmap for Successful Digital Transformation Execution in States, according to the communique.

    “The proposal, which sought to build both hard and soft digital infrastructure for State governments, was welcomed by the governors, who mandated the NGF Secretariat to facilitate the planning and partnership process with interested state governments.

    “Lastly, the Forum also received a report on the diversification and non-oil export opportunities for states post-COVID-19 from the Policy Development Facility (PDF) Bridge Programme.

    While welcoming the study, the forum noted that the findings of the report would help strengthen the diversification agenda of states.

  • Father Mbaka accuses governors of ‘selling’ out Nnamdi Kanu, says ‘vengeance is coming’

    Father Mbaka accuses governors of ‘selling’ out Nnamdi Kanu, says ‘vengeance is coming’

    Vocal Catholic priest and founder of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka, has blamed unnamed Governors for re-arrest of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    The cleric did not mention any Governor or directly mention Kanu throughout the message, during his popular Wednesday weekly ministration titled: ‘E no dey again.

    However, it was very obvious he was making reference to the IPOB leader and his latest travails as well as Southeast Governors.

    Mbaka jolted the congregation when he alleged Governors had lured the IPOB leader into the hands of his traducers.

    He chided the unnamed Governors over their role in Kanu’s arrest and current travails, describing such action as selfish.

    While blessing inmates and correctional centres across the country, Mbaka said: “Don’t sell your sons and daughters because of political promise that you are not even sure will materialise tomorrow.

    “Don’t sell your son because you are governors today! Live and let live.

    “Let the leaders listen. The solution is not in arrest and handcuff, the solution is in job creation!

    “Leaders beware! Their(leaders’) stubbornness will collapse this country one day. If care is not taken, it will happen like an earthquake!

    “Even if you arrest 100 people, it will not stop the agitation. If anything, it will worsen the situation,” he warned.

    While cautioning those celebrating Kanu’s arrest, Mbaka said it was just a matter of time and everyone, including clerics would feel the heat if care was not taken.

    He said: “Many people are clapping for them now. But when the heat becomes unbearable when the sun riots, when heavens shake you will understand.

    “When they killed Jesus Christ and put him in the prison-grave – Jesus’ prison was in the grave – they thought it was all over for Him, that the end had come.

    “Whoever that you have in heart now that is in the prison, may the Lord be with that person. May the Lord show such persons mercy. May they receive favour; favour for my people.

    “May the Lord show him favour, even from the prison warders that would be protecting him”.

    Mbaka also flayed the Federal Government for worsening poverty, hunger and insecurity.

    He charged the present administrations and leaders at all levels to act fast and address the country’s woes before it was too late.

    “Our suffering in Nigeria is unnecessary. There is no reason, apart from wickedness, why people should suffer in this country.

    “I remember when we were growing up. You would hardly hear that people stole. Politics was not about amassing wealth at that time. But today, kidnapping has become a multi-billion business. And if you come to the Southeast, the zone has become the hub of hardship.

    “If our leaders do not find a way to put Nigeria in a good platform, one day, this country will collapse!

    “If they do not do what they should do, they do not provide jobs but rather continue to amass wealth and millions of Nigerian youths keep watching them.

    “Time shall come when what we are experiencing today would appear like mere biscuit.

    “Our leaders are not ready to utilize our resources well but it cannot continue like this. Vengeance is coming,” he said.

  • Defections: It is shameful our governors are running to APC because of fear – PDP

    Defections: It is shameful our governors are running to APC because of fear – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is unmoved by the recent wave of defection by governors under the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting it is well-positioned to reclaim the country’s number one seat in 2023.

    Governor Bello Mattawalle of Zamfara State officially joined the APC from the PDP on Tuesday, becoming the second governor to leave the nation’s main opposition for the ruling party just over one month after his Cross River counterpart Ben Ayade moved to the APC.

    But the PDP insists the defections are nothing to worry about, claiming that the APC has not fulfilled its promises to Nigerians.

    “We stand here to state clearly that we will form the next government come 2023 because of the masses, not the governors who are leaving the PDP,” the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus said during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The PDP leader who accused the APC of “poaching governors” from the party and intimidating them to join the ruling party, urged the APC to focus on repositioning the country’s economy and making life better for Nigerians.

    “I have never seen a country where you have an economic crisis, [and] insecurity then the ruling party goes poaching governors… it is a shame that all the governors left for fear; they were intimidated by the instrument of the government of the APC,” the PDP leader noted while lamenting the level of hardship in Africa’s populous nation.

    “They are going after our governors but we are going after the masses of this country, the people who are suffering under this government. And that is the difference.”

    The PDP took over the country’s reigns of leadership at the dawn of democracy in 1999. The party ruled Nigeria for sixteen years. But in 2015, it lost to the APC which has since then led Africa’s most populous nation.

  • Governors, traditional leaders responsible for security, we won’t do their job, Buhari insists

    Governors, traditional leaders responsible for security, we won’t do their job, Buhari insists

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the federal government will not take responsibility of insecurity in states where there are governors traditional leaders.

    Speaking in a presidential media chat on Thursday, the president expressed his displeasure over the ineffectiveness of the traditional rulers whom he said are more knowledgeable of their terrain more than anyone. He also insists the various state governors know the security situation of their states more than the federal government.

    “Gone are the days that the traditional institutions and leaders where very effective. I sent back two governors who came to complain about their states, you campaign to be elected and you were elected, then you are responsible for your state” the president said.

    “Governors and traditional leaders know all the crooks (referring to criminals).They meet either monthly or quarterly for security meeting.The governors know what is happening to them, but they just sit down and win election and expect somebody to do their job for them.” He added

  • Governors fault Buhari’s Executive order 10 granting financial autonomy to state legislature, judiciary

    Governors fault Buhari’s Executive order 10 granting financial autonomy to state legislature, judiciary

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has faulted the Executive Order 10 issued in 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari that guaranteed the financial autonomy of state legislature and judiciary.

    The Forum said that the Executive Order 10 was needless to ostensibly support implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature, saying President Buhari was ill-advised on the issue.

    The NGF Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto, Dr. Aminu Tambuwal made this known in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday during a Colloquium organised by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice Academy, in honour of the retiring Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

    Speaking on the theme entitled: “The Judicial Autonomy: Perspective of the Nigerian Governor Forum”, Tambuwal said that the Forum expected President Buhari to have consulted widely before issuing the order, saying exercising such powers unilaterally was ‘sheer illegality’.

    The governor clarified that the states’ governors were not opposed to financial autonomy for these arms of government, saying the delay in implementation was as a result of process, structure and quest for legal clarity.

    He said: “Nigeria in Section 121(3) provides that: “Any amount standing to the credit of the – (a)House of Assembly of the State; and (b) Judiciary In the Consolidated revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively; in the case of the judiciary, such amount shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.”

    “As Governors of the 36 States under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), let me state very clearly that we are unequivocally committed to the autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature.

    “The recent misunderstanding on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary is predicated on the need to establish an implementation framework to the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 121(3). What we have questioned, and we have made this known at every opportunity, is the process of implementing this provision of the Constitution.

    “As Governors, we will be failing in our responsibility if we refuse to draw the attention of the President, stakeholders and the country to grave concerns about the constitutionality of Executive Order 10 of 2020. That was the basis of the position that we took on the Executive Order 10.

    “The Executive Order 10 ostensibly intended to support the implementation of judicial financial autonomy, was completely unnecessary and ill advised. Let me at this juncture state clearly that we never questioned the right of Mr. President to issue Executive Orders. We only stated that Section 121(3) did not require Presidential Executive Fiat to become implementable.

    Tambuwal expressed delight that consensus has finally been reached on the autonomy conundrum and opined that the strike is expected to be suspended anytime soon.

    “The agreement allows a period of 45 days for implementation structures to be put in place across States including the enactment of a Fund Management Law which will grant the Judiciary the power to manage its capital and recurrent expenditures in accordance with the provisions of constitution.

    “Budgetary releases to the judiciary will be pro-rated based on the actual revenues recorded each month by the State government. Monthly revenue reconciliation and allocation will be presided over by a State Account Allocation Committee (SAAC) to be set up under the Fund Management Law – a similar practice to what we have at the federal level.

    “We hope that this will put an end to the long weeks of strike action that have seen our judicial and criminal justice system grounded to a halt. We have lost so much in the past weeks. The big takeaway is the centrality of communication, sincerity, trust and dialogue.

    “We have requested that the President disbands the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary, to avert future rancor between the various arms of government, arising from misconceived guidance from a committee lacking the requisite understanding of constitutional matters.”

    Corroborating Tambuwal’s position, the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said that the Presidential directive was unconstitutional illegal as it undermined the executive power of the governors stipulated in the 1999 constitution.

    Fayemi said that the states’ governors are committed to financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary, saying that ‘democracy can’t endure if we subject the independence of these two arms to the jackboots of the governors’.

    “Who is to take capital spending for the judiciary and legislature has always been the controversy. The governors will continue to hold our judiciary with reverence, because In know that this democracy will not endure, if we subject our judiciary to the jackboots of the executive.

    “There is no questioning the fact that we can do a lot more for our judiciary to make it truly independent,” he added.

    In his submission, the CJ of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, said judicial autonomy was essential ingredients for democratic consolidation.

    He added further that judicial autonomy was adequately guaranteed in the 1999 constitution, saying section 121 (3) was simple and should be respected by state governors.

  • Defections: PDP patiently waiting for ten governors to dump APC soon

    Defections: PDP patiently waiting for ten governors to dump APC soon

    …Umahi and Ayade are on a misadventure -PDP Scribe
    …as four more PDP govs may pitch their tents with APC
    … PDP now 14 while APC hits 21

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    After the exit of Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress APC now controls 21 states of the Nigerian federation.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG in this piece will review developments in both leading parties in Nigeria and their standing before 2023 general elections.

    As it’s now, the PDP parades 14 governors after Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi and Ben Ayade defected to the APC.

    APC now controls 21 states across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria while APGA in the South East controls only one state.

    A further probe into the matter by TNG revealed that the PDP is already in talks with ten APC governors who are patiently waiting for the coast to clear for them to dump APC.

    A top member of the party from the North Central geo-political zone who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity said:

    “We are patiently waiting for our own yields from the APC which will entail ten serving governors defecting to our party.

    “We are already talking to them and we have been assured that they will join us because they know the APC is a sinking ship.

    Asked whether it’s true that two PDP South East governors and two governors from northern Nigeria are at the verge of dumping his party, he said:

    “Yes we are aware that they are in talks with the ruling party but we are not really disturbed because we too are in talks with ten APC governors.

    “We know that a PDP Governor in the north east and another from the north west and as for the south east governors we know they have been working with Buhari since 2019.

    “Anytime from now we are expecting them to defect but like I said earlier we are not perturbed at all.

    “At the end of the day we shall have the longest laughter after we reap our yields from the APC.

    “The APC is already a sinking ship and Nigerians are aware that the ruling APC will soon bury itself.

    PDP Scribe reaction to Ayade’s defection

    Deputy General Secretary of the PDP, Emmanuel Agbo in his reaction to Governor Ayade’s defection said:

    “Ayade is on a misadventure though we know he has been with them but the truth is that what does he have to offer Buhari that he couldn’t do in PDP.

    Reacting to Ayade’s boast that if he moves the party moves, Agbo said,”starting with Umahi who said in 16years PDP has done nothing, you know that the two parties that had ruled Nigeria, we all know that we did well.

    “Both men are a set of insincere humans and as for Ayade’s comment, what’s is he going there to do that he can’t do from PDP.

    “The APC knows that it’s not feasible to win election in 2023 but they want to use the conspiracy of the elites to write figures to claim victory and lure PDP governors to achieve this.

    “Ayade’s move is the greatest joke of the century and a political misadventure, let us see whether he would win his local council in 2023.

    A cursory look at 2023

    The APC with 21 governors in its kitty and going to the polls could upstage any political party and hold onto power beyond 2023.
    The reasons are not far fetched because governors in Nigeri are like monarchs they dictate what should happen.
    And if it’s true that APC still have four PDP governors lurking around the corner to increase their states to 25 then PDP has a lot of legwork to do in ,2023.

    On the other hand, the PDP is hopeful that at least nothing less than ten APC governors may soon join their stock then ,2023 general is going to be explosive if PDP contests with 20 governors.

  • PDP governors express concern on EFCC’s probe of party finances

    PDP governors express concern on EFCC’s probe of party finances

    PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) on Saturday expressed concern over the move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the party’s finance.

    The forum in a statement by its Director-General, Mr CID Maduabum, in Abuja, said that the PDP was up to date in submission of it yearly financial account to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by the Constitution.

    Maduabum said that the PDP governors were not aware that INEC made any complaints to EFCC on PDP’s returns.

    He said the recent invitation of PDP officials by the EFCC raised some concerns on the impartiality of the anti-graft agency.

    Maduabum said PDP as a political party was accountable to its members and the general public for its actions.

    ”The PDP governors were concerned that it was a misplaced priority and move to silence political opposition,” the DG said.

    He advised the EFCC’s new leadership to learn from the mistakes of its predecessors.

    “Even the petition in question did not make a single allegation of misuse of government funds, nor cheating of any individual or public authority by the PDP.

    “It is, therefore, surprising that EFCC should use its scarce human and other resources to begin an investigation into PDP finances.

    “If EFCC is even-handed and non-partisan, it should also conduct an investigation into other political parties including the ruling party,” Maduabum said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a member of PDP, Mr Kazeem Afegbua, had petitioned the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for a probe of the party’s accounts.

    Afegbua in the petition submitted to the EFCC and ICPC in April, asked that the PDP leadership accounted for the sum of N10 billion allegedly realised from the sale of forms in 2019 general elections.

    This made the anti-graft agency to invite PDP officials for investigation.

    The PDP, however, denied the allegation that it generated the sum of N10 billion from sale of nomination and expression of interest forms in 2019.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, at a news conference in Abuja, said that the PDP generated N4.6 billion, and raised a budget for its expenditure, in line with all known financial regulations.

  • Nigerians attack Buhari for failing to attend burial of COAS, other military officers

    Nigerians attack Buhari for failing to attend burial of COAS, other military officers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire from Nigerians, for failing to attend the burial ceremonies of the late Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on Saturday.

    Similarly, many governors were criticised for ignoring Attahiru’s burial, yet converged on Kano for the wedding of one the sons of Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    Following Buhari’s recent trip to France for the African Finance Summit, many expected him to be fit enough to make a short drive within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, to honour the head of the country’s military.

    However, Buhari was conspicuously missing at both the church and mosque services and at the graveyard.

    The president only addressed the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Attahiru and 10 others in a statement on Friday night.

    Governors shun Army Chief’s burial, attend Malami’s wedding

    Many governors converged on Kano for the wedding of one the sons of Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    After the plane crash of Friday, Malami issued a statement, saying he had cut short his son’s wedding.

    But it was pomp and pageantry in Kano when Abiru Rahman Malami, second son of the minister, got married at Alfurqan Juma’at mosque in the Kano metropolis.

    Among the governors who attended the wedding were Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

    Nigerians tongue lash Buhari, governors on Twitter


    @AustinNwabufo: Buhari & Osinbajo overwhelmed with fears, carefully avoids, COAS burial, they lack leadership courage like that of late Idris Deby Itno of Chad, I laugh

    @aliyubinabbas1: Neither Buhari nor his VP could attend the funeral of those officers even in Abuja but travelled to France for 4days! GEJ attended the funeral of his late Security Adviser 4000km away!

    @myklazonline: Buhari, president and Commander‐in‐Chief of the Armed Forces did not see it as appropriate to attend the funeral of his army chief and 4 other generals that lost their lives accidentally but it’s “ndi Spare Parts” and “Biafra boys” that should come and be mourning? #SpareParts

    @jeffphilips1: If you want Buhari to attend events of national importance or visit sites of national tragedies, tell him there’s a campaign for his reelection going on there and stay glued to your TV.

    @OkwubunkaK: Someone just said Buhari did not attend the burial of COAS and others that lost their lives in active service because if Security reasons.. Please thunder Where are you??

    @uiniodu: I had expected that President Buhari would address the nation today as a mark of respect for the tragic demise of the COAS and other gallant soldiers that died yesterday serving Nigeria. He is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces but he didn’t even attend the burial.

    @Zipayne92: Buhari not attending the falling heroes funeral truly shocked me.

    @aliyu_saleeh: Couldn’t believe President Buhari was absence at the burial of late Chief of army staff Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim…why Buhari always show I don’t care attitude when it comes to something like this.

    @usman_dudu: In a saner clime, the President will be the first person on the ground immediately the event happened, reach out to their families, address the country and convened an emergency session of the national security council but this is Nigeria and Buhari is the President.

    @Sir_elmusty: Oboy Buhari didn’t come to honor the remains of Late COAS Attahiru.
    Mehhn this Man is highly irresponsible. How could any leader be this insensitive ?