TheNewsGuru

Tag: PDP

  • Gov Okowa not decamping to APC, Aide cries out

    Gov Okowa not decamping to APC, Aide cries out

    Political Aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has denounced speculations that the Delta State Governor is moving camp to Nigeria’s ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the Governor’s visit to Ibe Kachikwu is not politically motivated.

    Governor Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has in December 2016 attended an event organized by Kachikwu, the Nigerian Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, who is a staunch member of the present ruling party, but Ossai Ovie Success has said the attendance of the Governor is not politically motivated.

    “The Praise Night and Carols Night wasn’t for APC members neither was it for PDP members but for all,” Ossai wailed.

    The Governor’s aide who took his blog to decry the speculations said that it is on record that Kachikwu is not a career politician but a professional and as such they have been friends before politics.

    “It will interest you to note that Dr Ibe Kachikwu has been a personal friend of the Governor for long time now,” he said.

    “Also it might interest you to know that Gov Okowa has been there for PDP, He was one of the founders of PDP in Delta State.

    “Gov Okowa is doing well in PDP, he has kept to his promises unlike the APC’s, he is one of the best Governor in PDP, so I see no reason why there are speculations of him moving to APC,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor has in his New Year’s message to Deltans pledged continued implementation of programmes with social benefits, with special reference to security of lives and properties.

    “Be rest assured that we will strive, as always, to ensure that your security is paramount, just as social services, including the provision of adequate infrastructure will be up-scaled,” Okowa said.

    The Governor, however, enjoined Deltans to continue to keep the peace, which he said is the core element of his smart agenda that focuses mainly on strategic wealth creation projects and provision of jobs for all Deltans; meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political and social harmony; agricultural reforms and accelerated industrialization; relevant health and education policies, and transformed environment through urban renewal.

  • 2017: Buhari urgently needs experts to review Nigeria’s economic policies -PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to change his economic policies this year.

    It said this was the only way that could take the country out of economic recession.

    Spokesperson for the caretaker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    Adeyeye said that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government must scout for competent economic experts to fix the economy.

    He said, “We advise the APC-led administration in this year (2017) to urgently employ the services of economic experts to put in place viable policies that will revamp our ailing economy.

    “We are presently in recession because of significant decline in government business in both internal and external spheres.

    “The Federal Government should increase money supply, cause rise in disposable income (spending) and decrease mindless taxation which have led to high inflation and multiple prices in money market.”

  • Ekiti PDP fires back at APC over attack on Pastor Adeboye

    Ekiti PDP fires back at APC over attack on Pastor Adeboye

    In a swift reaction to a statement credited to the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Jide Awe, condemning the person and image of the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adeboye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the leadership of the APC saying the statement is a demonstration of devilish mindset of the party.

    Recall that Awe had in a statement credited to him lambasted Pastor Adeboye for commending Governor Fayose while alleging that he may have been bribed by the governor to earn such commendation from him.

    The PDP noted that Pastor Adeboye commending the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, for the governor’s courage and willingness to defend his people and the cause of the common man in the country was a statement of fact.

    Spokesperson of the PDP in the State, Mr Jackson Adebayo, in a statement on Monday, said; “it is the height of crude politics for the APC to insinuate that a man of God of Pastor Adeboye’s standing took bribe to commend Governor Fayose for what is obvious.

    He said; “Pastor Adeboye is a respected man of God. He is not a politician. He only said what he saw about Governor Fayose and the only Nigerians, who won’t want to accept the fact that the governor has stoutly defended Ekiti people and the common people of Nigeria, are those in the APC.”

    Mr Adebayo, who described the rebuttal, issued late on Sunday, by the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun as an afterthought, added that; “The APC in Ekiti State has strong history of political intolerance such that anyone that is not with them must be condemned at all cost.

     

  • Mimiko responsible for PDP’s loss in Ondo governorship election – Gulak

    A former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan has said Governor Olusegun Mimiko should be held responsible for the loss of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the recently held governorship election in Ondo State.

    Gulak said all was not over for the party but it needs to fix its internal rancours to come out successful in subsequent elections in the country.

    Gulak, who decried loss of the Ondo election to the All Progressives Congress, APC, blamed Governor Olusegun Mimiko for the defeat.

    Gulak who spoke in an interview with Daily Trust said: “The leadership tussle has affected the fortunes of the party negatively. A house divided against itself cannot stand. That is why this issue must be resolved politically.”

    “Look at the Edo election, everybody was so sure that the PDP would win but because the house was divided, the party could not perform.

    “Look at the Ondo election, the PDP lost even before going into the elections because the governor forcefully made the party adopt a candidate that was not popular within the state.

    “More so, the governor having served eight years, wanted to force another person from his local government to be governor and the people of Ondo rejected it. That is why the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff group said we cannot win the election with this candidate.

    “We called the governor, Governor Mimiko, please, realize that the people of Ondo are not woods, they are not stones, they are not idiots; they are not fools.

    “You have served as governor of Ondo for eight years; you cannot bring somebody from your own local government and expect the people of Ondo to elect him to succeed you. That is why Ali Modu Sheriff produced Jimoh Ibrahim among other five aspirants.

    “Jimoh Ibrahim was the authentic candidate of the PDP and we were coasting home to victory for PDP until at the eleventh hour, by misrepresentation, the Court of Appeal said that Jegede should be the candidate.

    “That was a slap on the face of the people of Ondo and who went to the polls and spoke and when they spoke, they spoke vehemently and that is how PDP lost. So to this end I will say the crisis within the PDP has really affected the party’s fortunes negatively”, he added.‎

    Expressing optimism that the PDP will bounce back in 2019, Gulak said “once we get over this crisis, which I hope will be over very soon, we will begin to pick the pieces and we will begin to rebuild.

    “Even the ruling APC is not crisis-free. They too have the fair share of crisis. I am happy that our crisis started earlier and we are pulling through.

    “I will call on PDP stakeholders to sheathe their swords, let us bring this party back to the people; the party does not belong to an individual.

    “PDP is the only party that can give this country a sense of direction. It is the only party that can pull this country out of economic doldrums that we are facing today”, further stated.

  • Gov Wike assures Bonny Kingdom of developmental projects

    The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state government has earmarked several developmental projects for the people of Bonny Kingdom in the 2017 budget.

    Governor Wike made this declaration on Wednesday during the 20th coronation anniversary of the Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI in Bonny Local Government Area.

    The governor, who also promised to support the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom in his bid to transform and modernize the kingdom, noted that his support for the Amanyanabo was borne out of the relative peace the Monarch has brought to the Kingdom.

    Wike stated that he will also assist the Bonny Security Committee set up by the Amanyanabo with the sum of Fifty Million Naira for the improvement of security in the area.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, Governor Wike also noted government enormous contributions and support to security agencies to fight crime and criminality, particularly in the area of provision of gunboats to police the high sea and check the criminal activities of sea pirates.

    “In the 2017 budget, government has a lot of projects to be executed for this community. I have no reason to apologize to anybody for supporting Bonny, because the support I received from the people of Bonny and the Amanyanabo in particular, means that there is nothing I cannot do for you.

    “Government intends to support you robustly in everything you are doing in Bonny Kingdom. The reason is simple, you have kept the peace. Bonny has been an Island of peace in recent times without problems in many places and you have not disappointed us. I will particularly support your quest for a new and loving Bonny. What this means is that Bonny needs to be transformed and modernized in future,” the governor said.

    He eulogised the Amanyanabo for his 20 years coronation anniversary, saying his service to humanity is appreciated.

    “You have steadfastly preached the message of peace and for that reason, I will like to thank you and the good people of Bonny. Twenty years on the throne is not a joke, particularly when we know how it all started. It is the will of the Almighty God that you will be on the throne,” he said.

    In his speech, the Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple the III, Perekule the XI, thanked the people of Bonny for the love, loyalty and support accorded him in the last 20 years.

    He sued for continued unity, peace and togetherness among the people in order to sustain the gains recorded over the years and promised not to disappoint them.

    Highpoint of the event was the conferment of an award of excellence on the governor.

    The representative of the governor was accompanied to the celebration by former governor of the State, Celestine Omehia, former acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara.

  • Beheading of Police Officer: Rivers APC chieftain denies involvement

    Mr. Augustine Wokocha, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, has denied involvement with the beheading of a police officer during the Dec. 10 legislative re-run elections.

    Wokocha, the immediate past Commissioner for Power in the state, made this known during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    NAN reports that Mr Muhammed Alkali, a Police DSP was beheaded during the election in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    He said that linking him to the beheading of the officer was a fabrication by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    According to Wokocha, he was detained with others all through the period of the election and the last of them was released on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

    “Let me say without equivocation that there is no iota of truth in this fabricated allegation.

    “On the election day, I conducted myself peacefully throughout the exercise against all provocation, even when I was illegally detained,” he said.

    Wokocha urged the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegation against him to ensure that the truth was laid bare.

    He said his political opponents in their desperation to prove their supremacy, recruited boys who allegedly committed several murders of so many APC members and made the local government area ungovernable.

    “Today, the same people who were disturbing the peace and alleged to have masterminded some high profile killings in the area, are now enjoying amnesty from the PDP led state government.

    “It is therefore condemnable that these same characters extended their dastardly acts to the law enforcement agents who came to maintain peace during the legislative re-run elections.

    “What I find most shocking and amazing in this sad, most regrettable, ignoble act and situation, is the determination of the mischief makers to ensure that the killing is credited to me,” he said.

    Wokocha, a former lawmaker in the Rivers House of Assembly, said he had never been associated with politics of violence, in defence of his responsible pedigree.

  • Ibori goes to church

    ImageFile: Ibori goes to church
    James Onanefe Ibori in company of Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The long wait will be over soon! May even have been over before you get to read this!

    The gates of the London prison will soon open for the enigmatic ‘Sheikh’, James Onanefe Ibori, to breathe the air of freedom.

    Already, a huge number of Nigerians is on ground the United Kingdom (UK) to accord the former Delta state governor grandstanding reception as he steps out of jail. They are there to show solidarity, to pledge their loyalty. To some, it is to generally position themselves in Ibori’s good book for some 2019 election spoils.

    The number of associates right there is enormous; quality men and women not only from his home state, Delta, but indeed from across a broad spectrum of his political associates all over Nigeria. The deputy governor of Delta state, Kingsley Otuaro, is leading a delegation of commissioners, top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and others. This is perhaps a foretaste of the carnival like reception Chief Ibori will receive when he steps foot in Nigeria.

    A Nigerian who has resided in London for 15 years could only wonder: “From what I have seen, all the movement and preparations, the world would not understand why despite his conviction, Chief Ibori is still attracting this huge following”.

    Meanwhile, TheNewsGuru can reveal that Ibori has a different plan. Not for him is any celebratory carnival. Indeed he is set to shock most of those who have flooded London to receive him.

    This is Chief Ibori’s own plan: to leave the prison abode of the past four years and head straight to a church near where he has made arrangements for accommodation until he is able to return to Nigeria. And it is not even the Nigerian style of loud thanksgiving, where all his associates and family will put up a loud show of thanking God.

    TheNewsGuru gathered from very reliable sources close to him that Ibori wants to go straight to the nearest church alone and spend the whole day there, in a solo worship and praise. Ibori who is a Baptist will have no qualms going to the nearest worship place of any Christian denomination close to his new abode.

    Not many of those who have flooded London seemingly know of this plan. Ibori is bent on doing this show his own way. The solo worship will be a retreat.

    After four years of incarceration, it is not to be questioned why Ibori wishes to be left alone for a whole day in the house of God unhindered and not distracted, to thank the Almighty for seeing him through all the rough road, stress, disappointments, and to seek more grace to overcome.

    Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Southwark Crown court on 17th April, 2012, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and stealing.

    Despite his travails, Ibori has managed to maintain a core of die-hard loyalists in Delta state and indeed across the country. He is extremely still very popular in Delta as his absence did not stop his political family from dominating and retaining power in Delta state. It is common knowledge that he singlehandedly installed the current governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, from his prison cell.

  • Nigerians invade London for Ibori

    A steady stream of Nigerians made up of especially Deltans have in the past week flooded London in anticipation of James Onanefe Ibori, who is scheduled to be released this week, after completing his 13 years jail sentence for corruption and money laundering.

    This is especially so as Ibori has indicated that he will not be coming home immediately he is released.

    In a statement by his media chief, Tony Eluemunor, Ibori said “When the time comes any important information will be made available to the public and nothing would be left for conjecture”.

    Leading the pack of Deltans, and both federal and state political associates of Ibori is the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, some commissioners and top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the state.

    Apart from the official delegation, most of Ibori’s political associates have all relocated to London to welcome their leader.

    A Southwark Crown court had on 17 April 2012, sentenced Ibori to 13 years in prison after the ex-governor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and stealing $250m from the treasury.

    Despite his travails, Ibori has managed to maintain a core of die-hard loyalists in Delta state and indeed across the country. He is extremely still very popular in Delta as his absence did not stop his political family from dominating and retaining power in Delta state.

    It is common knowledge that he singlehandedly installed the current governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, from his prison cell.

    Already, permutations are pointing at a massive reception for the former Delta state governor.

  • Mega party: PDP will not change its name – Jerry Gana

    The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not change its registered name for a mega party, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said.

    Gana, who chairs the PDP Strategic Review and Inter-party Affairs Committee, made statement on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with journalists.
    Gana said that the party’s relationship with other political parties would be based on principle and cleared ‎guidelines.

    He said: “on the progress of the alliance, I will not like to give details of what is being recommended, but the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward.

    “There are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee’s recommendations will be passed on to the party leadership. It will not be wise to disclose the details before we submit the report.

    “On the issue of mega party, we are not yet aware of PDP involvement, but all we can say is that the party wants to relate with lovers of democracy in all the parties.

    “We have a syndicate committee working on this chaired by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu. “They are to give us the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that are willing to join us.

    “Our engagement will be based on principle and cleared ‎guidelines. “PDP is the only party that can be found in every ward, it is the only party that has not changed its name, and we are not going to change the name of our party.

    ’’ Gana said that the committee, which was broken into 11 syndicates, would come up with recommendations that would help to re-position and strengthen the party. He called on lovers of democracy in the country to rise up against what he described as `degeneration of democratic and electoral process gained during PDP administration.’

    “Democracy in Nigeria is under threat and we must rise and defend democracy, because that is the best form of government for humanity now.

    “This is not the age for military rule or autocracy. “In democracy, there must be freedom of voters to choose freely, peacefully, in a free and fair election that is credible,’’ he said.

    He said that the PDP condemned in strong terms the current degeneration of electoral process with violence being brought into political arena as witnessed in Rivers.

    Gana said that the committee would reconvene in the middle of January 2017 to continue on its deliberations. The committee, inaugurated on Nov. 8 by Makarfi was given three months to submit its report.

     

     

  • PDP Crisis: Again, Court adjourns hearing of appeals indefinitely

    The Special Panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, established to determine all appeals arising from the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leadership disputes has again adjourned its proceedings indefinitely.

    The Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Salaawu at the resumption of the day’s proceeding announced the information to the parties.

    Recall that the panel had on Nov.18 adjourned indefinitely awaiting decision of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division on the sister appeal.

    The Judge also held that the court’s decision hinged on a notice of motion for stay from the Supreme Court served on it by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP.

    The parties were however taken aback when hearing notices slated for Dec.15 were served on them when the Port Harcourt appeal was yet to be decided.

    Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and Sen. Ben Obi had obtained leave of the special panel to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court that legitimised Sheriff as Acting National Chairman of the party.