Politics

You This Clueless Governor, Be Ready To Be Disgraced — Tony Okocha Tells Fubara

Published

5 months ago

February 26, 2024

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha has alleged that there is dearth of governance under the Governor Siminilaye Fubara-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government.

Speaking on a wide range of issues over the weekend, Okocha warned that Rivers cannot be a dumping ground for a clueless governor.

He claimed there was absence of any initiative by the Rivers State Government to cushion the negative effects of the present decline in the economic situation in Nigeria.

He declared that while other states were mobilising for industrialisation for food security in the face of the current economic hardship in the country, “Rivers State Government under Governor Siminilaye Fubara is mobilising for shenanigans”, adding that the Rivers APC cannot be in cahoot with a faceless government in Rivers State.

He assured that there was a glimmer of hope that Nigeria would be out of her economic doldrums, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was exploring and exhuming all possible means to right the wrongs of yesteryears, which according to him was not rocket science.

He said, “what is expected of Governor Siminilaye Fubara at the moment by Rivers people is for him to think outside the box to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government, just like his colleagues in other States are doing, and de-emphasize his inanities of street marches and hypocritical charade in the name of thanksgiving.”

“I dare him to take the challenge as Gov. Sanwo Olu of Lagos State did, to face the press in public glare and explain policies and antidotes and viable solutions to the current economic situation in the country.

“I read that Niger State Governor procured 1000 tractors to work over a 10,000 hectare of land.

“This gesture will necessarily provide employment for at least 1000 unemployed.

“Borno State Governor is on the hinterlands of Borno distributing food stuffs and materials to the people, to cushion the effects of the economic miasma.

“Anambra State Governor also acquired a large number of tractors for farming.

“Governor Sanwo Olu of Lagos State seems a paragon already on development and poverty amelioration strategies.”

He warned that Fubara must retool or throw in the towel or be disgraced.

Okocha accused the governor of dehumanising “old mothers and funding of ostentatious street charade, which has become the order of the day in Rivers State, in the guise of demonstrating support for him.”

He equally said the governor was continuously disobeying Mr President “with his refusal to re-present the 2024 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly as contained in the Peace Proclamation which he agreed to, and appended his signature.”

He cautioned that “it is yet another month end of financial profligacies without a budget,” and assured Rivers people that “the Rivers State House of Assembly will bite accordingly in the spirit of checks and balances having barked enough.”

Politics

PDP postpones congresses in Abia, Ebonyi, writes INEC

Published

4 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Admin

National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the postponement of its ward and Local Government Area congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States, which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The postponement, according to the letter, jointly signed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was due to operational challenges.

It read in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter on the above subject matter with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1F/24-069 dated Friday, April 19, 2024, in which we informed the Commission of our timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of our Year 2024 planned congresses in 24 (twenty-four) state chapters of our party.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

“We will continue to update the Commission on this issue. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge the receipt of this letter. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States.

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states.

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes.

Politics

Breaking! LP crisis takes fresh twist as ‘new’ chairman emergesl

Published

16 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new twist as Callistus Okafor, a former Deputy National Chairman, has laid claim to the National Chairmanship position.

Mr Okafor has announced his decision to “take over” the party, citing a 2018 consent judgment from the Federal High Court.

The politician made the declaration at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

Okafor explained that the court ruling, delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, resolved a leadership dispute between the late National Chairman, Abdulkadir Salam, and a rival faction led by Salisu Mohammed. The judgment declared that separate national conventions held by both parties were “inclusive.”

Okafor argued that this ruling was ignored, allowing Julius Abure to inherit and build on a faulty structure to become National Chairman.

As a member of the 2018 National Working Committee, Okafor claimed that he and others are beneficiaries of the court judgment.

Okafor announced plans to hold an all-inclusive convention within six months to reconcile aggrieved members and unite the party.

He said, “The owner of the house has taken the house. When I mean owner, I am not contesting Labour Party leadership with NLC, no.”

“I’m talking about the process. The midwifing of this process (fresh convention).

“The 2014 convention is the right avenue to midwife it. For that reason Callistus Okafor is now the acting chairman of Labour Party.

“Sequel to the above development, members of the 2014 National Working Committee who are beneficiaries of the consent judgment have agreed to midwife an all-inclusive and expansive convention in compliance with the Consent Judgment delivered by Hon Justice G.O. Kolawole, and further agree to within six months embark on a purposeful reconciliation of all aggrieved members and groups to achieve a united, focused Labour Party that will redefine political leadership in Nigeria’s quest for a better nation.”

Politics

Edo: Appeal Court upholds Ighodalo’s candidacy, fines Shaibu N1m

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2024

Admin

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Monday, upheld the emergence of Asue Igbodalo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The appellate court, in a lead judgment by Justice A. M. Lamido, dismissed the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, filed by the reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The appellate court, which described Shaibu’s appeal as incompetent, awarded N1m against him in favour of Ighodalo.

The appellate court affirmed the May 27 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which earlier dismissed Shaibu’s suit challenging Ighodalo’s candidacy.

Justice Omotosho had held that Shaibu’s suit was premature, having not exhausted the PDP internal dispute resolution mechanisms before heading to court.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court’s verdict.

“The conduct of an election as well as results are presumed regular until the contrary is proved and there was no evidence from the affidavit of the appellant to show votes were allocated to the 4th respondent. The suit is premature and the position of the lower court is unassailable.

“The appellant failed to prove his case as held by the trial court. The issue is resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.

“Judgment of trial court is hereby affirmed. A cost of 1,000,000 is awarded against the appellant and in favour of the respective respondents,” the appellate court held.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed the second suit filed by Shaibu’s seeking Ighodalo’s candidacy.