Ize-Iyamu Media committee Chairman allegedly dump boss
By Ehi Ekhator
One of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Earl Osaro Onaiwu has bestowed upon himself the only candidate worthy of anointment if need be.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu
Onaiwu claimed that he was the only person that can win the governorship election for PDP in the state because of his sound background.
He berated one of the major contenders of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for making a certain statement to run other aspirants down.
Onaiwu said Pastor Ize-Iyamu only saw something wrong with Oshiomhole now after keeping mute when the governor insulted Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
The aspirant advised the Pastor to sort his personal problems with the governor, Adams Oshiomhole instead of looking for ways to drag them into the fracas.
Onaiwu said ” If there is anybody that will be anointed, it is me. If there is anybody that can win the election for PDP, I am the one because I come from a sound background. I am the DG, PDP Governors Forum and I am very optimistic that the PDP governors will back me. I have been in PDP since 1999. I have never defected. I am working hard. I am in the field because I don’t want anybody to feel that the PDP governors want to impose me, no. I am touching the grassroots, I am everywhere and I will continue to work until the day of the primary.
We need to breathe a fresh air in PDP, we don’t want a candidate in PDP that everybody in the opposition will attack. People carrying the rumour that one person has been anointed that is not true.
Bombarding Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Onaiwu said “Why did you not remain with Oshiomhole? You were there when Oshiomhole insulted Anenih, you were there when Oshiomhole insulted Lucky Igbinedion and others, and you did not say anything. Is it now that you saw something wrong in Oshiomhole? You cannot take us to fight a personal quarrel with Oshiomhole. If you have issues with him, sort it out and leave the party out of it.
Onaiwu revealed that Consensus candidacy as suggested by some leadership of the party is no longer feasible, adding that all the candidates are going to the primary in the belief that it will be transparent. He assured that other candidates will throw weight on the emerging candidate only if it was transparent.
“Consensus candidacy is no longer on the cards. A few people believed we should adopt a candidate but we said no, we are going to go for a transparent primary. If we don’t do that, PDP will have a big problem in Edo. Go and defeat me in a transparent primary, let the delegates go and speak their minds. When you do that and I am defeated, I will celebrate whoever emerges. But when you manipulate, there will be problem”
NAIJA CENTER NEWS had reported on Saturday that there was a gang-up ongoing against the Pastor who the other aspirants claimed is big headed. It was gathered that other aspirants are secretly meeting to strategise without inviting the Pastor.
Responding to the consensus claimed by Onaiwu, a source who spoke with our correspondent said “I told you (NCN) of a possible gang up. Didn’t I? The other three will soon reach a consensus. They have gone far and I do not see them stopping except something else comes up. It is game over for Pastor”
However, NAIJA CENTER NEWS has gathered that there may be a problem in Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s media camp as the Media committee Chairman has dumped his boss for another.
BENIN—The governorship ambition of former Secretary to Edo State Government, SSG, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend, received a boost following his adoption for the governorship race by past political office holders from Edo North senatorial district.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu
The decision to back Pastor Ize-Iyamu for the governorship ticket was taken at a meeting in Fugar, headquarters of Estako Central Local Government Area of the state by the former political office holders who are members of the PDP, as well as some other affiliate groups such as women and youths groups.
The ex-political office holders said that after a thorough check on all the aspirants jostling for the Edo State governorship seat in all the political parties, they had come to the conclusion that Ize-Iyamu was the best, considering his experience, clout and temerity.
A former Speaker of Akoko-Edo legislative council, Mr. Ade Ajayi, boasted that in Ize-Iyamu, the PDP’s hope of reclaiming Edo State from the All Progressives Congress, APC, was certain, adding that like minds from the APC were willing to team up with them once Ize-Iyamu emerged the PDP candidate.
He said: “We have made serious efforts to put this together. We have looked at the profiles of all the aspirants across the party and have no doubt that PDP’s chances are brightest with Ize-Iyamu. We have since discovered that he is capable of bringing together those things needed to ensure victory for the party.”
Mr. Richard Olori from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state moved the motion for the adoption of Ize-Iyamu, while six other persons from each of the six local government areas in the district seconded the motion.
Some of those who attended the meeting include Jaret Tenebe, Abu Dokpesi, Abu Maipata, former council chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, supervisors and councilors in the six councils of Edo North district.
The immediate past Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Gov. Yuguda
Mr. Yuguda, as member of the PDP, served as minister of aviation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and also served as governor for two terms on the platform of the party.
He briefly left the party for the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party in the run-up to the 2007 general election after he was denied the governorship ticket of the party. But he soon returned to the PDP shortly after he was elected on the platform of the ANPP.
Mr. Yuguda, who spoke to journalists in Bauchi over the telephone on Saturday said he decided to leave the PDP because the party had lost focus and presently lacked the will to bring development to Nigeria.
The PDP governed Nigeria for an unbroken 16 years beginning May 29, 1999.
It lost power to the All Progressives Congress during the 2015 general election.
Mr. Yuguda did however not disclose the political party to which he is headed, saying he was still consulting his supporters.
“Already I have told my supporters that I will not force them to leave PDP. Anybody that wants to remain in PDP is free to do so and whoever wants to move with me is welcome.
“I decided to leave PDP because the party can no longer bring development to Nigeria, it’s unfortunate that the party has lost focus,” he said.
Mr. Yuguda also prayed for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in the discharge of his duties as president.
“We must always pray for the success of our leaders because the Holy Quran admonishes people to pray for their leaders to succeed and that is why we should pray for the success of President Buhari’s administration,” he said.
As soon as Mr. Yuguda finished speaking to the journalists, some of his supporters trooped to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Bauchi where they publicly tore their PDP membership cards.
The Peoples Democratic Party said on Friday that it had yet to recover from the fight that made former President Olusegun Obasanjo tear his membership card.
Olusegun Obasanjo
It, however, blamed its former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who it alleged empowered Sen. Buruji Kashamu to spite the former President.
It said that the party had yet to recover from the repercussions of the action of the former chairman.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, also warned that the party must not make the same mistake it made in the past by denying the South-West the opportunity of producing the next national chairman of the party.
Jalo said those who misled former President Goodluck Jonathan into jettisoning the zoning system in the party emboldened Buruji, an action which he said worked against the PDP in the South-West.
He said for the party to succeed in 2019, the South-West region must not be treated with levity, adding that there were capable hands in the zone who he said, could lead the party to success during the next general elections.
Jalo said it was wrong for Buruji to be speaking for the members of the party in the zone, which he described as the foundation of civilisation in the country.
He said, “We were deceived into fighting Obasanjo, a well respected man in Nigeria and outside the country.
“It was our former chairman, Tukur, who (did that) because he thought he could cut him to size by empowering Buruji. It was the biggest mistake we ever made in the party.
“Tukur thought he could use Buruji to reduce the influence of Obasanjo, who was fighting that the party must obey the zoning formula in our party’s constitution.
“But people believed that we should go ahead with the impunity as sold by the few powerful men in our party. At the end of the day, Obasanjo had the last laugh while the party found itself in opposition today.”
Jalo said the party would also be treading a dangerous path if Buruji and his group were not checkmated in their determination to deny the South-West the opportunity of producing the next chairman of the party.
He said it was wrong for the current National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, to envisage that he could continue in office after the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt on May 21.
He said, “The North has produced seven national chairmen for the party. PDP isn’t meant for the North alone.
“Solomon Lar, Audu Ogbeh, Bernabas Gemade, Ahmadu Ali, Tukur, Adamu Mu’azu and Sheriff are all from the North. Other zones have all produced the national chairman as well.
“But the South-West has yet to produce the national chairman. It is their turn and we must not deny them this opportunity.
“We need to curry the favour of the zone, because that’s where we need votes in 2019. The North is for the PDP and what the people there are expecting is the presidency and not the office of the PDP National Chairman.
“Former Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu started with only one state, which is Lagos but he later took over the entire South-West and now he’s controlling the entire country.”
Jalo listed the likes of Sen. Bode Olajumoke, Chief Bode George, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun as possible candidates for the office.
UGHELLI – A five man gang of suspected assassins on Wednesday night shot dead a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in cold blood at Ughelli, Delta State.
PDP
The victim, Chief Owei Brinimugha who hails from Bomadi council area of the state, was accosted by the hoodlums by Kess College junction along Iwhrekpokpor road, Ughelli at about 8:30pm.
According to eye witnesses at the scene of the incident, the gunmen shot the victim who is in his early 40s thrice on the head, chest and leg after shooting twice into the air to scare away passersby.
Giving further details on the incident, one of the witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity, hinted that four of the gunmen alighted from their car while a fifth gang member waited by the steering of their car.
The source also hinted that the hoodlums after confirming the death of their victim, made away with his Toyota car in company of their own car.
Efforts to speak with the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu was fruitless as at the time of this report.
However, a senior police officer attached to the Ughelli ‘B’ Division confirmed the incident, adding that the police is on the trail of the suspected assassins.
Umar had earlier before the proceedings began on Monday, that the trial would proceed henceforth 10am to 6pm on daily basis.
Bukola Saraki
While adjourning the trial at about 5pm on Monday, Umar rejected a request by Saraki’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), for the tribunal to skip Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which are the days of the week which the Senate sits.
The request was opposed by the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), warned that the Senate should not be into the trial.
“The Senate is not on trial. The persons that is on trial is the defendant. The Senate should sit. It’s a disgrace to our nation to be saying that.”
In his response, the tribunal chairman reiterated the same point, asking the Senate to continuing siting while the Senate President is allowed to face his trial.
Umar said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not on trial, the Senate should sit. The only thing is that the personality of the defendant who happened to be the Senate President. The Senate should continue to sit.”
The trial was adjourned till Tuesday for cross-examination of the first prosecution witness., Mr. Michael Wetkas.
The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sapele Chapter, Dr. David Oghenekevwe on Wednesday lent his voice against the moves of the chairman of Sapele Local Government Council, Hon. Ejaife Odebala and his associates to kill the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He also blamed Odebala for instigating and perpetuating nasty discord in the party.
In a statement in Sapele, Oghenekevwe accused Odebala and others of foisting blatant lies to malign the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya.
“Odebala is clearly in the picture of all meetings and consultations in preparation for the upcoming congresses. Because of his sinister motive, he has most times dishonoured invitations extended to him and where he manages to attend such meetings, it is to insult the leadership of the party and to conspire with blind, egocentric and embattled individuals whose known antecedence is coming and going out of the party. Chief Margaret Unukegwo is a strong supporter of Labour Party governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru. She signed an Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) document endorsing Ogboru in 2015 as published in one of the national newspapers. Chief Lucky Ayomanor is not a member of PDP. He contested House of Assembly election in Sapele State Constituency in 2011 and 2015 under the platform of Labour Party”.
Oghenekevwe who frowned at defectors who like to destroy the party advised such people to desist from such tendency.
“Odebala and his associates are always blowing their ego beyond their actual relevance, rushing to the state capital to shop for sympathy and attention while abandoning constituted channels of resolving their issues if any in Sapele”
The party chairman while calling for decisive action against those with conflicting affinities and divided loyalties, alerted the nation to desperate measures being planned by Odebala and others to discredit Igbuya.
“The anti-Igbuya move is choreographed by the chairman of Sapele Local Government Council. Odebala participated in the consultation and preparation for the upcoming congresses. The date, time and mode of the congresses are clearly stated. Odebala even submitted a list to the state chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor. To lead such a protest and also submit a list to the chairman, amount to total disrespect for the PDP leadership and the party guidelines. He wants to disrupt the party’s congresses” the statement said.
Describing the language of Odebala, Titus Ezewuze, Onome Akpokhere, Umukoro Perkins, Edokpolor Joseph, Gabriel Gabinson Oyovwhaire, Jenkins Igogori, James Edeyan, Kenneth Ekwejunor Etchie, Margaret Unukegwo, Omasan Mabiaku, Lucky Ayomanor and others as unguided, he said “Violence has no place in Sapele politics.
“The allegation that Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya is sidelining the leaders is preposterous. Appointments were made strictly on merit. He did not nominate miscreants and thugs to party offices. When you have a council chairman that disrespects the leaders, that encourages violence and is ready to destroy the party, you should expect anything” he said.
He advised Odebala and his co-travelers to return to Sapele and think of ways of developing the local government area.
“Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya is not working against the interest of other stakeholders in Sapele Local Government Area. He will continue to articulate, defend and espouse the interests of the Sapele people” he added.
One of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidates in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has replied the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole on the call to provide his friends.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu
On Tuesday, the governor had asked the PDP governorship candidate to provide his friends, who he said among whom are looters.
The governor boasted that his friendship with Dangote, the richest man in Africa, has yielded $1bn investment to the state.
Oshiomhole said: “I’m proud to associate myself with Dangote, and I’m proud to say my friendship with Dangote has yielded a $1 billion investment in the state in the form of a brand new Okpella Cement factory which will offer close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to people of the state.”
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Wednesday, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he won’t compare his friends, but stressed that Edo people are his friends and he is very concerned about them.
He said ” I am sure by now everyone knows how childish they can be. I am not going to start comparing those who are my friends and who are not. What is important is that Edo people are my friends and I am concerned about them.
“The statement they said I made was that for a long time, we have seen the governor going around with Dangote to different African countries to commission different factories and many of us wondered that he could not even appeal to him to come and establish it here.
“Eventually we have heard that the man is going to establish one, and as you know Oshiomhole’s tenure is coming to an end in a matter of months, and i said this is a kind of people i would have thought
“He started talking about Dangote being his friend and all that and he forgot that we were the one who support him in 2007. Ask whether Dangote was his friend in 2007 and how much he contributed to his campaign.
“I don’t see the big deal as the governor is now beginning to know that Dangote is his friend.
“What matters is the policy and vision you have. This is a governor who when we quarrelled with him that he had not been able to established industry and he said he never promised industry.
He has now realized that industrialization is very important. Dangote is not the only person who is putting a cement factory in Okpilla, BUA group is already there.
It is good that Dangote is interested in our state, but a governor who his tenure will end in few months now begin to realize the importance of industrlization.”
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi not to heed the call by the National Assembly to apologize for his mischievous flippancy or resign from office.
The State PDP hinges its position on the high regard the All Progressives Congress, APC led federal government has for him as an indispensable asset and his taunted closeness to the Presidency.
PDP
The State PDP Chiarman, Bro. Felix Obuah wondered why a mere controversy over a ministry’s budget that is an infinitesimal part of the 2016 budget proposal should warrant the call for Amaechi’s resignation by the honourable members of the National Assembly who are just realizing their Amaechi’s rascality and eccentricity.
“We believe it’s rather too early to begin to quarrel with Rotimi Amaechi or call for his resignation when he is yet to fix the Nigeria he promised would be changed by his newly found love, the almighty APC in matter of months.
“Again, Amaechi remains our beloved son who said he single-handedly sponsored and made His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and he is yet to recoup the billions of Rivers money he invested into the project.
“Amaechi also said he planned to construct the controversial Lagos-Calabar rail line modernization project to empower the APC members in the South-South.
“This lofty dream will not be actualized if he resigns now.
The party said though not surprised at the controversy ignited by the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi because it’s his character, the PDP wants the distinguished Senators rather than requesting for Amaechi’s apology or resignation use their differences, claims and counter claims to reflect on the kind of persons that are considered for sensitive offices and, or positions of trust.
According to Bro. Obuah, though the honourable National Assembly members may feel hurt by Amaechi’s ingratitude after it had accepted to deliberate over the later included supplementary budget which he later went public to claim was contained in the original budget proposal, thereby portraying the federal lawmakers as partial and discriminatory, the main reason for Amaechi’s mischief was to create the impression that he has the interest of the South/South people at heart which is a fallacy.
Bro. Obuah said he is however happy that Amaechi has carried his antics of setting brother against brother to the very Senate that screened and confirmed his ministerial appointment and would want the lawmakers to use same to reflect on all the submissions by not only the PDP, but also the people, the civil society and concerned citizens etc, before they went on to confirm his appointment despite several allegations of corruption and breaches of the Rule of law by Amaechi.
“This is the kind of falsehood, mischief, and misrepresentation we have been contending with, from Chibuike Amaechi which his allies and the All Progressives Congress, APC have continued to deny and good a thing, he is now exhibiting the same character to his appointees and this is just the beginning, Bro. Obuah noted.
The State PDP boss said the issue is not whether or not Amaechi should resign as a minister or tender apology to the National Assembly but should serve as an eye-opener and a pointer to the crisis he (Amaechi) instigated in Rivers State that brought about the panel of inquiry that indicted him of a myriad of corrupt practices and fraudulent engagements while he served as governor of Rivers State for eight solid years.
“We have said it times without number that Amaechi cannot change his true colour under President Buhari and must remain a cog in the wheel of progress.
“His early resignation will hardly free the APC members and the unrepentant Amaechi apologists from the world of theories which is not good for the country.
“The taste of the pudding they say, is in the eating while experience remains the best teacher.
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said its attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, on behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accusing the APC of sponsoring groups to raise frivolous petitions against PDP members to have them arrested by security agents.
Nyesom Wike
This according to the APC “is the inglorious height of falsehood and propaganda by the corruption-ridden PDP house of shame in Rivers State.”
“While the APC cannot put itself in the way of any issues between the PDP and its dubious partners in crime, we make bold to state in clear terms that we find neither the PDP nor its criminal partners worthy of any patronage or collaboration with the APC for anything noble. The difference between light and darkness is never in doubt and PDP is the darkness here” Senibo Chris Finebone said in a press statement.
The APC advised the Rivers State Government and the PDP to seek the face of God for forgiveness so that they can overcome the trauma and fear of their shadows occasioned by their evil deeds and killing of innocent souls in Rivers State directly or through their franchised killing gangs.
“The APC is well aware that the reason for this recent propaganda is to create a smokescreen for the insidious plans the PDP hierarchy is busy hatching towards the suspended rerun elections whenever they are re-scheduled. Their schemes will fail.
Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP must know that what is happening to them is simply the fulfilment of the Holy Scriptures in Proverb 28:1 which says that, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth” the statement averred.
—Assures them of All Rights, Privileges as Members
— Says Development Indicates Electoral Failure Of Magnus Abe
— Reiterates PDP Commitment to Deliver on its Campaign Promises
Impressed by the latest mass defection of members and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gokana Local Government Area, to the Peoples Democratic Party, the Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, earnestly welcomes the new members, thanking and congratulating them for their courage and taking the right decision to join the endearing Party.
PDP
The State PDP Chairman describes the defection of over 1000 members of the APC in Gokana to the PDP as a remarkable victory over Mr. Magnus Abe and sign of total collapse of the APC in the area, as well as further reassurance of the overwhelming success of the PDP in the Ogoni area and the entire Rivers South-East Senatorial district.
At the event which took place on Sunday, April 10, 2016, in wards 5 and 6 (K.Dere), we received 137 members of the APC, in ward 1(Bodo), 100 APC members dumped the party for the PDP, while in wards 2 and 3, also in Bodo, over 90 APC members joined the PDP, and in wards 12 and 17 (Biara), 100 and 120 APC supporters respectively dumped the APC for our great Party, the PDP. These numbers, in addition to those earlier received in the other wards in the area, are quite encouraging and clear indication that the PDP government in the State is doing well.
It is therefore, a thing of joy to us in the PDP as we make progress in boosting our membership and support base in this critical area, the Ogoni axis, of our State, and having a sense of acceptance by the people. As we again, salute the timely realization and resoluteness of the decamping APC members to join our fold, we also urge others to take advantage of the large umbrella that can accommodate all well-meaning Nigerians, by taking a cue to be part of our success story in the State.
Bro. Obuah assures the APC members who have decamped to the PDP that they will not be neglected or discriminated against, but will enjoy all rights and privileges as bonifide members of the Party. He also commended the leadership of the PDP in the area for their efforts leading to the success of the Party and charged them to sustain the tempo.
The Rivers PDP Chairman also calls on the new members and the people of the State to continue to support the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in moving the State forward, reiterating that the PDP government will not fail to deliver on its campaign promises.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Smart Adeyemi, yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
APC and PDP
Adeyemi, who had been in the PDP for 12 years, said he shifted base to the APC because the Kogi West Senatorial District was neglected by the successive PDP administrations in the state.
He said it was the decision of the people of Kogi West to leave the PDP for the APC.
He said since politics is essentially local, he has no choice than to bow to the pressure of his people to dump the PDP.
He said his defection had nothing to do with survival politics.
He said while in the Senate, he was one of those who criticized the PDP administration, especially the rising cases of corruption.
Adeyemi, who made the announcement at a briefing at his residence in Maitama District in Abuja, said Nigeria’s future is brighter under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The session was attended by Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Sen. Abu Ibrahim (a staunch ally of Buhari), Chief J.B. Arojojoye and many supporters from Kogi West.
He said: “After due consultations with both local and national leaders across my state and the nation, we have come to the realization that we have to take a major decision for the best interest of our people. Politics is essentially local.
“Therefore, in the light of the sincerity and commitment of President Buhari, his strength of character and support of eminent personalities such as Baba Olusegun Obasanjo, the leader of men, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and the support of the leadership of the ruling party towards the reconstruction of the socio-economic fabrics of our nation, we have decided to defect to the APC today, being April 8, 2016 by the grace of Almighty God.
“We hereby urge all our supporters and patriotic Nigerians to support the effect of a new socio-economic order of this administration.”
He explained why he chose to abandon for the PDP.
He said: “While thanking the PDP for the opportunity of granting me a ticket for my two terms in office, it is soul-depressing that for the past 12 years of our support in ensuring victory of the PDP in both governorship and presidential elections, Kogi West has nothing to show towards improving the standard of living of our people by successive Kogi PDP governors.
“This neglect and poor performance of the PDP resulted in anti-party reactions, culminating in the victory of the APC in the Kogi governorship election last year.”
He said his defection to the APC had nothing to do with politics of survival.
He said: “Politics is all about the well-being of the people; politics must be in the interest of the people and politics is essentially local.
“As a PDP Senator, I was critical of the past administration. I spoke against corruption and exposed the extent to which corruption had destroyed this nation.”
Adeyemi pleaded with Nigerians to have faith in the administration of President Buhari.
He added: “We are mindful of the harsh economic situation in the country due to global economic recession and poor planning in the past.
“However, this administration must be supported to succeed because of the determination and sincerity to balance the books and balance the economy.
“My conscience bears me witness that I am convinced that this administration means well for Nigerians. It is honest and focused towards building a viable economy.
“I strongly believe that the future of our nation is brighter under this administration due to the great strength of character of our President and his visible passion towards enduring a new socio-economic order.
“It might be difficult today, but I know that Nigeria will cruise again under Buhari.”
Adeyemi insisted that his tenure in the Senate was spent to justify the mandate given to him by the masses.
He said: “For the dividends and community projects, I was able to procure 24 ultra modern ambulances , 500 hospital beds, built cottage hospitals in Igbaruku, Igbagun and Ogale.
“I equally constructed market stalls ranging from 30 to 100 lock-up shops in four communities, namely, Iyara, Egbe, Aiyetoro, Ogga worth hundreds of millions of naira. I also sank about 240 boreholes in different communities across the Senatorial District.”
On his part, Sen. Abu Ibrahim said: “ I am highly elated and happy that Adeyemi has seen the light and the truth and is moving towards the light.
“As you have observed, Nigeria was in a serious messy situation and we have to put heads together to save it.
“One thing I must emphasize is that Adeyemi was one of the best Senators in the 7th Senate. Please continue to be the best. You will find the APC a more progressive and democratic party than the PDP.
Also speaking, Sen. Adetunmbi said: “History is being made today. He was one of our tormentors in the Senate. Anywhere he stood, he stood well.
“With the kind of truth and commitment which Adeyemi is noted for, the APC will benefit from his defection. We will take care of you in the APC and show you the way.”
The Peoples Democratic Party has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming the opposition party for his failure.
President Buhari
Rather than accusing the PDP of being behind the challenges facing the country, the opposition party said the President should settle down and work.
It said it was wrong for the President to still be blaming the PDP 11 months after he assumed office.
The National Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, said this at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Sheriff, who was a former governor of Borno State, said the All Progressives Congress claimed to have solutions to the nation’s problems, saying this was why it was voted into power by Nigerians instead of the PDP.
He spoke during the inauguration of the four committees set up by the party.
The committees are national convention committee, finance committee, reconciliation committee and zoning committee.
Sheriff was apparently replying to the claim by the President that the PDP failed to save for the rainy day throughout the 16 years it ruled the country.
President Buhari spoke while receiving the President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Dr. Bernard Aliyu, at the State House in Abuja.
He had said, “In the First Republic, more enduring infrastructure was built with meagre resources. But in the past 16 years, we made a lot of money without planning for the rainy day.
“We showed a lot of indiscipline in managing our economy, and that is why we are where we are today.”
Before Buhari spoke, a former Governor of Lagos State, who is also the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in another forum, had also blamed the PDP for the current fuel crisis in the country.
Tinubu, while addressing journalists in Lagos, said the PDP destroyed Nigeria during its 16-year rule by refusing to pursue what was necessary for the growth and development of the country.
He had said, “We want to stay focused and redirect Nigeria. We want to reverse the decay of 16 years. We are hearing comments from the PDP left and right. We are saying we want to clear the mess they created. For 16 good years, the PDP destroyed the country.
“We should not be lamenting over petrol queues today if they had seen what was necessary and done what was necessary for this country.”
Sheriff, however, said the blame game should stop and called on the President and the APC to get to work and deliver on their electoral promises.
Sheriff, who was a member of the APC before he defected to the PDP, said the result of the 2015 general elections had afforded Nigerians to know the difference between the two parties now.
He said, “Nigerians have the opportunity of comparing the two parties. I read in a publication recently where the APC was blaming the PDP for the unavailability of petrol in the country.
“They said we are responsible for petrol scarcity after one year in office. They should stop blaming us.
“They told Nigerians they could do better and that’s why Nigerians voted for them. They should stop blaming us for their woes.
“I like to advise the leaders of the APC to stop blaming the PDP. We are now the opposition party, we would reposition our party to show that we can do better.”
He said the days of rigging election in the country were over, and called on the APC governors to steer clear of Abuja on Saturday when council elections would hold.
Sheriff said he had been informed that some governors of the APC were planning to storm Abuja.
He said if this happened, then the PDP would also bring its governors to the Federal Capital Territory.
He said, “Governors of the APC should not be in Abuja for the election. If they think they can rig out the PDP, they are joking. If they bring governors, we would bring governors.
“If they bring former governors, we would bring our own. We can match them everywhere.
“The APC should be guided. We are not going to be part of violence. The PDP will not be part of violence, but we will protect our votes. Winners must be announced. No inconclusive elections.”
Also speaking at the occasion, the immediate-past Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, called on members of the PDP to stop correcting Buhari and the APC government.
He said they should be allowed to make mistakes in order to allow Nigerians know the difference between them and the PDP.
The Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bro Felix Obuah says there is no truth in Mr. Rotimi Ameachi’s statement, describing the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as a threat to democracy in the country.
Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi
The PDP Chairman notes that former Governor Ameachi is only struggling to divert attention from his abominable atrocities, rebellious activities and breach of public peace and security in the State and the nation at large, stressing that it is he (Ameachi) that has become a threat to democracy and peace in the country.
He expressed disappointment that rather than help President Buhari to proffer solution to the numerous problems on his head, particularly the deteriorating economic situation and apparent lack of focus of the APC-led government in the country, Mr. Amaechi is busy blackmailing a focused and development-sensitive Governor (Wike), and causing trouble in Rivers State.
Bro Obuah emphasized that Amaechi’s statement was undoubtedly a cover- up, distraction and attempt to subvert the truth about who he is and what his activities in the State portend, recalling how Amaechi flooded the State during the re-run elections with soldiers to rig the election, kill innocent voters and intimidate the citizens while exercising their franchise.
Rather than admitting his failure as a governor for eight years and ill- preparedness for his new office as Minister for Transportation, Mr. Amaechi has resorted to pulling down the good foundation of the Wike administration, a mission and task he cannot accomplish.
Bro Obuah is therefore calling on the former governor to settle down for business as a minister and allow the peace in Rivers State to be, reiterating his earlier appeal to President Buhari to call him (Amaechi) to order, before he completely destroys the already rough image of his government.
The PDP chairman also urges the people to ignore Amaechi’s lies and deceitful claims, adding that nothing good and meaningful can ever come from Amaechi who failed as a governor, and APC leader in the State, as he could not deliver his party at the polls, failing even in his polling unit.
Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly engaged in a free-for-all on Monday over the appointment of sole administrators for 11 local government councils by Governor Tanko Al-Makura.
Lawmakers fighting
The free-for-all occurred on the floor of the legislature barely two hours after the governor inaugurated the 11 sole administrators.
Glasses were shattered while tables and chairs were upturned in the violence that engulfed the House.
A faction that described the governor’s action as illegal was opposed by another faction that supported the action of the governor.
Some legislators sustained injuries during the violence while some had their clothes torn.
Briefing newsmen at the legislative complex, a member, House Committee on Information, Mr. Makpa Malla, said that seats and tables were broken during the fight.
Describing the appointment by the governor as illegal, Malla said the Assembly could not continue to watch the governor perpetrate illegalities in the state.
He said, “As you can see, this is the executive room of the state House of Assembly, where we sit down every morning to discuss matters which would bring development to the state and the country at large.
“Categorically, I want to state here that the division which caused this chaos was as result of the appointment of the sole administrators by the governor. As a responsible legislature with some of us as lawyers, we insisted that the right thing must be done.
“The Section 7 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – as amended – guarantees a democratic system of governance at the local government level. The provision of the constitution is explicit on how the local government structure should be run.
“That is why we are kicking against the appointment of the sole administrators. Sole administrators only existed during the military era and as respecters of the rule of law, we must ensure that the executive must also respect the rule of law.”
Malla, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm and be law-abiding as the law would take its course in the matter.
Also speaking during the press conference, Mr. Abubakar Kana, an All Progressives Congress member representing Kokona-West, said there was no provision for the position of sole administrator in the laws of Nasarawa State.
He said this was the reason why the lawmakers kicked against the action of Al-Makura.
He said, “Where would the sole administrators derive their powers from? Who determines the tenure and salaries of the sole administrators? Sole administrators are not known to Nigerian and Nasarawa laws.
“If the sole administrators commit any offence, under what law would they be tried?”
Reacting, the Deputy Speaker, Godiya Akwashiki, who is a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Nasarawa-West, condemned the action of those who opposed the governor’s action.
He said the 24-member House would not be cowed by a few members who had gone on a campaign of calumny against the state.
Akwashiki said, “They accused some of us of receiving N50m bribe each from the governor. I want them to come out with proof. They should show the world the video to back up their allegations.
“Although there is the principle of separation of powers, we still meet with the governor when necessary. The meeting could be on his request or on our request.
“Last week Friday, the Speaker of the House wrote a letter to the governor, requesting that the House wanted to see him. The governor granted our demand by honouring our invitation. The governor invited all of us but only 17 of us attended the meeting in Abuja while others stayed back.”
Akwashiki said the false allegation of bribery was one of the reasons why a few members of the legislature opposed the action of the governor.
The deputy speaker said the lawmakers met with the governor over a court judgment which ordered that the tenure of the 11 council chairmen must not exceed two years.
He said the governor had to inaugurate the 11 sole administrators because of the security situation in the state, adding that on account of this, it would be wrong to fault the governor’s decision.
“We cannot afford to leave the councils without heads. The tenure of the former local government chairmen expired on March 24, 2016,” he said.
Following the claim by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, on Friday that it did not disqualify the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Hon. Tonye Alalibo, from participating in the re-run Election in Rivers State, but acted in compliance with the judgments of the Election Tribunal and Court of Appeal, the State Chairman of the Party, Bro. Felix Obuah, says the Commission is only making efforts to deceive the public when it does not have any evidence to justify its action.
PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party Chairman flays the action of the Commission which exposes obvious case of compromise in dealing with that particular issue, explaining that there is no court judgment to show that both the Party and its candidate were excluded from participating in the Election as alleged by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak.
Bro. Obuah challenges Mr. Ikoiwak to produce and make public any of such evidences to justify his action. Otherwise, the Commission should revert its decision and declare the PDP candidate, Hon. Tonye Alalibo, who scored the highest number of votes winner, to demonstrate its professed neutrality and uprightness.
The State Party Chairman maintains that no Election Petition Tribunal or Appeal Court has right to disqualify any candidate, when the issue of disqualification was not part of the subject matter before them, and that INEC on its part lacks power to disqualify the PDP candidate, wondering where such disqualification came from, if not being induced by the All Progressives Congress.
The PDP emphasizes that the judgments of both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in which it is in possession of do not contain the claim by the INEC REC. The Party therefore, advises Mr. Ikoiwak to again go through the judgments, if he truly has the authentic copies.
Believing that the Commission took the decision in bad faith and having been pressured to do same by the APC higher authorities, the PDP says even though it is considering taking advantage of the constitution of the Re-run Election Petition Tribunal, exploring legal means in securing justice, it would be honorable and also save public resources if the Commission rightly declares the authentic winner in the election, following its poll’s records.
We expect INEC to be truly independent and to ensure its reputation is not compromised. We would do everything to cooperate with and support our institutions in achieving a free, fair and peaceful election and to ensure justice in our democratic system, not this kind of electoral conspiracy.
We therefore, need the cooperation of INEC in achieving this, rather than becoming a tool in the hands of the Party at the centre in subverting the decision of the electorate in the State. It is a dangerous situation for our democracy, and most not be allowed to triumph.
There are strong indications that the Peoples Democratic Party has begun fresh moves to reconcile with its former top members that defected to the All Progressives Congress before the 2015 general elections.
The PUNCH gathered on Sunday that among those being wooed by the PDP was a former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankanso, and the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
It was learnt that the fresh moves, which began a week ago, formed part of the strategies the leadership of the former ruling party had mapped out to strengthen the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections.
The peace shuttle, it was learnt on Sunday, was also part of the action plan of the party ahead of its National Convention in May.
Kwankwaso, some former governors from the North and some Senators met behind closed-doors shortly before the wedding (fatiha) of the daughter of a former Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdullahi Kure, in the Lapai area of the state on Sunday.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed to newsmen, who had laid siege to the venue of the wedding, it was gathered that it was not unconnected with the current search for a northern candidate to fly the flag of the PDP in the 2019 presidential poll.
Some PDP supporters at the venue strengthened insinuations that the former Kano State governor was being pressurised to come back to the PDP.
The supporters, on sighting the dignitaries coming out of the closed-door meeting, chorused, “Sai Kwankwaso, Sai Kwankwasia, Sai Kadawo PDP, insha Allah” meaning “Kwankwaso, you must come back to PDP.”
Kwankwaso
Those who attended the meeting included the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibril; Kure; immediate past governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; a former governor of Kano State, Mr. Ibrahim Shekarau; Senator Philip Tanimu Ajuda, Senator Smart Adeyemi and Senator Isah Mohammed.
However, none of the PDP chiefs agreed to speak to newsmen after emerging from the meeting as they headed straight for the Mosque for the commencement of the wedding ceremony, administered by the Chief Imam of Lapai Central Mosque, Sheik Bashir Lapai.
The PDP BoT chairman confirmed that the party had zoned its Presidency to the North in 2019, saying the former ruling party was in search of a credible candidate for the race.
Jibril added, “We (PDP) have zoned the Presidency to the North but the Vice-President and other positions have not been zoned yet because we are still consulting.”
He stated that the party was on a reconciliation drive to ensure that all aggrieved members, including those that had left the PDP, returned to the party so that the PDP could win the 2019 presidential election.
But Kwankanso on Sunday denied holding any political meeting with some PDP leaders in Lapai, Niger State, on Sunday.
Kwankwaso, a Senator, spoke with one of our correspondents through one of his aides, who returned the ex-governor’s call, but failed to disclose his identity.
The aide said, “It is not true that Senator Kwankwaso held a meeting with PDP leaders after he had attended the wedding ceremony.
“Senator Kwankwaso and Alhaji Aliyu (Kure) were friends and they both served as governors in their respective states between 1999 and 2003 and they had remained close since then.
“There is no way that Senator Kwankwaso would be holding secret meeting with members of the opposition party when he remained committed to his party, the All Progressives Congress. He is a loyal party man, who would not engage in any anti-party activities.”
Saraki and Kwankwaso are currently having running battles with the APC.
The Senate President is undergoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for an alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets.
He has said on many occasions that his trial was political and that it might be because the party’s national leadership didn’t want him as the President of the Senate.
Saraki, who is now a chieftain of the APC, was governor of Kwara State for eight years as a member of the PDP.
Kwankwaso is engaged in a power tussle with his successor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje in the Kano State APC.
It was believed that Kwankwaso was being cut to size in the party because he could be nursing a presidential ambition in 2019.
A chieftain of the party, who confided in The PUNCH on Sunday, said the PDP had realised the mistake it made by allowing Kwankanso and other former members, including the President of the Senate, to leave its fold.
He said the PDP had been meeting its former members, including Kwankanso and Saraki, so that they could come back to the party.
“We made a mistake by dismissing the influence of these politicians. You will recall that Kwankaso came second at the APC presidential primary. Saraki is also very influential. If we had won Kano and Kwara states in the last presidential election, the APC would not have produced the President,” the PDP chieftain reasoned.
Another PDP stalwart told one of our correspondents that since Kwankwaso had lost control of the party structure in Kano State and was facing stiff opposition from the incumbent governor, Abubakar Ganduje, the PDP was the likely option for him to turn to.
The source noted that Kwankwaso was originally a PDP man but only defected to the APC in 2014 when it was obvious that the PDP would not allow anyone to contest against Jonathan.
He said the party was aware of Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition and would woo him back to the party and guarantee him a level playing field.
The top party man, a former national officer of the PDP added, “Kwankwaso won two governorship elections on the platform of the PDP and also served as a minister; so, he is a PDP man through and through.
“He is being maltreated by Ganduje and the party has refused to help resolve the crisis. This governor was Kwankwaso’s handpicked man as his successor.
“We virtually have no presence in Kano State; so, if we can get a serving Senator with a huge following like Kwankwaso, it would be a game changer ahead of 2019.”
Another PDP leader told one of our correspondents that it was seeking to exploit the crisis in the APC rank in the Senate to bring some APC lawmakers to the PDP.
One of our correspondents gathered that the about-to-be-inaugurated Reconciliation Committee of the PDP would visit Saraki and a former Vice President and impress on them the need to return to the PDP.
The committee is headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson.
Determined to retrieve power from the Buhari-led APC government in 2019, the PDP has already zoned its presidential ticket to the northern part of the country.
A source, who is a member of the NWC of the PDP, said, “We are no longer in power and the number of governors we have has reduced drastically.
“We therefore need someone who is rich and has the contacts across the country to help us wrestle power from the APC come 2019.
“We all know that only the likes of the ex-vice-president and former governors can do this for us. We want them back in our party.”
Authoritative sources told our correspondent that the committee would also visit Kwankwaso.
Jibril said he would want all PDP former members and new ones to return to its fold.
He told one of our correspondents that the doors of the party would remain open.
He added, “Any person, who wants to return to the party, including those you have mentioned, are free to return.
“We need them just the way we need many others who are not our members before.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said he was not aware of the meeting with Kwankwaso in Lapai on Sunday.
Attempts to get a response from the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the meeting in Lapai and the moves by the PDP to woo some APC members, proved abortive.
Calls to his mobile were not returned. A response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.
The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyonu, believed newsmen were creating stories to the effect that his principal was on the radar of the PDP towards 2019.
“Why will the PDP ask the Senate President to join a party he left two years ago? For what benefit or purpose? There is no truth to that fiction,” Oloniyonu said.
ABEOKUTA — Nigerians are paying part of the sins of the 16-year rule of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through the lingering fuel crisis in the country, All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said yesterday.
Bola Tinubu
Tinubu’s assertion on the fringes of a reconciliation meeting of APC South-West leaders at the residence of Aremo Segun Osoba, was also echoed by the APC South-East caucus at an interactive meeting at Egede, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Tinubu said: “For 16 good years, PDP destroyed the country. We should not be lamenting about petroleum queues today if they had seen what is necessary and done what is necessary for this country.
“We can’t be emotional and in self denial. If they had done Awolowo Road, if they had done Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, if they put priority on our rails, if they put priority on electricity generation and distribution, we will not be in this mess that we are today.
“Nigerians are impatient for what? I research Nigeria,they just want to see the direction of the economic policy and want to be certain of the future that we will not continue in the direction of leaderless, directionless and hopelessness of the past 16 years.”
One year not enough to rectify the rot
Spokesman of the South-East caucus, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who echoed the point also at an interactive meeting said: “We are paying, unfortunately, for the sins of PDP. I remember vividly in 2010, when Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, then Finance Minister and Coordinator of the Economy, announced to the whole world the award of $23 billion Greenfield Refineries, to a Chinese company.
“The refineries were to be located at Bayelsa, Lagos and Kogi states. There was jubilation nationwide. If they had completed the refineries, today we won’t be talking of scarcity or astronomical increase in fuel pump price. They squandered the money and put Nigerians in harm’s way.”
While assuring that the problems were being fixed Okechukwu, however, said one year was not enough for the administration to rectify the rot. Among those present at the interactive session were Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, Deputy Governorship candidate of APC, Philip Eze, senatorial candidate of the party, local government and Ward chairmen.
Challenged that Nigerians were running out of patience with the new administration, Okechukwu said: “We can’t stop pointing out the unconscionable wreckage the PDP unleashed on our economy in the last 16 years. The wreckage keeps popping up at each junction, despite the efforts being made to suppress it.”
The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, during his recent visit to Ekiti State, entertained a couple of questions from journalists, especially as they have to do with the fortune of his party. Deputy Editor, SAM NWAOKO, brings excerpts from the brief interaction.
What are you doing about the critical condition your party is currently in?
What do you mean by ‘critical condition’?
A lot of people believe that the PDP is crippled and is in a serious crisis?
Ali Modu Sheriff
I don’t think that statement is true. Since the time I came into the party, we have participated in about four elections and we have won in each of the elections. We won two senatorial seats in Kogi State. We won in Benue State. We won in Akwa Ibom State and we won fully in Bayelsa State. So, I don’t understand where the notion came from. A party that is crippled does not win elections. Our party is standing and that is the reason we are winning in all the elections we have participated in.
However, we are repositioning the party. That has to be stated. We lost elections. That is normal. When you go through life without any form of challenge or problem, you will be wondering if you would not just die one day. But when you are having problems on the way and getting up, you will be getting stronger, learning and getting better. So, what is happening to the PDP today is that it is getting even better than in 1999. We are in the opposition and we are winning in every election. We have won in five different elections and in some of them, we won all. So, I can’t agree that our party is getting crippled. No. Our party had a problem and the problem was losing the presidential election. But since that election, we have bounced back and won elections again.
What is your view on the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war that has been alleged to be selective and one-sided?
The PDP as a party supports all forms of anti-corruption crusade. However, we believe that it should be all the way through. We support the fight against corruption but it should not be one-sided. Corruption in all ramifications is evil. We don’t support corruption. But that corruption fight must be for every party and no exception…PDP, APC, APGA, all the political parties, because our party is a law-abiding party. Our party was in government for 16 years and the anti-corruption law itself was made by the PDP. In 1999, the law that set up the anti-corruption agencies was passed when I was a leader in the Senate.
Prominent members of your party are leaving and joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) less than one year after your party lost elections. Some others are said to be planning to leave. What message do you have for such politicians?
The answer is very simple: anybody leaving a political party because it lost elections is not a politician. True politicians don’t leave their parties. So, does it mean that when we win, they would again run back to the PDP? See what a person like Ayo Fayose went through in the PDP. He was detained and made to experience all forms of persecution at the hands of the leaders of his own party and yet he stood firm. In the end, the judiciary said he was free and vindicated him as having not committed any crime just as the people of Ekiti State re-elected him as their governor. If he was the kind of person that is jumping up and down political parties or something like that, he wouldn’t have the courage to face the people and all of them shouting ‘Oshoko’ everywhere he went. That is because he has remained steadfast and that is the hallmark of a good politician.
A number of people reacted negatively to your emergence as the national chairman of the PDP. How do you see this?
That is normal in every society or group of people. Not everyone would accept you. What is a democracy? It is a government of the people by the people and for the people. There is no way in a democracy that you won’t have opposition. Even as my brother, Ayo Fayose, is being loved by everybody, including children, there are still those who do not like him. So, it is normal in a democracy. People will have to air their views but the bottom line is that the minority will always have their say and the majority will have their way.
One of the governorship aspirants in Edo State, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki has set the record straight on the believe that Edo State is an APC state.
Don Pedro Obaseki
During a deliberation on Standpoint, a TVC program, the aspirant stressed that his position is due to the numbers of the PDP who are senators, and members of the House of Assembly.
Obaseki said: “I don’t really consider Edo State an APC state because if you are, as a former academic, everything to me is a thesis. I look at differently as others will look at it. We have an APC governor, but in a state where we have two PDP senators, and six out of nine members of the house of reps being PDP, you will be a little economical with the truth to outrightly call the state an APC state.
“I also think that after Jonathan lost the Presidential election, there was a 127,000 vote deficit two weeks later, people who voted in the March 28 election that did not vote in the April 11 election. If they had all come out to vote, it could have been a kind of voter apathy. I am saying this so that APC don’t go to bed thinking that this is going to be a Frisby. This is going to be a serious battle and the best way to win a war is to be strategic rather than be tactful.
“On a strategic level, I don’t see myself as a being in a vantage position as an APC member. I think the APC shouldn’t be complacent that the state will go straight to them.
On the speculation by some people that the governor, Adams Oshiomhole has not done enough, Don Obaseki put the record straight reminding the main opposition in the state, The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that Oshiomhole tarred the roads the PDP could not address over a decade.
He said: “Anybody who thinks Oshiomhole has not changed the political environment is being economical with the truth. I see call the Moses of our time and I call myself Joshua to lead us to the promise land. Before now, PDP grip on Edo State was like Pharaoh’s grip, seriously. We never knew roads could be tarred.
“The roads that Oshiomhole came to tried to tar were roads that were left in a serious state since the time of Ogbemudia, he left power since 1975. So for us to say that Oshiomhole has not done well, the person is over playing the political game, you are playing with the mind of the people and that is where the battle is, so people look for reasons why he tarred 20km while he should have tarred 25km, that is where the problem is. Has he done enough not has he done well? He has done well if you take into consideration where the state was prior to when he came into the office.
The confident aspirant publicly told other of his contenders that he would beat them during the governorship election.
He said “I will beat anybody, I am beating everybody not because of money. Money is not part of my political calculation for this. The truth of the matter is, I told them, change in Edo State, first we change our state of mind. If we don’t change in all its ramifications, we are just going to have cosmetic exchange.
On how he intend to triumph over his other political contenders, Don Obaseki said “Anybody who is in Edo State already has a copy of my blueprint, my EDO agenda – Empowerment, Development, and Opportunities, almost everybody. And since I started our Edo People Assembly about two years ago, we have mobilised and gone from school to school, door to door, we are knocking on every door on every floor, we talking to every face in every place.
“As someone who is a child of tradition, I am who I am because of tradition not in spite of tradition. In Benin, one of the biggest industries outside the rubber you spoke about that my family used to involve in, the other modern industry is basically the Benin film industry. As one of the free four founders of Nollywood, I made sure I started shooting all my movies in Benin. The first international movie, Eziza was shot by me in 1999 and in 2011, the Oba of Benin award me for excellence. I am the only Edo man Oba Erediauwa award for excellence every year ever since. Galvanizing and mobilizing the youths on the street has become my own personal crusade.
“The youths are the problem because of the fact that they seem hopeless and that hopeless of despondence seem to make them think in naira and kobo. A good leader must be a dealer in hope, so that is what I am giving to everybody, for us to move forward, for the average little Edo boy and realized that he is a little much more than he used to be, and free government from being the primary provider of employment, and government is meant to create the right environment for businesses to thrive and I am doing that and selling it from place to place, I think that stand me in good stead.
“We need someone who has not been in government, we need someone who understands how to turn something from nothing, we need someone by nature is upstairs ordinary, who has slept in Molue in Lagos, and the one who on the side of the average man.”
