The fourth testing version of Tribus has been uploaded.  You can find the link here.  I have populated the Ivory Park District and added another family to Copper Trail.

COVID-19: AIT Boss, Raymond Dokpesi Discharged Founder of Daar Communications Plc Raymond Dokpesi has been discharged from the University of Abuja Treatment Centre After Testing Negative to Coronavirus. In a letter of appreciation signed by the media mogul, Dokpesi expressed gratitude to God for seeing his family through the trying period. “I am exceptionally indebted to God Almighty for keeping and protecting me and my entire family all through our isolation at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Isolation Centre” Accoridng to him, the past two weeks at the treatment centre provided him with a first-hand experience of the enormous challenge before Nigeria as a country “We are better acquainted with the personal sacrifices many Nigerians are making to ensure that we collectively defeat this pandemic. This cuts across the policymakers, the care providers and even the cleaners whose job puts them at constant risk of exposure”. He thanked Nigerians in the county and in the diaspora for their outpouring of concern and prayers, including eminent personalities who reached out with messages of support. “A special mention must be made of the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha and Chairman PTF, who not only sympathised with me and my family but also personally made both video and voice calls on several occasion to ascertain our well-being”. “My appreciation goes to the Hon. Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Medical Team and other members of the PTF, the CMD UATH – Gwagwalada – Prof Bisallah Ekene, Head of Isolation Center – Dr Tahir, Rivers State Governor – His Excellency, Nyesom Wike and other serving and former State Governors too numerous to mention, former President and Head of State, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Former President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, Former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), GCFR, Gen Abdusallami Abubakar (Rtd), and former Vice President Alh. Atiku Abubakar, GCON Others are “Elder Statesmen, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, CON, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Odili, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Chief Nnia Nwodo... https://www.instagram.com/p/CAKkGSylm4J/?igshid=1rjakacjx3b91

Concerned Citizens Write OBJ, GEJ Over Unpatriotic Alliance To Jeopardize Nigeria’s Existence

Obasanjo, Jonathan

The Concerned Nigerians made this known in an open letter signed by Rev Musa Fomson and Prince Raymond Enero, Convener and Secretary respectively and addressed to the ethswhile leaders.

Chief Obasanjo was president between 1999 and 2007 while Jonathan govern the country’s affairs from 2010 to 2015, yet both leaders were allegedly synonymous with corruption, nepotism and…

View On WordPress

Awaiting Buharis List Of Ministers

Awaiting Buharis List Of Ministers     Only four elected Nigerian leaders have had the opportunity of presenting lists of Ministers after re-election. They are Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, President Olusegun Obasanjo and now President Muhammadu Buhari, President Umaru Musa Yardua died in his first term without completing his term while President Goodluck Jonathan lost the Presidential election while seeking a re-election in 2015. Except Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both President Shagari and President Obasanjo retained less than 8% of the Ministers that they appointed in their first term. We do not know the percentage of Ministers President Buhari will retain in his second term but expectedly he will do it in his own way in spite of current rumours and innuendos. Re-elected Presidents are very difficult to predict in their second term. The same goes with appointments of special advisers, senior special assistants and ambassadors. In 1963, the following were appointed as Ministers by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. They are Muhammadu Ribadu (NNA)Defence, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh (UPGA)Finance, Muhammadu Inuwa Wada (NNA)Works and Survey, Zanna Bukar Dipcharima (NNA)Commerce and Industries and Transport, Shehu Shagari (NNA)Internal Affairs and Communications, Yusufu Maitama Sule (NNA)Mines and Power, Ibrahim Waziri (NNA)Economic Development and Education, Musa YarAdua (NNA)Lagos Affairs, Dr. T.O. Elias (formerly NCNC)Attorney-General and Justice, Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi (no party affiliation)Health and Information, Chief J.C. Obande (NNA)Establishments and Labour, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe (UPGA), Nuhu Bamali (NNA), Usman Mitambari (NNA), Hashim Adaji (NNA) and Ibrahim Tako (NNA)all Ministers of State. After the 1964 general elections, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa appointed the following as Ministers of States. They are Nuhu Bamali (external affairs), Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu (Finance), Mr. M.T. Mbu (DefenceNavy), Usman Maitambari (Transport), Hashim Adaji (Works), Ibrahim Tako (DefenceArmy), Mr. T.E. Orodi (Lagos Affairs), Chief H.O. Davies (Industries), Chief A. Akerele (Information), Abdul Razaq (Transport) and Mr. D. Ibekwe (External Affairs). The Prime Minister also appointed the following as Ministers of Cabinet rank. They are Muhammadu Ribadu (Defence), Chief Fesus Okie-Eboh (Finance), Shehu Shagari (Internal Affairs), Mahammadu Inuwa Wada (Works), ZannaBukar Dipcharima (Transport), Mr. Raymond Njoku (Communications), Dr. Kingsley O. Mbadiwe (Trade), Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu (Aviation), Adeniran Ogunsanya (Housing and Surveys), Chief A.M.A. Akinloye (Industries), Ayo Rosiji (Information), Mr. R.A. Akinjide (Education), Mr. Adeleke Adedoyin (Labour), Mr. Alade Lamuye (Natural Resources and Research), Yusufu MaitamaSule (Mines and Power), Waziri Ibrahim (Economic Development), Dr. T.O. Elias (Attorney-General and Justice), Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi (Health) and Chief J. C. Obande (Establishments). On Thursday October 18, 1979, President Shehu Shagari wrote to then Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas requesting Senate approval for the following as Ministers with Cabinet ranks. They are M. Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan (Bauchi), M. Adamu Chiroma (Borno), Mr. Isaac Shaahu and Mr. Paul Unongo (Benue), Professor Iya Abubakar (Gongola), Umaru Dikko and Professor Ishaya Audu (Kaduna), Bello Maitama Yusuf (Kano), Akanbi Oniyangi (Kwara), Ndagi Mamudu (Niger), Mrs. Adenike Ebun Oyagbola (Ogun), Mr. Samuel Adebisi Ogedengbe (Ondo), Chief Richard O. Akinjide (Oyo), Mr. John Jatau Kadiya, Mr. George Baba, Hoomkwap (Plateau), Mr. Victor Masi (Rivers), Ibrahim Gusau (Sokoto), Mr. D.C. Ugwuand Mr. Chimezie Ikeazor (Anambra), Professor Sunday Matthew Essang (Cross River), Mr. Israel AmadiEmina (Bendel), Dr. Sylvester Ugoh and Dr. I.I. Maduike and Dr. Wahab Olaseinde Dosunmu (Lagos). President Shagari also submitted the following as Ministers with non-cabinet rank. They are Alhaji Ahmed Musa (Bauchi), Chief P. Bolokor, Asheikh Jarma, Alhaji Ali Baba, M. IroAbubakar Dan-Musa, Bilyamin Usman (Kano), Mr. Ademola Thomas (Lagos), Chief OluAwotesu (Ogun), Chief Mrs. J. Akinrinade (Oyo), AlhajiAhmuduNahuce (Sokoto), Chief E. Okoi-Obuli (Cross River), Mamman Ali Makele (Kwara), Mr. CladiusAgboolaBamgboye (Ondo) and Dr. JakiriIgbani (Rivers). On October 17, 1983, the re-elected President Shehu Shagari submitted his list of Ministers presided over again by Dr. Joseph Wayas for Senate approval. They are Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyoaku and Mr John Nwodo Jnr. (Anambra), Sule Katagun, Ibrahim Tahir and Magaji Muazu (Bauchi), Chief J.A. Orhorho and Mr. Ralph Uweche (Bendel), Mr. Audu Ogbeh and Dr. E.Y. Atanu (Benue), Adamu Ciroma, Muhammadu Buhari and AlhajiHaliruDantoro (Borno), Dr. Simi Johnson (Lagos), Senator Idirisu Ibrahim (Niger), Kehinde Sofola, SAN (Attorney-General of the Federation) (Ogun), Dr. Bode Olowoporoku (Ondo), S.M. Afolabi and Dr. Bimbo Akintola (Oyo), Hassan Mohammed and Mr. Robert Doshun Gumut (Plateau), Chief Okoi-Obuli and Dr. A.J. Okonno, Ali Baba and Mr. Paul Wampana (Gongola), Chief Emmanuel Adiele (Imo), Dr. Umaru Dikko and AlahjiIsmaila Isa (Kaduna), Yusuf Miatama Sule, Bilyamin Usman and Hamisu Musa (Kano), Dr. Ishmael Igbani and Mrs. E. Diete-Spiff (Rivers) and Muhammadu Lugga, Idirisu Koko and Bala Sokoto (Sokoto). In 1999, following Senate approval President Obasanjo appointed the following as Ministers. They are General T.Y. Danjuma, Chief Bola Ige, Adamu Bello, Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, Engnr Mustapha Bello, Muhamadu Arzika, Mrs Boma Bromillow Jack, Professor A.B. Borishade, Muhammad Kabir Said, Engnr. Mohammed Abba-Gana, Adamu Chiroma, Professor A.B. C. Nwosu, Kolawole B. Jamodu, Professor Jerry Gana, Chief S.M. Afolabi, Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, Dr. OlusegunAgagu, Professor Turner T. Isoun, Chief OjoMaduekwe, Col. Mohammed B. Kaliel(rtd), HajiaAishatu M.S. Ismail and Chief Tony Anenih. On July 15, 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo swore-in the first list of Ministers following his re-election. They are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nenadi Esther Usman, IdrisWaziri, Cornelius Adebayo, Franklin Ogbuagwu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rowland Oritsejafor, Fabian Osuji, Bintu Ibrahim Musa, Broderick Bozimo, BalaMande, Nasir El-Rufai, Oluyemi Adeniji, SaiduBalarabe Samaila, Olutayo Lambo, Alice Mobolaji Osomo, Chukwuemeka Chikelu, IyorchiaAyu, Abubakar Tanko, Husseini Akwanga, Lawan Gana Guba, Franklin Nweke, Turner Isoun, Odion Ugbesia, Musa Mohammed, Precious Sekibo, Mohammed Musa, Muktar Shagari, Adamu Bello, Bamidele Dada, RitaAkpan, Adeseye Ogunlewe and Saleh Shehu. President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn-in on May 29, 2015 for his first term. He swore-in his Ministers on November 11, 2015. As from June the nation will be expecting his second list of Ministers following his re-election. Teniola, former director at the presidency wrote from Lagos.   Read the full article

Obasanjo reveals how PDP lost the 2015 Presidential election

Obasanjo made the observation when he received one of the PDP national chairmanship aspirants, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, on Saturday in Abeokuta.Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has told both members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress need to be rejuvenated for Nigeria’s democracy to be strong.

The former president…

View On WordPress

Nigeria needs new constitution to forestall another war, says Obasanjo

Nigeria needs new constitution to forestall another war, says Obasanjo

By Raymond Mordi

Hails coming of Amotekun

Nothing has united Southwest like Amotekun since independence’

The agitation for a new political order and arrangement in Nigeria got a new convert in former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday.

He canvassed a new constitution for the country as against an amended one.

He also hailed the Southwest governors for what he called their courage in…

View On WordPress

Check out New Post published on Ọmọ Oòduà

New Post has been published on http://ooduarere.com/naija-gist/metro-life/once-upon-a-time-naija-gist/

Once upon a time, civil servants lived at the iconic 1004 estate in Lagos until things fall apart!

1004 estate was specifically built for civil servants.

Not during the mungo Park era, under Shagari,IBB,Abacha and Abdulsalam.

until Obasanjo and Atiku came and said they are not human enough to live in the highbrow Neirbourhood of Lagos island.

They forcefully ejected civil servants and sold 1004 to their inlaws.

The rest is history. Olukoya Dare Raymond

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says both the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) need to be rejuvenated for Nigeria’s democracy to be strong. Obasanjo made the observation when he received one of the PDP national chairmanship aspirants, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, on Saturday in Abeokuta. The former president remarked that both the ruling and opposition parties need to be strengthened for the country’s democracy to be salient and strong. “I have also said that the two parties that are there, the one in government and the one in opposition are both wobbling parties. “I still believe that the two wobbling parties can still be made strong. They can,’’ Obasanjo said. He re-emphasised that he was no longer interested in partisan politics in Nigeria. He said that he left PDP when he discovered that the party had been destroyed beyond what he could be associated with at that point. Obasanjo said there was no reason PDP should not have ruled Nigeria for 50 years as believed by some people, but that the party caused its own problem. “That has happened in some other countries like Germany, where a party runs the affairs of the county for decades, but of course, that is not the history in our own case.’’ Obasanjo said that those who destroyed the PDP were still in it and that they would not leave until the running of the party was taken over by determined, selfless, upright, and honest people. “If we are just saying PDP has a crisis, which is self-made and that the Supreme Court had resolved the crisis for us, we are just deceiving ourselves. “The Supreme Court has taken a right decision as an apex court should, but as a party, only that cannot help you to do it all.’’ He prayed for PDP to get its national convention right, saying the chairmanship of the party was very important. “I had four PDP chairmen under in eight years. “So, I know what it takes to have a good or bad chairman for a party,’’ Obasanjo said. He advised Dokpesi to use his media assets well for the interest of the country to avoid and correct past mistakes. Obasanjo, who said that he and some other Nigerians work hard for the success of the party and the county, advised PDP to manage its success. Speaking earlier, Dokpesi, the founders of Daar Communications, said he was in Abeokuta to seek the prayer and blessings of Obasanjo in his ambition of becoming PDP national chairman. He said that anyone aspiring to be national chairman of a political party must consult with the former president. “I am much aware that you are not interested in patrician politics but you are the father of the nation. “You are much committed to the unity, stability and continue the existence of this country. “You have dedicated all your life to the building of this country. “Therefore, anything that is good for this country is a matter of interest to you,’’ Dokpesi said. He said that PDP would continue to plead for the forgiveness of Obasanjo for its trespasses and transgressions. Dokpesi stressed the need for both the ruling and opposition parties to be strong “even as 2019 is fast approaching’’. He was accompanied to Abeokuta by Sen. Yisa Braimoh and PDP governorship aspirant in Delta State, Dr Esther Uduehi.  

Looters List: plot to divert attention, says PDP

Looters List: plot to divert attention, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described  the looters  list released by the Federal Government as part of ploy by the government to divert  people attention  from public discourse. The Party made the observation  in a statement issued by  its Natural Publicity Secretary,  Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja. LIt said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed in its ploy to use the looters lists to divert public discourse from the raging questions on their numerous scandals, manifest sleazes and overall failures in governance. The PDP, said the nation has now seen that the Federal Government has no case against the PDP. It noted that the lists only had individuals who were not indicted or convicted for corruption, adding that some of them were not even members of the PDP. “It is now a notorious fact that the whole essence of the flimsy and contemptible lists was to cause public misperception, ‘change the topic’, and divert international and national discourse from various serious issues.” These according to PDP include the “parlous state of the nation’s economy” for which Nigerians now resorting to vices, including slavery and suicide as options. It also listed  intensive global criticism of  APC-led government, particularly with the latest from  Bill Gates and  eminent statesmen. These according  to the party include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former minister of defence and ex-Chief of Army staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma. “The international interest over speculations of conspiracy theorem on the alleged manipulation of security in the abduction and return of the Dapchi schoolgirls for which Amnesty International (AI) has called for an open inquest. “The international embarrassment over alleged procurement of the Martin Luther King Jr Award for President Buhari, which has now attracted global opprobrium to our dear nation and entire citizenry.” It also listed the N9 trillion  corrupt oil contracts at the NNPC, alleged stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil, looting of N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the alleged stealing of N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as part of the iasues.  “These are issues that cannot be swept under the carpet using any ploy whatsoever. “While we still challenge the APC to name any members of the repositioned and rebranded PDP convicted for corruption, we wish to remind them that our three-day ultimatum to explain the source of looted fund to finance President Buhari’s 2015 campaign still subsist.  “No amount of blackmail or intimidation can stop Nigerians from holding the dysfunctional APC accountable,” he said. Meanwhile, the Federal Government through, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Informants and Culture, had released a list of persons who allegedly looted dry Nigeria’s economy under PDP watch, describing the list as just a tip of the iceberg. Among those listed were, the PDP Chairman Uche Secondus, saying he on the Feb. 19, 2015 took N200 million only from the office of then NSA “Then PDP Financial Secretary on the 24th of Oct. 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of then NSA. “Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh, who is on trial for collecting N1.4billion from the office of then NSA. “Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications – On trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA “ Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei – On trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies “Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaol – on Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA,” Mohammed listed. Read the full article

PDP’s Golden Possibility To Develop into Nigeria’s ‘necessary Evil’ - News from Nigeria ~.

We know currently that life is filled with ironies, but no one particular would have imagined that the most vital elective convention in the life of the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) would coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day. PDP and anti-corruption are like daylight and night-time ordinarily, their paths really should under no circumstances interweave.

Without having trying to excuse President Muhammadu Buhari’s unidirectional anti-corruption campaign, PDP is at the heart of corruption (and every other shortcoming of democracy) in the Fourth Republic. Considering that leaving energy, Olusegun Obasanjo — and he should know, becoming the greatest beneficiary of PDP’s ascent to power — has been unable to hide his disdain for the pervasiveness of corruption in the legislature. The only issue he hasn’t performed is to expressly blame his then party not that we require that facts — till 2015, the same legislature regularly maligned by Obasanjo was dominated by PDP lawmakers.

The lawmakers are swift to return the favours. Obasanjo it was who schooled them in the art of corruption, they generally say, reminding him of how he wooed the legislature with cash in an try to push via his failed third term bid. None of this is new information and facts.

PDP’s legacy of corruption has outlasted its 16-year rule. There is the Siemens bribery scandal, featuring shady payments of a total €1.3bn to a Minister, Senator and other Federal Government officials who, by the way, are nonetheless walking absolutely free. There is the stupendously messy Halliburton scandal involving the bribery of elected officials in the Fourth Republic, and dating back to the military era, to the tune of $182m. These are the much more obvious, internationally-embarrassing cases. In states, ministries, agencies and the central government, there are so several PDP-era corruption instances that even the EFCC and ICPC ought to have lost count.

Yet, on December 9, the day set aside because 2003 by the United Nations to raise worldwide awareness of the consequences of corruption, PDP will commence a two-day convention that will culminate in the emergence of its National Chairman and other principal officers. This is by far the party’s most vital convention ever, and it’s not challenging to explain.

For two-and-a-half years into his tenure, Buhari has operated in a one-and-a-half-party democracy. PDP, the half, has failed to muster a quarter of the engagement it endured from the APC in its own years of rule. Of course, the excellent of that engagement was usually lacking in intellectual depth and was more propaganda than truth-based, but there was one thing at least. So far, Buhari has, to a massive extent, been unchallenged by an opposition and it could worsen — not for Buhari but for our democracy — if PDP does not speak with a single voice from December ten. It could imply that Buhari walks into a second tenure virtually unchallenged or possibly weakly challenged — a scenario that would defeat the incredibly essence of democracy. If Buhari desires to be President in 2019, he should work tough for that ticket. Very challenging. This is why even those who detest the PDP should be interested in this convention.

Pre-election bickering

The buildup to the convention has been a huge cause for concern. Desperation for the ‘juicy’ position of National Chairman is threatening to derail the progress not too long ago produced by the celebration, following a long stretch of internal tussle that clearly had the markings of APC pulling the strings from hiding. The zoning (or incomplete zoning) of the position to the South threatens to spark a post-convention crisis or the staging of a parallel convention.

The chairmanship aspirants from the South-West, led by old guard Olabode George, want the position zoned to their precise geopolitical zone, but Raymond Dokpesi and Uche Secondus, a former Acting National Chairman, argue that the South-South was. Under no circumstances created a substantive PDP Chairman.

While Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary, has been boasting that the PDP would "organise the most credible celebration election in the history of Nigeria", a convention Chairman has however to be agreed upon due to aspirants’ suspicion about the interests and intention of doable candidates for the post. Calls for the resignation of Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman of the caretaker committee, have not too long ago intensified, providing an added cause to worry for the post-convention unity of the PDP.

Exact same old, similar old

A lot as this won’t be in the interest of the nation, it is tough to see PDP playing something a lot more than the devil’s advocate in the 2019 presidential election. Just take a appear at the chairmanship aspirants: Rasheed Ladoja, Jimi Agbaje, Tunde Adeniran, Raymond Dokpesi, Gbenga Daniel, Uche Secondus. Every single of them has been Minister or Senator or Governor or governorship aspirant in the previous. No breath of fresh air.

What, for instance, is an individual like Bode George carrying out anyplace close to areas where really serious conversations about the next PDP Chairman are holding? An individual of his public-workplace standing — he’s retired from the Navy, been Military Governor of Ondo State, been chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, been National Vice Chairman and Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, has gone to prison (for 4 years) and come back — really should be operating for the PDP from the background. Even Adamu Ciroma’s wife, Maryam, wants to be Deputy National Chairman! Husband and wife have been Minister of the Federal Republic at various occasions, just to mention a single of the quite a few plum national positions that have been shared involving them.

Apparently, PDP has misdiagnosed the causes for which it lost the 2015 election. Having been rejected by the individuals ‘against the run of play’, in spite of the war chest at its disposal in 2015, the celebration really should have known, by now, that its desperately-needed rebranding can not happen with the same faces that defined its most current era. By now, the names linked with the party ought to be individuals brimming with tips who haven’t been the faces of the party in current years — individuals against whom the public holds no grudge as of yet.

If the PDP hopes to contest the 2019 election with the likes of Ahmed Makarfi and Atiku Abubakar, then the contest would have been more than way prior to its commence, and the PDP’s sojourn to political oblivion would have begun to earn some permanence.

But prior to then, its a single final debt to Nigerians is to hold a absolutely free and fair convention on Saturday and keep united thereafter (or at least pretend to be). Nigerians will preserve an eye on this convention — not necessarily since we like the celebration that PDP is, but due to the fact it’s our most realistic likelihood of not receiving stuck in one particular-way election visitors in 2019.

The PDP can be Nigeria’s vital evil for at least yet another two years we can not throw it away just yet, regardless of our misgivings against it. For once, this party can't disappoint Nigerians. Having failed as a ruling celebration, it must not make a mess of opposition politicking.

Obasanjo reveals what APC and PDP must do ahead of 2019 elections

As the race for the 2019 general election draws closer, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has said both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, need fresh ideas to promote democracy in the country.

Obasanjo said this when he received PDP national chairmanship aspirants, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at his Presidential Library, in Abeokuta on…

View On WordPress

Prince Uche Secondus was coasting home to victory as the next national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last night amidst signs of a fresh crisis in the once ruling party.Secondus’ closest rival, Professor Tunde Adeniran stormed out of the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the PDP national election, alleging fraud. He protested the emergence of a ‘unity list’ (which contained the names of favoured candidates for the 21 positions available for election yesterday), alleged compulsion of delegates to vote for those on the list, alleged stuffing of ballot boxes and sudden change of ballot boxes midway into the election of candidates.Adeniran, Education Minister during the Obasanjo presidency, said the affairs of the party should be handed over to the Board of Trustees (BoT) which should conduct a fresh election.Media mogul and another chairmanship candidate, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, also decried irregularities and malpractices during the proceedings.Secondus, enjoying the massive backing of PDP governors, was number one on the ‘unity list’.He took a wide lead once counting of the votes began last night.Adeniran and Dokpesi were left to struggle for a few votes.Worried by the development, Adeniran walked out of the convention venue.According to poll trend monitored by our correspondent, the delegates overwhelmingly endorsed and voted for Secondus.A former minister, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said:”The PDP governors and some of our respected elders did their homework and we all agreed to adopt the Unity List which is fair to all.“We reached a consensus on Secondus and all those on the list as the next members of the National Working Committee.“The election was a walkover for Secondus and 20 others whose victory will soon be announced.“In fact, some of those who stepped down earlier also adopted the Unity List and mobilized their state delegates to vote along the list.”Adeniran and some of his supporters walked out of the Eagle Square, Abuja at about 9.11pm in protest against the adoption of the Unity List and compelling of delegates to vote for those on the list.The Director of Media of his Campaign Organization, Mr. Taiwo Akeju said the process was highly compromised to achieve a predetermined end.He accused Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayo Fayose of imposing Secondus on the party.His words: ?”We reject the entire electoral process. The election has been grossly compromised to achieve a predetermined end. The illegal unity list was prepared by Governors Wike and Ayodele Fayose to foist on the entire delegates.“Consequently, we submit that this election is a sham and the result therefore is unacceptable and rejected in its entirety.“We consider this so-called election as a travesty of democracy and due ?process, which further entrenches the unwholesome culture of impunity that has done a great deal of damage to the party? in the past.”“Our candidate, Prof. Adeniran and his supporters have just walked out of the convention because the election was a sham.“The PDP governors came up with Unity List and they and their foot soldiers were forcing delegates to vote for those on the list.“We were shocked to witness open stuffing of ballot boxes and replacement of boxes against our candidate. The election was not free and fair, it was a sad day for democracy in Nigeria.”A former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman said he would not accept the result of election into the office of the National Publicity Secretary because the ballot box omitted one of his names, leaving delegates confused.“I won’t accept the results, I have written the electoral committee and I will go to court,” he said.Suleiman, in his petition entitled “Unlawful Exclusion of Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman and the Demand For Cancellation of Election into the office of National Publicity Secretary” said: “I am constrained to write to demand for cancelation of election into the office of National Publicity Secretary of our great Party in the on-going Elective Party Convention on the ground of unlawful exclusion of my name as one of candidates contesting for the above mentioned post of Party.“I am one of the candidates of the above mentioned post in the ongoing elective party convention having obtained application form, duly screened and my candidacy approved to stand for the election.“I have also campaigned across the Nation seeking the support of the bonafide delegates to the convention.“To my chagrin and utter constellation, I was informed that my name was conspicuously missing from the list of candidates vying for the post of National Publicity Secretary which lists were pasted in booths earmarked for voting into the office of National Publicity Secretary.“My names are Prof Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, with Suleiman as my surname, a name I have borne and by which I am known by all and sundry. Needless to say this is the name by which I am identify by my teeming supporters who where unlawfully disenfranchised. Suffice to mention that at no time did I hold myself out to bear other name without any other name but ABUBAKAR OLANREWAJU SULEIMAN, Olanrewaju merely being my middle name.“I therefore pray that the august body would do right by me by cancelling the purported election of today…”A former Political Editor of ThisDay, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan was the favoured candidate for the national publicity secretary on the Unity List.Ologbodiyan has the backing of former Senate President David Mark.The PDP has been enmeshed in a serious leadership crisis since losing power in the 2015 presidential election.It broke into two factions with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff leading one and Senator Ahmed Makarfi leading the other until the Supreme Court proclaimed the Makarfi faction as the legal one.The Makarfi-led interim National Committee was formally dissolved yesterday.PDP 2017 Convention Unity ListS/N                       POSITION                                                         NAME                                                            STATE                      ZONE                            1                      NATIONAL CHAIRMAN                                       PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS                                  RIVERS            SOUTH-SOUTH2                      DEPUTY NAT. CHAIR. SOUTH                             ELDER YEMI AKINWONMI                               OGUN               SOUTH-WEST3                      DEP. NAT. CHAIRMAN NORTH                          SEN. GAMAWA BABAWA GARBA                     BAUCHI             NORTH EAST4                      NATIONAL SECRETARY                                        SENATOR IBRAHIM TSAURI                             KATSINA           NORTH-WEST5                      DEPUTY NAT. SECRETARY                                  DR. AGBO EMMANUEL                                          BENUE         NORTH-CENTRAL6                      NATIONAL TREASURER                                       HON. ARIBISALA ADEWALE                                 EKITI                SOUTH-WEST7                      DEP. NATIONAL TREASURER                            ALH. WADA MASU                                                    KANO              NORTH-WEST8                      FINANCIAL SECRETARY                                    ABDULLHAI HUSSEINI MAIBASARA                    NIGER        NORTH-CENTRAL9                      DEP. FIN. SEC                                                          HON. IRONA ALPHONSUS GERALD                    IMO                SOUTH-EAST10                   NAT. ORG. SECRETARY                                        COL. AUSTIN AKOBUNDU (RTD)                          ABIA                 SOUTH-EAST11                   DEP. NAT. ORG. SECRETARY                             BARR. HASSAN YAKUBU                                   NASARAWA          NORTH-EAST12                   PUBLICITY SECRETARY                                       KOLA OLOGBONDIYAN                                          KOGI             NORTH-CENTRAL13                   DEP. NAT. PUB. SECRETARY                               HON. DIRAN ODEYEMI                                          OSUN                 SOUTH-WEST14                   NATIONAL LEGAL ADVISER                             BAR. EMMANUEL ENOIDEM                             AKWA IBOM       SOUTH-SOUTH15                   DEP. NAT. LEGAL ADVISER                                BAR. AHMED BELLO LIMAN                              SOKOTO                NORTH-WEST16                   NATIONAL AUDITOR                                            MAI ADAMU MUSTAFA                                       YOBE                        NORTH-EAST17                   DEP. NAT. AUDITOR                                    MISS    DIVINE AMINA ARONG                               CROSS  RIVER        SOUTH SOUTH18                   NATIONAL WOMEN LEADER                          HAJ. MARIYA WAZIRI                                               KEBBI                NORTH-WEST19                   DEP. NAT. WOMEN LEADER                              UMORU ADIZET AUDREY HADIZAT                     EDO                 SOUTH-SOUTH20                   NAT. YOUTH LEADER                                            RT. HON. UDEH OKOYE                                         ENUGU                SOUTH-EAST21                   DEP. NAT. YOUTH LEADER                                UMAR BABANGIDA MAINA                                 ADAMAWA            NORTH-EAST.

http://icechuks2.blogspot.com/2017/12/pdp-convention-secondus-emerges-party.html

Just like the PDP, APC is a ‘wobbling’ party- Obasanjo

Just like the PDP, APC is a ‘wobbling’ party- Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that both the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were “wobbling parties” that required resuscitation if Nigeria’s democracy were to attain needed growth levels. Obasanjo made the claim when he received one of the PDP national chairmanship aspirants, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at the Olusegun Obasanjo…

View On WordPress

Obasanjo Says PDP & APC Need Rejuvenation Before 2019

Obasanjo Says PDP & APC Need Rejuvenation Before 2019

President Olusegun Obasanjo says both the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) need to be rejuvenated for Nigeria’s democracy to be strong.

He made the observation when he received one of the PDP chairmanship aspirants, Raymond Dokpesi at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, on Saturday in Abeokuta. The former president remarked that both the ruling and…

View On WordPress

PDP, APC must work hard to sustain democracy - Obasanjo

PDP, APC must work hard to sustain democracy – Obasanjo

[ad_1] By Dirisu YakubuABUJA- Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) need fresh ideas to promote democracy in the country. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo Obasanjo made this observation when he received one of the PDP national chairmanship aspirants, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at the Olusegun…

View On WordPress

Nigeria needs new constitution to forestall another war, says Obasanjo

Nigeria needs new constitution to forestall another war, says Obasanjo

By Raymond Mordi

Hails coming of Amotekun

Nothing has united Southwest like Amotekun since independence’

The agitation for a new political order and arrangement in Nigeria got a new convert in former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday.

He canvassed a new constitution for the country as against an amended one.

He also hailed the Southwest governors for what he called their courage in…

View On WordPress