National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, briefed journalists about the decision after the NEC meeting, which was held in Abuja on Thursday.

Based on the decision, all positions in the party currently occupied by people from the South will go to the North and those occupied by people from the North will go to the South.

The PDP NEC also retained the scheduled date for the party’s convention.

It is scheduled to take place on October 30 and 31.

In his opening remarks, the acting National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi underscored the importance of the meeting to the survival of the party.

Akinwonmi said the All Progressives Congress and other onlookers who think that the meeting will further deepen the crisis in the party will be disappointed with the outcome.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was also present, said the party has the right to determine who represents them or not, just as citizens reserve the right to decide who to vote for.

He said where a President comes from has neither been the problem nor the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

“Where the president comes from has never been the problem of Nigeria, and I can cite examples; neither will it be the solution. There is no such thing as a president from Southern Nigeria or a president from Northern Nigeria.

“There is only one president from Nigeria, for Nigeria, by Nigerians,” Atiku said.

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Speaking during a lecture of the Executive Management Course 14 in Abuja, Wike wondered why governors lament there is no money in their states yet seek a second term in office.

The governor noted that every state has its own advantage and disadvantage, comparing two American states – Houston and California.

The first, according to Wike, is blessed with oil but not as developed as the second which doesn’t have crude oil but is the biggest economy in the United States.

He believes that development can strive if the governor is able to use the advantage for the benefit of the state and its people.

“No state is poor in this country, it is this over-dependence on the Federal Government,” Wike said. “At the end of every month, they send their Accountant-General/Commissioner of Finance for FAAC.”

“Any state that tells you we are poor and they deceive you by saying their state is poor. I keep on telling them ‘if your state is poor, why do you want to be governor? Your state is poor; you want to run the second term.”

He, therefore, charged governors to make good use of the opportunities at their disposal and stop relying solely on the Federal Government for survival.

On the issue of the Value Added Tax, the governor criticised the Federal Government for collecting VATs from states, insisting that “I looked at it and saw that what the Federal Government was collecting is not their own.”

Governors Too Powerful

When he came into office in 2015, Governor Wike recalled that he inherited Rivers State as one that was financially depleted and very close to bankruptcy.

This, to him, is because workers in the state were owed their monthly salaries; pensioners were not paid as well as contractors, describing the situation as being problematic.

Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), explained that what he met on the ground became worse for him because his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi (of the All Progressives Congress) did not leave a handover note to ease governance.

According to him, institutions should be made strong so that whether a governor is leaving the office or not, governance would not fail as it is a continuum.

He added, “Nigeria is one funny country how a democratically elected governor in the history of Nigeria will take a padlock and lock the court for two years. For two years, the courts were shut down in Rivers State and you know the implication of the courts being shut down.

“We, the governors are too powerful. The President is too powerful. If the governors were not too powerful, how can a governor think of a whole arm of government, the judiciary, and shut it for two years?

“Tell me what will be the fate of those who have problems with their contracts, how do they go for determination of who is wrong or right?” he questioned.

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The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, while addressing journalists Thursday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, said the tenure of Emefiele as CBN governor under the APC administration had witnessed colossal failures of monetary and fiscal policies, requiring him to vacate the office.

Ologbondiyan said it was instructive to note that when Emefiele took office as CBN Governor in 2014 the naira exchanged for N164 to a dollar.

“Today, in the hands of Emefiele and the APC, the naira has tumbled to near N600 to a dollar, putting the nation’s economy on its knees.

“Painfully, under the leadership of Emefiele, the CBN has failed in its core mandate of managing the economy and took a dive into propaganda, with claims that do not reflect the harsh economic reality on the ground,” he added.

Source: Daily Trust

Usman Bugaje was appointed as the coordinator of the RNP. Speaking at the unveiling, former Kwara Governor, Abdulfatai lamented the state of the nation.

He stated that the high level of nepotism and lack of inclusiveness have given rise to agitations by different ethnic groups.

He recalled that in 2015, Nigerians embraced change, adding that today, “that change appears to be what we didn’t expect, as insecurity has taken over the nation.”

He said, “It is based on this that we decided to set up this Rescue Nigeria Project. We want to salvage this country and see how we can fix the mess. We want to set a template and key criteria leaders must have before they can attain any political position.

“Despite the great opportunities of the past, Nigeria has failed to live up to the dreams of its founding fathers and the hopes of successive generations of its citizens.

“Perhaps, at no other time have these failings become more apparent than in the past decade or so.”

On his part, Tunde Adeniran stated that the nation is currently experiencing a disaster, hence the need to rescue her.

He said: “You only rescue when there is disaster and when you fail to rescue during disaster, it is more dangerous.

“We have a disaster in our hands and we need to rescue the country. We need to look back and see how we get here. We know where Nigeria was before now. We know the task is not going to be easy, but we have to determine how to rescue the nation.”

The RNP national coordinator, Usman Bugaje, in his opening remark, slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Bugaje said, “when you reduce the problems of this country to what they are, ultimately, it all comes to leadership.

“We have been unable to exit the leadership conundrum precisely because the leadership recruitment mechanism in our political parties is so flawed that, except for accidents, they are incapable of producing competent leaders with the requisite knowledge, discipline and commitment to make a difference. We are living with, or better still, groaning under the consequences of this folly.

“What this means is that any attempt to rescue this country from its troubles must first rescue it from the current leadership recruitment mechanism that seems to leverage on money and connection or ethnic sentiments and no premium on knowledge or competence.”

Recently, some notable politicians defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and met with the president at Aso Rock for pictures before announcing the switch.

Obi’s reaction came about based on the latest defection of Femi Fani-Kayode who, last week, announced his crossover to the ruling party as pictures of himself meeting with the president went viral.

The Ex governor said this in a chat with Arise TV on Monday, condemned the trend while adding that the act “is sending the wrong signal that you can be anything and be elevated into something”.

He pointed out that the president should instead take pictures “at the funeral of our falling soldiers, police, or their family” or with “young people who are doing innovative things in the tech industry”.

“Let me tell you what I found worrisome about the defection of today. What I found worrisome is people, weekly and daily, being led to go and take photoshoots with the president, I’m worried about it. I want to see the president taking pictures at the funeral of our falling soldiers, police, or their family,” the former vice-presidential candidate said.

“I want to see him taking pictures with young people who are doing innovative things in the tech industry. I want to see him taking pictures with people who are making a lot of impact; not pictures with those of us — I’m generalising politicians — who are heartless, valueless. It is very worrisome. Those pictures are not helping our country. The perception is sending the wrong signal that you can be anything and be elevated into something. That’s why the country is collapsing.”

The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) on Friday, declared the September 4 local government elections in some local government areas in the state inconclusive.

The local governments are Jaba, Kauru Jema’a, Kachia, Soba LGAs

Local Government elections were held in 19 local governments areas of Kaduna State. Four other local government areas were postponed

Chairman of KADSIECOM, Dr. Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu disclosed this at a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday

She said those results are inconclusive because elections could not be held in some wards.

In the case of Jaba LGA however, she said that the tribunal would be left to determine the matter because two conflicting results were announced.

She said one result in Jaba was announced in favour of APC, while another was announced in favour of PDP.

On those that have been confirmed winners, she listed Kauru where APC scored 27,691 while PDP scored 21,800.

Kaduna LG polls: Returning Officers allegedly abscond with Ward result sheet in Jaba LG.

The 93rd National Executive Committee (NEC) of the former ruling party at its national secretariat in Abuja only, however, ratified members of the zoning committee, which it said, would now recommend the positions to be allotted to the different zones for the consideration of the next meeting of the NEC.

The NEC has been widely expected to settle the issue of zoning to finally lay to rest the fate of the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who is under a court order to step aside.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, while briefing correspondents on the resolutions of the meeting said that he did not know the exact date the NEC would meet again on the issue.

However, NEC has appointed Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri as the chairman of the PDP national planning committee charged with organizing the October 13 planned exercise to elect new national leadership of the party.

NEC also approved Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi as the chairman of its zoning committee to zone the National Working Committee (NWC) offices.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, is to serve as the deputy chairman of the national convention organizing committee, while the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, is to serve as secretary.

Similarly, the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, was appointed as the deputy chairman of the zoning committee while the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Barr Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed is secretary of the committee.

The appointees were disclosed by Ologbondiyan who said: “NEC met today to further discuss critical issues concerning the party. NEC commends the efforts of the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the national assembly caucus and other stakeholders in resolving the challenges confronting the party.

“NEC approved the composition of the national convention planning committee as well as the zoning committee to zone national working committee offices.

“NEC approved Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State as Chairman, 2021 national convention organizing committee.

“Senator Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State is deputy chairman of the committee, while Engr Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State is to serve as secretary.

“NEC approved Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu state as chairman of zoning committee.

“Dr Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State is deputy chairman and Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed is the secretary of the committee.

“NEC charged the committees to work hard to ensure the successful conduct of the national convention.

“NEC received the report of the Senator David Mark committee, which is intervening in certain issues relating to the leadership challenges in our party.

“The David Mark committee assured that efforts are on to resolve all court matters.

“NEC thanks Nigerians for the confidence they repose in the PDP and for the solidarity and support they have collectively shown our party at this trying time.”

Speaking at the opening session of the meeting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar affirmed that the former ruling party is the only platform that can go through the serious challenges it has witnessed recently and not break up.

He praised the party members for their steadfastness to democracy and the rule of law.

Following the inauguration PDP National Campaign Council for the Anambra State Governorship Election earlier during the meeting by the PDP acting National Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election said since 1998, he had not seen Anambra PDP united that way it is today.

He commended all organs of the party particularly the PDP Governors Forum for the leadership they have provided for the PDP during the recent crisis.

Akinwonmi said in his welcome address that the essence of Thursday’s NEC was to approve the convention planning committee and others that had been agreed upon for setting up during the last NEC meeting.

He admonished that the success of the October convention would bring success to the country at large.

The chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Sokoto State reassured that governors under the party would work together to bring victory to the party in 2023.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stated this while Speaking at a reception of defectors who joined the party in the state capital, Yola.

Atiku said, “We have done a big mistake before by floating a party called APC. But from today, I’m calling on you Adamawa people to leave your parties and join PDP because it is the future and the masses party.

”It was PDP that gave back life to Adamawa State after it was slain by the APC and usher it to its present state of development.

“Our schools are now better and our health institutions are in superb shape. I pray that this event will mark the beginning of the internment of the party (APC).”

His suspension is coming after stakeholders and leaders of the party from the local government paid a solidarity visit to the state chairman of the party, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, to declare their support for the sack of Secondus.

On Tuesday, his kinsmen from his Ikuru town, Ward 5, added voice to his suspension, as men and women bearing placards with various inscriptions insisted that Secondus must leave the party.

They also declared support for the move by the Rivers State leadership of the party to suspend Secondus from the party.

The protesters expressed their support for Governor Nyesom Wike and pledged to stand by whatever decision the PDP in the state takes on Secondus.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Those on Akinwonmi’s delegation were Daisi Akintan, former caretaker secretary of the PDP in the South-West and the secretary of ex-officio forum and a member of the National Executive Committee, Mrs Helen Taiwo.

Although the three-member team met with the former President behind closed doors, it was gathered that the visit was designed to acquaint Jonathan with current happenings within the party and seek his advice on how best to find an amicable solution to the crisis.

A source privy to the meeting said, “The South West team were with the former President to appeal to him not to abandon the party.

“They also appealed to him to show more than a passing interest in the affairs of the party by becoming more actively involved in the activities of the party. The former President assured the team that he would not abandon the party.”

Source: The Punch