Politics

NASS: Ex- Envoy, Lashes Akeredolu Over Criticism Of NWC Position

Published

12 months ago

May 14, 2023

Editor

An Ex-Envoy to Togo, and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Ondo State, Ambassador Sola lji, has picked holes in the position of the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, over the zoning of the leadership positions in the National Assembly by the party’s National Working Committee NWC.

Recall that Akeredolu, had hit the party’s NWC and described the arrangements as unworkable, skewed and would reinforced injustice and enhance inequity.

But lji, who in a statement in Akure, the state capital, condemned Akeredolu for faulting the NWC decision and supporting aggrieved aspirants who were disappointed and disfavoured by the zoning, saying Akeredolu’s action is tantamount to disrespecting, working and causing disaffection within the party.

He faulted the Ondo state governor’s positions, maintained that there is no need for controversy over the zoning of the leadership positions of the yet to be inaugurated National Assembly as proposed by the NWC of the APC.

According to him “A highly placed and respected leader as the Executive Governor of Ondo State, should not be heard to make an outburst that is capable of oozing disparaging remarks about the leadership of our great party.

“As a matter of fact, such a matter should not be a subject of discussion on the pages of the newspapers. Rather, it should have been attended to pleasingly.

“In fact, the governor, as a leader of the Party in his own right, has an unimpeded access to the leadership of the party, including the National Chairman and other National leaders and members of the NWC, as well as the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with whom he ought to have had private discussions to articulate his misgivings about the NWC decision.

“Apart from his private access to the leadership of the NWC, His Excellency, the Governor, has a very close and known access to the National Secretary of the party, apart from the fact that Ondo State is being represented in the NWC by Barr. D. I. Kekemeke, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), of the Party.

“In the circumstance, the governor acted out of disrespect to the constituted authority of the party, and the opinions so expressed in the Press Statement do not represent the position of leaders and members of the Party in Ondo State, and at best, are His Excellency’s personal opinion to which he is is legitimately entitled”

According to Iji who maintained that “the NWC of APC enjoys the constitutional mandate to act on behalf of the NEC of the Party in taking decisions in between the NEC meetings.

” Importantly, the NWC is the highest administrative organ of APC which deserves the recognition and respect of members and leaders alike”

He however, said the statement credited to Akeredolu should be seen as his personal opinion and does nor represent the collective position of the leaders of the party in the state.

“It couldn’t have been otherwise but a private opinion because leaders of the party in Ondo state were never consulted on such a position which runs counter to a valued effort and decision of the NWC to ensure orderliness in the affairs of the party as we prepare for the inauguration of the next APC Presidency and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“Given the rigorous efforts of the leadership of our great Party in resolving the zoning formula timeously, one would have expected tremendous plaudits to be accorded our National leaders for their temerity in nipping the quite sensitive issue in the bud. Therefore, the impression should not be allowed to fester that the efforts of the NWC and the National Leaders are being jeopardized by the Ondo state chapter of the party”

“This is not the first time that the governor would be acting against the decision of the NWC. Recall that in 2019, when the leadership of our party decided to compensate those National Assembly members who, through their loyalty and dedication, helped to stabilize the party and the government at the National level.

“The governor, in a similar manner, rejected the NWC decision to give return tickets to the affected National Assembly members, and instead encouraged and sponsored his own preferred candidates to contest on the platform of an opposition party.

“The said anti-party position of the governor resulted in our party losing two senatorial seats and five Federal Constituency seats, as well as the Presidency to the opposition in the 2019 Presidential and general elections.”

“It is in realization of the need to prevent a recurrence of what happened in the 8th National Assembly, wherein a group of members of the party almost made the National Assembly ungovernable for our great party, that our leaders at the center of our Government have adopted this unique zoning formula to assuage the fears of most members. This, without doubt, has truly positioned the party for a greater exploit going forward.

“APC as a progressive party platform, is an incarnation of discipline. Therefore, every leader and member of the party must not only imbibe the culture of discipline but also be seen to uphold discipline as our Hallmark. This is the progressive and right path to toe in our collective agreement to build a virile and sustainable party, of which we can all be proud, as doing otherwise will cheapen and denigrate our great party.

“I am of the opinion that leaders of our party, no matter how highly placed, should work in concert with others to forge a common ground upon which issues can be resolved without necessarily causing an incitement that will result in a raging battle within the party.

“As true Democrats, we should not expect all of us to view the decisions emerging out of the collective wisdom of the NWC and other eminent leaders of the Party, the same way.

“People are free and should be free to express their own opinions, and even criticise such decisions. Nevertheless, there are internal mechanisms within the organs and structures of the Party to channel such criticisms, without deliberately playing to the gallery.

“The Governor, had complained about justice and equity. Let us assume that he loves to do justice and equity in his vantage and exalted position as the Chief Executive of Ondo State, I honestly think he should concede to the NWC similar wisdom and commitment.

“I think we should all give kudos to the NWC and our prominent National leaders in the circumstance.

“In their wisdom, they fashioned out this workable zoning formula in view of the sensitive nature of the leadership positions of the National Assembly, and particularly the crucial role which a cooperating, supporting and friendly National Assembly plays in ensuring the formulation and passage of relevant laws to aid the Executive in the implementation of the life-impacting programmes of the President in line with our Party’s manifestoe, which will be in the overall interest of all Nigerians.

“I am sure that going by his superlative records of performance in office as the former Governor of Lagos State, and in all the leadership positions he has ever held meritoriously both in the public and private sectors in and outside Nigeria, the incoming President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will never preside over the affairs of a country bogged down by injustice to any person, or group of persons, on the basis of any political, ethnic, religious, or whatever any other superficial differences.

“In all, I strongly advise all members of the Party, as well as the affected aspirants to the relevant positions, to see the wisdom in the timely intervention of the NWC in the zoning arrangement of the Principal offices of the National Assembly as indicative of the performance to expect from the incoming administration.”

Iji called on Akeredolu that: “Inspite of what he thought might be imperfections, to be rest assured that the fears which he expressed in his reaction to the announcement by our Party of the zoning of the key leadership positions in the National Assembly, would have been adequately taken care of by these eminent men in their rigorous and robust debates, apart from their wide consultations within and even outside our great party, before announcing the zoning arrangement.”

According to him: “He should, therefore, rally support for the NWC instead of inciting the displeased aspirants against the Party and its leadership”
VANGUARD

Politics

Edo Poll: PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Obaseki Mocks Legacy Group, APC

Published

8 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial election in Edo State, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, inaugurated a 363-member campaign council, with Governor Goodwin Obaseki describing the other faction known as Legacy Group as disorganised, sheep without sephard.

Obaseki, who noted that the PDP has the best candidate and programmes for the people of Edo, said: “The time table is out, can you see any of them (Legacy Group)? Can they organise themselves? PDP leads, others follow.”

The governor who alleged that the factional PDP members fighting in the party have collected money from opposition parties to distabilise the party in the state, warned such persons to stay away or face his wrath.

Obaseki said: “PDP is one. Those who are fighting PDP have collected money from the other parties, and they want to sell out, join me so that we can flush them out of our party. Because we are not going to allow anybody to divide us, we are one party; one indivisible party in Edo State.

“The money they have collected is enough, let them go and enjoy it; let them go and spend it outside. We don’t have anything to fear. I will fight them if they try us; we will fight them if they try us. They know us, we never fight and lose, let them come and try. They have collected money, let them stay outside with their money, and not disturb us, because this election is ours and we are going to win by the grace of God.”

Obaseki, who declared that the opposition has no space in Edo, boasted that the PDP has put together hardworking campaign council members who, according to him, were going to deliver 80 per cent of the total votes to the party.

He further said: “By the grace of God, this campaign council will deliver nothing less than 80% of our votes.

“We can’t find them anywhere. They have no place here. They cannot destroy us at the centre and want to still come and destroy us here. We will not allow it. The hunger is too much out there, we are preventing the hunger from coming to Edo.

“Everybody sees what is happening in Nigeria today. You can see the suffering in the land. You can see the struggle in Edo, but we pulled Edo out of that problems. So, our campaign is going to be based on the hope we will give our citizens in Edo State.”

He noted that the structure of the campaign council was rooted in all the 192 wards across the state, adding that every organ of the party was captured.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, disclosed that the campaign council comprised of 363 members, excluding the women and youth wings.

In his acceptance speech, the Director-General of the state campaign council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, thanked the governor and PDP faithful for the opportunity to serve the party.

Iduoriyekemwen, however, promised to lead the party to victory come Sept.

In his remarks, the PDP governorship candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo, who thanked party faithful and leaders for the confidence repose in him, said Obaseki had laid a functional foundation at every sector that he would build upon.

Politics

Edo Poll: LP Group Hails Tinubu For Adhering To Zoning, Says Party Has Murdered Sleep In The State

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

A pressure group known as Shine Your Eyes Group, ( SYEG), Thursday, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Edo State for adhering to the principle of fairness, equity in the choice of it governorship candidates and running mate.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary Osagie Omoregie, and made available to INFO DAILY late Thursday night, said the LP has murdered sleep in the state when the leadership of the party decided to go against the core principle of fairness, equity and justice by throwing a candidate from Edo South in a skewed primary.

The group members who are members of the LP in the state, was apparently reacting to a news report by the Benin Youth Council, (BYC), on Wednesday where its appealed to Barrister Ken Imansuangbon to sheath his sword and join hands with Olumide Akpata in his governorship bid.

Shine Your Eyes Group said Akpata should rather step down to a more popular Imansuangbon to avoid embarrassment at the September 21st governorship election in the state, noting that it is not the turn of Edo South.

The group argued, “Look at what President Tinubu and the leadership of APC did in Edo State. They decided to abide by the principle of fairness, equity and justice which are fundamental to any development just like what the PDP did. The Labour party should have taken a cue from the APC.

“Are you saying Olumide Akpata is more popular than great and experienced politicians like Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imansuen and others who decided to drop their ambition in support of zoning? Akpata should do the needful and step down for Imansuangbon now and save the Labour party from shame. Imansuagbon has vowed to fight his case to a logical conclusion”, SYEG noted.

Recall that Imansuangbon had gone to court to challenge the emergence of Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Imansuangbon, in his petition, stated that Mr Olumide Akpata committed offences ranging from giving false information to the acquisition of citizenship of another country, which is a grand departure from the Nigerian Constitution’s accepted norms

The educationist wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), among other allegations.”

Politics

Edo Poll: Youth Leader Tackles Orbih, Shaibu Over Anti-Ighodalo Stance, Wants Them Suspended

Published

3 days ago

May 1, 2024

Editor

The Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolo, has called on the leadership of the party to suspend the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the party, Dan Orbih, and other members of the Legacy Group, including former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, who have vowed to work against the party in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

Osadolo said the declaration by Orbih and the members of the Edo PDP Legacy Group was tantamount to anti-party activities, saying they should be sanctioned.

The Edo PDP Legacy Group had met in the three senatorial districts of the state with the latest on Sunday in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of the Edo Central Senatorial District, where they declared their reservations on the way Governor Godwin Obaseki had treated them after they helped him to realise his second term ambition in 2020.

The group, which has the former deputy governor, Shaibu, former Speakers of the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto and Frank Okiye, in its ranks, vowed to work against the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, if their grievances were not addressed.

Orhib said, “With all that is before us today, it is not about the PDP, APC or Labour Party. What is before us is the future of Edo State. Whoever will address the problems of our people and give our people a strong sense of belonging is the person we are going to vote for. Let us pray to God to give us the wisdom and direction we must go. We cannot be fooled a second time.

“About two days ago, I saw my name in a campaign council and I have come out clearly to decline to serve in the Edo state PDP Governorship Campaign Council. My decision rests on how I feel. The members of the PDP are badly treated after the reelection of Obaseki.”

However, in a statement on Tuesday, the PDP National Youth Leader said Orbih and his group should be suspended for anti-party activities.

Osadolor said: “A few days ago, what seemed unbelievable happened in Ogbona, the village of Dan Orbih and a few hours later in Edo Central, where members of a group that fancies itself as Legacy Group within the PDP, organised a show where they declared their resolve to work against the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

“As odious as this inconsiderate and unfortunate statement of theirs was, it was nothing compared to the disappointment, when you noticed that the leader of the pack is Orbih.

“This is a man that despite all PDP has done for him, and given him, has not been able to say thank you to the PDP by assisting in even producing a councillor in his ward. It is on record, the most miserable years of the PDP in Edo State were under his over-a-decade chairmanship, wherein the PDP lost elections.

“At the last NEC of the PDP, a disciplinary committee was set up by NEC. Moreso, the NEC gave the NWC powers to act on its behalf, pending the next NEC. Having heard the unfortunate comments by Orbih, where he openly said he would not be voting or working for the PDP to win and also asking people to do the same, it is important that the NWC do the needful by wielding the big stick on Orbih and his co-travellers.”

Osadolor said he was not surprised at the conduct of Shaibu, given that he was recently removed as deputy governor.

“The case of Comrade Philip Shaibu, a newfound ally of Orbih, can be explained, after all he has put himself through in these last few weeks, being human, can make one act in a diverse way.

“This is the time for PDP NWC to show Nigerians that it is a serious party that wants power and believes in the principle of justice, fairness and discipline. The time to start sanitising the PDP is now and a first bold step in this direction is to suspend Orbih for open anti-party activities,” he said.