Politics

PDP Primary: Ogbeide-Ihama Meets Edo North, Central Leaders, Solicits Support

Published

2 years ago

January 27, 2024

Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary for the Edo State governorship election, an aspirant on the platform of the party and a former House of Representatives member, Engineer Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, on Friday, met with leaders of the party in Edo North and Central senatorial districts, where he passionately urged them to support his ambition.

The governorship aspirant who was received with funfair in Auchi by leaders of the PDP drawn from the seven local government councils in Edo North, urged them not to sell their votes in the forthcoming primary slated for February 22nd, 2024.

The former House of Representatives member who met with Edo PDP central leaders at the senatorial headquarters in Uromi, emphasised the need for the party to work as one in the forthcoming election.

Ogbeide-Ihama, who represented Oredo Federal Constituency in the 8th and 9th National Assembly, warned the delegates-to-be that if they sell their votes in the forthcoming primary, they would have another four to eight eight years to suffer.

The PDP governorship aspirant who further declared that Edo State Government House is not for sale, added that “it belongs to us, we will keep and save it. It is the right time to take what rightly belongs to you.”

He added: “I want to plead to you not to sell your tomorrow and continue with the pains you are passing through. We cannot afford to suffer for another four or eight years. So, I want to plead to you to vote wisely in the forthcoming primary. Votes Ogbeide-Ihama and let’s build Edo together.”

Ogbeide-Ihama, who lamented state of roads across the state, assured the PDP members that if given the opportunity to govern the state, he would fix all the bad roads and also use his expertise in human relations to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure all the roads belonging to the government at the centre are fixed. (Sic)

He said: “We know the problems across the state. I can see the bad roads leading to this place. It may be a federal road, but the Federal Government and state governments can collaborate to fix it. The things I did as a House of Representatives member were not all from my pocket. I was collaborating with the Federal Government and concerned authorities to do all that.

“When you understand human relationships, you will never have problems with the Federal Government. When you understand human relationships, you will not have problems with politicians that help you. When you understand human relationships, you will not have problems with traditional institutions. I don’t have human relationship issues. I will work for you, I will develop our state,” (sic) Ogbeide-Ihama said.

The governorship aspirant warned those “working to reap where they do not sow” to desist form such.

Responding to the governorship aspirant, Edo North Senatorial Chairman of the PDP, Sheriff Idenobemeh, said Ogbeide-Ihama has done enough for the party hence he deserved to be given the governorship ticket.

“We must reward him by giving him the ticket. Legacy has suffered enough, we must not sell our votes,” he declared.

Edo central PDP chairman, Bishop Anthony Okosun, on his part, urged Ogbeide-Ihama to unit the party, warning that if the party goes into the election with the present faction, failure is inevitable.

Politics

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

18 hours ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

Politics

PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

Published

1 day ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.

Politics

Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.

“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?

“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.

Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.

Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.

“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.

In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.

“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.

“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.