Politics

Why I Returned To PDP – Labaran Maku

Published

3 years ago

April 17, 2022

Editor

Former Minister of Information and Culture during the dispensation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Labaran Maku, has revealed why he went back to the Peoples Democratic Party, a party he once abandoned for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He said he returned because the PDP represents a broader platform.

“It’s a bigger platform and a national platform. So I’m back, first of all, to continue to serve the party and contribute my quota to the progress and victory of the PDP at all levels. As I returned to this party, Nasarawa State is turning 360 degrees towards the PDP,” he said.

Maku, who was at the headquarters of the party in Abuja at the weekend, to submit his nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the governorship position in Nasarawa State, said his decision to return to the party was already impacting the membership base of the party.

“My return to the People’s Democratic Party has given the Nasarawa State Chapter a new lease of life as it gathers momentum to take over the state in the 2023 general elections,” he boasted.

Recalling his exploits in the party, he said as a leader of the party between 2011 and 2015, the State House of Assembly boasted 20 members including two Senators at the National Assembly with many members in the House of Representatives.

Maku, who briefly acted as Supervising Minister of Defence under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, stressed that the PDP laid the foundation for the development of Nasarawa State, insisting that 99% of the progress recorded in the state since its creation could be attributed to the PDP.

He however lamented that since the party left power in 2011, the progressive march of the state has been interrupted due to poor governance and mismanagement of resources.

Maku was accompanied to the PDP Secretariat by an elder statesman in Nasarawa State, Senator Isa Aliyu Ndako; Alhaji Kawu Wazirin Keffi; former Federal Commissioner National Population Commission, Alhaji Zakari Kigbu; former two term Chairman of Karu Local Government, Mr. Andrew Bahago; former Chairman of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government, Mr. Clement Anduwa among other party big wigs and supporters.

Politics

Coalition: Otti Speaks On Report Of Leaving LP

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has denied rumours suggesting he is planning to defect from the Labour Party to either the All Progressives Congress or the proposed opposition coalition party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at a dinner in Umuahia on Tuesday to mark the start of the 2025 mid-year retreat for government appointees, Otti reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, insisting he has not attended any coalition meeting and remains focused on delivering his mandate to Abians.

‎He said, ‎“I will just spend a few minutes talking about what some members of the Global Economic Council have been asking me. One of them is the report about five governors decamping to the APC. I’m still a member of the Labour Party and I’m not looking for where to decamp to.

‎“The second point is about coalition, and a lot of people have been asking me, are you a member of the coalition? And my response is, have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending the coalition meeting?

‎“We are just busy doing the work that Abia people have given us. So, we are not attending any coalition meeting, I have not attended any one, and nobody has invited me.

‎“I am happy where I am. Yes, we had issues. If you don’t have issues, you are dead So, you wake up and there is one problem or the other, you solve the problem. You don’t run away from a problem and pretend to have solved it.”

The governor added that while the party had faced internal challenges, those issues were resolved at the Supreme Court.

Otti also dismissed claims that his administration had been borrowing to run the state, saying Abia has not taken any new loans since he assumed office in May 2023.

‎Otti said, “There is nothing wrong with criticising the government, but you must criticise with facts. Opinions are free, but facts are sacred.

‎“Some people have come out to say that we are borrowing; they are lying. Did I borrow from them? I saw a report yesterday that says that 26 out of the 36 states have actually reduced loans in the last 12 months, and Abia came first, having reduced its debt profile by 57.20% in one year.
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‎“So, when we say we have not borrowed, we know what we are talking about. But that we have not borrowed doesn’t mean we will not borrow. We will borrow when we need to borrow. We will borrow for regenerative investments. We will not borrow to eat. We will not borrow to consume. We will borrow for capital expenditure.”

The governor announced that providing potable water is the next major focus of his administration, with projects set to be flagged off in Aba and Umuahia in the coming weeks.

“We want to get to that level where you open your tap and you have public water running. In the next few weeks, we are going to flag off the water project in Aba around CKC. There is also another one in Umuahia and a lot of other places. We will get there,” the governor added.

He said a new Project Implementation Bureau has been established, headed by Onyinye Nwosu, a former General Electric employee in Canada who returned to contribute to Abia’s development.

The event also marked the first anniversary of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, a 20-member team of professionals guiding the state’s development strategy.

Earlier in her speech on behalf of the Council, the Co-Chair of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, Prof. Ms. Arunma Oteh, said that it was a pleasure to serve in the Economic Advisory Council.
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‎The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, thanked the members of the Council for their sacrifices to help the administration succeed.

Some members of the Council present during the event were Prof. Ms Arunma Oteh – Co-Chair, Mrs Ifueko Okauru – Chair, M&E Committee, Mr Victor Onyenkpa – Chair, Financing/roadshow Committee, ⁠Mrs Ezinwa Okoroafor – Member, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu – Member, and Dr Olugbenda Adesida – Member, including members of the State Executive Council and political appointees.

Politics

Coalition Won’t Be Easy, But We’re Ready – Mark

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The newly unveiled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has acknowledged that the efforts by the 2027 coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu will be challenging.

However, he emphasised that they are ready to make sacrifices for Nigeria’s survival and progress.

Mark made this statement on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the unveiling of the ADC as the 2027 opposition coalition platform to challenge Tinubu.

He said, “This coalition goes beyond seeking power; it is about rebuilding Nigeria.

“We are under no illusion that it will be an easy task. However, we are ready to embark on this journey as a sacrifice for our fatherland.

“This coalition aims to prevent our country from descending into a one-party state.

“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long, difficult and tedious journey.

“However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland.”

Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, were unveiled at the event as interim national chairman and interim national secretary of the ADC respectively.

Their appointments followed the resignation of the party’s founding National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and other national officers to pave the way for the coalition’s takeover of the party structure.

Mark said, “The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective: to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027.

“This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.

“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.

“A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.

“We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.”

Mark stated that Nigerians deserve a government that ensures their safety and makes them feel secure in their own homes.

He added, “Equally disturbing is the total emasculation of the legislative institution. Never in our history have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the President, head of the executive arm.

“Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people.

“It is the reason why the government is able to get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have reduced more Nigerians to abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.”

The ADC Interim National Chairman accused the APC-led government of undermining the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes and affirmed that the coalition party belongs to all Nigerians.

He stated, “This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace and progress.

“Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.

“As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent bye-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties. However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general elections and beyond.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Other key figures include the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh; former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Labour Party’s 2023 Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed; former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman.
(PUNCH)

Politics

Coalition: Why ADC Leaders Stepped Down — Nwosu

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu, said leaders of the party voluntarily resigned to allow former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to take charge and lead efforts to reposition both the party and the country.

Nwosu stated this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the ADC as the platform for the 2027 opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The event was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Mark and Aregbesola have been announced as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC-backed coalition, respectively.

Nwosu stated, “We all decided to resign so that Mark, Aregbesola and others can lead us to the Villa.

“We also approved Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party.

“When you look at the two of them and their commitment to this country, you’ll see that this is a new beginning. They will reposition the party and Nigeria.”

Coalition leaders at the venue of the meeting on Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Nwosu said the opposition coalition was not about seeking power but moving Nigeria to “global reckoning.”

He added, “The ADC has always been about the rejuvenation of Nigeria and Africa. This journey started about 18 months back, and we have had over 12 NEC meetings.

“When we were consulted, we said we have also been consulting because we are a party that believes in coalition.

“A day like this shows that we are ready to sacrifice anything for Nigeria. We don’t have any doubt in the man, we all have decided to resign.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Also in attendance were former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo), and Celestine Omehia (Rivers), along with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman, among others.
(PUNCH)