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Wike: Atiku Lists Conditions For Ayu’s Resignation

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2022

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubukar, on Wednesday, listed conditions that must be met to warrant the resignation of the PDP’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

This is coming hours after the crisis rocking the PDP deepened on Wednesday as Governor Nyesom Wike’s team pulled out of Atiku’s campaign council.

The members announced their decision to pull out of the council following a meeting early on Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

They insisted that the PDP National Chairman must resign for them to rescind their decision.

But reacting to the pro-Wike group request, the former Vice president maintained that resigning was a sole decision for Ayu to take, adding that no one can force the PDP chairman to resign.

He, however, added that if Ayu will be removed from office, it must be done in accordance to law and the party’s constitution.

“On the calls for the resignation or removal from office of our national chairman, however, I must reiterate what I have said severally in public and in private; the decision for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign from office is personal to Dr. Ayu and, neither I nor anyone else can make that decision for him,” Atiku said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement titled, ‘Let us join hands and move on with the task of nation building’ read further, “As to the calls for the removal of Dr. Ayu from office, however, I will state that, as a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organized and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that every thing that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution.

“If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal. In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office, has already passed a vote of confidence in him.

“Now, our nation is currently in the throes of a multidimensional crisis encompassing insecurity, economic meltdown, disunity and mutual mistrust and educational dislocations, to mention a few.

“I have a plan to address these issues and I have, graciously, been given the ticket to lead our great party in next year’s presidential elections, with the singular mandate to come and lead the efforts to cure these ills. It is in this light that I have reached out to every single member of our great party to join me in the massive undertaking required to reset the ship of state, and help rebuild our country.

“Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP. And it is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rebuild and reposition our beloved country. In this light, therefore, I will urge those members of our party that have stated their resolve to withdraw from the Presidential Campaign Council to have a rethink, retrace their steps, and join us in these efforts.

The above notwithstanding, and for the sake of our country, our children, and those yet unborn, we must not, for one minute, shirk in our responsibilities to rebuild this beloved country of ours.

“Accordingly, we must forge on with the task and the mandate that we have been bestowed with. It is time, therefore, to move on with the formidable tasks of nation building ahead of us.”

News

Benue To Build Brewery As Residents Spend N850m On Beer Monthly

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Benue State Government has concluded plans to start production of beer brand to stop capital flight to other states.

The Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday.

He said that the beer’s name will be unveiled during its launch in December.

Asemakaha, who took journalists on a tour of the proposed brewery, water, and bakery factories in Makurdi, the state capital, said that the initiative to set up a brewery came as a result of recent studies showing that a huge amount of money leaves the state every month on beer consumption.

Asemakaha said the company was out to give Benue and Nigerians a high-premium quality beer made in the state using local raw materials.

He said that BIPC was not in competition with any brewery company therefore, would do everything for the people to enjoy a beer with a difference.

He said, “Basically, when we came on board, we understand that the rate of alcohol consumption in the state is between N850 million per month.

“We understand that the people that are selling these beers have taken this money out of Benue State.

“So, we discovered and said no, all what we need to do is to float a new company that we can be able to observe and retain the cash flow within the system. That is why we are embarking on beer production.

“This N850 to N870 million is a monthly sale of beers in the state, and within the month of December, they have made one billion naira in sales. So, one of the things we are doing is to help retain the cash flow within the system.”

According to the MD, the estimated production capacity is 180,000 bottles per day, and the fermentation period is 15 days.

“We will crash the price of beer in the state, but we are not going to compete with them (other breweries). We want to retain the cash within us. It is our own thing. So, the people here, our brothers and sisters, should be able to key in and take our products,” he said.

While stating that raw materials will be locally sourced, Asemakaha stated that the factory would commence full production by the first week of December.

“What we want to do is that this season, we want to give people seedlings so that we can go back to production and take those products from them to plant and harvest,” he added.

The managing director said that the brewery project would cost between ₦700 and ₦800 million, just as he expressed assurances that the amount would be sourced.

News

JUST-IN: Terrorists Kill Two, Abduct 18 In Fresh Kaduna Attack

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

Two people have been reportedly confirmed killed and 18 people kidnapped by terrorists, in Ungwan Dantata in the Gefe community of Kallah Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A resident, Sujada Ayuba, who confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, said the terrorists invaded the village on foot on Monday morning at around 1:am.

The victims killed were identified as; Ezra Badama and Nagode Ibro while those abducted are identified as; Nehemiah Sukuni, Rebecca Nehemiah, Sadam Gane, Alice Sadam, Jashu’a Sukuni, Rhoda Isaac, Isaac Dako, Patience Godwin, A’ishatu Ezra, Damaris Nathan, Justina Afis, Gabriela Nathan, Daniela Nehemiah, Jackson Sadam, Amame Ezra, Benedict Monday, Enoch Yohanna and Igwe Saleh.

He disclosed that since November last year, terrorists have been constantly disturbing the people of the Gefe community and they cannot recount the monies spent as regards the payment of ransom.

“This community is in dire need of Government support and their major activity is farming. We’re already in the Rainy season now, and most of them cannot access their farmlands for fear of being kidnapped. They’ve sold all that they harvested and some even sold their lands just to raise money for the ransom of their loved ones, adding no food, and money to buy fertilizer. We need Government intervention like; food and fertilizer to help cushion the effect of hunger in our Community.

“We’re appealing to the Government to assist deploy security operatives in the area to help restore the confidence of the community. Some victims had earlier told us that they trek with terrorists passing different Villages and crossing major roads to their destination.

“Having security forces around the area will help in apprehending these terrorists that have been causing nightmares in our Communities. There are vantage positions where security forces can block the moment people are kidnapped or killed by terrorists,” Sujada added.

He said no contact has been made yet with the terrorists as regards the negotiation of ransom.

He said the two dead victims have been buried today, Tuesday, 7th May 2024 according to Christian rites.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, when contacted did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him by our correspondent.

Recently, terrorists kidnapped 87 people after launching a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Kaduna.

Harisu said the terrorists also broke into some shops and stole food items and other valuables.

He said the terrorists invaded the village around 10 pm.

News

JUST IN: Ladoja Withdraws Suit Against Olubadan-in-Council

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, on Tuesday, finally withdrew the suit filed against members of Olubadan-in-Council.

High Chief Ladoja instituted a suit against the members of the Council over the beaded crown worn before the demise of the late 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

The coast is now clear for the enthronement of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

One of his aides, Adeola Oloko, told The PUNCH on Tuesday.