PDP Crisis: Atiku, Northern Cabals FINGERED, You'll Be Shocked At This Revelations

The current crisis bedevilling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been narrowed down to tussle of who picks the party's presidential ticket in 2019 as the ambition of some notable Northern politicians includ­ing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party, the Saturday Sun Newspaper has revealed. 

The findings, which is contrary to claims by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee that the ruling All Pro­gressives Congress, (APC) was in­stigating the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party.

Former Minister of State Works and spokesperson of the Ahmed Makarfi team, Dayo Adeyeye, addressing newsmen on Tuesday had alleged that the APC-led Federal Government was using the former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to destabilise the main opposition party ahead of Edo State governor­ship election and the 2019 general elections.

But it was gathered that political gladiators smarting to pick the PDP’s 2019 presidential ticket, have lined behind the factional chairmen and are now pulling the strings.

Ahead of his speculated return to the party, former Vice President and APC chieftain, Atiku Abubakar is believed to be giving moral and financial support to the Ahmed Ma­karfi committee, a creation of the party’s highest organ, the national convention.

But Atiku has denied involvement in the PDP crisis. Speaking through his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said he remains a national leader of the ruling APC and was in no way in­volved in the leadership tussle rocking his former party.

He said: “It is ludicrous. The Turaki remains a member of APC and he is fully committed to the party and working with other stakeholders to de­liver its programmes to the people.

“What has changed to generate an interest? He has no interest in foisting any leadership on PDP. He remains a bonafide na­tional leader of APC. So, it is wrong for anyone to link him with PDP crisis.”

Saturday Sun also gath­ered that the two PDP governors in the North­east, Gombe State gover­nor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Taraba State, Darius Ishaku are also backing the embattled former Bor­no State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff whose national working commit­tee was dissolved at the Port Harcourt convention.

While the motive of Gov­ernor Darius Ishaku for sup­porting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is yet to be known, Gombe state governor is be­lieved to be eyeing the par­ty’s presidential ticket for the 2019 general elections.

The Makarfi commit­tee was mandated at the Convention held in Port Harcourt to administer the party for three months and conduct a convention that will produce substantive na­tional officers for the party.

A Saturday Sun source revealed that the two known contenders are positioning themselves ahead of the na­tional convention, to enable them plant their loyalists in the new national work­ing committee that would emerge and ultimately con­duct the presidential con­vention that would produce the party’s presidential flag­bearer.

Checks by our source revealed that the PDP National Executive Com­mittee (NEC) had upheld the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu Post- Election Review Commit­tee which recommended the zoning of the party’s 2019 presidential ticket to the North. Honourable Inua Bwala, media aide to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff could not be reached for comments as his line was switched off, as at the time of filing this report Friday evening.

The Sun

PDP Crisis: 2 The Secret Powerful Forces Behind Sheriff REVEALED

The All Progressives Congress, APC and the Presidency have been identified as the secret powerful forces behind Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who are head bent and has vowed to  clinch to the leadership of the party till 2018, despite his acclaimed ouster at the Port Harcourt Convention.

The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party made alleged that the Presidency and the APC are stoking the leadership crisis. 

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday denied having anything to do with the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Reacting to the allegation, the APC said the PDP is suffering from the sins of the past. 

The National Secretary of APC,  Mai Mala Buni, in a statement said: “For the umpteenth time, the APC wishes to state that instead of joining issues with the baseless and laughable allegations, the APC would rather join issues that will bring about-all-inclusive development in the country.

“However, it should be put on record that the PDP foisted on them whatever crisis it is troubled with today due to its politics of imposition and other undemocratic practices which the APC abhors.

“The PDP should put its house in order rather than playing to the gallery and blaming others but themselves for their sins which have come to hunt them. Also, it is evident that the PDP has chosen to employ diversionary tactics because of its inability to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states”.

The caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hiring “ousted” PDP Chairman Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff to destroy the PDP.

Sheriff was removed as party chairman at the May 21 botched national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where a caretaker committee was told to take charge of the party’s affairs.

But Sheriff on Monday stormed the party’s Abuja headquarters to take charge of its activities. He declared the caretaker committee as an “illegal” body and vowed to continue as chairman till December 2018.

At a media briefing yesterday, held at a private residence, spokesman of the  caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Said he: “The All Progressive Congress (APC) has contracted Sheriff and his cohorts to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the Edo governorship election.

“We have credible intelligence that Sheriff had a meeting on Sunday night with an APC governor from the Northwest, where it was agreed that he would be given full security and financial support to exacerbate the crisis in the PDP with the objective of preventing the PDP from presenting a candidate for the Edo governorship election, or in the very least, to prevent the PDP from offering a serious challenge to APC whose electoral fortunes have continued to nose-dive.

“What we are however very certain about is that Sheriff and his fellow renegades are being used by the enemies of the PDP to destroy our party and to prevent it from reorganising itself so as to provide a credible opposition and alternative platform for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election and the 2019 general elections.”

Adeyeye also faulted the police for allowing Sheriff and his group access to the secretariat, saying the police could hardly justify the action.

“While we are still trying to understand the role of the police in the entire saga, it is curious that the police made no arrest of the thugs who openly brandished various dangerous weapons in and around the premises of the secretariat in full glare of the police.

“It is also curious that the police claimed to be acting on ‘orders from above’ in allowing Sheriff and his cohorts to gain entry into the secretariat. If we may ask, who is the authority that issued the ‘orders from above’?, he queried.

The committee spokesman dismissed the court orders on the strength of which Sheriff took control of the party’s secretariat, saying they were non existent.

According to him, the court order restraining Sheriff from parading himself as chairman is still subsisting until the determination of the motion on notice, which he said would come up for hearing on Thursday (tomorrow).

Adeyeye continued: “The motion on notice will come up for hearing on Thursday. Only three of the members of the defunct national officers are still parading themselves but constitutionally they cannot form a quorum for any legitimate business of the party.”

Adeyeye recalled that Sheriff was not elected but appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to complete the tenure of erstwhile chairman Adamu Mu’azu, which terminated on February 14.

He pointed out that Sheriff was given an extension of three months by the NEC to organise a national convention but that his appointment was not ratified at the Port Harcourt convention.

Adeyeye said: “So, constitutionally, he has no other mandate which can extend beyond May 21, 2016. The national convention is the supreme organ of the party under Article 33 (02) of the PDP constitution.

“In the exercise of its power under Article 33(5)(b) & (e) of the constitution, the national convention removed all officers of the party and set up a caretaker committee to plan and organize a national convention within 90 days.

“The national convention of the PDP can only be called by NEC and once that is done, it is only the national convention that can cancel or postpone its proceedings.

“No individual or other organ of the party can postpone or cancel the national convention. The national convention, therefore, took place legally and constitutionally.”

The spokesman said the committee would not be distracted by the activities of fifth columnists in the party.

APC Leaders Move Against Gov. Bello As He Appoints 13 PDP members, 3 APC As Commissioners

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, may have more huddles to cross after his victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal that upheld his election.

Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the National Assembly from the state, House of Assembly members, executives of the party in the state and prominent party leaders from the state, held a crucial meeting in Abuja on Monday, accusing the governor of engaging in anti-party activities.

The meeting after deliberating for over three hours, set-up an 11 member Disciplinary Committee headed by Senator Dino Melaye, to look at various allegations leveled against the governor, and report back within seven days.

The APC elected officers and party executive also accused the governor, among other things, of appointing card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state as commissioners, special advisers, and councils’ caretaker committee members.

The meeting, which was attended by the APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, in its resolution that was read to journalists by Melaye after the meeting, said Governor Bello allegedly made all the appointments without carrying the party along.

They Kogi APC leaders alleged that “Out of the 15 Commissioners he (Bello) appointed, PDP has 13 card-carrying members while APC has two. Out of the 105 members of the Caretaker Committee members for the 21 Local Government Councils, PDP has 72 while APC has 33.

“Out of the 28 people he appointed as Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants, PDP has 24, APC has one, APGA has one, Labour has one, Accord has one.”

According to the party leaders, its action is based on Article 12 (8) of the APC constitution and it has agreed to set up the committee made up of members from the three senatorial districts of the state to invite the governor for necessary questioning.

They also said their action became necessary after the Governor rebuffed all attempts to hold a meeting with the State Working Committee of the party since he was sworn-in as governor, 

threatening to invoke all necessary disciplinary actions against the governor in accordance with the party constitution, in case he chooses to disregard the party resolution.

The resolution reads in part: “After much deliberations, the House noted that Governor Yahaya Bello, has substantially, breached the provision of Article 21of the constitution of the APC.

“The House, therefore resolved to constitute a disciplinary committee of 1 members to invite Governor Yahaya Bello and give him the desired fair hearing”

“Members of the disciplinary committees are, Senator Dino Melaye ( Chairman), Hon. S.T.Adejoh (Secretary), Senator Mohammed Ohiare, Senator Abubakar Abdulrahman, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, and Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, the APC Chairman in Kogi State.

“Others are, Hon.Buba Jibril, Hajia Hajara Aliyu, Hon. Folasade Joseph, and Hon. Suleiman Ali”, the resolution stated.

RipplesNigeria

Ambassadorial Designates: How Buhari Shunned APC Leaders Nominees, Appoints Career Civil Servants Only

The Authority - President Muhammadu Buhari has dumped the political class in the list of ambassador-designates he sent to the Senate on Thursday for confirmation.

In the all-career Foreign Service officers’ list, 11 wom­en were in the 47 names the President plans to appoint as Ambassadors or High Com­missioners, depending on the countries of their assignment.

This is the first time in re­cent years that any Nigerian leader will appoint only career diplomats as the country’s en­voys.

Buhari’s action may not go down well with politicians, es­pecially from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who have been lobbying for ambassadorial positions.

The move will however open up the space in the foreign service for the elevation of oth­er officers to the positions being vacated by the nominees.

Last night, Foreign Service analysts described the Presi­dent’s action as a major com­pensation for the diplomats and a big boost for the Service.

The Senate President, Bu­kola Saraki, who disclosed the President’s list on Thursday, said Buhari wants the Upper House to clear the nominees promptly.

Buhari had on July 9, 2015 recalled Nigerian ambassadors on the Foreign Missions and since then the nation’s em­bassies have been operating without Ambassadors or High Commissioners.

Saraki, who read the letter dated June 6, 2016, explained that President Buhari had re­quested the Senate to approve the list of the nominees at the shortest possible time.

The letter read in part: “In accordance with Section 171(1) (C) sub-section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I have the honour to forward the attached list of 47 career foreign service officers as ambassadors-designate for consideration and confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Copies of their curriculum vitae are attached: It is my hope that this would receive the usu­al prompt attention of the dis­tinguished members of the Sen­ate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The nominees are: Obin­na Chukwuemeka Agbugba, Salisu Umaru, Inyang Udoh-Inyang, Okeke Vivian Nwun­aku, Liman Munir, Ndem Jane Ada, Mohammed Hassan Has­san, Martin Nyong Cobham, Ja­net Omoleegho Olisa, Itegbo­je Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan and Lilian Ijeukwu Onoh.

Others are: Manaja Tulah Isa, Ngozi Ukaeje, Bello Ka­zaure Husseini, Enoch Pear Duchies Garba Baba, Usman Bakori Aliyu, Umar Zainable Salisu, Momoh Sheidu Omeiza, Kadiri Ayinla Audu, Balogun Hakeem, Inusa Ahmed, Ibra­him Isa, Bankole Adegboyega Adeoye and Ibidapo Obe Olu­wasegun.

Other nominees are Ogun­daro Sakirat, Eric Bell-Gam, Attahiru Haliru, Rahmatu A. Dunama, Musa Saban Mam­man, Kabiru Bala, Adamu On­oze Shuaibu, D. A. Agev, T.K. Gongulong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C. Nwachukwu and Q.I. Worlu.

The list also had E.K. Ogun­tuase, I. A. Paragalada, L.A. Gashagar, Olufemi Abikoye, Habu Abubakar Gwani Ibra­him, Rabiu Akawu, Ode­ka Janet Bisong and Sonaike Odekunbi Abibat.

According to the letter, the list is made up of only career civil servants in the Foreign Service.

RESTRUCTURING Nigeria: Presidency, APC Shuns Atiku, Afenifere's Call

The Presidency and the ruling All progressives Congress, APC have shunned the idea to restructuring Nigeria despite calls from well-meaning Nigerians, the latest from the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a means to tackle the ongoing challenges, Punch Newspaper reports on Sunday.

The APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun reportedly said restructuring the nation not a priority of the party at this trying time, rather, the administration is currently focused on rebuilding the economy, creating jobs and ensuring the security of lives and property, he said to Punch Newspaper.

Also, the Presidency through the spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina on Saturday, in an interview with Punch Newspaper buttressed the party's stance saying it was on the same page with the Party.

The Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group had on Tuesday backed a former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's call for restructuring Nigeria to ensure the development and growth of the federating units.

Odigie-Oyegun noted that there were several challenges the administration was currently grappling with.

He said, “To bring this additional issue (restructuring) – is not the wisest thing for a nation that is struggling to stabilise to go into an unnecessary diversion at this point.

“Nothing is wrong with the idea but at this time, it is best for us to concentrate on our priorities. As a party, our priority right now is to rebuild the economy, create jobs and deal with the security problems at hand.

“And with what is happening in the Niger Delta you can see that there is so much to do. We must get our priority right some day we will come to that.”

He pleaded with Nigerians not to lose hope because the current challenges were temporary while appealing to them to continue to give unwavering support  for the Buhari-led administration to enable it to deliver on its mandate.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had, on Tuesday, advocated the restructuring of the country to ensure the development and growth of the federating units.

“Agitations by many right-thinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and a renewal of our federation to make it less centralised, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities,” the former vice-president had said at a book presentation, “We are all Biafrans”, in Abuja.

Eminent Nigerians such as a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and an ex-Chairman of the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, Maj. Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), as well as groups such as Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, and the pan-Igbo umbrella body, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had also supported Atiku’s call.

When asked about the Presidency’s position on the calls, Adesina referred our correspondent to the ruling party’s roadmap for the country.

He said, “The governing party, the APC, has a position on restructuring in its roadmap for the country. Please consult the document.”

Our correspondent’s online check of the party’s document titled “Roadmap to a new Nigeria” showed that the closest information to the issue of restructuring was contained in a section titled “Strengthen peace, security and Foreign Policy.”

Under that section, the APC listed its roadmap for peace, security and foreign policy to include; to enable states to have their own local police forces that address the special needs of each community, including community policing initiatives that restore trust among local citizens; establishing a serious crime squad with state-of-the-art training and equipment to combat terrorism, militancy and ethno-religious communal clashes; and to provide a comprehensive compensation plan for victims of ethno-religious crisis, communal clashes and terrorism.

Credit: Punch Newspaper

BIAFRA: Igbo Leaders In Closed Door Meeting With Buhari At Aso Rock, See Photos

Some Igbo leaders under the aegis of Southeast Group for Change this afternoon held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock Presidential villa.

The South East politicians led by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani held the meeting with the President a day after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) held demonstrations in the South East and South-South parts of the country.

‎The 18-member delegation, which arrived in a bus belonging to the Ken Nnamani Leadership Institute, came under the aegis of Southeast Group for Change, The Nation Newspaper reports

They comprised mainly members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The delegation included  ‎the National Auditor of APC, George Moghalu; former Senators ‎Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso;  former House of Representatives member, Sharon Ikeazor and  former Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe.

Also in the team were the APC National Vice-Chairman (South East), Hon. Emma Eneukwu; member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Austin Edeze; Dr. Uzoma Obiyo ‎and Chris Akomas.

Nnamani and other member of the delegation ‎declined to speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

As he walked past the journalists, Nnamani only replied the question from journalists on whether the issue of Biafra came up ‎for discussion during the meeting with: “No, no, not now.”

No official statement has been issued on the meeting at the time of filing this report.

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Tinubu, Saraki, Others Spotted With Buhari In Aso Rock Last Night; See Photos & What Buhari Told Them

President Muhammadu Buhari last night hosted the national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and other party chieftains at the Presidential Villa, as part of activities to mark his administration's one year in office, News Punch privy to know.

Others at the Presidential dinner were former, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the acting Clerk of the National Assembly

Addressing the visitors at the dinner, President Muhammadu Buhari seized the opportunity to thank them for contributing the development of the nation.

Below is the full text of Buhari's speech at the dinner: 

MR. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS DURING DINNER WITH THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO MARK 2016 DEMOCRACY DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE CONFERENCE CENTRE ON MAY 30, 2016.

1. Let me welcome the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their Deputies, and Leadership of the National Assembly the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, the Acting Clerk of National Assembly, the Senior Management Staff of the National Assembly, Party Leaders and all guests to this dinner.

2.This is first, to mark the 2016 Democracy Day, and further to appreciate the National Assembly Leadership, Membership and Management for the great work they have done in considering and approving as thought fit several Bills and measures submitted by the Executive and those bills originated by the legislatures, which have enabled the Government to function according to law.

3.Let me again appreciate the work of the National Assembly for the painstaking and consensual work they did with the Executive to deliver the 2016 Appropriation Act. It is on record that this is one rare occasion where the Appropriation Act was Assented to with the schedule i.e. the details. This is a good start in our journey of CHANGE.

4.I seize this opportunity to please draw attention to the under listed Bills which have been Submitted to the National Assembly and appeal for accelerated consideration and passage, namely: 

• Bills for Acts for domestication of agreements for avoidance of double taxation between Nigeria and South Korea, Spain and Sweden respectively.
• Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Bill, 2016.
• Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Bill 2016.
• Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016.
• Statutory Budget of the Niger – Delta Development Commission, 2016.

5. I am conscious that on June 9, 2016, the National Assembly will complete one Legislative year. May I appeal to you to consider and pass these submitted Bills, particularly the Statutory Budget of the Federal Capital Territory, the Niger – Delta Development Commission Budget and the budget of Statutory Corporations. These bodies cannot execute their Statutory mandate nor incur expenditure for the year unless their budgets are approved by the National Assembly.

6.I hereby re – state the commitment of this administration to observe the principles of Separation of Powers which defines and delineates the functions and powers of each arm of Government. Thus far we in the executive have restricted ourselves to our Constitutional roles.

7.Therefore I, as the President, and we as the Executive arm of Government will not interfere in the functions, functioning and process of the Legislature nor the Judiciary. In the same vein, I urge other arms of Government to please appraise and ensure that each action conceived and taken by it is in strict accord with its constitutionally limited powers.

8.I urge you as Legislators and the Legislature to take out time and communicate with your constituents and other Nigerians the policies of the Government which are based on Laws approved by the National Assembly.

9.I look forward to your one Legislative year on the 9th of June 2016. I send the same greetings to members of all the State Houses of Assembly in the country for completing the first Legislative year as we look forward to more active and engaging partnership.

Thank you.

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So Soon? Shettima, Okorocha 2019 Presidential Poster Floods Abuja, See Photos

Even as at when the economy biting hard on the common citizenries and 2019 as far as three years, campaign posters of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima and Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha's All Progressives Congress, APC reportedly flooded some major streets in the nation's Capital, FCT, Abuja.

Could this poster be from these governors?

Does this mean President Muhammadu Buhari already resolved not to run a second term or the duo are poised to give Buhari a fight for the party ticket?

Mischief makers behind this or...?, LIB, our source queried too 

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