Page 18 stories

Page 18 stories

Audu, 14 other candidates shun political debate in Kogi

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu and 14 other candidates Sunday shunned a governorship debate organised by the Coalition for Popular Participation and Credible Election in Kogi State (CoPPCEK).

The political debate, which was jointly organised by Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic dioceses of Lokoja and Idah, the state chapters of Council of Ulamas and Christian Association of Nigeria as well as the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) recorded poor turnout of the candidates.

Candidates that shunned the political debate include Isah Yakubu Kamaldeen of Action Alliance (AA); Dickson F. Fred, Accord; Ukwenya Musa, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD); Michael Abdullahi, Alliance for Democracy (AD); Usman Zainab, African Democratic Congress; Odufu Cosmos Friday, African Peoples Alliance (APA); and Prince Abubakar Audu, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Others include Yinka Cherry Oloruntoba, Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Abubakar Ibrahim, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP); Ibraham Adejoh, Independent Democrats (ID); Raji Ogorima, KOWA; Malam Abdul Hussein, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Emmanuel Daikwo, People for Democratic Change (PDC); Enema Paul, Social Democratic Party (SDP); and Sa’ad Mukailu Yaro, United Democratic Party (UDP).

Candidates of only seven political parties namely, PPN, LP, PDP, DPC, APGA, PPA, NCP were represented at the debate.

The PDP candidate, Idris Wada, was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi just as candidates of LP and APGA were also represented at the debate.

APC expels erring members over anti-party activities in Oyo

From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan

The APC in Oyo State has expelled some of its members in Oluyole Local Government Area for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.

Specifically, they were accused of breaching the constitution of the party.

The affected members, who were informed through a letter dated 29th October, 2015 and signed by the state secretary, Mr Mojeed Olaoya, were shown the exit door following the recommendations of various disciplinary committees which found them guilty of “indiscipline, anti-party activities and abuse of privilege”.

Notable among the members expelled are the former Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Lawrence Adewale and the immediate past Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, James Oyeniyi Oyeniran.

They were alleged to have conspired with others to bring the party to disrepute before, during and after the April 2015 general elections.

Coalition wants opposition to collaborate with El-Rufai

From Dickson S. Adama, Kaduna

The Patriotic Northern Coalition for Justice, Peace and Equity has called on the opposition political parties, groups and individuals in Kaduna State to join hands with Governor Nasir el-Rufai in order to move the state forward.

Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, the national coordinator of the coalition, Alhaji Babangida Sule-Manchok Jnr, said there was nothing wrong in constructive criticism.

He, however, noted that nothing can replace good governance.

“We therefore call on all the opposing forces to join hands with the governor in moving the state forward. Governor El-Rufai and his Deputy Arch. Bala Barnabas Bantex are a team of technocrats as well as politicians that have the heart, ability and tendency to move the state forward,” he said.

Golden Eaglets prove Nigeria’s marketability – PDP

By Saawua Terzungwe

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday gave pass mark to the Golden Eaglets for Sunday’s World Cup victory, describing it as a bold statement by the Nigerian youth against what it called series of uninspiring, negative utterances and actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.

The party said though Buhari “has been de-marketing the nation” in the international community, the Golden Eaglets have proved the contrary.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said the victory was a clear demonstration that Nigeria as a country is endowed with enormous talents and potentials waiting to be exhibited to the entire world.

The party said the victory further expressed the resilient spirit of Nigerians despite “discouraging government that has not only shown an obvious inability to chart a clear course of governance and the future of the youth, but also refused to acknowledge the potentials in its citizens.

“The time has come for us to dwell less on our negatives but to showcase the positives, the talents and indeed the natural resources waiting to be harnessed and exhibited for foreign investments and participation in our economy,” PDP said.

It added that the “victory should be a wake up call for President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise the hardworking spirit of Nigerians, our overflowing talents and well-developed natural endowments.”

Buhari cannot change Nigeria, bishop says

From Eyo Charles, Calabar

International President of Association of God’s Servants, Bishop Emmah Isong, has dismissed the popular belief that President Muhammadu Buhari has the capacity to effect resounding changes in Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday in Calabar, Bishop Isong said, “the belief that Buhari was coming to change Nigeria in its totality was incorrect as that is not what God brought him to do this time around.

“God brought Goodluck Jonathan to stabilise the polity and if any other president was there at the time of the last election, there would have been serious problem in Nigeria.

“Similarly, God did not bring President Buhari as Nigeria’s messiah. Buhari has only come as a class prefect to ensure that there is no noise in the class; just to sanitize the polity after which he leaves the stage,” he said.

The founder of Christian Central Chapel in Calabar contended that both Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not prepared to govern Nigeria. “Otherwise they would have hit the ground running since. Buhari is in power to fight corruption, he will fall short of other aspects of governance,” the bishop said.

Lagos Rep mobilises support for Wada

From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos

The lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Obasa, has urged the electorate to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Idris Wada, in the forthcoming election in Kogi State.

Obasa, in a statement released by his media office in Lagos said his party, the PDP appreciates the good people of Kogi State for identifying and standing firm with Wada, and therefore called on them to come out en masse to give him a second term.

Gov Umahi faults poor performance rating

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, yesterday excluded himself from the list of worst performing governors in Nigeria.

The governor spoke through the state Commissioner of Information, Sen. Emmanuel Onwe.

Umahi expressed reservations on the recent comparative analysis credited to the Centre for International and Advanced Professional Studies, based in Lagos.

He was ranked among four others as the worst performing governors in the 36 states of the federation.

Umahi accused the organisation of blackmailing his state, alleging that someone from the organisation had demanded N10 million from him in order to attract positive representation.