PDP Crisis Beyond Atiku, Wike – Senate Caucus
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The Senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the crisis rocking the party is beyond the rift between the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, rAlhaji Atiku Abubakar and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The caucus described the crisis, for which a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last Thursday, as existential.
The minority leader of the Senate, who is also the leader of the PDP Senate caucus, Abba Moro, said the survival of the acting national chairman of PDP Amb Umar Lliya Damagum at NEC meeting was a win for the party, adding that it was erroneous to ascribe the meetings outcome as a defeat for Atiku or victory for Wike.
Last Thursday, the PDP NEC, against the backdrop of agitations from party members, resolved the Damagum should be allowed to oversee the conduct of congress in states.
North Central stakeholders in PDP are asking Damagum to vacate the national chairmanship seat and allow their zone present a representative to rightfully occupy the seat as originally planned by the party.
The PDP spokesman, Hon Debo Ologunagba however noted that discussion on party leadership will resume at the next NEC meeting in August.
Abdulsalami, Jonathan, others attend state police dialogue
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Former Nigeria’s military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan and retired Catholic Archbishop, John Onaiyekan are some of the eminent personalities currently gathered in Abuja for a national dialogue on state policing, on Monday.
Organised by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the dialogue is the beginning of deliberations on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (alteration) bill 2023 (Establishment of State Police) sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and 13 others.
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The bill is designed to improve public safety and strengthen law enforcement in Nigeria by decentralising the police. The proposal in the bill provides for state police alongside the federal police and outlines a constitutional framework for states that choose to establish and maintain their service.
In his welcome address, Kalu who chairs the House Constitution Review Committee noted that the bill “aims to clarify the scope of the powers and responsibilities of the federal and state police, and to provide for their funding and oversight.”
Gunmen invade Ogun event centre, kill Babcock lecturer, abduct two
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About eight gunmen dressed in black were said to have invaded Ajadeh Event Centre in Iperu Remo along Sagamu road, killing a lecturer from Babcock University Ilisan Remo, Yinka Olowojobi while two others were equally abducted during the invasion.ce
The incident, according to a statement from the Spokesperson of Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, on Monday, happened on Friday, April 19 at about 9:20 pm.
The gunmen were said to have shot Olowojobi in the chest after allegedly resisting to go with them.
The slain Babcock University lecturer alongside one Dare and another person yet to be identified who were abducted were said to be relaxing in the lounge of the event centre when these daredevil gang struck.
Odutola, however, said that the police had picked up one Awada Ishaya from Plateau State as a suspect in the act.
Ishaya was said to have just been employed two weeks ago as a security guard when the event centre was opened.
Northern Elders Are Not Paperweight – Marafa
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An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has countered the claim by minister of state for defence, Mr Bello Matawalle, that Northern Elders Forum are a political burden to the North and paperweights.
Matawalle had, in a statement with the title, ‘Tinubu Presidency: Northern Elders Forum, a political burden to the North, they do not speak for the region’, described the Northern Elders as ‘paperweights and a burden’.
But Marafa, in a statement, said rather than portray the Northern elders in a negative light, Matawalle should have listed the achievements, programmes and policies, projects of President Bola Tinubu in the North and the country as a whole in the first 10 months of the administration.
He said calling the elders of the region, which gave the highest number of votes to ensure presidential victory for the Tinubu, was counterproductive and a great disservice to the president, “who is working tirelessly towards addressing the numerous challenges facing all segments and sectors of the country, among them terrorism, insurgency, economic and financial malfeasance and infrastructural decay, to list a few.”
Marafa said President Tinubu needs support, loyalty and hard work from his appointees to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda, not sycophancy and unguarded statements.
Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central Senatorial District (2011 -2019) called on the minister to withdraw the offensive statement and tender, without delay, an unreserved apology to the Northern elders and northerners in general.