A former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, has slammed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, declaring himself a leader and senior to the incumbent governor.
Okupe was reacting to a recent public attack on Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of the main opposition party.
Naija News reports that Governor Wike had during the last weekend described Secondus as a serial liar and one that could not be taken for his words.
Secondus, who also attended the event, stormed out after delivering his speech wherein he talked about character and good leadership.
Reacting in a series of post on his Twitter page, Okupe asked the Rivers State Governor to apologise for his outburst.
The former presidential aide described Wike’s statement as reckless, indecent, irresponsible and unacceptable.
“I have observed that there are too many anomalies and practices which are alien to party politics which are being thrown to the upcoming young ones as the norm,” Okupe wrote.
In another post later, Okupe said he has the right to call derailing members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to order as a senior member of the party.
Okupe who was a former aide under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan boasted that Wike is not his contemporary in politics.
“I believe I have the right and the merit to call our members to order irrespective of their status in the party,” Okupe stated in a statement he shared on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter.
According to the PDP chieftain, those who can wade shoulders with him in politics in Rivers State are the likes of Peter Odili, Rufus Ada George and not Wike, adding that he is a leader and senior to the current governor.
Okupe added: “For a fact, my contemporaries in the political hierarchy of Rivers State are former Govs Rufus Ada George and Peter Odili. So I am a senior and leader to our indefatigable Gov Wike politically.
“Therefore, I consider it a duty to intervene at this juncture,” he said.
The ruling All Progressives Congress has announced plans to commence the sale of forms for its national congresses.
The development was disclosed by the director of the organisation, Prof Al-Mustapha Medaner, on Sunday.
Medaner in the statement released said the decision was in line with the approval of Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.
He further stated that the purchase of forms for ward congresses would start from July 1 to July 7, while the inauguration of wards and local government congresses, screening and screening appeals committee would hold on July 10.
Medaner added that the screening of the ward positions would start from July 12 to July 16, while the inauguration of the ward and local government congresses and congresses appeals committee would hold on July 19 and ward congresses on July 24.
He said the party has set July 26 to July 29 to entertain appeals from the ward congresses.
Medaner said: “Purchase of forms for the local government positions will be from July 26 to July 30 and screening of aspirants for local government party positions will be from July 19 to July 26.”
The APC Director said appeals from local government congresses would be entertained from August 16 to August 20.
He said the sales of forms for state executives positions would occur from August 23 to August 27, while the inauguration of the screening appeals committee for state executives would hold on August 30.
“Screening of aspirants for state executives will be from Sept.6 to September 8 and appeals arising from screening for state executives will be held from September 12 to September 15.
“State congresses will hold on September 18 and appeals arising from state congresses will hold from September 19 to September 21.
“By this notice, aspirants will purchase forms as follows: ward chairman – N10, 000; ward vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer – N5,000, other offices – N 2,000.
“Local government chairman – N25,000, local government vice chairman, secretary and treasurer – N15,000.00; other offices – N10, 000,” he said.
Medaner said female and physically challenged aspirants would pay 50 per cent of the prescribed fees for each position.
We have always nursed the fear that certain key figures within the All Progressives Congress will cause the untold embarrasement for the party with the way the just concluded All Progressives Congress Local Government Council Primaries elections. It is worrisome that these personalities are not taken into consideration the presidential ambition of our revered National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their actions is destroying the fabrics of dignity of our great party.
Majority of Executives and Members of All Progressives Congress in Amuwo Odofin voted overwhelmingly for Dipo Olorunrinu in the Primaries elections which held on Saturday, 29th May 2021. This was followed by the publication of his name (Hon Dipo Olorunrinu) in The Nation (Page 6) and Guardian Newspapers likewise online Newspapers on 4th June 2021.
The people’s joy was elated on the news of his candidature. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu has exhibited so much benevolence as a poltical figure in Amuwo Odofin.
As stakeholders, we want to graciously appeal to our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in resolving this issue that is capable of affecting the fortunes of the party in Amuwo Odofin on the following grounds;
1. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu has shown so much committment to the growth of the party since he joined over two years.
2. He is currently spearheading the campaign of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition across the Badagry Division with a functional Secretariat at 204 Road, House 5 in Festac Town.
3. Despite that he has been out of office for over two years, all his humanitarian programs such as free school bus, economic support programs for petty traders, youth reformation programs, health support programs, etc for Amuwo Odofin community are still going on.
4. He financially supported the last membership registration of our great party. He also mobilized new members in large numbers for registration.
5. He has acted as a bridge builder between major ethnic groups in Amuwo Odofin.
6. He has remained very peaceful since the primaries despite obvious provocations from one of the Aspirants.
7. He has gotten the commitment of the Igbo communities to not only support but financially support all APC Candidates in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
8. Those who have lost their shops in the various demolition exercises of major markets (Agboju and 23 Road Market in Festac Town) are strongly hoping that Hon Dipo Olorunrinu will bring succour when he assumes office as the Chairman. They mobilized their respective families to register in the membership registration because of Hon Dipo Olorunrinu.
9. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu have the requisite experience, knowledge, intelligence, expertise, network, etc to revamp Amuwo Odofin from state of dearth infrastructures.
8. The retirees have expressed so much joy when the name of Hon Dipo Olorunrinu was published as the Chairmanship Candidate of All Progressives Congress because Festac Town have lost its glory under the present administration.
9. We are stating emphatically that Hon Dipo Olorunrinu is the most preferred and credible Candidate for All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Local Government Council elections.
10. Any attempt to substitute Hon Dipo Olorunrinu for Valentine Buraimoh will jeopardize all our efforts in strengthening the party not only in numbers but financially.
11. Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu has been taking good care of party Apex Leaders, Local Government and Wards Executives since Hon Valentine Buraimoh refused to support the party.
Our revered National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are passionately appealing that you should not allow certain high ranking members of our party mislead you into taking a decision that will not only affect the fortunes of our party in Amuwo Odofin but across Lagos as we gear up towards 2023.
We have remained Loyal despite all the sufferings endured under Valentine Buraimoh. Our only hope for taking Amuwo Odofin to a greater height is Hon Dipo Olorunrinu. So he shouldn’t for any reason be substituted.
Issued by;
APC AMUWO ODOFIN STAKEHOLDERS
APC YOUTH VANGUARD FOR PEACE
5th June 2021
As the 2023 Presidential Election gathers momentum, the Race for the APC Presidential Ticket has begun in earnest as Top Political Gladiators in the ruling party are already warming up to slug it out for the party’s 2023 Presidential Ticket. All things being equal, Below is the list of Top 5 Politicians Likely to Emerge as the APC Vice-presidential Candidate in 2023.
1. Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong
The 57years-old Lawyer turned Politician is a Second-term Governor in Plateau State in the North-Central Zone. Prior to his emergence as Governor in 2015, Lalong has previously served as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly between 2000 and 2006.
2. Boss Mustapha
Mustapha, 65 hails from Adamawa State in the Northeastern Part of the Country, He is a trained Lawyer and Politician who currently serves as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He belongs to the ACN Bloc of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
3. Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara
The 53years-old Dogara is the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position he occupied from June 2015 to June 2019. The Fourth-term Lawmaker currently represents Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State in the Lower Chamber.
4. Mallam Nasir El-rufai
The 60years-old El-rufai is a Second-term Governor of Kaduna State. He belongs to the CPC Bloc of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). El-rufai has previously served as Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and Minister of F.C.T under the PDP Administration of Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
5. Senator Atiku Bagudu
The 58years-old is the incumbent Governor of Kebbi State, he assumed office in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019. He was a Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) until 2014 when he decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Senator Bagudu has previously served in the Nigerian Senate where he represented Kebbi Central Senatorial District between June 2011 and May 2015.
Not unaware of how some party elders and others in APC in Lagos state use his name to perpetuate all kinds of shenanigans to subvert smooth electoral process, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as regards APC primary election towards upcoming chairmanship election in the state, days ago made a categorical statement that he didn’t endorse any aspirants and that such tales should not be entertained.
He went further to charge the party officials and other leaders that they should ensure the process of the election is transparent and all aspirants are given equal opportunities.
Meanwhile, against the order and counsel of the former governor, Tinubu, news are making round that some party elders in some local government ahead of the commencement of the primary election have turned the whole process in to an ugly and worrisome situation as they are alleged to have seen opportunity to make brisk money in the affair.
A source particularly made preference to the situation in Ifako-Ijaye where he alleged the APC leaders have turned themselves to money mongers thereby jettisoned ideal arrangement to one that will ensure their pockets are swollen. They are alleged to have collected huge amount of money from a particular aspirant who now banks on that to win the election.
Meanwhile, according to source, the situation is beginning to generate tension as observation revealed things might result into a crisis and chaos because supporters of other aspirants who had hitherto prepared for a free and fair election are aware of the plot by the leaders and the particular aspirant and they are poised to ensure no aspirant is shortchanged.
There’s a worrisome piece of information currently making the round in Ifako-Ijaye as regards process to determine who becomes APC flag bearer in the upcoming local government elections in Lagos state.
According to the information, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area are alleged may have embarked on moves likely to disrupt what is expected to be a free and fair primary. The said move by the leader, it was alleged may not be unconnected with funds that may have greased their palms.
Sources alleged that the leaders had given agreed to work for a particular candidate on account of bribe they were alleged to have collected. This, it was learnt is against what the party hierarchy had ordered that a level playing ground should be guaranteed for all aspirants that will be taking parts in the primary election.
Sources further hinted that every aspirant were called for interview by the leaders and that in the process, the man who seems to have more money to part with as bribe to buy their support was secretly endorsed.
Pundits who are already in the know of the unhealthy arrangement are of the view such practice that is common in the electoral process in the country is the reason wrong set of people have always clinched positions by buying through their ways. They added such “investors” end up recouping their money and stacking up money to buy their way in subsequent elections, all at the detriment of the people, when they get to office.
It is on record that Asiwaju made a categorical statement that he had no annoited aspirants and that leaders still bent on using Tinubu’s name to perpetuate their selfish wish by collecting money to favor aspirants against other and that it’s the situation of things in Ifako-Ijaye where money is said to have changed hands among some leaders to favor a particular aspirant.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has said that aligning with the All Progressives Congress (APC) party would bring federal assistance to the state.
While addressing the youths who held a rally to welcome him to the party at the governor’s office in Calabar on Thursday, Governor Ayade said he joined APC for the benefit of the state.
According to him, a party is an appropriate vehicle that will bring full economic benefits to the state, which he said is the APC.
“We have to re-sucket into the centre to drive the value of governance into the state where our interest will be better served,” he said.
He said that Cross River has a lot of mineral resources but the resources required to exploit the hydrocarbons were beyond the capacity of the state.
The governor lamented that Cross River was economically disadvantaged, noting that the state is the 35th in terms of revenue allocation received from the federal government.
“The state does not have reasonable allocation. We are not part of the 18 per cent derivation. We are not part of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). We do not have oil,” he said.
Mr Ayade also said he expanded the government to accommodate 38,000 young people and urged the youths to go and register as APC members in their respective wards.
A former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, has insisted that despite the defection of Governor Ben Ayade from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) the PDP in the state remains intact and united.
Imoke who made the assertion on Monday at a stakeholders meeting of the PDP held in Calabar, the state capital, said Ayade made a mistake by moving to a party which was “already collapsing.”
“APC is a party that is collapsing. It is not a place to go for Cross River State. We will revive the glory of Cross River. I took risks to see the emergence of this government. They even accused me of collecting money. It is an insult.
“I have been a governor and I served my people diligently. Now, we have seen a different approach to governance. It is not democratic. Our politics is sweet. We don’t play politics of harassment and intimidation.”
Imoke insisted that the movement of one man does not mean the state PDP was in disarray as one man cannot change its fortune.
He added that his ambition was to see that the party would be handed over to the youths in 2023.
“We want youths that can deliver. Time has come for a generational shift. The next governor of Cross River State will be a man of character. The next national and state assembly members will be men of character,” he said.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday read for a second time a bill that seeks to repeal the law which grants pension and other emoluments to governors and deputies after leaving office.
The new bill which was debated on the floor of the House at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, is titled ‘A Bill for a law to repeal the law to provide for the payment of pensions and other fringe benefits to public office holders in Lagos State and for other connected matters’.
The lawmakers argued that it would not be too good to repeal the law in its entirety as there were some important sections and stipulations that should be considered.
Speaking concerning the bill, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), explained that the bill is to ensure the stoppage of pensions to governors and deputies when they leave office adding that this decision was in consideration of the country’s current economic challenges.
Ogundimu argued that the governors and their deputies and other such political office holders should be made to enjoy some benefits no matter how little.
He also argued that the bill should be amended in such a way that it would not throw former political officers to security challenges since if the original law is repealed, it would mean withdrawing all security agents and domestic staff earlier attached to them.
On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), noted that the parliament has the power to make and review laws, especially where it includes one like the pension bill that was passed 14 years ago and needs to be looked at again.
He said the objective of the bill as raised by the executive is to ensure that the state begins to look inward in relation to cost of governance.
He added that by virtue of his position as chairman of the committee on economic planning and budget, he has had the opportunity to check the finances of the state and would say Lagos is not very rich, but only has people who effectively manage its resources.
He also agreed that the security of the lives of such political office holders when they leave office should be considered urging that the bill be committed to a committee.
Contributing, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), said he supports an amendment to the law instead of a repeal.
“For a person who has served as chief executive of a state, I do not think it is nice denying them of their benefits.
“I can appreciate that some of them move to other appointments. For these people, there can be a caveat. But for those who serve in that capacity and do not have any other thing to do after office, it may not be something elaborate, but something may be coming to them periodically,” he said.
Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) said he does not subscribe to a total repeal of the law because it would give room to corruption in office.
He said provisions should be made available to governors, deputies and possibly speakers after they leave office.
Other lawmakers who supported amendment to the law include Hon. Jude Idimogu )Oshodi-Isolo 2), Hon. Saad Olumo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1) and Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin 2).
While rounding off the debate, Speaker Obasa observed the questions and suggestions raised by the lawmakers.
He also supported arguments that repealing the law in totality would expose former governors and deputies to security challenges.
“I don’t think we should trash it in totality,” he said as he committed the bill to the House Committee on Establishment with a two-week mandate for a reported to be submitted.
Eromosele Ebhomele Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
A former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Joe Bisong, has said that Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State is an ingrate following his defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During a phone interview with Bisong, he said “The governor (Ayade) is an adult, a politician and he has done the needful.
“A man must belong to a political party and if he has chosen to join another political party, it is his right to do so, the constitution allows him to do that.
“But my take as a person is that he has created a vacuum within the political party that elected him and if I have to say it, it’s a sign of ingratitude,” the PDP chieftain noted
“The party shielded him, he ran the first tenure, and what he is doing now is his second tenure. The same political party has showed him the green light to become the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Hon Bisong observed that sadly, the man just got up one morning, less than two years to the end of his tenure, dumped the political party to a new one.
“It doesn’t show any political maturity. What the PDP needs to do is to get up, being the largest political party and will be able to meet up,” he advised.
Hon Bisong said that if he had the opportunity to meet Gov Ayade, he would tell him, ‘Your Excellency, you have taken a wrong decision, a wrong political decision.
“He is the governor of the State, his departure will create a lot of issues. The new party he is going must have given him some conditions and this will affect executive council decision.
“He was running a PDP ideology which is liberalism and today he is moving to APC which is a conservative political party. Their ideologies are not the same and it’s going to affect the state,” he noted.
