Politics
Tukur Urges Party Members To Face Challenges
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman has urged members of the party to work collectively to find solution to the country’s challenges instead of lamenting on issues.
Tukur spoke last Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a 50-member advisory committee of the party.
“At a time like this when the country is facing a number of challenges, particularly the security situation in the country, all hands are required to be on deck,’’ he said.
According to him, the essence of constituting the committee which is made up of the founding fathers of the party is to avail Nigerians the opportunity to tap from their wealth of knowledge.
The chairman said that the committee would also assist him to rebuild the party, which was faced with some internal problems.
Tukur expressed optimism that the committee, headed by formal Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, would assist governments at various levels in finding lasting solutions to national problems and reposition the party.
“This is why I decided to ask all of you to assist me in not only repositioning our party but also proffering solutions to the enormous challenges facing our nation,’’ he said.
The chairman said although the party had grown tremendously in the last 13 years, it was still faced with some challenges that should be tackled.
He said some of the challenges were problems of coordination and cooperation among party members, respect for party constitution, problems of openness, inclusiveness, fairness, fair-play and internal democracy, among others..
He described most of the problems in the country as tough and had been made more difficult by the mindset of the people.
“We cannot reposition our party or be a leading force in deepening democratic culture in Nigeria unless we effectively address these problems and challenges,’’ the chairman said.
He said that the military culture of doing things had dominated the country’s political culture and stressed that a reversal of the situation was essential to enthrone true democratic culture.
He said “reducing corruption to a tolerable level and judicious application of the common wealth will be necessary if poverty reduction is to be effectively addressed and living conditions of the citizens bettered’’.
Tukur said that politicians of “deeds and not of words’’ who adhere to the rule of law were needed to achieve set goals.
He said that the protection of citizen rights, adequate protection of lives and property and modernisation of agriculture were needed to guarantee the country’s drive to nation-building.
Tukur urged politicians to rebuild the nation on the basis of shared responsibilities for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.
He expressed optimism that with the calibre of members of the newly inaugurated committee, things would begin to change for the better.
The party chairman urged the committee to be selfless in the discharge of its duty by giving useful advice that would enhance the growth and development of the country and the entire citizenry.
Responding, Ekwueme pledged that the committee would work with the party by giving meaningful advice that would move the nation forward.
He commended the chairman for appreciating that no one had monopoly of wisdom and for engaging the team to advise him.
Ekwueme assured the chairman that the committee would assist the party’s leadership to realise the ideas of its founding fathers which was to have an encompassing political party committed to serve the interest of the nation and its citizens.
Dr. Mohammed Shata would serve as secretary of the committee, which has Dr. Joseph Wayas, Chief Tony Anenih, Mr Richard Akinjide, Mr Solomon Lar , Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as members.
Other members are Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Bello Maitama, Dr Sam Jaja, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, PDP National Secretary, Chief Bode George and Chief Don Etiebet, among others.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The lawmakers expressed their confidence in her leadership at the plenary, which Rt Hon. Meranda presided over amidst tight security.
The Tide’s source reports that there was a growing tension at the assembly as legislative workers protested against the alleged plans to remove Rt Hon. Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The legislative workers also clashed with the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) who, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the assembly and sealed Rt Hon. Meranda’s office alongside that of her Deputy and the Clerk.
Our source had reported how armed security personnel took over the complex at Alausa, Ikeja, leading to palpable tension among the lawmakers and workers of the assembly.
There are indications that the ongoing imbroglio at the assembly following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker on January 13 has not abated.
The Monday’s drama came a few days after Mr Obasa, who was removed for alleged abuse of office and corruption, dragged the state lawmakers to court, challenging his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly.
There are alleged plans to return Mr Obasa as the Speaker, a development which has further heightened tension at the assembly.
The Tide’s source reports that when Meranda arrived the assembly complex amidst tight security around 11:15 am on Monday, many legislative workers showed solidarity with the first female Speaker over alleged plans to remove her.
“Meranda we want”, “Meranda We want”, the workers were chanting in a short video clip.
Rt Hon. Meranda visibly overwhelmed by emotion was surrounded by her security details amid the chaotic atmosphere.
Inside the chamber, officials of the DSS clashed with the legislative workers, leading to commotion.
The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the workers at the door.
The Tide’s source gathered that, with support from the legislative workers, lawmakers had earlier forced their way into the chamber around 12:30 pm.
It was further gathered that Rt Hon Meranda and about 32 members were present at the plenary.
A short video clip of the plenary showed that all the lawmakers in attendance had passed a vote of confidence on Rt Hon Meranda.
“Madam Speaker, all members standing before you, I move a motion to say that we do pass the vote of confidence on Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda”, a lawmaker said.
The motion was supported by all members in attendance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday, traded words over the alleged killing of three persons.
Members of both parties were locked in battle for the control of some local government secretariats. While two persons were killed in Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
There had been tension across the state over the Court of Appeal judgment in respect of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.
While the PDP claimed that the Feb. 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, APC insisted on their return.
Speaking with journalists in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the commissioner for government affairs and protocol, claimed that two PDP members were killed while trying to prevent APC members from taking over a secretariat.
Mr Ajeigbe also said that six PDP members were seriously injured and were currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
APC, however, alleged that PDP members attacked its members while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, Bayo Adeleke, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that one of the party’s prominent members was killed during the crisis.
He also alleged that another member of the party, Remi Omowaye, escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Mr Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, urged the state government to allow peace to reign by allowing the APC chairmen and councillors to return to office.
Another chieftain of the party, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that APC chairmen had resumed in 15 local governments of the state.
This claim, however, could not be immediately verified.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Yemisi Opalola, said she was yet to be briefed on the alleged killings.
Ms Opalola, however, said police officers had been deployed to all the local government secretariats in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed workers as well as politicians to stay away from local government secretariats to avoid further bloodshed.
Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said only security agents would be allowed to keep watch at the secretariats.
He condoled with families of victims of the crisis.
Leader of the 8th Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Barrister Samuel Nengia, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, as he marked his first one hundred days in his second term in office.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on Dr Cookey-Gam and the celebration of his first one hundred days in office, among other people-oriented development projects and programmes, Nengia argued that the Chairman and his team have recorded unprecedented developmental strides, which includes infrastructure transformation, empowerment, security, human capital development, payment of the approved N85,000. 00 minimum wage to Opobo/Nkoro workers’, among others.
He pointed out that his commendation was apt as the activities of the Chairman had been monitored and discovered to reflect the expectations and yearnings of the people, especially, the promotion of council staff, the refurbishment of the Assembly Complex to standard, the construction of Corpers’ Lodge, the provision of effective transportation system for the well-being of the people in the area.
Hon. Nengia, representing Opobo/Nkoro Ward 6, averred that the people of the LGA could now sleep with their eyes closed owing to Dr Cookey-Gam’s achievements in in the security sector.
He added that the vote of confidence the Council’s number one citizen would strengthen him to deliver more democratic dividends to Opobo/Nkoro people.
He admonished Opobo/Nkoro people to rally support for the Chairman to perform creditably well for the well-being of the electorate in the area.
Meanwhile, Barr. Samuel Nengia, has thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing three illustrious sons of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area into positions of trust vis former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, as Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission; former Secretary of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, as Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Surveyor Peter Ogolo, as Surveyor-, General of the state.
Hon. Nengia, who described the appointments as well deserved, however, enjoined the appointees to bring their leadership wealth of experience to bear in the herculean tasks of reviving their various areas of jurisdiction.
Bethel Toby