Nation
APC Urges Gov Aiyedatiwa To Run Inclusive Govt
After a marathon meeting with aggrieved governorship aspirants who participated in last Saturday’s primary election in Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress has urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to run an inclusive government.
The outcome of the two-hour meeting, which started at about 4.30 pm, was disclosed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Duro Meseko.
Addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Abuja, Meseko said the party’s National Working Committee took the position after dialoguing with the governor and the aggrieved aspirants to create a united front ahead of the November governorship election.
He said, “We are here this evening to brief you about the meeting that was held by the NWC with all the aspirants that participated in last week’s governorship primary in Ondo State. The candidate and the remaining 15 aspirants were invited, and two key resolutions were reached.
“One, it was agreed at the meeting that because of the complaints that trailed the outcome of the primary by some of the aspirants, there is a need for the party to continue dialogue with all the aspirants individually and collectively to have a common ground for the forthcoming elections in the state. Also, it is for them to be able to work together as a united family.
“Secondly, it was also agreed that the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should immediately work towards instituting what we call ‘inclusive governance’ in the state by involving all the other aspirants. Of course, we know most of the aspirants won’t be able to participate in his government. But they have people that we can allow to make input. He should work and relate with them to move the state forward. These were the two key ingredients taken out of today’s meeting.”
Aside from the former commissioner for finance and governorship aspirant in Ondo, Wale Akinterinwa, virtually all the aspirants who contested the last primary were present at the peace meeting.
The resolution of the ruling party was also re-echoed by the State Chairman of Ondo APC, Ade Adetimehin, while addressing reporters at the secretariat.
“As earlier disclosed by the deputy national publicity secretary, the NWC agreed after the two-hour deliberation that we will continue to dialogue with all the aspirants. We will continue to engage both at the national and state level.
“The second resolution was to run an inclusive government in Ondo State. Our governor was there when it was taken and it is mandatory that it must commence immediately. This must include the aspirants and other members of our party in Ondo State. We believe Ondo is a progressive state. We have a large chunk of party supporters in the APC.
“In the last election, we have three senatorial seats won by the APC. In the House of Representatives, we won eight out of nine seats. Out of 26 seats in the State Assembly, we got 22. I believe you will agree with me that Ondo is an APC state.
“What we came here to deliberate is to decide the mode of working together and to have less division within our party. I want to thank all the aspirants. Sixteen contested in the last primary election. Today’s meeting was attended by 15. That shows we have given room for dialogue. That is what we are here to do,” he stated.
Earlier, Aiyedatiwa had told journalists after he visited the State House in Abuja on Thursday that the election held as against the speculation being in a section of the media.
The governor also admitted that party leaders are working hard to resolve the disagreement between him and the aspirants to ensure they work as one.
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.
” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi