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Ganduje Emerges APC National Chairman, Ajibola As Secretary …Buhari, Osinbajo Absent At NEC Meeting
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the appointment of the immediate-past Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the party.
Ganduje replaces Senator Abdullahi Adamu who resigned last month.
It also appointed the spokesperson of the ninth National Assembly from Osun State, Senator Basiru Ajibola, as National Secretary to replace Senator Iyiola Omisore who also resigned last month along with Adamu.
NEC took the decision at its 12th meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, yesterday.
Recall that APC’s National Legal Adviser, Ahmed El-Marzuk, had also resigned from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
El-Marzuk resigned his appointment on Wednesday, following insistence by some of his colleagues that he could not longer be in office due to some allegations against him.
The appointment of Ganduje and Ajibola was ratified barely an hour after President Bola Tinubu arrived at the Transcorp Hilton at about 12:20pm.
Among party chieftains that also attended the meeting include the pioneer National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and some APC governors.
Members of the committee started moving into the Hall as early as 9:30am with the Acting National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee at hand to receive delegates to the meeting
However, two prominent leaders of the party, former President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, were conspicuously absent at yesterday’s meeting of the party.
Buhari, through a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, however, explained that he was unable to attend the meeting due to commitments he earlier made.
The statement reads, “Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his inability to be present at the caucus meeting and the National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to which he has been invited.
“He has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.
“The former president used the opportunity to express his support and commitment to the party, at the same time wishing it a good meeting, as the leaders take decisions on issues of importance to the party and the nation.”
Former Vice President Osinbajo also apologised for his unavailability at the events.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said his principal was out of the country for some engagements to which he had long been committed.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Akande, however, reaffirmed Osinbajo’s commitment to the party.
He said: “In a letter of apology for his absence addressed to the Acting Chairman of the party (Abubakar Kyari), the former VP explained that he was already abroad for engagements to which he had long been committed, when he received the invitation to the meeting,” the statement partly read.
“He had in fact cancelled some of his engagements abroad to be available for the two previously scheduled caucus meetings of the party which had to be postponed due to exigencies.
“While wishing the party fruitful deliberations, he expressed his commitment to the Party and his availability for future meetings and activities of the party.”
The party’s national caucus meeting that took place at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday was a precursor to yesterday’s NEC summit to ratify the endorsement of Ganduje and Ajibola.
Following the announcement of their appointments, supporters of Ganduje and Ajibola broke into wild jubilation that almost disrupted the programme temporarily.
The Tide source also confirmed that scores of supporters of the new APC National Chairman trooped to the national headquarters of the party in excitement to await his arrival yesterday afternoon.
The jubilant supporters who were dressed in Babaringa, customised campaign shirts and caps to match, were seen chanting and dancing around the secretariat.
The Tide also learnt that similar scenario played out in Osogbo, Osun State capital as residents thronged the streets to jubilate Ajibola’s emergence.
The residents majorly members of the APC in Osogbo and Olorunda embarked on street rally from Ataoja’s palace through Mission road, Old Garage, Olaiya to the State Party Secretariat at Ogo-Oluwa where they were addressed by party leaders.
The visibly ecstatic party members were singing victory songs over the emergence of Ajibola as National Secretary of the party.
Addressing party members at the Secretariat, the State APC Secretary, Kamarudeen Alao, described Ajibola’s emergence as progressive step for the party in the country and Osun State.
His words: “The choice of Basiru by the national leadership showed that the party has not abandoned its progressive ideology. Basiru understand party politics and the concept of good governance, he will liaise effectively with elected public officials to ensure that the party manifesto is not jettisoned.
“We commend Chief Bisi Akande, former governor Gboyega Oyetola for their tenacity and support for the former senator, we are sure the party will move to higher ground both at the national level and state”.
Also, the State Women Leader, Kudirat Fakokunde described Ajibola’s emergence as round peg in a round hole.
“We are all behind him, he understands progressive politics both at the state level and nationally”, she added.
By: Boye Salau
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.