Barely twenty-four
hours after the
strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and the erstwhile state governorship aspirant, Chief Yekini Adeojo were expelled from the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP), the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okagie on Friday cautioned Oyo state governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja to be wary of any counter offensive from the embattled party members.
Cardinal Okogie, who commenced a two day patoral visit to the Ibadan Ecclesiastical province told Governor Ladoja during a courtesy visit to his office that he should exhibit caution in handling the expelled party members and their supporters.
According to the cleric, the expelled party chieftains “may dance out and then dance in,” for him to be very careful.
Cardinal Okogie, in a down to earth speech, stated that although he did not claim to be a prophet, his contention was based on the way Nigerian politicians play their game.
The Catholic Archbishop however, commended governor Rashidi Ladoja for the mature manner by which he has been handling the recurring political crisis in the state.
Specifically, he likedned the political situation in Oyo State to that of Anambra state where Governor Chris Nigige had been having hard times in the hands of his estranged political godfather and concluded that “God will not allow any of his children to suffer in the hands of the oppressors.”
While congratulating Governor Ladoja over the success stories of his administration to date, Cardinal Okogie prayed heartily for him saying he “will always over come again.”
He expressed the hope that Governor Ladoja would be able to perform more and positively touch the lives of the suffering masses of the state now as his (governor’s) “problems seems to be blowing away like the wind.”
Responding, Governor Ladoja remarked that what had been happening in Anambra and Oyo states should be seen as “part of political experiment in Nigeria.”
Lack of vision bane to grassroot dev. – Politician
A frontline politician, Mr.
Joshua Bawa has
attributed the non-availability of social amenities at the grass-root to lack of vision and prudent management of resources by chairmen of the nation’s third tier of government.
Mr. Mawa told Daily Trust that unless politicians at the grass-roots had a change of heart and put the interest of the masses at heart, the much-desired dividends of democracy would continue to elude local government areas.
The politician, who aspired for the Munya local government chairmanship position in the last local government election in Niger State, said his local government was yet to achieve any meaningful thing since the inception of the present administration and maintained that the electorates who suffer under sun and rain to elect leaders into political positions need to be served to the letter.
According to him, the peace-loving people of Munya have no good health care delivery system, no qualitative education and portable water and suggested to the Dennis Barde administration to imbide the spirit of maintenance culture on the few existing boreholes serving as the only sources of water in the area.
He said as emphasis was shifting from oil to agriculture as means of income, local governments in collaboration with state governments should ensure enough supply of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers for use and warned against a situation where the products get into the hands of “big-wigs” who will hoard them from the reach of genuine farmers.
Mr. Bawa stressed the need for improved health care delivery system and qualitative education at the grass roots and called local government bosses in the country to put the interest of the council first and strive to ensrue that the people get the dividends of democracy.
He called on government officials to shun corruption, fund mis-management and discipline adding that,” there can be no vision without idea,” and advocated infrastructural development at the local government areas of the country.
Benue Crisis: LG chairmen accuse senate of bias
The Forum of Local Government Chairman (FLGC), Benue State chapter has written the senate president, Adolphus Wabara, asking him to disregard the Senator Iyabo Amisolowin report on Kwande crisis on grounds that its adoption would spark off trouble and further heat the polity.
“The exercise (investigation) was politicized that any attempt to adopt the senate committee report will rather than abate, exacerbate a potentially volatile situation and heat up the polity,” said the forum in a four paged letter signed by its deputy chairman, Comrade Abba Moro.
The letter further stated, “we urge you to set aside the report of the senate committee. We believe that inspite of the good intention of the senate, the committee failed to fully and properly investigate the crisis and never gave fair hearing to all parties involved.
“Anchored on false premises, the report is jaundiced, biased, is not a true representation of the crisis situation in Kwande and therefore, unacceptable,” adding that, “coming from persons who are recuperating from the frustration of electoral failure, this “dog in the manger attitude” of these politicians is intended to destroy what they were unable to get through the ballot box.”
The letter wondered why those putting accusing fingers at the George Akumw led state government should be from only one political party, the ANPP, and said it was absurd that the same politicians made “wild allegations, that the same government that has control official security apparatus, maintained and sponsored a standing militia force.”
The latter indicted that ANPP politicians in the state for refusing to state their case before the commission of inquiry set by the state governor.
The forum therefore urged the Senate President to consider,” dispassionately,” its request that the committee’s report be thrown out, adding, “its equally our prayer that steps will be taken not to over heart the polity in any guise.”
PDP kicks against Adedibu, Adeojo’s expulsion
The national headquarters
of the People Democratic
Party (PDP) has moved against the expulsion of its stalwarts by the Oyo State branch of the party.
The Oyo state branch of the PDP had announced the expulsion of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, perceived political godfather to the state governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, along with former deputy national chairman of the party, Alhaji Yekimi Adeojo, over alleged indiscipline and anti-party activities.
But in a swift reaction, Adedibu dismissed his expulsion as a nullity, describing those who announced it as fools who are not worth joining issues with.”
A statement by the national headquaters of the PDP, signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Barr. Venatius Ikem called on the Oyo state chapter of the party to reverse the decision and in the alternative, “make sure that the umbrella is spread wide enough to accommodate all feelings.”
The party suggested that the expulsion was not in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, adding “any expulsion of members where all avenues to peace have not been exhausted will only aggravate the crisis situation.”
Describing the expulsion as “hasty,” the party also said it came at a time when the national leadership has moved to reconcile members through a recent visit to Ibadan, and therefore called on the Oyo state executive committee and party members in the state to remain calm and await further directives from the national secretariat in Abuja. |
Justice Abdullahi replies APGA
The Court of appeal
has replied the
national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekuwas Okorie on why the appeallate court has been unable to hear the appeal filed by the APGA gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State, Chief Ugochukwu Agballa challenging the election of Governor Chimaroke Nuawani.
President of the court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi on July 6, replied Chief Okorie informing him that the delay in hearing the appeal was as a result of the shortage of justice due to retirements of some justices recently.
In the letter, which was made available to Daily Trust the court of Appeal President further explained that the present number of justices on ground were overstretched, adding that the court was hoping to have additional justices soon and therefore, advised the party to be patient as the appeal will be treated when the court resumes from vacation.
Shekarau over LG bye-election
The Committee of the all
Kano State Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), candidates in the last general election has accused the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) for causing violence and furor during the last local councils bye-election in four local governments in the state.
A communique jointly signed by the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Usman Alhaji and his secretary, Malam Shehu Usman stated that the state had never experienced violence like the one during the bye-election in Karaye, Kibiya, sumaila and Mokoda local councils.
The communiqué stated further that while members of PDP in the state awaited the date for the remaining local council bye-election in Madobi, Kabo and Kiru local government, the forum called on both security agencies and KANSIEC to ensure a peaceful, free and fair elections.
The Forum note that PDP would no longer fold its arm and allow rigging to continue calling on the security agencies to immediately arrest and bring to book those involve in the less violence during the local council bye-elections in the four local government.
The communiqué said that PDP would continue to promote peace, unity and understanding within the ranks and file of its members in the state in order to ensure success in the 2007 general election. |
