PDP NWC Appoints Amb. Damagum As Acting National Chairman

 The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at an emergency meeting today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023 acknowledge the Order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023 with regards to the Chairmanship position of our great Party.

After a careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum assumes the National Chairmanship of our Party in acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain calm and united at this critical time.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba 
National Publicity Secretary

Labaran Maku: We Thought The Obidient Movement Was A Joke

 A former Information and National Orientation Minister Labaran Maku has admitted many saw the ‘Obidient’ movement and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi as a joke.

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, took the nation by storm when he emerged as a third-force candidate. Despite being dismissed as lacking a political structure, the LP candidate who enjoys a huge youth following scored over six million votes and won in 11 states to finish third in the just-concluded exercise.

But while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily about the outcome of the 2023 elections, Mr Maku admitted that the opposition politicians never gave the LP candidate and his supporters a chance.

“What happened in the presidential election as you could see was that there was this wave of young people, the ‘Obidients’ that we all took for granted and we were thinking Peter Obi was a joke. Where would he go?” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said on the breakfast show Tuesday.

“So, both PDP and the APC, we were thinking ‘This man does not have structure. He will not be able to do so much’.”

He, however, maintained that young people proved them wrong and put up an unprecedented showing in the 2023 elections.

“But the young people seized the initiative from the politicians. And for the first time – what we saw in Nasarawa, Edo, several other places, and in Delta State where the PDP vice presidential candidate comes from – we saw that young people were serious about what they were doing and they took advantage of social media to project a programme which has shaken the nation.”

The PDP chieftain from Nasarawa State admitted that the party lost the presidential election in the state to LP but claimed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s win in the governorship poll was faulty.

For him, the results of the governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were concocted.

Buhari Set To Flag-Off Third Oil Field In Northern Nigeria

 Buhari set to flag-off third oil field in Northern Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to flag-off the Third Oil field in Northern Nigeria on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reports that this was contained in a public announcement on Monday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The oil field is located in Ebenyi at the Headquarters of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The flagging-off is scheduled for Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

It is the second oil field in the North Central region; the first was the Ibaji Oil field in Kogi state.

In the history of Nigeria’s exploration, the Ebenyi Oil field is the third in Northern Nigeria; the first was Kolomani, located in the Bauchi/Gombe axis.

15 January 1956 was the first time Nigeria discovered crude oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, a community in the Niger Delta region.

Bola Tinubu Cancels His 71st Birthday Colloquium, Opts For Prayers Instead

 Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu has cancelled the annual colloquium to mark his birthday, IGBERETV reports.

Tinubu opted for special prayers and a thanksgiving service instead. The president-elect who will be turning 71 on Wednesday, March 29, stated that he's seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.

A media aide to the President-elect, Tunde Rahman said prayers would be held in Lagos and other parts of the country. The special prayers would be offered at the central mosque in each of the five divisions in the state including, the central mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

The statement read; 

“Also to receive prayers among others are President Muhammadu Buhari and first lady Aisha Buhari, president-elect, Tinubu, and his wife, senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice-President-elect, senator Kashim Shettima, and Hajia Nana Shettima, governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, other state governors as well as members of national and state houses of assembly.

“This year, the president-elect said the date, which falls within the holy month of Ramadan, should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.”

I Will Not Run Away If EFCC Invites Me, I Will Honour The Invitation – Wike

 Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has said he won’t run away from Nigeria due to the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after May 29, when his tenure expires,IGBERETV reports.

The governor was reacting to recent revelations by the Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, that the agency would arrest corrupt governors whose tenures end on May 29.

The governor while speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, SUNRISE on Monday, said he would gladly honour the EFCC if invited at the end of his tenure on May 29.

In his words;

“I’m not going to run away because of EFCC. Why should they invite me? If they invite me, I will honour their invitation. I will not run away.”

I Didn’t Say Yoruba Are Political Rascals – Iwuanyanwu

 The Chairman of Elders Forum of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Monday, described as fake news a report credited to him (Iwuanyanwu) that he said the Yoruba were political rascals.

Iwuanyanwu made this known to newsmen in Owerri, while dissociating himself from the said story; during his outing at Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s one year in office event in Awka, Anambra State, weekend.

The elder statesman said his statement was manipulated and circulated on the social media by blackmailers.

According to Iwuanyanwu, “My awareness has been drawn to fake news circulating on social media completely misrepresenting the statement I made at Awka, Anambra State, in connection to the killings, destructions of properties, and harassment of Igbo in Lagos during the recent elections.

“My statement was covered live by Arise Television, Channels, and many other electronic and print media houses.

“All Nigerians of goodwill who care should get the true transcript of my statement from any of these media houses.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that at no time did I make the statement credited to me by blackmail circulating on social media that Yoruba are political rascals as this was fraudulently manipulated.

“I want to warn all perpetrators of this fake news that it is a criminal offense to circulate fake news against a peace-loving Nigerian. For the avoidance of doubt, I am a senior citizen who has meritoriously served Nigeria.

“The seven Igbo-speaking states namely — Rivers, Delta, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States — have also honoured me with the traditional title of AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO.

“I am indeed the first Igbo man to be so honoured. As a professional engineer, I have been honoured with numerous merit awards including the institution of an annual lecture series in my name by my colleagues in appreciation of my contributions to engineering, science society, and humanity.

“I am the Grand Patron of many youth organizations in the country. Most of my close friends who have influenced my business and professional life are from the Northern and Western parts of Nigeria.

“For instance, I am the Balogun Babaguwan of Ibadan land. I have also been honoured with chieftaincy titles by numerous Yoruba oba.

“I am no doubt an honorary citizen of Yoruba land. I have many personal friends and staff of my various companies including directors who are Yoruba.

“Most of them played major roles in shaping my economic destiny, therefore do not have any reason whatsoever to in the Yoruba tribe whom I regard with great respect.

“What I did at the ceremony was to admonish Igbo who felt threatened by various attacks in Lagos that they have no cause to worry because there are no problems between Igbo and Yoruba.

“I, therefore, told them to stay in Lagos and go about their normal businesses. I did however mention to them that the attackers are political rascals and their action does not reflect the good relationship between Yoruba and Igbo.

“Having said this, on a personal note, I must comment as follows: I felt very sad that a Nigerian should be denied his democratic right to vote for any candidate of his choice because of his tribe.

“What happened to Igbo in Lagos was in the press and Igbo are very grateful to those distinguished well-meaning Yoruba, who spoke against the killings, injuries and destruction of properties of Igbo in Lagos only because they voted the candidates of their choice,

INEC To Conduct Supplementary Elections On April 15, 2023

 Arising from its meeting held today, the Independent National Electoral Commission has decided that all outstanding Governorship, National and State Assembly supplementary elections will take place on Saturday 15th April 2023.

A detailed official statement will follow shortly.