Before now, we have been receiving commendations on our production materials. Today, we want to bring to your notice, and others who have been asking why Prof. Chinua Achebe rejected the National award by the Nigerian President on Monday, 15th of November, 2011.
One of the academic assistants working with Prof. Achebe, the internationally acclaimed author and novelist, told Journalists that by the time the offer reached Achebe’s address, he was not around and could not be reached by telephone.
The source added that at that time, Prof. Achebe could not “be reached till late next week,” and he had no phone access where he was at the time.
It was said that there was no way Achebe would have “jumped” on the plane at that time even if he wanted to accept the honour. Observers wondered why it took the panel charged with the selection of the awardees such a long time before contacting those proposed to be honoured.
Besides, it was also revealed that one of the senior aides of Prof. Achebe had earlier made overtures to the presidency, seeking to invite the president to the yearly Achebe colloquium on Africa at Brown University, an event which had grown in stature in the United States academic and policy communities, as it has also drawn top Nigerian political elite and public officials as participants and speakers.
A source said there were suggestions from the Achebe team to ask Jonathan to grace this year’s edition of the event, which comes up every December, and possibly deliver one of the keynote addresses. It is believed that the invitation is a proof that Achebe may not be irredeemably opposed to the Jonathan administration or to the person of the president, despite his conviction not to receive an award from the government.
However by last Saturday afternoon when the presidency intervened and managed to formally contact Achebe in the U.S. with the help of the Nigerian Ambassador, Prof. Ade Adefuye, Achebe’s aides and associates had decided with his approval to reject the award, not just because it was a late offer but due to the view of the literacy icon that nothing had changed in Nigeria between now and seven years ago when he spurned the same award during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency.
In the statement through, which Achebe rejected the award, he said: “The reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed, let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me. I must therefore regretfully decline the offer again.”
In his own reaction, after speaking with Achebe, Adefuye said: “Prof. Achebe and I discussed the issue of the award. The literary giant is a highly respected member of our community. He is entitled to his opinion and the Jonathan administration recognises that.”
Adefuye who said he spoke to Achebe at the weekend added that “the Jonathan administration is however poised to continue removing whatever defects that do exist in Nigerian politics, economy and society.”
The ambassador concluded by saying “the process of building a Nigeria of which Prof. Achebe will be proud has begun and that process is irreversible.”
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Fuel Susidy - Removed or Sustained?
It took over a two-hour audience as Senators and members of the House of Representatives continued to keep President Goodluck Jonathan in suspense over plans to remove fuel subsidy.
But the President warned that the economy may collapse, if the subsidy remains, said by sources.
But the Senators and Representatives endorsed Jonathan’s plans to tackle the Boko Haram menace and rid Nigeria of terrorism.
The President met with members of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa between 3pm and 5pm.
The moderator of the session was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate President.
It was learnt that after the opening prayer, which was said by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the session went into the two issues on the agenda - removal of fuel subsidy and Boko Haram’s insurgency.
The President (with whom were some ministers and the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi) explained why fuel subsidy must be removed.
It was gathered that when Sen. David Mark gauged the mood of members on the removal of fuel subsidy, he intervened by changing the focus to Boko Haram menace and insecurity.
After the President’s speech, two Senators reportedly spoke Deputy Senate leader Abdul Ningi asked the President to deal with the cartel reportedly gaining from the fuel subsidy. He reportedly said: “You are the most powerful black President; you have the power to deal with the cartel. We should confront the cartel.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Ita Enang(Senotor, representing Uyo senatorial district), reportedly said: “What makes political sense might not make economic and security sense.”
Members of the House of Representatives declined to speak.
Members of the House of Representatives declined to speak.
The deafening “NO!” re-echoed the position of the House that if the cartel is checked, the nation can afford about N500billion fuel subsidy per annum.
Sensing likely rowdiness, the Senate President prevailed on the President to address insecurity, especially the Boko Haram menace.
The source quoted Mark as saying: “I think the President cannot get the commitment of any member here, but we will go back and discuss the issue of removal of fuel subsidy and get back to him.
“But members will want to know what your administration is doing to address insecurity in the country.”
Following Mark’s intervention, the President briefed the session.
Following Mark’s intervention, the President briefed the session.
Another source said: “The President told us that his administration was tackling the terror attacks from Boko Haram. He said unlike Niger Delta militants who can be identified, Boko Haram members have mingled with the society under one guise or the other and cannot be easily located.”
The source quoted the President as saying: “We are trying to address the insecurity; we are making efforts to tackle the Boko Haram menace via intelligence gathering. We are collaborating with some countries to get to the roots of these terror attacks and put the menace behind us.
‘We are on top of the situation; we will soon get over it. Terrorism is alien to our culture; we will address it once and for all.”
Tambuwal gave the vote of thanks, it was learnt, urging the President to take whatever steps necessary to address insecurity “and members of the National Assembly will back him”.
Tambuwal gave the vote of thanks, it was learnt, urging the President to take whatever steps necessary to address insecurity “and members of the National Assembly will back him”.
Tambuwal is quoted as saying: “We have heard you, Mr. President. We thank you for addressing insecurity. Security is for all of us. We will back you.”
On the removal of fuel subsidy, the source said, “the Speaker simply maintained that ‘we will meet and discuss it in our fora.”
On the removal of fuel subsidy, the source said, “the Speaker simply maintained that ‘we will meet and discuss it in our fora.”
He added: “The Speaker’s non-committal on fuel subsidy removal drew instantaneous applause from members of the House at the session.
“At the end of the day, senators and members of the House decided to keep the President in suspense. But that may be the end of the matter if care is not taken. The House is certainly opposed to the removal of fuel subsidy.
“At the end of the day, senators and members of the House decided to keep the President in suspense. But that may be the end of the matter if care is not taken. The House is certainly opposed to the removal of fuel subsidy.
“But Jonathan also got the backing of the National Assembly members to fight terrorism and address insecurity in the land,” he added.
Yesterday’s meeting which lasted about two hours was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
Senator Ayogu Eze, chairman of Works Committee said though the meeting was inconclusive, “it is assumed that it is going to continue and I can see two or three more meetings before we can come to a comfortable platform.
Yesterday’s meeting which lasted about two hours was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
Senator Ayogu Eze, chairman of Works Committee said though the meeting was inconclusive, “it is assumed that it is going to continue and I can see two or three more meetings before we can come to a comfortable platform.
“I want to let you know that this is a very useful exchange, very useful interaction and we hope at the end of the day, it will produce desirable results for our people.
“A whole lot of governance issues were discussed. We discussed security, subsidy and the issue of balancing the budget and just making sure that government works for the benefit of the people. It will be premature to say that we have failed to understand ourselves. This is the first interaction, we have listened to him (President) and we are going to take it further”, Senator Eze said.
“A whole lot of governance issues were discussed. We discussed security, subsidy and the issue of balancing the budget and just making sure that government works for the benefit of the people. It will be premature to say that we have failed to understand ourselves. This is the first interaction, we have listened to him (President) and we are going to take it further”, Senator Eze said.
He dismissed speculation of the attempted vote of no confidence on the President by the Senate, saying they were scandalised by the report. He said they only discussed security challenges since members were worried about the state of insecurity in the country.
“That (vote of no confidence) never came up in the Chamber of the Senate.
“That (vote of no confidence) never came up in the Chamber of the Senate.
The Special Adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi also dismissed the report that the legislators were planning to pass a no confidence vote on the president.
Besides the President, some members of the Federal Executive Council at the session were the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; and the Minister of Youths Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
Now is the time to change things around us. We can now produce anything and help ourselves and others in this Country...
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A view on Politics In Bayelsa state
Though our main area is on production, we know that political instabilities also affect Production, which is why we thought we should bring in a bit of what is happening in the Country.
We published earlier that people are looking for thermometers to measure the political temperature
in Bayelsa when somebody suggested that this one will be polimeter. But now, we to ask whether there is any instrument as such.....
Governor Timipre Sylva, disqualified by the PDP from bidding for the ticket, yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pull the brakes on the primary election.
Sylva says his name should be sent as the PDP candidate on the basis of the January primary election, which he won. He said a fresh primary election will amount to substituting his name, which is against the provision of the Electoral Act. Sylva is claiming the ticket through a letter to INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, by his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana. The letter is dated November 15.
The PDP conducted the primary election in January ahead of the April governorship elections.
But a Federal High Court, judgment, upheld by the Court of Appeal stopped INEC from conducting governorship elections in five states, including Bayelsa, where rerun elections were held.
The other states where elections were postponed are: Cross River, Kogi, Adamawa and Sokoto.
In his letter to INEC, entitled: “Re: Decision of the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct fresh governorship primaries in Bayelsa State”, Falana said:
“Our client is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State and currently the Governor of Bayelsa State an the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Following the publication of the Time Table of Activities for 2011 General Elections by your Commission, the Peoples Democratic Party duly set in motion the machinery for the conduct of governorship primaries in Bayelsa State to nominate its candidate for the Governorship election in Bayelsa State that were scheduled to be held in April, 2011.
“The governorship primaries were duly held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 9th January, 2011 and at the end of the exercise (which was observed by officials of your Commission), our client emerged the winner, having scored majority of the valid votes cast. We attach herewith Result of the Gubernatorial Primary Election and the Report of the Electoral Panel for Gubernatorial Primary in Bayelsa State dated the 10th January, 2011 as ANNEXURE “AA” and “BB” respectively for reference purposes.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consequently submitted the name of our client to your Commission vide a letter dated January 24, 2011 but received on January 27, 2011 as its governorship candidate in Bayelsa State as required by Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). Attached herewith as ANNEXURE “CC” is a copy of the said letter.
“The Governorship election was scheduled to hold on 15th April, 2011 by your Commission. However, your Commission later postponed the conduct of the election to a later date following the judgment of Federal High Court, Abuja Division delivered on 23rd February, 2011 in the case of CHIEF TIMIPRE SYLVA & 6 OTHERS v. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 OTHERS which decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
“Recently, your Commission announced that it would conduct the governorship election in Bayelsa State in February, 2012. Our client has since started campaigning for votes throughout the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election. Your Commission did not call for fresh nomination of candidates by the political parties.
“However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has published a paid advert in the national dailies of its intention to conduct a fresh governorship primaries in Bayelsa State and has even gone ahead to schedule 19th November, 2011 for the fresh primaries despite the protest from our client whose nomination has been forwarded to your Commission as the party’s candidate for the governorship election.
“We wish to state, without any fear of contradiction, that our client has not withdrawn his candidature to contest the governorship election in Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As you are no doubt aware, the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) are now very clear that once a political party has submitted the name of a candidate to your Commission for a particular elective office, the political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute the name of that candidate. Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides as follows:
“A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to Section 32 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.”
“By scheduling to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is about to change or substitute the name of our client as its candidate for the governorship election.
“It is against the backdrop of the above that we urge you to use your good offices as recognised by Section 86 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) to direct the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Bayelsa State as same will amount to a contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act.”
We published earlier that people are looking for thermometers to measure the political temperature
in Bayelsa when somebody suggested that this one will be polimeter. But now, we to ask whether there is any instrument as such.....
Governor Timipre Sylva, disqualified by the PDP from bidding for the ticket, yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pull the brakes on the primary election.
Sylva says his name should be sent as the PDP candidate on the basis of the January primary election, which he won. He said a fresh primary election will amount to substituting his name, which is against the provision of the Electoral Act. Sylva is claiming the ticket through a letter to INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, by his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana. The letter is dated November 15.
The PDP conducted the primary election in January ahead of the April governorship elections.
But a Federal High Court, judgment, upheld by the Court of Appeal stopped INEC from conducting governorship elections in five states, including Bayelsa, where rerun elections were held.
The other states where elections were postponed are: Cross River, Kogi, Adamawa and Sokoto.
In his letter to INEC, entitled: “Re: Decision of the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct fresh governorship primaries in Bayelsa State”, Falana said:
“Our client is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State and currently the Governor of Bayelsa State an the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Following the publication of the Time Table of Activities for 2011 General Elections by your Commission, the Peoples Democratic Party duly set in motion the machinery for the conduct of governorship primaries in Bayelsa State to nominate its candidate for the Governorship election in Bayelsa State that were scheduled to be held in April, 2011.
“The governorship primaries were duly held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 9th January, 2011 and at the end of the exercise (which was observed by officials of your Commission), our client emerged the winner, having scored majority of the valid votes cast. We attach herewith Result of the Gubernatorial Primary Election and the Report of the Electoral Panel for Gubernatorial Primary in Bayelsa State dated the 10th January, 2011 as ANNEXURE “AA” and “BB” respectively for reference purposes.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consequently submitted the name of our client to your Commission vide a letter dated January 24, 2011 but received on January 27, 2011 as its governorship candidate in Bayelsa State as required by Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). Attached herewith as ANNEXURE “CC” is a copy of the said letter.
“The Governorship election was scheduled to hold on 15th April, 2011 by your Commission. However, your Commission later postponed the conduct of the election to a later date following the judgment of Federal High Court, Abuja Division delivered on 23rd February, 2011 in the case of CHIEF TIMIPRE SYLVA & 6 OTHERS v. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 OTHERS which decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
“Recently, your Commission announced that it would conduct the governorship election in Bayelsa State in February, 2012. Our client has since started campaigning for votes throughout the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election. Your Commission did not call for fresh nomination of candidates by the political parties.
“However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has published a paid advert in the national dailies of its intention to conduct a fresh governorship primaries in Bayelsa State and has even gone ahead to schedule 19th November, 2011 for the fresh primaries despite the protest from our client whose nomination has been forwarded to your Commission as the party’s candidate for the governorship election.
“We wish to state, without any fear of contradiction, that our client has not withdrawn his candidature to contest the governorship election in Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As you are no doubt aware, the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) are now very clear that once a political party has submitted the name of a candidate to your Commission for a particular elective office, the political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute the name of that candidate. Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides as follows:
“A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to Section 32 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.”
“By scheduling to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is about to change or substitute the name of our client as its candidate for the governorship election.
“It is against the backdrop of the above that we urge you to use your good offices as recognised by Section 86 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) to direct the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Bayelsa State as same will amount to a contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act.”
Kerosene and Petrol Scarcity
When people from a Country like Nigeria which we belong to experiences a thing like fuel scarcity, it bothers other people a lot. As people from Cross River and Akwa Ibom are crying for high petroleum and kerosene prices, we continue to ask "who will be blamed?"
Abuja – The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), yesterday, Tuesday said that inflation rate stood at 10.5 per cent in October.
Dr Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation announced this at a news conference in Abuja, saying that the figure was higher than the 10.3 per cent recorded in September.
Dr. Yemi said that all Items year-on-year average consumer price level for urban and rural dwellers rose by 7.8 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively.
He said that the urban All Items monthly index was -0.1 per cent in October against 1.4 per cent in September, while the rural index was 0.9 per cent in October compared with 1.4 per cent in September.
“The All Items Less Farm Produce’ index which excluded the prices of agricultural products increased by 1.1 per cent in October against 1.9 per cent in September,’’ the statistician-general said.
Kale said that the increase was mainly caused by rising prices of some household items, building materials, diesel and kerosene.
According to him, prices and weighting are the two basic parameters used to arrive at the CPI.
“The price data are collected for a sample of goods and services from a sample of sales outlets in a sample of locations for a sample of times.
“The weighting data are estimates of shares of the different types of expenditure in the total expenditure covered by the index’
“These weights are usually based upon expenditure data obtained from expenditure surveys for a sample of household or upon estimates of the composition of consumption expenditure in the National Income and Product Account, ’’ he said.
Kale said that 10,534 officers were used to collate data for the CPI monthly, and that 740 product specifications were priced across the rural and urban areas of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
He said the average price of each item was computed for each sector for each state and the FCT and used for index computation. (NAN)
Abuja – The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), yesterday, Tuesday said that inflation rate stood at 10.5 per cent in October.
Dr Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation announced this at a news conference in Abuja, saying that the figure was higher than the 10.3 per cent recorded in September.
Dr. Yemi said that all Items year-on-year average consumer price level for urban and rural dwellers rose by 7.8 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively.
He said that the urban All Items monthly index was -0.1 per cent in October against 1.4 per cent in September, while the rural index was 0.9 per cent in October compared with 1.4 per cent in September.
“The All Items Less Farm Produce’ index which excluded the prices of agricultural products increased by 1.1 per cent in October against 1.9 per cent in September,’’ the statistician-general said.
Kale said that the increase was mainly caused by rising prices of some household items, building materials, diesel and kerosene.
According to him, prices and weighting are the two basic parameters used to arrive at the CPI.
“The price data are collected for a sample of goods and services from a sample of sales outlets in a sample of locations for a sample of times.
“The weighting data are estimates of shares of the different types of expenditure in the total expenditure covered by the index’
“These weights are usually based upon expenditure data obtained from expenditure surveys for a sample of household or upon estimates of the composition of consumption expenditure in the National Income and Product Account, ’’ he said.
Kale said that 10,534 officers were used to collate data for the CPI monthly, and that 740 product specifications were priced across the rural and urban areas of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
He said the average price of each item was computed for each sector for each state and the FCT and used for index computation. (NAN)
Today's Politics in Bayelsa State
Some people in the state are still thinking of using thermometers to measure the state of affairs in the state, especially, politics.
In the state, the aspirants denied that the PDP's congress was peaceful.
Dickson had, Monday, while speaking with newsmen, said though he did not see the members of the panel sent from the national secretariat for the conduct of the ward congress, the exercise was peaceful. He said he had set up a contact committee to reach out to stakeholders of the party in the state with a view to getting their support.
Dickson also denied claims by some politicians that he was “forerunner” to another powerful candidate yet to be “anointed” by the Presidency.
He said: “These are claims made by political desperadoes and schemers. I am prepared for governance. I took off from day one without needing tutelage.”
“The congresses were meant to elect ward delegates and party men participated. It is mischievous for anybody to claim that there was no congress.
“The five aspirants who claimed there were no congresses are Governor Sylva’s agents and they are being used by the governor to discredit PDP and the congresses.”
However, aggrieved aspirants, Messrs Christopher Enai, Boloubo Orufa and Austin Febo, yesterday in Yenagoa, called for outright cancellation of the Monday’s ward congress, saying, “the ad hoc delegate congress scheduled for November 14 in Bayelsa State, did not take place in any of the 105 wards in the state.”
While condemning the actions of the party representatives from Abuja and the claim by Dickson that the exercise took place, Enai, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, said: “We deny and refute the claims by Dickson and his agents, purporting that the ward congress held.
“We also confirm to be true, the position of the state PDP that no ward congress took place in 105 wards in the state. Certain persons, claiming to have been sent by the party from the national secretariat arrived at the party secretariat at about 2pm and left five minutes later, stating that they were going to report their presence to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Services in Bayelsa State to enable them sign certain documents.
“They never returned.”
Insisting that the party representatives from Abuja did not come with any materials or documents to the party secretariat at Onopa, Yenagoa, the aggrieved aspirants said results purportedly emanating from the ward congresses were fabricated, false and misleading.
While expressing confidence in the ability of National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party to put a stop to what they call a charade capable of dampening the moral of party supporters and dragging the reputation of the PDP into the mud, they called on the leadership of PDP to send new set of unbiased officials to conduct the ward congress.
In the state, the aspirants denied that the PDP's congress was peaceful.
Dickson had, Monday, while speaking with newsmen, said though he did not see the members of the panel sent from the national secretariat for the conduct of the ward congress, the exercise was peaceful. He said he had set up a contact committee to reach out to stakeholders of the party in the state with a view to getting their support.
Dickson also denied claims by some politicians that he was “forerunner” to another powerful candidate yet to be “anointed” by the Presidency.
He said: “These are claims made by political desperadoes and schemers. I am prepared for governance. I took off from day one without needing tutelage.”
“The congresses were meant to elect ward delegates and party men participated. It is mischievous for anybody to claim that there was no congress.
“The five aspirants who claimed there were no congresses are Governor Sylva’s agents and they are being used by the governor to discredit PDP and the congresses.”
However, aggrieved aspirants, Messrs Christopher Enai, Boloubo Orufa and Austin Febo, yesterday in Yenagoa, called for outright cancellation of the Monday’s ward congress, saying, “the ad hoc delegate congress scheduled for November 14 in Bayelsa State, did not take place in any of the 105 wards in the state.”
While condemning the actions of the party representatives from Abuja and the claim by Dickson that the exercise took place, Enai, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, said: “We deny and refute the claims by Dickson and his agents, purporting that the ward congress held.
“We also confirm to be true, the position of the state PDP that no ward congress took place in 105 wards in the state. Certain persons, claiming to have been sent by the party from the national secretariat arrived at the party secretariat at about 2pm and left five minutes later, stating that they were going to report their presence to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Services in Bayelsa State to enable them sign certain documents.
“They never returned.”
Insisting that the party representatives from Abuja did not come with any materials or documents to the party secretariat at Onopa, Yenagoa, the aggrieved aspirants said results purportedly emanating from the ward congresses were fabricated, false and misleading.
While expressing confidence in the ability of National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party to put a stop to what they call a charade capable of dampening the moral of party supporters and dragging the reputation of the PDP into the mud, they called on the leadership of PDP to send new set of unbiased officials to conduct the ward congress.
Today's
Yenagoa-Some aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State, Tuesday, called for a fresh ward congress in the state, insisting that Monday’s exercise was a sham.
They also called for the suspension and disqualifi-cation of Mr. Seriake Dickson, one of the leading contenders for the party’s ticket, from contesting this weekend’s primaries over alleged false claim and misrepresentation of truth.
The aspirants denied that the congress was peaceful.
Dickson had, Monday, while speaking with newsmen, said though he did not see the members of the panel sent from the national secretariat for the conduct of the ward congress, the exercise was peaceful. He said he had set up a contact committee to reach out to stakeholders of the party in the state with a view to getting their support.
Dickson also denied claims by some politicians that he was “forerunner” to another powerful candidate yet to be “anointed” by the Presidency.
He said: “These are claims made by political desperadoes and schemers. I am prepared for governance. I took off from day one without needing tutelage.”
He told Vanguard, yesterday, that: “Six PDP council chairmen, out of eight, addressed newsmen and affirmed that congresses held in all the wards. The acting chairman of Bayelsa affirmed it to be free and fair.
“The congresses were meant to elect ward delegates and party men participated. It is mischievous for anybody to claim that there was no congress.
“The five aspirants who claimed there were no congresses are Governor Sylva’s agents and they are being used by the governor to discredit PDP and the congresses.”
However, aggrieved aspirants, Messrs Christopher Enai, Boloubo Orufa and Austin Febo, yesterday in Yenagoa, called for outright cancellation of the Monday’s ward congress, saying, “the ad hoc delegate congress scheduled for November 14 in Bayelsa State, did not take place in any of the 105 wards in the state.”
While condemning the actions of the party representatives from Abuja and the claim by Dickson that the exercise took place, Enai, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, said: “We deny and refute the claims by Dickson and his agents, purporting that the ward congress held.
“We also confirm to be true, the position of the state PDP that no ward congress took place in 105 wards in the state. Certain persons, claiming to have been sent by the party from the national secretariat arrived at the party secretariat at about 2pm and left five minutes later, stating that they were going to report their presence to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Services in Bayelsa State to enable them sign certain documents.
“They never returned.”
Insisting that the party representatives from Abuja did not come with any materials or documents to the party secretariat at Onopa, Yenagoa, the aggrieved aspirants said results purportedly emanating from the ward congresses were fabricated, false and misleading.
While expressing confidence in the ability of National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party to put a stop to what they call a charade capable of dampening the moral of party supporters and dragging the reputation of the PDP into the mud, they called on the leadership of PDP to send new set of unbiased officials to conduct the ward congress.
They also called for the suspension and disqualifi-cation of Mr. Seriake Dickson, one of the leading contenders for the party’s ticket, from contesting this weekend’s primaries over alleged false claim and misrepresentation of truth.
The aspirants denied that the congress was peaceful.
Dickson had, Monday, while speaking with newsmen, said though he did not see the members of the panel sent from the national secretariat for the conduct of the ward congress, the exercise was peaceful. He said he had set up a contact committee to reach out to stakeholders of the party in the state with a view to getting their support.
Dickson also denied claims by some politicians that he was “forerunner” to another powerful candidate yet to be “anointed” by the Presidency.
He said: “These are claims made by political desperadoes and schemers. I am prepared for governance. I took off from day one without needing tutelage.”
He told Vanguard, yesterday, that: “Six PDP council chairmen, out of eight, addressed newsmen and affirmed that congresses held in all the wards. The acting chairman of Bayelsa affirmed it to be free and fair.
“The congresses were meant to elect ward delegates and party men participated. It is mischievous for anybody to claim that there was no congress.
“The five aspirants who claimed there were no congresses are Governor Sylva’s agents and they are being used by the governor to discredit PDP and the congresses.”
However, aggrieved aspirants, Messrs Christopher Enai, Boloubo Orufa and Austin Febo, yesterday in Yenagoa, called for outright cancellation of the Monday’s ward congress, saying, “the ad hoc delegate congress scheduled for November 14 in Bayelsa State, did not take place in any of the 105 wards in the state.”
While condemning the actions of the party representatives from Abuja and the claim by Dickson that the exercise took place, Enai, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, said: “We deny and refute the claims by Dickson and his agents, purporting that the ward congress held.
“We also confirm to be true, the position of the state PDP that no ward congress took place in 105 wards in the state. Certain persons, claiming to have been sent by the party from the national secretariat arrived at the party secretariat at about 2pm and left five minutes later, stating that they were going to report their presence to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Services in Bayelsa State to enable them sign certain documents.
“They never returned.”
Insisting that the party representatives from Abuja did not come with any materials or documents to the party secretariat at Onopa, Yenagoa, the aggrieved aspirants said results purportedly emanating from the ward congresses were fabricated, false and misleading.
While expressing confidence in the ability of National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the party to put a stop to what they call a charade capable of dampening the moral of party supporters and dragging the reputation of the PDP into the mud, they called on the leadership of PDP to send new set of unbiased officials to conduct the ward congress.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Gov. Akpabio's Presidential Award
It was early hours of Monday, 14th of November, 2011 that people turned out in mass number to be flying out of the state and i stood close and asked, "where are they so hurry about?" And suddenly, i heard a voice asking me "have you not been listening to news or are you not from this state?"
We want to say that you will here details of the award ceremony at Abuja right here on this blog. We will update you on all the things that happened there.
For now, we want to say that Akwa Ibom people are very happy with the award conferred on His Excellency, by the Number 1 Citizen of this great Country.
Thank you for the trust!
We want to say that you will here details of the award ceremony at Abuja right here on this blog. We will update you on all the things that happened there.
For now, we want to say that Akwa Ibom people are very happy with the award conferred on His Excellency, by the Number 1 Citizen of this great Country.
Thank you for the trust!
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