Politics

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, has assured the nation that the party’s governors forum has come to stay.

Metuh made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday while reacting to Chief Bola Tinubu`s, condemnation of the emergence of the PDP Governors` Forum (PDPGF).

According to him, no amount of attacks by the opposition will deter the governors from working together for the nation`s benefit.

He urged PDP governors to disregard the opposition and to rally round their chairman to initiate programmes that would consolidate PDP's bond with Nigerians.

``Let them continue blowing hot air while we concentrate on delivering quality service to Nigerians. Nigerians are no fools; they know where the protection of their future lies,’’ Metuh said.

Metuh further assured that the PDP would remain committed to building the Nigerian dream.

He stressed that the PDPGF was a significant organ in the realisation of the Nigerian dream and should be encouraged by all people of goodwill

The PDP publicity secretary took exception to the frequent caustic criticisms from the Action ACN.

He noted the ACN leader went beyond the exercise of freedom of expression by commenting on a matter that should not be of any interest to him.

``Since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, the governors have had several forums where they meet to aggregate their common interests.

``We have governors of the ACN always meeting; we also have groups like the Northern Governors Forum, South-East Governors Forum, South-South Governors Forum and so on.

 Metuh wondered as to why the PDP Governors Forum should elicit sharp condemnation.

He flayed the tendency to ``poke nose’’ into a party affair unduly.

He urged the ACN leader to limit himself to ACN’s affairs as the party was in ``dire need of redemption’’.

The PDP spokesman noted that the emergence of PDPGF had stirred the opposition to unjustifiably launch severe attacks at the slightest opportunity.

He said that the opposition leaders were afraid of the impact the forum would make under Gov. Godswill Akpabio.

Metuh added that discrediting Akpabio and causing disunity among PDP members were aimed at rubbishing the achievements of the governor.

Many supporters in Ekiti on Friday thronged the venue of formal declaration by Mr Ayo Fayose of his intention to run in next year’s gubernatorial race in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the supporters of Fayose, a one-ti...

The Deputy Governor of Kogi, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said on Friday that rumour mongering and misinterpretation of gestures were the reasons responsible for the border crisis between communities in Kogi and Anambra. Awoniyi stated this in a statement by his P...

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday donated relief materials to displaced persons in Fadan Atakar, Kaura Local Government area of Kaduna following recent attack. The Zonal Director of NEMA, Alhaji Musa Illallah, who presented the ...

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Chief Chike Udenze is a former acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State and recently contested the post of National Publicity Secretary of PDP. In this interview with Silas Ezeugwu, he  speaks on the need for politica...

Ismaila Ahmed Gadaka Represents Fika/Fune Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In this interview with CHIBUZO UKAIBE, he says the visit by President Goodluck Jonathan to Borno and Yobe states was a reaction to the visit of the 10 oppos...

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reviewed the crises that have engulfed the party, especially the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and admitted that it had challenges. This is even as the party confirmed ...

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zuba council ward FCT, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, has filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging the judgement of an Abuja High Court, which cleared President Goodluck Jonathan to cont...

Former chief executives, union and retirees of the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) yesterday told the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir el-Rufa’i to hide his face in shame for the destruction he brought to the natio...

Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Wednesday in Minna placed embargo on the appointment of political office holders. Aliyu made the announcement at an interactive session with commissioners, special advisers and council chairmen. He said that government h...

As campaign for Edo council poll gathers momentum, an official of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Martins Sado, on Wednesday appealed to politicians to abide by the rules. Sado, who is also the Vice Chairmanship candidate for Etsako East Local G...

Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue on Wednesday sent 12 names to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nominees include Alexander Atime, Comfort Ajene, Donald Ugboho, John Tondo, Egbiri Idah, Elizabeth Allagh and Anthony Onuh.

Others are Elizabeth Ugo, Eugene Aliegba, Justin Amase, John Ngbede and Orduen Abunku.

Suswam carried out a major cabinet reshuffle which affected 11 out of 16 commissioners on Feb. 22.

Seven of the dropped commissioners were re-nominated for screening.

A new Ministry of Environment and Urban Development has recently been created, bringing the total number in the state to 17.

In a letter to the house, the governor said the State Executive Council was reshuffled to reposition the executive arm of government.

"It is my desire to sustain the zeal exhibited by personalities with competence, credible and proven integrity who would assist my administration in taking the state to the next level," he said.

The governor urged the assembly to act promptly on the matter to enable him to assign them to various portfolios.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a crucial meeting with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih, at the presidential villa, Abuja. Anenih’s visit was his first official appearan...

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai to come clean on his role in the setting up of Pentascope instead of castigating him (Atiku). Atiku, in his first official reac...