Nation
PDP Set To Resolve Plateau Crisis
Chairman, Board of Directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Chief Ebitimi Banigo (left) listening to an explanation by the Regional Manager of Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Mr Uche Nwanguma, when the FAAN board visited the airport, recently.
The existing factions in Plateau State Chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may soon cease to subsist as the National Secretariat of the party has concluded plans to investigate the allegations/grievances of the Chief Emmanuel Mangni-led faction (PDP II), The Tide reliably gathered. The Tide gathered that the party’s plans to investigate the allegations/grievances of Chief Mangni faction; dissolve the leadership of the factions and set up a caretaker committee in the state PDP, to steer the party’s ship in the state, pending when election (state congress) will be conducted. Meanwhile, The Tide learnt that Hon. Michael Dapalong, former speaker of the State legislature is likely to head the caretaker committee. A reliable source told The Tide that the PDP II faction had levelled about 25 allegations against governor Jonah Jang and the Prof. Shown-led state PDP, and submitted same to the Chief Vincent Ogbulafor-led National PDP. It will be recalled that the aggrieved members of the political party-led by Chief Mangni group, had earlier submitted a catalogue of grievances, which were believed to have been treated with levity. Consequently, the group broke away from the Prof. Shown-led party, describing its faction as the “authentic PDP”. A source which told Our Correspondent that the group was at the party’s Wadata close/street, Abuja to submit their “letter of catche”, and lobby, alleging that the National Chairman was not straight-forward in handling the issues. According to the source, “today he will say one thing, tomorrow he says a different thing”. One of the grievances of the Mangni group is that Jang is too highhanded, and never consulted with party members before taking decisions. But the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Gregory Yenlong recently fired back at the PDP II, saying that “Jang’s crime is that he was not ready to share money. He was reacting to the grand civic reception organized for Chief Joshua Dariye, the immediate past governor of the state, by the Mangni faction. Prof. Shown had also reacted to the reception, saying that no political party can use Dariye to win any election. The factional leader, who descried himself as second most experienced politician in the state, just next to Chief Solomon D. Lar, stressed that Chief Dariye was not “marketable”. Meanwhile, Dariye, whose suspension from the party has been lifted is believed to be fine-tuning his plans to go to the senate, an ambition that earlier generated the frosty relationship between him and former deputy senate president, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu. While Dariye planned to run for the senate after his governorship tenure, Mantu wanted to be in the senate for the third time. In the mean time, the two are in PDPII, as Mantu also has an axe to grind with Jang. Both politicians are from Plateau Central Senatorial District.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
