Politics

2019: APC’s Sudden Support For Restructuring, Deceitful – Makarfi

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2018

Former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has expressed doubt on the recent support of restructuring by the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as “height of deception” and a ploy by the ruling party to win votes in 2019.
This was just as he declared that the PDP does not in anyway feel threatened by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (NCM), the group formed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Makarfi said this at the weekend in Lagos while speaking with journalists on the report recently submitted to the Presidency by the Malam Nasir El-Rufai-led APC Committee on Restructuring.
According to him, the “sudden change in tone” of the ruling party regarding the issue of restructuring is the height of deception, urging Nigerians to be wary of what he termed “the antics of the APC.”
The PDP chieftain, who recalled a world press conference he addressed months back when the issue of restructuring came about, said he had on that occasion described the APC as a chameleon that changes its colour, declaring that the PDP had right from the beginning supported restructuring on the basis of which the party organized the National Conference in 2014.
“I addressed a world press conference when this matter came up many months ago and said that the APC is like a chameleon that changes its colour. Right from the beginning, the PDP supported restructuring and that was one of the reasons why we organized the National Conference in 2014.
“You will recall that not too long ago, the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and the National Chairman of APC, John Oyegun were on television for a one-hour programme and when they were asked about this, they said that it was not important and that it was not even part of their party manifesto. That was what they said.
“And the following day, I featured and I was asked the same question about restructuring and I repeated what I said during the press conference that all the processes leading to restructuring were initiated by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan who were all members of the PDP.
“All the past national conferences were conducted by the PDP and some of them bothered by the need to restructure. We could not abandon what we started but what is important is that since restructuring means different things to different people, the starting point is to narrow down your understanding on it and proceed stage by stage because there are short, medium and long-term goals.
“For a party which had always spoken against restructuring to now turn around and say that they have to restructure because they want to win an election is deceitful. They have now changed their position because elections are approaching; that is a height of deception. And it is for Nigerians to take them for what they are; people who will use everything to remain in power not because they mean it,” Makarfi said.
On the formation of a political coalition by former President Obasanjo, Senator Makarfi said the coalition was not a threat to PDP, adding that its chief promoter had since declared that it was not a political party.
“We don’t feel threatened by the Coalition for Nigerian Movement because most of them are our friends and associates. They said they are not a political party, but time will tell. If they metamorphosed into a political party, we will see how the game would be played. But President Olusegun Obasanjo himself said that any day they change into a political party, he will cease to be a member,” Makarfi said.
He, however, said his desire was to see the coalition operate like the Independents in the United States with the primary focus of assessing candidates on whatever political platform before deciding on which one to support for the election.
“My take is that the coalition would act like the Independents in the US, who look at the candidates whether Republican or Democrats to decide which party to support. But time will tell what their agenda is, but whatever it is, we are not threatened,” the PDP chieftain said.

Politics

Rivers PDP Reaffirms Support For Wike

Published

2 days ago

The Tide

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has said it would continue to support Governor Nyesom Wike to enable him succeed by delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Darlington Orji, who stated this during a live Radio programme monitored by The Tide in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, noted that the governor has performed well going forward.
On speculations in some quarters that the state PDP is divided because of who succeeds Wike in 2023, Orji said it was too early in the day to talk about 2023, insisting that there was no division in the party’s fold.
He stated that election was over and that it is time to govern, saying, the governor himself has said that he was elected to solve problems and address issues in the state.
“I have told those who care to know that the time of election is over. It is time for governance now. The governor of Rivers State himself has said it very clear that he was elected to solve problems and proffer solution to issues and not to complain and for us as a political party, we are giving him all the support that he needs.”
“It is barely three months old and we are talking of 2023. There is no disunity in PDP, Rivers State. We are aware that the only instrument we have to win election in Rivers State is to give the dividends of democracy to the people.
“These are the weapons we have otherwise in the 2019 general elections, the level of militarisation, intimidation and harassment we saw here but the people stood their ground and the party won the election,” he stated.
“So, for us in PDP we will continue to say that we are now in governance and we are supporting the administration of Governor Wike to make him succeed and deliver all the goodies he promised the people and to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people,” Orji said
On some of the achievements of the Wike- led government, he said, “It is on record that in the first leg of this administration, several primary schools were upgraded and renovated and put into proper use in several local government areas across the state.
“The Eleme General Hospital in Nchia, was constructed by this administration, completed and commissioned. Government Secondary School, Onne is also in Eleme local government and it was built by this administration.
“The Eleme/Oyigbo road is constructed and about 90 per cent completed amongst other projects that have been executed by this government. Yes, every local government/individual has the right to complain or ask for more but it should also appreciate the man that has done a little before asking for more,” he stated.

Dennis Naku

Politics

Bayelsa Guber Poll: PDP Warns INEC Against Inconclusive Poll

Published

2 days ago

Ike Wigodo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to wake up and put their acts together as to avoid any inconclusive election in Bayelse states governorship election this year.
Bayelsa state governorship election comes up in November this year and INEC said it is on top of the election matters.
Speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt recently, the national Vice Chairman of the PDP, South- South, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi warned INEC to ensure that no stone was left unturned in their efforts to conduct a free, fair and credible election as to avoid any inconclusive election in the state.
Ogidi said his party was not satisfied with the INEC preparations so far for the election and was therefore weary and fed up with the electoral umpire which he said had always ended up with inconclusive election and court cases.
According to him,” INEC is always saying they were ready for all the elections but the elections would end up as failures with their new name” inconclusive election” and marathon court cases”.
“The new name for the Nigeria’s electoral empire should be changed from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be known as the Inconclusive Election Commission (IEC)”, he stated.
The national vice chairman further warned that the PDP would not accept any heat up in the polity, especially in the South- South that would cause disaffection and rejection of election results across the region.
Chief Ogidi described the present INEC in the country as the worst when compared with the previous ones the nation had.
“Yes, we thought that the Professor Jega’s INEC was bad enough but we have discovered that the present INEC is the worst thing to happen to a nation”.

Politics

Don’t Rely On Party Leaders For PDP Guber Ticket -Secondus

Published

2 days ago

The Tide

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised its members seeking the party’s nod to contest the Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections against relying on the party’s leaders for the ticket.
The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja, at the presentation of clearance certificates to the aspirants.
“Work on the delegates; don’t rely on any party leader. Even members of the National Working Committee (NWC) cannot help you,” he said.
He assured the aspirants of a level playing ground, adding that the party had no preferred aspirant.
“Go and work on the delegates. They are the ones that will elect you as candidate; no one else, not even members of the NWC can help you.
“All I can assure you is that we are going to conduct free, fair and transparent primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa States,” he said.
Certificates were issued to the cleared aspirants from the two states.
Among them were former Governor of Kogi, State Idris Wada, Senator. Dino Melaye, Abubakar Ibrahim, a son of former Governor, Ibrahim Idris, and 10 others.
Those cleared for Bayelsa State include the Deputy Governor, John Jonah, the Secretary to the State Government , Kemela Okara, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe.
Also on the Bayelsa list are Ambassador Godknows, Senator. Douye Diri and 16 others.