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Reps Minority Leadership Crisis: PDP NWC Summons Elumelu, Oke, Ikpeazu, Others …Berates Gbajabiamila’s Imposition Plot …I’m Not Surprised By The Treachery -Wike
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its 473rd meeting, yesterday, resolved to summon Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to a crucial meeting tomorrow at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.
Other invited members are Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Abdul-Majid.
PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, who disclosed this development in a statement, said it was in line with the provisions of Chapter 10 (57)(3) of the Constitution of the PDP.
The members, according to Ologbondiyan, would appear before the members of the National Working Committee at 10 am.
Meanwhile, the PDP and the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, have rejected the alleged attempt by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to impose leaders on the party in the House of Representatives.
The PDP also explained that the party had duly written to the Speaker after consultation with other minority members in the parliament, notifying him of members that have been selected for leadership in line with dictates of the rules and parliamentary practice.
The party spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan affirmed that the opposition party was dismayed that the Speaker attempted to smuggle in names other than those recognised and forwarded to him as the leaders of the minority in the lower chamber.
He added, “The PDP, in the strongest terms, cautions against this abuse of rules, parliamentary practices and procedures as well as the convention and we urge the speaker to respect the rules and read the list submitted to him by the leadership of the PDP.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the list forwarded to the Speaker by the PDP is as follows: Hon. Kingsley Chinda – Minority Leader, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema- Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Yakubu Barde – Minority Whip, Hon. Muraina Ajibola – Deputy Minority Whip”.
Also reacting to the move, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said that he was not surprised by what happened at the House of Representatives, stating that trading has been placed above party loyalty at the House.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike stated that he was purely a party loyalist who believes in the ideals of the PDP.
He said: “I am not surprised. When you have traders and merchants, what do you expect?
“It is unfortunate for those who do not understand what politics is all about. I am a core party man. I believe in the party”.
Wike said that peer review was necessary to advance the course of development across the states of the federation.
“I am happy for this visit. We shall reciprocate the visit at the appropriate time. It is good for us to continue to compare notes to learn best practices from each other”, he said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Oyo State Governor to move the state forward and entrench development.
Earlier, the Oyo State Governor had said that what happened at the House of Representatives where the position of the PDP was subverted calls for concern.
“We all saw what happened at the National Assembly, yesterday (Wednesday), they are things that calls for concern. If the party takes a position on certain things, we want to ensure that, it is carried through”, he said.
He added that he was in Rivers State to also discuss issues of true federalism and the role of states in the development process.
Makinde commended the Rivers State Governor for his developmental strides during his first term, saying that he expects him to deliver more projects for the people.
Meanwhile, the House of the Representatives, yesterday, resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the rowdy session and attempt by some members to grab the mace during plenary, last Wednesday.
This was sequel to a matter of privilege raised by Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) at the plenary, yesterday.
Earlier, Kalu had said that it was disappointing to see ranking members engage in a struggle to displace the mace during sitting.
He alleged that Rep. Gogo Bright (PDP-Rivers) carried the mace from the upper bracket, and put it on the lower bracket during plenary which was not supposed to be so.
The Tide gathered that the rowdy session was triggered by the Speaker’s refusal to respect the PDP’s choice for the Minority Leader of the House, which had nominated Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) in the party’s official letter to Gbajabiamila.
But instead of announcing the PDP’s choice, the Speaker announced Hon Ndudi Elumelu (Delta-PDP) as House Minority Leader.
Kalu said that he was a new member, who joined the National Assembly with a patriotic zeal to contribute to nation building, saying that the event breached his privileges.
He urged the House to set up the committee to investigate the matter to forestall future reoccurrences.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) agreed that the scene created by some members breached the collective privileges of the House.
Gbajabiamila said an ad-hoc committee would be constituted to look into the matter.
The Speaker also named the principal officers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They are Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano) as House Leader; Peter Akpatason (Edo) as Deputy House Leader; Hon. Tahir Mohammed Monguno (Borno) as Chief Whip; and Nkiruika Onyejeocha (Abia) as Deputy Chief Whip.
Gbajabiamila, while making the announcement, said the constitution of the leadership of the House was in line with Order 7 Rule 4 which states that the leadership of the House should be nominated from members of the House.
Wrapping up the announcement, he said: “According to the rules of the House, the leadership of the House has now been legally constituted.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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