Politics

Murdered PDP Woman Leader: Family Wants Justice, Compensation

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2020

Mr Simeon Abuh, husband of late Mrs Salome Abuh, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Woman Leader in Kogi State, has called on the Federal Government to ensure justice and compensation for his family.
Abuh made the call at a news conference by the family yesterday in Abuja, to update the public on the matter.
He disclosed that since the incident took place on November 18, 2019, several petitions had been submitted to different quarters, including to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The head of the Abuh family therefore, called on international and national human rights organisations to prevail on the government to expedite action in bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
He explained that the six people that had been in Police custody in Lokoja, were some of the perpetrators that went on a robbery some days after the incident.
According to him, other named suspects were still walking freely, adding that some had been invited for questioning, while others were yet to be apprehended.
“We want perpetrators, including their sponsors, brought to book to serve as deterrent to others and avert le,” he said. future re-occurrence, not just in Kogi, but in Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Abuh said he had worked for the Federal Government and retired after 35 years of meritorious service, urging the government to help rebuild the family’s home which was burnt down in the incident.
“With heart full of pains, grieve and heaviness, we as a family wish to passionately appeal to the UN, EU, USAID, AU, human rights organisations, and spirited individuals to come to our aid to enable us have our dream home back.
“Treat our homelessness as an emergency and rebuild out burnt down home,” he said, adding that the house was the reward of his 35 years service to Nigeria.
Abuh however, commended the efforts of women activists, who protested for days in Abuja, Lagos and many other places, to demand for justice for the slain politician.
Our source reports that late Salome was burnt alive by thugs in her home on November 18, 2019, following the Kogi elections.
Six suspects were paraded by the Police in Lokoja few months ago, but nothing has been heard about the case since then.

Politics

CROSIEC Deploys About 8,000 Personnel For LG Elections

Published

1 week ago

May 27, 2020

The Tide

Ahead of the next Saturday’s rescheduled Local Government elections in Cross River, about 8000 personnel are said to have been deployed across the state to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.

The Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Mike Ushie, who disclosed this in Calabar while

speaking on preparations by the commission, said they are ready for the elections and one hundred percent compliant with post COVID-19

elections guidelines recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as the National Centre for Diseases

Control.

He said: “Eight thousand personnel have been mobilised to cover the two thousand, two hundred and twenty-six polling units in the state.

There will be three personnel per pooling unit, five at the accreditation centres, five at the local government and ward coalition centres.

“Accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously and in line with INEC guidelines, there will be two levels of queuing and voters

will vote in batches while maintaining social distance.

“We had to make sure that we are on course and lives are protected. Luckily INEC released the procedure for post COVID-19 elections and I

must say that we are in full compliance with it. INEC said we have to provide hand sanitizers, face masks and we have adopted all the

procedures one hundred percent.

“ We have gone beyond INEC and have gone ahead to procure hand sanitizers, hand washing containers, a good number of face masks and

we are working seriously to ensure that the right thing is done”, he said.

He added that the commission has given sufficient notice for the elections and confirmed that five political parties will be participating in Saturday’s elections.

From FRIDAY NWAGBARA, Calabar.

Politics

Ambassador Desmond Akawor Inaugurated As New Rivers State PDP Chairman

Published

3 weeks ago

May 13, 2020

The Tide

The new Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Executive Council has been inaugurated in Port Harcourt.

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi Ibani administered the oath of office on the new executives led by Ambassador Desmond Akawor.

In a charge, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike called on the new executives to work towards consolidating the gains of the immediate past Executive led by Bro Felix Obuah.

He commended immediate past Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah for leading to victory .

He said: “We had challenges at the beginning, but that Executive was committed to service. Obuah has shown capacity to deliver. It will not be easy for the new executives, but the new executives must start to prepare the party for the challenges ahead.

“Work hard to surpass the records of the past executives. Working together is key, unity is key.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike said that the Rivers State Government will never condone criminality or any attempt to violate the law.

He said: “But for the steps that , the number of cases would have been more. What makes a leader is the ability to be firm. I value life more than property.

“Since 2015, we have not demolished any property. But, someone who was SSG superintended over the demolition of several properties. Now the person is talking about the draconian process.

“My joy is that majority of Rivers people love what we are doing.”

Governor Wike added that from Information from the State Health Commissioner, the State is likely to have more cases, mostly oil workers.

National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus congratulated the new Rivers State PDP Executive Committee, advising them to work for the growth of the party.

Commenting on the fight against coronavirus, Uche Secondus blasted the Federal Government for refusing to assist State Governments and provide direction for the country.

He said: “The Governors are working without help from the Federal Government. But for God, the situation would have been worse.

“Governors are running from pillar to post. We must be grateful to Governor Wike for the initiative that he took. What the Governor has done has helped to drastically reduce the number of cases.

“Rivers State is lucky to have Governor Wike at this time of crisis .”

He said those who spread negative propaganda do so out of hatred.

New Rivers State PDP Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor thanked ththe leadership and members of the party for giving him the opportunity to serve.

He said God has used Governor Wike to rebuild a new Rivers State. He saluted the resilience of PDP in weathering the storm.

Akawor assured that the new Executive will serve the party diligently.

Immediate Past PDP State Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah said that the Executive Committee under his leadership led the party to victory since 2015.

He said that the outgone Executives will continue to work for the party to ensure future victory.

Politics

Bode George Urges FG To Relax Lagos Lockdown

Published

1 month ago

April 24, 2020

The Tide

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has urged federal government to relax the lockdown it imposed on Lagos State as a result of COVID- 19 pandemic.
George, who made the call in a statement in Lagos, yesterday said the lockdown imposed since March 29 was adversely affecting livelihoods and bringing up security challenges.
He said though government intended to curb the spread of the virus with the lockdown, the directive had left many Nigerians hungry at home without palliatives.
The PDP chieftain noted that there must be a balance between curbing the spread of the virus and protecting livelihoods and asked the government to relax the lockdown while putting safety measures in place.
“Everywhere in Lagos is now locked down. The markets, banking halls, the local grocery shops, the supermarkets, the transportation services are all halted, frozen by the federal government directives since March 29.
“On the surface level, the federal government’s position is to ensure safety, prevent communal spread of the virus and banish this scourge from our shores.
“Lagosians have been staying at home for about a month now. In a largely informal economy where most of our people depend on daily wages, the burden of lack of income is devastating.
“There is a natural growing anger in Lagos as the most vulnerable are ravaged with hunger,” George said.