Politics
PDP Launches Cinema For Obaseki’s Campaigns
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a wide screen television to showcase its governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki’s campaign activities ahead of the governorship election in the state.
Launching the wide screen television set at the Ring Road, Benin City, the chairman, PDP Campaign Council, Chief Dan Orbih said it was the first of its kind in the state’s politics.
He said the television would afford the citizens of the state to monitor the campaign activities of the party’s governorship candidate even if they can’t go along with him to the campaign grounds.
“For this evening, I am here to also see this campaign innovation by Governor Godwin Obaseki where they will be playing most of his campaign jingles and sometimes people will be here to watch some of the campaign visits to different local governments and even if you are not able to go with him, you can have a very good view of some of the activities in the course of our campaigns.
“I think this is quite commendable and I believe it is a new chapter in campaign arrangements to reach out to more people. Some people don’t even have access to television”, he said.
Chief Orbih who said that the party has had wonderful outings in other districts, stated that it has chosen to take its campaign messages to the people of Edo South to let them know that the forthcoming election is about their future.
“We are going to move from ward to ward, taking the message to the people, letting them know that this election is about them and about their future”, he said.
Orbih, while taking a swipe at ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Adams Oshiomhole over the comment that it was Godwin Obaseki who instigated him to suspend the Onojie of Uromi, said those seeking governorship position in the state should always think before acting to avoid going about kneeling down to beg after leaving office.
“In the cause of our visit to Edo Central, I saw the opposition party, the APC. The APC was issuing statements, suggesting that the suspension of Onojie of Uromi was at the instance of the current governor. I want to say quite clearly here that it seems to me that the former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, is having some problems in recollecting what really happened when he was in office.
“But I want to educate him a bit. At the time the Onojie of Uromi was suspended, Oshiomhole was still the governor of the state. The person that lifted the suspension was the current governor. So, they should go back and get their fact right.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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