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2023: PDP Needs Urgent Rejigging, Coalition Alerts

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A socio-political group, the Peoples’ Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCO), has written to the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, for an urgent need to constitute a harmonization drive to address the pressing problems confronting the party with particular reference to mass exodus of members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter signed by its National Coordinator, Chief EmekaKalu, and addressed to Secondus, the PDP Coalition stated that the party’s leadership needs to take swift action to save the successfully achieved blueprints from hitting the wall due to misguided happenings and other forms of engraved grudges.

The letter was made available to newsmen in Aba, Abia State, yesterday.

The PDP Coalition opined, “The manner and speed with which party members decamp to APC after being elected into various political offices is highly alarming and regrettable. That means something is wrong somewhere and we cannot afford to lose all our active members in a twinkle of an eye for reasons which I think are not beyond the party leadership to address. Defectors are also admonished to note that it is a mark of betrayal and distrust for them to bite with reckless abandon the hands that had once and in several occasions fed them.

“The APC platform you are moving to is never a sure way of restoring hope and promoting national development nor does it show honour to the electorate that voted you into offices. It depicts signs of having polluted conscience and disregard for the sufferings of helpless Nigerians who are currently in dire need of redemption from the yoke of insecurity, hunger, inequalities and other anomalies”.

It lamented, “We have lost Ebonyi, Cross River and Zamfara states’ governors to APC, and we also saw how four Green Chamber members of ZamfaraState extraction and 80% of the same state assembly lawmakers followed suit. Recall that one of the serving senators of this 9th Assembly elected under the banner of PDP, Delta State had divorced his marriage with our party and remarried APC. As it stands in the Federal House of Representatives,40% of duly elected legislators under the party umbrella have defected to APC which gives the party an uttermost concern for a re-think and re-planning”.

It added, “That is why it is pertinent for the party under the watch of PrinceUcheSecondus to immediately convene an urgent harmonization meeting of all the National Working Committee (NWC)members, party chieftains, state executive officers and all parties involved for a closed door deliberations where grievances will be poured, addressed and a way forward pragmatically outlined on a clean template for reconciliation and revamping.

“I confidently wish to affirm that the future of this country is in the hands of PDP as the hungry and distressed Nigerians are looking up to the party to salvage the nation come 2023.We need to comport and organize ourselves in a way that would convince Nigerians that PDP is their future hope and source of relief from the shambles of lopsided leadership daggering their hearts.

“Without batting an eyelid, this is just the truth capable of harnessing the party and equipping her with bundles of lively feathers to fly without getting weary now, come 2023 and ahead. It is a simple analogy of fact that solidarity is the cornerstone of victory in politics. I also besiege aggrieved party members to shit their swords and tow the path of oneness in order to move this country forward”.

The coalition commended all the party faithful and the teeming supporters for remaining calm and focused as there was no cause of action in life that yields good results without experiencing ills and backlashes.

According to the political group, “It is time to right the wrong, it is time to pick the pieces and mend them, it is time for re strengthening to do exploit, and it is time to give Nigerians the good news being waited for. One love, all hails as this call is treated and given due deserved attention”.

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Anglican Bishop Urges Politicians To Lead With Integrity

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The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.

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Senators, Reps To Resume Plenary In Remodelled Main Chambers

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Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to  temporary chambers,  the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in  their  newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to  Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments,  appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The  Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September  2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors;   handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

 

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Police Commence Recruitment Process In Anambra, Enugu

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The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.

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