Politics
PDP Convention: Obaze, Anenih, Others Move For Consensus Candidates
Some Anambra chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun moves to agree on how to address and reconcile all the aggrieves factions in the State chapter of the party ahead of its national convention in Abuja.
At a meeting convened by the just concluded Anambra State governorship candidate of the party, Hon Oseloka Henry Obaze, which was held at the party secretariat, Awka, the Anambra State Capital, yesterday, the party chieftains agreed to hold several other meetings with their supporters to present a common front at the convention, slated for December 9
Apart from Obaze, those present at the meeting included a former Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Josephine Anenih who is the secretary of the Caretaker committee in the State a former Governorship Aspirant of the Party, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, Elders of the party in the State, Local Government chapter Chairmen, Women leaders and supporters. Obaze said he had called the meeting “to share Ideologist with them, find a common ground and go to the convention as an indivisible and united” Family.
The former candidate, who use the occasion to thank all the party members who may have supported him one way or the other, said it would be wrong for the Anambra State chapter to “go to the convention like people without cohesion”.
He said there would be subsequent meetings in all the wards across the State which would involve other key stakeholders of the party in the State to decide on a candidate among the aspirants vying for different position in our great party PDP and other pressing issues affecting the State Chapter
Information has it that, from the PDP Zoning arrangement, the National Chairmanship position of the Party had been zoned to the South-West and there has been a silent battle among a number of the party’s chieftains in the region over who should get the position.
Those who have declared their interest so far in the position include former PDP Deputy Vice Chairman (South West), Chief Bode George; a former National Chairman of the party, Hon Prince Uche Secondus (South-South), a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; and a former Minister of Education, Prof Tunde Adeniran.
At the meeting, the former Governorship aspirant in the State, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, said the only way forward politically in Nigeria is for the only party with national spread, the PDP, to come back to its basis and bring all its members back, create a level playing field and entrench internal party democracy so that the slogan of ‘power to the people’ will become real.
Mrs Anenih, who also endorsed the meeting, contended that Nigeria is at a critical stage, and PDP leaders must come together to take critical decision, saying there should not have been quarrel that made things to fall apart within the party in the first place, which lead to the party defeat in last week Saturday Governorship election in Anambra State. So, PDP leaders, she counselled, must settle their grievances and form a united front to “rescue the country from this critical stage.” she then promised to assist the State Chapter in rebuilding PDP, urging the party leaders in the State to carry all members along in order to create a sense of oneness.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
-
Sports4 days ago
CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
-
Sports4 days ago
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
-
Sports4 days ago
NPFL club name Iorfa new GM
-
Sports4 days ago
NNL abolishes playoffs for NPFL promotion
-
Sports4 days ago
NSF: Early preparations begin for 2026 National Sports Festival
-
Sports4 days ago
Kwara Hopeful To Host Confed Cup in Ilorin
-
Sports4 days ago
RSG Award Renovation Work At Yakubu Gowon Stadium
-
Politics4 days agoRivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension