Politics
PDP Women Leader Tasks Secondus On Diaspora Chapters
The Women Leader, Johannesburg, South Africa chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs Olufunke Agbola, has urged the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to give the Diaspora chapters opportunity to contribute to its growth.
Agbola, in a telephone interview from Johannesburg last Tuesday stated that Diaspora chapters could contribute to the party’s fortunes in the 2019 general elections.
She said that the chapter had written a letter to Prince Uche Secondus, the party’s National Chairman on giving the Diaspora chapter a sense of belonging.
“The PDP in the Diaspora is one child that must not be ignored or considered as stillborn because we are very solid on the ground.
“Our roles in branding and re-branding our great party continentally and worldwide cannot go unnoticed. We are candidly seeking for the national body’s recognition which we so well deserve,’’ she said.
Agbola said that Secondus was in a proper position to implement the gesture since he belonged to a new and younger generation of the party’s leadership.
“The reasons for this request is because among the Diaspora PDP family are young politicians, technocrats, and professionals in every field of endeavour whose yearnings for a better Nigeria is like nature’s mark that cannot be erased.
“These men and women are ready and willing and able to sacrifice their juicy and lucrative businesses and jobs to get fully involved in the rebuilding of our fatherland, if the opportunity is granted,’’ Agbola said.
The women leader called for the amendment of the party’s constitution to accommodate Diaspora members and chapters in the affairs of the party.
She appealed to Secondus to make the party the first to adopt such convention in its activities.
According to Agbola, PDP is the party that planted democracy seed in the country and will be historical to evolve new democratic reforms.
“Democratic reforms will see the kind of analog politicians and politicking we have today in the country become history.
“It will further make Nigeria the first African democracy to walk the lines of the conventional European Democratic trends where youths have taken leadership in countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria,’’ she said.
Agbola said the party’s members in South Africa were solidly behind Secondus and assured that members would lend assistance when called upon.
“The key thing is that we can do better collectively than divisively apart,’’ she added.
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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