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2023: PDP Blasts Adeyeye, Bakare Over Comments On Buhari
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken exception to comments credited to former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sola Adeyeye, who earlier in the week accused the PDP of playing poor politics ahead of the 2023 polls.
Adeyeye had in a recent television programme, “Politics Today,” took the PDP to the cleaners even as he came short of labeling those behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s rumoured third term ambition as enemies of Nigeria.
In a chat with newsmen, yesterday, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi said Adeyeye’s fixation on the party is unfortunate and a deviation from the incompetence of his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Odeyemi said: “The description of the politics played by the PDP as extremely poor by Prof. Sola Adeyeye is rather unfortunate and ridiculously shallow. Deviating from the crucial discussion of the necessity of the President’s boast about his intention or lack thereof to throwing jabs at the opposition reeks of nothing more than a dearth of content and value.”
According to him, “there is no doubt that the current administration has no other choice than to step down at the expiration of their tenure. This is after all the Constitutional vision of our democracy. It is, therefore, a no-brainer that come 2023, the government of Muhammadu Buhari, whether it likes it or not will bow out.
“Rather than blow the easy trumpet of vain glories, it was expected that the President would assure Nigerians of a better 2020. Had the President been serious with the business of governance, the blueprint of his agenda of hope for the New Year would have greeted the news media instead of the boastful, yet empty words of promise to step down when the tenure expires.
“It should bother every reasonable Nigerian that matters of importance and extreme urgency is recklessly abandoned on the platter of a ridiculous boast. It is surprising that rather than charge his party to step up its game, ignore trivialities and focus on the work before it, Senator Adeyeye, who is a professor seems relaxed with the activities of his party and would rather call the politics of the PDP extremely poor.”
“One would think that since Prof. Adeyeye, believes that the Constitution of Nigeria is the country’s major problem, as one-time Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate he, would have made attempts to engineer the process of amending the Constitution.
“It also smacks of an inordinate penchant for blame apportionment by the APC to rely on the move by the Senate in the past to amend the Constitution for a 3rd term agenda as a justification for the statement made by the President. Such justification can only be classified as lazy and misguided.
“The President and the APC should focus on fostering good governance rather than bask in the distasteful boast about his intention to step down.”
On Pastor Tunde Bakare’s recent call on the President to play a key role in determining his successor in 2023, the publicity scribe had this to say: “It is troubling when Nigerians who should yearn for good governance begin to buy into undemocratic tendencies.
“More troubling is it when those Nigerians are people who are able to influence a large number of people, for example, religious leaders, traditional rulers, clan heads, etc.
“The prescribed mode of selection of leaders in Nigeria has been clearly provided for by our Constitution. Section 1(2) states unequivocally that the country shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
“Our laws are that leaders are chosen by the people of Nigeria through democratic, free and fair elections, and the body saddled with the responsibility of conducting such elections and announcing the results is the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and in appropriate circumstances, the State Electoral Commission.
“The call by Pastor Tunde Bakare to President Buhari to determine his successor is therefore irresponsible and a ploy to return the country to an era of military dictatorship, monarchy and whimsical appointment. Not only is it the wrong way to go, but such calls should also be condemned in their entirety as they suggest lawlessness.”
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.