Politics
2023: Bayelsa PDP Delegates To Support Pro-Restructuring Aspirants – Diri
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has said People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the state would support any presidential aspirant of the party that will restructure Nigeria if elected.
Governor Diri spoke on Friday when he received former Senate President and presidential aspirant, Senator Bukola Saraki, in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to the governor as an oil and gas producing state, which contributes huge revenue to the country’s economy, restructuring would ensure equity and fairness to the oil-producing Niger Delta region, the state and the Ijaw nation in particular.
The governor, while stating that the Federal Government, as presently constituted, does not encourage productivity and competitiveness, but has turned the federating units to beggars where states go cap in hand to Abuja on monthly basis for revenue sharing.
He said there is too much concentration of power at the centre, which has prevented the country from functioning effectively, adding that devolution of power would enable states to develop at their own pace.
The Bayelsa governor restated his call on aspirants to place the interest of the party and country above their ambition, saying that as an opposition party, what is required to wrest power from the ruling party and rescue the country from total collapse is unity among members.
“You talked about certain things that touch us as a state. You talked about the restructuring of this country. The Ijaws have always talked about justice and equity. As a state that produces oil and gas, which has been the mainstay of our economy, we subscribe to any aspirant that has included restructuring of this country in his manifesto, to ensure equity and justice.
“The Federal Government is too centralised and nothing will work. Certain powers have to be devolved to the states and let the Federal Government face only common issues that are central to all of us. So this blame game of the previous government will stop.
“Let us go back to the foundation of this country where we had regions that took responsibility for their economy and policies. Allow the states to carry some of the responsibility.
“The present structure does not make room for productivity and competition among our states. State governments go cap in hand to our Federal Capital Territory in the name of federal allocation.”, he said.
Earlier, Senator Saraki said Nigeria was moving towards becoming a failed state in terms of security and its poor economy and needs a competent person to reverse the drift.
Mr Arabambi stated that all other ambassadorial nominees deserved to be on the list except Mr Omokri, due to his past record of criticizing the president.
During a live television interview, Mr Arabambi said the Constitution of Nigeria gives President Tinubu the right and prerogative to appoint ambassadors.
He, however, noted that these nominations must be confirmed by the Senate to take effect.
Mr Arabambi said: “Now that the president has the prerogative to nominate his ambassadors, they would go before the Senate and their resumes presented to the Senate for approval.
“I believe that the Akpabio-led Senate would definitely do justice. If you remember, a lot of them were nominated for ministers and some were returned.
“So no matter the political hirakiri being generated by forces condemning some of the ambassadorial nominees, somebody was saying that they ought to be in jail, you are not the court.
“I think they should allow the Senate to do the proper work, and all of us should watch it because they would normally ask them to stand on the podium and reel out their resumes to Nigerians.
“I believe that everyone nominated, except one person whom I felt the president ought not to have considered, is Reno.
“While Reno Omokri is qualified, his history of criticizing the president on some occasions may count against him.”
President Bola Tinubu has increased the number of Ambassador-nominees to 65 and forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation.
The president’s request, read in plenary Thursday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, consists of 34 career ambassadors and High Commissioners as well as 31 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
The Presidency had last week released the names of 32 ambassador-nominees, featuring names of some prominent Nigerians.
Notable nominees among the non-career ambassador-nominees are: Sen. Ita Enang from Akwa-Ibom, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) and Sen. Folasade Bent (Adamawa) and Segun Ige (Edo)
Three ambassador-nominees, namely: Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo), earlier forwarded to the senate, had been screened by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The new nominees had consequently been forwarded to the committee for screening within one week.
The full list of the ambassadorial nominees per state reads: “Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia), Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Ogochukwu (Anambra), Mohammed Lele (Bauchi),
Endoni Sindo (Bayelsa) and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno).
Others are Jane Adams Michael (Cross River), Clark Alexandra (Delta), Chimma Davies (Ebonyi),
Oduma Ehinose (Edo ), Segun Ige (Edo), Adeyemi Emmanuel (Ekiti), Onaga Kingsley (Enugu) and Magaji Umar (Jigawa).
Other nominees in the category of Career Ambassadors are Mohammed Dahiru (Kaduna), AbdulSalam Zayat (Kano), Shehu Barde ( Katsina ), Aminu Nasiu ( Katsina ), Abubakar Musa-Musa ( Kebbi) ,Mohammed Idris ( Kebbi) ,
Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi).
” The rest are: Sulu Gambari (Kwara), Ramata Mohammed (Lagos), Shaga John Shama (Nasarawa), Salau Mohammed (Niger) and Ibrahim Danlami (Niger).
Others are: Adeola Mopelola (Ogun),
Ruben Samuel (Ondo), Akand Adekola (Osun), Adedokun Esther (Oyo), Gedagi Joseph (Plateau), Luther Ayokalata (Rivers), Danladi Yaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogondaji (Zamfara).
Names on the list of the 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees are Sen. Grace Bent (Adamawa), Sen. Eta Enang (Akwa – Ibom), Nkechi Okocha (Anambra ),
Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi), Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa).
They include Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), retired Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas ( Cross River), Abasi Braimah (Edo) and Erelu Adebayo (Ekiti).
Others are: Olumilua Ayotunwa (Ekiti),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Mrs. Chioma Ohakim (Imo ), retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Kano State).
“The rest are; Tasiu Maigari (Katsina), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu (Kogi) and Olufemi Pedro (Lagos) “Mohammed Aliyu (Nasarawa State),
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) Joseph Iji (Ondo), Fani-Kayode (Osun), Prof. O. Adewole (Osun), Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Lola Akande (Oyo), Prof. Nora Daduut (Plateau), Yakubu Gambo (Plateau).
“Chukwujinka Okocha (Rivers ), Haruna Abubakar ( Sokoto ), Jerry Samuel Manwe (Taraba) and Adamu Nangree (Yobe).
He predicted that before the next election cycle, Abia’s political landscape would witness broken alliances, surprising mergers, and new contenders emerging from within established networks.
Prophet Arogun concluded with a broader appeal to Nigeria’s political leaders, emphasizing the need for justice, peace, and integrity in public governance.
“Nigeria is the assignment. Only righteousness will stabilize this nation. Only fairness will preserve the mandate. Let those who have ears hear”, he said softly.
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