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2023: Diaspora Group Roots For WikeTo Be Atiku’s VP

A Diaspora support group, THE DIASPORA SUPPORT (TDS) based in the United Kingdom (UK) has said that with the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election, it has become imperative for the party stakeholders to put heads together and work for the emergence of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the vice president.
The group noted that other than Wike as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party may have edge over PDP at the general election.
The group made the plea in a statement signed by its Convener, Hon. Yunana Shibkau; Head Strategy, Hon. Osamudiamen Aghedo; and Head, Nigeria’s Strategy and Mobilisation,Prince Madiba Ibrahim Lapinni, yesterday.
According to the Diaspora Support Group, “The opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party has conducted its presidential primaries in Abuja; with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerging as the presidential flag-bearer of the party.
“This, no doubt, is a step toward addressing the series of challenges that threaten the very existence of the nation to its foundation. The present precarious state of the nation calls for a tough measure to address it, and make life more meaningful to the entire citizenry.
“Much as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the flag-bearer, it thus behoves on all the party stakeholders to put heads together and work for the emergence of Chief Nyesom Wike with the vice president ticket to compliment the renewed journey of taking Nigeria to the Promised Land.
“Our national politics must evolve to the point of getting and doing the best for Nigeria. We must work to elect capable leaders, who can make a difference in leadership delivery for the betterment of the people. We congratulate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and hereby pledge to work with and compliment his administration in the critical areas of security, development and the unity of Nigerians when elected president in 2023.
“The presidential primaries have come and gone, not without the bad blood and acrimonious ethnic tendencies it has generated. To mismanage this victory through wrong choice of vice president is to signal the death knell for PDP and give the ruling party an undue leverage to coast to victory again.
“We appeal to all PDP members to come together in the interest of the party and Nigerians who have placed their hopes of restoration and renewal on the PDP. We call on all stakeholders of the PDP to consult widely and support the emergence of ChiefNyesomWike in a joint Atiku-Wike Ticket.
“We shall continue to work with all stakeholders to help Nyesom Wike realise the vice presidential slot so as to work for the development of Nigeria.
“Unfolding events in the nation, particularly on the political scene regarding the concluded Peoples Democratic Party primaries and the implications of its conduct to the security and socio-economic situation in Nigeria, today, prompted our response and the input to ensure the best for the peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria.
“Our organisation, THE DIASPORA SUPPORT (TDS), is an international lobby group and non-governmental organisation, established with the objective of promoting national unity, peace, development and credible leadership across the world. We operate with secretariat at the United Kingdom and other liaisons across the world.
“While we have other nationals, the majority of the group is of Nigeria origin, and thus, has focal representatives in Nigeria. In bid to fulfill the objectives and goals of our organisation, we have several credible local and international organisations, which we work or collaborate with and such collaborations have been very rewarding and fruitful”, the group said.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.