News
How To Rebuild PDP, By Wike, Others
The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike and other big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have sued for more unified action to keep the party united.
Speaking at a one-day retreat tagged, “ The Role of the Opposition in Facilitating Development and Good Governance,” organised by National Assembly members of the party in Port Harcourt, on Monday, Wike said the party must review its media and publicity strategy.
The Rivers State governor observed that the party got negative publicity due to the partisan stance of many of the media houses who were largely owned by opposition members.
He said “the PDP has tried, the media had already made up its mind not to support anything PDP.”
The ploy, he further stated, was to paint Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states as violent, while burying the good sides of those states where PDP was winning.
On his part, former Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, stressed the need to build the party at the grassroots.
Akpabio said, “we should stop building a cult around individuals”.
The former Akwa-Ibom State governor reminded them that the future of the party as an opposition party depends on the disposition and commitment of members, saying, “we don’t need to learn to be in opposition, we are already in it.”
Chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper, Segun Adeniyi, who spoke on The Role of the Media in Opposition, said the PDP needs to be on the offensive in order to make impact as an opposition party.
He recommended for a Media and Research team that will provide accurate and balanced information, saying the PDP needs to put the Federal Government to task always.
The party also called for synergy among its members, especially those in the two chambers of the National Assembly for a purposeful and credible opposition.
PDP’s acting National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus made the call at retreat for elected PDP National Assembly members in Port Harcourt.
Secondus urged party members to accept their position as opposition with a view to re-engineering the party to victory in the next election.
He tasked the party on discipline, which he said, was a very important attitude in driving development.
The PDP acting national chairman lauded the party for strengthening democracy in the country, saying that it acted in the national interest by conceding defeat.
Secondus promised more democratic based primaries in the party which would be merit-oriented as a means of keeping the party alive.
Senate President, David Mark, urged members to take their destiny in their hands to ensure the party’s survival.
He said that opposition was the beauty of democracy and that PDP could not achieve success as opposition party without being vibrant and responsible.
The senate president noted that the ruling party would do everything possible to divide the PDP to enable them have their way but ‘’we must remain united and focused’’.
“There has to be proper synergy between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure PDP stays alive,’’ Mark said.
Also speaking, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu called on PDP National Assembly members to rise up to the challenge of opposition with responsibility.
Ekweremadu urged the party members in the National Assembly to hold APC accountable to all their campaign promises.
“We should not only hold them accountable in terms of their list of promises but also in accordance with the timeline they gave in the course of the campaigns.
“They should be able to bring exchange rates down to one naira to one dollar and bring back the Chibok girls, ’’ he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha called on PDP members to be courageous in their role as opposition.
Ihedioha, who commended APC for a classical opposition role during PDP’s reign, said that it was time to pay them in their own coin.
He said that every successful opposition always partnered with the media and being able to be vigilant at all times.
“Do not relent, we need to work on our media friends, it is time to call attention of people when things begin to go wrong,’’ Ihedioha said.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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