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NASS Inauguration: APC Insists On Sanction For Erring Members
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday reiterated the party’s resolve to sanction erring party members.
Mohammed made the statement in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee of the party and some senators.
The party had described the conduct of some party members in Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly as treacherous and the highest level of indiscipline
The party said the process that led to Sen. Bukola Saraki and Rep. Yakubu Dogara emerging as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively against the stand of the party was totally unacceptable.
His words ‘’Senator Bukola and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker.
The party duly met and conducted a straw poll and clear candidates emerged for the posts of Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported by a majority of all Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives.
“All National Assemblyý members-elect who emerged on the platform of the party are bound by that decision. The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members,’’
The statement issued in Abuja Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary,Alhaji Lai Mohammed further noted that the party is ready to saction all members who went contrary to its decisions .
‘’Consequently, the APC leadership is meeting in a bid to re-establish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary sanctions to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new administration ‘’ He said.
According him APC decried a situation in which some people, pursuing their inordinate ambition and lack of discipline and loyalty, will enter into an unholy alliance with the very same people whom the party and indeed the entire country worked hard to replace and sell out the hard won victory of the Party.
‘’There can be no higher level of treachery, disloyalty and insincerity within any party,’’ the party said, vowing to resolve the matter using all constitutional and legal means available to it.
According to Mohammed, the sanction will come after due process.
‘’The party has not changed its position on the matter. Sanctions must follow due process,’’ Mohammed said. He said the reason the lawmakers were at the party secretariat was to confer with the party leaders.
‘’They came to confer with the party leadership, that’s all I am allowed to say.
“They are our senators; they came to confer on the crisis in the National Assembly. We will let you know the way forward,’’ he said.
Commenting on the absence of Saraki at the meeting, Mohammed said: ‘’I am not aware, probably if you wait you will see him.’’
The party chieftain said APC was not aware that the Lawan group had gone to court.
‘’I think the party made its expression clear on the matter, that it is unhappy with the outcome of the election and I think we won’t say anything beyond that.
‘’What the senators will do is within the capability and rights of the senators. I am not aware they have gone to court,’’ he said.
The Senate President intended to visit the party leaders but retraced his steps when he learnt of the presence of the group that came to visit.
However, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, who last Tuesday lost the contest for the post of Speaker, House of Representatives, yesterday, pledged his loyalty to the leadership of Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara.
Speaking in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said Dogara’s emergence reflected the will of members of the House, and promised to support his administration to move the House forward.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Mr Kayode Ajulo, says the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President, is a manifestation of the rule of law.
Ajulo told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that the process which led to the election of the Senate’s presiding officers was in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
He added that the development demonstrated that the era where a few individuals in a political party exerted overbearing control over majority of the members was over.
“This development is significant because it is a battle between the proponents of the rule of law and proponents of the whims and caprices of individuals.
“A few individuals always believe that they would always have their way over the popular majority. But they have been proved wrong.
“This is what a political party has caused itself because it chose to get some of its lawmakers to a meeting outside at the expense of inauguration which had constitutional proclamation’’, he said.
Ajulo faulted the lawmakers who went for a meeting outside the National Assembly.
“They deluding themselves that the inauguration would have been shifted to enable them to honour party directive.’’
He said the outcome of the election would serve as a lesson to political parties to know the limit of their powers.
“They went away on their own will thinking that the inauguration, which had presidential proclamation, would be put on hold.
“Political parties can meet in caucuses but cannot impose their directives on others. Members of the National Assembly should decide who presides over them.’’
A human rights lawyer, Mr Abang Odok-Ogar, said the outcome of the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly was a demonstration of the new democratic spirit in the country.
“That is a demonstration of pure maturity. It is a practical example of the kind of leadership we should expect from the new president.
“This will usher in a respectable executive-legislature relation.
“As long as the president adheres to democratic tenets in discharge of his statutory functions, the legislature would cooperate with the executive to deliver good governance.’’
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi