Wike no longer in PDP, says NEC member
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Executive Committee, Timothy Osadolor, says the immediate-past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is no longer a member of the party, given his conduct before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
Osadolor, who gave the hint in a telephone conversation with The PUNCH on Tuesday, noted that the leadership of the party had decided to isolate Wike and render him inconsequential in the affairs of the PDP. According to him, Wike’s recent public outings wherein he appeared to be leaning towards the All Progressives Congress, give him away as a man in perpetual craving for the spotlight at all times and regardless of the cost to his image as an opposition political leader.
He said, “The PDP has ignored Wike because the man is no longer himself. There are more ways to deal with people apart from sanctioning them. You can keep someone in isolation. He (Wike) can boast that he is the one that stayed away but is it not better to stay away than come to party activities and nobody wants to associate with you? He has been given a cold treatment because he went to court to procure a judgment that says he cannot be suspended but no judgment says he cannot be avoided.
Tinubu will catapult Nigeria to a higher pedestal – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would ‘catapult Nigeria to a higher pedestal.’
Shettima spoke to State House correspondents inside his office as he resumed work at the Presidential Villa today. This was disclosed in a statement by Olusola Abiola, Director (Information) Office of the Vice President, on Tuesday. Shettima was accompanied to the office by his aides, where he met with the Permanent Secretary and senior civil servants in the Office of the Vice President.
“I want to assure our countrymen that President Bola Tinubu will, by the grace of God, catapult this nation to a higher pedestal,” he said. “He is determined, he has the skills set, the temperament, the disposition, and the purity of mind and commitment to give service to this nation.”
Kwankwaso, Galadima, admonish new NNPP exco in Ogun to unite the party
The National leader and Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the 2023 presidential election, and a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Buba Galadima have advised the newly appointed caretaker executive committee of the party in Ogun State led by its Chairman, Ibrahim Adekunle to ensure that they bring those that have left the party back due to mismanagement of the expelled former executives led by Sunday Oginni.
They maintained that by doing this together with other party chieftains in the state, they would be able to build a formidable party ahead of the next elections. The duo gave the admonition yesterday, while the executive committee and the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ogun State, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo paid them a courtesy visit after the inauguration of the newly sworn-in Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on the platform of the NNPP.
While speaking, Kwankwaso said they should return home to spread out the party’s tentacles from the wards to local governments and the state whole. The former governor of Kano State implored them to go back to the drawing board to bring back those that have left the party as well ensuring to bring in new members into the party in Ogun State.
10th NASS Leadership: Apex CSOs Body Wants Yari, Betara Probed
The Legal and Investigative Unit of the Civil Society Central Coordinating Council, (CSCCC) has filed a mandamus suit to compel the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and investigate a former Zamfara State governor and Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari, and serving House of Representatives member, Hon. Aliyu Betara, over alleged money laundering and other financial crimes.
The duo are currently eyeing the Senate Presidency and Speakership seat respectively despite the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning arrangement. The CSCCC in a statement by the unit head, Maxwell Aleto, specifically sought a court order for EFCC, Police, and DSS to probe what he called their questionable sources of funds and expenditures above legitimate income.
The CSCCC is also seeking a court order to allow security agencies to search the duo’s houses and offices and that of their associates. The statement reads, “Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation.
Scrap N/Delta Ministry, Orji Kalu Tells Tinubu
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Tuesday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Kalu told reporters at the National Assembly that the ministry was no longer viable. He asked that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under the ministry’s supervision, be returned to the Presidency. Kalu said interventionist agencies like the NDDC and the North East Development Commission could function without resorting to their various ministries.
He said, “Some of the ministries and parastatals are no longer viable, like the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. “We have the Niger Delta Development Commission and the North East Development Commission and they are doing their job. “So, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs should be scrapped and NDDC should be repositioned to report directly to the Presidency, which is what is in the Act.
