₦airaland Forum

Between 4,000 and 6,000 delegates from across the country are expected to participate in the October 30-31, 2021 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Towards the exercise, which is slated to hold in Eagle Square, Abuja, the party’s National Convention Planning Committee led by Adamawa state Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, met in Abuja on Saturday to fine-tune arrangements.

Speaking to correspondents after the meeting, he said both the Eagle Square and the Old Parade Ground, Area 10 Abuja, which will serve as venue for accreditation, have already been secured.

The governor stated that even though the size of the delegates was still being worked out, it would not be less than 4,000 to 6,000.

“The size of delegate is still being compiled. PDP is a big party. It has produced a lot of good leaders for this country. We are compiling their list. But we are not expecting anything less than 4000- 6000 delegates,” he stated.

Fintiri announced that nomination forms for the various offices in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will begin on Monday next week.
The Adamawa state governor affirmed that the October dates of the convention remained.

He added: “We expect that sales of forms will commence on Monday and we also expect that the screening committee should also commence and conclude their work on or before the end of next week so that those who are vying, will go about and do their campaign.

“The venue has been secured, that is the Eagle square and it is ours on that day, 30th and 31st. We have equally secured the Area 10 Old Parade Ground which will serve the purpose of accreditation.
We are urging the accreditation committee to work on using these venues in liaison with the transport committee so that the transport committee will work with the appropriate transport companies to secure vehicles for members that will be accredited and conveyed from the Old Parade Ground to the Eagles square.”

Governor Fintiri remarked that the committee would address the submissions of the various convention sub-committees to have a hitch-free exercise.
He further disclosed: “We have received budgets from all the sub-committees and we are in the process of streamlining the budgets because there are areas the submissions are conflicting. We are all working to achieve one convention which is the 2021 convention.

“As soon as we finish this meeting, we shall approve the budgets based on the availability of funds and early next week, precisely Monday and Tuesday. Some of the committees will start receiving their budgets support so that they can start their work in earnest for us to have a successful convention.”

Also speaking, governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, told journalists consensus remains an option in all the positions.

He said, however, that where that is not possible, contestants would have to slug it out on the Election Day.
According to him, “Consensus is normally a process of democratic consultation because democracy is about consensus. Certainly, electoral process can be reduced by having a converging point on an individual and that would have reduced disparaging issues within the party.

“I did say we should have a consensus candidate, but where we will not, we will not practice imposition.

“We have resolved the issue of zoning. We have learnt our mistakes and we are not going to play to the gallery the way and manner our detractors or competitors want us to be.

“We will always resolve our issues, so zoning is over. We have really gone over this issue. What we are looking forward to is the emergence of a chairman from the North, who will give us the leadership that we require to form government in 2023.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed sadness over the gruesome killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili, widower of the late former Director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili, and assured that his killers would not go scot-free. Buhari described the killing of Akunyili as inhuman and reprehensible, stressing that his killers would face the wrath of God and man.

The president’s position was reinforced by the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who placed a N20 million bounty on the heads of Akunyili’s killers.

The South-east Governors Forum also condemned the killing and demanded security agencies move quickly to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice. In a statement by the Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, the forum described the killing as “not only barbaric but also unbecoming how much human lives no longer matter in our society. We give security agencies a marching order to go all out to uncover and arrest all the perpetrators of this inhuman act and make them face justice,”

In its own reaction, the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, raised the alarm over the incessant killing of innocent citizens in Igboland, concluding that the zone is currently under a heavy siege.

The Senate observed a minute silence for the deceased at its plenary yesterday, and a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, expressed shock at the murder of Akunyili.

Buhari, in a release on Wednesday by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, shared the pain of the children, relatives, and friends of the deceased.

The president said he had fond memories of working with the late Dora Akunyili at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and Nigerians would never forget the memory of the amazon, who distinguished herself as a courageous, dependable and patriotic citizen.

Enjoining security agencies and leaders of thought to work harder to bring an end to the violence being unleashed on innocent Nigerians, the president assured the grieving families, who lost their loved ones in the incident, that the perpetrators of the heinous act “will face both the judgement of man, and that of God.”
Obiano placed a N20 million bounty on the heads of the killers and others, in a press release he personally signed after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state. He implored anyone with useful information about the killing of Akunyili and other persons, who fell to the bullets of gunmen between Sunday and Tuesday, to come forward with it.

The statement read, “It is on a very sad note that I address the state today to condemn in very strong terms, the violence that has been witnessed in Anambra in the past few days.

“Since last weekend, some armed persons have unleashed terror with sporadic attacks on innocent citizens in various parts of the state. From the briefings I have received from security commanders, offices of some political parties, branded campaign vehicles and individuals occupying them have been attacked with killings and burning of vehicles observed.

“Other innocent road users have become victims of this menace with many losing their lives and others, their properties. Between Sunday 26th and yesterday, 28th September 2021, attacks on citizens at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi, and other places have left about 10 people dead, including an illustrious son of this state, Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Professor Dora Akunyili, who was, reportedly, gunned down yesterday around Nkpor.

“To reinforce our commitment and seriousness on this issue, I, on behalf of the state government, wish to announce a twenty million naira (N20, 000,000.00) reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our state.”

The governor regretted the wanton killing of illustrious sons and daughters of Anambra people.

He said, “These are our own people dying every day and for what reason? Ndi Anambra, these attacks and accompanying deaths cannot be justified and must stop now. I have, therefore, conducted an extensive security meeting and have directed all security agencies to step up and confront this monster ravaging our land.
I charge everyone involved in the security architecture of Anambra State to take very seriously this threat to our livelihood and boldly rise to confront same. Everything that needs to be done will be done and no stone will be left unturned in this effort. My directive to this effect is clear and I urge every security personnel on duty in Anambra State to do his utmost best to secure our people.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) is for timely movement of election materials on Election Days. Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Prof. Bolade Eyila, at a roundtable on the implementation of MoU with unions in the transport sector, said it would be difficult for the commission to send materials to 800,809 registration areas and 1, 119, 973 polling units on election day without partnership with stakeholders.

Eyila said INEC expanded the MoU to include members of the NURTW, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) in the 2018 agreement to ensure effective coverage of the country. According to him, the agreement is to last for four years, adding that the review became necessary because of the 2023 general elections. He requested the NURTW to provide INEC with roadworthy vehicles in good time and to ensure timely movement of election materials. Chairman, Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, said election conduct is not for INEC alone, disclosing that since 2010, the Commission has been cooperating with other stakeholders.

“The three unions have created good working relationship with INEC. This meeting is organised to review the operations towards 2023 general election,” Ibeanu added. President of NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, called for insurance coverage for members of the union on election duties. Baruwa, who was represented by the General Secretary, Kabiru Adoyam, said some members of the union lost their lives while many vehicles were vandalised during elections. He noted that members of the union on election duties work late hours without security, which he blamed on the delay in releasing electoral materials by INEC. Baruwa decried inadequate security arrangements for drivers and vehicles on election duties, which he said: “Exposed our members to undue assault, attack and even death, as was seen in states like Akwa Ibom and Rivers”.

He added, “There was sabotage by some EOs who, to make money, reduced the agreed number of vehicles at the last minute and pocketed the monetary difference, leading to delays and overuse of the accepted vehicles and drivers.” The union chief suggested that if other unions are to be engaged, “they should be assigned responsibilities that corresponds with their areas of specialization”. He added, “For example NARTO should be engaged for haulage vehicles while NURTW should be engaged for passengers vehicles.”

CHUKWU DAVID reports on how Senator Ali Ndume, an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration, jettisoned diplomacy and tackled the executive over increasing borrowing and the quick manner the Senate approves such loan requests

The greatest challenge confronting the country under the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government is insecurity. This has made many Nigerians to call on the administration to declare a state of emergency on the security situation. However, as the country grapples with the issue of insecurity, another worrisome development, continuous and excessive borrowing of funds from local and foreign institutions, has raised dust in the polity. The borrowing has drawn divergent views from opinion moulders across the length and breadth of the country across party, geopolitical and religious divides.

While some vehemently condemn the penchant of the President to borrow and impose heavy debt burden on Nigeria, others argue in defence of the borrowing, saying that it is necessary to borrow and fund the budget, so as to provide the required infrastructural facilities to the citizens. One of those who recently shocked the nation with his criticism of the borrowing spree is Senator Ali Ndume, who is known as a blind supporter of President Buhari since he occupied the country’s highest political office in 2015.

Ndume, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, berated the APCled executive arm of government for excessive and increasing borrowing and expeditious approval of such requests by the National Assembly, particularly the Senate. He expressed his displeasure at a press briefing in Abuja, arguing that, though borrowing was not a crime he was seriously concerned that the thoroughness required during consideration for approvals of such loans are often not followed by the lawmakers. He pointed out that this is why Nigerians were suspicious of the members of the nation’s apex legislative Assembly and calling the federal lawmakers rubber stamp.

The lawmaker, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, further noted that some of such requests hurriedly approved in the past were yet to be granted. He explained further that in as much as loans or borrowings are required by government to address the problem of infrastructural deficit facing the country, they should be cautiously considered in the face of debt servicing getting to 80 or 90 per cent. His words: “Borrowing is not a crime but when the rate of debt services increases, which I understand is getting to 80 to 90 per cent, you have to be cautious; you have to look for alternative.

“There are some loans that are not just absolutely necessary; there are some that can be delayed, there are some that can be negotiated or renegotiated in terms of conditions attached to them. I think this is what the media should analyse and see whether it is necessary.

“We have infrastructural deficit in this country and all we hear is that when people come to Abuja and allocation is made, you don’t see anything happening. For me, is better to borrow that money and do the road instead of giving it out for people to collect it and go and spend it without accountability. “What I am worried about again is the way the Senate is handling it.

The Senate by definition is house of deliberation, when things like this come we don’t just rush and approve them. Such requests are supposed to be looked at critically by crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. Ask questions; carry the people you are representing along and not sit down here in the National Assembly, carrying out expeditious approvals which make the people we represent look at us with suspicion.

“They call us rubber stamp because we don’t carry people along. We rushed to approve certain borrowings, which up till now, have not been granted by targeted creditors.” Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has never seen anything wrong with borrowing. He has always tried to justify the act by noting that without borrowing, important infrastructural projects inserted in annual budgets would not be executed. According to him, the country is facing a huge infrastructural deficit, which the government is under obligation to fill the gap.

He also stresses the need for the government to ensure judicious application of loans being borrowed to put the necessary projects in place. To this effect, he has persistently given assurances that the Ninth National Assembly will step up its oversight functions on the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government responsible for projects implementation.

akelicious:
Thousands of party supporters converged on Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka to throw support behind the party's gubernatorial candidate, Professor Charles Soludo and the Deputy Governorship candidate.
Chairman of APGA BOT, Governor Willie Obiano is expected to hand over the party flag to the bearers today.