₦airaland Forum

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has described the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a roguish party which wanted to snatch away Edo State like “a pickpocket eyeing someone’s purse in the market”.

The Governor, who stated this on Friday through his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Mohammed while reacting to the impeachment of the speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, described the emergence of the new principal officers as a welcome development.

The Kogi State helmsman while averring that Edo was an APC State which was snatched through the back door by the PDP, assured the Edo APC and her candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of a resounding victory in the September 19 election.

He felicitated with Mr Victor Edoror and Emmanuel Agbaje the new speaker and deputy speaker, respectively of the Edo State House of Assembly following their election by a majority of members in the Edo State capital, Benin City.

Governor Bello who said Kogi State is very interested in peace within her neighbour Edo, noted that since both states share a long boundary line, any breakdown of law and order in the latter was bound to cause security and other troubles for the former.

He urged the new speaker and members of the Edo State House of Assembly to swing into action immediately to restore order to the state legislature and find ways to work with other arms of their government in the best interests of Edo people.

It will be recalled that 17 members of the 24-man Edo Assembly elected new leadership on Thursday with a pledge to restore order to the state legislature which had been embroiled in longstanding crises.

Before then, seven members belonging to the PDP and allegedly backed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, the embattled Governor of the state, had taken over the duties of the Assembly and purportedly impeached the former deputy speaker for declaring support for the APC.

A cultural dimension has been added to the raging political battle of wits in Edo State ahead of the September 19 poll, following an accusation that Governor Godwin Obaseki committed a taboo by standing before Oba Ewuare of Benin wearing a cap.

The allegation was made by his predecessor and now estranged political mentor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while fielding questions on a talk-show on Arise TV.

Last week, Governor Obaseki led a group of visiting PDP governors to the palace on a courtesy visit to the Benin monarch before proceeding to the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium to launch his campaign for a second term.

The visit was, however, marred by violence, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters clashed with All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters at the gate, as the governor and his guests were exiting the palace, resulting in gunshots.

Speaking on Skype from his Auchi country home on the morning programme of Arise TV monitored in Lagos, Comrade Oshiomhole condemned Obaseki’s action as another demonstration of disrespect not only for the esteemed Benin palace, but also Edo tradition.

“You call yourself a Bini man, yet you came to Bini palace wearing a cap in company of other PDP governors,” said Oshiomhole of Obaseki who hails from Oredo Council in Benin City.

The ancient Bini customs forbid subjects from wearing cap before the Oba even while obliging them to kneel in obeisance.

Akurakambe:
Op is just been mischievous

The campaign flag off was done on a ward to ward level across Akoko Edo.

The campaign tour continues today

SEVENTEEN of the 24 members of Edo State House of Assembly are backing the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Deputy Speaker Yekini Idiaye, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency I, and four other members also pledged support for Ize-Iyamu.

Idiaye was on Monday joined by Emmanuel Agbaje (Akoko-Edo Constituency II), Nosayaba Okunbor (Orhiomwon East Constituency), Dumez Ugiagbe (member-elect, Ovia Northeast Constituency I) and Vincent Uwadiae (member-elect, Ovia Northeast Constituency II) on a solidarity visit to APC’s standard-bearer at his home in Benin, where they declared their support.

The lawmakers said they would not leave the APC for another party, assuring Ize-Iyamu of their loyalty.

They said they would soon begin mobilisation of voters at the grassroots, to ensure his victory on September 19.

The deputy speaker said he had no reason to join Governor Godwin Obaseki in his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or to back his re-election, noting that the non-performing Obaseki administration had failed to initiate any developmental project in his constituency despite his intervention efforts.

He said: “There is no reason for me to defect to another party because there is no project in my village to show that the current administration is working.”

“I’m from Somorika in Akoko Edo Local Government and my village is the most backward in the council.”

Ize-Iyamu thanked the legislators for their courage and integrity.

He slammed Obaseki for dividing the state by denying representation to 14 elected lawmakers for over one year.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has explained the reason why he left the opposition Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Dogara said he resigned from the PDP because of the alleged failure of governance in Bauchi State where he hails from.

In his letter of resignation addressed to the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward chairman of the PDP, the former House of Representatives Speaker said Governor Bala Mohammed whom he helped into power, had not lived up to expectation.

His letter reads, “I write to intimate you of my decision to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party. This became necessary because the same reasons why we fought hard in 2019 to effect changes in the governance of our dear state are festering now.

“I intend to bring these issues to the front burner once again as the fight to install a decent and egalitarian government in our dear state continues.

“I cannot raise these issues and many more questions without a charge of disloyalty levelled against me if I were to remain a member of the PDP. I cannot also fail to raise these questions now having raised similar ones during the administrations of governors Isa Yuguda and Mohammed A. Abubakar. If I abdicate this responsibility on the altar of partisan loyalty, I will be the most irresponsible and unprincipled politician in Bauchi State.

“Thus, by this letter, I have resigned my membership of the PDP to enable me keep faith with my principle of fighting for good governance in our dear state.”

Twenty-two months after dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday returned to the party.

Multiple sources said the defection of the federal lawmaker from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC may not be unconnected with his feud with Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and 2023 politicking.

The governor has however denied having any disagreement with the former speaker.

The defection of Dogara was announced by the governor of Yobe State and chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and the former speaker at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buni, when asked by reporters whether Dogara had returned to the APC, he said: “Yeah, he’s back.”

On whether his return was about 2023, Buni said: “Well, of course, not only 2023 strategy, this party, we are rebuilding the party to outlive all of us. It’s not only about specific time or period, it’s not about election, it’s not about electioneering. It is about building a party.

“We are meeting all our aggrieved members, particularly those who have interest in coming back to the party. They should feel free to do so. We are assuring them and there is no crime in double assurance.

“We will do justice to all our members and that’s what will bring peace and that is what will guarantee peaceful co-existence, that is what will bring the consolidation of the party, the rebuilding of the party. Without doing justice, you cannot achieve that and we are sure of doing justice to all our members.”

Buhari happy with development

Governor Buni said his visit to the State House was to brief President Buhari on the developments in the APC.

On Buhari’s reaction to Dogara’s return, Buni said; “He (Buhari) welcomed him. He’s happy with the development. That’s what he’s looking for. We are rebuilding the party and these are the steps we are taking towards rebuilding the party. Similarly, the media aide to Buni, Mamman Mohammed, said the return of Dogara was just the beginning of the good things awaiting the party under Gov. Buni’s watch.

“I want to assure you that APC in the next six months will not only recover from the threat of disintegration but will wax stronger to remain the leading party in Nigeria,” he said.

2023, feud with Bauch gov.

A close associate of the former speaker said his defection was part of a move to make him the running mate of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.

The source who hails from the same place with Dogara told one of our reporters on telephone on condition of anonymity that talks were on in that regard.

“Though he has not declared that, he has gone back to the APC, we are aware that there are talks Tinubu wants to pick him as his running mate,” he said.

However, a source close to Tinubu said: “He (Dogara) made his own calculation to return to APC to become a candidate for vice president. He cannot become Tinubu’s running mate because his political value is not that much.”

Dogara’s spokesman, Turaki Hassan, was unavailable for comment as he did not pick his calls. Another source in Bauchi said Governor Bala Mohammed and the former speaker were feuding.

“They are now not on good terms with Bauchi State governor at the moment. In politics everything is possible, you will see politicians fighting today and see them dining and wining tomorrow. So, I am not surprised,” he said.

Dogara’s three defections

With this defection, Dogara who has represented Bogoro/Das/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency of Bauchi State since 2007, has cross carpeted thrice, jumping from the PDP to APC.

His first defection was in 2014 when he, together with other revolting members of the PDP tagged ‘new-PDP’, joined the APC.

At the inauguration of the National Assembly in June 2015, Dogara together with the likes of the former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, rebelled against the leadership of the APC to snatch the leadership of the parliament.

With the backing of PDP lawmakers, Dogara emerged as the speaker while his partner, Saraki, became the senate president.

Soon after emerging as the speaker, his relationship with the then governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, turned sour, even as he contended with his feud with the presidency.

With the escalation of the feud, Dogara on September 20, 2018, formally returned to the PDP.

In the last general elections, Dogara did not only win his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi, he also played a critical role in the emergence of Governor Bala Mohammed.

I have no misunderstanding with Doraga – Bauchi gov

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed says he has no any misunderstanding with Dogara.

His media aide, Mukhtar Gidado, who stated this in a telephone interview, said, “I am not aware of any frosty relationship between my principal and Yakubu Dogara.

“I think Dogara should be the one to explain to the public the kind of misunderstanding he has with Governor Bala Mohammad. My position on the issue is that my principal has no misunderstanding with Dogara.”

We are in shock—PDP

Meanwhile, the PDP has expressed shock over Dogara’s defection to the APC.

The chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jubrin, told Daily Trust: “We are surprised to hear that. The BoT will react tomorrow (today) when we have all the details.”

A chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Aminu Yakudima said, “We are not in shock. Dogara was not there for the yearnings and aspirations of the people. He was not there to add value to the PDP,” he said.

The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the purported return of Dogara to the ruling party was nothing but a mere rumour.

Secondus who spoke through his media aide, Ike Abonyi, said, “PDP is yet to confirm it. If we confirm it, we will react if need be.

“For now, we still consider it as a rumour,” he said.

Also, the Bauchi State chapter of PDP has expressed shock over Dogara’s defection.

The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Yayanuwa Zainabari, said; “The PDP as a party has no problem or challenge with Dogara because the party gave him automatic ticket to respect his dignity and position as Speaker of the House of Representatives to contest his Dass/Tafawa Balewa Constituency by stopping it’s members from contesting against him.”

On his part, the Bauchi State chairman of the APC, Alhaji Uba Nana, said what happened was a home coming and another milestone in the democratic history of Bauchi State.

“We are extremely happy to have an illustrious son of Bauchi and member of the APC family back home. We are going to arrange a special home coming event for his return.” he said.

TheGodlessGod:
Ize iyamu is really eating deep inside obaseki stronghold (Esan). I never expected it

This guy is real grassroot

Agents of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, mopped up major Newspapers that published an advertorial considered to be against the interest of the governor.

The advertorial signed by a prominent Benin businessman, Capt. Hosa Okunbo, allegedly exposed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s wrongdoings against himself, as well as revealed how the governor allegedly frustrated peace effort to resolve the crisis in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before he left the party.

The mop up of the Newspapers, was said to have denied several persons access to those major papers for their news contents.

Some newspapers’ distributors who spoke under condition of anonymity, said they were contacted late Sunday night by top officials of the state government, where they were specifically told not to distribute the papers for Monday.

According to them, some of them were offered a mouth watering reward if they can oblige them their request.

It was however gathered that some Newspapers’ Salesmen turned down the request of bulk-buying of their papers and insisted on distributing them to vendors.

In the advertorial, Idahosa accused the governor of refusing all entreaties to make peace with his predecessor and former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

But in his reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Efe Stewart, denied the mop up.

azmanaty02:
You are a thief and an acid thrower. So we will not believe you.