Rivers APC: Party Chieftain Eze Frowns at Abe's Pass to Contest Primary

* Urges APC Guber Delegates to Save APC and vote Against Abe during the 29th Guber Primary

*Reassures Nigerians that Wike /Abe's devious plot against Amaechi will be an excerise in futility

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has kicked against the screening of Senator Magnus Abe to contest the party's governorship primary in Rivers State.

Eze, who expressed his displeasure in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, wondered the criteria used in screening the Senator, who had severally been involved in what he described as grievous anti-party activities, including his current alliance with Governor Nyesom Wike to sabotage the party's fortunes.

It would be recalled that the National Secretariat of the party had screened Senator Abe and certified him as qualified to participate in the party's governorship primary, which is scheduled for September 29, 2018.

But Eze faulted the party's decision, noting that the Senator had been working hand in glove with the Governor of Rivers state, a leading People's Democratic Party (PDP) figure to undermine the APC in the state, citing the institution of legal matters against the party, attempt at pulling down the party structure in the State by setting up a parallel party Secretariat in the State.

Eze reiterated that Abe apart from establishing an illegal party structure in Rivers State was a party to the formation of the Reformed APC that claimed to be a faction of the mainstream of APC.

Eze who vowed that he will not keep quiet on the inglorious and infamous path that Abe has toed to destroy a party that has done much in sustaining him politically in Nigeria.

"Most of Abe's associates in the Reformed APC that includes Barry Mpigi,  Senate President Saraki,  Speaker of House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Governor Tambwual of Sokoto State,  Senator Kwankwaso have all formally joined Governor Wike in PDP while they asked Abe to stay back in APC to do the dirty task of destroying the party.

"Not minding all that Abe have done to destroy APC by joining forces with Wike and other external forces to carry out his dastard acts,  Eze claims that Abe is not relenting to ensure that the leader of the party in South -.South, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is destroyed .

"Not satisfied with all the above he has joined forces with Governor Wike to  connive and conspire to disparage and defame the Minister of Transportation and Director General of Buhari /Osibanjo Presidential Campaign organisation,  Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi", he said.

According to Eze,  "Abe and Wike are plotting to use the  former cabinet members of Amaechi when he was Governor of Rivers State to tell fake, concocted and distorted stories to the media that are meant to denigrate him, impugn his unblemished integrity and paint a very terrible image of him to members of the public", he said.

Eze, who stated that God who sustained Amaechi when the duo plotted to blackmail him before the Senate, so that he would not be screened as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will surely shame the duo in their latest plot.

Eze wonders how those pushing for Abe to fly the flag of APC in order to rubbish Amaechi will think that such devious plot will work.

"But let me reiterate that should these enemies of Rivers State succeed in making Abe the gubernatorial candidate of APC,  I will mobilise not less than one million true lovers of Rivers State to Aso Rock on 5th October 2018 to protest against such an evil plot though I know that the APC delegates in Rivers State  will not allow such an evil plot to see the light of the day", he said.

ENDS

Source: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

Violet Olaitan Williams

2019: My chances are bright, says Olaitan Williams

Scores Buhari, Ambode, Badru low

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives hopeful, Violet Olaitan Williams on Sunday presented a detailed report to Lagos Island leaders on the poor performance of the lawmaker representing Lagos Island Constituency 1, Hon Enitan Dolapo Badru.

She also engaged the leaders with a larger vision for job creation to reduce unemployment in Lagos State.

“Well people have different ideas to positions. Firstly, the incumbent is not from my constituency but a product of the leader says (Baba Sope). He is not a man of the people. Does he know the history of this community? The answer is no. He is a product of godfatherism. He hasn’t done anything. He is a failure” she said.

Williams, in an hour long meeting with the political leaders on Sunday, accused the lawmaker of contributing to stagnation of the area.

“There is nothing to show for the many years in the House of Representatives.  It is not about summer school but empowerment. His constituency office is here. Has he ever been there? You won’t blame him much if his impact is so negligible. I’m an indigene of the community. I know the people and I know our challenges, hence my maritime education advocacy. Badru represents stagnation” she said.

Williams, a stakeholder in the maritime sector, stated that the PDP was not dead in Lagos State contrary to the belief in some quarters.

“To Salvador, PDP is dead because he has left. He didn’t go with fifteen thousand people from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is just a figment of his imagination. From each local government, we have minimum of two aspirants jostling for one seat. How can you now say PDP is dead? Our leaders are intact. APC has so many factions.”

Olaitan who defected to PDP with Engineer Funsho Williams promised to improve the coastal locations in Lagos Island.

“Nigeria is a maritime nation. Lagos state is a maritime hub. Why should we be talking of unemployment? I’ll eradicate joblessness amongst our teeming youths by advocating the use of our water ways effectively, creating cottage industries for our women and encouraging tourism. Since the global community is talking entrepreneurial skills, boat building will be encouraged. I’ll engage the youths to careers of the 21st century that will eradicate the menace of the area boys.”

Williams said her chances of winning in the 2019 election in Lagos Island Constituency 1 remain very bright.

“My chances of winning the House of Representatives election in 2019 are bight. I am not a stranger here. This is the first time a native of the community, a grassroots politician and a mother will be offering herself to bring the past glories of the famous Olowogbowo back to her constituents. I contested in 2007 and came second in PDP primaries. So this time around, I know I’ve gathered enough skills to improve the lot of my people.”

She urged the leaders to support her ambition.

“It’s about genuine service to the community. They should know that it’s a four year mortgage if they don’t get it right and if they get it right, it will transform their lives. They should vote wisely for a better change and representation where prosperity will come into the community.

Williams also spoke about the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must improve the waste management services we have now. We’ve never had it this bad. It is near epidemic state. The trailer menace has crippled businesses and the bridges are becoming weak by the day. These two problems were addressed by Babatunde Fashola with promptness He is just after amassing wealth at the expense of the masses.”

“President Muhammadu Buhari is living in past glory of Mr. No Nonsense. Sycophants are taking advantage of him. In the civil service rules, 65yrs is the statutory retirement age. Why is he clinging to power like most African leaders when we have the younger generation that can turn around the economy of the nation? I personally feel pained that a maritime nation with so many opportunities is talking about recession and unemployment. Our GDP should be one of the best because be it solid minerals, agricultural products and good weather. We are richly endowed but we lack strong, effective institutions that can curb the excesses of our people. The wrong person is in the right office all because of the Nigerian factor. We need proactive, dynamic youths that can compete with the global younger generation presidents.”

“We are looking at ideas and representation. It is not about political party. It is about the individual and the development of the community” she added.

By Violet Olaitan Williams

Barr. West condemns automatic ticket for PDP governors and national assembly members

Barr. West condemns automatic ticket for PDP governors and national assembly members

The purported resolution of the National Caucus of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, that all sitting governors and members of the National Assembly on the platform of the party should be returned unopposed has been condemned.

Barrister Soalabo West in a statement Sunday said the resolution diametrically precludes interested party members from vying for those positions.

According to him, “such blanket endorsement of sitting governors and members of the National Assembly for whatever reason is patently undemocratic and completely shuts the door to internal party democracy.”

Continuing he said: “On my part, some members of the Riverine Communities in Rivers State resident in Abuja, who had volunteered to pay for both my expression of intent and nomination forms tried without success for two days to purchase the interest and nomination forms at the PDP national secretariat, at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.”

He expressed dismay that officers at the National Secretariat bluntly refused to accept the bank draft that was issued in the name of the party, ostensibly, to prevent him from exercising his fundamental right to freely participate in the democratic processes leading to the 2019 general elections.”

He also noted that their representatives were later informed by another officer at a late hour on Friday to effect a Bank Transfer through a POS terminal payable to the PDP which was unusual, a worrisome deviation from what had been the practice and tradition of obtaining both interest and nomination forms through the payment of Bank Draft.

Barr. West stated categorically that the PDP in shutting the door to democratic participation in the PDP governorship primary elections, has willfully opened the door for him and his supporters to seek for other avenues to fully exercise their rights to participate, unhindered, in the processes leading to the 2019 general elections.

“It is clear that there is a grand plan to bar any candidate from the Riverine Communities of the state in participating in the governorship primary of the PDP in furtherance of the 2019 gubernatorial

election. This is unfair” he declared.

“In the meantime our options are open as we believe in the Almighty God who gives power to continue to guide our steps. For we are indeed, fighting a just and equitable cause” said Barr. West.

Signed:

Nkemjika Horsefall

Mediadept Barr West