…NWC denies knowledge of today’s PCC list, rally timetable
…Accuses Okupe of causing problems for Peter Obi
By Ezeocha Nzeh
There are strong indications that the Labour Party (LP), may have landed itself in fresh crisis over the composition of its Presidential Campaign Council and the recent release of the party’s rally timetable ahead of the 2023 presidential elections
His is even as the LP presidential campaign Organization has disclosed that it would inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday (Today) in Abuja
The Doyin Okupe-led Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organization, which had earlier released its timetable for election rally, only yesterday, sent out invitations for the official unveiling of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council.
However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has come out to dismiss the planned inauguration, as it denied any knowledge of both the rally timetable and list of the PCC that is expected o inaugurated today
The Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, who spoke o The AUTHORIY on phone, said that the party was not officially involved in the planning nor has it sanctioned the programme re;leased by the Doyin Okupe led campaign Organization, adding that it only received invitation from the campaign Organization, just as any other invitee
An invitation card signed by the Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe, announced that the unveiling ceremony will take place at 12:00 Noon, at the Golden Hall, Chelsea Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja.
The invitation tagged: “The Director General Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe Cordially Invites you to a Pre-Campaign World Press Conference and the presentation of the Presidential Campaign list …” was signed by Emeka Edmond Onwuocha, on behalf of Okupe.Arabambi in his reaction warned that Okupe could be causing problems for the party’s presidential candidate, Peer Obi, from the way he is handling he issues relating to his campaign
“As I speak to you, the Labour Party has not okayed any list of members of the Presidential Campaign Council because there are yet-to-be-resolved issues.
“Most of us are of the opinion that our campaign council must be all-embracing and enjoy the national spread. We must not repeat the mistakes of the political parties we want to replace.
“I’m hearing about this (event) from you. The so called list is from Doyin Okupe and his cohorts who want to hijack Labour Party
He wondered what has been the pedigree of Okupe in politics, apart from been a Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that could make him feel that the LP NWC would be ignored in carrying out such activities, adding he has no capacity to relegate he LP NWC to the background in the activities leading to the election of Peer Obi as the next president6 of Nigeria
Describing Okupe as an agent of division, the LP National Publicity Secretary stated further that “Our presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed, are people who believe in carrying peoples along, they mean well for Nigeria. When did Okupe and his group joined our party that,? He just joined us from PDP because of Peer Obi, now he would be trying to ignore those of us who gave him the platform. He met us in the party and we will not allow him to cause problem for us as we are sure of victory with our presidential candidate, who is of no blemish
“We are having our National Working Committee meeting on Thursday, that is where all these issues concerning the campaign would be discussed.
Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, had earlier in said in a statement on Monday that the timetable was neither authorised by the LP leadership nor its presidential candidate, Peter ObiThe statement read, “The Labour Party attention has been drawn to a purported Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Rallies released into circulation.
“I hereby deny the authenticity of this campaign council programme as Labour Party leadership is not aware of it.
“It is therefore a means to set the record straight that the Labour Party whose Presidential Candidate is Mr. Peter Gregory Obi has neither authorized anyone to issue any campaign council programme on behalf of the party nor has anyone from the campaign council seek the nod of the party leadership over same subject matter.” The statement read.
Abayomi therefore, called on all Nigerians and media organizations to discountenance the said campaign council rallies.
ADC expels Ex Oyo Speaker over support for Makinde
First female Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, has been expelled by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over her alleged support for the second term ambition of Governor Seyi Makinde
.
The party accused Sunmonu and some other party stalwarts in the state of being to loyalty to Seyi Makinde, the state governor.
A statement jointly signed by the ADC chairman in Oyo state, Adeoti Aderoju and Bimpe Adelowo, the party’s publicity secretary, announced the expulsion of the former Speaker from the party.
Also expelled from the ADC incuded Wasiu Olatunbosun, the commissioner for information, Michael Koleoso, Niyi Adebisi, K.K. Obisesan, Kareem Toyin, Bunmi Olabode, Sola Oluokun, Oni Michael, Musibau Adejare, Pastor S.P. Akintokun, Bola Amusat — and other appointees of Makinde from ADC.
“We have been following some events within Oyo state ADC since December 24, 2021. Such events include their (expelled members) support for the second term bid of Seyi Makinde without any due consultation with national headquarters of our great party,” the statement said in part.
He former speaker, Sunmonu also represented Oyo central senatorial district in the senate between 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where she served as the chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, before she defected to the ADC in 2018 after falling out with the late Abiola Ajimobi, the former governor of the state.
National Honour: PDP Governors’ Forum congratulates Govs Okowa, Ugwuanyi and Ishaku.
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Governors elected on the Platform of Peoples Democratic Party also known as PDP Governors Forum has congratulated PDP Governors who were conferred with the prestigious National Honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger, (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, Today, Tuesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Hon. CID Maduabum quoted the chairman of the Forum and governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (CFR) as saying that the it is fitting that the nation has recognized the sterling qualities and the great contributions of these eminent and patriotic citizens of Nigeria.
According to the statement, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has distinguished himself as a Senator and an administrator per excellence, having changed the business, economic, social and political landscape of Delta State as a two term Governor. He said that Okowa raised the bar of Delta State politically with his excellent performance.
He went further to state that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, the serving two term Goveror of Taraba State has rendered impeccable services that have touched the lives of the people of the State in a remarkable way.
He said that Ishaku also served as a federal Minister, a position he held with distinction. He said that the governor is currently a Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP .
The statement also eulogized Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his service and high performance adding that he has enthroned peace, stability, social and economic transformation in the State. He said that he was a long-standing member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of its Marine Transport Committee and currently on the ballot for the Senate on the platform of the PDP.
The Forum joins the family and friends of the three Governors to celebrate them and wish them well in all their future undertakings.
It would be recalled that 437 Nigerians and foreigners were on Tuesday conferred with National Honours Awards by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
Lagos Monarch disowns wife over deputy governorship ticket
A traditional ruler in Lagos state, the Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamoroudeen Animashaun, has rejected the decision of his wife, Olori Morenike Abeni Animashaun, to run as the Deputy governorship candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Lagos state.
The Epe monarch in a statement issued in Lagos, expressed his dissatisfaction with his wife’s position, saying that she neither discussed her political aspiration with him nor secured his consent before contesting the primary.
The statement reads:” My attention has been drawn to the recent political activities of Olori Morenike Abeni Animashaun, especially her affiliation with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). I wish to aver, for the avoidance of doubt, that she has never discussed with me her aspiration to the office of Deputy Governor nor have I given her my consent to run for any elective office in the first place.”
Oba Animashaun noted that as a member of the Lagos Traditional Council, he was expected to support the government of the day in its bid to deliver dividends of democracy to his people, rather than getting involved in partisan politics.
2023: Former Defence spokesman canvasses Support for Obi/Datti Presidency
By Agunwa Uzendu, Abuja
Former Defence spokesman, Maj Gen John Enenche, (Rtd) has called on Nigerians’ to vote for the Labour Party and it’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his deputy, Ahmed Baba Datti in the 2023 general election in the country.
The former Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, (DMO) Gen Enenche in a clarion call in Abuja on Tuesday said after being trained by the Federal government with tax payers money, he and other like-able fellows in his category, couldn’t afford to keep quiet over national issues as who to govern the country at this given period saying: “From my humble self, Major General Enenche John Enenche, it is Obi/Datti for the Presidency, come 2023. Please let’s take a que.”
He said: “Highly esteemed senior citizens and colleagues, I am Major General John Enenche (Rtd).
“With the attainment of this rank in the Nigerian Military, it is morally demanding on me to add value to the corrupt political environment of our dear country by speaking out.
“In the same vein, I assumed that a good number of privileged Nigerians are also in this category cutting across the academia to the public and private sectors.
“My second assumption is that, all of us in this classification have the ears of the over one million suffering Nigerians.
“Thirdly, I assumed that people out there are expecting to hear from us for guidance to make up their minds about the kind of candidate they should vote for in the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Recall that the country invest so much to make us what we’re today.
“It is against this background that I’m calling on all in this group to pay Nigerians back by speaking out to the populace in order to give them direction. This is crucial in the political journey of our dear country.”
He further stressed that there should be no sitting on the fence adding; “The expression should be specific, loud and clear.”
