POLITICS
2023: Atiku/Okowa Ticket ‘ll Wrest Power From APC —Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate says only the PDP will wrest from the All Progressives Congress in 2023 general elections.
Okowa stated this while addressing the people of Delta and party faithful who turned out enmasse to receive him at the Grand Reception organised by the State PDP on Thursday in Asaba after his emergence as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
The governor, who appreciated God and thanked Nigerians for his elevation and support, said he was grateful to the Party Presidential Flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for selecting and nominating him as the vice presidential candidate.
According to Okowa, the Atiku/Okowa joint ticket is for victory, hope and the only ticket that will rescue power from the APC led government come 2023.
He said that the nation needed to pray, be resilient and be hopeful, adding that the process of rebuilding the country and give hope to the youth, women and indeed to Nigerians has begun.
Okowa advised youths not to be carried away by the euphoria of the time but remain committed to work with PDP for the positive change that would come.
He said that he had in the past seven years, with the support of youths, built Delta State, adding that this would be replicated in the national level should the party emerge winner.
The governor said that the PDP-led government, if returned to power, would tackle insecurity, create jobs and rebuild the economy and ensure that education remained key to end this incessant strikes in federal universities and other institutions.
“Atiku has been talking on the need to restructure the country and the need to engage the private sector to provide opportunities for the youth and women.
“We wants to assure the private sector that a new hope is coming and we shall tackle the issues of insecurity by providing jobs for the youth.
“We cannot do this alone but with the support of the women and youths; we shall bring back Nigeria among respected nations in the world.
” So, I urge all of you to go out there to register and collect your Permanent Voters’ Cards and by the grace of God we will win in 2023,” Okowa said.
The Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elemelu, the Ohaneze Indigbo Youths and that of the Women wings, led by Mr Okonna Nwike and Rita Daniels among other groups, gave their support for the Atiku/Okowa joint ticket.
Governor Okowa was accompanied home by the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu and members of the party’s working committee.
Also, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, the state party Chairman, Mr Kingsley Esiso, traditional rulers, clergymen, party faithful and gospel singers, were on ground to receive Okowa in a worship and praise to God for the governor.(NAN)
POLITICS
2027: I have No Presidential Ambition – Yahaya Bello

Former governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Friday said he won’t contest against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 because he has no presidential ambition.
In a statement signed by Michael Ohiare, his Media Director, Bello expressed surprise and shock over a video post of his 2022 rally, claiming he had started campaigning against President Tinubu for 2027.
The statement read: “While we state categorically, that our principal, Bello, has no 2027 presidential ambition, we want to also stress his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Tinubu come 2027.
“The indices cannot lie. The President and his team have done exceedingly well for the country, despite global challenges.
On merit, he deserves the support of well meaning Nigerians.“Nigerians should disregard the mischievous post insinuating a fresh presidential support rally as what it is – a senseless post by a confused, witless mind
“The fabricators forgot that the 2022 dates are boldly written on the banners on display. Yet, they expect reasonable people not to see this as the handiwork of detractors. ” he said.
Ohiare described the post as a “senseless post” by mischief makers, who have no other job than to fabricate falsehood and disseminate same to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
According to him, the fabricators have tried so hard in their “bring-him-down-at-all-costs” mission against Bello but have always failed woefully.
The director stated that it was not the first time detractors and their co-travellers would fly absolute falsehood with the aim of setting the former governor against President Tinubu.
“But this latest slant of reposting a 2022 rally afresh and insinuating that it is just happening, connotes nothing but sheer mischief.
“Nigerians should be wary of witless persons who concoct stories without thinking, just to satisfy the interests of their paymasters, ” he said
He stressed that the post was out of desperate bid to create crisis where there is none. (NAN)
POLITICS
2027: APC Governors Endorse Tinubu

The Progressive Governors Forum on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit held in Abuja endorsed President Bola Tinubu as sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The endorsement, which was moved by Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the forum Chairman, was seconded by Gov.
Uba Sani of Kaduna State.Uzodimma, who spoke on behalf of the forum, emphasised commitment to mobilising resources and ensuring victory for Tinubu in their respective states.
The governors expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and reforms, promising to deliver their states in the upcoming elections.
This endorsement follows similar moves by other APC regional leaders, including the North Central governors who recently passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s administration, praising his developmental strides and inclusive governance approach.
(NAN)POLITICS
Senate Passes Bill Establishing FMC Adikpo into Law

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Senate yesterday passed into law a bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Center, Adikpo in Benue state.
The bill which was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North East) was read for the third and final time during plenary with an unanimous approval by the legislatures when it was committed to the Committee of the whole.
The bill, according to Udende, seeks to establish a federal medical center in Adikpo which will not only cater for the health needs of the people of Benue North East senatorial zone but Benue state and Nigeria in general and beyond.
“The bill awaiting presidential assent seeks to bring medical care closer to the people, especially in times of emergency.
The distance between Adikpo , a Nigerian boarder town and Makurdi, Benue State capital where a Federal Medical Center exists is over 300 kilometers, so patients who need medical care within the Adikpo axis are on a danger line, hence my resolve to use the instrumentality of the parliament to address the troubling health challenge”, senator Udende said.He explained that the people of Kwande who share boundaries with the Republic of Cameroon most often are required to seek medical attention outside their country and in most cases are frustrated or cannot afford the cost.
According to senator Udende, the strategic location of the health facility will provide potential economic benefits of trade and cultural exchange, giving its proximity to the Republic of Cameroon.
He stressed that the Federal Medical Centre will also trigger infrastructure development, healthcare and open up the locality in terms of education while expressing concerns that the absence of such institutions on the side of the Nigerian border town has grossly caused underdevelopment.
The senator however commended the senate Committee on Health and Tertiary Institutions for conducting a public hearing which gave rise to the final parliamentary journey of the bill.