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2023: PDP ‘ll Restore Hope and Rebuild Nigeria – Ayu

By Jude Opara, Abuja
Consensus National Chairmanship nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has said his mission as leader of the main opposition party would be to rebuild hope and trust among Nigerians and make the country great again.
“We don’t need Military dictators, we can rebuild trust, rebuild hope and make Nigeria great again.
“Nigerians should not lose faith in Nigeria.
There are countries that devastated and brought down during the second World War like Japan and Germany. They have rebuilt their countries, PDP is on a mission to rebuild” Ayu said.The former Senate President in the aborted Third Republic spoke at his Maitama-Abuja residence, when he received a delegation of Academics, professionals and political associates from Benue state, led by Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, Prof Iyorwuese Hagher.
Stakeholders of PDP from 19-Northern states had last week picked Ayu, as consensus candidate of the PDP for National Chairmanship at the forthcoming National Convention scheduled for October 30 in Abuja.
The Sole National Chairmanship candidate said his adoption was a clear indication that Nigeria was not as divided as perceived in some quarters.
Citing his cordial relationship with some reputable political leaders from the North, who were of Fulani extraction, Ayu said said there was doubt about their commitment to the unity of Nigeria just as he said nobody could fault previous Presidents of the country like Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Umaru Yar’Adua about their commitment to development of Nigeria.
He, however, blamed the current polarization of the country along religious and ethnic lines to failure of leadership by the Buhari administration.
For instance, he faulted the Al Progressives Congress(APC)-led Federal Government for appointing only two Christians out of 28 Ministers from the North to head Ministries of Women Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Duties and observed that similar acts by the Buhari administration were creating more divisions among the people.
He regretted that majority of Fulani people in the North, whom he described as “good people” were being maligned because of the actions of a few people in governmental positions in the present dispensation.
Ayu, who previously served as Ministerin various Ministries said it was disheartening that the distortions in the nation’s economy were eclipsing the private sector and creating more poverty and “massive hunger” in the land.
“The private sector is suffering most because there is no proper planning in the economy. You cannot plan with the naira tumbling everyday. We must come together and utilize the youth, the human resource to rebuild.
“We in PDP believe in our Youth, they have capacity and are our best asset” he stated.
The former Senate President recalled that when he served as Minister of Industry in the Obasanjo administration, it was discovered that Nigeria had about 5,000 Medical Consultants in the US alone and also had similar number of medical and health professionals in UK and South Africa.
These professionals, he said would be attracted back to develop the country as he ws hopeful to lead PDP to reclaim power at the centre.
He said PDP was poised to return to power at the centre with him as National Chairman as the leadership, which recently assiled the party was over.
“The crisis is over and there is no bickering in the party. The national party positions are being filled by consensus. We will build on that as soon as the convention is over, Ayu pledged” and assured that “the original PDP people who migrated to APC will come back.”
He solicited prayers from religious leaders in the country to enable the PDP succeed in its mission to rebuild the nation.
Leader of delegation and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to Canada, Prof Hagher said the meeting was to “rejoice with you as you gain momentum to emerge as National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) at the next convention of the party.”
“Today is a moment of history. True and qualitative change is here at last. We are encouraged that the change we desire and need in our country will come through a genuine patriot, an uncompromising defender of the sanctity of democratic governance and selfless political leader, whose presence is unmistakable on the political firmament of our great country,” Hagher stated.
He said “the progressive -minded people of Nigeria” had seen the in-coming National Chairman, with qualities of a great leader.
“You are always called upon at the nation’s trying moments and you have never disappointed.
“Many years ago, when you held the high office of President of the Senate, you were called upon to defend democracy. You stood firmly for the actualization of the June12, 1993 election won by Chief MKO Abiola.
“This was at expense of your personal comfort and risk to your political career. You paid the the price in various ways. But you never gave up,” Hagher recalled.
The two-time former Minister said Ayu’s “imminent ascendency to the leadership of the PDP” was by no way his personal ambition.
“Nigeria is not only at a crisis point, the very existence of the country is being challenged by multiple crises, violent agitations for self-determination, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping etc.
“The government of the day has failed woefully to stem the tide and the people of Nigeria are anxiously looking to a new direction for rescue.
“We are pleased to note that at this point, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again found you worthy to lead the initiative to rescue Nigeria. Like in the past, we are very confident that you will discharge this assignment with distinction,” the prolific Author said.
He pledged the support of Benue professionals, academics and former Diplomats to avail the next Chairman their skills and experiences to successfully pilot the affairs of the party.
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NAICOM Hails Passage of Insurance Reform Bill by House of Reps

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has commended the Federal House of Representatives for the speedy passage of the Insurance Reform Bill.
The Senate had in December 2024 passed the same bill.
NAICOM said in a statement yesterday that “This is a milestone achievement that marks yet another significant step towards transforming the insurance industry in Nigeria”.
“The Commission is enthusiastic about the prospects of the bill receiving assent from Mr.
President, which will pave the way for the implementation of its provisions.“As the apex regulator of the insurance industry, NAICOM is committed to ensuring that the sector contributes positively to Nigeria’s financial landscape.
We believe that by the time the Insurance Reform Bill is signed into Law, it will have a profound impact on the industry, leading to improved penetration, increased public confidence, and enhanced competitiveness”, the statement added..“We salute the leadership of the National Assembly for their efforts in passing the bill and look forward to its assent by Mr. President. We are confident that the Reform Bill will usher in a new era of growth and development for the insurance industry in Nigeria”, NAICOM said.
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Underage Involvement in kidnapping, Banditry Worrisome, Says Niger CJ

From Dan Amasingha, Minna
The Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik has raised the alarm over the involvement of teenagers in the heinous crime of kidnapping and banditry activities in the state.
Speaking at the end of her working visit to the Minna old Correctional Custody centre, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik described the increasing proportion of the teenagers’ involvement in banditry activities as worrisome.
The State Chief Judge described the trends as disturbing and worrisome calling on the security agencies to step up in curtailing the ugly trend.
“You people are making travelers on the highways to be afraid, you keep on terrorising innocent travelers and residents to be in perpetual fear,” she told the teenagers at the Minna old Correctional Custody during her working visit to the centre.
According to the CJ, the under-aged involvement in armed banditry and kidnapping activities is posing a serious fear and threat to travelers and residents across the State.
“What do you use the ransome you collect from your victims for? How much do you collect so far from your victims? Why can’t you engage in meaningful ventures than kidnapping innocent victims for ransome,” she questioned.
Most of the kidnapping suspects awaiting trial at the Minna old Correctional Custody are all teenagers between the ages of eighteen and nineteen.
The activities of these teenagers, according to the Chief Judge, are a serious security threat to the country particularly in the North.
However, the CJ could not attend to their cases as their trial is still ongoing in court while those that admitted to their involvement in kidnappings were summarily convicted during the exercise.
It was observed that most of the kidnapping suspects awaiting trial are all Fulanis, mostly teenagers.
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Bala, Obi Hint at Opposition Alliance Ahead of 2027

By Joel Oladele, Abuja
With the 2027 presidential race already casting shadows over Nigeria’s politics, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has signaled a potential alliance with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to strengthen opposition unity and push for good governance.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours yesterday at the Bauchi Presidential Lodge, both leaders emphasized the need to transcend party, regional and religious divisions to address critical national challenges such as poverty, insecurity and economic recovery.
This is coming a few days after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing “irreconcilable differences” with the party’s current leadership.
DAILY ASSET reported that the move, announced in a resignation letter submitted to his local ward in Kaduna State on Tuesday, signals turbulence within the APC, where el-Rufai’s past critiques of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have stoked tensions.
Amid the ongoing political realignment, Mohammed, a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Obi as the leader of the opposition and affirmed his readiness to work with him to present a credible alternative to Nigerians ahead of the next election cycle.
“We discussed state by state challenges and I feel highly appreciative of what he is doing as the leader of the opposition because whether we like it or not, he is the leader of the opposition now in Nigeria.
“I want to say at this level, not to make some of those doubting Thomases and mischievous minds to pre-empt what we are doing, that I’m ready to work with Peter Obi.
“We will make sure we come together, close ranks, bring good governance to the country, give vibrant opposition with knowledge, timelines, visions in such a manner that we will rescue and recover our country.
“Our coming together is a message and the message is going to resonate because all our colleagues, the PDP governors, are behind this kind of journey because it is a transcendental one.
“We are coming together to work together irrespective of party, region, religion or any other thing,” said Mohammed.
In his remarks, Obi said he decided to visit Mohammed to discuss Nigeria’s issues and consult him, being the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ forum and a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s politics today.
“It’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue to go on as we talk about the future of this country.
“We have to discuss issues happening in the North. I have told the governor today that the North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country.
“There is poverty in Nigeria. We have to deal with the issue of poverty and until you solve poverty, then you can talk about criminality,” he said.
He added that the country needed to invest hugely in critical areas to put people out of poverty so as to reduce criminality in the society.
Obi and Mohammed reportedly held a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours before briefing the press, signaling what could be a new phase in Nigeria’s opposition politics.