Mr Sam Onuigbo,  former House of Representatives member for Ikwuano/Umuahia South/North, says President Bola Tinubu remains  an indisputable beacon of Nigeria’s democracy.

Onuigbo said  this in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday,  ahead of  Nigeria’s   commemoration of Democracy Day, slated for June 12.

He saluted President Tinubu’s bold and patriotic sacrifices during the days of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), in the fight for democratic governance.

“Tinubu is an indisputable beacon of democracy. He joined NADECO in  making sacrifices for Nigeria to restore democracy.

“In 1999, he was elected governor of Lagos  State and he brought hope and transformation through democratic leadership and positioned the state as a mega city in the whole world,” he said.

The ex-rep, who is also member,  representing South East in  the North East Development Commission (NEDC), lauded Tinubu for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

According him, Tinubu sustained efforts in building blocks to build democratic platforms that benefitted other states of the nation.

Onuigbo said that Tinubu’s role in entrenching democratic tenets remained unequaled.

He commended Tinubu for working tirelessly to  enthrone  successive democratic governments not just at the state levels but at the Federal level.

“This is a man who worked for the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and some state governors and patiently waited till 2023 to ascend the presidency.”

Onuigbo, therefore,  urged the southeast in particular, and Nigerians at large to ensure continuity by re-electing Tinubu , come 2027.

He expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying  they were hinged on enduring and long term effects.

Onuigbo,  who reiterated the need for Tinubu’s re-election, said it  was necessary for him to continue his good works.

He explained that  removal of fuel subsidy is now yielding results with increased revenue being injected into the economy.

Onuigbo, particularly, expressed gratitude to Tinubu for creating  the South East Development Commission (SEDC)  aimed at addressing  devastations of the civil war.

He described SEDC as a panacea to age long marginalisation of the southeast since after the civil war.

The lawmaker, however, advised the leadership of SEDC to judiciously manage their resources  to develop the zone.

He said: “There is need to reposition our agriculture, need for integrated railway line for the entire  southeast to boost commercial and entrepreneurial activities.” (NAN) 

 Mr Nyesom Wike,  the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would survive its current adversity.

Wike stated this when he hosted the party’s stakeholders under the aegis of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, in Abuja on Monday.

Some of the stakeholders included former Gov.

Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu, former Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Also at the meeting were the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda.

Former federal and state lawmakers and some zonal and state party executives among others equally attended the meeting.

The minister, while addressing the stakeholders emphasised that the PDP should not be allowed to die, describing the concerned stakeholders as those who believe in the survival of the party.

“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party, not just talking on television or in the newspapers, but committed to the party at various levels,” he said.

He argued that the activities of the G5 Governors had stabilised the country, stressing the need to respect the constitutions of the party and Nigeria.  

“You may like us, you may hate us; the truth of the matter is if G5 did not take the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis.

“It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was, but the right thing had to be done, and we still stand by that decision.

“We have continued to emphasize that the party’s constitution and that of the country should be respected.

“If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t have been where we are today,” he said.

Wike stressed that as an opposition party, members of the PDP should not continue to act with impunity, adding that no opposition party acts with impunity.

“Ours is to continue to pacify people and bring them together and desist from saying that they should go to hell.

“Let us not allow greed; let us not allow ego to kill out party,” he advised

On his part, Ortom noted that he who pays the piper dictates the tune and challenged anyone in Nigeria to tell Nigerians who has contributed to the growth of the PDP more than Wike.

He said that President Bola Tinubu understands that the country should not be a one-party state, which was why he appointed Wike as the FCT minister.

“For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes and that is why we are where we are today”, he said. (NAN)

Political stakeholders from Lafia Local Government Area have urged the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to contest the Nasarawa governorship position in 2027.They made their position known at a stakeholders’ engagement on Monday in Lafia.Speaking at the event, Prof.

Mohammed Mainoma, former Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said the decision to urge Adamu to contest for governorship was borne out of his pedigree in public service. Mainoma, chairman of the occasion, described Adamu as an administrator par excellence throughout his career in the police force.He maintained that Nasarawa State needed such a man who had distinguished himself both nationally and internationally to steer its affairs to greatness.“We want him to come and replicate what he did at Interpol for more than 10 years, and as Nigeria’s IGP, to ensure peace and security in Nasarawa State.“We want Nasarawa State to leverage his wealth of experience and international connections to ensure rapid growth and development of the state.“Adamu is bold, accountable, knowledgeable, and resourceful to steer the ship of Nasarawa State to greater heights in 2027.“We therefore, urge him to heed the clarion call of the people he is so passionate about, to contest the governorship in the next general election,” he said.Also, Barr. Musa Hussaini, an associate of the former IG, said that since 1999, there had never been a time when key stakeholders in Lafia would unanimously endorse a particular person until now.“I dare say that we have never experienced an occasion where the entire Lafia LGA will rise in one voice to endorse a particular person.“There is no voice of dissent, no criticism, everybody that is supposed to be somebody in Lafia is here to attest and to support the endorsement of our governor to become in 2027,” he said.He charged the people to do their bit by registering to be members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their wards, to participate actively in the electoral process that would ensure Adamu’s victory in 2027.Hussaini noted that at the last count, 30 imminently qualified persons had indicated interest in vying for the Nasarawa State governorship position.He, however, pointed out that Adamu stands tall above them given his leadership qualities and experience.In his remarks, Alhaji Abubakar Sarki-Dahiru, member representing Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said Adamu deserved to be Nasarawa State governor in 2027 describing him as peace-loving and accommodating.He urged the former IG to accept the call to contest and charged the people to rally around him to succeed for the betterment of the state.Responding, Retired IG Adamu said that although he had no intention to contest for the governorship of Nasarawa State, he would not turn down the request of the people since he had led all his life serving the people.He, however, said that he would still be consulting with stakeholders across the state in the interest of Nasarawa. (NAN).