POLITICS
Benue Governorship Aspirant Consults PDP Ward, Kinsmen, Receives Blessing
By David Torough, Makurdi
Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Benue State, a governorship hopeful on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), in the State, Mr. Adikpo Agbatse has consulted with the party’s Agbaikyan ward caucus.
Mr. Agbatse who stated that he was in the governorship race to work together with relevant stakeholders to restore the Benue’s glory, stressed that having served the state in many capacities, he was abreast of the challenges every community in the state faced and promised to use his wealth of experience to lead in restoring the glory of Benue and carry every community along so as to effectively give Benue people their desired development if given the opportunity.
The gubernatorial aspirant emphasized that the general wellbeing of Benue citizens will be his administration’s priority and promised to run a participatory government where every stakeholder will be involved so as to bring the needed development in the state.
In their separate remarks, chairman, Agbaikyan Ward, Hon. Daniel Apera as well as PDP ex-officio Zone A, Mrs. Becky Gaadi, former Chairman of the party, Hon. Peter Humbe, former PDP Chairman in Kwande Local Government, Hon. Adzua Ikyur and PDP leader in Agbaikyan, Hon. Ligon Abeda among others, all appreciated Mr. Agbatse for informing them of his desire and promised to create a level playing field for all aspirants to achieve their goals.
Similarly, Mr. Agbatse interacted with his kinsmen and his immediate community of Umaa, Mbarumun-Nanev in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
He stated that charity begins at home hence it became necessary for him to formally make his ambition known to his kinsmen and to seek their blessing and support as he continue with his consultations.
While narrating his political experience from 1979 till date, Mr. Agbatse said that he will bring the wealth of experience he has garnered over the years to revamp the the glory of the state and bring it to bear on the developmental needs of the people if elected.
Agbatse who has served the state in different capacities, also told his kinsmen that, the governorship race was a collective effort and appealed to them to unite so as to achieve their goals and thanked them for honouring his invitation.
The oldest man in Umaa, Akindii Dogo and other elders including elder Anja Wanyon, Bam Gbe and Leva Akaa all described the decision of their son as a bold step and in the right direction and blessed him as he continue with his consultations, saying that their prayers will always be with him to go and conquer, stressing that God had prepared him from birth to always make them and Benue State proud.
They appreciated Mr. Agbatse for always availing himself to serve humanity and appealed to him to liaise with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so as to mobilize members of the community who are eligible to vote to get registered to enable them vote massively in the 2023 general elections.
On his part, Mr. Terhemba Ibi who spoke on behalf of the youths, advised his fellow young men to be focused, shun political violence and love for money during campaigns but support the right person who will bring the desired development that would better their future.
The former Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, Mr Agbatse also paid an unscheduled visit at the Ikyogen Refugee Camp in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The pioneer Executive Secretary of BSEMA explained that he was moved by the plight of the refugees and his compassion for humanity and humanitarian work over the years to visit the camp so as to have a first-hand knowledge on how they were faring.
While praying God to intervene in their situation, Agbatse encouraged them to remain patient and peaceful, maintaining that just as God rescued the Israelites in the wilderness, He will surely deliver them at the appropriate time.
The humanitarian who has been into orphanage home management for over 17 years, appreciated the United Nations, management of the camp and others for their efforts in taking care of the refugees over the years and called on public-spirited individuals, corporate bodies, government at all levels and non-governmental organizations to come to the aid of the refugees.
He promised his continued support to the refugees and encouraged those who have been supporting them to continue with the good work.
Refugee Camp Chairman, Mr. Ekal Zephaniah and Women leader, Mrs. Ehini Vera Mwuese all appreciated Mr. Agbatse for his visit and prayed to God to give him success in all his endeavours.
A two-term member of Edo House of Assembly, Mr Ojezele Osesua, has dumped Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for All Progressives Congress (APC).
Osesua, representing Esan South-East Constituency, announced his defection on Monday in Benin at a news conference held at the APC state secretariat.
The development came less than two months after PDP lost the state to APC in the governorship election.
NAN also reports that the lawmaker was received by members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party headed by Jarrett Tenebe.
Osesua said that he decided to dump the opposition party over what he called”irreconcilable crisis.”
He said that his defection was like paying back a debt he owed the ruling when he left the party in 2020, after it had sponsored him to win election in 2019.
“In 2019, I was elected into the assembly on the platform of APC. Due to some challenges, I left the party and joined PDP after one year.
“Though I was elected on the PDP platform in 2023, I have been indebted to APC. It is that debt I have come to pay with my defection,” he said.
On his part, the APC chairman commended the legislator for joining the party.
Tenebe described Osesua as a ‘focused, election-winning’ member, adding: “It’s not APC’s fault that PDP has issues.
“You will recall that during the election campaigns, I said our doors were open and the doors are still open,” he said. (NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of politicising the recent stampedes in Abuja, Anambra, and Ibadan, where several lives were tragically lost.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, condemned the PDP’s actions, calling them “grossly indecent, insensitive, and despicable.
”Morka criticised the opposition party for using the national grief over the stampedes to launch a political attack on the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Morka stated, “At a time of national grief over the stampedes that resulted in the deaths of citizens, the PDP seized the moment to engage in callous political chicanery.
“Rather than genuinely commiserate with the victims and their families, the PDP chose to politicise the tragedy, blaming the incidents on the APC government.”
He emphasised that the tragedies had united Nigerians in mourning and reflection, with a collective focus on how the incidents might have been avoided through better planning and organisation.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families,” Morka added.
Morka also rebuked the PDP for exploiting the stampedes to attack the APC, particularly since the current administration was committed to addressing the challenges inherited from nearly two decades of PDP rule.
He reminded the PDP of the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment stampede, which occurred under its administration, where many job seekers lost their lives.
“The PDP’s allegations only serve to remind us of its sordid record of maladministration and incompetence,” Morka said.
He noted that the party’s suggestion that President Tinubu’s administration was not committed to the welfare of Nigerians was “mischievous and out of touch with reality.”
He pointed to the current administration’s efforts to invest in alternative energy sources and the introduction of the Credit Corps scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Morka also highlighted salary reviews for workers and increased allowances for corps members as part of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Morka further highlighted the government’s commitment to provide free and subsidised transportation during the holiday period, approving grants for farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and other humanitarian initiatives.
He asserted that this administration is “the most people-centric in our history.”
He also dismissed the PDP’s claim that the APC’s policies had damaged the economy.
“For years, successive PDP governments operated a phantom economy riddled with distortions and corruption, deceiving Nigerians into believing the economy was thriving.”
Morka commended President Tinubu for suspending his scheduled activities to honour the victims and expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedies.
He wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incidents.(NAN)
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Journalists covering the Senate have honoured Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, with award on highest number of private member Bills sponsorship.
Records on Private Member Bills sponsorship among serving Senators in the 10th National Assembly , obtained from Rules and Business office , indicated that Senator Barau tops with 21 bills within the last 18 months.
One of the 21 private member bills sponsored by Senator Barau was the NorthWest Development Commission Bill which is now an Act of Parliament legalising the creation of North West Development Commission (NWDC) after assented to, by President Bola Tinubu.
Barau in his response to the honour, said it would make him to do more for his constituents in Kano North Senatorial District and Nigerians generally.
”Your recognition of my legislative inputs in the Senate within the last 18 months, particularly on series of development – driven bills sponsored so far, is something that will energize and propel me further to do more.
“Once you are given an award, it’s a kind of telling you to go and do more. To whom much is given, much is expected.
”This to me also is considered as your contribution to making sure that the legislature remains vibrant.
”Once you identify those who are doing well and you honour them through awards of this nature, that will create some kind of competition and will propel others to do more so that they can be recognized at some other time in the future.
”We can’t perform here in the best manner possible, without your contribution to what we are doing. And you are contributing in a very robust way to what we do here, making us as partners in progress for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians .
”So our relationship with you is sine qua non to our success. We can never succeed without you because without you reporting what happens here , Nigerians can’t know what we are doing,“ he said .
Earlier, the Chairman of the Corps, James Itodo, told the DSP that the honour is strictly on performance as contained in the records and not for any other thing.
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