NEWS
APC Chieftain Berates Sylva over Party’s Setbacks, Electoral Misfortunes in Bayelsa
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state, Hon. Sunday Frank-Oputu, has taken a swipe at the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, for the setbacks and electoral misfortunes experienced by the party in the State.
Oputu further said that the recent misfortunes of the party were because of Sylva’s alleged imposition of candidates, running of the party as sole owner, and playing god.
Recall that a Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt in Rivers State had thrown out the appeal by the Bayelsa state chapter of the APC over the subsisting injunction restraining it from conducting the ward, local government and state congresses.
Frank-Oputu noted that despite the fact that Sylva is the undeniable founding father of the APC in the State, other stakeholders of the party are not happy with his style of leadership which they claim is tailored towards lording it over other members.
The chieftain, who was reacting to the dwindling fortunes of the party following the Court of Appeal ruling on the conduct of the ward, local government, and states congresses in the state, accused Sylva of running of the Party in the state as a private business, saying that such is causing disharmony and crises in the party.
He said; “ First, I believe every member of the APC will be happy if these continuous setbacks are settled and APC move forward as a formidable family and stand strong to contest elections. The area that is not comfortable in all of these issues is the purported leader of the party. Because of his governorship ambition, he is saying that whatever anybody does or says does not mean anything to him. He believes that whatever he has done is final. And when you do things like that meaning you are not ready for settlement.
“Anybody who is ready for settlement, you rather move to settle with them. But Sylva rather feels after whatever he has done feels it is the aggrieved people that should come to him. He is playing god in the affairs of APC in Bayelsa. And that is unacceptable. Nobody, not even me, will accept such behaviour. It has never happened. The founders of most political parties are not the ones controlling the party today.
“Because Sylva is the founder of APC in Bayelsa does not make him the owner. A political party is a public institution and any member that joined today has every right as any founding father. The way he is running the APC seems the party is a private company is registered in his name. The party belongs to every Bayelsan and we are all founding members of the party”.
He therefore advised Sylva to stop laying claims that the state owes him another tenure as governor, saying that such claims are wrong, unfounded, and shameful ”if Bayelsans wants to elect you, they would. He should stop claiming Bayelsans are owing him a tenure. The people are the owners of power and not an individual.”
Frank-Oputu also argued that the incessant leadership misfortune of the APC in the state is self-inflicted by those who wanted to pocket the party structure to the detriment of other stakeholders, adding that it was irresponsible for a party to disregard a valid court order restraining it from going ahead with the ward, local government, and state congresses.
“They didn’t consider the implications of their actions. Why should only one man want to decide everything that happens in a political party? We are equal stakeholders and so, we have the legitimate rights to participate in all processes that will lead to the emergence of our State Executive. Why someone should shut the door against us. A simple consultation and harmonization would have saved us from these setbacks,” he concluded.
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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