By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

South-South zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has annulled the purported suspension of the Minister of State (Petroleum) Heineken Lokpobiri by the party’s executive in his local government in Bayelsa State.

In a statement by the Zonal Legal Adviser of the, Chukwuemeke Ogbuobodo, the party said the APC executive in Lokpobiri’s Ward lacks the power to suspend him as the action runs afoul of provisions of the APC constitution.

The APC South-South Zonal officers described the action as “illegal, null and void,” contending that the local government area executive cannot be a judge in its matter.

Ogbuobodo referred the local government council party executive and “whoever that is sponsoring it, to see article 21.

3 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (a) (b) (c) (d) and (e) of the party’s Constitution and see the procedure for hearing and determination of complaints or allegations.”

He also warned the local council executive that they are not above the law and not to see any other person as beneath it; “APC is not a party for supermen but a party guided by rules of law.

Recall that the APC in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor local government areas in separate press briefings had last week purportedly suspended Lokpobiri and the 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the party in Bayelsa State, David Lyon.

But Ogbuobodo warned the persons behind the purported suspensions to be mindful that the entire executives in the state were invalidated by the decision of the Bayelsa State High Court in Suit No YHC/16/2022.

“As a consequence, the decision by the so-called LG Executive of APC is unknown to both the party’s Constitution and the laws of the land.”

He stated that to avoid this kind of unwholesome intervention by imposters in the affairs of the party in Bayelsa State given the current vacuum created by the judgment of the High Court of Bayelsa State in suit no. YHC/16/2022 and as a law-abiding entity, party chieftains in the South-South zone would now move swiftly to get the APC National Working Committee, NWC to appoint a caretaker committee to help oversee the party’s activities in the state in the interim pending the election of a substantive state executive.

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep sorrows over the tragic petrol tanker explosion which resulted in the death of over 150 people with many others injured in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The party in a statement by its Spokesman, Hon.

Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the explosion in order to take measures to ensure safer transportation and prevent recurrence of such sad incidents.

“This is another sad commentary on the wave of calamitous events that have befallen our nation as a result of worsening infrastructure, economic hardship and social disorientation in the last nine years.

“Our party is saddened that innocent and heavily deprived Nigerians especially our youths and bread winners of families continue to bear the ugly brunt of misgovernance in our country,” the statement said, and lauded the efforts and courage of the police, firefighters and other Nigerians who helped to put off the fire and rescued some of the victims.

The PDP commiserated with the Government and people of Jigawa State and prays to God to grant speedy recovery to the injured and fortitude to the families of the deceased.

From Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The Councillor representing Bogoro Ward, Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, Hon Gwandah Simon has renovated nine hand pump boreholes across the Ward.

The Lawmaker, who is better known as Gatan Kowa, said that he was taking the move to tackle water scarcity that is affecting the people of the area over the years.

Simon made this known during the renovation of boreholes in some communities of Bogoro metropolitan, Bom, Kurum Dodo, Kurum Sarauta, Kurum Bakin Kasuwa, Kadunan Bogoro.

He explained that the boreholes developed serious faults that led to the water scarcity witnessed in the area.

He said that the purpose of fixing the damaged boreholes was to enable the people in those wards, especially those who are rearing animals and farmers who are into irrigation.

“Provision of potable water to my ward was one of my campaign promises that is why I started my developmental Project with the provision of water supply.

“I was born in Bogoro C Ward and I know the main problem of my area, since I was a child, so this is the right time for me to be solving the problems one after the other.

According to him, “In the history of Bogoro local government, there is no Ward that is having scarcity of water supply like my Ward, that’s the Bogoro C, which is the headquarters of the local government that is full with people.”

He thanked his people for their support, promising that he will continue to deliver more dividends of democracy in Bogoro C Ward.

Describing water as life, Simon disclosed that the renovated boreholes will solve the water problem which the people have been facing over the years.

He told journalists shortly after the renovation of the boreholes that the need to meet the water needs of his people necessitated the water project which, according to him, will go a long way in meeting the water needs of his constituency.

Simon charged the people of the communities to guard the renovated boreholes against vandals and thieves, assuring of his commitment to providing more amenities that will have direct impact on the lives of the people.

The Councillor thanked the local government chairman, Yakubu Lawi Sumi and the state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for supporting him in so many ways.

In his part, the village head of Bogoro, Nuhu Tafida said “This water project has brought smiles to the faces of our people as their long thirst for clean and consumable water has been quenched.”

The village head advised the people of the affected communities to ensure durability of the renovated boreholes through proper maintenance.