By Jude Opara, Abuja

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has said that their National Leader and Presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso was quoted out of context when he spoke in Gombe concerning the proposed merger of the party and the Labour Party (LP).

National Chairman of the NNPP, Prof. Rufai Alkali in a statement on Tuesday, said contrary to the reports circulating in the media, Kwankwaso did not say that Igbos are only good in business and know only little about politics.

“The attention of the National leadership of the New Nigeria  People’s  Party (NNPP) has been drawn to the  reactions of some Nigerians to a report falsely credited to the National leader and Presidential Candidate of the party, His Excellency, Senator Mohammed Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso on the South East geopolitical zone as regards the 2023 Presidential election.

“According to the report,  Dr. Mohammed  Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while inaugurating the Party’s Gombe State Executive last week, was quoted to have said that the South East (Igbo People) are good in business but at the bottom of politics in Nigeria.

“The said attribution is said to have generated some ill feelings in some political circles in Nigeria, especially between the South East and the NNPP.

“However, as a party that is desirous to change the situation of the country, we believe that no Nigerian of any geopolitical zone, tribe, ethnic nationality, or religious persuasion  is least on the rung of the ladder in the whole effort to bring the desired change in the country.

“The NNPP wishes to categorically state that the statement of its  Presidential Candidate, Senator Kwankwaso at the occasion was situated out of contest, as the NNPP Presidential candidate has always emphasized that the Igbos were frontrunners in the fight for the nation’s struggle for independence, and had produced the first President of the country in the person of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of the Senate, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, former Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, four former Presidents of the Senate from 1999 to date and other top political office holders”.

Alkali also added that the NNPP as a political party believes that it has what it takes like some other political parties to rejuvenate the present situation of the country and will not in any way disparage any zone or people of any political party.

He further stated that the discussions with any political party or individual is an ongoing thing that would bring the desired change of a new Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections. 

“However, the party or its Presidential candidate would not in any way malign any zone or any individual as we believe that NNPP we desire the votes of all the zones and all electorate to govern Nigeria.

“We want to state that NNPP will canvass votes from all geo-political zones to win the 2023 Presidential election and would not in any way consider any zone less as we have supporters and candidates all over the country”.

The crisis rocking the Borno chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another twist on Monday with a faction suspending the state deputy chairman, Alhaji Bunu Satomi and the legal adviser, Mr Abdu Jidda from the party.

A faction led by Satomi had last week suspended the state chairman, Alhaji Zannah Gaddama, for anti-party activities.

But Mr Amos Adziba, the state publicity secretary of the party, said in a statement in Maiduguri on Monday that the action was null and void.

Adziba said that an extraordinary meeting of the party had also suspended Satomi and Jidda from the party.

“The meeting today which was summoned by the state secretary on the directive of the state chairman and had in attendance the state chairman, secretary, members of the state working committee.

“The meeting also had in attendance the 27 local government chairmen and other stakeholders in accordance with section 35 and 36 of our party constitution.

“We resolved as follows; that Satomi is hereby suspended as the state deputy chairman, Mr Peter Sabo to replace and oversee the office affairs of his office pending investigation.

“The Jidda is hereby suspended and replace by Mr Ali Azur with effect from now and to oversee the office affairs of the legal officer pending the investigation,” Adziba said.
He also annouced the suspension of four other members of the party who took part in the meeting that suspended Gaddama from the party.

“We urge party supporters to remain calm and be law abiding as this decision was not taken based on ignorance or prejudice but in accordance with the constitution of the party as we are bent on ensuring the party remains in good shape,” Adziba said. (NAN)

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun Command, has begun psychological assessment for its arms-bearing personnel and new recruits.
The command’s spokesperson Atanda Olabisi made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Osogbo.
Olabisi said that the assessment, which started on Tuesday, was to ascertain the mental, emotional and psychological status of the personnel.

The spokesperson said that the evaluation was being conducted in batches to give a greater  opportunity for one-on-one interactions between the personnel and healthcare experts.
The spokesperson said that the command had cautioned its personnel on handling of weapons, saying that it would not accept any excuse of accidental discharge.

“There is nothing called accidental discharge, as the process of firing a bullet entails certain fundamental principles.
“The exercise is to forestall any unprofessional act of misuse of firearms that may emanate from any uncontrolled emotional outburst.

“This assessment will also be used to determine where our new recruits will be placed professionally,” she said.
Olabisi said that the state Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja urged the personnel to commit themselves to the exercise, adding that Ocheja lauded the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr Ahmed Audi, for  repositioning the corps for excellence.
According to Olabisi,  Dr Stephen Oyebode, Head of Forensic and Psychological Services Unit, NSCDC, Osun Command, had given the assurance that the unit would offer psychotherapy and psycho-social interventions to personnel who might need assistance after the evaluation. (NAN)