POLITICS
Dickson Charges New LG Chairmen on Transparency, Accountability

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has challenged the eight newly elected local government chairmen to promote transparency and accountability in the administration of their councils’ resources.
Governor Dickson gave the charge on Wednesday, at the swearing-in ceremony of the council chairmen and their deputies in Government House, Yenagoa.
Dickson was quoted by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr.
Daniel Alabrah, as calling on the chairmen to ensure strict compliance with the Transparency and Accountability Law of the state.He stressed that legislative sanctions would be imposed on any chairman for misuse of council funds.
According to the governor, council chairmen were expected to carry out their statutory obligation of prompt payment of workers’ salaries and embark on projects to impact positively on the lives of the people.
” To whom much is given, much is also expected. While we allow you to maintain your funds, utilise them in the interest and development of our rural communities.
“We urge you all to show prudence and respect for public funds. We must use our scarce resources to address our multifarious problems as a state. That is what my administration has been doing in the last seven years going to eight years now.
“Last month, no office in this state including mine got overhead. But we are still funding the Ekeremor Road, Yenagoa-Oporoma Road and also funding the nine-kilometer fencing of the airport.
“This is as a result of the discipline and prudence we have been showing. Let me put you on notice that my team will be monitoring your activities.
“Let me also remind you that the House of Assembly has supervisory authority over you. And I will not hesitate to work with the House to exercise legislative sanctions on any of you where it becomes necessary.”
On security, Governor Dickson urged the new administrators of the third tier of government to collaborate with security agents in checking sea piracy, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and other unwholesome practices in the state.
The governor, who described the council chairmen as field commanders of the Restoration Administration, charged them to lead the party effectively at the local government level.
He enjoined them to work closely with party and community leaders in mobilizing support for the right causes that would foster peace, stability and progress.
The chairmen of the eight councils are Victor Isaiah (Brass), Alalibo West (Nembe), Dengiye Ubarugu (Kolokuma/Opokuma) and Embeleakpo Alale (Sagbama).
Others are Uroupaye Nimizuoa (Yenagoa), Dr. Perekeme Bertola (Ekeremor), Chief Kia Ebidoughabofa-Nigeria (Southern Ijaw) and Ebinyo Turner (Ogbia).
POLITICS
Buhari Felicitates Tinubu at Midterm, Calls for Nigerians’ continue support

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated his successor, President Bola Tinubu, on his midterm, calling for Nigerians’ continue support for his administration’s efforts to address poverty and inflation.
This is contained in a statement issued by Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday.
Buhari also called for steadfast support for the All Progressives Congress-led government as it marks its second year in office, saying reforms would achieve success gradually, not overnight.
He warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to mettlesome domestic politics.
According to him, as the party and the government celebrate, the country should be reminded that leadership is a continuous journey.
Buhari expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the Tinubu-led administration to curb poverty and inflation, which, he said, had hit the poorest families.
Seeking Nigerians’ support for Tinubu-led administration, he said that the task of reducing poverty and inflation mustn’t be left only for the government.
“The private sector and all of us, as citizens, must join in all ways we can,” he said.
The former president urged Nigerians to remain optimistic and stay confident about the country’s future, saying ‘our expectations from our governments should not get heavy’.
While expressing his heartfelt felicitation to Tinubu on his two years in office, Buhari prayed God to keep and grant him the wisdom and care to continue to lead the country. (NAN)

President Tinubu Appoints Ex- Speaker, Enugu Assembly, Odo, as UNN Governing Council Member
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, and Mr. Muhammad Tahir, as governing council members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The appointment comes as part of the President’s renewed efforts to reposition federal tertiary institutions for excellence and global competitiveness.
Odo served as a two time speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2015.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain also served under the previous administration of Muhammad Buhari as a governing board member of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Also appointed were the governing councils members of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
The appointments were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Onanuga said President Tinubu charged the new council members to justify their appointments by ensuring that their respective universities move forward.(NAN)
POLITICS
PDP NEC Gets Under Way in Abuja

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
All is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today at the party’s Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District, Abuja. After a marathon meeting of the various organs of the PDP at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, officials of the party have converged on Legacy House for the long awaited NEC meeting, which had been postponed for several times.
Security in and around the house has been beefed up with the deployment operatives from the Police, DSS and NSCDC. Many prominent members of the party, including its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, were absent from the marathon meeting.The NEC, one of the highest decision-making organs of the PDP, comprises of Party National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), principal officers of the National Assembly, state chairpersons, former governors, and founding members, among others. The NEC meeting is expected to address critical issues affecting the party, including strategies for upcoming political engagements, leading to the 2027 general elections.On Monday, barely 24 hours to the much expected NEC meeting, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) keep to its threat and sealed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Wuse Zone 5 for failure to ground rent, a situation the party described as temporary set back.However, reprieve came to the PDP and others who had their properties sealed as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened and gave them 14 days to pay their ground rent.