By Johnson Eyiangho,

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Umar Damagum, has stressed that the party is bigger than any individual and stronger than any momentary setback.Damagum also maintained that the PDP is destined to remain a central force in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The acting national chairman spoke yesterday during the inauguration of a 44-member of the party’s National Convention Zoning Committee (NCZC). The committee is chaired by Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, with Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Muftwang, as Secretary.It has one member drawn from each of 36 states, and one from the FCT. Six members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) would also serve in the committee.”In recent times, we have faced changes in leadership and the departure of some members who chose a different path, yet we remain standing because the PDP is bigger than any individual stronger than any momentary setback, and destined to remain a central force in Nigeria’s democratic journey.”This Committee is the engine room where we lay the political foundation for the leadership of the PDP over the next four years. The decisions you take will shape our ability to serve Nigerians, win elections, and defend the democratic values we represent,” Damagum said.The committee has two weeks to submit its report as the next PDP National Executive Council (NEC) is slated for August 25, 2025, while the elective convention, where a new members of National Working Committee (NWC) would emerge is due for November 15 and November 16, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.Damagum said the next NWC must not only be representative, it should be visionary, courageous, and proactive as leaders of integrity, creativity, and capacity are needed.He said, “We must place individuals who inspire confidence, mobilise effectively, and speak to the hopes of Nigerians.”Our zoning process must reflect fairness, equity, and strategic thinking, as well as strengthen our unity, reward loyalty, and position us for electoral victory. I trust that the Zoning Committee will approach its task with wisdom, foresight, and a full understanding of the bigger picture: PDP over anyone, and PDP above any personal interest.”In an acceptance brief remarks, Gov Duoye Diri, who is the Chairman of National Convention Zoning Committee (NCZC), described the work of committee as a “huge responsibility”. “We will be consultative. We will partner and we will be inclusive in ensuring that we arrive at a fair and just zoning formula for our party,” he said.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

A Frontline 2027 Presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, on Thursday reminded President Bola Tinubu that he is not a tourist but leader of a bleeding nation.President Tinubu left Nigeria on Thursday, August 14 according to a statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu will stop over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan. According to the statement, in Japan, President Tinubu will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in the City of Yokohama from August 20 to 22. At the end of the TICAD9, President Tinubu will leave for Brasilia, the capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil, on a two-day state visit from Sunday, August 24, to Monday, August 25.Reacting to another round of foreign trips by President Tinubu, Obi said in his X (formerly Twitter), Obi condemned the frequent foreign Visits of the President despite the fact that he found it difficult to visit troubled states in the country.Obi also lampooned President Tinubu for traveling abroad several days ahead of whatever engagement that took him outside the country when leaders of other nations arrive for such meetings less than 48 hours to the meetings.In his post captioned “Again our President moves as the Nation bleeds,” Obi wrote: “Amid the deplorable state of our nation in all ramifications, we have a virtually indifferent President who has continued to display insensitivity to our situation.”How can anyone explain that a President who came from Brazil recently and met with the President is returning to the same country, leaving the various degrees of challenges at home unresolved?”The latest itinerary of the President shows he will depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for a two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil. “The President will stop over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan. In Japan, President Tinubu will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in the City of Yokohama from August 20 to 22. The itinerary is silent on the President’s return date to his visibly troubled nation.”The situation we find ourselves in is deeply worrisome. Our President, who has not found it worthy to visit any of our troubled states, takes joy in travelling to foreign countries at the slightest invitation or excuse. Often departing several days even before the events he’s invited to. “In his last trip, for instance, he had a one-week State visit to St lucia before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria was merely invited as an observer, though the role was dressed up as ‘partner’ to the invitation, which was more significant. “The leaders of actual member countries who attended only arrived a day or two at most for the event.”Nigeria’s insecurity situation, economic hardship, and human suffering have reached their peak. “We are now counted among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies, and the hungriest countries in the world. “This dire reality demands the full attention of Mr. President, and his travels should be more within our troubled states and communities, spending time on the ground, and taking decisive action to alleviate the people’s suffering rather than these overseas conferences that contribute little or no tangible value to our nation’s woes. “And where the trip is necessary at all, it could be attended in just a few days rather than indulging in prolonged, unnecessary absences from a country that requires 24/7 attention. “What our nation needs now is security of lives and properties, economic stability and ensuring that our people have food on their table.”Our President’s planned trip of 12 days departing today, if necessary, should have been at most a 5-day trip as the event he was invited to in Japan commences on the 20th.”Nigeria today demands competent leadership with capacity and compassion to start dealing with the problems besetting it with the presence and sacrifice required.”Mr. President must, as a matter of urgency, commence tours of our states with the same enthusiasm he shows for jetting out of the country every month. “These visits will enable him to see, listen and learn more about what Nigerians are going through.”Though Nigerians know that our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment to solving them.”Most importantly, our President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation, so he must have consciousness, strict work schedules and a strict travelling schedule to show that he has a troubled country to quickly return to.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

As Political realignments continue ahead of 2027 general election, the National Youth Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Dayo Israel has raised the alarm that opposition political parties are poaching the party’s youths.To checkmate the tide, Comrade Israel said that the APC has started a process of restructuring and rebranding the party to halt and frustrate plans and efforts by other parties to sway Nigerian youths and divert their votes away from the party.

The national youth leader made these remarks while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday while unveiling the newly constructed Youth Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a resource center for party youths, located at 8 Ajesa Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.Comrade Israel stated that poor funding from the national secretariat of the party, lack of enlightenment and engagement programmes directed at the youth abd women population have started to have some toll and negative effect on the confidence of the target groups and may affect supporting the party and the president in the future.”We are hoping that when the APC gets a permanent site like the president directed, the youth wing of the party might even be given a whole structure as its office but before that, we have to do a lot to begin to support the youth of our nation.”The Labour Party and others are trying and doing everything possible to hijack the youths for their votes as we head to 2027 general elections. We need to be proactive and start engaging our youths now so that we can deliver their votes in the election to Mr. President. “We have developed a three-year development plan on how we want to engage the youths but we felt that it is only proper to setup this resource centre first where youths can meet and rub minds with policy makers.”Israel outlined several skills and other empowerment programmes that would be offered by the resource centre, and stated categorically that when APC youths are properly equipped and empowered, other parties will not pose any serious threat to the ruling party either before, during or after the general elections. Apart from taking proper inventory of APC youths across the country, he said, the resource centre hopes to immediately commence radical public engagement and enlightenment programmes targeting all sectors of youths including the students in higher institutions to ensure massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.