NEWS
NNPP Crisis Deepens as Kwankwaso Faction Suspends
By Jude Opara, Abuja
The crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has deepened as the faction loyal to the Presidential candidate of the party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso led group of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced the expulsion of the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr.
Boniface Aniegbunam, and his loyalists.The party at its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, accused Aniegbunam, the Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, Tope Aluko and others expelled, of anti-party activities.
The embattled BoT was accused of creating a parallel group within the NNPP with a view to causing disaffection in the party.
The Kwankwaso group also upheld motions to extend the tenure of the acting national chairman, Mallam Abah-Kawu Ali, and to redesign the party’s logo.
According to the National Secretary of the NNPP Olayoku Dipo, “At the National Executive Committee meeting of the NNPP held in Abuja today August 29th 2023, Dr. Boniface Aniegbunam, Agbo Major and several others were expelled from the party.
“The NEC also moved several other motions relating to the Logo of the party, the Amendment of the constitution, ratification of the State caretaker committees, and suspension of two Articles in the constitution of the NNPP 2022.
“At the meeting were the Executive Governor of Kano State, the National Chairman, Distinguished Senator Kawu Ismaila, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Engr Buba Galadima and many others. NEC noted that there were suspended (now expelled) persons who purportedly held a Board of Trustees meeting in Apapa, Lagos this morning. Naturally their meeting was null and void and to no effect.”
However, the party’s only Governor, Abba Yusuf of Kano state, said he would continue to work closely with Senator Kwankwaso in his efforts to reposition the NNPP.
Dipo said that the party was in the process of setting up a properly constituted BoT in line with its constitution.
He also disclosed plans by the leadership to change NNPP’s logo, as he revealed that the opposition party’s fortune at the February election was affected by the current logo.
While commending the National Working Committee (NWC) for its role in stabilizing the political party, the BoT Secretary, Engr. Buba Galadimawa said the party has made some giant strides despite the present crisis in the party.
However, in a swift response, the factional Board of Trustees of the party led by Dr. Boniface Aniegbunam announced the suspension of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The factional Secretary of the BoT, Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi who made the announcement said that Kwankwaso has been suspended for six months over anti-party activities.
The faction also suspended the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
The suspension was put to a voice vote by members of the party at a parallel general assembly in Lagos.
The BoT also appointed new national officers headed by Dr Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Comrade Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary alongside about 18 others.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, Secretary of the BoT, Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi, accused Kwankwaso of meeting secretly with President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, without the board’s authorization.
He further announced that with immediate effect Kwankwaso had been stripped of the NNPP national leader status.
The secretary of the BoT added that the purported suspension of the NNPP founder was a flagrant gross violation of the party’s constitution.
Abdulahi added: “The purported suspension of the founder is a flagrant gross violation of the NNPP constitution such that it is tantamount to recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of the incompetent NWC.
“The BoT decided that material evidence in the public sector affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in anti-party activities in various meetings, suggest political discussions with the President, Atiku and Obi without authorization from the board.
“This has earned him six months suspension pending the outcome of the investigation by the Disciplinary Committee”.
The acting chairman, who also spoke with newsmen, said his team would hit the ground running by healing the wounds created by the suspended NWC members.
From Christopher Tom, Uyo
The Gilgal Christians centre health awareness campaign program held at the church auditorium witnessed an unprecedented crowd as if it was an end of year crusade.The event witnessed people from different communities take advantage of the various free medical treatment while also the occasion graced by the indigene of the community Ubon Akwa in Obot Akara Local Government Area.
Speaking with journalists during the program, the general overseer, Gilgal Christian centre, Pastor Dr Jerry Udoh commended God for a successful program without relenting despite the uphill task to take advantage to make sure people benefit immensely solving their health challenges. The general overseer said despite the challenges still wax stronger provide for their medical treatment like drugs, glasses, especially for those who have different sicknesses.He said it beat his imagination experience more than 3,000 people came from different communities to be treated having health challenges while in our own ways try to established a health centre for the community through our humanitarian service after witnessing the unfortunate situation on ground as the community has no health centreThe clergy used the medium to call on government to assist the Ubon Akwa community a health centre as most of them are seriously suffering from health problem having financial challenges which is the worst situation on them witness death on daily basis is very unfortunate and pathetic experience across some of the communitiesHe believe government would surely hear their request and would not failed the community to be free from health problem understanding that government always provide for her citizens while in the same vain, Udoh frowned over the condition he experience at comprehensive secondary school Ubon Akwa was unfortunate where students learn on the floor is not a welcome development encouraging our education systemWhich the predicament break his heart and immediately assist the school of renovating their classrooms, build eight classrooms block that would contain 50 students per class for effective education learning environment, library, agric lab, biology lab, physics lab, which would encourage parents sent their children to school especially also given them access to school while in the same spirit build a police station and would soon be commission and hand over to themThe people where happy, smile on their faces, saying God has sent Pastor Udoh to them if not most of them would have visited their ancestors while general overseer said next edition they would provide wheelchair, other items and thank God for the provisionFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
A group under the auspices of Federal University of Agriculture Support Group(FSG) has raised a total of N232.562 million for eventual take-off of the newly established university in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.While delivering a keynote address at the fundraising ceremony in Yenagoa, the Coordinator of the Support group, Dr.
Ala-Peters David, noted that the group decided to organize the fundraising in compliance with the presidential directive that all newly established universities kickoff by September 2025. He stressed that Bayelsans would be the direct beneficiaries of the institutions despite the fact that it is a Federal University of Agriculture, Bassambiri, as education is the bedrock of every society.He further reiterated that this is the first higher institution in Bassambiri, Opu-Nembe which prompted members of the fundraising committee to organize the event to leverage on the granting of the institution by the Federal Government, appealing to well-meaning Bayelsans in particular and Nigerians as a whole to support the growth and development of the school.In the same vein, the state governor, Sen. Douye Diri, who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner of Education, Gentle Emelah noted that the state government had done a critical assessment and appraisal of the Federal University of Agriculture, Bassambirii with a commitment to assist in the construction of basic facilities for a conducive academic environment for the students and staff of the institution.He also noted that right from the inception of the present administration, the state government has always prioritized educational policy in the state.He was however silent on the donation to the take-off but pledged the adequate logistical support to kick-start the University.While speaking with newsmen at the event, one of the dignitaries, Bob Manuel, who is the Chief Executive Officer of BOBTRACK TRACTOR LTD, donated N1m, saying the time has come to diversify from oil and gas to agriculture as it is capable of being the mainstay of the nation’s economy.He equally opined that agriculture alone is capable of mopping up the teeming unemployed youths across the Niger Delta, calling on all stakeholders in the educational policy in the South/South region of the country to rally round the new university for the overall benefits of the people.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Benue state government has projected to generate N53 billion from digital electronic management system in the next three years.The Managing Director/CEO, Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Gbande Terwase, stated this yesterday during his interaction with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council in Makurdi.
He explained that the digital infrastructure is providing three major ICT solutions including software, hardware and digital knowledge, stressing that the digital solutions would generate 100, 000 jobs in the next two to three years. According to him, BDIC is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established by the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia to drive the State’s digital transformation agenda of the present administration.He noted that since the formal approval of the company on July 17, 2024 and its registration on August 8, 2024, BDIC has grown into a strategic institution at the heart of Benue’s modernization efforts.”We have rolled out innovations transforming government, education, health, commerce, and security across the state through deployment of over 10 fully operational digital platforms, including Benue Geographic Information System (BENGIS), Benue Executive Document Management System (EDMS), powering the newly launched paperless Executive Council system.”The Benue State Virtual Marketplace, Civil Service Management System, Integrated Revenue System, and e-Citizen Identity Registration System as well as web and enterprise platforms for MDAs including the Bureau for Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Justice, Public Service Institute, and Pension Administration while development of over 20 additional platforms are in progress.”We are already into strategic partnerships with top institutions like Huawei Technologies, WIPO, UNDP, NITDA, NBC, NCC, NDPC, NPC, Digital Bridge Institute, and GITEX Global”Investments in local digital hardware production exceeding $170,000, for the manufacturing of laptops, fingerprint scanners, tablets, smart projectors, and self-service kiosks is projected to generate over ₦6.6 billion in revenue and reduce digital hardware dependency.””In order to build capacity and talent in the state, the government has launched the largest digital skills program in the history of Benue State, training 40,000 public servants across the State and Local Governments on the use of digital tools and e-governance platforms.”As of today, over 4,800 civil servants have been trained in areas such as ICT fundamentals, digital workflow systems, and enterprise platforms with weekly training numbers steadily increasing.”Job Creation Vision is 100,000 Jobs in 3 Years. One of BDIC’s boldest and most urgent goals is job creation. Today, I am pleased to publicly announce BDIC’s commitment to create over 100,000 digital jobs across Benue State within the next three years, in alignment with the economic development vision of Governor Hyacinth Alia.”These jobs will be created through digital outsourcing centers and gig work platforms for remote employment in areas like data labeling, digital customer service, and AI training, Start-up support and incubation hubs for tech-driven entrepreneurs and creatives, Local manufacturing of digital devices (computers, tablets, kiosks) to support IT hardware assembly and maintenance services, e-Commerce and smart agriculture platforms, enabling farmers and traders to access wider marketsHe also stated that the government is training 23,000 youth (1,000 per LGA) through the ongoing 3MTT/BDIC Digital Skills Program, with pathways to employment and enterprise”Through these and related programs, digital infrastructure will become a direct engine of employment, empowerment, and wealth creation in Benue.”He called on the media to partner with BDIC, to enable it succeed in building a digital culture in the state.”The digital revolution is no longer a distant future, it is our present reality. BDIC is here to ensure that Benue is not only part of this future but that we are among the leaders shaping it.He expressed deep gratitude to Governor Alia for providing the enabling environment and visionary leadership for digital transformation while praising the journalists of Benue State ND the country for their commitment to truth, transparency, and democracy.
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