POLITICS
PDP Chairmanship: Utaan Seeks Sen. Moro’s Support
By David Torough, Abuja
Frontline contender in the race for the National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Utaan Terhide has paid a consultative visit to Senate Minority Leader, Senator Patrick Abba Moro, in Otukpo, Benue State.
A statement by the spokesperson, Utaan PDP National Chairmanship Campaign, Bemgba Iortyom said the chairmanship aspirant spoke before the Senator who represents Benue South at the Senate lauded the role he (Sen.
Moro) has been playing in the affairs of the party both at the national level and in Benue State.He particularly appreciated what he described as the “yeomen” task the Senator has been performing in leading the opposition in Nigeria at a time the country is going through extremely difficulty under the rule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Benue born Engineer also congratulated the Senate Minority and Samuel Ortom who is the Leader of Benue PDP for the success of the recently concluded congresses in the state which was made possible by the combined efforts of both leaders, and pledged to collaborate their efforts if given the mandate to serve PDP as National Chairman.
His mission within the mandate he will have to complete the tenure earlier started by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, he stated, will be to embark on a Shuttle Diplomacy to each leader of the party, on his knees, if necessary, to entreat peace, foster reconciliation and engender unity to revive and reposition the party for victory at the 2027 elections.
Speaking earlier, Leader of the delegation of elders who travelled with Utaan, Immediate past Acting State Chairman of the PDP in Benue State, Chief Isaac Mffo stressed that the PDP National Chairmanship contender holds the advantage of youth and freshness of thought that comes with it to be able navigate the party out of the logjam of crisis rocking it
Responding, Senator Moro appreciated Utaan and his entourage for the visit, stating his resolve to continue to work with Ortom to keep the party strong and growing in the state, even as they are working with other leaders at the national level to resolve the crisis it is going through.
The Senate Minority Leader pronounced his blessings on Utaan, praying that God Almighty grant his desire to lead PDP as National Chairman, a position he said he believes the young Engineer possesses the zeal, energy and clarity of thought to succeed in.
POLITICS
Ghana Election: Jonathan Leads W/Africa Elders Forum to Ghana
A delegation of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) observation mission led by former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday arrived in Accra, ahead of the Dec. 7 general elections in the country.
The WAEF’s communications Officer, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ominabo, in a statement, quoted Jonathan on arrival in Ghana, urged Ghanaians to be patriotic and work for peaceful, free and transparent elections.
Other members of the delegation include former Burkinabe Prime Minister and President of the ECOWAS, Mr Kadre Ouedraogo; Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ms Ann Iyonu, and Special Adviser to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze.
Jonathan commended the people of Ghana for their enduring commitment to democratic values, adding that Ghana’s history of peaceful political transitions served as a beacon for democratic governance across Africa
“The upcoming elections present another opportunity for Ghanaians to reinforce their dedication to democracy, stability, and development,” he stated.
The mission leaders also charged the electoral commission of Ghana and the security agencies to keep to their mandate of independence and neutrality to ensure a credible polling process.
“WAEF urges the Electoral Commission of Ghana to uphold its mandate of conducting free and fair elections, and ensuring the transparency and credibility of the 2024 elections as a way of building trust among the electorate and stakeholders.
“We encourage the security agencies to sustain their professional conduct, maintain their neutrality and a peaceful electoral environment by ensuring impartial deployment to safeguard voting materials, polling centres, and citizens across the country.
“As we approach the end of campaign activities, we urge all political parties and their candidates to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful campaigns devoid of hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, and personal attacks.”
The former President also called on political parties, candidates and all stakeholders to respect the integrity of the electoral process and pledged to resolve disputes through lawful and constitutional channels.
Jonathan further urged the youth and party supporters to remain law-abiding during and after the elections, avoiding acts of intimidation or violence.
Describing Ghana as a model of democracy, Jonathan also urged Ghanaians to seek to safeguard Ghana’s democratic legacy by rejecting violence, intimidation, or actions that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“By working together, Ghanaians can once again assert the country’s position as a model of democracy built on a tradition of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections,” he said. (NAN)
POLITICS
APC Constitutes 8-man Reconciliation Committee for Adamawa
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a reconciliation committee of eight prominent members to halt the drift in the party.
The committee, headed by Senator Muhammed Mana as chairman, is to reconcile members with complaints against each other or the party and strengthen the party’s unity in Adamawa State.
The APC National Vice Chairman, North East, Mustapha Salihu told a meeting of the Adamawa State chapter in Yola that the reconciliation committee which has Senators Bello Tukur, Abubakar Girei, Binta Masi Garba, and Martins Babale as members, had already started sitting and making consultations in Abuja and would soon move down to Yola.
Other members of the committee are Yusuf Buba Yakubu and Dr Bridget Zidon, with Isa Baba as Secretary.
A statement from the Adamawa State Secretariat of the APC, released to newsmen on Wednesday by the state Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, said Mustapha Salihu at whose instance the Yola APC unity meeting was convened after an earlier meeting with National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja, told the Yola unity meeting that the high-powered 8-man committee was tasked to reconcile party members and ensure party cohesion.
At the unity meeting in Yola were the National Vice Chairman North East, all members of the State Executive Committee, local government party chairmen and the eight APC members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
“The purpose of the meeting is to further solidify on earlier meeting held in Abuja with the NSA, who is the leader of the party that emphasized on genuine reconciliation and unity in the party,” the APC explained in its statement.
Mounting complaints by many APC members who spoke of dwindling party popularity in Adamawa State, with several influential members either already leaving to other parties or threatening to leave.
POLITICS
Igbo Youths Reject Tax Reform Bills
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
As controversy continues to trail the proposed tax reform bills, Igbo Youths Progressive Forum, YPF, on Wednesday, described the bills as “anti-people and unjust.”
The group, in a statement, by its National President, Victor Onuoha Ukeh said the bill disregards the principle of fairness, adding that it will marginalise the South East region.
The statement reads: “The Igbo Youths Progressive Forum (IYPF) strongly opposes the proposed tax reform bill introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“This bill is anti-people, unjust, and a clear attack on equity and fairness in Nigeria.
“At a time when Nigerians are struggling with high inflation, unemployment, and poverty, this proposed reform seeks to add further burdens on the already overwhelmed masses.
“It favours only a few industrialized states to the detriment of others, particularly the South East, which has fewer industries and is already marginalized in federal allocations and development projects.
“This bill disregards the principle of fairness by imposing excessive taxes on individuals and businesses without addressing the glaring inequality in the economic structure of the country.
“While industrialized states stand to benefit, less industrialized regions like the South East will suffer disproportionately.
“The bill not only worsens the economic divide but also jeopardizes the survival of small and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.
“Many of these businesses are already struggling, and additional tax burdens will cripple their operations, leading to job losses and a stagnation of economic growth.
“Furthermore, we are deeply alarmed by the proposal to transfer the funding of TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to the national budget.
“This move is a death sentence for the agency that has been instrumental in improving tertiary education in Nigeria.
“TETFund’s independent funding structure has ensured that funds are allocated directly to developing infrastructure and improving the quality of education.
“Shifting this responsibility to the national budget will lead to inefficiency, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and chronic underfunding.
“This decision will cripple tertiary education and worsen the hardships already faced by Nigerian students, who are struggling with poor learning conditions, incessant strikes, and rising tuition fees.
“The proposed tax reform bill is not only anti-people but also a threat to the future of this nation.
“By placing heavier burdens on ordinary Nigerians while favoring a few wealthy states, it undermines the principles of equity and fairness.
“We call on the National Assembly to reject this bill in its entirety and protect the interests of all Nigerians, particularly those from less industrialized regions like the South East.
“The Igbo Youths Progressive Forum will not stand by while policies that harm our people and the future of our youth are forced upon us.
“We demand a fair, inclusive, and just approach to governance that promotes unity and national development.
“An attack on education and economic equity is an attack on the nation’s future, and we will continue to resist such actions with all our strength.”