Author: Our Correspondent

By Anne Azuka

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed has lauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the massive infrastructural development across the State.

Governor Mohammed gave the commendation during a state banquet organised for members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, ahead of the forum’s meeting scheduled for Friday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba.

He also commended other governors of the party for their various contributions to the development of their states, insisting that despite the internal challenges plaguing the party, the PDP remained the party of prime choice for Nigerians.

According to him, ”Delta State is awash with projects and it remains the face of PDP in Nigeria. As a party, we are known for projects and good governance because every state you go to you find similar projects.

“PDP is a grass root party; we have the experience and the capacity to develop the nation. We are happy to see that we are all doing well and we are very grateful to God we are here.

“As your servants, we are ready to work for our people. We are connecting with our leaders across the country and we are not just coming to talk; we learn from each other for the progress of our states.

He thanked Governor Oborevwori and the people of the state for their hospitality and reception, assuring that the party would come out of its present challenges stronger.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Governor Oborevwori thanked his brother Governors for coming, and assured that the party would come out with resolutions that would unite it and the country.

He added, “I welcome all of you, especially my brother governors, and your entourage to Delta State, the Big Heart of the nation.

“As many of you may be aware, Delta State is a mini-Nigeria with multiple ethnic nationalities. Our strength is in our diversity. It is what makes us unique and special to the world.

“We are so different. We are yet so similar in history and culture. What is more important is the unity of this nation and I believe we will do our best to see how we will have unity in our party and in Nigeria.”

In attendance at the banquet were; Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State); the host Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom; Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Deputy Governor of Oyo State Bayo Lawal, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, and the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun.

Others were; Governorship candidate of the party in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, members of the National Assembly, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and his Bayelsa counterpart, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere.

By Anne Azuka

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North senatorial district in the National Assembly, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he had served as a foundation member since 1999.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of PDP ward 8, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, and dated 30th January, 2025, Senator Nwoko cited deep divisions and factionalization which had made it increasingly difficult to foster unity and advance the collective interests of the people, as one of the reasons for leaving the party.

He stated that just this week, precisely on 29th January, 2025, top functionaries of the party degenerated to the lowest level by physically fighting themselves, arising from the aforementioned factions, which had become irreconcilable.

The Distinguished Senator expressed appreciation to PDP for the platform provided him to contest the 2022/2023 senatorial election, which afforded him the opportunity to directly engage with the people of Delta North and present his vision for a brighter future.

Sen. Nwoko, however, stated that during his campaign he made solemn and actionable promises to his constituents, commitments he took seriously as a servant of the people, but regretted that the current structure of the party in the state had not been conducive to realizing his promises.

He said after careful consideration, he had come to the conclusion that stepping away from the party was necessary for him to fulfill his obligations to the people.

While bidding farewell to PDP, he assured party faithful and his constituents of his unwavering dedication to statesmanship, unity and advancement of Delta North, stressing the his decision was rooted in the best interest of his constituents, and he would remain committed to the progress and prosperity of the state and the nation.

Sen. Nwoko thanked the PDP leadership and members for their support and wished the party continued success in its endeavors

By Gabriel Udeh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has thrown its weight behind the Court of Appeal’s judgment affirming Ude Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, even as it urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the ruling without delay.

The resolution is part of a seven-point communiqué issued at the end of the Forum’s first meeting of 2025, held on Friday, January 31, at the Government House in Asaba, Delta State.

The governors, reaffirmed their commitment to upholding party discipline and legal processes.

“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee on the position of the National Secretary and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment,” the communiqué read.

The governors also urged the NWC to reschedule the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to March 13, 2025, after examining the legal notices required for its valid convocation.

The Forum used the meeting to assess the state of the nation and the performance of PDP-led states. Expressing concern over the Federal Government’s macroeconomic policies, the governors noted that these policies had inflicted hardship on Nigerians and called for it’s urgent review to alleviate the suffering of the people.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE PDP GOVS. FORUM 2025/1ST MEETING HELD @ GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA, DELTA STATE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025

The PDP Governors’ Forum held its 2025/1ST Monthly Meeting, today, Friday, January 31, 2025 in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. And rising therefrom resolved to issue the following communique:

1. The Forum employed the occasion to review the performance of member states in particular, and the state of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024; and noting the monumental socio-economic, security, infrastructure and other challenges that confronted the nation during the period, the Meeting commended Governors of member states for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people but were aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states.

2. The Meeting noted that the macro-economic policies of the Federal Government that have inflicted hardship and [pain on the polity; therefore the Forum calls the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and or stop the hardship/pains that they have inflicted on Nigerians as no meaningful/impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies are addressed.

3. The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

4. The Forum having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13Th) of March 2025.

5. While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It therefore calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

6. The Forum expressed its gratitude to the Host Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Government and the Good People of Delta State for their hospitality and friendly disposition that have yielded the successful, well-structured and impactful meeting; even as it equally commends the Governor for the giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity.

7. Finally, the Forum enjoined Nigerians not to despair in the face of the prevailing hardships with the firm assurance that the PDP will remain committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

The immediate past commissioner for information in Akwa Ibom, Comrade Ini Ememobong has slammed thoae who petitioned ex Governor of the state, Mr Udom Emmanuel for subjecting him to a “sustained vitriolic media trial” describing it as unfair and questionable.

A group known as the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) . had petitioned Emmanuel, to the Economic and Financial Crime Commissioner (EFCC) alleging misapprooriation of funds.

The group also used the social media platforms to launch attacks against him before addressing a press conference in Abuja after submitting the petition to the EFCC

But in a statement in Uyo, Ememobong who also served as information Commissioner in Emmanuel administration said the Petitioners have already passed judgement instead of asking questions.

“The media trial purveys allegations that sounded more like final court judgements. For example, they accuse Mr. Udom Emmanuel of purchasing a house in America with funds from Akwa Ibom State Government, while serving as Secretary to the State Government.

” Unknown to them, that from 2013 when Mr. Udom Emmanuel was appointed till 2014 when he resigned to contest for the governorship, he didn’t receive a salary or any allowance from the state government and he was not in charge of contract awards or any other money-yielding government enterprise,” Ememobong said.

According to the former commissioner, an analysis of the disposition and demands of the petitioners paint a picture that the only acceptable outcome for them is sending Udom Emmanuel to jail, irrespective of his guilt or innocence.

He noted that long before coming into government, Emmanuel as an Executive Director and former Chief Financial Officer of leading financial institution like Zenith Bank, was already a man of means, like bankers of his like.

“We concede that while these are not an assurance that someone of means cannot commit fraud, it is however an indication of existing wealth prior to public sector exposure.” He maintained.

He said the Petitioners might have either neglected or intentionally refused to make any reference to the entries in the statutory books of account by that administration, rather preferring to make high claims of fraud of humongous sums, playing to the emotions, not reason of the populace.

“It is needful to state that during the tenure of that administration, apart from the statutory channels of accountability, Governor Udom Emmanuel, as he then was, voluntarily submitted himself to public accountability through live media engagements with the citizens via the programme

“The Governor speaks, in addition to frequent media chats with all journalists in the state. These engagements were aired live and uncensored.

“It is my view that a sincere demand for accountability must be done with an open mind rather than a judgemental mindset, or else the petitioners will be blinded by their passion, against the truth.

“Every time people have used deep anger in the prosecution of any matter, it has always turned to persecution, and one of the earliest examples is recorded in the Bible where the accusers of Christ insisted on his death even when Pilate found no guilt in him.

“They even preferred the release of a convicted criminal to the acquittal of an innocent man who came to serve and save them.

“In Nigeria, former Vice President Alex Ekweme was accused of corruption along with other politicians of his time, and incarcerated.After his trial, he was discharged and acquitted, but his good name had already been stained.

“It is for this purpose that the law provides for and upholds the presumption of innocence of an accused person until convicted.

“The question for the petitioners is, with the current modus operandi adopted by you, if Mr. Udom Emmanuel is exonerated of these accusations, how will you remedy the harm done to his person and personality?” Ememobong querried.

By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Supporters Group Kano state chapter has commended the state’s party’s chairman Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa for leading the party without bias.

In an interview with our correapondent, the supporters group chairman Malam Adamu Dahiru Garko disclosed that Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa is a good leader whose ideologies remained for the progress of the party at both wards, local government and state levels as seen at present.

Adamu Dahiru Garko reiterated that Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa is a real Democrat who is steering the NNPP’s affairs with determination and zeal towards the promotion of the party especially when there is a cordial relationship between the Party and the executive arm for the betterment of Kano state.

” We are the real members of NNPP under the umbrella of our national leader Engineer Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, our executive governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf and our dynamic party chairman Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa and we are certain that our party is in the Hands of a competent persons”. He stated.

Garko reassured that they would continue to be loyal to Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa and NNPP under Kwankwasiyya dynasty, and thanked the Kano state governor for initiating and executing meaning full projects that would change the face of Kano state to an examplary domain.

By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

The APC national chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been commended for his efforts in promoting the party to an exemplary stage and reducing the mights of the opposition across 6 geo-political zones.

This was announced by the chairman of the Kano state APC Councilors Forum Honourable Adamu Muktar Adamu in an interactive session with our correspondent in Kano.

He disclosed that under Ganduje’s leadership, APC has successfully received all categories of people that defected from their various parties into the party due to his mode of stewardship that carries everybody along.

Adamu Muktar added that ” Since Ganduje assume as APC national chairman, our party remained very popular and a home to every well meaning Nigerian who wish this country more transparent and progressive, I am therefore certain that Ganduje will take APC to a higher level as it’s national chairman”.

Furthermore, the Kano state APC Councilors Forum chaiman emphasized that Nigerians would continue to support the ruling party because it has more good provisions to the people of all categories without bias than the other parties.

In conclusion, Honourable Adamu Muktar Adamu commended president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government for taking good measures to ensure that Nigeria is fully economically stable, and thanked all the 484 Kano state APC Councilors for working selflessly towards keeping the party’s flag flying.

By Israel Adamu

National Executive Council (NEC) of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has decried the failure of Federal Government to implement the approved 50% reduction in the energy bill of Federal Health and Educational Institutions as earlier announced to guarantee continuous services delivery and training.

They further stressed that the delay constitutes impediment to optimal and quality healthcare delivery to Nigerians while also encouraging the State Governments to provide sustainable renewable energy options to these institutions in the long run.

MDCAN made their position known in a communique issued to newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Theme and the Sub-theme of the meeting is ‘Policy Making for Quality Health Care Service: Engaging Policy Makers for Quality Health Care Delivery’ and “Caring for the Carers: Prioritizing the Health Care Providers in Nigeria” .

The communique which was signed by the MDCAN President Prof. Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim lamented that the State Governments are yet to embrace their calls for reducing energy bill at the various State-owned Hospitals, to allow for effective and improved healthcare delivery across State Hospitals.

NEC further observed that, the Federal Government was yet to address the perennial issues of shortfall in the remuneration/income loss by Clinical Lecturers (Honorary Consultants) occasioned by non-payment of their basic salary with the CONMESS Scale”.

They also frowned at the slow progress of implementation of all the decisions and Resolutions memorandum of understanding (MoU), reached recently between the association and the Federal Government on her demands which was mediated by the Hon. Minister of Labour, to resolve the industrial dispute in November, 2024.

The communique further regretted that the timeline set for the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) has since expired.

According to the communique, NEC observed the growing industrial disharmony between her members in Universities in the Southwest Zone and Ilorin with dismay. This is evidently due to failure of the Management of these universities to pay Clinical Lecturers with CONMESS salary structure adding this position promotes internal and external brain drain in an already depleted and insufficient workforce.

The Medical body also lamented the unnecessary proliferation of Consultant Cadre for non-Medical Doctors in our Tertiary Health Institutions noting that this especially without any proper delineation of responsibilities and attendant implication for patient care, especially when the job descriptions of such non-Medical Doctor Consultants have not been clearly stated.

According to them this will definitely be a recipe for disorderly and chaotic patient management which is inimical to effective healthcare service delivery in our hospitals and can only lead to a worsening of our health indices. They also condemned the incessant and increasing workplace violence against doctors and other health workers by especially patient relations.

NEC expressed grave concern over the recent spate of insecurity targeting Doctors and other Healthcare workers both at their work place and homes and further expressed dismay over the recurrent discrimination by some Nigerian Universities, against Medical Fellowship Holders, preventing them from reaching the peak of their career on the basis of non-possession of Ph.D. degree.

They are further alarmed and disturbed over
the negative impact of the shortage in medical manpower, cutting across all levels and cadres of Healthcare Professionals, with various healthcare workers failing to take up positions advertised in hospitals, resulting in some units regrettably closing down all withing the backdrop of massive brain drain in the Health and Medical Education sectors.

According to them, this has impacted negatively on the quality of healthcare services offered to the citizenry and the overburdening of the existing workforce available in our medical schools and Hospitals, which has also negatively impacted the well-being of the healthcare workers, who often suffer from burnout.

NEC also enjoined the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, put all necessary processes in motion to motivate the Healthcare Workers to stay in the country, thereby curtailing the mass exodus to other countries. For instance, providing compensation schemes for occupational infections, social security and occupational insurance at the workplace.

“The Federal Government should urgently implement the signed Resolutions (MoU) of 22nd November 2024, addressing the long-standing demand of Universal Applicability for CONMESS for all Medical and Dental Doctors across different Government establishments.”

NEC demands the immediate release of a circular for the increase in Retirement Age to 70 years for Hospital Consultants and 65 years for other Healthcare Workers as resolved in the resolutions reached with the Federal Government. Furthermore, the State Governments are also enjoined to adopt these resolutions wholly, so as to further close the gaps in the health workforce deficit across the States.

They call on the Vice Chancellors, particularly those of the South Western Zone (especially, the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University), and University of Ilorin to implement the payment of Clinical Lecturers with CONMESS as being done across other regions in Nigeria, without further delay.

“We appeal to the Federal Government to urgently stop and reverse the proliferation of non- Medical Consultants across our Hospitals. This is to forestall patient’s safety and to ensure proper management of patients and avoid unnecessary controversies in patient management.”

They rejects the continuous discrimination by some Nigerian Universities, against Medical Fellowship Holders, preventing them from reaching the peak of their career on the basis of not possessing a PhD degree and reiterates that the Medical and Dental Fellowships suffice both as academic and professional qualification in medical training and career advancement.

MDCAN also call for urgent need to convey health sector critical stakeholders’ meetings to discuss and formulate a comprehensive and holistic pathways to address the myriads of challenges affecting the healthcare sector and militating against optimal healthcare delivery in the country adding that the association will be available to contribute innovative ideas towards finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing healthcare delivery in our country.

“Government should as a matter of urgency, develop protocol and measures of preventing Nigerians from getting near fuel tanker accident, improved road infrastructure, poverty reduction and orientation of the citizenry. ”

NEC commended the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi for the roles they continue to play towards the resolution of MDCAN labour challenges.