PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM

Posted By Pat PA Okon The Oyo State government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makide has proscribed the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), activities in the state. Makinde made the pronouncement of the proscribtion today, Friday, through the state Chief of Staff, Bisi Ilaka. The NURTW proscribtion is coming just 24 hours after the crisis that enveloped the state by members of the union.

By Pat PA Okon Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman Peoples Democratic Governors Forum, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday, said the attack on the Judiciary by some political actors was a threat to the nation’s foundation and the development of democratic governance in the country. The Governor said that the onslaught on judiciary was aimed at weakening and destroying its independence which should be condemned. A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Wednesday, quoted Governor Dickson as having made the comment during the swearing-in of two new High Court Judges at Government House, Yenagoa. Those sworn-in are, Justice Ineikinimi Uzakah, a former Registrar of the High Court, and Justice Abasi Youngman, former Acting Director, Civil Litigation Department, Ministry of Justice. The Governor who called on Nigerians to give the necessary support and encouragement to the Judiciary as an independent arm of governme...

By Pat PA Okon Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson has said that he had directed the religious team and the body of clergy in the state to organize special prayers for the emergence of his successor. The Governor said while speaking in a live media chat on Tuesday that the issue of the selection of a governor for Bayelsa State was so crucial that it was important for the state to commit the process into the hand of God. A statement by the Special Adviser Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the Governor as having said that would embark on extensive consultations with key stakeholders of the state including Dr. Goodluck Jonathan towards ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free primaries designed to produce the party’s flagbearer. “I wish to also mention on this important issue the next person to govern the state I have directed our religious team to come up with a date when we will formally gather to fast and pray in seeking the face of God co...

Posted By Tony Okechukwu Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, dismissed an application filed by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, seeking to quash the entire charge preferred against Paul Usoro, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Usoro was charged alongside Udom and others in a case of money laundering to the tune of N1.4 billion, belonging to the Akwa Ibom State government. The NBA President was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court on December 18, 2018. He was later re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on a 10- count charge. One of the counts reads: “That you, Paul Usoro, SAN, Emmanuel Udom (currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution), Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko (still at large), Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner of Finance, Akwa Ibom State (still at large), Mfon Jacobson Udomah, Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State...

By Pat PA Okon Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he will work with the speed of light in his second term because he believes that four years will elapse in no time. Speaking after inspecting the Mother and Child Hospital under construction and the Government Craft Development Centre being rehabilitated in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Governor Wike said that the process of projects delivery would be intensified for the good of Rivers people. He said: "Four years for us is like four months. So we have no time. Now that the people have given us another mandate, we should be able to give them the best". On the Mother and Child Hospital, Governor Wike informed that his administration has commenced re-modelling the facility because the former contractor failed to meet the required standard. "The Former Contractor failed to execute the contract in line with the specifications of the project. "If everything works well as we have agreed, w...

By Pat PA Okon Deputy Governor of Rivers State,  Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo has stated that the Committee to audit and investigate the 23 Local Government Councils is geared towards repositioning  the third tier of government as a bastion of grassroots development. Speaking during a meeting with council chairmen at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday,  Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo sought the cooperation of Council Chairmen in the course of the investigation. She said: "The committee invited the council Chairmen  to this meeting as key stakeholders in the Local Government structure . To seek your cooperation in carrying out the exercise. "I assure you that the purpose of the exercise  is not to witchhunt anybody,  but to re-position the Local Government Areas as a bastion of grassroots development and democratic  dividends. "The local government is the  closest tier of government to the people . Governor Wike wants to b...

By Pat PA Okon The Supreme Court on Friday described as “executive recklessness” the now rampant acts of governors dissolving democratically-elected local government councils in their states and replacing them with caretaker committees. The apex court also nullified the provisions of the laws enacted by the states’ Houses of Assembly empowering governors to carry out such dissolution and replace them with caretaker committees. A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, made the pronouncements, among others, in a unanimous judgment it delivered on Friday. The appeal in which the Supreme Court made the pronouncements arose from the dissolution of 16 local government councils in Ekiti State by the then Governor Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi, who is now the Minister of Mineral Resources, was said to have announced the dissolution of the councils in a radio announcement on October 29, 2010, when the chairmen still had up till December 19, 2011, to complete th...

Posted By Pat PA Okon The new Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that his administration will offer free healthcare services to women and children in the state. Mr Matawalle, 50, who made the declaration on Wednesday shortly after taking his oath of office at the Trade Fair ground, Gusau, said that the new government would be comprehensive. “I am going to assemble an enlightened, formidable and politically experienced persons so that we take the state to better heights in the near future. “Our women and children have gone through serious hardship in the past and we will reverse this situation for the better. “The new administration will start with tackling the security challenges and everyone must carry live their lives within the provisions of the law. “No one should think they will take the law into their hands and kill, kidnap, maim, or make life uneasy for others. “We are aware that poor education, poverty, and u...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu The Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State heartily congratulates his colleague members in the forum as well as the good people of their various States on the successful inauguration ceremonies held on Wednesday, May 29,2019. In a press statement from the Abuja Secretariat of the forum, the Chairman said “We are confident that the States in particular and our dear country in general will benefit immensely from your wealth of experience as you assume office”. Governor Dickson stated “We count on your good office to enhance a strong working relationship between your State and the PDP Governors’ Forum”. He prayed that God Almighty may continue to guide, protect and bless them and their families; grant them reigns of wisdom, good health and the focus to excel in the selfless service to their States, their great party – PDP and our dear country, Nigeria.

▪outlines the direction of his administration for the next four years Posted By Pat PA Okon Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, re-elected Governor of Rivers State, on Wednesday, in the presence of thousands of Rivers people and other prominent Nigerians, took the oath of office to commence his second term. Also on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo was sworn in for a second term. Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara administered the oath of office for the Rivers State Governor and his Deputy. The swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt was a huge celebration as the arrival of Governor Wike was greeted by jubilation by the capacity crowd. After mounting the saluting dais for the ceremonial police rituals, Governor Wike drove in the ceremonial open roof Land Rover Utility Vehicle to exchange pleasantries with the jubilant crowd. In an inauguration address, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike declared t...

Posted by Pat PA Okon Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Tuesday inaugurated the "Committee to investigate and audit the financial transactions of the 23 Local Government Councils from May 2018 to May 2019." Governor Wike said  the committee is not aimed at removing any Council Chairman or official, but targeted  at improving  probity and accountability  in the 23 Local Government Councils of the state. He said: "We are not  trying to remove any Local Government Chairman,  but it cannot  be business  as usual in the 23 Local Government Areas. "We want to know how the Local Government Councils  spend their Local Government Allocations. I have never interfered in the administration  of Local Government funds. "I am not one of those governors that interfere with Local Government  funds". Governor Wike regretted that despite the monthly allocations  to the 23 Local Government Councils,  there is...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari's resort to blame game and false performance claims, in his media interview, has  further confirmed that the last four years of his administration smacks of failure and incompetence. The party also indicted President Buhari for not using his orchestrated interview to give account for the trillions stolen under his watch in the last four years. The PDP notes that it was an internationally accepted position that all critical sectors in our country performed abysmally in the last four years because of the incompetence of President Buhari's administration, adding that it was unfortunate that instead of accepting responsibility for the failures of his administration, Mr. President is looking for scapegoats where there are none. It is for this reason that the PDP presented a presidential candidate and deputy with strong knowledge of the economy and social order in order to rescue our nation from the dire stra...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday in Gombe inaugurated 11 projects built by Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo.Osinbajo, who was in the state for a one-day working visit, was received at the Gombe airport by Dankwambo. Upon disembarking at the Gombe airport, Osinbajo was cheered by hundreds of excited N-Power and National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP)) beneficiaries in  Gombe State. The N-Power and NHGSFP beneficiaries lined the route and hailed as the vice president ‘s motorcade left the airport to sites of projects to be inaugurated. More so, the beneficiaries, who drummed and danced, accompanied the vice president round the projects inaugurated. The projects inaugurated by Osinbajo on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari were the City Gate, International Conference Centre, Tunfure road,  Petroleum Tanker Bay, Bauchi Motor Road-Pen Resource,  Hassan Central Model Primary School. Others were: Bello Sabon Kudi Road, Women and Children Hospital, Un...

*Devastation like dropped bomb - Archbishop Sentamu Posted By Pat PA Okon No fewer than 60 communities and groups have presented evidence of oil-related devastation to the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) chaired by the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu. The 10-man panel inaugurated by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in March this year rounded off the second round of its fact-finding investigative assignment at the weekend during which it held roundtable sessions with non-governmental organisations and health experts. It also visited six ravaged communities in Southern Ijaw, Brass and Yenagoa local government areas of the state. The commission held a well-attended public evidence session on Friday during which communities gave oral evidence of devastation and neglect by oil companies operating in their areas before submitting documented reports to the panel. The traditional ruler of Agudama community, MC Kipasa, told the commission that they h...

Posted By Pat PA Okon Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Wife, Prince Uche Secondus Peoples Democratic Party PDP National Chairman, Former Governor Peter Obi Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP in last Presidential Election arrive Government House, Port Harcourt. They are in Rivers State to attend the public presentation of a book chronicling the achievements of Governor Wike. Details Loading...

Posted by Tony Okechukwu The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the revelation by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that there is humongous fraud in the N500bn Social Investment Programme and the N16bn Mosquito Net Project of the Buhari administration, has further vindicated its stance that the administration is deceitful and a pretentious citadel of corruption. The party says Aisha Buhari’s revelation has further shown that the PDP has not been crying wolf by insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari must account for the trillions of naira stolen under his watch in the last four years. More disheartening is the fact that the said funds were meant for the welfare of the poor, whom Mr President had always claimed to represent in government. Unfortunately, these poor Nigerians have been waiting endlessly for the failed social investments promised by President Buhari only to have their hopes dashed as revelations by Mrs Buhari had shown that the money provided for the programme ...

Posted By Tony Okechukwu As part of his administration's commitment to the protection of lives and properties of road users from unwarranted Road accidents, the Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has commissioned a new Computerised Vehicle Inspection Center. The new computerised Vehicle Inspection Center is a more reliable and dependable scientific based center, using the best scientific and technical analysis for the issuance of Road Worthy Certificates for vehicles on the state road. The new center is replacing the draconic old order of examining and inspecting vehicles by the VIO with their intuition and guess work. Akeredolu's decision to introduce technology to determine the worthiness of all kinds of vehicles plying roads across the state is to ensure their reliability and safety of lives and properties. Speaking during the Commissioning of the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre in Akure on Friday, Governor Akeredolu said the sa...

Posted By Tony Okechukwu The leadership of the African Church has commended the administration of Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for its commitment to the welfare of the people. The leadership of the Church said the good work of Oyetola’s administration had renewed the people’s hope for economic prosperity. The Primate-elect of the African Church, Most Reverend Julius Abbe gave the commendation during a visit by the church leaders to the Governor in his office in Osogbo. The clerics were received on behalf of the governor by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi.           The Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, were also on the reception team. The Church described as indelible, significant and enduring, the achievements recorded in all sectors in the last six months of Governor Oyetola’s administration. Rev. Abbe who was the Arc Bishop of the Chur...

Posted By Pat PA Okon Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has saluted the efforts of the Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson in educational development saying he has surpassed expectations. Dr. Jonathan who gave the commendation at the launch of the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund in Yenagoa, noted that the governor’s decision to deploy the tool of education to the development and emancipation of the society was the right way to go. A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei quoted the former president as saying that the initiative and the landmark achievements of the governor would outlive his eight years as it having been backed by law. Dr. Jonathan who said the efforts of the present administration was in line with his educational policy to wrest the Bayelsa child from the claws of illiteracy when he was governor in 2006, noted that Education Development Trust would drastica...

Posted By Pat PA Okon The Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman òf the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, the Honorable Henry Seriake Dickson, has congratulated former Federal Lawmaker, Dr. Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, on his  return as the Governor-elect for Zamfara and the victory of other PDP candidates in the State by the Supreme Court. The Governor also congratulated the leaders of the party and its teeming supporters  in Zamfara  for their dedication, commitment and resilience which culminated in the party’s victory at the polls in Zamfara. Governor Dickson who is also Chairman òf the South South Governors Forum thanked the Judiciary for standing up to the expectations of all well meaning Nigerians as an impartial arbiter òf Justice. He said that it was rather reassuring and commendable for the judiciary to display such a high level of courage and professionalism, especially  given the unusual times. He said that the ruling by the five-member ...

Posted By Pat PA Okon Governor Samuel Ortom has acknowledged the support of the outgoing members of the Benue State House of Assembly to the success of his administration and pledged collaboration with Members-elect for a better Benue. He spoke yesternight at a banquet he organised for outgoing and incoming Assembly members held at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House Makurdi. The Governor noted that most members of the Assembly stood firm with him to add value to the development of the state, stressing that they were passionate and patriotic in defence of their fatherland especially when the enemy tried fruitlessly to overrun and take over the state. While congratulating the Members-elect on their victories, the Governor charged them to dialogue and elect a leadership that would pilot the affairs of the 9th Assembly effectively without rancour, stressing that his administration would continue to respect the separation of powers among the three arms of government j...

Posted By Pat PA Okon The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW) on Thursday hailed the election of Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). The Founder and President of the group, Aremo Oladotun Hassan, said a statement in Lagos that by the election, Fayemi had embarked on a  a mission to serve Nigerian masses and enhance good governance. Hassan said that the group was delighted at Fayemi’s election, adding that he deserved it. He said that  YCYW felicitated with Ekiti people, all Yoruba people and Nigerians at the election. Hassan said: “We owe this landmark stride to his excellency’s untainted track record of excellence, team spirit and uncommon probity. “We have a strong belief in his excellency toward widening the horizon of untapped opportunities of this highly placed office of NGF. “We have a belief that Fayemi will aim at bringing good governance, equitable distribution of resources, and ensuring optimal per...

The Supreme Court has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had no candidates in the 2019 general elections in Zamfara state. The five-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, held that the party in the state failed to conduct primaries in accordance with the party rules. In the lead judgment by Justice Paul Adamu Galinji, the apex court held that all votes cast for the APC as “wasted votes” and declared that all political parties with the second highest votes in the elections and the required spread, are elected to the various elections. The panel also awarded cost of N10m against APC in favour of the Kabiru Marafa faction of the APC and other respondents in the appeal. The justices sounded a note of warning to politicians against destroying the country’s democracy.

*Demand clean-up, compensation Posted by Pat PA Okon Oil-ravaged communities in Bayelsa State have accused the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and another regulatory body, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), of connivance with oil multinationals in the destruction of their environment. Four communities that suffered devastating oil spills - Babragbene, Lasukugbene and Oyeregbene in Southern Ijaw and Mbikiba in Brass local government areas - made the accusation on Wednesday during a town hall meeting with members of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) at Oyeregbene community. The commission led by the Archbishop of York in the United Kingdom, Dr. John Sentamu, is on a fact-finding tour of oil spill and environmentally degraded communities in the state. The communities, which demanded a clean-up of their land and waterways as well as payment of compensation by the oil multinationals operating in their area, said feder...