PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM

. .. As Sultanate Council Confers Him With Title of Walin Sokoto The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Mannir Muhammad Dan'Iya has described the State Governor as his political pillar just as he noted that the Sultan of Sokoto is his spiritual role model. Hon. Dan'Iya stated these Friday after the official receipt of a letter from the Sultanate Council of Sokoto informing him of his conferment of the Walin (Custodian of) Sokoto Caliphate (Culture). The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, had in a letter signed by him and referenced SOS/SMS/050/Vol. VIII/89, dated Oct. 29, 2020, conferred the title on the Deputy Governor in "recognition of your contributions to the Sultanate Council, Islam and the people of Sokoto state in general." Expressing appreciation to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, the Deputy Governor said he was humbled by the symbolic and historic gesture. According to him, "I owe this singular honor to Al...

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday, said the ongoing process for the creation of new wards in the state was to correct the imbalance in ward delineation in some local government areas. The governor made this known in Asaba, at a Town Hall meeting with representatives of #ENDSARS protesters, civil society groups, students, social groups, community youth leaders and other stakeholders in Delta North Senatorial District. He explained that by existing law, every local government area in the state should have a maximum of 20 wards, adding that the ongoing process by Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DESIEC) was to correct some wrongs. Okowa expressed optimism that the Electoral Bill would be signed by President Muhammadu Buhari this time, and said that the refusal to sign it before the 2019 general elections was political. For any election, he appealed to leaders to build consensus or conduct free and fair primary elections for aspirants to avoid imposition of...

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the Federal Government to quickly resuscitate the Warri Port, saying it is key to curbing unemployment in the state and the nation. The governor made the call at a Town Hall meeting with Youths, including #ENDSARS protesters, civil society groups, students, social groups, community leaders and stakeholders across Delta South and Delta Central Senatorial Districts on Thursday in Warri.  He said that with the congestion of the ports in Lagos, Federal Government should revive Warri Port and other seaports in Delta to boost the nation’s economy and create employment for the youths.  He stated that the rate of unemployment was very high, but could not be immediately reversed, stressing that checking unemployment was not just about employing people into public service as not more than five per cent of the population would benefit from it. Okowa disclosed that to tackle the unemployment trend, his administration adopted skills...

Bayelsa State has said Tuesday’s verdict of the Supreme Court on the matter it instituted over the disputed oil wells with neighbouring Rivers State did not amount to a resolution of the dispute.   It also said contrary to reports in the media, the apex court’s verdict did not cede the oil wells or area to Rivers.   The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayibaina Duba, who gave the explanation on Friday, said the clarification was necessary in order to dispel erroneous reports and misinformation.   The Information Commissioner explained that the Supreme Court, by its decision, only advised Bayelsa State to await the ruling of the Appeal Court where it also filed an appeal seeking to nullify the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered in favour of Rivers on the disputed oil wells.   He further stated that the apex court did not rule on the substance of the matter brought before it as it felt it was premature to do so when ...

...Urges panel to diligently carry out duty …Says Ugwuanyi only governor that gave students palliatives during COVID-19 lockdown The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has applauded the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for swiftly commencing action towards securing justice for late Ejike Okeke, a student of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, who was unfortunately hit by a stray bullet during the #EndSARS protest hijacked by miscreants. In a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Coordinator, NANS Zone B (South-South, South-East) Comrade Darlington Ugwuegbe and NANS Chairman, Enugu State, Comrade Romanus Ogene, the Nigerian students expressed satisfaction that the Gov. Ugwuanyi-led administration has immediately swung into action, dispatching government delegation to pay condolences to all bereaved families of the #EndSARS protest and initiating an investigation panel geared towards identifying perpetrators of these crimes. They ...

---Approves Bus For Community  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, marked the Eid-el-Maulud festival with the Muslim community in the state even as he sued for an indivisible and peaceful Nigeria where all tribes and religions would co-exist in love. Governor Diri, who hosted the adherents of Islam at the Government House in Yenagoa, said with religious tolerance, the country can forge ahead as a people with one destiny to make Nigeria richer and greater. The governor's spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as expressing delight with the peaceful disposition of the Muslim community in the state. He said Bayelsa is predominantly Christian but his government will continue to encourage good neighborliness between the two religions.  He said: “We want a united Nigeria. We want a Nigeria of love, of equity, of justice and where we can live together and respect each other’s right and religion. We want a country where we can remove the sentiments of tribe and...

Fellow Citizens, circumstances that have unfolded since my last address to you necessitates that I address you once again. I have moved round and assessed the damages and the extent to which the latest mayhem visited on our state has reversed the progress we have made in recovery from the backwardness we inherited. I do admit that it is colossal even as I feel and share the pains of all our well-meaning citizens. In the midst of all these, we must all resist the actions and utterances of those whose aim is to gain political mileage over our collective tragedy and misfortunes. Turning the unfortunate mayhem into an issue for political discourse, is the height of insensitivity whose level we cannot be reduced to. I have reviewed the situation in the state with security operatives and duly observed that relative calm is returning across the state. May I acknowledge and commend the conduct of our citizens who have remained law abiding in spite of the extreme difficulties they had to endure...

...Gov. Umahi tasks council bosses to fish out hoodlums in seven days  Governor David Umahi has announced that the government of Ebonyi State has set aside the sum of N2.6bn for over 2,600 youths drawn from the 13 council areas of the state. Governor Umahi broke the cheering news on Wednesday at the New Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki during a courtesy call on the governor by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Celestine Okoye. The event was also aimed at tightening security loose ends in the area in the wake of police station attack in Ezza South Council Area of the state yesterday. He explained that there is an urgent need for the youths to be economically empowered to steer off every form of violence which is why he has called for a roundtable dialogue to know exactly what the youth expect of his administration. The governor further stated that the empowerment will go a long way in giving the youth sound economic footing because an "idle man" is...

- State Govt Releases Funds for Traffic Lights  Benue State Government is to collaborate with the Federal Government to build 500 units of two and three bedroom flats in the state. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi, stated this today at Benue Peoples' House, Makurdi, while briefing journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided by Governor Samuel Ortom. She stated that the Ortom administration has taken the issue of housing very seriously as it would ease the problem of accommodation for many families.  Mrs. Addingi noted that EXCO had also approved over N109 million contract for the installation of traffic lights at six locations in Makurdi, the state capital. She stated that the traffic lights some of which had already been installed are to be located at Tito Junction, University of Agriculture junction, David Mark bye pass junction, Balcony Junction, Katsina- Ala street junction and B Division junction. The Inform...

Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has applauded the State Chief Executive, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and all true patriots of Rivers State on the Supreme Court Judgement over Soku Oil Wells. In a statement from the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday 29th October, 2020, Dr. Banigo said since his assumption of office on May 29th 2015, every action taken by Governor Wike had been taken in the best interest of the Rivers People, adding that the Governor’s determination to continue to pursue the matter against all odds demonstrates his determination to ensure that the interest of the Rivers People is protected at all times. Dr. Banigo reiterated that the purposeful leadership of the Governor has translated into an exponential increase in the socio- political and economic development of the State. It would be recalled that the Rivers State Government is contesting the error in eleventh edition of the Admin map of Nigeria published by the office of the Surveyor Ge...

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Wednesday, swore-in three new commissioners at the Council Chamber of Government House, Sokoto. Also sworn-in were two Special Advisers and two Directors-General. Those sworn in as commissioners include: Alhaji Muhammad Mainasara Ahmed (Mni), Comrade Bashir Gorau and Maikudi Abubakar Ahmed, while Abubakar Shekara and Abdul'aziz Ibrahim were sworn-in as Special Advisers Public Affairs and Disabled Affairs, respectively. In the same vein, Dr. Hafsat Buhari Galadima and Dr. Muhammad Bashir Mustapha were sworn-in as Directors-General in the State Civil Service. Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Tambuwal charged the appointees to exhibit higher sense  of responsibility and matured conduct in the discharge of their duties, particularly in their public appearance, comments and engagement of members of the public as well as in the handling of public trust.  While congratulating the new appointees, the governor charged them to marshal all their experien...

...Civil Servants from grade level 1 to 10 to resume work Rivers State Executive Council has approved the employment of 5,000 youths into the State Civil Service. The approval was given during its meeting on Wednesday 28th October, 2020, which was presided over by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and held at Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday. Briefing journalists after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Mr. Sylvanus Nwankwo, said the youths must not be more than 35 years. He said there are existing vacancies in the civil service needing Engineers, Lawyers, Medical Doctors, Technicians and other fields of profession that these youths will fill.  Also addressing journalists, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the recruitment drive undertaken by the Wike administration will cushion the employment gap in the state.  Nsirim also said that the council approved that civil servants that were aske...

  Akwa Ibom State Government has disclosed that all Inter-state border entry points, leading into the State will be closed from 7 am to 2 pm on Saturday, 31st October 2020. This, according to a statement by the Secretary to State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, made available to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday, is to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful conduct of elections into the 31 Local Government Councils of the State The statement says human and vehicular movements within will also be restricted from 7 am to 2 pm on the said day. The state government has therefore advised eligible voters to stay within the premises of their polling units during the period of the elections. It however exempted those on essential duties, viz: medical personnel, electoral officials and election observers, accredited pressmen from the movement restrictions. “In order to enable active participation of civil servants in the election, work will close at 2 pm on Friday 30 October 2020. “The subsisti...

  Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to partner youths in the state to improve on governance and its structures. The governor made this known when the Delta Caucus in the House of Representatives, led by the Minority Leader, Mr Ndudi Elumelu, paid him a solidarity visit on Wednesday, at Government House, Asaba. He thanked the lawmakers for the visit and for always identifying with the state government and the people in difficult times, recalling that the caucus took similar step two times during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. He said the government would ensure that regular communication with the youths existed to prevent misinformation which could lead to further break down of law and order. Okowa appealed to the youths to continue to assist the government and security agencies to ensure that criminal elements in the society were not allowed to succeed in their acts. "I truly must be very thankful ...

…Inaugurates panel on findings, compensation Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Wednesday, conveyed the sympathy of his administration to the families of private citizens and security personnel who lost their loved ones to the unfortunate violence and criminality precipitated by the hijack of the otherwise peaceful #EndSARS protests by miscreants. The governor also conveyed his administration’s compassionate consideration to private citizens and security personnel who suffered grievous bodily injuries during the mayhem as well as private citizens’ properties and security infrastructure. Gov. Ugwuanyi made the solemn expressions when he inaugurated the nine-member Administrative Panel of Inquiry he constituted on Tuesday “to determine the loss of lives and/or other grievous bodily injuries to private citizens and security personnel as well as destruction of properties of private citizens and security infrastructure in Enugu State resulting from the hijack of the #EndSARS prote...

---Inaugurates Panels On Judicial Inquiry, Human Rights Abuse Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has noted with satisfaction the conduct of the #EndSARS protesters in the state, saying they were peaceful and mature in making their demands. Governor Diri commended the peaceful disposition of the youths on Wednesday while inaugurating the panels on Judicial Inquiry On Police Brutality and that on Security and Human Rights at the Executive Chambers of the Government House in Yenagoa. He set up both committees last week in response to the demands of the protesters when he addressed them at the Government House penultimate weekend. His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as decrying the criminal aspects of the protests in parts of the country while expressing appreciation to the protesters in the state for their orderly conduct, which has ensured that the state remained peaceful and without any violent incidents. He stated that he immediately adopted the ...