Politics

Visiting Jonathan to seek support shows you are shameless, Niger Delta activist blasts Tinubu

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2022

Foremost environmental and human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs

Foremost environmental and human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has berated the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, for seeking former President Goodluck Jonathan’s support in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

Briggs, who spoke on Wednesday while reacting to Tinubu’s consultative visit to Jonathan at his Abuja residence on Tuesday, described the APC standard flagbearer as shameless.

She said that Tinubu should be ashamed of himself for consulting Jonathan over his presidential race a few years after heaping verbal attacks and insults on the former president and his wife, Patience, because he was a minority President from Ijaw in the Niger Delta.

Briggs noted that that Tinubu was one of the opponents of the Jonathan administration, who mobilised opposition against him and called him all sorts of derogatory names.

She said, “Politics in Nigeria is a filthy game about personalities, not about the people, if not, Tinubu should be too ashamed to visit Jonathan and sit down on the chair in his house.

“This is a man (Tinubu) that cannot differentiate between politics of ideology and shameful politics. They hauled insults at him (Jonathan), they hauled insults at his wife.

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“They constructed effigies to mock Jonathan; they organised ‘Occupy Nigeria’ and paraded with coffins and did all kinds things against Jonathan. Today, they are shamelessly visiting Jonathan, sitting on his chair in his house.”

Briggs described Jonathan as “a kind-hearted man and Ijaw son” who had been vindicated on many fronts, stressing that he had acknowledged while in office that he was the most insulted and abused president.

The activist said Tinubu and his ilk should realise that the oil and gas resources in Jonathan’s Niger Delta remained the sources of their feeding and wellbeing of Nigeria, adding that “after all the insults, calling him clueless, they are now visiting Jonathan and sitting in his house.”

Earlier on her Facebook page, Briggs had expressed similar views, saying that all anti-Jonathan elements, including the APC presidential candidate, would have their payback time.

She stated that Tinubu could not hate Ijaw people in 2015 when Jonathan lost his re-election bid and hoped to achieve victory in the forthcoming presidential poll in Ijaw land.

Briggs further said, “One by one, from top to bottom, they all go back to Jonathan to receive their shovel of hot coal on their heads. I will tell the APC/Tinubu for free that if Ijaws vote for him, it will not be at a level for him to claim victory in Ijaw nation. He cannot hate Ijaws in 2015 and expect Ijaws to vote for him in 2023. Jonathan is an Ijaw son and man, but all Ijaws are not Jonathan.

“Go and collect your debt from Buhari, Jonathan no get vote for you inside our creeks, swamps and mangroves. Ijaw youths are not going to eat the corn and groundnut you are offering, we have enough plantain, fish and all the oil and gas we need to import all we want to eat.”

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Kwankwaso keeps mum on NNPP internal crisis

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso keeps mum on NNPP internal crisis

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, has opted to remain silent on the ongoing internal crisis within the party.

During a press briefing held at his residence on Miller Road in Kano on Tuesday afternoon, Kwankwaso was asked by journalists to address the situation, but he firmly stated that he had no comments regarding the issue.

The NNPP, which has gained significant political traction in recent years, has been experiencing internal challenges, especially at the state level.

However, Kwankwaso’s decision to refrain from speaking publicly on the matter has left many speculating about the next steps for the party and its leadership.

“I don’t want to talk please. Don’t drag me into what I am not supposed to be dragged into. The chairman of the party has spoken and has been speaking, reach out to him,” he said.

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Newstrends reported that there has been an internal crisis between parties which resulted in the suspension of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Baffa Bichi and the Commissioner of transportation, Muhammad Diggol.

According to the party chairman, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, the suspension followed alleged disrespect to the party, abuse of power, office and disloyalty to the party.

Recall that the suspension came barely an hour after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf led a reconciliation between the SSG and the aggrieved members of his constituency.

The SSG had also dissociated himself from the ongoing campaign instigating the separation of Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso under the guise of ‘Abba Tsaya da Kafarka’ meaning; Abba stand on your feet.

Kwankwaso keeps mum on NNPP internal crisis

Politics

PDP govs ask Damagum to step down after NEC meeting

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2024

Trends Admin

IIiya Umar Damagum

PDP govs ask Damagum to step down after NEC meeting

Indications emerged on Tuesday that Ambassador Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been offered an opportunity to step down from his position next week.

Newstrends gathered that the decision was reached by the party’s governors yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Sources privy to the details of the meeting and a virtual gathering held earlier on Monday, stated that the governors were rattled by the factionalisation of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and resolved to unite for preservation of the party.

At yesterday’s meeting, convened before the official flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign rally in Ondo State, it was gathered that the governors agreed to allow Damagum to retain his position as acting national chairman until the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24.

Newstrends gathered that the acting chairman, Damagum and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) were present at the meeting. Also present were the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Balam Mohammed, along with governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), among other party chieftains.

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Yesterday’s meeting was a continuation of the PDP Governors’ Forum’s virtual meeting which took place on Monday. During the meeting of Monday, Governor Adeleke reportedly expressed disappointment over how the crisis had led to the factionalisation of the NWC, expressing fears that it could negatively impact his bid for a second term in 2026, being the first among the party’s first-term governors to be up for a re-election.

Adeleke reportedly challenged Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State for not supporting the North-Central’s bid to retain the chairmanship, despite being from the zone and also a first-term governor.

Mutfwang reportedly replied that based on recent developments, he was now in favour of a chairman emerging from the North-Central, following the party’s constitution to resolve the impasse.

Mutfwang, alongside governors Makinde, Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), is believed to have initially opposed Damagum’s removal. This quartet is thought to be allied with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom Damagum has allegedly been supporting.

However, it was gathered that Makinde, believed to be the leader of the quartet, proposed at the virtual meeting of Monday that even if Damagum were to leave, he should be given a soft landing. Consequently, the meeting was postponed to yesterday to include Damagum.

The governors also agreed that while Damagum continues as acting chairman for the next few days, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be used to ratify the North-Central’s nomination for the position. The NEC meeting will also discuss potential dates for a national convention.

PDP govs ask Damagum to step down after NEC meeting

Politics

APC reverses suspension of Lokpobiri, other Bayelsa party chieftains

Published

2 days ago

October 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri

APC reverses suspension of Lokpobiri, other Bayelsa party chieftains

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has lifted the suspension of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), along with several other senior party members.

This decision came after a prolonged meeting that included the state executive committee, party members of the state Assembly, and local government leaders.

The meeting primarily focused on resolving the internal conflict resulting from the suspension of key figures in the Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Sagbama, and Yenagoa local government areas.

Those previously suspended included notable individuals like Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Chief David Lyon, the APC’s governorship candidate in the 2019 election

Following a press conference on October 15 at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa, a communique was issued.

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Signed by Chief Dennis Otiotio-Odoni, the state chairman, and Acting State Secretary Owutuamo Tamaranpreye, the statement confirmed that the suspensions were rescinded after a request from the minority caucus of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and thorough discussions within the party.

The communique outlined the party’s decision to defer the ratification of the suspensions to allow for additional consultations with key stakeholders, following recommendations from the APC caucus in the state Assembly.

Additionally, the extended executive committee and the APC Assembly Caucus condemned the recent actions of the Bayelsa Commissioner for Power, Mr. Kharin Kumoku, who reportedly led a group of individuals to attempt an attack on the APC state secretariat.

The party urged Governor Douye Diri to address the issue by cautioning the commissioner and called on both the Commissioner of Police, Francis A. Idu, and the state Director of DSS to investigate the incident.

The Bayelsa APC emphasized its dedication to democratic values and expressed its intent to resolve disputes through constructive dialogue.

The party also encouraged members and stakeholders to uphold decorum, stressing the importance of unity for the party’s success in the state.