Southwest PDP chairman removed

THE Southwest Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has removed its chairman, Chief Isola Filani.

The party leadership disclosed this in a communique at the end of an extra-ordinary meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The meeting, which was attended by13 members of the zonal committee, passed a vote of no confidence in the embattled chairman.

The meeting, which was presided over by an ex-officio, Ayotunde Olowofoyeku, appointed the former treasurer, Lanre Orimoloye, as acting chairman.

The zonal executive accused Filani of “running a one-man” administration, adding that he refused to call meetings, contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

But when contacted, Filani said he did not know how the committee came to the conclusion.

“I was not at the meeting. I don’t know how they came to that conclusion,” he said.

The communiqué issued by committee reads: “The meeting is being held in accordance with Section 27: 3 & 4 of our party’s constitution, which authorises the two-third majority of our members to convene a meeting.

“The Zonal Executive Committee hereby urges Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to declare his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential elections, stating that the SW (Southwest) Zone will give him all necessary support.

“The Zonal Executive Committee congratulates the good people of Ekiti State, our party and the Governor-elect, Dr. Ayo Fayose, on the victory of our party in the June 21st, 2014 gubernatorial election.

“In the same vein, the Zonal Executive Committee hereby congratulates our party and the gubernatorial candidate Senator Iyiola Omisore on the significant success recorded in the August 9th, 2014 gubernatorial elections in Osun State. The zone equally gives support to the party’s efforts to reclaim our mandate at the tribunal.

“The meeting also reviewed the activities of the zone since the emergence of the caretaker committee. It noted that Mr. Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, has been running a one-man show and has not carried the members along in the running, finance and other statutory issues of the zone.

“In the light of the above, the meeting hereby passes a vote of no confidence on the chairman, Chief Ishola Filani.

“Finally, for the smooth running of the zone, the meeting hereby appoints Lanre Orimoloye – the Zonal Treasurer – to act in his place and Ayo Olowofoyeku, the Zonal Ex-Officio from Osun State to Act as the Zonal Treasurer.”

The communique was signed by the 13 members present at the meeting.

They include the Secretary, Chief Adepegba Otemolu; the Women Leader, Chief Wunmi Osinroluke-Euba; the Financial Secretary, Otunba Banji Obasanmi and the Publicity Secretary, Waheed Lawal, a lawyer.

Lawal said, by the development, Filani would now attend meetings as an ordinary member.

The committee was inaugurated in February last year

APC a party with Janjaweed ideology has been promoting terrorism – PDP

NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday alleged that National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the leadership of the party and the party structure were frustrating efforts by the Federal Government to contain the lingering cases of Boko Haram insurgency with many killed regularly and property worth millions of naira destroyed. 

In a statement yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP also accused the APC of being a party made up of desperate politicians who support violence in all its ramifications.

Metuh described the statement by the leadership of APC on statement made by Australian, Dr. Stephen Davis as completely lacking in validity, character and intellectual content befitting the chairman of a political party.

The PDP spokesman said:

“The Peoples Democratic Party has noted yet another failed image laundering stunt by the APC wherein its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun cheapened his office and person by attempting to use an unempirical statement by Australian Dr. Stephen Davis, to absolve his party of blames for promoting insurgency in the country.

“Whilst we recognize the right of citizens to hold and canvass opinions in a democratic setting such as guaranteed under the PDP-led administration, we hold, and strongly too that such rights must be properly and respectably exercised.

“It is therefore shocking and worrisome that the APC National Chairman, Oyegun, in a frenzied effort to extricate his party, rather than exonerate the APC has reinforced and underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body language, a fact that is already well known to all Nigerians.

“In trying to stand the truth on its head, Oyegun has succeeded in further exposing the desperation of the APC to launder its image through renewed propaganda and blackmail, a project which has already failed.

“If not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the APC, why would Oyegun’s statement choose to be silent on the revelation by Davis that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their connections with Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts?

“We also wonder why the APC has chosen to ignore some of the revealing aspects of Dr. Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram’s funding and sponsorship. Is it because they are not favourable to them?

“While not holding brief for anybody, it is clear to every discerning mind that Oyegun’s statement, with all intent and purpose is yet another decoy to frustrate genuine efforts at finding solutions to the security challenges we face as a nation to the advantage of the APC whose penchant to use the promotion of violence as tool to achieve political control is well known to all.

“Nigerians may recall the frenzy with which the APC fought against moves by the British Parliament to investigate its involvement with terrorist elements as well as to divert attention from their meetings outside the shores of our country in their bid to promote insurgency in Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that we stand by our statements that the APC as a party with a Janjaweed ideology has been promoting insurgency and acts of terrorism through the actions and utterances of its leaders. Indeed, no amount of blackmail or propaganda can erase this truth.

“Nigerians have since noted the pattern and timing of violent attacks against our people which betray a trend tailored against the PDP and the Federal Government and provide impetus for the APC to find a voice and thrive. They know that it has become a recurring decimal that whenever the PDP or the Federal Government records or is about to record a major milestone, insurgents launch attacks on the people.

“Oyegun must understand that Nigerians know the APC for what it truly is and can no longer be hoodwinked by propaganda, blackmail and tactical misrepresentation. He should therefore stop debasing his office by struggling for media space with his National Publicity Secretary.

“It is indeed disheartening that the APC National Chairman has continued to disparage his office and age by making series of unguarded and inflammatory utterances and issuing statements laced with fabrications and wild allegations while leading his party like a frustrated rebel group desperate for political control; and whose understanding of opposition is crass unruliness and a culture of irresponsibility.

“Chief Oyegun has only succeeded in disappointing many Nigerians who thought his coming to office will result in a more responsible and constructive opposition. Instead, the reprehensible image of APC as a party that has nothing good to offer has worsened under him.”

 VANGUARD

 

Dangote Cement Slashes Prices, Launches 32.5 Grade

Dangote Cement Plc yesterday announced that it had reviewed the price of cement in the country downwards with about N100 slashed off the original price of each 50 kilogramme bag of cement.

According to the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Edwin  Devakumar, who spoke to journalists in Lagos, beginning from today, distributors lifting cement from the various Dangote cement plants across the country, will pay N100 less per 50 kilogramme bag of cement.

Devakumar also stated that to further comply with the ongoing Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) directive and regulation on the various classes of cement and their prescribed uses, “Dangote Cement Plc has announced plans to launch its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade, selling for N200 lower per bag than the price of the higher strength 42.5 grade.”

The managing director said the 32.5 cement grade from the stable of Dangote Cement was also to ensure consumers pay the right  price for the right value so that consumers would not be paying more for lower grade as is presently the case.

The largest cement producer in Nigeria noted that the move is to develop an array of cement types to meet the varied needs of consumers for the different grades of cement.

Dangote, with this move, now produces 42.5 for column casting, block making, decking and other general purpose construction work that require high strength, while also producing the premium 32.5 grade for plastering and flooring only.

The company also noted that it would continue with its nationwide campaign and capacity building which it initiated and had sustained in the past three years, to ensure that the different grades of cement are easily identified by users and used only for their prescribed purposes.

The company is also pushing out the 52.5 grade for specialised construction of high strength and specialised structures such as bridges, flyovers among others.

The 32.5 grade of cement, which has the lowest strength among the various cement products is priced lower than the others, selling for N200 lower than the price of the higher strength 42.5.

Dangote said in compliance with the SON standard for cement quality and packaging, the lower 32.5 type on the Dangote shelf will be clearly labelled as such, in order to prevent the problem of misapplication and misuse of the product, which has become rampant in the nation’s building and construction industry.

The company is also to intensify its campaign and training of users on the proper application of all grades of cement.

Devakumar also noted that the addition of nine million metric tonnes capacity to its original 20 million metric tonnes per annum capacity across its various plants had significantly increased its ability to supply  teeming consumers.

According to him, with the addition of the fresh  nine million capacity, comprising of six million metric tonnes in the Ibese plant and three million metric tonnes in the Obajana factory,  Dangote has extended its capacity of integrated cement production in the country from about 20 million tonnes per annum, to around 29 million tonnes.

He also promised that the expansion which had led to an increased supply of cement to the nation’s market, has also resulted in the price reduction of around N100 per 50 kilogramme bag of cement.

“We have significantly increased the supply of cement to the market and as it is expected, the enhancement in supply of the product to the market has also resulted to a reasonable reduction in the price of the product,” Devakumar said.

He hinted that the formal inauguration of the new nine million tonnes capacity enhancement would hopefully be carried out by President Goodluck Jonathan next month.

THISDAY

Ebola: FG to Review Schools’ Resumption Date as Another Patient Dies

FEC approves N144bn for power, N9.18bn for tug boats  Ratifies national integrated infrastructure master plan

By Jaiyeola Andrews  

The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has announced that the resumption date for public and private primary and secondary schools in Nigeria has been reviewed for the second time from October 13 to the middle of September.

Owing to the Ebola outbreak, the federal government had extended the summer holiday for schools nationwide from September to October 13.

However, Chukwu, while briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, had been directed by council to convene an emergency meeting with all states Commissioners for Education with a view to agreeing on a new resumption date nationwide.

Also giving an update of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, Chukwu revealed that one more patient had been discharged in Lagos, bringing to eight the number of persons who had been given the all clear after contracting the disease.

He said the status since the outbreak of the disease in the country, shows that a total of 18 persons (including the index case) had been infected, out of which 14 are in Lagos and four in Port Harcourt.

With the discharge of one patient, the minister said two patients were undergoing treatment in Lagos, while one was undergoing treatment in Port Harcourt.

He added that eight patients had been successfully treated and discharged, while seven persons, including Patrick Sawyer, had so far died of the disease.

Giving a breakdown, the minister said those who have died of the disease are: One (1), the index case, whose death occurred in a private hospital in Lagos, four (4) in the Lagos isolation ward, one (1) in the Port Harcourt isolation ward (the female patient who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt doctor was also admitted), while another one (1) was the doctor who was infected by the ECOWAS Commission official in Port Harcourt and who did not come under the care and management of the Incident Management Committee.”

Out of the 361 persons who were under surveillance in Lagos, he said only 41 are still under surveillance, while 320 had been given the all clear.

In Port Harcourt, Chukwu said, 255 persons are under surveillance, restating that the corpse of the medical doctor who died in Port Harcourt had been buried after de-contamination.

On the fate of the staff of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) who evaded surveillance and travelled to Port Harcourt where he infected a doctor, the minister explained that government was working on three options to prevent a repeat.

He listed the options as strengthening the quarantine law, seeking advise from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on what action to take on the ECOWAS staff, as well as seeking legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on what legal action could be taken against him.

On the reported cases of Ebola in some states and Abuja, the minister dismissed them as rumours.

According to him, after thorough investigation, the cases in the FCT and Cross River State were negative, just as he said that of Zaria in Kaduna State was still being investigated.

He appealed to Nigerians  to guard against the spreading of unsubstantiated rumours, especially on the social media.

Meanwhile the FEC yesterday approved N144 billion for the power sector and N9.181 billion for tug boats. It also blacklisted a contractor alleged to have abandoned an electricity project in Ebonyi State.

FEC equally ratified the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), adding that $305 trillion will be needed to roll out infrastructure spanning over 30 years.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in July 2012 approved that the National Planning Commission coordinate the preparation of the NIIMP for the country.

The plan, which will be implemented over a period of 30 years from 2014 to 2043, will be implemented in three phases.

The first phase of five years phase between now and 2018 will require $166.1bn for implementation.

However Messrs Techno Electric and Engineering Company was accused of collecting 15 per cent on December 1, 2010 from the federal government and thereafter abandoning the project.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, at the briefing said the government had blacklisted the directors of the company.

Wakil said the contract for the engineering design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of 2X60MVA, 132/33KV at Amasiri and 2X132KV Line Bays Extension at Abakaliki for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, had been re-awarded.

“Council approved the re-award of the contract in favor of Messrs North China Power Engineering limited and NCEP  Nigeria Limited for the sum of $5,835,368.47 payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment plus N505,788,083.58, inclusive of N67,211,298.58  for five per cent contingency with a completion period of 24 months.

“The project is designed to boost power supply to Ebonyi State and parts of Cross River and will enhance the socio-economic development of the state. The funds are available under the Eurobond loan, 2014 Appropriation Bill and in the unutilised letter of credit earlier established for the terminated project to commence implementation of the project,” the minister explained.

Also, the council approved the award of a contract for the design and construction of four 60 tonnes bollard pull marine tug boats in favour of Messrs Depasa Marine International (Nigeria) limited.

The contractual sum stands at €42,968,864.70 (N9.181 billion), inclusive of all taxes with a completion period of 24 months.

The project is expected to generate 97 job opportunities for both professionals and non-professionals during its execution and about 112 direct and indirect job opportunities when in full operation.
 

Protesting Edo students ground traffic on Benin-Ore Expressway

Vehicular movement was on Wednesday brought to a halt on the Benin-Ore Expressway by a coalition of students from four tertiary institutions owned by the Edo State Government.

They were protesting against the inability of the state government to address the demands of their lecturers and the poor state of facilities in the institutions.

The students, who noted that the lecturers had carried out a seven-day warning strike last month, said they feared that the current move by the academic staff to down tools indefinitely would totally ground academic activities in the four institutions.

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union had last month halted academic activities in four government-owned higher institutions ─ Colleges of education, Ekiadolor and Igueben; School of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; and Institute of Management and Technology, Usen, to protest against what they described as the reluctance of the government to pay their 16-month salary arrears.

The arrears arose from a differential in the implementations of the salary structure of CONPCASS and CONTEDISS from July 2009 to October 2010.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the students barricaded the busy expressway, leaving motorists and travellers from both Lagos and Benin areas stranded for several hours.

It was the second time such a protest would be held this year.

The Student Union Government President, Emmanuel Amenaghamwon, who led the protest, said the students could no longer tolerate the ill-treatment faced by their lecturers.

Amenaghamwon, who also decried the poor state of infrastructure in the institutions, appealed to the relevant authorities to address the poor condition of the schools, which they alleged could not compete with other institutions in the state.

The COEASU Chairman at the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Mr. Fred Omonuwa, told our correspondent that the union was aware that the students were protesting in solidarity with their lecturers.

Omonuwa said that the union had planned to down tools from next week, adding that the students’ protest was an effort to prevent the plan by the union to down tools because it would disrupt their forthcoming examinations.

“The students are also frustrated that they are just in school and nothing is happening; the road that leads to the school is bad and there is no water in the hostels.

“The union has said it is not going to conduct any exams until the state government meets the demands.

“So, they decided to use this medium to bare their minds,” he said.

Men of the Ekiadolor Police Division were at the protest venue to forestall a breach of peace, while personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps were seen trying to manage the gridlock caused by the protest.

The Toll Gate Unit Commander of the FRSC, Ameen Adewale, told our correspondent on the telephone that the protest created heavy traffic congestion on the highway.

He said that the protesting students, had, however, been convinced to go back to their campuses around 12pm, after appeals by the school management and security agencies.

He said, “On getting there, we discovered that some students were protesting and blocked the expressway. S

“Since then, we have been battling to see how we can ease the traffic situation there.

“But as I am talking to you now, there is free movement of vehicles to and fro, without any obstruction,” Adewale said.

The Edo State Commissioner for Higher Education, Washington Usifo, could not be reached to react to the issues raised by the students.

Credit: Punch

Multinationals aiding oil theft in Nigeria – Naval chief

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has accused International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria of complicity in the theft of the nation’s crude oil.

He also said that the Navy would not pretend about the involvement of the oil companies in crude oil theft.

He spoke at a meeting of the top leadership of the Navy and the Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of the IOCs in Abuja on Wednesday.

Jibrin said it took him seven and a half months since his appointment to call the first meeting between the Navy and the firms to discuss serious issues of concern in the oil sector, which included oil theft and illegal bunkering.

The Navy boss also explained that he made it clear that the CEOs should attend the meeting in person without representation because of the need to discuss the issues, which he described as worrisome, but regretted that the request was ignored.

Jibrin said some of the oil firms had deliberately left the manifolds of their oil wells open for years without conscious efforts to close them in spite of the fact that only experts had the capacity to reopen closed manifolds.

He warned that the Navy would ensure the arrest of executives of the IOCs who decided to leave the manifolds of their wells open for years without closing them.

He also threatened to deal with any naval officer found to have been involved in the criminal theft of the nation’s oil resources in accordance with the laws guiding the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The CNS warned that the Navy would go beyond accusing the firms to mentioning names of those suspected to be involved in the theft of the nation’s resources.

Jibrin wondered why the oil chiefs had not given the expected cooperation in the bid to seek a concerted solution to the raging issue of oil theft.

He said the time had come for the oil firms and the security agencies to seek solutions to the issue of oil theft in the country.

Jibrin said, “This is the first meeting I am having with the oil firms to discuss the issue of oil theft and illegal bunkering. It took us seven and half months to call this meeting, and specifically, we said we don’t want representation.

“We have a serious challenge and we need the commitment of the CEOs to discuss oil theft. It has become worrisome that we have not been able to check the issue of oil wells. It has got to a point that instead of pointing accusing fingers, we will mention names, including those of the major stakeholders.

“We cannot pretend that the oil companies do not have a hand in some of these illegalities; pretending is to allow it to continue. We will not pretend. I can start by citing some examples; some companies have left their oil wells opened for years and have done nothing to close them up. Because of the technical nature of the manifolds, once they are closed, only the experts can open them. Why have they been left open for years?”

He added, “I have pictures here. Why is it that all of us cannot sit down at a round table and provide a solution? Why are we denting the image of this country? It has come to a point that we must meet, discuss and provide solutions to issues pertaining to oil theft.

“Government is worried and those of us who are agents of the government are also worried. On my part, if any of my personnel is involved, they will be dealt with adequately in accordance with the existing law of the Armed Forces.

“I have decided that I will take some steps that if the manifolds are left open for years and our attention is drawn to the need for it to be closed, we will look for and start arresting officials of the oil companies who own that and left them without taking appropriate action.”

He said that the government was taking the issue of oil theft seriously because of the loss of revenue and the inimical effects of oil theft on the environment.

Responding on behalf of the firms, the Chairman, Oil Producer Trading Services, Mr. Ayobami Olubiyi, said that the companies had also taken steps to curb the threat of oil theft.

He recalled that the Federal Government set up an ad-hoc committee on the subject, with some funds released to address the pressing issues some months ago.

He said the men of the Nigerian Navy were involved in securing the operations of the oil firm in the Niger Delta and Lagos.

Olubiyi said, “It is not just the Nigerian Navy but all who have been supporting our business. And I also want to assure you that concerning oil theft, we have taken a lot of steps. That is why in the last couple of months, an ad-hoc committee was set up by the Federal Government to look into this, and I am aware that some money had been released to help curtail this situation.

“We will continue to advocate a true platform; and as you are aware, we have a number of your officers and men who have been supporting our operations in the Delta, including Lagos. They have been very professional in the way and manner they carry out this operation; and together with the CNS, I am sure we will all be able to work to ensure that we mitigate this very unfortunate situation in our country today.”

Bayelsa state govt begins reconstruction of Imiringi Bridge

Bayelsa State government has commenced reconstruction of the collapsed Imiringi Bridge in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state which was destroyed by the devastating floods of 2012.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, disclosed this in Yenagoa during the inspection of ongoing projects in the state.

The government is reconstructing the deplorable bridge at N800 million about two years after it promised to do so.

The bridge links several communities in the area, providing access for them to the state capital, Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo lamented the damage caused by the massive flooding, stressing that rebuilding the bridge was necessary to restore accessibility to communities in the area.

“It is a major project that government wants to make sure we complete because we know what Imiringi people have been suffering”, he said.

“The idea of doing the bridge is to make sure that these people have more direct access and free movement of their goods and services between the community at Imiringi here and at Otuasega there.

“From six to seven months, they will be through with this bridge. Our target is that before next year, May/June, people should be able to drive on this place.

“The cost of this project, I think, this one is going for about N800 million because it is about 130 metres spans now.

“It was supposed to be120 metres but now I made it 130 because of the additional 10 metres that I’ve asked they should add because of the reinforcement.

“As you can see the erosion is already affecting the other side of the reinforcement and that was what happened in this case that we lost the bridge.

“So, if we don’t give enough space to the riverine, what will happen is that we still have to run into that problem again. So, I have added another 10 metres”, he added

Other projects inspected by the commissioner were the House Officers’ Quarters at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yengoa, New Secretariat Annex 1, Igbogene-AIT Road, and Cargo Airport, among others.

PDP Tackles APC, Oyegun, Accuses Him of Image Laundering

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday upbraided the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, accusing him of engaging in a fruitless image laundering exercise for his party.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, he said Oyegun cheapened his office and person by attempting to use an unempirical statement by Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, to absolve his party of blame for promoting insurgency in the country.

According to PDP, “While it recognises the right of citizens to hold and canvass opinion in a democratic setting such as guaranteed under the PDP-led administration, we hold strongly that such rights must be properly and respectably exercised.

“It is therefore shocking and worrisome that the APC national chairman, in a frenzied effort to extricate his party, could issue a statement completely lacking in validity, character and intellectual content.

“Oyegun’s statement rather than exonerate the APC, has however reinforced and underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians

supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body language, a fact that is already well known to all Nigerians.”

PDP said Oyegun, in an attempt to stand the truth on its head, had succeeded in further exposing the desperation of the APC to launder its image through renewed propaganda and blackmail, a project which had already failed.

According to the PDP, “If not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the APC, why would Oyegun’s statement choose to be silent on the revelation by Davis that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their connections to Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts?

“We also wonder why the APC has chosen to ignore some of the revealing aspects of Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram’s funding and sponsorship. Is it because they are not favourable to them?

“While not holding brief for anybody, it is clear to every discerning mind that Oyegun’s statement, with all intent and purpose, is yet another decoy to frustrate genuine effort at finding solution to the security challenges we face as a nation to the advantage of the APC whose penchant to promote violence as tool to achieve political control is well known to all.”

The PDP therefore urged Nigerians to recall the frenzy with which the APC fought against moves by the British Parliament to investigate its involvement with terrorist elements as well as to divert attention from it meetings outside the shores of the country in their bid to promote insurgency in Nigeria.

It further said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that we stand by our statements that the APC as a party with a ‘Janjaweed’ ideology has been promoting insurgency and acts of terrorism through the actions and utterances of its leaders. Indeed, no amount of blackmail or propaganda can erase this truth.

“Nigerians have since noted the pattern and timing of violent attacks against our people which betray a trend tailored against the PDP and the federal government as well as provides impetus for the APC to find a voice and thrive. They know that it has become a recurring decimal that whenever the PDP or the federal government records or is about to record a major milestone, insurgents would launch attacks on the people.

“Oyegun must understand that Nigerians know the APC for what it truly is and can no longer be hoodwinked by propaganda, blackmail and tactical misrepresentation.”
The statement added that: “He should therefore stop debasing his office by struggling for media space with his national publicity secretary.

“It is indeed disheartening that the APC national chairman has continued to disparage his office and age by making series of unguarded and inflammatory utterances, issuing statements laced with fabrications and wild allegations while leading his party like a frustrated rebel group desperate for political control, whose understanding of opposition is crass unruliness and a culture of irresponsibility.”

Accordingly, PDP said: “Our advice to the opposition is that they should learn to properly comport themselves, eschew bitterness, desperation and divisive tendencies, and think of how to make meaningful contributions to tackle the challenges facing the nation.

“On his own part, Oyegun, as a former state governor should retrace his steps, and strive to be nationalistic and statesmanlike as well as comport himself as an opposition leader. For now, he is a little more than a glorified media assistant. A word is enough for the wise.”