New Storm Erupts Over Edo PDP Guber Ticket – Lifestyle Nigeria
A storm is brewing in the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over the campaign for zoning of the party’s governorship ticket in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
The campaign for the zoning of the ticket to the Edo Central Senatorial Zone which has not completed a four year term appeared to have gained traction last year and partly led Governor Godwin Obaseki to narrow his succession plan to fellow corporate player, Asue Ighodalo who is from Ewohinmi in Edo Central.
The logic was the claim that Edo South has produced two governors in Chief Lucky Igbinedion and the outgoing, Obaseki while Edo North has produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Edo Central on the other hand has produced Senator Osehrienmen Osunbor whose term was, however, cut short after 20 months.
The popular agitation had been to zone the ticket to Central for equity and balance. The campaign may have partly led the outgoing governor, Obaseki to champion corporate player, Asue Ighodalo from Ewohinmi in Edo Central as his successor.
However, the argument for equity and zoning is increasingly being counterbalanced by demographics with the claim that Edo South which has 52% of the population could back another party which produces a candidate from Edo South.
. reports that the growing sentiment in Edo South has been fired by a petition from the influential Benin National Congress, BNC which last week complained to the Oba of Benin of the marginalisation of Edo South in political appointments and projects.
That sentiment it was gathered is making Edo Central to focus on producing the next governor of the state.
The Nigerian Tribune has meanwhile reported that party leaders who have canvassed their views on zoning among PDP governors and the Nationla Working Committee, NWC say that it would amount to political suicide to sidetrack Edo South to give the ticket to Edo Central which has about 21% of the population.
“It would therefore be suicidal for any party to zone the governorship position to Edo Central given the lopsided voter population and especially when there is no statewide consensus on such an idea,” the newspaper quoted a party source as saying.
Obaseki it was reported, is lobbying fellow governors that it would be fair to allow him produce his successor, a development that would also address the marginalisation of Edo Central.
However, influential political leaders mostly belonging to the Chief Dan Orbih led Legacy Coalition is believed to have countered that among party leaders on the claim that it would lead to the party losing the election.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, party leaders supportive of a candidate from Edo South are also of the view that zoning may not guarantee fairness as according to them, the candidate who was prevailed upon to drop his ticket for Obaseki in 2020, who also hails from Edo South, Honourable Ogbeide Ihama should be considered in the forthcoming primaries.
One of the leaders said: “Our fairness, equity, and justice should start from 2020 by rewarding Honourable Ogbeide Ihama, the man who stepped down to enable us to bring in Obaseki as a candidate in 2020.
“What the leaders told him then was that he still had age on his side. Now that he has been elected twice into the House of Representatives from Oredo Constituency, he has shown as someone in tune with the grassroots and should be considered.”
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Why Nigeria Needs State Police — Senate President, Akpabio
Lifestyle Nigeria Gathered that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has made a passionate appeal for the establishment of state police.
Speaking at a national dialogue on Security and State Police, held in Abuja, Senator Akpabio declared that the mounting security challenges across the country have made the creation of State Police to complement Federal Police compelling.
The President of the Senate appealed to the gathering to ensure that the State Police departments are insulated from politics, religion, and ethnic extremism.
He said: “In working out modalities for the state police and the security of our nation, we must not forget that security is not a privilege, but a fundamental right of every Nigerian. It is our duty to ensure that this right is upheld, that justice is served, and that the rule of law prevails.
We must build a security architecture that is robust, transparent, and accountable. If we are to set up state police departments, we must ensure that they are free from the shackles of politics, religious extremism, tribalism, and ethnicism. We must empower them to serve and protect, without fear or favour.
“As we consider this proposition, let us draw inspiration from the United States of America, a nation that has successfully implemented a system of state and federal policing. Let us learn from their experiences and adapt their models to suit our unique socio-political context.
Let us ensure that our state police forces work in harmony with their federal counterparts, collaborating to fight crime, preserve peace, and safeguard our democracy. In the USA, the FBI, the federal police body enforces federal laws and the state police departments enforce state laws. The FBI also investigates inter-state crimes. We must draw the lines because to have functional state police we must have a strong federal police.”
Akpabio who shared strong reservations about abuse of State Police as instrument of witch-hunt asked his colleagues to cooperate in building a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.
“But let us never forget that the power of the state police should never be used as a tool of oppression or witch-hunting. Let us ensure that political powers do not manipulate the state police to silence dissent or target their enemies. Let us ensure that the influential do not exert undue influence over the state police, and that justice is blind to wealth, power, politics, or status. Let us build a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.
“Therefore, in this hallowed hall, let us embrace this dialogue as an opportunity for unity, understanding, and collaboration. Let us rise above our differences and work towards a common goal – a safer and more secure Nigeria.
Let us use our collective efforts to build a nation that can withstand the challenges that lie ahead, a nation that can combat the monster of insecurity that currently threatens our collective well-being.“
JUST IN: Tinubu opens African Counter-Terrorism summit in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has kicked off the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja’s Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Sunday that a high-level conference organized by Nigeria in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will take place from April 22 to 23.
Platinumpost reported that the objective of the summit is to enhance multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and reshape the international community’s collective response to terrorism in Africa, emphasizing African-led and African-owned solutions.
Special guests present at the security summit include: Mr Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary General, United Nations office of Counter-Terrorism; Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General United Nations and Patrice Talon , President of the Republic of Benin, among others.
More details to follow…
(Nation)
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“God Is Nothing Without Me”: Viral Graduate Tenders Apology For His Bad Grammar
Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that a recent Benue State University (BSU) graduate, Msuega Terna Jnr, has apologized for his contentious graduation celebration post, which went viral on Facebook.
Msuega, who was celebrating the completion of his university career, posted photographs of his signing out on the Facebook page “TIV SINGLES” with a comment littered with poor language.
His now-deleted message said, “Hello Tiv shingles, celebration with me. I am a graduation from BSU.
“God is nothing without me.”
In a follow-up Facebook post on Sunday, Msuega clarified that his viral graduation post was not intended to disparage or drag his alma mater through the mud, but rather to raise publicity for himself. He said that it was intentional.
“In the said publication, I deliberately used wrong sentence to create awareness of my signing out from the university, though it was deliberate, but with no intentions of hurting anyone, a group, community or Institution.
“The publication has generated mixed reactions from users of social media, the academics, religious believers and different groups of people. “It was not intended to drag the reputation of any individual, group, community or Institution to the mud, neither was the publication to discredit God.”
He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke.
He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke
“To the best of my knowledge, I have acquired education from one of the best universities in Nigeria and I can express myself very fluently, equivocally without commiting blunders of such gravity and I’m also a religious believer that believes in the existence of God.”
Check out some of the reactions that trailed his apology below:
Ordue Edward Shagba said: “Polished English it’s. I hope this Apologies goes viral too. Congratulations.”
Aondowase Akpenwe said: “U lack the expected university trained characters assumed to be acquired by you. That’s all.”
Iorfa Madaky said: “You brought everything upon yourself, I pray your school don’t find a reason to use you as an example to put a stop to this cruise of a thing.”
L.B. Ume-Lai said: “Tswara ambi. “Shey u wan trend? “E go soon com out for newspapers. “U go explain explain tire.”
