Politics

Former Vice President Mohammed Sambo will never abandon PDP – Source says

Published

6 years ago

August 31, 2018 3:58 pm

bodexng

A competent source close to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has stated on Wednesday 30th August that the immediate past Vice President, Arc Mohammed Sambo, is still a prominent member of the party and has no intention to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The sources have disregard every rumours spreading around in the Ex Vice President’s home state, Kaduna that he is about to cave in to purported pressure from the anti-graft agencies to join the ruling party or face trial for imaginary corruption cases.

“I can tell you categorically that Arc Sambo is not under any pressure from any quarters to defect to APC or any party for that matter to purportedly save his neck. He has served his state and country to the best of his ability. In all the positions he has held, the former Vice President made transparency and probity his watch words, so there is nothing with which to blackmail him to leave PDP, a party which he toiled with other patriots and like minds to build,” the competent source from the People’s Democratic Party in Kaduna said.

According to the source, “The claim that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is putting any pressure on the former Vice President due to some corruption infraction is not only false but unfounded. The anti-graft agency has investigated him on the strength of the whistle blower policy and as it stands the whistle blower is now in jail for supplying false information to the Commission – the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has prosecuted him for fraudulent misrepresentation and Arc Sambo’s Kaduna residence which was damaged as a result of the forced entry was repaired. In the same vein, the EFCC had distanced itself from the raid carried out in his Kaduna residence while the one in his Abuja office carried out by the EFCC did not yield any negative outcome as all his items removed were returned and his office earlier damaged was repaired by the anti-graft agency.”

The source noted that the recent renewed media attacks against the former Vice President may not be unconnected with the gubernatorial contests within the PDP family in Kaduna State. He said: “The late entry of Mohammed Sani Sidi, former Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), into the race has elicited commentaries as to the reasons for his sudden entry. While some speculate that his entry into the race is due to prompting by the former Vice President, others are of the view that incumbent governor, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufa’i, is sponsoring him. Like all other permutations, this is entirely a false assertion as the Ex-VP – being an elder statesman – has no business with the sponsorship of any candidate.”

On the presence of the former Vice President at some events of the APC Government, the source went further to say that : “It is foolhardy for anyone to suggest that Arc Sambo has any ceremonial relationship with the APC just because he attends some events organised by the APC-led government. Governor el-Rufai invited His Excellency to the commissioning of the first phase of the Zaria water project, which Arc Sambo started during his days as Kaduna State Governor and had attained some appreciable level of completion before he left for Abuja to assume the office of Vice President. He attended the event because it was one of his legacy projects. The second event to which he was invited and attended was the 100 years centennial celebration of Kaduna State. Do these two invitations and attendance make him anything less PDP?

“At the national level, the former Vice President has attended only events for which he belongs in the protocol list of government. His visitations to the incumbent President and Vice President were in honor of legitimate invitations and in some cases retaliatory from them”.

“It is instructive to further state that the former VP has attended all the PDP functions to which he was invited. He was at the two National Conventions of the party and North-West zonal meetings to which he was invited.”

The source laughed off insinuations that Arc Sambo is sponsoring the presidential ambition of leading PDP aspirant Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, describing it as “diversionary and high-level mischief”.

Contacted for comments, Arc Sambo’s Media Adviser, Umar Sani, said: “We have no time to join issues with the mischief makers peddling these falsehoods. The former VP has no stain of corruption and so has nothing to be afraid of. He is not under any pressure and will neither defect to APC nor will he ever abandon PDP under any guise.”

Politics

Outrage as Betty Akeredolu calls Nigeria a zoo

Published

20 hours ago

November 15, 2024 9:10 am

BodexNG

Betty Akeredolu, widow of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo, has been criticised for comparing the US presidential election to Nigeria’s 2023 general election.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Betty juxtaposed the period it took to count and announce winners in both polls.

She has also been berated for calling Nigeria a zoo while responding to critics of her posts on the elections.

“When dishonesty is prioritised, simple things become difficult,” she said of Nigeria’s election.

“2023 Nigerian Presidential Election: Total Votes Cast: 25 million, Counting Duration: 5 days. 2024 U.S Presidential Election: Total Votes Cast: 155 million. Counting Duration: Approx. 10 hours.”

In another post, she said, “I made an honest but harmless observation on Nigerian and US presidential elections. Twitter is now on fire. Truth hurts and hurts with tribal colouration”.

“If the 2023 election presidential benefitted you as an individual or group, was that the best Nigeria could offer? Alas, they turned it into a tribal war of words. Nigeria is irredeemable! So sad,” she added.

“Very bitter indeed! Who will rescue Nigeria? What a zoo country!”

One Adegoke Adebisi said counting of votes continues in the US despite the announcement of Donald Trump as president-elect.

“This is not factual. The election was determined in 10 hours but counting continued till Friday, but results were posted live,” Adebisi said in response to Betty’s post.

“Grandma doesn’t even know what electoral college is, she thinks they count each ballot in the US election to declare Trump. You don’t even have the moral justification to criticise a system ur husband benefited from,” another post reads.

Here are a few more posts.

https://twitter.com/drdebodun/status/1856744000608236008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856744000608236008%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Montero1016/status/1856742131454431616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856742131454431616%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Olalekanakogun/status/1856732313867989117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856732313867989117%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/bigmorsh/status/1856955340027265067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856955340027265067%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/AndinoAsuquo/status/1857236820884378041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1857236820884378041%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/Yakbel/status/1856982179915468879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856982179915468879%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/xybox/status/1856754083534712983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856754083534712983%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/bolagy/status/1856749039435296911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856749039435296911%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/tru_th_finder/status/1856751774981292493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856751774981292493%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/TemmyAjayi1/status/1856999762458812578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856999762458812578%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

https://twitter.com/MisterAdigun/status/1856978908266090986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1856978908266090986%7Ctwgr%5E610290c57da8066b2fca89158d8fe9ca93d32190%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Fsame-country-that-made-you-outrage-as-betty-akeredolu-calls-nigeria-a-zoo%2F

Politics

Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2024 8:18 am

BodexNG

Twenty-four hours after his swearing-in, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Wednesday, approved the dissolution of the executive of all boards, agencies and parastatals in the state public service with immediate effect.

The directive affected all permanent secretaries appointed outside the civil service.

The governor also ordered contractors in the state to return to sites, asking them to immediately fix all failed portions within the Benin metropolis.

In the same vein, he ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in the state, especially in motor parks, until further notice.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor ordered all affected appointees to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officers in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of executives of all boards, agencies and parastatals in Edo State Public Service with immediate effect.

“In addition, all permanent secretaries appointed from outside the state public/civil service and all political appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments.

“Accordingly, all affected appointees are to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officer in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.”

In another statement, the governor ordered the state Commissioner of Police to arrest anyone who flouted the order on revenue collection suspension.

The statement read, “The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in Edo, especially in motor parks and others, until further notice.

“The governor said he would review the issues surrounding the collections soon and decide on the way forward.

“The collection of revenues in the state has been suspended indefinitely. Anyone seen collecting revenues on behalf of the state government will be arrested.

“The Commissioner of Police is hereby ordered to arrest anyone who flouts the order and collects any kind of revenues on behalf of the state government.

“The governor will soon address the issues and concerns raised. He will issue new directives soon. Until then, no one is authorised to collect revenues on behalf of the state government.”

Politics

I cannot support Peter Obi again, says Doyin Okupe

Published

2 weeks ago

November 5, 2024 11:21 am

BodexNG

Doyin Okupe, former director-general of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign in 2023, says he “cannot support” Peter Obi again.

Okupe spoke on Monday during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He was reacting to a viral clip of Obi commenting on how the country’s economic situation offers little succour to people in the south-west despite President Bola Tinubu being from the zone.

“Let us talk about what is happening today. Rice is about N100,000. We are not even sure where we are going to be. ‘It’s our turn’, ‘he is a Yoruba man’ — ask the people in Ogun, here is there any place you people buy bread cheaper?” Obi said in the viral clip.

The video generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting Obi’s comments while others criticised him.

Adding his voice to the criticism, Okupe described the former LP presidential candidate’s remark as an “insult” to people in the south-west.

He said Obi’s statement publicly brought down south-west people even though “eminent Yoruba people” supported him during his presidential bid in 2023.

“When Obi made that statement, it insulted us. I am a Yoruba man; I left everything and followed Obi.

“For the first time, Obasanjo left his circle of influence and deviated to support Obi,” Okupe said.

“I do not regret supporting Peter Obi. But now I cannot do it again. The reason why I did it was because we agreed that a southern president must emerge.

“I was approached that if a southern president must emerge, which zone must it come to? I said the south-east.

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others