POLITICS
Former Bayelsa PDP chairman slumps
With less than three months to the December 5 governorship election, major tragedy was averted on Saturday in Nembe, Bayelsa State, following the slump of the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the State, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the incident, which occured at a Town Hall meeting in Nembe, tension, fear and apprehension was said to have gripped the leadership of the APC.
It was however not clear whether journalists from both print and electronic media were compromised from writing the report of the major incident that took place in public domain.
But an eyewitness at the forum, who pleaded anonymity said “something funny happened and you don’t expect everything to be made public.”
Sources at the event said the programme was ongoing when Inokoba suddenly collapsed and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was said to be under intensive care as efforts were being made by medical personnel to stabilise his condition.
The Timipre Sylva-led APC leadership in the state was said to be uncomfortable with the situation and tried to keep the incident away from the press.
But it soon became public knowledge when relatives and associates came to the hospital, where Inokoba was being treated.
Reacting to the development, the Ijaw Young Professionals called on Inokoba’s family and the general public to hold the APC responsible should anything happen to the former PDP chairman.
Spokesman of IYP, Seighefa Tonye-Brown, in a statement in Yenagoa, berated the APC for attempting to hide the unfortunate incident.
According to him, the action of the APC leadership was suspicious and not in good faith.
He warned that should anything untoward happen to the Odi-born politician, the action of APC would be called to question.
Inokoba, who marked his 70th birthday in April, the statement claimed, had been in and out of hospital all through last year and till date.
Tonye-Brown added that all the while, his medical bills and welfare were provided by the Dickson-led PDP government.
“On several occasions, we were aware that he was flown abroad for medical treatment courtesy of the PDP-led government in the state. Even on the eve of his defection to the APC, we were privy to the fact that he was given the sum of N5 million by the Countriman governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, to proceed abroad for his usual medical check and treatment,” Tonye-Brown
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has disclosed why President Muhammadu Buhari loves Rotimi Amaechi, the outgone Minister of Transportation.
Rufai disclosed that Buhari loves Amaechi due to his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He disclosed this when Amaechi met with APC delegates from Kaduna ahead of the party’s national convention.
El-Rufai recalled wooing Amaechi and some other governors into the APC during the PDP administration.
“Let me tell you my history with Amaechi. When we started discussing with the G-7, the seven governors that wanted to defect to the APC, I was holding nocturnal meetings with Amaechi and Governor Nyako of Adamawa State until we got five of them to move to our party, and that was the game-changer.
“And for you to understand how difficult it is, imagine Amaechi of Rivers State from the same South-South with incumbent President Jonathan.
“He made the sacrifice to move to our party. It was a game-changer. This is part of the reason President Buhari loves Minister Amaechi till tomorrow,” El-Rufai said.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has denied stepping down from the 2023 presidential election for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Amosun stated that he is not in the presidential race to align with Tinubu or any other aspirant of the APC.
Amosun also denied obtaining the APC senatorial form, saying he did not attend the screening exercise organised for APC senatorial aspirants, as being peddled by some individuals.
There were rumours over the weekend that Amosun had agreed to step down for Tinubu, having been screened and cleared for the Ogun Central senatorial race.
But, in a swift reaction, Amosun debunked the rumour spreading on social media, saying the “two news stories are false.”
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, he said that the Ogun Central Senator “procured only the forms for the presidential ticket of the APC and did not attend the screening exercise for Senatorial aspirants because he is not one.”
While urging Nigerians to dismiss the “false news”, Adeyemi maintained that “Amosun is in the race for the presidential ticket of the APC and has no plans to align with any politician in the race.”
Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, has dropped her senatorial ambition.
Tallen made this known in a statement she issued on Monday.
The minister had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) form to contest the Plateau South Senatorial election.
According to her, after consultations with her constituents, she has decided to withdraw from the race.
The statement read in part: “I remain resolute as I continue to relish the opportunity to serve Nigerian Women in my capacity as Minister of Women Affairs under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Consequently, I wish to inform you all that following broad-based consultations and interventions from critical stakeholders, I have decided to withdraw from running for the senatorial seat, mindful of our accomplishments and the notable progress we have recorded under my stewardship at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”
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