A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, says former Vice President Atiku Abubakar must wait till 2031 if he wants to contest for president again.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, lost to President Bola Tinubu.
George, in a statement on Wednesday, said that a southerner must occupy the office of the President and Commander in Chief from 2023 to 2031 “because that is the reality of our country, PDP constitution and our polity”.
“Even in 2027, Atiku will be 81 years and this is the time for him to embrace the President Joe Biden concept of allowing the younger generation to run for the highest office in the land.
“I have nothing personal against Alhaji Abubakar. He is my friend but the truth must be told. By 2027, by God’s Grace, I will also be in my 80s.
“So, what am I looking for in public office as an octogenarian? The same principle should apply to Alhaji Abubakar.
“We all saw what American President, Joe Biden, did recently when he stepped down for Kamala Harris to contest the November presidential election.
“That is the hallmark of a statesman. Alhaji Abubakar should do same so that in 2027, PDP will field a southerner as presidential candidate,” George, a former military governor of Ondo State ,said.
According to him, the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner from Katsina State ,just left office after ruling for eight years.
He said that power at the federal level could not go to the North in 2027 because “that is the reality of our country and our party’s constitution”.
George said that Section 7, Sub-section 3 (C) of the PDP Constitution stated that zoning and rotation must be maintained for justice, fairness and equity.
He added: “In our party, this is the right and logical thing to do in the present political circumstances.
“But if Alhaji Abubakar is desperate to contest again, I will advise him as a friend, a party man and brother to wait till 2031. By then, he will be 85 years.
“As loyal party members, we must continue to respect PDP Constitution. Fair is fair. I joined the PDP in 1998 and I have remained in this party since.”
The PDP chieftain said that he was elected National Vice -Chairman (South-West) and later,Deputy- National Chairman and now, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and one of the respected elders and credible voices of our party.
He said: “I have not defected to any other party. While I was in Wadata Plaza, Alhaji Abubakar was in the Villa as Vice President. So, we know ourselves and the two of us know the principles guiding this party.
“We should not do anything that will destroy our party and the country. In 2027, the concept of Turn-by-Turn Nigeria Limited must be strictly followed by our party.
“PDP must look for a southerner to wrest power from the APC because that party of strange bed fellows wants to destroy this country, economically and politically.
“So, Nigerians are waiting for us to rescue them in 2027 but a southerner must lead the battle,” he said.
George described as laughable, a report by Abubakar’s media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, calling him (George) a tribal bigot, over his position on power rotation.
“I read a report by one of Alhaji Abubakar’s media aides accusing me of tribalism, I just laughed. My best friend today is a Fulani man, Admiral Murtala Nyako.
“I was the Director-General of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2007 elections. The late president trusted me. So, I cannot be accused of being tribalistic.
“I also served the military well. My records are there for all to see. But, you know in politics, people can say anything to tarnish your image. Despite that, the truth must be told. What you will not accept, don’t give to others.
“I can boldly say that I am a detribalised Nigerian and a committed member of the PDP. I don’t harbour any disdain or hate for Alhaji Abubakar or any other PDP member,” he said.
George urged every member of the party to” embrace and respect the entrenched principles of zoning and rotation, bestowed on the party by our founding fathers since inception in 1998, “no matter whose ox is gored.
“The principles explicitly stipulate that, at the end of every eight years, all elective and party offices should change from the northern divide to the southern divide and vice versa.
“That is the position which I will continue to champion till thy kingdom come!,” he said. (NAN)
Rather, the upper chamber said that the senator was suspended due to her flagrant disobedience to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
Leader of the senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, made the clarifications in a statement issued on Saturday.
Bamidele said that the clarification had become necessary in view of what he called deliberate misinformation and false narratives being circulated by certain media organisations.
He said that Akpoti-Uduaghan was also suspended because of her ‘unparliamentary behaviour’ during senate plenaries and proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had based Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension for six months on the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The senator had on Thursday been suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan over her alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the senate’s sitting arrangement during the plenary.
The suspension was, however, with a proviso that if the senator could submit a written apology, the leadership of the chamber might consider lifting the suspension before the expiration of the six-month period.
“Rather than submitting to the authority of the senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan had been misinforming the unsuspecting public that she was suspended because she accused the senate president of sexual harassment,” Bamidele said.
She stated that the disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan was a response to her repeated violations of legislative decorum.
“Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the senate.
“It has come to the attention of the senate that some media reports are attempting to falsely suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to allegations of sexual harassment.
“This is completely untrue, misleading and a calculated attempt to distort the facts.
“If Akpoti-Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the senate would have treated her petition based on merit, in line with its practice.
“But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving,” he said.
Bamidele specifically said that the senator’s suspension was the “decision of the Committee of the Whole of the Senate, following the submission of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.”
The majority leader said that the report found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) and recommended her immediate suspension.
“As established in the findings of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the disciplinary action was a response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s repeated violations of legislative decorum stated as follows:
“Refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on Feb. 25 in spite of multiple pleas from the Minority Leader and other ranking senators—an act of open defiance and disorderly conduct.
“Speaking without being recognised by the presiding officer, in clear violation of parliamentary practices and procedures on Feb. 25.
“Engaging in unruly and disruptive behaviour, obstructing the orderly conduct of senate proceedings.
“Making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the leadership of the senate.
“Defying and refusing to comply with the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated to investigate cases of misconduct,” the statement said.
Bamidele further stated that contrary to the false claims being circulated, Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended for making any sexual harassment or for submitting a petition.
“Her petition was rightfully discountenanced because it failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the senate,”.he said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
NNL/WAS
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Akpabio reveals more details why Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made ‘useless allegations’ against him
Akpabio reveals more details why Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made ‘useless allegations’ against him
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has claimed that the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, made “useless allegations” against him because her seat in the Red Chamber was changed.
Akpabio also said the lawmaker, who has now been suspended by the Senate for six months, traumatized him and others.
Following the sanctions imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio has come under heavy criticism.
However, the Senate President continues to maintain his innocence, insisting that none of her allegations are true.
Speaking at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day on Saturday, Akpabio claimed he was merely her latest victim, stating that previous allegations made by Natasha had turned out to be false.
He said, “It was only yesterday that I realized that what we are talking about only happened when there was a change of seat. That is when hell was let loose, and all sorts of allegations came up—only after the change of seat and change of committee, which my Senators know happens from time to time.
“This is said to have happened on December 8, a day before my birthday, which was celebrated in the stadium in 2023. So from December 8, 2023, I never heard, my wife never heard, no Nigerian ever heard, even her husband never heard any issue of sexual harassment—until her committee was changed, and then her seat was changed.
“Have you ever wondered about the trauma caused by that same woman to the other people she has accused in the past? None has been proven so far. Do you even wonder about the trauma this caused to the 10th Senate and the image of the Senate with all these useless allegations? I have refrained from making a statement.
“Look at these beautiful women. They have come across me so many times. Have I ever harassed any one of you? Or is the person thinking that you are not beautiful?”
News
PDP Governors react to claims of support for El-Rufai/Obi 2027 presidential ticket
PDP Governors react to claims of support for El-Rufai/Obi 2027 presidential ticket
Governors elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have strongly refuted rumors circulating about their alleged endorsement of a 2027 presidential ticket featuring Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Peter Obi.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, vehemently denied the speculations, describing them as entirely false.
The statement, which was signed by Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the Forum’s Director-General, dismissed media reports that suggested the governors were backing such a ticket in the upcoming presidential election.
The Governors emphasised their continued commitment to the PDP and clarified that no such discussions or endorsements had taken place within their ranks.
Mohammed said, “It is incumbent on the PDP Governors’ Forum through its leadership anchored by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, to openly denounce and in very strong terms, the unpleasant and provoking publications and rumours being peddled ad nauseam by negative forces and their agents who cannot absorb the temerity of this Forum to question their incapacities in leadership by performing above the limits imposed by their failed economic policies and programs, which have left the ordinary Nigerian with nothing other than poverty and financial hardship down to the remote locations.
“Unsatisfied with the results their clones have gotten in the low-willed factions they keep financing within our party structure, they have proceeded with direct confrontation on the Governors towards creating a one-party entrapment, with intention to split the opposition and thereby cripple democratic institutions and values through questionable adoptions and misinterpretation of the law, all to strangle the lifeline of our nation to enforce dictatorship and one-party rule.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum is not in consonance with these actors, neither does it enjoy any ambience of political space to discuss nor seal the auction of the PDP through lowlife grifters who are allegedly working behind the scenes to support a “potential Nasir El-Rufai/Peter Obi presidential ticket in the 2027 election.
“As a formidable party, all organs of the party have continually been engaged in attaining reconciliation across the board and reconsolidation of progressive development made in our Subnational to ameliorate the lives of our people.
“It is obvious that these mischief makers and detractors, who are bewildered at the way and manner PDP Governors are daily performing to pull the people out of economic hardship despite the intimidation by the ruling APC, are only intimidated and can only throw mud at our good works.
“In the world of politics, rumors and speculations are common, as such, we will not allow these ‘Enemies of Progress’ and ‘Agents of Confusion’ to gaslight the Nigerian people to draw wrong and erroneous conclusions.
“Our principles are for equity, social justice, sincerity of purpose, accountability, enthronement of undefiled electoral process, enhancement of the lives of the people, and propagation of humanity.
“Suffice it for us to irrevocably state here that in 2027, PDP Governors as disciplined leaders and stakeholders will exemplify this by wholeheartedly supporting whoever emerges as the flag-bearer of our great party in the battle to wrestle power from the non-performers at the centre.
“As a creed we all share, the dreams of the founding fathers of our great party will not be in vain.”