PDP Nat. Chairman, Secondus Appoints Senator Amori As Political Adviser

January 18, 2018

Press Statement


The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has appointed Senator Ighoyota Amori as Political Adviser. The appointment takes Effect from January 01, 2018.

Before this appointment, Senator Amori, who represented Delta Central in the Senate had served as Political Adviser to two past governors of Delta State as well as Special Adviser on Reconciliation and Conflict Management to two past National Chairmen of the PDP, the latest being the immediate past National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Senator Amori has over the years distinguished himself as a patriot and statesman who is fervently committed to the stability of not only the PDP but also the nation at large.

He is therefore expected to bring to bear his wealth of experience and goodwill in building a strong front for the task ahead.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan

National Publicity Secretary

I have what it takes to make Kogi prosperous :Rt Hon Omebije.

A front line aspirant for Kogi state top Job Rt Honourable Emmanuel Omebije has promised to make Kogi state a new destination for investors  if giving the opportunity to to govern the state in 2019.

He made the remark while addressing a cross-section of Kogi youths who paid him a courtesy visits in Abuja.

The youths led by Honourable Johnson Musa said, they have come to interact with Honourable Omebije and to get acquainted with the plans to lift Kogi State out of the present deplorable state which has made the state a subject of negative discussion across Nigeria. 

The youths said it has become imperative to effectively engage those who seek to govern the state and get to know how they intend to solve the many problems  the state is currently facing in view of the way the state is been governed at the moment. 

We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past and this is what neccesitated this courtesy visit Mr Johnson said.

While responding, Honourable Omebije said his aspiration is born out of his genuine love for Kogi state haven served as a two term member of Kogi State house of assembly, I understand the problems of the state and how to solve them.

"We can no longer look on while things continue to deteriorate in our dear State, we must act,  and the best time is now.

Before now,  I have  used my personal resources to undertake some assessments on how to develop the untapped potentials of the state in the area of urban renewal and tourism. Our state has a lot of opportunities been close to a cosmopolitan and the country's seat of power,  this is apart from the natural resources and tourism potentials of the state.  We will harness them and make Kogi work.  Our state should not be among states with cap in hand begging for bailouts before we can pay salary,  but only the right leadership can take us to that level,  I have got what it takes" the former deputy speaker said.

He advised the youths  to reach out to their peers to educate them on the need to register to vote in 2019 and be part of the project that will move Kogi state to the next level.

WE REJECT CATTLE COLONY IN IGALA LAND

A group under the umbrella body "Project Igala" has written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari rejecting the proposed Cattle Colony for Fulani Herdsmen in any area of Igala Land.

The group explain that any attempt to establish cattle colony in Igala land will lead to break down of law and order which May eventually lead to killings and wanton destruction of propertie

The refusal to accept the establishment of cattle colony in Kogi has corroborated the call by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke that Yahaya Bello should make wider consultations with the people of Kogi before requesting that Kogi be the pioneer state to host the cattle colony.

Few days ago the former Deputy Governorship candidate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke described the Governor request as counter productive and a bad decision.

Read petition below

Petition to the President and Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria

on the Proposed Establishment of Cattle Colony in Kogi State



The President and Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Cc:

The President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture

The Governor of Kogi state

Kogi-East Representatives at the National Assembly

The Chairman, Igala Area Traditional Council


Attention: His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari

Your Excellency,

WE REJECT CATTLE COLONY IN IGALA LAND

Following the recent declaration by your Agriculture Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh on the establishment of ‘cattle colonies’ across Nigeria, as the only solution to the protracted clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers; and the request from the Kogi State Governor Alh Yahaya Bello to have Kogi designated as the pioneer state to host a cattle colony, we the Igala people of Kogi-East cutting across nine LGAs namely Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro and Omala LGAs write to dissociate ourselves and our area from the purported plan to situate any cattle colony in our land.

We wish to state that our vehement opposition to this move is predicated on the fact that it will eventually lead to breakdown of law and order with killings and wanton destruction of property, as our people, who are largely farmers, are not prepared to host Fulani herdsmen or cattle colony masters in our land.

Our position is further reinforced by the multiple acts of war and mayhem being unleashed daily, on our innocent farmers and hapless law-abiding citizens, in their villages, homes and farm lands, by rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

Mr. President, between June 2015 and December 2017, Igala land has witnessed several incidences of killings as a result of herdsmen violence in several areas including Ebeje where 8 people were killed and farms set ablaze, Agbada/Agojeju where 19 people were slaughtered, Edede – 2 persons were killed, 6 people killed in Oganenigu, 3 people killed in Ojapata, 5 people killed in Ojuwo Anawo. All these happened in Dekina Local Government Area.

The story is not different in Ofu local government area at Ojuwo Omachi and Akpagidigbo where the incessant attacks of herdsmen have claimed the lives of over 20 persons. In Abejukolo and Bagana in Omala Local Government Area, the reign of terror resonates loudly, so much that our people no longer move freely, to and from their farm lands, because of the fear of killings, maiming and rape, with some villages like Ebakume wholly sacked and entire farm produce granaries/silos completely burnt.

Despite the brazen nature of the aforementioned acts of criminality by these would-be occupants of the so-called cattle colony, none of them has been arrested or made to account for these crimes, as these heavily armed cattle herders terrorise our land, flaunting their prowess in the handling of AK 47 rifles and double barrel guns.

Dear Mr President, our opposition to this move and the hasty approval given by the Kogi State Governor is further reinforced by the inescapable fact that under your Presidency, murderous Fulani herdsmen have enjoyed subtle protection and favouritism to the extent that these herdsmen, who now treat Nigeria as a conquered territory, will eventually go beyond the purview of the so-called colony to destroy farmlands, maim and kill under the slightest provocation.

In view of the above and many more, we the undersigned concerned people of Kogi-East, Kogi State, North-Central, Nigeria state as follows:

We do not want cattle colony or grazing reserve in our landWe reject any attempt to convert or transfer the ownership of ancestral lands in Igala land to cattle colony master or owners who operate by killing people, destroying communities wholesale, and destroying farmlands while enjoying government protection from counter attack, arrest or prosecution.We reject attempts to turn Igala land into the next killing field of marauding Fulani herdsmen

Click here to sign the electronic version of the petition

ABOUT US

Project IGALA  is a think-tank of Nigerian Intelligentsia of Igala extraction, with a membership that cuts across six continents and a focal commitment to the overall development of the Igala nation through educational, infrastructural and economic interventions.

Moderator

Project IGALA

Posted by: "moderator@igalaproject.org" <editor@igalaproject.org>

You Are The Diaspora Politician, Not Faleke – Group Replies Bello

Kogi Patriotic Group (KPG) has berated Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for calling the former Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. James Faleke a diaspora politician.

In a statement signed by KPG spokesperson, Abdul Abdul, the group described the governor as the jester of the year for labeling an election-winning deputy governorship candidate.

“For a governor who is busy recruiting followers, associates and loyalists on a daily basis to make such unguarded statement smacks of desperation.

Faleke won elections in Kogi state but Bello did not. A governor who is not a registered voter in Kogi is calling Faleke who is duly registered in Kogi a diaspora politician?,” he said.

He challenged Kogi governor to conduct local government elections and see how Kogites will make a folly of him. ‎

“Faleke is a great asset to Kogi state and Kogi people. He is more popular in the most populated area of the state, the east and a household name in both the central and western parts of the state.

“Faleke has carved a political niche for himself as an accessible, matured progressive and an embodiment of transparency and high level conduct rather than Bello’s opportunistic and overzealous display of kindergarten style of governance shrouded in glaring fraud, pen robbery and immature tendencies. As a fearless political enigma, Faleke has right to free association,” he added.

The group urged the lawmaker to discountenance the governor’s gimmicks to attract federal sympathy and attention.

Benue: PDP Pays Condolence Visit Over Killings, Donates Relief Materials

The major opposition party in the country donated this items when it visited Benue on a condolence visit over recent killing in the state by alleged herdsmen

A delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Yemi Akinwonmi, deputy national chairman, south, on Tuesday, January 16, paid condolence visit to the government and people of Benue, over recent killing by alleged herdsmen.

The delegation was received by the state attorney general and commissioner of justice, Mr Michael Gusa, on behalf of the state governor, Samuel Ortom, at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Makurdi.

Akinwonmi said that the PDP national leaders were in the state on behalf of the party to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent killings.

“We are here to our show love and concern over the unfortunate incident that happened.

“We are not unmindful of the scarcity of food for the people that were forced to leave their homes at various places.

“We felt these relief materials will go a long way in solving the problems that they have not created for themselves, but by the situations that they found themselves.

“We want to enjoin you to help us commiserate with the families of the deceased. We pray that this type of ugly incident will not happen again,” Akinwunmi said.

He said that the PDP had put up a powerful prayer group for God to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria, so that such killings would stop in Benue, northeast, and Nigeria.

Akinwonmi said that irrespective of political divide, Nigerians remain one big family.

“The politics of 21 century is different, when your brother is mourning, you mourn with him. When he is rejoicing you rejoice with him.

“We are all Nigerians and we are all politicians. Politicians are one all over ,be it in the north, south of the east.”

He urged the state government to help in onward distribution of the relief materials to affected persons who were currently in two IDP camps within the state.

Items donated included 100 bags of local rice, 50 bags of beans, 30 bundles of mats and mattresses each; and 300 blankets and plastic buckets each.

Receiving the items, Gusa appreciated the PDP leadership for the show of love, saying the state government commended the kind gesture.

He said that the items would have been received by SEMA executive secretary, but he was attending to the IDPs.

“We assure you that this items would be judiciously utilised and transmitted to the affected persons.”

He said that the government was doing it best to bring a permanent solution to the killings in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the delegation include Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP national publicity secretary, Udeh Okoye, national youth leader, and Emmanuel Agbo, deputy national secretary, among others.

Akinwonmi had also urged the people of Benue state to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ready for the next election.

The PDP Benue chairman, John Ngbede, commended the party leadership for the visit, describing it as show of love and demonstration of what the party stood for.

BREAKING: Rowdy session as PDP senators prevent colleague from defecting to APC

The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday was thrown into a rowdy session as it was about recording the first official cross-carpeting for the year 2018.

Senator Sonni Ogbuoji ( Ebonyi South) had come under order 43 of the rules of the Senate to announce his official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Members of the PDP and APC didn’t allow Ogbuoji to finish when the floor was thrown into rowdiness, with the APC Senators dragging the new defector to their wing while PDP lawmakers scampered to rescue him to their wing.

Having brought the floor to decorum, Senator Ogbuoji, in a twist of event, announced that he was withdrawing his earlier announcement.

“I came under order 43 with the intention that I needed to make some declarations this morning. But my party, the PDP felt I had not consulted with them enough.

“So, because of the love they had shown to me in the past, I’m stepping down my decision to decamp”, Ogbuoji declared.

Responding, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki who presided over the plenary, did not object to the withdrawal of statement of defection.

He said, in line with our rules, we cannot debate on this. But, Senator Sonni, I’m going to keep the whole day for you, in case you wish to come under order 43 again and perfect your defection,” Saraki said jokingly.

Credit: Dailypostng

Why Smart Adeyemi sells so cheap By Gideon Ayodele

I have sat down for months, trying to find out what can be responsible for the recent clandestine political activities of Senator Smart Adeyemi despite his eight (8) though wasted years in the 6th and 7th senate and have come to a conclusion that that  Senator Smart Adeyemi should not be taken seriously by the good people of Kogi West Senatorial District and the entire people of Kogi State because of his unwholesome antecedents of “political opportunism and harlotry.
The people of the Western District of the state should not allow themselves to be misled by a selfish, proud  and arrogant individual called Smart Adeyemi and his band of "bread and butter" politicians.
 It is so gullible and shameless of a man who have served as a senator for eight (8) years without any impact on his constituency, no single federal presence despite his claim to be very close to the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
His recent moves shows how desperate and frustrates he is for power and further shows how inconsistent he is as a politician. Shortly after loosing election on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, a party whose flag he carried for good eight (8) years, came out to discredit the party, calling the party the most corrupt and joining the APC highly respected leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke group of the APC during his decamp ceremony held in Abuja. His aim of unwitting the incumbent Chairman Senate Committe on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye was defeated as he finally lost out in the court.

Hungry Smart Adeyemi immediately jumped to join the unpopular government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello of kogi state, with praise singing and all forms of comedy of error as displayed by a man who was supposed to be honourable enough to join hands in advising and correcting the State governor has sold his conscience to become pupet and destructive tool to the said administration.
Not long ago, "atari ajanaku" as foundly called  was alleged to have taken a sum of N50m from the state governor to organise a rally in support of a governor who has turned over 60% of the citizens of the state to ghosts, either as a civil servant or as a pensioner, an event that shows that both Smart and the governor were not popular among the people. Smart Adeyemi could not have been speaking on behalf of the good people of Kogi West Senatorial District whose hope of a better living  was ruined by a military dictator in civilian uniform. Smart Adeyemi as far as Kogi West is concern, is  ”a man of no political consequence” and, therefore, not in a position to speak for the good people of Kogi West.
If Smart Adeyemi had any political relevance, following and clout”, he would not have lost the election despite the fact that he was in office. Smart had no electoral value and that his advocacy was predicated on immediate pecuniary gratification rather than the larger interest of the Senatorial District.
Kogi youths are the worst victims of corruption and any group or individual supporting the return of corruption is doing so for personal reasons rather the larger interests of the people of Kogi state. Iyara his community cannot boast of any meaningful development, not even a kiosk where recharge cards are sold in his name as investment.
Smart is a man in search of political relevance. He has lost all forms of relevance, which has long deserted him and is now seeking to make himself heard. So pathetic that the recent state advisory council constituted by governor Yahaya Bello, Smart Adeyemi a senator for eight years is also a beneficiary of the committee with a monthly take home pay of N50,000. What an unfortunate sitttuation.
Unfortunately for you (Smart Adeyemi), the Kogi West people are now wiser and have seen the difference between a stir-crazy politician of Adeyemi’s stock and a natural/people-driven leadership of Senator Dino Melaye whose landmark achievements in only two years in office have dwarfed the entire Smart Adeyemi’s eight years in office as wasted.
In all his activities recently, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, has hardly responded to him owing to the fact that the task of nation building, presently at hand, is more important than this distraction.
I wish to warn the good people of Kogi West, Youths and kogites at large to be wary of the personality of former chairman, senate commute on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi who can best be described as a man of unsteady character.
He has lost his face, now begging for relevance in the political space. For man in the position of Smart Adeyemi going about like a political jobber seeking favours from their pay masters. It is a shame. He is faceless and has lost relevance in the scheme of things so much so that he is now begging to be part of the government he once condemned.

Recently, I visited Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State and I saw what was supposed to be monuments for Senator Smart Adeyemi, they have all turned monumental disappointments. The hotels that were flourishing before are now dilapidated and some abandoned. I shook my head in pity and come to the conclusion that all these frustration is enough to make Smart Adeyemi sell so cheap to engage in the various activities of his in recent past. But rather turn himself to a "boy boy" of a governor who ordinarily should see him as an elderstatesman, from whom he can seek counsel, simply because you are broke and financially sick. Smarts would have honourable retired home but to the fact that he never believe that whatever has a beginning must surely have an end. Smart did not plan for his political retirement and to stabilise now, becomes difficult.
May God have mercy on Senator Smart Adeyemi.

Faleke Women's Forum Lagos Celebrate New Year in Grand style, appoints notable Kogites as Adviser and Patron*

It was funfair for the Lagos women supporters of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke under the umbrella body of Faleke Women's Forum as they celebrate the new year in Grand style.

The event which held in Lagos yesterday 14th January, 2018 at the residence of the forum matron, Chief(Mrs) Alhaja Taiwo Adenuga(Yeye Oge of Ekinrin-Ade) had in attendance the President of the Forum Alhaja Olushola Kokumo. .

Others dignitaries are Hajiya Rakiya Alfa(Hajiya London), Otunba Muyiwa, Hon. Funsho Olumoko, Mr. Oluwole Johnson of London, Chief Akere Folashde Joseph, Chief(Mrs) Eyitayo Bodunde, Mrs.  M O Ojo and many more who came from near and far to grace the occasion.

During the auspicious occasion, the forum appointed Hajiya Rakiya Alfa(Hajiya London) from Kogi West as an ADVISER to the Forum while Otunba Muyiwa was appointed as the PATRON.

Hajiya London thanked members of the forum for counting her worthy of the appointment and promise to always give useful advice for the betterment of the forum in Lagos State.

See photos below

Faleke warn Bello against backing cattle colonies without due consultation.

James Faleke has warned the governor of Kogi state against backing federal government's proposal for cattle colonies in the state.

Faleke said it is wrong for the governor to accept such proposal without due consultations.

He also accused Governor Bello of running Kogi state like his personal estate.

The running mate to the late governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi state, Audu Abubakar, has condemned Governor Yahaya Bello's acceptance of the proposed cattle colony by the federal government.

James Faleke said it is wrong for Bello to buy into the idea of establishing such colonies in the state without due consultation. 

Guardian reports that Faleke accused Bello of running Kogi state like his personal estate.

He called on him to convoke a stakeholders’ meeting on herdsmen/farmers’ clashes before agreeing to the proposal by the FG.

Faleke said: “So taking a unilateral decision about colonies was wrong when he should know that the land belongs to families and ancestral lineages. You cannot take over land by fiat without the people’s willingness. Such move would fester the crisis. “If you want to cede a particular land just for peace to reign, I think it should be done it in a way that everybody is carried along. A situation whereby the greater percentage of the people are farmers, taking away their land will pose danger to their survival." 

He also alleged that the clashes at the senatorial district in question were yet to be resolved by the governor.

#not2young2run: Ogbeni to run for Kogi House of Assembly

Against the backdrop of not too young to run agitation in the country, another young versatile youth in Kogi State has declared to run for the Yagba East House of Assembly election in the Kogi state.

In a statement released by Ogbeni Sunday ONI David, he said the right time for Young Minds to take over is now and it's an idea that is ripe.

Read statement below


AN IDEA THAT IS RIPE

Every brooding comes with a reconciliation with reality.  Political realities are not hatched overnight,  it takes seasons. It takes reasons. It takes reasons that activate with ripe seasons.

The Great People of Okun land are fertile in political and economic sagacity.  It is always our creed that we enter into any race with deliberate intentions.

Ogbeni David Oni Sunday would like to yarn:

"The race to represent the good people of Yagba East on the floor of Kogi state House of Assembly is an idea informed by years of prayers, wide consultations and hardwork".

The #NotTooYoungToRun agitation cannot be more auspicious in timing with the likes of Ogbeni David Oni throwing his hat in the ring. He is a seasoned comrade who has distinguished himself worthy of representing his people.

Looking into his track record: he is  a Mining Engineer, who works with BAJOL Integrated Services, at Lagos Nigeria. He is also a one time National President of Okun students Association,  (NAOS) and the current media consultant to the Special Adviser,  SA,  on Political Matters to Governor Yahaya Bello; Hon. Pius Kolawole. His track record has displayed him as a fine young man for his ambition.  Comerade Oni is not a political or educational misfit. He is not an opportunist politician with an open pot belly of greed and moral bankruptcy of insincerity. 

Looking into his ambition:

The Kogi State House of Assembly cannot be a gathering of people without constituency conscience.  Oni is a grassrooter. He has been on the ropes and learned how to climb out even when the coast isn't clear. He understands the wire of politics surrounding the murky legislative quarters of Lugard stables. He is fit as a fiddle and ready to run.

Irunda Progressive Front is sending Ogbeni David Oni Sunday a political message. We are coming back again.