PDP crisis: We will work with Sheriff – Ben Bruce

The Senator representing the Bayelsa East constituency has thrown his weight behind the Friday’s Appeal Court judgment, which upheld Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Bruce, a chieftain of the party said he was tired of the lingering crisis rocking the party, adding that he was ready to work with the Sheriff-led caretaker committee.

In a statement issued on Saturday and forwarded to DAILY POST, the senator called on his party men to support Sheriff for the success of the party.
He said, “Concerning the PDP, the current bickering is childish and irrelevant. I am not in support of anymore litigation.
“We will work with Ali Modu Sheriff and go to a convention. Right now, PDP is on a course towards destruction and abiding by the judgment of the court is the only thing that can save us.
“In the first place, it is never the job of the judiciary to choose the leader of a party. I, therefore, call for an end to the fighting. And I am supporting Ali Modu Sheriff because it is the only way to preserve the party. Right now, what Nigeria has is a one-party state – there is no opposition.

“Enough is enough. This is the time for PDP to unite, we are a formidable force!”

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PDP crisis: I don’t talk to monkeys – Fayose replies Sheriff

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had reacted to a statement credited to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff , where he said Governors Fayose and Nyesom Wike would be pushed out of the party. 
Addressing people of his state on Ekiti Radio-91.5FM and EKTV on Saturday, Fayose said he does not talk to “monkeys.”

Quoting a passage from the Bible, the outspoken governor said all things will work for his good and the good of the PDP.
The Chairman of the PDP’s Governors Forum wondered who Sheriff would lead since most members of the party were on the side of Ahmed Makarfi.
He also urged members of the PDP who are aggrieved by the Port Harcourt Appeal Court ruling to “calm down.”
Fayose said, “On that comment by Sheriff that he will kick me and Gov Wike out of PDP, I don’t talk to monkeys. That Appeal Court judgement is just a phase, it will fizzle out. All things will work together for good for me, that’s what the Bible says.

“All the Governors, National Assembly members, BOT, etc are on this side. So who is he going to be leading?
“Whether he is being backed by whatever forces, be it external or internal, good luck to him.
“Let everybody in PDP calm down, there is salvation ahead of us.
“I’m aware that some people are apprehensive of 2018 but I want to say it here that they should worry not. What I know that will happen tomorrow is that I will get to greater heights.

“There are three major important factors in elections, the people is number one, followed by the party and the candidate. You can have a party and candidate, if you don’t have the people, you will fail because the power of the people is greater than the power of those of us in power.
“Here in Ekiti, we have the people.
“I am saying it here that we are under the leadership of the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee.
“When we got the judgement at the lower court, affirming the Caretaker Committee, Sheriff was still parading himself as the chairman.”

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How Osinbajo’s visit brought peace to Niger Delta region – Mike Loyibo

The convener of the Niger Delta Peoples Congress, NDPC, Mike Loyibo on Saturday said the recent visit of the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo to the Niger Delta has brought peace to the region.
Recall that Osinbajo recently visited Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States respectively.

During his visits to the oil rich region, the acting President engaged relevant stakeholders on how to bring relevant peace to the area.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Loyibo claimed the ceasefire agreement secured with the militants who had carried out several attacks on oil installations would remain unbroken.
Loyibo noted that the acting President’s visit was part of the yearnings of the people who had longed for inclusion in the activities of the region.
He said, “When we assess the issues generally, my view has been that you can’t develop the Niger Delta without her people’s participation and this is the first time that any government ever is involving the critical stakeholders at all levels and so the consultation is a continuous one.

“The Acting President has visited Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State and he was also in Imo State (Oil Producing) and now he’s slated to go to Ondo by Monday.
” So, these are some of the proposals and suggestions we gave to the presidency.”

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Fayose condemns FG’s plan to ban Okada, says they will continue operations in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described as wicked plan by the
federal government to ban commercial motorcycle, popularly known as
Okada from the country saying; “In Ekiti State, we won’t ban

Okada because it is a source of livelihood to a lot of families. Why
would anyone even contemplate such when government did not create
alternative employments?”
He said; “With this economic recession that is biting so hard, it is
sheer heartlessness for the federal government to even think of
sending Okada riders out of business instead of putting machineries in
motion to check their excesses.”
According to a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on
Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose,
who was addressing Okada riders that accosted him in Ikere Ekiti, on
his way from Abuja on Saturday, said, “ban on Okada will worsen the
country’s security situation because it will remove foods from the
table of so many people.”
The governor, who promised Okada riders in Ekiti State his continued
support and assistance, said; “The federal government has no power to
ban Okada in my State and under my watch, no one will prevent Okada
Riders from operating as long as they do not go against the laws.”

Governor Fayose said; “The hunger in the land is killing and most of
these Okada riders are graduates who have taken to commercial
motorcycling to survive because of unemployment. Many of them are even
those who lost their jobs within the 21 months of this All
Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government and government
workers, whose salaries are not being paid regularly. How does the
federal government expect them to feed if their means of livelihood is
taken away?
“If commercial motorcyclist is a major cause of fatal road traffic
accidents across the country, as posited by the federal government,
should proposing their ban be an option?
“Should we also say motor vehicles, especially heavy duty vehicles
should be banned from plying our roads because they also cause
accidents?
“Methinks the federal government should be concerned with the rate of
unemployment in the country and the deplorable state of our roads,
especially federal roads, instead of seeking to deprive Nigerians, who
have taken to riding Okada to save themselves and their families from
dying of hunger.”

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