The members-elect of the 8th House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), today, elected Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos as the next Speaker. In a shadow election that was conducted by APC for its members of the House. Gbajabiamila polled 154 out of the 161 members-elect that voted while eight votes were invalid.
It was gathered that 183 members-elect were in attendance. It was also learnt that Gbajabiamila’s major rival, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, walked out of the venue of the shadow election when it was clear that he did not have the number.
Dogara, a returning lawmaker from Gombe, left the venue with 18 members-elect.
Hon. Monguno from Borno State was elected as Deputy Speaker.
It was learnt that the leadership of the APC is set to conduct the primaries for the Senate Presidency even as the Bukola Saraki’s camp called for a shift of the primaries to Monday.
However, the party leadership is said to be insisting on holding the election today, Saturday.
Saraki is contesting against Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate Presidency.
Both Saraki and Lawan have been claiming that they are enjoying majority support from the 59 APC senators. [myad]

The former Nigeria’s information minister under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who contested the May 11, 2015 governorship election for Nasarawa state under the umbrella of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Labaran Maku has emerged the National Secretary of the party.

At the National Convention of the party held today in Awka, Anambra State, a former Special Adviser to the former Abia state Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu on Special Duties, Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, emerged the National Chairman, taking over from Chief Victor Umeh who led the party for over two decades with an impressive track record.

The Convention which used voice votes to ratify the election of the officers also ratified the appointment of Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano as Leader and Chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and other members of the Board.

Governor Obiano called on the new APGA Exco to work had to improve the party’s popularity saying, “Fellow party faithful, let me say, and boldly too, that we are in a historic moment. Our country is on the threshold of a new beginning. Fellow party men and women, with this convention, we have a golden chance to lay a great foundation for the emergence of a viable opposition that will enrich democracy in our country. So, this is a rare moment. And we must seize it, define it and turn it into a milestone in the history of our nascent democracy”.

Speaking under the title “Rising to the Demands of our Times”, Governor Obiano further observed that “after years of playing at the margins of our country’s political history, the time has come to take a bold step out of the shadows and mount the centre-stage of Nigeria’s political theatre. The recent general elections gave us a chance to test our own strength and gauge or overall appeal across the country. We came back from the polls with the realization that this great party has not lost its basic appeal; that the alternative model of governance we offer is still the clear preference of the larger spectrum of Nigerians.

“Fellow party folks, the ebb and tide of our nation’s history has swept aside the old political arrangement and opened a door for a new political order. If my reading of Nigeria’s political temperature is right, there is no better time for our party to attain its manifest destiny and fulfil its age-old promise than now. Our dear country needs the light of inspiring leadership and the rays of a wise opposition. This generation has a responsibility to provide both in equal measure.

“So, as we settle down to the business of the day, let us bear in mind that Nigeria expects great things from us. Let us remember that we are gathered here today for the greater good of Nigeria. Let us remember that our country comes first.

“Under my watch, we shall always strive to lay down the right fundamentals and ensure a strict adherence to the rules. We shall pull the levers of purposeful leadership with a view to ensuring the emergence of a robust internal democracy. There will always be a fair attempt to ensure that no stakeholder is left behind and that no political wound is left to fester for too long. We shall build a strong political family where petty grievances will not be allowed to shape our overall approach to the weighty issues of the state.”

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, Dr. Oye commended Umeh’s leadership for its steadfastness and pledged that his leadership would reconcile all genuine aggrieved members of the party so as to reposition it to play the role of the most formidable opposition party in the country.

Oye said the party in the next four years would take over the nation’s Presidential power and urged members of the party to give the new leadership all the necessary support to achieve the ambition, adding that in addition to entrenching internal democracy in the party, “every member would be availed equal opportunity to realize his or her political ambition.”

Earlier in his address, immediate past national chairman, Chief Umeh expressed satisfaction that his leadership of the party in the past eight years had helped in building the party as a formidable political party to reckon with in the nation’s politics though it was achieved through resilience and personal sacrifices.

He urged those he might have offended in the course of his leadership to forgive him as it was not deliberate but part of the “breaking of the egg so as to make an omelette.”

Umeh announced that his leadership has about N40 million in the party’s bank account for the new leadership to inherit and start firmly.

The Convention attracted delegates from across the country, including stalwarts like Dr. Alex Oti, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, Prof. Joe Asike, Hon Oseloka Obaze, Hon Dubem Obaze and a host of others. [myad]

Nigeria, yesterday, observed the World Environmental Day for 2015, with President Muhammadu Buhari promising that his government would ensure environmental justice for sustainable growth and development of Nigeria.
At a Gala Night held at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Villa in Abuja to celebrate the Day, the President noted that environmental problems including flood, climate change are assuming a higher dimension and that they should be properly handled so as not to pose danger to Nigeria’s food security. Represented by Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the President commended the theme of this year’s celebration which is he said speaks of a crucial aspect of environmental justice.
The themes, he added, reminds us that our world belongs to seven billion others aside from ourselves and that their habits as people and policies as government determine whether we will treat others fairly or justly.
“Without tackling environmental degradation efforts towards building, modernizing and uplifting Nigeria will be jeopardized.”
President Buhari, however, assured that the wind of change being witnessed across all sectors of the society, including the environmental sector would ensure sustainable growth and development, stressing that the administration would further consolidate on the Great Green Wall programme, the renewable energy project as well as other environmental friendly programmes and projects.
“On our part, we will consolidate on the gains so far achieved under this project. We will provide the support needed to ensure that the wind of change that had come the way of our polity comes also to the environment sector for sustainable growth and development.”
He emphasized the need for the environmental issues to be properly managed to ensure that they support growth.
In his remarks, the Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, stressed the need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop environmental regulations and procedures to ensure clean environment in the MDAs.
He said that from 2016, award would be given to the most environmental-friendly MDAs, even as he advised all MDAs to put in place a sound waste management system, the system, he he said would help in reducing cost of governance.
Earlier the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Fatima Mede, said the event was marked to care for the Earth, adding that the Ministry had recorded appreciable gains in ensuring a safe environment in the country.
She used the occasion to further call on Nigerians to imbibe an environmental friendly culture both in their homes and work places.
Highlights of the event was the recognition of six Nigerians for their contributions towards ensuring a safe environment. They are the former Minister of Defence, retired Lt. General Theophilous
Danjuma (Champion for the conservation of biodiversity) and Mrs. Ajoke Mohammed, Pioneer Horticulturist and Environmental Conservationists.
Others are Chief Philip Asiodu, President of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation; Chief Giwa Bisi Rodipe, an advocate for private participation in forest conservation and industrialization; Dr. Newton Jibunoh, an advocate for the fight against desert encroachment and Mr. Olatunji Oyefuga, Developer of environmental management technology systems.
June 5 of every year has been set aside to mark the World Environmental Day, while the theme for this year’s World Environmental Day is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with care.” [myad]