Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have described the conduct of the ward congresses held on Saturday as impressive and successful even as they commended the party’s stakeholders for a job well done.
Dr. Uduaghan, Chairperson of the Congresses Team, Chief Josephine  Anenih, Senator James Manager, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe among others at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba today also saw the exercise as peaceful.
Governor Uduaghan who is the leader of the party in the state, said that the peace that was witnessed during the exercise was as a result of maturity of party faithfuls in the state.
According to him, it is a good development that aspirants for elective offices in the state were not taking their aspirations as do or die but that they were talking on ways to move the state forward.
The governor particularly commended the Anenih’s led PDP team that conducted the Ward congresses in the state and advised members of the party to display the same level of maturity and peaceful engagements in the primaries and during the general elections.
“There are other primaries to be conducted and we need to be peaceful. We must use this engagement process to make the state peaceful.”
Dr. Uduaghan advised the aspirants to continue to tolerate one another as there is no way they can be one hundred per cent happy.
“We have to learn to be patient, remember that one life lost, one property lost can never be replaced.
“In this struggle for whatever position you are vying for, keep a window of friendship; don’t destroy the friendship you have so that when you get the ticket, you can reach out to the other aspirants for their support during the general elections.”
Mrs. Anenih on her part, advised party members to maintain the existing peace and security witnessed during the exercise.
“I am proud of the conduct of the ward congress in the state. You have done well. You people have made me proud. I want to thank the Chief Security Officer of the state for providing an enabling, secured environment for the peaceful conduct of the ward congresses and in particular, Deltans for engaging in peaceful discussions.”
The Acting Chairman of PDP in Delta State, Chief Emmanuel Ighomena observed that the ward congresses were better than the previous exercises and that they were conducted without any disagreement or rancour.
Senators Ifeanyi Okowa, James Manager, members of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, Ndudi Elemulu, PDP leader, Senator Patrick Osakwe, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe in their separate remarks commended the team from Abuja for doing a great job.
They urged the Anenih-led team to carry on in the remaining congresses with the same spirit to ensure that the state remained peaceful. [myad]

“No Commander-in-Chief or General that is worth his salt will surrender his territory with folded arms and running heels.”
This was the statement from the Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over the reported Boko Haram’s overrun of Mubi and the hoisting of their flag in Adamawa state, which is the second largest town in the state.
Atiku, who was abroad when the sordid incident took place in his home State on Wednesday, 29 October, told a group of journalists on arrival today: “with what I have gathered so far from online news reports and other sources from Mubi town,  the situation is very unfortunate and undermining for our country.”
Describing it as a tragic act and a worrisome affront to the corporate integrity of Nigeria, the visibly angry former Vice President added: “If the reports are true that the Armed Forces had abandoned their assigned duty posts a few days before the overrun, it was an indication that the attack was not sudden after all. If the Soldiers also left behind their ammunition and armoured carriers at the mercy of predatory insurgents, it raises a question of complicity in the sordid episode.”
He said that is was most unfortunate that a situation arose were unsuspecting civilians who had relied on security agencies for their protection and were expecting an improvement in their security status as a result of the announced Ceasefire, were suddenly left defenceless and at the mercy of the marauders.
Atiku frowned at the undercurrent of connivance that might have fuelled the sudden retreat of the military in the face of imminent invasion of a vital commercial town, less than three hours away from Yola the Adamawa State Capital.
“On every occasion that leaders from the North East raised an alarm about the dangerous trend, we have either been ignored or called names. 
“If there is any iota of truth in the suspicion of the people that they were deliberately abandoned, then it becomes a dangerous trend and a bad omen for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the former Vice President said he is heading for Yola to meet with those managing the displaced people and see what assistance he can render to reduce the sufferings of the people.

[myad]

Nigeria’s opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security details as “executive rascalism and abuse of the country’s Constitution.”
The party was reacting  to the news of the withdrawal of the security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, in the wake of his defection to the party from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A statement from the police force headquarter Public Relations Officer earlier in the day had said: “in view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC), and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

In a statement today, signed by the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, the party called on Nigerians to condemn what it called “this affront on the fourth citizen of our nation and insult on our representatives. Let us reiterate that it is the constitutional right of Tambuwal to freely associate with any party of his choice, including, of course, APC.”
Dr. Ikanya said that it is only an unserious politician who will continue to stay in a sinking party like PDP that has brought the nation to shame and pains and made it a laughing stock before the international community.
“We therefore ask for the immediate reversal of this obnoxious order. We commend Tambuwal for the bold step he has taken to join the party for a new Nigeria.
“As we sympathize with the present leadership of PDP for making the party the largest undemocratic party in Africa and leading it to its present sorrowful state and imminent demise, we wish to further state that those calling for the resignation of the Speaker are just exposing their level of ignorance of the functions of the House of Reps and our Constitution.
“Speaker Tambuwal was duly elected by the generality of the House members and can only be removed by impeachment by 240 members of the House. With only 180 PDP members in the House, from where are they are going to get the extra 60 members to aid them in the impeachment of Tambuwal?
“They should accept the reality that an APC Speaker is now in place, signaling the beginning of the take-over of the mantle of leadership by our great party on 29th May, 2015.”
APC advised PDP leadership to try and read Section 50 (1)(b) of the nation’s Constitution, which it said states: ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.’
The party pointed out that the Speaker was elected as the representative of the “generality of Nigerians” and not necessarily because he belonged to a particular political party.
“As we await the mass decampment of the remaining 50 PDP members of the House, we wish to urge President Jonathan to stop overheating the polity and start writing his handover note because he stands no chance of implementing any third term agenda next year as we will resist such an unholy attempt.”
The party insisted that all hope is lost for both Jonathan and PDP, asking: “With Kano, Lagos and Rivers states in the kitty of APC and with the likely elimination of rigging during the 2015 general elections, what realistic chances does PDP have in the 2015 general elections?” [myad]

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has bought and submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Delta South Senatorial District election in 2015.
The forms were submitted at the Peoples Democratic Party State Headquarters in Asaba today.
Governor Uduaghan, whose forms were bought on October 17 by some of his political associates in G3 at the National Secretariat of the PDP, Wadata House, Abuja, has expressed his deep appreciation to all PDP faithful and Deltans for their outpouring of love and support.
He equally promised quality representation at the Red Chambers.
“History is in the making and I have to heed the calls of my people who have severally urged me to go to the Senate after my tenure as Governor of Delta State.
“I will not disappoint them.
“I will, by the grace of God, give my senatorial zone quality representation.
“I also want to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan and assure him that I will put all my national and international reach at his disposal.”
Meanwhile, the foremost political platform in the senatorial district, the G3, comprising Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, has fully backed Dr. Uduaghan’s senatorial ambition.
Secretary of the group, Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, said Governor Uduaghan is the best the district can present at the National Assembly at this critical moment of the nation’s democracy.
“His wealth of experience and leadership qualities stand him out.”
Also, the Isoko Advancement Network has applauded the decision of Uduaghan to contest the senatorial seat, saying that the network is confident that the three ethnic groups that make up the zone be well represented in the Senate.
Speaking today in Asaba, the Chairman of the IAN, Hon. Mike Ogwa, said the Isoko nation is fully and solidly in support of Uduaghan’s senatorial aspiration and promised to mobilise the people of the district to back him. [myad]

The Turaki Vanguard, a political support group for the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised the national leaders of APC for endorsing modified direct primaries for producing the party’s presidential candidate.
The group, in a statement in Abuja, said with the endorsement of the modified direct primaries, the APC has now fully democratized and boosted its democratic credentials and credibility.
Describing the move as a victory for democracy, the Turaki Vanguard praised the APC leaders for responding to the aspirations and wishes of the people.
According to the Atiku political support group, internal democracy is essential to the entrenchment of democracy. It said the APC has set a standard, which all political parties should emulate.
It explained that this move would go a long way to reinforce people’s confidence in the APC as the alternative platform for better change in Nigeria.
The Turaki Vanguard
said internal democracy is about respecting all diverse interests within a political party to ensure fairness and transparency, which are necessary conditions for unity, harmony and internal cohesion.
It, therefore, advised all Atiku supporters and other APC members to mobilize their support behind this democratic decision of the APC national leadership, adding that the measure would strengthen the opposition party and make it even stronger. [myad]