Over 1,000 globally recognized experts from academia, government, business, civil society and the media have converged on Dubai for a three-day Summit on the Global Agenda. The Summit is being hled under the theme, ‘Shaping the Transformations of the World.’ A statement today by the public affairs officer of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Oliver Cann said that the Dubai Summit is being held in partnership with the Government of the United Arab Emirates. According to Cann, the Summit is being co-chaired by Sultan Saeed Nasser Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates and Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director-General, Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. [myad]
Governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Delta state, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme has complained that while she has done a lot for the state in the past, it (the state) has never given her anything in return. Said she: “I have contributed a lot to the growth of Delta State. The state has really not given me anything. Some of the aspirants have been local government chairmen, special assistants, special advisers, commissioners and secretary to the government. I have not benefited anything from Delta State. I have given to Delta State and will continue giving to Delta State. I am in the race to do the will of God.” Olejeme spoke yesterday after she submitted her expression of interest and nomination forms to the PDP National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, in Abuja. The aspirant continued: “This is a divine mandate. I am not in the race for material things. I have traveled across the state and spoken to thousands of Deltans about the future of the state. I’m the best for Delta State. I have the capacity and intellect to deliver and to move Delta State to greater height – from the height we are presently and to build an El Dorado for our people. “I will create more jobs, ensure budget surplus, provide a transparent and interactive government, promote employment-friendly policies and also pay contractors.” On the just concluded PDP ward congress, Dr. Olejeme said that she would not say anything now for reasons best known to her. This is even as she said that she was not aware that the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has endorsed a candidate for the post. “The governor has not told me that he endorsed anybody. PDP is a strong party. It is a party that knows its worth. I will expect a level playing ground for all the aspirants.” [myad]
From left: Miss Bose (last child of late Princess Maria Iraoya), Mr. Robinson (her first child) and far right is her second daughter, Mrs. Mariam Yusuf and Mariam’s husband, Alhaji Yusuf Ozi-Usman
From left: Miss Bose (last child of late Princess Maria Iraoya), Mr. Robinson (her first child) and far right is her second daughter, Mrs. Mariam Yusuf and Mariam’s husband, Alhaji Yusuf Ozi-Usman
Some of the grand children of late Princess Maria Egbelamue Iraoya
Mrs. Mariam Yusuf (R), her husband, Alhaji Yusuf Ozi-Usman and family members at the burial of Princess Maria Iraoya in Afuze
Delegation from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Kuje Abuja, where Mrs. Mariam Yusuf works, to the burial of Princess Maria Iraoya in Afuze
On the dancing floor: from left: Mrs. Hajara Yusuf, Mrs. Mariam Yusuf, Alhaji Yusuf Ozi-Usman and Mr. Robinson Iraoya at the burial of Princess Maria Iraoya in Afuze
The second daughter of late Princess Maria Iraoya, Mrs. Mariam Yusuf with her husband, Alhaji Yusuf Ozi-Usman during the burial ceremony in Afuze, Edo state. [myad]
Nigeria’s Super Eagles has shown its superiority over Ghana’s national team by handing out 1-0 goal this evening at the newly constructed 30,000 seat-capacity international stadium in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state.
And it was Emem Eduok that scored the goal for Nigeria, thus emerging as the first player to score at the new stadium..
The warm-up game between the two West African nations was used to officially open the Stadium, which is also known as the Nest of Champions, and Nigeria will receive the Transformation Cup for their efforts.
Daniel Amokachi’s side fashioned the first clear chance of the game as Eduok forced Richard Ofori into a smart save after 12 minutes.
The Super Eagles continued to dominate but the visitors’ defenders were at alert to stop the dangerous runs of Eduok and Gbolahan Salami.
Solomon Kwambe who was always attacking at the right hand side had his effort blocked by the Black Stars defence.
In the 35th minutes, the Nigerians brushed off the scare of not converting some begging chances that came their ways when they went ahead through Eduok, who headed home a Kwambe’s cross into the top corner to give Ofori no chance.
The Dolphins talisman became the first man to score at the Magnificient Arena.
Skipper of the Super Eagles, Chigozie Agbim gave the home fans a scare when he failed to deal with an easy cross, but Ghana failed to capitalise on his howler as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Nigeria.
With the attack needing a new innovation, Coach Amokachi threw on Nigeria Premier League top marksman Mfon Udoh, who replaced Enugu Rangers striker Osaguona Ighadaro at the beginning of the second half.
Ghana were not ready to bow down to their fierce rivals and probed the Super Eagles defence line in the 47th minute.
Isaac Ofori failed to deal with the ball watching Nigerian defenders with his tame shot. The resultant cross was wasted.
The menacing Eduok almost gave the Super Eagles a two-goal cushion as his ambitious drive left Ofori well rooted to the spot three minutes to the hour mark.
Eduok dribbled his way past the defenders, drilled his shot – before the keeper produced a superb save to deny him a second of the match with twelve minutes left.
Mfon was at alert to send a brilliant shot to the upright from an excellent cross from Eduok, as Nigeria tried for a game-killing second goal.
The Super Eagles continued to create the better of the chances as the full time whistle approached, but they could not increase their advantage despite the fact that the visitors were reduced to ten men late in the game.
How they started:
Home-based Eagles XI: Chigozie Agbim; Solomon Kwambe, Chima Akas, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Zango Umar; Joseph Nathaniel, Bobby Sokari, Rabiu Ali, Emem Eduok; Gbolahan Salami, Christian Osaghona
Reserves: Daniel Akpeyi, Charles Henlong, Erhun Obanor, Mfon Udoh, Bright Esieme, Christian Pyagbara, Stanley Dimgba, Tony Edjomariegwe
Ghana XI: Richard Ofori, Lawrence Lartey, Emmanuel Nti Mensah, Abdul Ishmeal, Agyare Benjamin, Richard Yamoah, Kennedy Ashia, Kojo Poku, Isaac Osai, Samuel Afful, Latif Amadu
Reserves: Eric Antwi Ofori, David Opoku, Elvis Opoku, Abdul Ganiyu Ismail, Noah Martey, Enoch Kumi, Vincent Atinga. [myad]
A stampede at the inauguration ceremony of the new stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is believed to have claimed the lives of two persons while 20 others suffered various degrees of injuries.
It is not clear yet what caused the stampede but an international friendly between the home-based senior national team of Nigeria, Super Eagles B, and the U-23 National Team of Ghana, the Black Meteors, was said to have been the main cause of the stampede. Observers said that it was possible that football fans caused the stampede as they scrambled to enter the stadium to watch the match.
The 30,000 – capacity venue, with a bullet –proof State Box that has 70 seats, has been described by the Vice President of Ghana Football Association, Fred Crentsil (who was sent by CAF to inspect the venue) as being “among the best you can find anywhere in the world”.
Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is the chief host, is showcasing the majestic facility, which has already been approved by the Confederation of African Football for the crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa on November 19, as one of the key infrastructure he has delivered for the oil-rich State. [myad]
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, to restore the security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. This followed a suit filed by Tambuwal challenging the withdrawal of his security details among other infractions against his office.
The speaker had also asked the Court to stop the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers from impeaching him.
The court, today, said that the Inspector General of Police erred in law by withdrawing the security details of the Speaker when he has not been removed from office. The IGP had, while withdrawing Tambuwal security details on Thursday last week, defended the action through a statement by the Ag. Force Public Relation Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu that the Speaker’s security personnel were withdrawn because of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party under which he was elected as speaker.
He cited the violation section 68 (1) g of the 1999 constitution as the basis for his action.
Speaker Tambuwal had on Tuesday October 28, announced his defection from PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress citing political development in his home state, Sokoto but failed to resign as the Speaker of the House. [myad]
National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed has asked the senior special assistant on public affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe to take a refresher course in history on a leader that had ever had cause to resign from office in the course of a war being fought by his country in order to change the course of the war.
In a statement issued in Abuja today, Lai Mohammed reminded Dr, Okupe and the presidency that Neville Chamberlain resigned as British Prime Minister on May 10th 1940 after Adolf Hitler forced the allies to retreat from Norway.
”According to available information, Chamberlain led Britain through the first eight months of World War II but had to resign after the Allies were forced to retreat from Norway, because of his belief that a government supported by all parties was essential for the unity needed to defeat Adolf Hitler. The resignation paved the way for Winston Churchill who later became the hero of the War.”
Alhaji Mohammed said that the call by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign in view of the widespread insecurity in the land and the fact that some parts of Nigeria are now under occupation by terrorists is neither extraordinary nor unprecedented.
”The call by one of our leaders is about taking responsibility. President Jonathan is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If under his watch Nigerian territories are being annexed progressively by insurgents, and all that he has demonstrated so far is sheer cluelessness and incompetence, it is time for him to take responsibility and quit in the national interest, to pave the way for a leader who can lead the country to victory.”
The APC spokesman said that all the blame game and name calling by the presidency, targeted at the opposition, constitute a mere distraction.
”The presidency is right to say that when terrorists attacked the US in September 2001, the leaders of the Democratic Party did not demand a resignation of President George Bush but rather they rose in defence of the American nation to support the various measures taken by the President to defeat the Al-Qaeda terrorists.
”What the presidency forgot to say, however, is that Americans would not have rallied behind then President Bush if he had been photographed snuggling with any sponsor of Al-Qaeda as President Jonathan did with one of the alleged sponsors of Boko Haram in Chad. Americans would not have rallied behind Bush if 9-11 had occurred not just once but twice or thrice, because it would have shown that the President is simply incompetent to lead.
”President Jonathan watched helplessly as Boko Haram moved from Sambisa Forest to take over a large chunk of territory in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and proclaim a Caliphate. President Jonathan watched helplessly as Boko Haram abducted and took away almost 300 girls, holding most of them for over 200 days….still counting. His Administration is even mocking and harassing those who are campaigning for the release of the girls. No people in the world will give such a leader unconditional support.
”Therefore, even if no leader in history has ever resigned during war (even though we have now proved that is not correct), nothing prevents President Jonathan from becoming the first leader to do so. After all, never in the history of any nation has incompetence and cluelessness been exhibited by any leader, as President Jonathan has done, when the country is at war.” [myad]
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has said that the multi-purpose international stadium he built in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state is being handed over to Africa as a gift.
Speaking today at the inauguration of the stadium, the governor said that he has presented the stadium to Africa.
“And I believe that from here, Africa will produce a lot of champions. Never again should we go for Olympics and come back without gold medal, never again. That is why I’ve presented this to Africa”.
He said that the maintenance plan for the stadium is being handled by Julius Berger with which he said, the state government has signed a 10-year contract.
He described Julius Berger, which has been in Nigeria for over 35 years as having cut a niche for itself in the construction industry.
“Like I told the Former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, for me I’m very humbled to have had the opportunity to present this to Africa.”
The Governor said that he decided to the secret to do many projects in Akwa Ibom State because he wanted to show that government can work.
“I had made up my mind, with a lot of anger when I came in that I must show that government can work and indeed seeing this kind of edifice, I can tell you that the anger is waning. That, yes indeed, government can work.
“I wanted to prove something to future generations and I hope that Nigerians after me, aspiring for leadership, will feel the need to learn the little I have experienced here”.
The President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, expressed excitement over the Stadium even as assured that the Federation will host world class matches in it.
Pannick who was among the delegation watching the last minute rehearsals for the official commissioning of the Stadium by President Goodluck Jonathan and three other African Presidents, said he was a fulfilled man seeing such edifice in Nigeria.
He said the stadium will henceforth be the home to Super Eagles and Super Falcons, saying that the NFF is going to take full advantage of the well crafted edifice for world class matches.
“I feel very fulfilled and like I said, this is the home of the NFF, this is the home of the Super Eagles, this is the home of the Super Falcons. And we are very proud to have been associated with the government of Akwa-Ibom State.
“It is a edifice that is so well crafted and I can assure you that you will be seeing first class marches. We are going to take good advantage of this edifice in making sure that we bring in first class marches, A-rated marches to this stadium”.
The former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, expressed confidence that many champions would emerge from the edifice and advised that the maintenance culture should not be taken for granted.
“It (stadium) is unique and it is not just a gift to this state, a gift to Nigeria but to Africa and there is no doubt in my mind you’re going to develop a lot of champions out of this place.
“I just hope that those who are going to be given the responsibility to take care of this place, will maintain a high maintenance culture to ensure that it is perfectly secured.” [myad]
In compliance with a judgment of a Federal High Court which resolved the crisis rocking the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) association in favour of the board of trustees, the entire national leadership of association has been sacked.
This was even as the national secretariat of the association located at the sixth floor of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) building in Maitama, Abuja, has also been taken over by the board of trustees of ALGON with the support of police who were mandated to enforce the court order. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ALGON, Mr. Umar Kassim Ibrahim, who led the police to recover the office complex, told journalists that the action was to put an end to the era of impunity, arrogance, and lawlessness in the body by the former leaders of the association. He said that the tenure of the former President of ALGON, Chief Nwabueze Okafor, had expired since January and had become a former local government boss but declined to vacate office in-line with the provision of the constitution of the body. Ibrahim stated that in spite of several court judgments and orders against his continued stay in office, Okafor allegedly disregarded and disobeyed the orders. He said explained that police have to be brought into the tussle in order to force the former leaders out of office. “By our constitution only serving chairmen of the 774 local government areas in the country are eligible to be ALGON members and to hold offices as officers. “The movement your tenure expires as a local government Chairman, you have to automatically vacate office for the new officers but in the case of Nwabueze Okafor, his tenure as Chairman of Enugu South Local Government expired since January. He had handed over to his successor Mr. Victor Oguejiofo Agbo. “But unfortunately, the same Nwabueze refused bluntly to vacate office as ALGON President even when his is no longer a council chairman, so we have to invite the law enforcement agents to do their lawful duty.” He said that a six-man interim committee had been set up to hit the ground running and conduct election for new officers within 30 day. The interim committee is headed by Dr. Emmanuel Loman with Mr. Amodu Okandeji, Kwara ALGON Chairman, as legal adviser. Others are Prince Cornelius Nnaji from Enugu, Khalid Ibrahim from Jigawa, Mrs. Comfort Olarewaju from Delta, Maina Gana from Yobe and Olarewaju Ibrahim who will act as deputy chairman, treasurer, financial secretary respectively. [myad]
In the last few weeks, the PDP Publicity Directorate has been on tour of states across the nation to showcase the achievements of PDP elected and appointed officers in the past 15 years as a way, not only to showcase the party’s achievements but also to stimulate more action for the benefit of Nigerians. Already, the team has visited Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Abia states where it highlighted the achievements of successive PDP governments, including constituency projects and interventions by special agencies of the Federal Government. It is against this background that the criticisms and personal attacks in the media against the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh and the tour by some elements in Abia state became completely unnecessary. Of particular note is an article by one Amadi Onuoha published in Tuesday, October 28, 2014 edition of The Sun Newspapers on the same day a similar article by Willie Ikpeazu appeared in the New Telegraph, a sister newspaper of The Sun. Reading through these articles, it is easy to notice that the writers, out on a hatchet job, hurriedly built on narrow interests, carried on with wrong postulations and ended up misplacing issues while attempting to mischievously put words into Chief Metuh’s mouth. To begin with, those who monitored the team’s activities in Abia state can attest that the PDP National Publicity Secretary was focused on his mission to highlight the successes of the PDP in Abia and never made comparison between the incumbent government and the previous administration. In fact, those following the tours since its commencement know that the team had never dwelt on comparisons even in Jigawa state where the PDP transformed the state after it took over from another party. The previous administration in Abia state was a PDP government and there was no way the party system would go into comparison when it was showcasing 15 years of the PDP in the state and in the country. The fact was that in Abia, while appreciating the achievements of the Governor Theodore Orji-led government, the Publicity Secretary listed some outstanding projects in various parts of the state and wondered why they were not given adequate mention in the media. He noted that there must be a case of conspiracy to underplay the achievements and portray the government as non-performing for selfish reasons. The credibility of the Abia tour and Metuh’s intentions were underscored by his position on the deplorable state of federal roads in the South East. Speaking with journalists after the tours, the PDP spokesman was bold to admit that although some of the federal roads in the region are under reconstruction, there must be an urgent intervention by the Federal Ministry of Works to give the people a sense of belonging. Though all informed minds in Abia believe that there is room for improvement in the state, we find nothing offensive in Metuh’s statement as the two writers want Nigerians to believe. This is especially as his visit not only drew attention to the state of our roads but also showed the progress made in Abia as a means of promoting the state and opening it up to the world as an investment destination. Ikpeazu and Onuoha are particularly angry with Metuh because according to them, the PDP spokesman described Abia as the ‘Dubai of Africa,’ This is not only childish but also betrays the writers’ ill will towards the state. In any case, some of us have taken time to read through the Thisday report of October 21, 2014 upon which they based their attack and we did not see anywhere Metuh was quoted to have said so. Instead, Thisday clearly reported that upon the arrival of the tour team at the New Ubani Modern Market in Umuahia, the “shout of Abia is Dubai of Africa” rent the air. The question is; was Metuh the one shouting? Ikpeazu and Onuoha should vent their anger on the traders who now enjoy space, security and amenities at the market and not on the PDP Publicity Secretary whose genuine efforts to bring the state to the limelight for the good of all is highly commendable. It is indeed laughable that the articles attempted to question Metuh’s credentials and competence as PDP’s National Publicity Secretary. The fact is that these hired hands must have either lost touch with reality or are simply blinded by avarice. In fact, it is not hard to decipher an agenda to cause confusion and weaken the PDP by targeting its publicity machinery as it prepares for the 2015 general election. The mischievous suggestion that Metuh was at loggerheads with PDP National Chairman and the mention of Chyna Iwuanyanwu as being schemed out in the race for the Publicity Secretary betrays this failed plot. It is incontrovertible that since his emergence in a keenly contested election, Metuh has repositioned the PDP Publicity to effectively project the image, ideals and achievements of his party, while matching the propaganda machinery of the opposition. Political watchers are aware that since its formation, the PDP has never been confronted with a highly organized and ambitious opposition with formidable propaganda machinery like the APC, which capitalized on the internal crisis within the PDP at a time. To the admiration of party members and supporters, the PDP spokesman vigorously applied his intellectual temerity to put the opposition under check with a combination of positive attitude, far-reaching innovations and persuasive messages on the positives of the PDP as the only true national and democratic party while profiling the APC as an undemocratic party out to destroy the unity of the nation. Before the emergence of Metuh, the PDP publicity was largely a reactionary organ to the misinformation by the opposition but the situation at the moment, which is verifiable, is that the ruling party has subdued the opposition to the extent that its voracious spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been overwhelmed and is hardly heard. This is the reality on the ground. All informed Nigerians know that since the formation of the party, the current PDP image-maker is the most active, most vibrant and most productive in sustaining the popularity of the PDP, putting the party and its candidates in good stead for the forthcoming elections. If Metuh were not good, why would the opposition hire foreign media consultants and spend hundreds of millions of naira to oil their propaganda machinery against his person and office? The fact that PDP National Publicity Secretary has elevated the bar in party image making with his innovations and compelling personality is a point, which most Nigerian, even those in the opposition have come to accept.
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Some of the grand children of late Princess Maria Egbelamue Iraoya
Those Misrepresenting PDP’s Abia Tour Rating, By Cletus Nwangaga
In the last few weeks, the PDP Publicity Directorate has been on tour of states across the nation to showcase the achievements of PDP elected and appointed officers in the past 15 years as a way, not only to showcase the party’s achievements
but also to stimulate more action for the benefit of Nigerians.
Already, the team has visited Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Abia states where it highlighted the achievements of successive PDP governments, including constituency projects and interventions by special agencies of the Federal Government.
It is against this background that the criticisms and personal attacks in the media against the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh and the tour by some elements in Abia state became completely unnecessary.
Of particular note is an article by one Amadi Onuoha published in Tuesday, October 28, 2014 edition of The Sun Newspapers on the same day a similar article by Willie Ikpeazu appeared in the New Telegraph, a sister newspaper of The Sun.
Reading through these articles, it is easy to notice that the writers, out on a hatchet job, hurriedly built on narrow interests, carried on with wrong postulations and ended up misplacing issues while attempting to mischievously put words into Chief Metuh’s mouth.
To begin with, those who monitored the team’s activities in Abia state can attest that the PDP National Publicity Secretary was focused on his mission to highlight the successes of the PDP in Abia and never made comparison between the incumbent government and the previous administration.
In fact, those following the tours since its commencement know that the team had never dwelt on comparisons even in Jigawa state where the PDP transformed the state after it took over from another party.
The previous administration in Abia state was a PDP government and there was no way the party system would go into comparison when it was showcasing 15 years of the PDP in the state and in the country.
The fact was that in Abia, while appreciating the achievements of the Governor Theodore Orji-led government, the Publicity Secretary listed some outstanding projects in various parts of the state and wondered why they were not given adequate mention in the media. He noted that there must be a case of conspiracy to underplay the achievements and portray the government as non-performing for selfish reasons. The credibility of the Abia tour and Metuh’s intentions were underscored by his position on the deplorable state of federal roads in the South East. Speaking with journalists after the tours, the PDP spokesman was bold to admit that although some of the federal roads in the region are under reconstruction, there must be an urgent intervention by the Federal Ministry of Works to give the people a sense of belonging.
Though all informed minds in Abia believe that there is room for improvement in the state, we find nothing offensive in Metuh’s statement as the two writers want Nigerians to believe. This is especially as his visit not only drew attention to the state of our roads but also showed the progress made in Abia as a means of promoting the state and opening it up to the world as an investment destination.
Ikpeazu and Onuoha are particularly angry with Metuh because according to them, the PDP spokesman described Abia as the ‘Dubai of Africa,’ This is not only childish but also betrays the writers’ ill will towards the state. In any case, some of us have taken time to read through the Thisday report of October 21, 2014 upon which they based their attack and we did not see anywhere Metuh was quoted to have said so.
Instead, Thisday clearly reported that upon the arrival of the tour team at the New Ubani Modern Market in Umuahia, the “shout of Abia is Dubai of Africa” rent the air.
The question is; was Metuh the one shouting? Ikpeazu and Onuoha should vent their anger on the traders who now enjoy space, security and amenities at the market and not on the PDP Publicity Secretary whose genuine efforts to bring the state to the limelight for the good of all is highly commendable.
It is indeed laughable that the articles attempted to question Metuh’s credentials and competence as PDP’s National Publicity Secretary. The fact is that these hired hands must have either lost touch with reality or are simply blinded by avarice.
In fact, it is not hard to decipher an agenda to cause confusion and weaken the PDP by targeting its publicity machinery as it prepares for the 2015 general election. The mischievous suggestion that Metuh was at loggerheads with PDP National Chairman and the mention of Chyna Iwuanyanwu as being schemed out in the race for the Publicity Secretary betrays this failed plot.
It is incontrovertible that since his emergence in a keenly contested election, Metuh has repositioned the PDP Publicity to effectively project the image, ideals and achievements of his party, while matching the propaganda machinery of the opposition.
Political watchers are aware that since its formation, the PDP has never been confronted with a highly organized and ambitious opposition with formidable propaganda machinery like the APC, which capitalized on the internal crisis within the PDP at a time.
To the admiration of party members and supporters, the PDP spokesman vigorously applied his intellectual temerity to put the opposition under check with a combination of positive attitude, far-reaching innovations and persuasive messages on the positives of the PDP as the only true national and democratic party while profiling the APC as an undemocratic party out to destroy the unity of the nation.
Before the emergence of Metuh, the PDP publicity was largely a reactionary organ to the misinformation by the opposition but the situation at the moment, which is verifiable, is that the ruling party has subdued the opposition to the extent that its voracious spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been overwhelmed and is hardly heard. This is the reality on the ground.
All informed Nigerians know that since the formation of the party, the current PDP image-maker is the most active, most vibrant and most productive in sustaining the popularity of the PDP, putting the party and its candidates in good stead for the forthcoming elections.
If Metuh were not good, why would the opposition hire foreign media consultants and spend hundreds of millions of naira to oil their propaganda machinery against his person and office? The fact that PDP National Publicity Secretary has elevated the bar in party image making with his innovations and compelling personality is a point, which most Nigerian, even those in the opposition have come to accept.
Nwanganga wrote in from Aba. [myad]