Nigeria Today! PDP, Bindow, Ekweremadu, Others In The News

CRISIS ROCKS EDO PDP OVER ALLEGED DIVERSION OF RICE

Crisis is rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, following allegations that one of its governorship aspirants (names withheld) diverted rice meant to be distributed to members of the party prior to the presidential election, which was brought to the state by the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The crisis erupted after members of the party observed that the governorship aspirant was sharing the rice to his supporters as Christmas gift after he allegedly super-imposed his picture on that of former President Jonathan on the bags of rice.

A chieftain of  PDP in the state, Mr Okharedia Ihimekpen, described the discovery as shocking and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the ongoing probe to funds expended during the former President Jonathan’s campaign to Edo State.


He said, “It was shocking when we saw that the bags of rice were actually meant to be distributed during the presidential campaign but this aspirant confiscated them. I want to appeal to the Federal Government to extend the Dasukigate probe to Edo State and if this aspirant is indicted he should be prosecuted and disqualified from the governorship race.

I SWITCHED LOYALTY TO ATIKU BECAUSE HE GAVE ME N500M FOR CAMPAIGN – BINDOW

The Adamawa State Governor, Bindow Jibrilla, on Monday gave insight into why he dumped the former governor of the state, Murtala Nyako, and shifted loyalty to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.


Mr. Bidow, who reportedly rode on the political structure of Mr. Nyako to win the April governorship election, said he decided to pitch tent with Atiku because of a lofty cash gift the former vice president gave him during the campaign.

The governor made the disclosure when he hosted indigenes of Jimeta at the Government House, saying Atiku gave him N500million for his campaign.

“I shifted loyalty to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar because of the N500 million he gave to support my governorship campaign.

“Apart from the money from the headquarters, nobody gave me ten naira during the campaign.
It is unclear whether the governor disclosed the huge donation made by Atiku to the Independent National Electoral Commission as required by law.

The Electoral Act prohibits individuals from making election contributions beyond N 1million.

EKWEREMADU IS THE BEST MAN TO WORK WITH – SARAKI

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has described his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as a man every Nigerian politician should look forward to working with and the type of leader that Nigerians would want to continue to serve them.

Saraki, who stated this at a civic reception in Mpu, the country home of Ekweremadu shortly after a special thanksgiving service where Ekweremadu rededicated himself to service to Nigeria and mankind said the deputy senate president is a man who has the interest of the country at heart.