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Still basking in the euphoria of Wednesday’s victory at the Supreme Court, the Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party PDP has begun moves to shoot itself back into public reckoning and dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2019 general elections.

Though Makarfi had in the aftermath of the Wednesday court victory which sacked his rival, Modu Sheriff, asked the APC to begin to prepare its hand over notes, he did not however disclose how the PDP intends to wrest power from the APC.

Vanguard reports that the PDP, among other plans, will use the APC’s manifesto against it.

“The APC had at least 81 promises in its manifesto. Among all the things the party promised, how many has it achieved? The promises were mere propaganda tools which unfortunately many people bought into because some of our colleagues in government under Jonathan also lost focus and were too detached from the people.
So, today we intend to benchmark those promises and then take the APC up on its own words”, said a former key minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration who did not want his name in print for fear of a backlash from the current administration as he is presently facing prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

He said, “the PDP will also zone its presidential ticket to the north knowing that President Muhammadu Buhari might be too ill to recontest in 2019.

The PDP will beat any other person including Buhari if he stands for re-election because Nigerians have seen through the lies of his party and can now judge better, having tasted the soup of two wives”.

The former minister added that the PDP has learned useful lessons and will ensure that in order to move, it practises internal democracy.

“Printing only one presidential ticket, and therefore excluding others, was perhaps one of the major reasons we lost the 2015 presidential election. By the time we are able to put our house in order, we will ensure that there is nothing like imposition, especially beginning with our forthcoming national convention. We shall improve on our reward system so that party members are rewarded for their contributions unlike what the APC is doing now to its members”, he said.

On the fate of Sheriff, the ex-minister added that the PDP was already trying to reconcile all the parties to the dispute, but added that the Makarfi-led caretaker committee could wield the big stick on those who refuse to abide by the rules of the party.

“Makarfi is like that small Fulani boy who guides a herd of cattle from Daura to Ibadan. He has the rod. People are expected to shape in or shape out, otherwise it will not be out of place to suspend or outrightly expel those who may want to drag the party back”, he added.

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MOHBAD: Reps Observe Moment Of Silence, Promise To Monitor Ongoing Probe

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Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday observed a moment of silence for the late 27-year-old Afrobeats singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, who died two weeks ago.

The lower chamber paid the tribute at the beginning of an executive session at the resumption of plenary in Abuja.

Following a motion of urgent importance by the member representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Mr Babajimi Benson, the House further resolved to monitor the investigation surrounding his death and royalties accruing to him.

Benson called for a review of relevant laws guiding the entertainment industry as well as copyright laws, while expressing concerns about the contracts and agreements that entertainers are compelled to sign.

 

Feature Image credit: Channels TV

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Impeached Ogun LG Chairman Wale Adedayo Arraigned, Remanded At Correctional Centre

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Wale Adedayo, the impeached chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government (LGA), has been arraigned by the Ogun State Police Command on a two-count charge for allegedly publishing an alleged false story about local government funds diversion by the state government.

This follows a petition filed by the state government over the alleged zero allocation and diversion of local government funds by the state government, an allegation which has been denied by the government.

Adedayo, who was arrested by the police on Monday, has since been arraigned at the Customary Court 2 in the Isabo area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge proffered against him.

The counsel to the defendant, Kayode Akinsola, prayed for the court to grant his client bail, promising that the defendant would not jump bail if granted and would honour all conditions attached to the bail application to which the prosecuting counsel, Olaide Rolly, did not object.

Delivering her judgement for the bail application, the presiding judge, A K Araba, admitted the defendant to bail of N2 million and two sureties with landed properties, among others within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case has however been adjourned till October 20 for the next hearing while the defendant has been remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.

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NOVA Merchant Bank Uplifts 50 Young Lives Through Paediatric Surgical Intervention

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NOVA Merchant Bank, a leading merchant bank in Nigeria, has sponsored a Pediatric Surgical Intervention, as part of its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program, specifically within its UPLIFT initiative project.

This initiative, conducted in partnership with the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (APSON), positively impacted 50 indigent child patients at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on Monday, September 18, 2023.

APSON is the umbrella body of all Paediatric Surgeons in Nigeria engaged in the treatment of surgical issues in children, the education and training of specialists in Pediatric surgery, and the enhancement and preservation of the high standards and quality of surgical care provided to children.

This collaboration exemplifies NOVA’s unwavering commitment to community development and its dedication to impacting lives through its UPLIFT Initiative projects aimed at creating “Today’s solution for tomorrow’s sustainability (UPLIFT).”

Speaking on the motivation behind NOVA’s intervention, Mr Nath Ude, Managing Director of NOVA Merchant Bank, said, “NOVA envisions a future in which millions of people have free or low-cost access to healthcare and where unnecessary pain caused by preventable illnesses and untimely fatalities can be mitigated. This intervention is a stride towards achieving this vision.” He added that, “No child should be deprived of their promising future due to a lack of healthcare accessibility” noting that the impact of this project will echo through lifetimes to come.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of NOVA’s intervention, the President of APSON, Professor Roland Osuoji, said, “In the past year, Lagos state heavily subsidized paediatric operations for children between the ages 0-12 which have resulted in a growing waiting list, stretching until 2025.” He added that, “This initiative not only reduces the backlog but also saves lives and offers hope to these deserving families.

Commenting on the patient selection process, Dr Omolara Williams, the Local Organizing Committee Chairman of the medical outreach, said, “We surveyed our group of patients from our database and pinpointed those who were on the waiting list due to financial constraints. We made every effort to contact as many of them as possible, and as a result, we now have patients ranging from 1 to 14 years old who will receive treatment for their pediatric conditions through this intervention.” She further emphasized the need for continued regional and national initiatives like this to bridge the gap in paediatric surgical care accessibility.

Expressing appreciation for NOVA’s intervention, the LASUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, said, “This collaboration reflects a shared vision of a healthier and brighter future for children in Nigeria.” He noted that this meaningful impact is not just mending bodies but also building dreams.

NOVA Merchant Bank Limited is an investment grade-rated merchant bank in Nigeria, offering an integrated suite of financial solutions encompassing Financial Intermediation, Wholesale and Investment Banking, Asset and Securities Management, Trade Services, Cash Management, Transaction, and Digital Banking.

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