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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s submission that the 2018 budget, will be difficult to implement “is a clear admission that he lacks the capacity and competence to run a development-oriented economy as desired by Nigerians.”

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Wednesday, the party said the President’s action was an indication that “the economy is in very bad hands.”

He said, “President Buhari, in picking holes on items that would directly impact on economic productivity, infrastructural advancement, rural development as well as those that would provide urgent palliatives to the plight of Nigerians, shows his aversion to developmental economy as well as insensitivity to the welfare of our citizens.

“In fact, President Buhari, in his comments on the budget has further de-marketed our economy before international investors, thereby worsening our woes as a nation.

“How on earth can a President, if indeed he loves the people, quarrel over budgetary items seeking to cushion the biting effect of the economic recession, particularly for the poor, who are the direct victims of the harsh policies of his incompetent administration?

“Furthermore, President Buhari’s resort to blaming the National Assembly for his inability to exert himself as a leader and ensure smooth implementation of the budget, further shows that he cares little about the actual needs of the people, having holed himself up in the comfort, security and pleasures of the Presidential Villa.”

Ologbodiyan urged the National Assembly to ensure strict implementation of the 2018 budget.

President Buhari had on Wednesday lamented that the 2018 Appropriation Bill which he signed into law would be difficult, if not impossible, to implement because of the alterations members of the National Assembly effected on the document he submitted to them on November 7, 2017.

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JUST IN: Chaos At PDP Caucus Meeting As Security Operatives Forcefully Eject Members [VIDEO]

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The caucus meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned chaotic on Monday after security operatives forcefully removed some members from the national executive committee (NEC) hall.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at the NEC hall of the party’s headquarters in Abuja, with members already arriving at the venue.

Two individuals were ejected by security personnel following claims by some protocol officers that they had no authorization to be present at the meeting.

During the confrontation, a glass door was broken while the members were being dragged out.

“Are you NWC member?” shouted Chinwe Nnorom, national director of publicity, before the individuals were taken out of the venue.

Earlier in the day, security personnel had taken control of the PDP headquarters and stopped members of the board of trustees (BoT) from accessing the NEC hall for their scheduled meeting.

As a result, the BoT moved their meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre located in the central business district of Abuja.

In recent weeks, the PDP has been embroiled in increasing drama and new developments amid its internal crisis.

Watch VIDEO HERE

 

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BREAKING: Security Operatives Block PDP BoT From Meeting At Party Headquarters

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Security operatives have barred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The security personnel stopped the BoT members from accessing the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday morning.

The BoT has subsequently relocated the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District.

 

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Rivers Truce: Wike Has Triumphed, ‘Scored A Hat-Trick’ — Analyst Majeed Dahiru

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Columnist and political commentator Majeed Dahiru has described the resolution of the Rivers State political crisis as a rare victory for a political godfather, asserting that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has “triumphed” over Governor Siminalayi Fubara, once his political protégé.

“This is a classic case of a hat-trick in football. Wike has emerged victorious. He came out on top, and Fubara has found his level. That game-changer was indeed the declaration of a state of emergency. It was declared—got Fubara to surrender and handed over victory in favour of Wike. So Wike has triumphed,” Dahiru stated during Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He argued that the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-producing state compelled Fubara to concede, resulting in a clear win for Wike. According to him, it’s uncommon in Nigerian politics for a political mentor to outmaneuver a sitting governor they helped into office, citing President Tinubu’s clash with former Lagos governor Ambode as a rare precedent.

Despite the perceived political success, Dahiru questioned the legal justification of the emergency measure. He described it as unconstitutional and illegal, saying it should have been handled in a way that upheld the Nigerian constitution. He maintained that a state of emergency does not permit the removal of a democratically elected government.

The analyst added that neither side in the Fubara-Wike conflict could be considered blameless. He emphasized that both actors belong to the same political circle and that the general public should not take sides in what was essentially an internal disagreement. He argued that “you didn’t vote for Fubara” because campaign resources had been deployed on his behalf, making the votes influenced rather than independent.

Responding to whether it would have been better to remove the governor through impeachment, Dahiru said the political compromise benefited Fubara, but constitutionally, impeachment would have been more appropriate than using a state of emergency as a fallback option.

The analyst’s comments followed a Thursday night meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, involving President Bola Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, and members of the Rivers State Assembly, which resulted in a peace agreement. Following the meeting, Wike confirmed that all parties had agreed to work together, describing them as members of the same political family.

Fubara also addressed his supporters in Port Harcourt on Saturday, declaring that there is no sacrifice too great for peace and that every decision, including his reconciliation with Wike, was made in the interest of the people. He acknowledged the disappointment of some supporters but explained that key stakeholders were consulted before any decision was reached.

In March, Tinubu had suspended Fubara and his deputy, citing insecurity and political unrest in the state. He declared a state of emergency and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to temporarily oversee governance using powers granted under Section 305 of the Constitution.

This move drew criticism nationwide, as civil society groups and opposition voices condemned the suspension of a duly elected governor. Tinubu, however, defended the action as necessary for the stability of both Rivers State and Nigeria.

Signs of reconciliation grew over the weekend as Wike, Fubara, and suspended Speaker Martin Amaewhule made a joint appearance at a funeral in Wike’s hometown—their first public outing since the peace deal.

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