Governor Rauf Aregbesola used the opportunity presented by his swearing-in ceremony, Thursday, to hit out at the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, describing it as a party filled with “self-seeking manipulators” who unleash poverty on Nigerians.
At his inauguration for a second term of four years, in Osogbo, Mr. Aregbesola also lambasted the PDP in Osun State for its “divisive tendencies.”
“Our adversaries have taken the road to perdition by seeking to divide our people along religious and ethnic lines. On this path, they will travel alone,” said Mr. Aregbesola, who was re-elected last August.
“Our diversity is our strength; God has bequeathed to us the freedom of choice. We are at liberty to be Christian, Muslim, traditional religious worshiper, atheist, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw or Efik. What is unnatural and quite strange to Yoruba communal liberalism is to engage in conflict on account such differences.
Two governorship aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ade Dosumu and Adetokunbo Pearse, have dropped their governorship ambition to support a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
According to Taofik Gani, who is the Lagos state publicity secretary of PDP, Messrs Dosumu and Pearse have dropped their ambition and are teaming up with Mr. Obanikoro due to the former minister’s passionate bid to win the state for the party.
“Yes, both Mr. Dosumu and Mr Pearse are no longer governorship aspirants” he told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone. Meanwhile, Mr. Obanikoro’s public declaration to run for the Lagos governorship election has been rescheduled to next week Tuesday.
The Senate on Thursday dismissed a scathing attack by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying Mr. Obasanjo merely sought to disrespect the National Assembly by accusing its members of extensive corruption.
Mr Obasanjo, in a furious outburst Wednesday, had accused members of the Senate and House of Representatives of stealing constituency funds, and extorting government officials they supervise through blackmail and intimidation.
The spokesperson for the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said in a statement that Mr. Obasanjo’s claim about constituency project funds was an outright lie aimed at misinforming Nigerians.
The Peoples Democratic Party has cleared the wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chime; and her Kogi State counterpart, Mrs. Faridah Wada, for the House of Representatives race in Abia State.
While the Enugu State First Lady who hails from Isuochi in Umunneochi council is running for Umunneochi / Isuikwuato federal constituency, Mrs. Wada is contesting for Umuahia / Ikwuano federal constituency.
The duo were contained in the list of 229 aspirants contesting for the 36 elective positions in the state in 2015 under PDP platform released by the state’s PDP Chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka.
A former Minister of Works (state) under President Goodluck Jonathan, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, has defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Engineer Ogiemwonyi, who would be formally received by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, and other leaders of the APC, is also expected to join the Edo governorship race in 2016.
Expected at the official reception of the former minister and his supporters across the three senatorial districts of the state at the traditional Urhokpota ground, Ring Road Benin, are the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other members of the party.
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