Dons EzeATIKU, OBI HAVE LEARNT THEIR LESSONS, AIDE HINTS ON MERGER
ATIKU, PETER OBI HAVE LEARNT THEIR LESSONS – AIDE HINTS ON MERGER Paul Ibe, the spokesperson to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has said that his principal and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, have learnt their lessons in the last general election and would unite to kick out the “incompetent and clueless” administration of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Ibe, a media to Atiku, said this as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday. Atiku and Obi scored over 12 million votes combined in the 2023 presidential election won by APC’s Bola Tinubu who got over eight million votes. Obi, a frontline member of the PDP and a longtime ally of Atiku, left the PDP for LP prior to the 2023 general election, when it was clear he would not get the party’s ticket. Analysts believe that with their combined efforts, either the PDP or the LP would have removed the APC from power. However, Ibe said that Atiku and Obi have learnt their lessons and won’t allow a repeat of their mistake in 2023 going forward. “Nigerians deserve better than what they are getting. It’s never been this bad in this country and there is no hope,” he said “The truth of the matter is that Atiku Abubakar has promoted opposition parties to work together, to come together; that is the only way they can kick out this incompetent and clueless government. And I believe that discussions have been going on. “Lessons have been learnt from 2023 by all parties including Atiku Abubakar and I believe that it is on the basis of the lessons that have been learnt that they are moving forward and having discussions. “They have learnt that lesson and want to be united and go forward,” he stated. He said for Atiku, “all options are on the table”, but refused to provide an answer to the question of whether the former Vice President would step down for Obi in the 2027 election.
EXPLOSION ROCKS RIVERS APC SECRETARIAT HOURS TO LG ELECTION
EXPLOSION ROCKS RIVERS APC SECRETARIAT HOURS TO LG ELECTION There is tension in Rivers State as individuals suspected of arson reportedly detonated explosives at the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday morning.Naija News reports that the APC is the principal opposition political party in Rivers State. The state is preparing to hold its local government elections today, Saturday, October 5. However, just a few hours before the exercise, the secretariat of the APC located in Port Harcourt was reportedly attacked. According to Leadership, video clips obtained online indicate that the incident, believed to involve dynamite, caused damage to the main gate and the security post of the APC secretariat, as well as to portions of a nearby building. In a brief message sent to journalists in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, attributed the attack on the secretariat to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Okocha wrote: “At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office. “The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire.” The APC had previously declared its intention to abstain from the local government elections scheduled for this Saturday throughout the state. In a surprising turn of events, the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, also announced its decision to refrain from participating in the election.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MOVES TO AVERT STRIKE, MEETS WITH LABOUR
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MOVES TO AVERT STRIKE, MEETS WITH LABOUR The National Assembly on Sunday revealed that it would mediate in the standoff between organized labour and the federal government as part of moves to avert the impending nationwide indefinite strike starting June 3, and a shutdown of the nation. In a joint statement signed by the spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and the spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi, the federal legislature said it is intervening to resolve the deadlock on a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs. The National Assembly stressed that both parties have tenable reasons for their respective positions. The statement also revealed that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, to rein in the situation as the industrial action would have severe repercussions on the populace and economy “The National Assembly acknowledges the announcement by Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to commence an indefinite strike action from Monday, June 3, 2024, nationwide. “In view of this, the National Assembly Leadership and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity respectively, Senator Diket Plang, and Rep. Adegboyega Adefarati, are looking to engage both parties in constructive dialogue and explore a variety of solutions in addressing the issues at hand. It added that the 10th National Assembly was committed to ensuring that the interests of all parties are fairly represented,” the National Assembly statement added. Recall that last Friday the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced an indefinite nationwide strike from tomorrow (Monday) over the federal government’s failure to agree on a new national minimum wage and reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff. NLC and TUC leaders had, on Workers Day, celebrations given the Federal Government a May 31 deadline to conclude the negotiations on a new national minimum wage or risk nationwide industrial unrest. The tripartite committee on a new National Minimum Wage set up by the government failed to make a decision on a new national minimum wage after about four meetings. Labour leaders had walked out of the meetings three times after rejecting government and the Organised Private Sector offers. Friday’s decision by the pressure groups happened at the expiration of the deadline given to the government by labour. The trade unions had asked the government to conclude on a new minimum wage, as the old minimum wage of N30,000 that was signed into law by former President Muhammad Buhari on April 18, 2019, expired on April 18, 2024.