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Trouble in APC as 5,000 members defect to PDP

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Mass Exodus Hit APC Camp in Bauchi


Membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have further depleted ahead of the 2019 general elections as some of its chieftains and their 5,000 supporters returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Governor Seriake Dickson, who received the defectors on Thursday at the PDP Secretariat in Yenagoa said only the PDP possesses the political credentials to win elections in Bayelsa.
Among the APC chieftains who abandoned the party for the PDP are staunch allies of former Governor Timipre Sylva, who is the leader of the APC in the state.
They include Stephen Ogullah and Fred Nyanayo, former Commissioners for Finance and Transport; Vivian Ere-Imananagha, Johnson Alalibo and O. O Osusu, former members of the state House of Assembly; Michael Amaegberi, former Special Adviser on Economic Matters; Love Amaseimogha, former Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission; S. B Odi, former Chairman of Sagbama LGA; Woyengikuro Inieyeri, former Chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA and John Ebikake, former Chairman of Ekeremor LGA.

Dickson said the PDP government in Bayelsa under his watch had placed the state on the path of peace, prosperity and development, adding that the people were happy with the party.
He said any politician who is deceived into contesting in 2019 general elections on the platform of the APC would fail abysmally because only the PDP could win elections in the state.

The Governor called for more support for the party leadership and assured that the PDP would create a level-playing field for all aspirants to vie for political offices.
He said, “The PDP is the only party that has a developmental agenda for the Ijaw people.
“What we do in PDP is to strategize to win elections, and after elections we work for the development of our people because we are in politics to serve our people.

“The other party comes to kill our people because they lack the vision, they have no agenda for our people except to destroy what our founding fathers have built and what our restoration government is onsolidating. Except us, no person, nobody in the South-South in any party had won election under the ruling APC.
“We were the first to win election in the South-South under the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency. Any person who is deceived to contest election in 2019 on another platform other than PDP will still lose because only PDP can win election in Bayelsa State.”
Dickson continued: “I am very grateful to all our brothers and sisters for taking the decision to return but, while you were away our party became very cohesive and strong with order and discipline. So, watch out for those who want to divide you and give encouragement and sow seed of discord.
“On behalf of your government and the leadership of the PDP, we promise all of you a level-playing ground and fair play. You are welcome back home to your party.”
The Governor advised that none of the returnee leaders should suffer any loss of prestige or seniority, stressing that all of them should be incorporated into the appropriate organs of the PDP at all levels.
Also speaking at the event, Moses Cleopas, State Chairman of the PDP, said only his party has the capacity to defeat what he termed federal might as it happened in 2015/2016 when Governor Dickson won re-election.
He said that in 2019 the PDP would re-enact its winning streak by sweeping the elections against every odds that might stand in the way.
Fynman Wilson, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor, said he and the PDP family in the state are working hard to mop-up the remnants of the remaining tiny opposition in the state back to the PDP.

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Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

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Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

 

Acknowledging that the scourge of brazen extortion by miscreants on Lagos streets was on the increase, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohunda Moshood Jimoh, and heads of other security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering with the latest security apparatuses, increase surveillance on black spots across the metropolis, and, where necessary, arrest such miscreants, and have the state rehabilitate them.

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

Hon. Sanni Okanlawon (representing Kosofe Constituency 1) raised the alarm at plenary Tuesday, May 6, under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ stating; “The unlawful extortion of stranded and innocent motorists by miscreants remains a growing concern that demands urgent attention. Nobody on the streets of Lagos is immune to their activities. If left unchecked, they could render the state unsafe.” He painted different unsavoury scenarios of how the street urchins operate brazenly, which he described as unacceptable, and called for urgent intervention to protect road users.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho Constituency II) noted that this particular trend threatens the safety and sanity of road transportation in the state. Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere Constituency 1) corroborated this and emphasised the need for active surveillance by security agencies. He also suggested the involvement of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), noting that many of the offenders act under the influence of illegal substances.

Similarly, Hon. Aro Moshood (Ikorodu Constituency II) urged the Commissioner of Police to set up a tactical team dedicated mainly to road monitoring because “It is high time the government took the bull by the horns.” Commending Hon. Okanlawon for moving the motion, Hon. Adebola Shabi (Lagos Mainland Constituency 2) said local government chairmen have a huge role in combating this menace. Effective strategies, she added, have to be devised while recommending the installation of CCTV cameras at identified black spots.

However, Hon. Obafemi Saheed (Kosofe Constituency 2) disclosed that the government has invested heavily in security through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, and, therefore, should not sit back and watch miscreants take over the city.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa commended Hon. Okanlawon and the lawmakers who contributed robustly to the debate. He said that the police and other security agencies, including the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), must collaborate to ensure that Lagos remains safe for residents, commuters, and visitors alike.

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Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

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Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the state Lands Bureau to appear before it to provide clarity on previous allocations and recurring land-related issues. It also approved land compensation for communities where the state government acquired lands for public use.

At plenary last Thursday, the House adopted the recommendations of the Committee on Rules and Business on a petition titled “Application by Oriba Community in Epe Local Government to join in the petition of Ladaba Community” presented by Hon. Noheem Adams.

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

Following the presentation of the report, the House unanimously adopted the recommendations as its resolution by asking the bureau to appear before it with proper documents to explain the status of lands acquired by the state. The committee also recommended that the bureau issue excision/allocation letters to the 68 affected communities, while their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) should be ready within one month of the House’s resolution.

Members who lent their voices to the matter commended the committee for ensuring they got justice for the affected communities and suggested that their compensation should be increased from 20% to 25%.

In his summation, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa acknowledged the need for increased compensation but noted that the state government has its plans. Particularly, he endorsed the allocation of 20% (2,000 hectares) of the 10,000 hectares acquired by the state government as compensation.

Speaker Obasa further recommended that the committee should collaborate with the Lands Bureau, Office of the State Surveyor General, and New Towns Development Authority for the effective implementation of the recommendations.

The Lagos State Lands Bureau is responsible for land administration and management. It oversees key activities such as land allocation, issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), land registration, and the management of state-owned lands.

Its primary goals include ensuring equitable and transparent land transactions, facilitating urban planning, and supporting economic development by maintaining an organized system of land ownership. The bureau also handles disputes related to land and implements policies to optimize land use while protecting public interests.

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Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan

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Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan

 

 

Two women with two distinct destinies. One, Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, is a political luminary and steadfast advocate for the marginalized. The other is Aisha Achimugu, a trailblazing entrepreneur who conquered the male-dominated oil and gas sector, yet wears her heart on her sleeve for humanity.

 

 

Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan 

 

Though their paths differ, their souls converge in two profound ways: an unyielding passion for women’s empowerment and a lifelong covenant with charity.

 

 

For Oluremi, empowering women and uplifting the vulnerable is not merely a mission—it’s her oxygen. From founding the New Era Foundation as Lagos’ First Lady to launching her Renewed Hope Initiative as Nigeria’s First Lady—a platform championing youth and girl-child education and spearheading transformative projects like the Community ICT Hub—she has turned biblical compassion into action. Her unalloyed commitment to charitable virtues shone brightly during the commissioning of the hub in Ibadan, a Federal Government collaboration under her RHI that bridges the digital divide for thousands, revealing a heart that beats for the forgotten.

 

 

 

In Aisha Achimugu, Oluremi unknowingly finds a kindred spirit. Aisha’s SAM Empowerment Foundation has illuminated the futures of countless Nigerian girls through scholarships, mentorship, and vocational training, transforming aspirations into tangible opportunities. Her compassion radiates beyond borders, driven by a pan-African vision to uplift communities wherever the need arises. Whether empowering women in Nigeria’s underserved regions or advocating for sustainable livelihoods across the continent, Aisha’s mantra—“When God has blessed you, be a blessing to others”— resounds in every act of service. From rebuilding lives shattered by poverty to fostering dignity through education, her golden heart has become a beacon of hope for Africa’s most vulnerable.

 

 

 

Yet, their journeys have not been without storms. Both women have endured savage media trials—unfairly judged, their reputations scrutinized. Society often forgets: behind the headlines are mothers, leaders, and humanitarians whose “crimes” are loving too fiercely and giving too generously. They are imperfect, as all humans are, but in their relentless generosity, they mirror the very best of what humanity can be.

 

 

 

To Oluremi and Aisha: Your resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to your unbreakable spirits. When cynics question your motives, remember the girls now coding in Ibadan’s ICT Hub, the mothers reclaiming their futures through vocational training, and the orphans who see you as their lifeline. Do not relent. For every life you touch—whether through education, healthcare, or the quiet restoration of dignity—a ripple of hope spreads. Your legacies are not etched in headlines but in healed hearts and transformed destinies.

 

 

We see you. We celebrate you. And we beg you: keep shining.

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