Politics
Bayelsa deputy governor, senator consider move to ADC after Gov Diri’s defection to APC
Former Governor Seriake Dickson and Bayelsa deputy governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo are considering leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over rising uncertainty in the party.
The planned exit follows concerns about the stability of the opposition platform.
Dickson, who has been openly critical of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate, has not followed Governor Douye Diri in defecting to the ruling party. Ewhrudjakpo also refused to join the APC after Diri’s defection on November 3...TAP TO CONTINUE FULL READING.
Both men are believed to be in talks with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is being considered as a platform for Dickson’s reported bid to return to the Senate and for Ewhrudjakpo’s expected run for governor.
As Dickson ended his second term as governor, he backed Ewhrudjakpo for Senate and later influenced his emergence as Diri’s running mate.
Ewhrudjakpo left the Senate after becoming deputy governor, creating a vacancy which Dickson won in a by-election.
Dickson had earlier warned Diri against defecting to the APC, but the governor ignored the advice.
A source in the government house told The Nation that the rumoured defection of Dickson and Ewhrudjakpo has “some element of truth”.
The source said Dickson has political links to the ADC and has allegedly influenced some appointments in the party’s state structure.
He said Dickson may defect along with Ewhrudjakpo, who served as his works commissioner during his administration.
He, however, argued that the ADC “cannot win one local government area” in Bayelsa due to its low acceptance.
He said his preference would be for Dickson to join the governor in the APC, adding that “anybody going to the ADC is on his own”.
Another source said Dickson’s chances of securing a third term in the Senate under the PDP remain uncertain, making the ADC a possible alternative.
He said the former governor has the political structure and resources to win an election in his district even on a smaller platform.
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President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for a three-nation visit to France, Kenya, and Rwanda. He will attend the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi (May 11-12), co-chaired by Presidents Macron and Ruto, focusing on energy transition, digital transformation, and climate action. He will then proceed to the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali (May 14-15), themed “Scale or Fail,” highlighting Nigeria’s investment reforms. The trip will last approximately two weeks.
Key Points:
The Africa-France Summit theme is “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
The Africa CEO Forum is in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Over 2,000 top executives and national leaders will attend the Kigali forum.
Tinubu will hold high-level meetings with global and African business leaders.
He will be accompanied by some ministers and senior aides...TAP TO CONTINUE FULL READING.
The president will return to Nigeria at the end of the Rwanda summit.
Sources: Bayo Onanuga/x
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The Presidency and opposition figure Peter Obi have traded words over the Federal Government’s borrowing profile. President Bola Tinubu had defended the administration’s borrowing, stating, “Borrowing is not leprosy.” Obi countered on X, saying: “Borrowing is not only leprosy, but a killer cancer when it is borrowed for consumption and not production.” Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga responded, accusing Obi of “demagoguery” and insisting the government borrows for infrastructure, not consumption.
Key Points:
Obi argued that debt without productivity is dangerous.
He cited the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 on cost-benefit analysis requirements.
Onanuga said Nigeria has willing lenders because the country is credible.
Onanuga advised Obi to “rise above the pedestrian level.”
Obi said borrowing for consumption is “double jeopardy.”..TAP TO CONTINUE FULL READING.
The exchange highlights ongoing debate over Nigeria’s borrowing strategy.
Sources: Nigerian Tribune, Vanguard
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Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged Nigerian workers to wield their collective voice and votes to demand competent leadership. In a Workers’ Day statement, Obi said workers must “refuse to reward failure, corruption, ethnic division, and bad governance.” He described workers as the “backbone of every nation” and said the current minimum wage of N70,000 can no longer guarantee a modest standard of living.
Key Points:
Obi said when workers suffer, the nation suffers; when workers are empowered, the nation prospers.
He called for leadership built on competence, character, capacity, credibility, and compassion.
He noted the minimum wage is unevenly implemented across states.
The statement came on International Workers’ Day.
Obi is positioning himself as a labour-friendly leader ahead of 2027...TAP TO CONTINUE FULL READING.
Obi urged workers to refuse to reward failure and bad governance.
Sources: Leadership
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