Atiku Mobilises for AC Convention
Leader of Action Congress Party (AC) and former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has started touring some states in preparation for the forth-coming National Convention of the party in Lagos.
A press statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity secretary of the party, Lai Muhammed, indicates that Alhaji Atiku visited Rivers State last week to mobilize members of the party for convention.
The visit afforded the former Vice-President the opportunity to commission the AC Rivers State new secretariat: The Secretariat that is equipped with the state-of-the-art communication equipment, will ease the party’s activities.
Alhaji Atiku, who held consultative meetings with leaders and members of the party in Rivers State, stated that AC was prepared to face the challenges of politicking in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Rivers State AC Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwumeka, disclosed that the new party Secretariat was donated by Prime Tonye Princewill.

Lawmaker Moves Motion on Severance Allowance
Kogi State House of Assembly member representing Yagba East Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Salaudeen, has called on the House to put necessary machinery in place to defray huge sums of money owed past political office holders at the Local Government level.
Hon. Salaudeen made the call in a motion he presented to the House at the state legislative chamber in Lokoja.
According to him, “both the federal and state governments have lived up to expectation in the payment of severance allowance to past political office holders”, adding that “local government administrators on the other hand have failed in that direction”.
Hon. Salaudeen wondered how some local government Chairmen would stoop so low to pay past political office holders a paltry sum of N20, 000. He maintained that some local governments are not even consistent in the payment of severance allowances.
The legislator called on members of the House to create an enabling environment for deduction of severance allowance from local government allocation to offset the back log of arrears. He added that if the council chairmen could set aside N30m, they can settle the arrears.
While ruling on the motion, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Clarence Olafemi, called on the House Committee on Public Accounts to furnish the House with the list of Council Chairmen that are defaulting form the payment of severance allowance to past political office holders. -Bilqis Mohammed

Group Berates Call for President’s Resignator
Kogi State Cordinator of Yar’Adua for New Nigeria, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, has adduced selfishness as the motive for those calling for President Umaru Yar’Adua’s resignation on ground of ill-health.
Addressing journalists and members of the group drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state at the Nigerian Union of Journalist Secretariat, Lokoja, during a prayer session for the President’s quick recovery; Hon. Bello said the call is anti-people as it was “callous, selfish and mischievous”.
According to him, “Yar’Adua for New Nigeria, like every other patriotic group, is not in support of such negative calls which might reverse the country’s march to greatness.
Yar’Adua for New Nigeria, he said is a convergence of people irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliations.
“We should change our attitudes and mentalities as Nigerians to engender a greater nation for the benefit of all”, he emphasized.
At the occasion, prayers were offered for the President’s quick recovery by pastor Mamman Eri, Imam Ibrahim Nyas Yusuf and Hon. Kasim Imam Mohammed.
Meanwhile, sons-in-laws of ailing President Umar Yar’Adua are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the family of the President in Abuja does not suffer loneliness.
Our correspondent in Yola reports that Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State, who is an in-law to the President, has kept shuttling between Bauchi and Abuja since the President left for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia while his Kebbi State council has taken solace in prayers.
- Nathaniel Drisu


PDP Legal Adviser Counsels on 2011 Elections
Individuals seeking political offices in the 2011 general elections have been advised to avoid heating the polity through inflammatory political statements.
The North Central Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Kabiru Usman, gave the advice in a chat with The Graphic in Ankpa.
Barrister Usman said politics was the only platform which the electorate can use in electing or choosing their leaders. He said people should not therefore toy with such opportunities.
The Legal Adviser also called on PDP members in Kogi State to close ranks. He said it was only through the unity of purpose that the party can remain at the top.
Barrister Usman also advised Kogi youths to shun thuggery, pointing out that it was counter productive to coerce people into parties that are not their choice.
According to him, “the next general election is another opportunity for Nigerians to consolidate democracy”. He added, “our people must not forget that the worst democracy is better than military dictatorship”.


More Aspirant on Ogori/Magongo LG Seat
A grassroots mobilizer in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area, Hon. Julius Akerejola, has declared his intention to contest for the Chairmanship slot of the area.
Hon. Akerejola, who disclosed that his decision to vie for the position is drawn from the people’s call for him to serve them, made this known while charting with The Graphic in Lokoja recently.
While praising the incumbent Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Gabriel Odaudu, for his landmark achievements in revenue generation, infrastructure and human development, Hon. Akerejola promised to continue anywhere he stops if elected.
The aspirant explained his mission to include improving educational, agricultural, health and infrastructural facilities, revenue generation and investment, stressing that, “I will continue from where Hon. Odaudu stops”.
“We intend to touch the lives of all indigenes of Ogori/Magongo by making them comfortable no matter what happens”, he promised.
He said his administration will encourage ritirees of the local government from top organization to put in their wisdom and experience into his government in order to bring more dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Speaking on the dwindling fortunes of the local governments, Hon. Akerejola disclosed that his administration will diversify its activities by establishing industries to increase the council’s revenue generation.
Hon. Akerejola, who noted that he would not need any godfather to support him since the people called him to serve them disclosed that his godfathers are God and the electorate.
The aspirant hinted that he is aspiring under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that he was sure he will win at the primaries when the time comes.