Tag: Kola Ologbondiyan

Invasion Of Court By DSS Confirms Nigeria Is Sliding Into Dictatorship – PDP

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the furious invasion of the sanctity of the Federal High Court by the Department of State Services (DSS) further confirms that Nigeria, under the Buhari Presidency, is finally sliding into a frightening dictatorship.

The Party in a statement through its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the invasion of the court is a vindication of its earlier stand that the nation is no longer governed by democratic principles of the rule of law and dictates of the constitution.

According to the opposition Party, what played out in the court on Friday was shocking.

PDP said it is disturbing that the DSS, in a most horrific manner, swooped on the court and held the judiciary to ransom.

READ ALSO: Sowore: Never In Nigerian Democracy Has A Judge Been Treated With Such Disdain – Atiku

The Party stated that the invasion is in a forceful suspension of the constitutional order and a further battering of the judiciary, which points to emerging lawlessness that can only find space in a military regime.

Without prejudice to the charge against the Convener of the “Revolution Now” movement, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, the PDP held that, in a normal democracy, it is the duty of the court to determine the fate of an accused, according to the laws and not a resort to brute force by the government to silence persons with dissenting voices.

“Our Party notes that such a violation, as embarrassingly witnessed in the Abuja court this weekend, is a direct invitation to anarchy and a huge threat to the unity, peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation and the safety of our citizens.

“Indeed, this is not the Nigeria our citizens yearn for and it is imperative to restate that Nigeria, under the Buhari Presidency, is fast sliding into a dark country where laws are suspended, the judiciary is assaulted and citizens are stripped of their fundamental rights,” the Party stated.

The PDP called on well meaning Nigerians and the international community to call the government to order before its actions or inactions will derail the nation and trigger a breakdown of law and order in the land.

“The international community must have more than a passing glance at the situation in Nigeria as any crisis in our country, God forbid, given our population, is capable of having a negative spillover effect across the African continent and other parts of the world.

The PDP urges Nigerians across board, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic learnings, to unite in condemnation of dictatorial tendencies of the present administration and in defending our democracy and unity as a nation.

Channel N10billion Presidential Fund To Kogi Workers, PDP Tells NASS

Kola Ologbondiyan

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to invoke its statutory powers and directly channel the N10.069 billion Presidential funds for payment of salaries and pensions of suffering Kogi state workers.

According to the PDP, it is scandalous that the Presidency would seek to “mislead the National Assembly by asserting that the fund is for projects done by the state government on behalf of the Federal Government, when in reality no one can point to any such project executed by Governor Yahaya Bello in the last four years”.

In a communique signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP described the Presidency’s request as an endorsement of corruption and inexcusable injury to the people of Kogi state.

READ ALSO: Buhari Seeks Senate Approval To Refund Kogi Govt’s N10.06bn

The PDP held that if there are no intentions of pushing the fund to Governor Bello for anti-people purposes, the Presidency is challenged to name and point to the particular project executed by Governor Bello as well as make the terms and payment agreements public for Nigerians to see.

“If the Buhari Presidency means well for Kogi state, it should reword its request and put the interest of the masses ahead of all selfish and parochial political considerations, particularly as the state approaches a critical election in which the people have made up their minds to vote out Governor Yahaya Bello.

“Mr. President cannot claim to be unaware of the critical situation of workers in Kogi state. He cannot claim to be unaware that workers in Kogi state are being owed, in some cases up to 36 months, and that retirees and seniors are dying over non payments of their pensions after giving the best of their lives in public service.

“The PDP therefore urges President Buhari to resist attempts by his handlers and Governor Bello to drag his Presidency into this shameful attempt to steal fund that ought to go to the suffering masses in Kogi state,” the party stated.

Furthermore, the party charged the legislature to be on the side of the people by applying its legislative instruments to commence an immediate investigation into the “alleged squandering” of over N700 billion Kogi state funds by the Bello administration in the last four years.

The PDP also calls on the people of Kogi state as well as financial watch organizations to be at alert, monitor all disbursement of funds to Kogi state and ensure that Governor Bello and the APC do not achieve their aim of diverting the N10.069 billion for their selfish purposes.

PDP Rejects Moves By FG ‘To Gag Media, Freedom of Speech’

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected alleged moves by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government to “further gag the media, subjugate Nigerians and curtail their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression”.

The party says the decision by President Buhari administration to impose stringent regulations on online media and broadcast organisations as recently announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is completely ‘obnoxious, anti-democratic’, adding that it is a direct violation of statutory rules governing media practice and freedom of expression in Nigeria.

The PDP in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan also rejected the Presidential declaration of political comments as “Class A” offence, insisting that such is designed to undermine the nation’s constitutional democracy, exterminate the rights of citizens to dissenting public opinion, emasculate the opposition and foist a dictatorship and one party system on our nation.

READ ALSO: Withdraw Life Pensions For Ex-Officials, SERAP Tells Abuja Council Chairman

“Our party alerts that such moves amount to an attempt to amend our constitution to take away the rights of citizens and undermine our democratic institutions; a development that has the capacity to destabilize our dear nation.

“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that this dictatorial pathways which the Buhari Presidency seeks to impose, if allowed, will herald the gradual emasculation of freedom of expression, repression of free press, infringements on the rights of citizens and foisting of siege mentality on the people.

“Nigerians are already apprehensive that the directive is geared towards clearing the ground for the introduction of certain harsh policies in our country.

“The party insists that our constitution has made enough provisions to guide media practice as well as the exercise of freedom of expression, adding that the foisting of unconstitutional and suppressive regulations is not acceptable under any guise,” the party spokesman said.

The PDP called on the members of the National Assembly, as the representatives of the people, to reject what the party termed as presidential directive which is not in the interest of the nation.

PDP’s NWC Clarifies Position On Minority Leadership

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

 

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has not yet received any report from the Board of Trustees (BoT) concerning the outcome of the five-member committee it set up to intervene on the issues related to the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

According to Kola Ologbondiyan the party’s national publicity secretary, the clarification became imperative in the light of public enquiries and conflicting reports on the position of the leadership of the party.

READ ALSO: Tribunal’s Judgement: Emmanuel Extends ‘Hand Of Fellowship’ To Opposition

The NWC maintained that it has not taken any decision to review its subsisting stance on the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

The NWC urged critical stakeholders, party members and the general public to completely disregard any report to the contrary.

‘APC And Buhari Have Held Nigerians Hostage’ – PDP

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

 

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) has said under President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), insecurity and rising political uncertainties have escalated. 

“It is clear that the APC and the Buhari Presidency have held Nigerians
hostage,” the PDP said.

According to a statement by the PPD’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it has reviewed the biting economic hardship as well as prevailing tension in
all parts of the country and is compelled to raise alarms that “the nation is collapsing”.

The statement reads that the PDP is deeply worried that the nation, which was a prosperity hub and a reference point for democracy, personal freedom and good
governance, now has all the trappings of a failed state with government, under President Buhari, being unable to guarantee any of its fundamental duties to the extent that citizens are now desperate to take their destinies in their hands.

READ ALSO: Buhari Should Urgently Release All Political Prisoners – PDP

It further states that the national leadership of the party rose from a crucial meeting on Wednesday noting that the red flag has become urgent following what they termed “manifest total loss of faith by Nigerians, across the board, in the ability of the Buhari Presidency to provide a democratic leadership that
can engender a peaceful and secure nation”.

PDP said that Nigerians are now being treated like a conquered people, arguing that Nigerians can no longer freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

“Executive high-handedness have become a state policy just as the APC Government, burdened by challenges of illegitimacy, has lost direction and only thriving in vindictiveness,” the opposition party said.

The PDP also stated that due to the “prevailing anti-democratic proclivities” of
the Buhari Presidency, the nation’s once cohesive and thriving economy has come under distress on all fronts.

“Today, the Buhari Presidency cannot guarantee the security and safety of citizens. Bloodletting and violence have become the order of the day. Invaders, insurgents, kidnappers and killers have taken over major highways and communities; our nation’s security machinery have become overstretched; Nigerians now live in palpable fear; they cannot freely travel within their country and the government has no answers.

“On the economic front, President Buhari has ruined our economy and led our nation to become the world’s capital of poverty, while condoning the humongous corruption that has become the hallmark of his failed administration.

“Sadly, President Buhari’s anti-development policies, the corruption in his government as well as its failure to provide security have scared away foreign investors from our nation.

“Only recently, the United Nations declared that 43 percent of our nation’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has taken flight to other countries. Unemployment has gone out of proportion and there is no hope in sight.

“Our worry is that the prevailing situation of hopelessness under President Buhari and the APC is threatening our national cohesion and corporate existence as a nation.

“The PDP, therefore, calls on all Nigerians of good faith as well as the international community to come to the rescue by speaking out against the prevailing situation in Nigeria before it is too late,” the PDP’s statement read in parts.

Eid-el-Fitr: PDP Urges Leaders To Rekindle The Spirit Of Selflessness

ICYMI: PDP Seeks Prayers For National Rebirth At Easter

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged those in leadership positions, to use the occasion of this years Eid-el-Fitr to rekindle the spirit of honesty, selflessness, care, and love for others, to guarantee a united, stable and prosperous nation.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday, the Party urged Nigerians also, not to forget the lessons of the occasion.

“The PDP urges Nigerians not to forget the eternal lessons of the Eid-el-Fitr, but to always bring them to bear in all aspects of life, particularly in our dealings with one another.

“Nigerians, especially those in leadership positions, should use the occasion to rekindle the spirit of honesty, selflessness, care, and love for others, so as to guarantee a united, stable and prosperous nation.

READ ALSO: Eid-El-Fitr: Buhari Urges Muslims To Put Humanity Before Personal Interests

The party also maintained that the successful completion of the Ramadan points to the triumph of collective faith in God over the vicissitudes of life, both as individuals and as a nation.

It called on those stoking acts of violence to have a rethink and join in efforts to rebuild the country.

“The party also beckons on those behind various acts of violence and bloodletting in our nation to have a rethink, retrace their steps and join in the effort to rebuild our nation for the good of all.”

Buhari’s Attack On NASS Leadership Is ‘Uncalled For’, Says PDP

ICYMI: PDP Seeks Prayers For National Rebirth At Easter

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments against the National Assembly and its elected leadership as ‘uncalled for’.

In a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s statement “speaks volume of his disposition about democracy”.

It added that the claims by the President have shown that his administration has failed the people in the last four years.

READ ALSO: I Rate The Eight National Assembly Low On Patriotism – Buhari

The PDP said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s resort to blame-game and false performance claims, in his media interview, has further confirmed that the last four years of his administration smacks of failure and incompetence.

“The PDP also observes that President Buhari’s diatribe against the National Assembly and its elected leadership further confirms his disdain for constitutional democracy, rule of law and the principle of separation of powers as entrenched in our constitution.”

“Mr President’s personal attacks on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were totally uncalled for and speak volumes on his disposition about democracy,” it added.

The party, however, asked the President to focus on tackling the security challenges in the country, as well as the alleged corruption in his administration.

“This is an administration which thrives in concealment; under which over N14 trillion belonging to Nigerians have been frittered by officials, who have not been investigated or prosecuted,” it claimed.

The PDP insisted that the nation has witnessed an increase in the rate of killings and kidnappings among other criminal activities in the country.

May Day: PDP Salutes Nigerian Workers, Warns Against Unproductiveness

ICYMI: PDP Seeks Prayers For National Rebirth At Easter

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed all Nigerian workers for their service towards the stability and development of the country at the 2019 May Day celebration.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday, acknowledged the patriotism and resilience, despite the economic challenges in the country.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) salutes all Nigerian workers on the occasion of 2019 Workers Day, for their service towards the stability and development of our dear nation.

“The party also acknowledges the patriotism and resilience of the workers, particularly for remaining steadfast to the course of nation-building, in spite of the harsh economic conditions foisted on them.”

READ ALSO: Those Who Say We Shouldn’t Borrow Must Find An Alternative – Fashola

They urged the workers to avoid unproductiveness with the new N30, 000 minimum wage recently approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

“The PDP cautions against such unproductive tendencies, adding that the N30,000 minimum wage should not be a justification for any form of bullying or victimization against the workers.”

The party also urged the federal government to create a good working condition, establish a capacity building and reward system.

“The Buhari-led APC administration must elevate its discourse in understanding that workers welfare is not tied to a minimum wage but in creating conducive working environment, established capacity building and reward system as well as a secure and economically viable environment that enable the workers, and indeed all Nigerians to meet their social and economic needs without stress; as contained in the Atiku Abubakar Master Plan.

“The party therefore calls on the workers, as patriotic Nigerians, to continue to put in their best in serving the nation even as it wishes them a happy Workers Day.”

 

 

 

2019 Presidential Election Tussle: PDP Claims INEC Officials Are ‘Switching’ Servers

Kola Ologbodiyan

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised an allegation against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of replacing all the servers in its offices to alter the transmitted 2019 Presidential election results.

According to a statement by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Monday, he said the electoral umpire had engaged the services of computer experts to erase vital information from the main INEC server.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now replacing all the servers in its Headquarters and offices in all states of the federation and Abuja, in a desperate bid to obliterate the actual Presidential election results transmitted from the polling centres across the nation.

“Our party also has details of how the INEC leadership and the Presidency agents procured and detailed computer experts to the commission’s offices to switch the servers, mutilate vital information in the system and attempt to erase all trails of transmitted results to the main server.”

READ ALSO: Govt Official, PDP Chieftain Debate Over Workers’ Salary Arrears In Kogi

The PDP also alleged that the INEC had employed hands to manipulate voters’ registers in a bid to cover up for the results declared.

“Our party has been informed about how the INEC leadership, several weeks after the election, used some compromised officials of the commission to manipulate voter registers in some states by ticking names of individuals who did not participate in the Presidential election, as having voted. This is with the view to using such to cover the fictitious results it wrote for the APC.”

Ologbodiyan insisted that the Party will call for a forensic examination of all documents used for the presidential election.

“What INEC and the Buhari Presidency do not understand is that computer software and applications leave traces, signatures as well as footmark. Forensic investigation of the system will reveal the real votes transmitted from the polling centres, which show Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the election. “

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osun Governorship Tribunal: PDP Hails Adeleke’s Victory

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has hailed the verdict of an election tribunal in Osun, which upturned the governorship election results in favour of its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Friday.

In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the verdict of the tribunal as a victory for democracy.

“The judgment is a clear indicator that those who set out to destroy our democracy can never triumph and that no matter how evil and injustice appear to thrive, the truth must always prevail at the end of the day,” the party said.

The PDP further stated that “Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life and a form of government that suits the multi-plurality of our nation.

“The spontaneous jubilation that greeted this judgment is therefore a direct indication that it is in consonant with the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians across the board.

READ ALSO: Osun: ‘Davido’s Uncle Has Danced His Way To Victory’ – Nigerians React

“For those who have been desperate to destroy our democracy, this judgment has proven to them that their shenanigans will always come to no avail.

“The PDP commends the judiciary for standing upright in the defence of democracy and for ensuring that those involved in the rapacious desecration of our democratic norms will never succeed.

“This verdict, which reverberates across our nation, points to the fact that the truth will always prevail and that our party, the PDP, will recover all our stolen mandates in the 2019 general elections, particularly, the Presidential mandate, which Nigerians freely gave to our candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“Furthermore, all our candidates who have already won their elections, but whose victories are being manipulated by anti-democratic forces, must take solace in the words of the Osun election petition panel, that once valid votes have been declared and a winner emerges by majority of votes, a rerun is illegal.”

The PDP congratulated Senator Adeleke, the people of Osun state and all lovers of democracy across the country for what the party termed “the triumph of justice over impunity, abuse of electoral processes and unfettered political rascality”.

PDP Condemns Declaration Of Elections Inconclusive In Six States

 

The PDP has accused the INEC of allegedly playing a script of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by declaring governorship elections in six states inconclusive.

According to the opposition party, the Commission carried out the action in states where the PDP was in a clear lead.

The PDP alleged that INEC has become biased and working only in accordance with the will of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, that “INEC, under Prof. Yakubu, has become overtly partisan”.

surrendered its independence to the APC and carries on as a compromised umpire with obnoxious impunity, thereby sending signals of being heavily bribed by the APC to alter results for its candidates”.

READ ALSO: INEC Releases Names Of Senators-Elect, Okorocha Omitted

He said, “The PDP has full intelligence of how INEC is acting on instructions from the Buhari Presidency and the APC in orchestrating unwholesome situations and declaring already concluded governorship elections in Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau as well as other states as inconclusive, immediately it became obvious that the PDP was set to win”.

Ologbondiyan urged leaders and members of the party to march to INEC offices in the affected states and use all legitimate means to protect the party’s mandate.

INEC has declared the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections inconclusive in at least six states while collation exercise in one state was suspended.

The states that were declared inconclusive include Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Sokoto, Kano, while the collation process in Rivers state was suspended.

PDP To Hold Expanded Caucus Meeting Today

 

 

The Peoples Democratic Party has said it will hold an expanded caucus meeting on Monday, March 4. 

According to a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party will meet at 12noon in Abuja.

The meeting is scheduled to hold at the Party’s National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza.

Below is the statement as released by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary.

“Special Announcement

PDP HOLDS EXPANDED CAUCUS MEETING:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its expanded caucus meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019

Venue: National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Time: 12 noon.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

READ ALSO: Southern Kaduna Indigenes Threaten to Dump PDP For APC