News

Plateau 2023: Reject Nentawe, aggrieved APC members tells APC National Chairman

Published

4 years ago

July 7, 2022

Preport

Disgruntled members of All Progressives Congress under the aegis of the Progressives Foundation Movement have warned the national leadership of the party not to submit the name of Governor Simon Lalong’s loyalist, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, as the party’s governorship candidate in Plateau State for 2023 election.

Yilwada was Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benue State before he was allegedly asked by Lalong to resign his position to contest the governorship position with a promise to back him.

The move was said to have infuriated other aspirants, who threatened to defect to opposition parties if a level playing field was not given to all for equity and justice’s sake.

Rising from a meeting on Wednesday, the foundational members also accused Lalong of abandoning his job to pursue his ambition to become the running mate to the party’s presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, an allegation that Plateau Commissioner for Information, Dan Mangjan, has debunked.

While calling on APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to summon an all-important stakeholder meeting to address “the very critical issues and allegations” on Wednesday, the Progressives Foundation Movement warned that the party risks losing the elections over Lalong’s poor performance.

This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja and signed on behalf of the party stakeholders by Mr. Jacob Gyang, Elder Victor Useni and Musa Ardo.

The statement read, “This is more so considering the poor performance score-card of the incumbent administration in the state. Any wonder the Governor has literally relocated to Lagos State where he has been lobbying for the VP slot to Tinubu. For we can bet that the Party would fail if it banks on the Lalong-led government to retain power in 2023 amidst mounting opposition.

“Resist and rescind every form of pressure from Governor Lalong to forward the name of Dr. Nentawe whose authentic membership of our great Party remains a doubt to INEC as the commission’s deadline draws near.

“Pick someone from among the aggrieved aspirants who is more acceptable and popular and whose membership we are sure of as a substitute for Nentawe who is seen within and beyond our State as a stooge of the Lalong administration.

“This is our position and that of all those we represent, numbering over 50, 000 members of our party across the three Senatorial zones of Plateau state.”

“For us as foundational elders and leaders of APC in our various rights, wisdom and positions, we cannot sit down and watch the Governor, Simon Lalong waste the labours we have put in to build and unify the party to retain power in 2023 by derailing and misleading the Party’s National leadership on the true state of affairs regarding the May 26, 2022 governorship primaries in the State.

“The memories of Rivers and Zamfara are still and ought to remain very fresh in the minds of sincere lovers of our Party- the APC and we do not want same to happen to us here in Plateau State,” the statement added.

Rising to the defence of Lalong on Wednesday, Plateau Commissioner for Information, Dan Mangjan, told our correspondent that the aggrieved party chieftains were just attempting to paint the governor in a bad light.

“There was no iota of truth in that allegation. Lalong did not impose Yilwatda on anybody. Everybody is aware there was a primary that produced him as the winner of the party’s governorship candidate,” he said.

Mangjan also denied the speculation about Lalong relocating to Lagos in a desperate bid to become Tinubu’s running mate.

“We wish to remind those behind this hatchet job to calm all the way down over Governor Lalong’s name being considered for running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC Presidential Candidate. It is not a coincidence or matter of lobby that his name keeps resonating. He fits the post and is ably qualified in his own right.

“Lalong has never campaigned for the said position and is not desperate for any elevation in life. He was not born with any position and will never tarnish anyone’s image to get one. Even if he does not occupy any office again, he is a fulfilled man. His political pedigree is towering above many who are loosing sleep over him because God has blessed him enormously.

“If God says he will be the next Vice President Nigeria, nobody can stop it. It is up to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the APC family to decide. Lalong together with his colleagues have done their part in insisting that power goes to the South,” he said.

News

‘I will continue to criticise Ebonyi govt where necessary’ – PDP guber candidate

Published

48 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Preport

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ebonyi, Chief Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed allegations by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Mr Chinedu Ogah, that he has been sponsoring cyberbullying campaigns against Ebonyi government.

Odii, also known as “AnyiChuks” in a statement to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, described the allegation as baseless and an attempt to criminalise legitimate criticism and divert attention from issues of governance in the state.

He maintained that demanding accountability from elected public officials was a constitutional right of citizens and should not be misconstrued as cyberbullying or cyberstalking.

“Since when did asking questions become cyberbullying? Since when did demanding a scorecard become cyberstalking?” Odii asked.

He noted that Ebonyi people deserved to know how public resources allocated to the state had been utilised, insisting that citizens had the right to demand transparency and good governance.

According to him, criticism of government policies and performance is an essential feature of democracy and should not be interpreted as an attack on any individual.

The PDP governorship candidate also denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register underage voters, describing the accusation as reckless, defamatory and without evidence.

He urged the lawmaker to forward any evidence in his possession to the appropriate security agencies instead of making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations in the media.

The PDP candidate pledged to continue criticising the government in areas requiring improvement and commend it where it performs well.

Odii added that he would continue to advocate transparency, accountability and inclusive development, stressing that responsible opposition was vital to democratic governance.

Odii said he would not be intimidated into silence, adding that the people of the state would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah, at a press conference recently accused Odii of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the Ebonyi government led by Governor Nwifuru

Health

Yobe govt approves health insurance enrolment for retirees

Published

1 hour ago

July 14, 2026

Preport

The Yobe State Government has approved the enrolment of state and local government retirees into the Social Equity Programme of its health insurance scheme.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), Babagana Tijjani, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Damaturu.

Mr Tijjani said the approval was granted by Governor Mai Mala Buni following a recommendation from the agency.

He said the initiative aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending among pensioners and improve access to comprehensive, quality healthcare services at YSCHMA-accredited health facilities.

According to him, the approval underscores the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees by ensuring they continue to access quality healthcare after retirement.

“This approval is another demonstration of the governor’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents of the state,” he said.

“By bringing retirees under the social equity programme, the government is ensuring that senior citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.”

The executive secretary further said that the inclusion of retirees in the scheme aligned with the administration’s healthcare reform agenda and the state’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

He also described the development as a significant step in expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social protection.

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Mr Tijjani commended the governor for approving the initiative and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its effective implementation.

He said the YSCHMA would work closely with pension unions, relevant government institutions and healthcare providers to ensure a transparent enrolment process and seamless access to healthcare services for eligible beneficiaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the YSCHMA was established under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019 to implement the state’s contributory healthcare scheme and promote equitable, affordable and qualitative healthcare services for residents.

(NAN)