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PDP Leaders Rally Forces For Bode George On Chairmanship Aspiration
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to formally declare interest in the Chairmanship of the party, as top members are expected to hit Lagos on Friday for the event from across the six geo-political zones of the federation.
As announced by the Organising Committee, the venue of the event is City Hall, Mission Street, Lagos Island.
The interest of the A’tona Oodua in the PDP Chairmanship is predicated on resolve by the party to zone the position to southwest.
Although zoning of the slot of PDP Chairman to south-west has continued to generate ripples as the south-south zone is said to be showing keen interest also, indications are rife that the leaders of PDP have been meeting to resolve the issue.
Newspot Nigerian learnt that top leaders of PDP in the south-south have also been meeting to take a common position on the Chairmanship issue such that the zone would eventually work in harmony with the southwest to produce the next leader of the party.
PDP has been taking cautious and conscious steps towards making its next National Convention where new set of leaders would be elected, a huge success.
The opposition party had suffered near collapse amid multiple crises which it contended with for more than a year following the emergence of former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman, just as litigations trailed every attempt it made to elect new set of leaders.
Repreive came the way of PDP a couple of weeks ago, when the Supreme Court recognized the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi as Chairman Caretaker Committee, while the court judgement completely dislodged Modu Sheriff.
Some months earlier, the South-south and South-east leaders of the PDP had agreed at a meeting in Port Harcourt to zone the National Chairmanship position of the party to the South West geo-political zone.
The leaders of PDP had predicated their preference for south-west on the party’s leadership on the fact that the zone has never produced a Chairman before.
In the same vein, the PDP had zoned the position of First Deputy National Chairman to the South-South.
The South-South also got the positions of National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Women Leader and Deputy National Auditor.
According to the zoning formula released by the Ike Ekweremadu Reconciliation Committee in 2016, the South-East got the National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader and Deputy National Financial Secretary.
There are reports that leaders of the PDP from the south are to meet again before the coming National Convention to mitigate tension over the zoning arrangement as part of efforts to prevent another implosion within the ranks of the opposition party.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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