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Okupe Remains Obi’s Campaign DG – LP Secretary
The National Secretary of Labour Party, Umar Farouk, on Friday threw his weight behind the embattled Director General of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, describing his sacking as ‘null and void.’
Okupe and 10 members of the party were removed by the leadership of the Ogun State Chapter of LP over alleged “non-financial membership status, political rascality, and misappropriation of funds.”
The affected members were deputy State Chairman II East, Jagun Lookman; State Women Leader, Oluwabukola Soyoye; ex-state Treasurer, Gbadebo Fesomade; State Publicity Secretary, Jide Amusan; State Youth Leader, Abdulmalik Olaleye; Assistant State Youth Leader, Adeshina Shojobi; Senatorial Women Leader Ogun East, Deborah Adewale; Assistant State Secretary, Olatunde Abolade; Abel Olaleye; and Abayomi Collins.
Their dismissal was miffed with accusation and counter-accusation by the party’s hierarchy, as the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, labeled Obi’s DG sacking as ‘fake news’.
Abure claimed that the state executives had no locus standi to remove him.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, was indifferent, challenging people who were unsatisfied with Okupe’s sack to seek redress in court.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee on Friday, Farouk told newsmen that Okupe’s removal had been nullified.
While assuring that a committee has been set up to investigate and bring the respective exco members behind his expulsion to book, the LP national secretary stated that the former special assistant to Dr Goodluck Jonathan remains a card-carrying member of the party and the PCC.
He stated, “The Ogun state chapter has acted outside its constitutional Jurisdiction. The party has internal conflict resolution mechanism for handling cases against party members as enshrined in the party’s Constitution.
“Therefore, the suspension of Dr. Doyin Okupe from the party by the Ogun state chapter is null and void. He still remains a card-carrying member of the Labour Party and the DG of the PCC.
“The Party is solidly united behind its leaders and the leadership of the PCC. We are also not unaware of the attempts by our opposition in some political parties to infiltrate the party’s structure at all levels since it has become obvious the chances of the Labour party’s candidates emerging victorious in the upcoming general elections are becoming brighter every day.
“The party leadership will do everything within its powers. to ensure that our cohesion is not tempered with and will not be distracted by the antics of the opposition as our candidates are already cruising to victory.”
Farouk also bemoaned “the recent attacks on our party supporters, members, and candidates in some states, particularly in Edo, Ebonyi and Kaduna States, where one of our Local Government Women leaders was gruesomely murdered.”
“We call on the oppositions, particularly the state governors to restrain their thugs as well as the security agencies to be more vigilant and carry out their constitutional responsibility in protecting lives and properties of the citizens,” he stated.
Gunmen believed to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted an unspecified number of employees from the Dangote Cement Company Plc in Okpella, Etsako West local government area of Edo state.
The incident occurred on Monday when the workers were traveling back to Okpella town in a staff bus after work.
According to an anonymous source from Okpella community, the gunmen ambushed the bus, emerged from the bush, halted the vehicle at gunpoint, and then took the workers into the bush.
The source added “Yes, we heard of it, they said they were in a Coaster bus coming to Okpella after work when they were kidnapped by gunmen. But, we don’t know the numbers of the workers that have been kidnapped.”
Confirmation from police authorities regarding the incident was unavailable as calls and messages to the State Commissioner of Police and the Command’s spokesperson went unanswered.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and First Exploration & Production Limited (First E&P) joint venture (JV) has donated the sum of N53 million to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria.
Under the JV’s Impact First Initiative, the donation, targeted towards enhancing societal welfare, would address areas such as good healthcare and well-being, quality education as well as economic growth within the nation.
Speaking during the cheque presentation ceremony, NNPC Ltd’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO), NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mr. Bala Wunti, expressed gratitude to First E & P for initiating the laudable programme.
Represented by the Deputy Manager, External Relations, NUIMS, Mrs. Edith Lawson, Wunti highlighted NNPC Ltd’s belief in the power of CSR, stressing that the Company remains committed to working with its partners to impact the lives of the less-privileged.
Wunti said under the initiative, projects and programmes executed include the provision of classrooms, ICT Centres, laboratories and other infrastructural intervention projects, scholarships, quiz competitions, skill acquisitions, and economic empowerment, a testimony to NNPC’s dedication to fostering sustainable development in Nigeria.
Wunti described First E & P’s foresight and leadership as commendable, adding that the partner has spearheaded the initiative towards meaningful change that will ensure a better future for all Nigerians.
Among the beneficiaries of the donation were the Irede Foundation, which provides custom-made artificial limbs to child amputees aged 0-18 and Human Development Initiative (HDI), which focuses on tackling fundamental issues of poverty, injustice, neglect, deprivation, and equality among vulnerable people.
Others were the OISA Foundation, which transforms lives through interventions in the education and healthcare sectors; Cerebral Palsy Center, which renders support to families with children with cerebral palsy as well as the Niola Cancer Care Foundation, which organises awareness talks and screens communities for colon cancer.
In a heartwarming gesture, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, has announced plans to arrange marriages for 100 female orphans who lost their parents to banditry in Mariga Local Government Area.
Sarkindaji stated that he will cover the grooms’ dowries and has already obtained all necessary items for the collective wedding event.
The selected girls were chosen from a group of 170, as part of the Speaker’s constituency empowerment project to support the underprivileged.
Sarkindaji further revealed that the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Mohammed Barau, will serve as guardians for the 100 female orphans during their collective marriage ceremony.
The event, scheduled for May 24 in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area, will also be attended by Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, the Kano State Commander General of the Hisbah Board.
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