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Tag: Bode George

  • HOW IT WENT: Wike’s explosion, Turaki’s emergence —inside the PDP national convention held in Ibadan

    HOW IT WENT: Wike’s explosion, Turaki’s emergence —inside the PDP national convention held in Ibadan

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded its national convention in Ibadan, electing new leaders for its national working committee (NWC).

    The event was held over the weekend at Adamasingba Stadium in the Oyo state capital.

    A total of 20 officials were chosen to serve in various leadership positions across the party.

    Around 3,000 delegates were accredited to vote in the elections for the 20 posts.

    One candidate for the national chairmanship withdrew as the voting began on Saturday.

    Earlier in August, the party’s national executive committee (NEC) zoned the presidential ticket to the southern region.

    In keeping with party tradition, the chairmanship position was designated for a northerner.

    In October, stakeholders from the north-west rallied behind Kabiru Turaki, former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as their agreed candidate.

    Prior attempts by the Nyesom Wike-led faction to stop the convention in court were unsuccessful after a high court in Oyo cleared the way for the event.

    Despite these internal disputes, Turaki emerged as the party’s national chairman.

    He was the only contender for the top position and received 1,516 votes from delegates.

    His election followed the withdrawal of Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina state.

    Although he pulled out, Danmarke still garnered 275 votes.

    Solarin Sunday Adekunle was elected deputy national organising secretary with 633 votes.

    The party described all elected officials as “consensus candidates.”

    The new national chairman is Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

    Hamza Akuyan Koshe and Daniel Ambrose Woye were elected deputy national chairmen for the north and south, respectively.

    Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo took the position of national secretary, while Ihediwa Richard Nnabugwu was named deputy national secretary.

    Isaa Abubakar assumed the role of national treasurer and Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel became national financial secretary.

    Theophilus Daka Shan was elected national organising secretary, and Ini Ememobong Essien was chosen national publicity secretary.

    Aribisala Adewale Idowu became national auditor, and Badaru Shafi’l was appointed national legal adviser.

    Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa was elected national women’s leader, while Umar Dan Aji took up the post of national youth leader.

    Solarin Sunday Adekunle assumed deputy national organising secretary, Farida Umar Hamid became deputy national publicity secretary, and Aigbokhaevbo Harrison Omagbon took deputy national treasurer.

    Hamsatu Adamu, Tina Puna Musa, Usamatu Maharazu, and Elee-Njaka Chikere were also elected to deputy leadership roles.

    During the convention, the faction led by immediate past chairman Umar Damagum expelled Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, and Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti.

    Other members removed from the party included Umar Bature, Kamaldeen Ajibade, Mao Ohabunwa, Uwachukwu, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Abdulrahman, Austin Nwachukwu, and Abraham Amah.

    Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal, and Seyi Makinde.
    Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal, and Seyi Makinde.

    Several governors attended the event, including Bala Mohammed, Ahmadu Fintiri, Dauda Lawal, Caleb Mutfwang, and Seyi Makinde.

    Other notable attendees were Ladi Adebutu, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Shekarau, Adolphus Wabara, Bode George, and Kabiru Turaki.

    Ladi Adebutu, Ogun state governorship candidate of the PDP in 2023
    Ladi Adebutu, Ogun state governorship candidate of the PDP in 2023

    Ademola Adeleke and Agbu Kefas were absent from the proceedings.

    Mutfwang and Fintiri , however, maintained distance from the expulsion of the FCT minister.

    Following the convention, the PDP also dissolved its structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.

    In his acceptance speech, Turaki said he understood the magnitude of the responsibilities placed on the new NWC.

    Turaki further stated that the party would soon announce its guiding principles and operational framework for the new executive.

    The convention concluded with the party reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and strengthened leadership across its structures.

  • Meet Nigerian politician, Bode George who vowed to go on ‘exile’ if Tinubu emerges President

    Meet Nigerian politician, Bode George who vowed to go on ‘exile’ if Tinubu emerges President

    At 4:10am on Wednesday morning, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the chairmanship of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu declared Bola Tinubu, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of 2023 presidential election held on Saturday, February 25.

    This declaration was made hours after the party agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) staged a walk-out from the National Coalition Centre over claims that the results from polling units were not electronically transmitted to the server. There were also claims of intimidation of voters, manipulation and violence in some polling units.

    The nature of Nigerian politics is very complacent. It permits jabs, insults, blames and sometimes terrible narrations to de-market candidates which has made the politics of this country, Nigeria a pool that one should not try to swim without preparedness.

    As dangerous as Nigerian politics can be, it can be very interesting sometimes. Politicians throw silly jabs, make empty promises and sometimes vow to do something serious if a particular candidate they prefer emerge or not. Like many Nigerian politicians who make vows during electioneering, Bode George who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not different.

    Findings by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that the political enmity between Bola Tinubu and Bode George started during the days of the former as governor of Lagos State.

    Recall that Bode George was not only a chairman of Port Authority in the country but he was also a very prominent voice of opposition with federal government support in Lagos State.

    Olabode Ibiyinka George (“Bode George”) is a Nigerian politician who became Military Governor of Ondo State, and later Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, then national vice-chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Bode George in an interview once disclosed that he has no personal issues with the former governor of Lagos State but he has continuously threw jabs at the former Lagos governor whenever he’s privileged or opportuned to speak about politics or governance. He accused Bola Tinubu of corruption, conversion of state properties to personal ones and continued exploitation of Lagos vis a vis successive governments.

    Over the years, Bode George only threw jabs at Tinubu but in 2015, it took a new dimension after it went viral that Bode George vowed to ‘go on exile’ if the newly-formed conglomerate of opposition parties, APC took over the federal government.

    According to reports, the former Port Authority claimed that he would be arrested by Tinubu because Buhari’s running mate, Yemi Osinbajo was his boy. However, Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo won the 2015 presidential election under the platform of APC and Bode George, former Port Authority boss did not go on exile.

    In a personal interview with PUNCH newspaper, Bode George in February, 202p described the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu as a “challenge” and the “most illogical and most disruptive issue”.

    He then added that “I will disown Nigeria to take the citizenship of Togo or any other country” if Tinubu becomes the president.

    “It is a challenge. It would be the most illogical and most disruptive issue to have him (Tinubu) elected as President. If this happens, I will disown Nigeria to take the citizenship of Togo or any other country,” he said.

    Again, George during a chat with Arise TV on May 7, 2021 emphasised that he will cease to be a Nigerian should Tinubu get the presidency.

    The ex-Port Authority boss further urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos governor and his alleged involvement with Alpha Beta Consulting, a tax firm.

    “I’ve talked about it, and I’m still saying publicly that the EFCC should go urgently and investigate Alpha Beta Company owned by him,” he had said.

    “We must make sure that they investigate him. He’s junketing all over the place—an insult to the civilised minds who work so hard in this country. If by whatever yardstick, he becomes the head of state, I will cease to be a Nigerian, and I’m not joking.”

    Bode George at a press conference on March 19, 2022 stressed that his vow to vacate Nigeria if Tinubu becomes president is no joke.

    According to George, he’ll leave the country and “be watching with binoculars from afar”.
    In a personal chat with Vanguard barely weeks after Tinubu had announced his presidential bid, Bode George said Tinubu is “not the kind of person we can hand over this massive country to manage”.

    “I will move away from Nigeria. I’ll leave because he will be your representative in the international plain. Which investment will he bring here? I am not talking because I have any hatred for him,” he said.

    In another interview with Arise TV, George made another vow that he would rather cease to be a Nigerian than see Tinubu become the president.

    The Lagos PDP chieftain stated that he would whatever necessary to review and renounce his citizenship if Tinubu becomes president.

    Following the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of 2023 presidential election by INEC, some Nigerians are wondering if the Lagos PDP chieftain and former Ports Authority chairman, Bode George would fulfill his vows or not.

  • Fayose accuses Makinde, Bode George as he reacts to hoodlum removing his cap at PDP rally in Ondo

    Fayose accuses Makinde, Bode George as he reacts to hoodlum removing his cap at PDP rally in Ondo

    Ayodele Fayose, the former Governor of Ekiti State has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George of masterminding the assault on him at the party’s campaign rally in Ondo State on Wednesday.

    WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that a hoodlum allegedly moved towards the former governor, Fayose and removed his cap when he was climbing the podium at the campaign ground.

    Reacting to the incident, the former Governor of Ekiti State in a statement signed by his media aide and made available to newsmen said despite the attack, he won’t stop saying the truth
    concerning the running of the party in the Southwest zone and those who have failed to produce any result in Lagos State since 1999 will be made to retire.

    Fayose said that the incident will be duly reported to the security agencies and the party relevant authorities for further investigation.

    “That’s how late Chief Bola Ige’s cap was removed in Ile Ife, Osun State then and we all know what happened later,” the former Governor said.

    Fayose said he will not wave the threat aside, adding that the masterminds “had it all planned and they followed it up by celebrating what they saw as the success of their plot. They even capped it up by circulating the video.

  • Lagos PDP issues seven-day ultimatum to Fayose over attack on Bode George, others

    Lagos PDP issues seven-day ultimatum to Fayose over attack on Bode George, others

    Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State a seven-day ultimatum within which to retract and apologise for what it termed the deliberate unwarranted vituperation on all the party’s elderly chieftains in the state, saying failure to do so he would be declared a personal non grata in all PDP activities in the state from Monday 12th October 2020.

    The party also noted that it required the support of leaders and members now that the Lagos State bye-election, which it described as important, draws nearer, ahead of the 2023 poll, vowing that it would hold Fayose responsible for any future election loss in Lagos and indeed the South-West.

    The party issued this ultimatum on Sunday, in a release made available to newsmen by its spokesperson, Mr Taofik Gani, in reaction to a recent incident, which it said Fayose presented as advice but turned out to be an attempt to incite the youth against the elderly chieftains of the state chapter of PDP.

    Fayose had a few days ago at a party function in Oregun area of the state enjoined party leaders and members to send the former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George, to compulsory political retirement for the PDP to make progress in the state.

    The party, while issuing the ultimatum, said the former governor would be declared a personal non grata as from the scheduled date “unless he, Fayose, purges himself from the unsolicited, rabid and divisive advice.”

    The party said it initially took the former governor’s attack as comical with the belief that he did it to enable PDP to win the coming bye-election as indeed all the candidates that he had disparaged in recent times, including Senator Biodun Olujimi, Governor Godwin Obaseki, among others had gone ahead to win their elections.

    While further condemning Fayose’s outburst, PDP said it needed the support of all leaders and members as the bye-election draws nearer “to take us into winning Lagos State in 2023 General Elections.”

    “We are nearing very important elections in the state to take us into winning Lagos State in 2023 general elections. We need all togetherness and complimentary efforts possible of the old, young, male, female.

    “It is thus shocking that a supposed leader would come to our state to ‘tear’ us apart rather than give positive and progressive uniting advice to us,” PDP said.

    “We will hold Fayose responsible for any future election loss in Lagos State and indeed the South-West,” the party vowed.

  • Lagos bye-elections: PDP will not impose candidates like other parties, says Bode George

    Lagos bye-elections: PDP will not impose candidates like other parties, says Bode George

    Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olabode George has advised all aspirants for the Senatorial and House of Assembly seats in the upcoming bye-elections for Lagos East Senatorial District and Kosofe 2 House of Assembly in the state to continue to conduct themselves with decorum, utmost civility and respect for each other.

    Speaking during a stakeholder meeting with aspirants, George said that PDP will not behave like another party where candidates are imposed in closed-door dictatorial action, where one man decides the fate of their party, there is no such thing in our party.

    “Our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party will be crossing another milestone next Saturday as we conduct primaries for the aspirants for the Senatorial and House of Assembly seats. Typical of our party, there has been no violence. There has been no animosity. There have been no hostile actions anywhere.

    “While the competition has been keen and full of enthusiasms, the aspirants have so far conducted themselves with absolute civility and tolerance. We must sustain this path of peace. We continue along with this civilized democratic engagement.

    “The delegates who will vote at the Primaries have been elected in a fair, democratic and open election. Nothing was hidden. It was an open, just and fair Delegates election. This is the essence of democracy. The will of the people must and should be respected at all times. This is what strengthens popular government. This is the life-blood of democracy. Every voice must be heard. Every contribution must be given a fair hearing. But the will of the majority must always prevail at the end.

    “I am using this process to advise our aspirants to continue to conduct themselves with decorum, with utmost civility and with respect for each other. We will not accept any resort brigandage, thuggery or any form of violence.

    “Only one person can prevail in any election. This is the First Principle. A winner will emerge. And those who fail to emerge must accept that the people have made their choice. And those who emerge victoriously must equally learn to be humble and civil enough to accommodate others who participated in the race.

    “We have a very good opportunity to clinch victory in the two elections if we work together, if we support our candidates with all the necessary vigour, with genuine guidance and with discerning leadership required from all of us.

    “Let us go forth with determination, with sincerity of purpose and candidness. We must never fail nor falter. We must work hard with the seriousness of vision. Nothing must be taken for granted. Leaders here present must accommodate everyone. We cannot discriminate or put a barrier of favouritism among our followers. Let us all come together as one indivisible family. These are the ingredients of winners.

  • Edo 2020: Fayose denies saying Obaseki will lose

    Edo 2020: Fayose denies saying Obaseki will lose

    A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has denied saying Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State will lose his re-election bid.

    Mr Fayose in a statement by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, on Thursday, was responding to a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, who had berated him for allegedly making the prediction.

    Bode George has blasted Ayodele Fayose, accusing him of saying that Governor Godwin Obaseki will lose the forthcoming governorship election in Edo, Bode George picked holes in the former Governor’s comments saying that he [Fayose] was on his own.

    In his reaction, Mr Fayose said although Mr George does not deserve his response, he needed to set the record straight to avoid being misinterpreted.

    “He may have deliberately read different meanings to what I said obviously because of Political gains he wants to make out of it and I care less. My position is that, for obvious reasons, I am not a fan of both Gov. Obaseki and Oshiomhole. That notwithstanding, I believe that Obaseki will win, but he should honour his agreement with the PDP by not returning to APC after assuming office for the second term for flimsy excuses.

    “It is equally important for Chief Bode George to know that I am not the mouthpiece of South West PDP. I speak for myself and I take responsibility for whatever I say. Above all, we still remember his negative statement concerning PDP on Ekiti, Osun and Rivers States elections. We still have the audio and it is a reference point that we will never forget.”

    “Pa Bode George should take a rest now”, he said.

  • Bode George asks Buhari to reopen investigation into murder of former Lagos guber candidate, Funsho Williams

    Bode George asks Buhari to reopen investigation into murder of former Lagos guber candidate, Funsho Williams

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to reopen the investigation into the death of former Lagos governorship candidate, Funsho Williams who was murdered under controversial circumstances on July 27, 2006.

    Recall that the late politician who was PDP’s governorship candidate in 2003, was killed while preparing for the governorship election in the state in 2007.

    Bode noted that it’s been 14 years since Funsho Williams was killed.

    He also stated that the former governorship candidate’s death dashed the hopes of several Lagosians and crumbled a great dream.

    The PDP Chieftain said;

    “He was gentle but reflective with sharp analytical convictions. There was always certain piety about him, an effective calibration in self-effacing innocence. He meant no harm to anyone. But he was firm, resolved, dedicated to the righteous path. 

    The PDP chieftain said Buhari has done the right thing by reopening investigation into the death of Bola Ige, former minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation.

    He urged the president to do the same by ordering an investigation into William’s death.

    “It has been 14 years now when a terrible dark cloud fell upon the Lagosian entity and upon all lovers of freedom. It was really a very sad day on that horrific July 27, 2006, as the blood-soaked body of Engineer Funsho Williams was discovered in his Dolphin residence in Ikoyi,” the statement read.

    “With the murder of Funsho Williams, who stood at the threshold of triumphing at the general election, a great dream was shattered. The hopes of millions of Lagosians who were hearkening to be rescued from what was then building up as a gradual servitude of the Lagosian natives was dashed.

    “I am particularly passionate about Funsho who many of his acolytes adorably called captain. Funsho was my junior at the University of Lagos. We were both Engineering students but sprung from different departments. While he was in Civil Engineering, I was in the Electrical Engineering Department.

    “Those who killed Funsho Williams might have killed a man but not his dream of rescuing and salvaging our society. We continue where he stopped.

    “We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to re-open the investigation of the brutal murder of Funsho Williams. The President has done the right thing by re-opening the investigation of the murder of Chief Bola Ige.

    “He will be greatly enhanced in historical reckoning and signification if his administration is attested as being the one that finally nailed the evil characters hiding in plain sight who murdered Funsho Williams.”

  • Bode George blasts Tinubu over APC crisis, says the former governor is facing God’s judgement

    Bode George blasts Tinubu over APC crisis, says the former governor is facing God’s judgement

    A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George has blasted former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying the All Progressive Congress party leader is responsible for the reported crisis in the ruling party.

    The former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George blasted the National leader of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu for allegedly mishandling the affairs of Lagos State.

    George said that the time of reckoning of the former governor was near and Tinubu will vomit everything he’s stolen.

    This is coming barely 48 hours after Asiwaju Bola Tinubu released a press statement to address his purported 2023 presidential ambition and the crisis that has befallen the APC.

    In the statement, Tinubu said he hadn’t made up his mind as to a 2023 presidential ambition but was rather focused on helping Nigerians during the current economic crisis caused by Covid-19.

    Chief Bode George stated in an interview he granted with the IndependentNg which was published on Monday, June 29.

    “From the very beginning, I used to tell them that the party APC is a congregation of strange bedfellows. When you have a big party like that and someone wants to hijack it, there will be problem.”

    “First of all, it is a misnomer in a presidential system for a man who is not elected into any position to come out and say he is the National leader of the party.”

    “How is that possible? There is only one National leader of the party and that is the President. How can a ragamuffin from somewhere just wake up and say he is the National leader and not the President? What does that mean?

    ” We saw the way Chief John Odigie- Oyegun was removed as national chairman. To me, what is happening to Tinubu is a judgment of God. You think you can appropriate the whole country’s resources like he did in Lagos state to your own family?”

    ” It cannot work! I believe nemesis is catching up with Tinubu. We warned him but he refused to listen. The Yorubas have a saying that a child who fails to listen to corrections at home will be corrected outside.

    “Tinubu thinks he is wiser than everyone but the breeze has blown and exposed the behind of the hen. In Yorubaland, a single person cannot be all-in-all. Tinubu thinks he can grab everything with his teeth but they have removed all his teeth.”

    Reacting to reports circulating that some of Tinubu’s loyalists are urging him to pull out of the APC, Chief Bode said;

    “That is his decision. I can’t decide for him. He just issued a statement saying he has not told anyone that he wants to become President in 2023 and his focus now is how to alleviate the sufferings of the people. But you can see what he is doing in Lagos. What about Alpha Beta? Who is still collecting the money for Alpha Beta?

    ” Yet he said he wants to alleviate the sufferings of the people? Let him bring out all our money in Alpha Beta since year 2000 till date. The managing director of Alpha Beta who ran away said they owed him N40b.”

    ” That money alone would have taken care of millions of poor people in Lagos today. Enough of this brigandage and classic example of greed.”

    “I have always said Tinubu will vomit everything he has stolen and the day of reckoning is here. Only Almighty God can reign yesterday, today and forever. No one else can attain that height.”

    ” For me, when you start seeing the signal, if he is a very clever person, he will recall himself and have a deep introspection. If he thinks he can run Nigeria the way he did to Lagos, he is making a mistake.”

    “The local government secretariat of Ikoyi/ Obalende was formerly on Glover Road in Ikoyi but he converted the place to his own and moved the local government to Obalende beside the cemetery. He made the daughter the Iyaloja of Lagos. ”

    “How can Iyaloja of Lagos be from Iragbiji?.  Bode asked.
    “She, on her part went and locked up Computer Village, insisting that she must be paid certain amount of money. The son is the one getting all public advertisement contracts for Lagos at the moment.”

    “You need to see the son’s convoy, you will think it’s the President that is moving. For how long will this continue? We came into this world naked and we will leave naked. Nobody will leave with anything no matter how much wealth you have amassed for yourself while in existence.”

  • COVID-19: Bode George donates N160m to needy Lagosians

    COVID-19: Bode George donates N160m to needy Lagosians

    Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has made a donation worth N160million as direct aid to the needy in Lagos State in order to cushion the harsh effect of lockdown ordered by the Federal Government to halt the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    The aid from George includes cash donation, cows, bags of rice, groundnut oils, bottled water, and beans were distributed at the weekend to the needy irrespective of their political party affiliations.

    George also donated N10million to the Lagos State Chapter of PDP to assist the party in providing relief to its members during this lockdown.

    The PDP chieftain, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, commended the Federal and various state governments for their efforts in combating the dreaded Coronavirus, saying as a statesman, he provided relief to the needy in the state as he believed “that government cannot do it alone.”

    George, while noting that his direct aid to the needy “has nothing to do with politics and should not be given any political colouration,” promised to also reach out to the needy in the South- West, just as he called on Nigerians to cooperate with the Federal Government in its efforts to combat the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

    He, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God will guide aright President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts at curtailing the deadly virus.

  • Bode George calls for unity to address nation’s challenges

    Bode George calls for unity to address nation’s challenges

    A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said Nigerians to be united in order to address national challenges.

    George, speaking on Tuesday
    at the 3rd Freedom Online Annual Lecture in Lagos, said the issues confronting Nigeria required that all citizens work together with a common purpose

    He added that tribalism, sectionalism, religious bigotry and others were hindering national development.

    According to him, Nigerians must be together in order to assess what is wrong with the national architecture.

    “A nation is not a mere conglomeration of a space and a people. It is more.

    “A nation is about agreed destiny and collective vision; a nation is about shared values with well been cultivated ideals.

    “It is the effortless summation of a common dream, of common truth, of common objectives, and of agreed realities.

    “A nation is the spontaneous voiding of parochial limitations. It is the deliberate eclipsing of ethnic or sectarian articulations.

    “It is to reside in a unifying universe where growth is measured by hard work and merit, where human enhancement is predicated on demonstrated rallying virtues of leadership, of strength of character, of dedication to duty and repose in honour.

    ”We must work together to identify and rectify the variegated ills and the wrongs presently subsisting,” he said.

    George said the country must take the bold step to ensure devolution of power to guarantee sustainable development, NAN reports.

    According to him, the country cannot meet the development aspirations of the people with a too strong centre and weak states.