News

Former Senate President David Mark Set To Emerge PDP Chairman

Published

2 months ago

October 23, 2024

Former Senate President David Mark

The pressure on former Senate President David Mark to step in as substantive national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has continued.

It was learnt that two former generals, one a former president and the other a former minister of Defense, were said to have asked Mark to take up the position to stabilise the party before a national convention.

A party source confided in yesterday that the push to have the former president step in to stabilise the party until a fresh convention is held.

Although Mark has not indicated any interest yet, he is from the North Central Zone, which has been agitating for the acting national chairman, Amb Illiya Damagum, to vacate the seat and allow for Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s replacement.

However, a source close to Mark told LEADERSHIP yesterday that the former senate president is mindful of the legal issues that have trailed the leadership tussle.

The party chieftain, who noted that the call on the former senate president has almost yielded results, said Mark is concerned about “cracks within the party.”

The source noted, “As much as he is open to step in and stabilise the party, he would not want to preside over a factionalised party.”

Another party source, who confirmed that various party stakeholders have approached Mark, said he was singled out because of the “belief that he can’t be pushed around by the various camps within the party, which is what the party needs at this time.”

The tussle between the camps loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike has caused a split within the party. The split was recently reflected in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC

Leadership

News

Stampede at Catholic Church in Maitama Claims Ten Lives During Food Distribution

Published

6 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Ten people have been confirmed dead in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Saturday, 21st December 2024, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals.

The unfortunate incident, which occurred around 6:30 am, resulted in the loss of ten lives, including four children, and left eight others injured with varying degrees of severity. Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are still receiving medical attention.

The FCT Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the tragedy, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and wished the injured a swift recovery.

News

Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational- Says NNPC

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.

Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.

Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.

News

Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Production Less Than a Month After Resumption

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Less than a month after the porthacourt appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.

It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.

While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.

Journalists who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped completely.

The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.

This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.

The inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare.

During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.

However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.