Former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has once again expressed his interest in becoming the next national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), succeeding Ambassador Umar Illyya Damagum.

Suswam emphasized that, according to the PDP constitution, the North Central region is entitled to fill the position previously held by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Speaking on the party’s leadership transition, Suswam clarified that the selection of the new chairman would not be through an election but through a consensus reached by party leaders and stakeholders.

He believes this approach will foster unity and ensure a smooth transition.

However, Suswam also raised concerns about internal challenges within the party, citing incidents of “rascality” during recent state congresses.

He suggested that these issues contributed to the PDP’s disappointing performance in the last elections, pointing to internal sabotage as a key factor.

“Some people want to hoodwink us because they want to control the entire party structures in the state.

“Their actions led to the comprehensive defeat of the party in the last polls and we must stand firm not to allow them to have their way again.

” What they are enjoying is a short-term victory as you cannot build anything on nothing.

“It is only the ward congress that was genuinely conducted in 15 LGA in the state that will stand,” he said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated that the Federal Government did not lose $49.8 billion during his time in office.

Jonathan made this assertion on Thursday during the launch of a book by Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, a former Minister of Finance and National Planning, in Abuja.

The book, titled “Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World”, was co-authored by prominent Nigerians, including Usman, who served under Jonathan’s administration.

While Jonathan expressed respect for the views presented in the book, he disagreed with certain contributions from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Muhammad Sanusi II, who is now the Emir of Kano.

Sanusi had raised concerns about the alleged missing funds during Jonathan’s presidency, but Jonathan insisted that the claim was inaccurate.

“Let me mention that I did not agree completely with some issues raised by one of the contributors. But I don’t intend to join issues because he is our royal father, and he is here.

“The one he raised that he was sacked because he blew a whistle that the Federal Government lost $49.8billion is not quite correct.

“He was not sacked, he was suspended because the Financial Reporting Council queried the expenditure of CBN.

“There were serious infractions that needed to be looked at. That was the reason, but somehow, the time was short. So before we finished, his tenure elapsed. Probably, he would have been called back.

“On the issue of $ 49.8 billion, till today I am not convinced that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion,” he said.

Jonathan said the money was too huge to be missing in a country like Nigeria when the total budget was less than the alleged missing amount.

“That year, our budget was $31.6 billion. So for a country that had a budget of $31.6 billion to lose about $50 billion and salaries were paid, nobody felt anything. The researchers that wrote this book need to do further research.

“More so, when our revered royal father came up with the figures, first $49.8 billion, later $20 billion and later $12 billion. I don’t even know the correct one.

“Immediately that happened, we commissioned Price Water Coopers (PWC) to do a forensic audit.

“The report they came up with was that $1.48 billion that they couldn’t provide account for and NNPC should pay that money into the Federation Account.

“They did not say we lost $12 billion, $20 billion or $49.8 billion. Sen. Ahmed Makarfi is still alive. He was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance.

“Immediately that publication came out, the Senate directed their Finance Committee headed by Makarfi to investigate.

“They used external and professional auditors to look into it, they didn’t see either $50 billion, $20 billion or $12 billion,” Jonathan said.

The former president, who said he never regretted appointing Usman as a minister, added that he acquitted himself as one of the best planning ministers this country had ever produced.

“Indeed, Usman working with my other ministers associated with the management of the economy, played a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s development agenda.

“His expertise and passion for strategic planning were instrumental in the development of economic development.

“He was also instrumental in driving our transformation initiative. That is why I identify fully with his scholarly efforts, especially his contributions in his book as the lead writer and editor,” he said.

Jonathan, who wrote the foreword of the book, recommended to all including policymakers, business leaders, public officials, students and academics.

While delivering his remarks, Sanusi who also contributed a remark at the event, jokingly greeted Jonathan as his boss who sacked him but held him in high esteem.

“My boss who sacked me. I was constructively dismissed. I know everybody wants me to respond, but I will not respond. I have respect for my boss,” he said.

Sanusi, however, advised Nigeria to maximize Dangote refinery instead of frustrating it.

“Instead of grabbing this opportunity, we are frustrating it. This is due to vested interests,” he said.

Highlight s of the event was the official launch of Shamshudeen Usman Foundation and fundraising for his Artificial Intelligence Centre.

Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, a federal lawmaker representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Friday morning.

Okojie, who is married to popular Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson, was reportedly targeted by armed men suspected to be political thugs at his Uromi residence.

The incident was confirmed by Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, who disclosed that the assailants arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with a Rivers State vehicle registration number, PHC 253 FF. According to the statement, the attackers, who disguised themselves as police officers, gained access to Okojie’s residence by claiming to be on an appointment.

However, the assassination attempt was thwarted thanks to the swift intervention of security personnel attached to the lawmaker. Two of the armed thugs managed to flee, while the driver and another accomplice were apprehended.

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The suspects are currently being interrogated by officers from the Nigeria Police Force’s Area Command in Uromi.

The apprehended suspects reportedly confessed that the attack was orchestrated by leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan North East Local Government Area.

Attempts to obtain further comments from the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful.

This incident underscores the escalating political tensions in Edo State, particularly ahead of the upcoming elections. Okojie has yet to issue a personal statement on the matter.