The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has criticised those who left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress, calling their move a strategic blunder and labeling the coalition as a political anomaly.

Speaking at the ongoing Consultative Conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders in Abuja, themed “Reclaiming Our Legacy, Renewing Our Collective Vision,” Mohammed cautioned that individuals cannot maintain membership in two political parties simultaneously.

Notable figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu, are among those who have recently defected from the PDP to join the ADC-led opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

In his response, the governor expressed disappointment over their decision to abandon a stronger platform for one without a solid foundation, asserting that the PDP will ultimately prove them wrong.

He said: “If somebody wants to leave PDP to go to another place, how is this smart in thoughts and in thinking? Because the PDP has history, a legacy, a structure everywhere and the governors are doing their best.

“But because we are being hunted and we know what we are going through, and it is not for us to be cowardly and be talking about it. Yes, politics is local. Some may go due to certain reasons, certain permutations, calculations, but I think they will be proved wrong.

“Even our elders that have gone, we don’t want to diminish them, we don’t want to denigrate or abuse them. We are telling them with humility: come back. That’s what the National Chairman has said — come back.

“This is what you have built. Where there are governors, where there are senators, members of the Houses, speakers, offices, local government chairmen, you are going to a party that has no office. It’s a malady.

“We reason with them. Maybe in terms of their own calculation, they want to actualize their aspiration — to get tickets. But do you want to get a ticket and lose? So please, come back. You have no reason to go anywhere.”

The Bauchi State governor stated that all PDP governors are providing effective governance in their respective states.

He continued, “But certainly, as the Chairman has said, we cannot take indiscipline to a level where it becomes contagious. If you are in PDP, you are in PDP. You cannot be in PDP and be in coalition with another party. We cannot do this. But you have all the time to decide. Coalition is an aberration, yes, I said it.

“You cannot belong to two places. You cannot be an Aphrodite. You cannot be a man and a woman at the same time. Be who you will be. But we will still give you the opportunity to have a thought, because you are our leaders.

“But if you are going, don’t demarket us. Demarketing of the PDP is not fair. Most of you actualized your political aspirations through this party. Some of them left us and caused our loss in 2015, and yet we accommodated them.

“And they left and came back. Some of them became governors, and some of them took tickets, just sprayed. It is only in PDP that you get that.

“But sadly, we still respect them. But they should respect us too. We are not afraid of anybody in politics.”

Pupils at Divine Wisdom Schools, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State will not forget last Saturday, July 19, so soon.

That day, the management of the school located at Ifite village behind the old Government House rolled out drums to celebrate its graduating pupils.

As expected, the schoolchildren, their parents, friends and well-wishers came in their numbers to rejoice with them.

A series of activities were lined up to entertain the participants at the event.

These included cultural dances, a presentation by the Nursery 3 pupils, phonics presentation, a presentation in French language, and the coronation of the new Igwe and Lọlọ of the school among others.

The director of the school, Chief Amaechi Obiesili, in his welcome address, explained that the event was actually an annual program where “we celebrate, bless, advise, encourage and pray for our graduating, as well as our outgoing pupils who will be venturing into higher cadre in their academic lives from Nursery 3 to Basic 1 and from Basic 6 to JSS 1 respectively.”

Chief Amaechi Obiesili delivering his welcome address

Going down the memory lane, Obiesili recalled that the school had a humble beginning with about 11 pupils and a single classroom block.

“But today, by the special grace of God, it has over 200 pupils with standard structures”, he added.

The director revealed that the citadel of learning had secured full government’s approvals and certifications to legally operate daycare, crèche/kindergarten, nursery and basic schools.

“The school also has a Certificate of Upgrade, with special school code and brand name, to legally undertake external examinations such as Common Entrance exams, First School Leaving Certificate exams and so on”, Obiesili disclosed.

Speaking further, the director said: “We have continued to maintain high standards in all our endeavours especially as regards employment of quality teachers with N.C.E and/or B.Ed certificates with passion to teach.

“We have continued to provide sustainable security for both our pupils and staff through our CCTV cameras in addition to the physical security personnel on ground.”

Obiesili commended his staff for their contributions towards the growth and progress of the school and for keying into his vision of making the citadel of learning the best of its kind in the state.

The outgoing Igwe of the school crowning the new Igwe

Meanwhile, the event witnessed the selection and coronation of Wisdom Uzodimma Ibe and Unique Josephson as the new Igwe and Lọlọ of the school.

Ibe (Igwe Uzodimma) is a Primary 5 pupil who will be moving to Primary 6 by the next academic session while Josephson (Achalugo Nwaanyị ọma), Primary 4, will be moving to 5.
The duo took over from Nnabuenyi Nwagbo (Ezedioramma) and Mmasinachi Nwachukwu (Adamma Nwaanyị ọma). The two pupils will be moving to Primary 4 when the next academic session begins.

Three boys and four girls contested this year’s Igwe and Lọlọ of the school but after a careful observation of the contestants and their performances, a five-member panel comprising of three men and two women settled for Ibe and Josephson.

The new Igwe and Lọlọ are expected to reign for one year.

From the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Federal Government, 36 states, and 774 local governments got N1.681 trillion as revenue for April 2025.

This is a 6.5 per cent (N110 billion) increase compared to the N1.578tn shared for March.

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, said this in a statement on Friday.

Mokwa said the amount was shared during the May 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja.

“The total distributable revenue of N1.681tn comprised distributable statutory revenue of N962.88bn, Value Added Tax of N598.08bn, Electronic Money Transfer Levy of N38.86bn, and Exchange Difference of N81.41bn,” the statement reads.

“The communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at the end of the meeting indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the month of April 2025 was N642.265 billion as against N637.618 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in an increase of N4.647 billion”, Manga said.

“From that amount, the sum of N25.691 billion was allocated for the cost of collection and the sum of N18.497 billion given for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.

“The remaining sum of N598.077 billion was distributed to the three tiers of government, of which the Federal Government got N89.712 billion, the States received N299.039 billion and Local Government Councils got N209.327 billion.

“Accordingly, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N2.084 trillion received for the month was higher than the sum of N1.718 trillion received in the previous month by N365.595 billion.

From the stated amount, the sum of N73.741 billion was allocated for the cost of collection and a total sum of N1.047 trillion for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.

“The remaining balance of N962.882 billion was distributed as follows to the three tiers of government: Federal Government got the sum of N431.307 billion, States received N218.765 billion, the sum of N168.659 billion was allocated to LGCs and N144.151 billion was given to Derivation Revenue (13% Mineral producing States).

“Also, out of the sum of N40.481 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), the sum of N38.862 billion was distributed to the three (3) tiers of government as follows: the Federal Government received N5.829 billion, States got N19.431 billion, Local Government Councils received N13.602 billion. The remaining balance of N1.619 billion was allocated for Cost of Collection”, it reads.

From the N81.40 billion got from exchange differences, the federal government got N38.45 billion, state received N19.50 billion, LGs got N15.03 billion, while oil-producing states received N8.40 billion.