Trump presidency: Protests turn violent in Portland, Oregon

A second night of protests in the US against President-elect Donald Trump has turned violent in Portland, Oregon.

Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the centre of the western city. Some smashed shop and car windows, threw firecrackers and set rubbish alight.

Police declared a riot and arrested 29 people. Protests in other US cities were smaller than on Wednesday.

Mr Trump earlier said in a tweet the demonstrations were unfair and had been incited by the media.

The protesters, mainly young people, say a Trump presidency would create deep divisions along racial and gender lines.

- BBC NEWS

Defection of Sen. Dariye to APC:MATTERS ARISING

By MICHAEL B. ZOKARE

Joshua Dariye

More reactions have continued to trail the defection of Senator Joshua Dariye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) A PDP chieftain in Plateau State, Chief Alexander Mwolwus recently described his decamping to APC as a “sham” and an attempt to escape prosecution by anti-graft agencies.

It will be recalled that Senator Dariye had on the floor of the Senate announced his defection to the APC on the excuse that the PDP, which brought him to the Senate, is now in crisis and is divided along factional lines.

However, Mwolwus, a former Special Adviser to former Governor Jonah Jang on Political Affairs, in a chat with journalists in Jos described Dariye’s excuse as “flimsy and out of tune with realities.”
According to Mwolwus, who had contested for the Senate seat at the party’s primaries prior to the 2015 polls but lost to Dariye, “He [Dariye] is only looking for a soft landing and an escape from the anti-graft agencies, which are investigating and prosecuting him.”

“The public is aware that Dariye, who is our former Governor under the platform of PDP, is facing trial for some of his activities while as Governor of Plateau from 1999-2007.

“But the unfortunate thing is that this action cannot save him; APC will not, by his decamp, forgive him all the rot, because they claim to be fighting corruption,” he stated.

“I am sad and worried for him (Dariye) especially his political career; I could sense that he is descending politically by that wrong action he took,” Mwolwus lamented.

He further described Dariye’s action as very shocking and surprising to the people of his constituency, Plateau Central Zone and the entire people of Plateau.

The PDP chieftain argued that Plateau Central Zone which Dariye represents, had been the most formidable force in the politics of Plateau, “but he has disappointed them.”

“Nobody that had ruled Plateau would behave the way Dariye had done; jumping from ACN to LP to PDP and now to APC, which I am sure, will definitely think twice about him,” he stressed.

“You must have a genuine reason to leave a party; as for us in PDP here on the Plateau, we are a family without any problem within and among us,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State chapter of the PDP has already asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order Senator Dariye to vacate his seat in the Senate. This call was made by the State Chairman of the party, Damishi Sango, at a meeting with party stalwarts at the Jos residence of Senator Jeremiah Useni.

Also speaking on the issue, Haruna Maigizo, a political stalwart in Bassa, said that Dariye’s political career has come to an end and with his recent decision to move to the APC, he has finally buried himself by himself.

“Let me tell you that Dariye has lost his relevance in the state politically and what he is doing is just to seek favour in the ruling party. Unfortunately, the step he has taken is illegal and the PDP will not relent in taking the necessary legal steps to reclaim its mandate.”

However, Gabriel Mapis, a political analyst, believed that Dariye’s decision is in line with Section 68 (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He further argued that Sen Dariye is one of the wisest politicians in Plateau state whose foresight is imaginable. “Dariye is the only politician that always thinks ahead. He always takes decisions that would boost his political career. So many people are saying that he has decamped to the PDP for a soft landing. If truly that is the reason, so what? When has finding soft landings in this country becomes a crime. It is part of politicking and is for those who know how to do it best and Dariye is one of them. Again, Dariye could have probably done his home work and realized that the only option for him to secure another ticket to the National Assembly in 2019 was to pitch his tent with the ruling APC and whether you like it or not, Sen Dariye’s defection is a minus to the PDP” he said.