By Chris Udochukwu
… Seeks Reduction In Cost Of Governance
The recent controversy over Appeal Court decisions on some election cases, especially on the Kano State Governorship, is not only upsetting the people in the North but also in the South.
In Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, a coalition of three pressure groups said “The judiciary must immediately look inwards to correct the negative impression that Nigerians have about them”.
The groups include the South-South Routine Movement, Bayelsa Routine Movement, and Delta Youth Movement for Good Governance.
The spokesperson of the Coalition, Podoki Austin at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the complaints about the decisions of the election tribunal and Appeal courts with reference to Zamfara, Plateau and especially, Kano States.
“Even to us as youths in the South-South, it is glaringly clear that the contradictory nature of the lead judgment in the Kano Appeal case is scandalous and is an indicator of what the people of Nigeria see about the judiciary!” he said Sunday.
He said “a couple of paragraphs and sentences cannot be defined as ‘clerical error’ as put forward in the defense by the Appeal Court.
The coalition of South-South pressure groups warned that such errors must be checked to avoid detonating a time bomb in the country.
They also claimed that the nation’s democracy is further placed under threat judging by the conduct of the recent off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.
The Coalition is also concerned about the cost of governance, which they said is at the expense of the daily survival of the citizens.
They therefore demand an immediate reduction in the cost of governance and the reduction of interest rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“We call on governments at all levels, especially at the federal level, to cut its costs. Our country is neck deep in debt and we are still borrowing,” it said.
“Unfortunately, our government is busy buying four-wheel drives, renovating, and still enjoying the same VIP privileges whilst it has told the people to tighten their belts (thus removing petroleum subsidies, etc). The size of government is too big and it must be pruned down to an efficient size.”
By Ogechi Okorie
As the Appeal Court, Lagos State division on Friday put to rest the Enugu East Senatorial District election matter, Senator Kelvin Chizoba Chukwu has enjoined all well meaning citizens of Enugu to join hands with him to move the state forward.
Sen. Chukwu (Labour Party) defeated the former governor of Enugu State, Sen Chimaroke Nnamani who was the incumbent federal lawmaker representing Enugu East Senatorial District at the red chamber prior to the election and others to emerge the winner.
Recall that his party graciously replaced him with his elder brother Barr. Oiybo Chukwu, who was gruesomely murdered during the build up to the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Further recall that Professor Joachim Omeje had declared Chukwu Kelvin Chizoba, Senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial zone under the platform of Labour Party winner of the election conducted on Saturday 18th March 2023.
Chukwu polled a total of sixty-nine thousand, one hundred and thirty-six (69,136) votes to emerge winner while his closest rival, Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) got a total of forty-eight thousand, seven hundred and one (48,701) votes.
The soft spoken federal lawmaker maintains that; “There is no Victor no Vanished. The winning is for our people, so I want to enjoin all my co- contestants to join hands with me in order to move Enugu senatorial district forward.”
According to the statement by his media assistant, Ubeh Phillip Bernard, the victory of Sen. Chukwu at the Appeal Court on Friday has put an end to all the needless distractions arising from electoral litigations, adding that the legal luminary will now focus his energy on lawmaking, oversights and effective representations to the good people of Nigeria and Enugu East senatorial district in particular.
Recall that Oyibo Chukwu was killed ahead of the election and body set ablaze at Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South LGA on February 23 after gunmen opened fire on his convoy. Five of his supporters in the car were also killed in the incident.
However, Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the ugly incident, announced the suspension of the election for the senatorial district and rescheduled it to March 11, as a result of the gruesome murder.
Meanwhile, LP quickly went for a fresh party primary conducted few days later and Kelvin Chukwu was declared as the winner by Innocent Okeke, LP’s south-east chairman. He went ahead to win at the main election as rescheduled by the electoral umpire.
IBADAN- The Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has insisted that he is not losing focus on the plan to provide 24-hour electricity to Nigerians.
The Minister stated this in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the first Annual Socio-Economic Summit organised by Jericho Business Club.
According to Adelabu, the administrations that preceded the Tinubu government made efforts to solve the problems in the power sector.
He noted that measures and plans taken by those administrations were ineffective and rendered their policies useless.
“The agenda to provide 24-hour electricity for Nigerians is still on course and intact. Our people have suffered so much in terms of energy poverty,” he said.
The Minister said that he has the mandate to ensure that what is supposed to be done for a steady and effective electricity supply in the country is done.
He admitted, however, that the problems with the power sector are numerous.
He explained further that the power-generating sector has its own problems, coupled with those of the distribution companies and consumers.
“What we have done is to identify these challenges and map out strategies for enduring and workable solutions,” he added.
ABUJA- The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ruled out the possibility of him contesting against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The former Rivers State Governor made the pledge while speaking in a television chat with journalists in Abuja on Friday, November 24, 2023.
Though President Tinubu has spent less than one year on the job, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to roll out activities for the next general elections, talks of a possible second term are rife.
However, if the President decided to seek re-election, he would have the pleasure of striking Wike’s name off the list of people who might be interested in taking his job.
The minister confirmed this on Friday when he reiterated that his main concern is to ensure that the Tinubu administration succeeds in delivering the goods for expectant Nigerians.
While showing his appreciation to the President for appointing him into his cabinet, the minister said he would allow anyone to crash the political structure on which Tinubu rode to the presidency.
“Tinubu made me the FCT minister and I won’t allow anybody to crumble that political structure. No! I have heard many people say they are empowering me for 2027. Even the Chief of Staff told me about this, but those are people who don’t have character. Me I have character,” Wike said.
He added, “Tinubu made me minister, I have character. What will happen in 2027? I stood and I said I’m not going to support injustice. I was threatened that they will do me this and that. They tried many options, including using military Generals.”
Reacting to questions on the rift between him and his successor in Rivers State, Sim Fubara, Wike reticently said, “Give a man power and money, that is when you will know the person. If you have not given a man power and money don’t say you know the person.
“He may be your friend, he may be your son, sister or mother or father. I don’t want to go into that,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of eight new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service following the recently concluded selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced this in a statement on Friday.
“President Tinubu anticipates that the new permanent secretaries, having emerged at the top of qualified candidates after a diligent assessment process, will deploy their expertise and competence in the effective execution of the Renewed Hope mandate to revitalize service delivery in all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the superceding interest of the Nigerian people,” the statement read.
The appointees are Ndakayo-Aishetu Gogo, Adeoye Adeleye Ayodeji, Rimi Nura Abba, Bako Deborah Odoh, Omachi Raymond Omenka, Ahmed Dunoma Umar, Watti Tinuke and Ella Nicholas Agbo.
By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has commended President Gorge Weah’s selflessness in calling to concede and congratulate the President-elect of Liberia and the demonstrated commitment of all stakeholders to put the interest of the country above personal or party considerations.
Jonathan expressed satisfaction with their sense of co-operation, purpose and patriotism as well as their determination to rally all Liberians to work for the unity, peace and progress of the country.
According to him, “West Africa has something to learn from Liberian’s elections and Weah’s sportsman-like act of reaching out to the President-elect and congratulating him
Jonathan’s commendation was contained in a statement released via his Facebook page, informing of his return to Monrovia as a member of West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mediation Mission where he met with His Excellency President George Weah and the President-Elect His Excellency Joseph Boakai as they begin processes for a peaceful power transition.
Precise Post recalls that Liberia’ preseidential run-off election which held on the 14th of November, 2023 saw Joseph Boakai defeating the incumbent President Weah.
Jobathan’s statement reads in full:
In continuation of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mediation Mission to Liberia’s last general elections, I returned to Monrovia today (Friday) to meet with His Excellency President George Weah and the President-Elect His Excellency Joseph Boakai, as they begin processes for a peaceful power transition.
My consultations with both of them was quite reassuring. I am pleased with their sense of co-operation, purpose and patriotism as well as their determination to rally all Liberians to work for the unity, peace and progress of the country.
I believe all of West Africa has something to learn from Liberian’s elections, especially with President Weah’s selflessness in calling to concede and congratulate the President-Elect and the demonstrated commitment of all stakeholders to put the interest of the country above personal or party considerations.
Precise Post recalls that Jonathan had upon arrival at Monrovia ahead of the run-off election, held consultative meetings with stakeholders.
Upon his arrival ahead of the run-off election, Jonathan stated thus:
Ahead of tomorrow’s Presidential run-off poll, the members of West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Liberia today held consultative meetings in Monrovia with key stakeholders including flagbearer of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), His Excellency President George Weah, candidate of the Unity Party (UP) His Excellency former Vice President Joseph Boakai, Chair and commissioners of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Chair and members of the Joint Security Committee as well as members of the diplomatic corps.
WAEF commends Liberians for the peaceful conduct of the October 10, 2023 first round of elections and charges them to maintain peace, law and order during and after tomorrow’s exercise in line with the Farmington River Peace Accord.
-GEJ
ABUJA- The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has opened up on the rift between him and the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara.
Referring to the crisis in Rivers State, Wike hinted at Fubara being an ingrate.
Speaking at a media parley on Friday, the minister said money and power bring out the true identity of a person.
According to Wike, “Let me tell you, I don’t like ingrates; I can’t stand it. What is happening now is what Odili said in his book ‘give a man power and money, then you will know the person.’
“If you haven’t given a man power and money then you don’t know the person. However, I’m not worried because I’m a politician. I know what other states are suffering because of debt, but go and check if I had liabilities, the records are there.
“I left projects for him to commission so he would showcase during his hundred days, then politics came in. We are just starting; God gave you something; you are now importing crisis.
“God gave this in the platter of gold, the Federal Government is not fighting you, no crisis, but you are the one now trying to create a crisis for yourself; only those who are natural ingrates will support what is happening there. I use the instrumentality of law to fight not thugs, time will come.”
NIGER- A dismissed inspector of the Niger State Police Command, Yahaya Mohammed, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for theft and sale of Ak 47 magazine and ammunition to suspected armed bandits in the state.
The suspect, who was said to be the second in command in charge of the armoury department at the state command headquarters, was alleged to have conspired with Ndaman Gana, an officer in the department, to carry out the act.
Mr Mohammed is facing two counts of charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, theft and unlawful dealing in the sale of Ak47 magazine and ammunition.
The Police First Information Report (FIR) said credible information from a reliable source at the State Security Service (SSS) revealed that an unknown person transported goods, suspected to be arms in a ‘Ghana must go bag’. It said detectives swung into action and arrested Mr Mohammed.
It added, “During police Investigation, you ex-police inspector conspired with Ndaman Gana officer-in-charge of state armoury attached to the department of Operation OPs, Minna, and both of you stole 22 magazines and 61 life ammunitions of different calibre property of the Niger State Police Command.
“Both of you sold each magazine at the rate of N1,000; each ammunition was sold at the rate of N650 to one corporal Sani Mohammed, formerly attached to Mopol 12 Minna.”
The suspect pleaded guilty to the charge read to him by the presiding chief magistrate, Fati Umar Hassan.
The prosecutor, DSP Ahmed Saidu, asked the court to invoke the provision of section 190 of the administration of the Criminal Justice Law of Niger State by convicting him summarily.
He also informed the court that the convict was diagnosed with cough hemoptysis and that the medical report is attached to the First Information Report.
“Your worship, the disease in question is contagious, and I pray the court will take cognisance of the medical report to see how the convict would not join other inmates in order not to infect them with the disease as it is a communicable disease. That is my humble prayer,” the prosecutor said.
The chief magistrate, in her judgement, expressed disappointment with the convict’s conduct, especially as a police officer saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the citizens.
“If not because of the disease, I would have convicted you without an option of fine, but for other inmates not to be infected with the disease, you are hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine,“ she ruled.
She ordered that the convict be transferred to the Chanchaga Leprosarium Colony to serve his jail term if he failed to pay the fine.
By Ogechi Okorie
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh has said the ongoing exchange of hostage between Hamas and Israeli government should encompass over 7,000 Palestinian hostages in Israeli cells. He noted that the entire crisis should be treated holistically for a solution and return of peace, insisting that there should not be timeline to hostage release from both camps.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on the ongoing hostility between Hamas and Israeli forces in Gaza, Shawesh noted the ongoing situation should be used to solve the age-long crisis between Israel and Palestine, and in that light hostages across the two borders should be released holistically without timeline. He said that the hostage exchange talk should include the over 7,000 Palestinians behind bar before the outbreak of current hostility.
He claimed every Palestinian is for peace and looking forward to all hostages going to their homes regardless of nationalities. He however said it should not just be about the Israeli hostages alone but the situation of West Bank and the 2.3 million residents of Gaza, whom should be set free from Israeli siege.
He said there are 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and have been subjected and held hostage by the Israeli since 2007, noting that more than 7,000 Palestinians are in Israeli jail including 300 children. The envoy said: “So when we talk about hostage solution, it should be collective on both sides. We cannot just talk about one side. I strongly believe that all the hostages, regardless of their nationalities should be back home tonight.
“The Israelis and the Palestinians. And Gaza should be free and likewise West Bank. The people of Gaza should not be subjected to Israeli siege.“We want the ceasefire and also to ensure that there is no one Israeli or Palestinian hostage.
“We hope that all the hostages, that is, Israelis and Palestinians go back to their homes tonight. It is very important and in this particular issue we need all to take it in a collective manner and not to talk about just the Israeli hostages. There are more than 7,000 Palestinians in the Israeli Jails. More than 300 children. “More than 2,600 from last escalation. All of them should be set free.”
When asked if there can be peace given the stand of Hamas and Israeli, the envoy responded, “There cannot be peace as long as Israel has nuclear weapon; there cannot be peace as long as they continue to occupy our land.”
He hoped the new agreement would be another step forward towards solving all the problems between Hamas and Israel
“I hope this would be another step forward to have peace between Palestinian Liberation Organisation and Israeli authorities.”(Thisday)
By Chris Udochukwu
Minister of Labour and Employment and now Senator-elect, Simon Lalong may return to take his seat in the Senate having received certificate of return yesterday from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Precise Post gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will decide whether Lalong will remain in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) or quit for Senate, it was learnt last night.
Recall that Lalong yesterday received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna as Senator-elect for Plateau South, raising speculations that he might resign his ministerial position and go to the Senate.
A source yesterday said the former Plateau State governor told him earlier in the week that the President would decide on the matter on his return from Germany.
Lalong’s aides also confirmed that he was waiting for the President to decide what he would do.
However, an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said yesterday that Lalong would take his seat at the Senate. According to him, this had been decided at all the appropriate levels.
The party chieftain said APC leaders are excited that the resolution of the litigation arising from the Plateau South Senatorial poll in Lalong’s favour will swell APC’s ranks in the Senate.
Lalong got the Certificate of Return which was withdrawn from his opponent in the February 20 election Air Vice Marshall Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the order of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Lalong, who was Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, was appointed minister when the suit arising from the poll was still pending in court.
The minister was accompanied to the INEC National Headquarters by his wife Regina, children and prominent party leaders from Plateau State.
They included former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Member Representing QuanPan, Shendam, House Representatives member John Dafaan (Mikang Constituency), APC Deputy National Secretary Festus Fuanter, Minority leader of Plateau State House of Assembly Joe Bukar, former Majority Leader Naalong, former Head of Service Sunday Hyat, former commissioners and many council chairmen.
Presenting the Certificate of Return, Haruna congratulated him, urging him to re-dedicate himself to the service of his people.
Lalong, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Mukut Macham, thanked the people of Plateau South for their support and cooperation.
He dedicated the victory to them, promising not to let the constituents down.
A party source said Lalong, who is a loyal party member, would abide by the decision on the next move the president may suggest.
The source said the preponderance of opinion tended to swing towards the direction of Lalong’s return to the parliament.
He said if he resumes at the Senate, his experience as a two-term House of Assembly Speaker will come in handy, adding that he will enjoy the status of a ranking senator.
Besides, the source said the thinking in the APC favoured the avoidance of an inevitable supplementary senatorial election which Lalong’s resignation from the Senate will cause.
The source said: “Lalong has conceded to the President, who is his boss in the FEC and National Leader of his party, to in consultation with other leaders, particularly from the Northcentral, suggest the way forward. He is not opposed to making sacrifices in honour of the party.
“He is a treasured member of the cabinet, who has been very active. He is a dependable ally of the President, and in fact, the leader of cabinet members from the Northcentral, whose profile cannot diminish if he quits for the Senate, which is his political right and electoral entitlement.”
The source acknowledged that if Lalong quits, there may be jostling for the vacancy in FEC.
Party chieftains likely to be considered as replacement are Dr Amos Gizo, Director of Artisans of the defunct Presidential Campaign Council and Faunter.
The source added: “If it turns out to leaving the cabinet, Lalong will make a significant input into the choice of his successor as minister.”
…..Says successive administrations have relied on inconsistent numbers
By Chris Udochukwu
The Chairman of the Senate committee on National Identity and National Population, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, has lamented the absence of accurate population data to plan Nigeria.
He also regretted that successive administrations have relied on inconsistent numbers making it difficult to arrive at a strategic plan for the future.
Addressing a delegation from the National Population Commission (NPC) led by the Chairman, Nasir Isa Kaura, Senator Ningi said, “public analysts say that Nigerians are over 200 million. Some would say 220. Just yesterday I heard that we are over 250 million.
“All those things are mere guess works. And it is the population commission that is saddled with the constitutional responsibility to do that. And that has been actually emphasized by an Act of Parliament.
“I want to prepare your mind as to the assignment before us. It is not an easy assignment, it is not an any how assignment. It has to do with the future of this country, and how we move as a nation.
“If we want to belong to the comity of nations that make impact in the world, we need to know what we are doing, we need to know our capacity.
And without knowing who are we, and how many are we. We can’t continue to guess.”
He further revealed that population census “is not about how many christians are in Lagos, how many Muslims are in Lagos. How many Yorubas, how many Igbos. That is not the importance of population census. It has to do with preparation for tomorrow.
“It doesn’t matter who you are. We go to Alaba market, Muslims, Christians. So, if you say how many Christians go to Alaba market, how many Muslims go to Alaba market, what is importance of that.
Whatever comes to Lagos, Lagosians share whether Christians or Muslims. So, these are all small, small things that makes the issue of census or public account a very major dogma.”
He explained that Nigerians over time continue to contest census figures, as he urged the delegation to take the need for an accurate census to the grassroots.
A member of the committee and the Senator representing Jigawa Northwest, Babangida Hussaini (APC), in his contribution urged a “a different look of what population census is all about,” as he regretted that the current centralized approach is not achieving the desired effect for the nation.
He highlighted migration and emigration as challenges facing proper census in the country.
Senator Hussaini also insisted that measures need to be put in place for the proper policing of the country’s 927,000 sq kilometre of land to check illegal immigrants.
“Today, our borders are as open as the sky. These are issues that are germane to population growths, to plan cities, to issues of education, security, water, name it.
So, I think the starting point is for us to appreciate what population census is all about.”
On her part, Saidat Olayinka Oladunjiye, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee as NPC Commissioner for Lagos State assured the committee of a rich guideline to guide the NPC towards a successful enumeration exercise.
She explained that the commission would deploy the Geographic Information System (GIS), adding that “the population census we are going to have this time is going to be one of the best in the country because like you said data is blood.”
She also revealed that the commission has robust plans for capturing of children in the upcoming exercise.
“I want to say with all sense of humility, having served as commissioner twice in the state, I know how it is, and I know how to get things done.
“I know the indices of how to access children. I want to say to you that in Lagos State I have access to my colleagues as commissioner that I could leverage on, to get things done.”
According to her, the next population census would be the best in the history of the country, maintaining that NPC would embark on capacity building for staff, as well as partnering with local government administrations to ensure the success of the exercise.
On religion, she underscored that the commission will emphasize on competence, adding that “once you’re competent you’ll get the job.”
“We know what we are going to do. We have the template. We have the programme. We are going to work with all relevant government agencies – ministry of education, health, environment, local government chairman, local government ministries, the ministry of information to get the necessary information out.
So, at the end of the day the population census is going to be the best.”
On low technology penetration in parts of the country that may hamper the deployment of the GIS for the exercise, Oladunjiye revealed that the commission would adopt same strategy used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for election.
…Pledges To Attract Foreign Intervention
By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has advised the Federal Government to channel the ecological funds to tackle environmental issues that are life threatening.
Akpabio gave the advice on Thursday when the Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office, Mallam Shehu Ibrahim, led officials of his agency on an interactive session with the Senate leadership.
Akpabio was reacting to the submission of the permanent secretary who said the monthly N3bn allocation to his agency was grossly inadequate to tackle the requests it gets on daily basis.
Ibrahim had told the Senate leadership that the agency was currently in possession of over 5,000 requests from disaster ravaged communities across the country for urgent attention.
Akpabio in his response explained urged the agency to prioritise it’s interventions.
He cited the case of ocean surge that is currently ravaging five states in the southern Nigeria and the massive desert encroachment of the Lake Chad basin.
Akpabio promised that the Senate would carry out necessary legislative actions to assist the ecological office to perform well.
He said, “The method of intervening and selection of projects must be such that they will put urgency outside the normal data they are working with.
“The Ecological Office should attend to the most urgent situations that are likely to affect the lives of the people before it goes to the ones that may not affect lives. Those that are life-threatening should be selected first.”
Akpabio also encouraged the office to learn to prempt some of the natural disasters.
He specifically called on the agency to embark on advocacy that would encourage Nigerians to plant at least one tree per year.
He said the current desert encroachment in the norther part of the country showed that the agency was not conscious of the magnitude of the devastations.
He said, “Every child should be encouraged to plant at least one tree in a year. In the areas that are worst hit by the desert encroachment, people should be encouraged to plant one tree per month.
“Considering the Nigeria’s population, doing that would help us to reclaim a lot of land to tackle the looming disaster.
“The same climate change had affected the Lake Chad basin which used to have 125 square kilometers of water about 10 years ago, is now less per cent of its original size.
“The result of this is migration with the people hitherto earning their living from the Lake Chad now had to migrate towards the South.
“The lake had shrunk to a point where we are are not sure whether we have up to 15 square kilometers of water and it is currently affecting about five countries.”
The Senate President said the situation was a major problem that is currently aggravating the security challenges in Nigeria.
He said, “Herdsmen who were used to taking their cattle to the Lake Chad basin for grazing and water now had to travel towards the South.
“In the course of that, they pass through farmlands and the farmers would resist the destruction of their crops.
“The development forced the herders to become armed in order to protect their cows from being attacked.
“So, your suggestion that you may require international support and sponsorship and maybe aid from international organisations resonates with my feelings and that is why very recently, I was elected into the executive committee of the inter-parliamentary union.
“I have found that within that organization itself, there are budget intervening countries through parliament in ecological matters and climate change is about 30 billion dollars.
“I will let them know that Nigeria is a place they should intervene. Whenever the Dam is Cameroon is opened, it happens on annual basis, the amount of water that comes normally wiped out a lot of island including most of the uplands in Bayelsa, those houses will wash away.
“It didn’t goes all the way to Ondo down to Akwa Ibom , most of the villages do not exist during that period of the raining season and when those dam are being on through renovation of yearly maintainance.
“Most people have to leave their villages for six months then the other six months they look for a place to hide.
“In Bayelsa , you will be surprise that without war, we have internally displaced persons as a result of climate change. Whatever we can do we will to do to assist you to do more.”
….says he is guilty of anti-party activities and should be sanctioned by the PDP national leadership
By Chris Udochukwu
As the date for the Edo 2024 governorship party primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party draws close, a group with the name PDP Students and Youths Alliance has called on the Secretary to the Edo State Government Barrister Osarodion Ogie to turn in his letter of resignation, being one of the aspirants in the guber race.
The group made the call during its maiden press conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday. In the press statement signed by the National Co-ordinator and General Secretary, Prince Kadiri Braimah and Comrade John Imagbe, respectively, the PDP group said accused Ogie of witch-hunting Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu with social media proxies, because of their competing ambition of succeeding the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The statement read “the positive vibes that came from the Deputy Governor’s media parley did not go down well with some of his political opponents, particularly the present Secretary to the Edo State Government Barrister Osarodion Ogie, who from our investigation is behind these media attacks. The reason for these sponsored attacks by Ogie is not difficult to fathom.
In a sudden twist from being the preferred running mate to Barr. Asue Ighodalo; a gubernatorial aspirant the Governor is sponsoring, Osarodion Ogie last week indicated his interest of running for the office of Governor to some of his close associates within the PDP. This coincided with the same weekend the Deputy Governor had his media parley in Abuja. Rather than work for the Governor’s preferred candidate, Ogie told his close associates that he cannot play second fiddle to someone who has no political base in Edo State.
The statement also noted that “to achieve his ambition, Barr. Ogie is sponsoring one New-PDP aspirant, who is a close associate of the Governor to make it difficult for Asue Ighodalo to have an upper hand in Edo Central during the PDP primaries, which holds February next year. ” The PDP Youth Alliance further said “we hereby call on Barr. Ogie to face his gubernatorial ambition and stop chasing shadows with the name and ambition of the Deputy Governor. Barr. Ogie should not forget in a hurry how in 2016 this same Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, who he is now sponsoring media attacks against, was the only one in the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that openly supported his gubernatorial ambition. But, ironically, Barr. Ogie was one of the persons in Obaseki’s Government aiding the Governor to unseat Shaibu as Deputy Governor of Edo State. The PDP group dug into the past of the Edo SSG when in the press statement it said ” it will also interest the Nigerian public to know a little about the man Osarodion Ogie and the evil he represents in the Edo State Government.
Here is a man who ran away from legal practice in Lagos and jumped into casino business, from where he rose to become a casino manager. From being a casino manager under the late Hon. Sam Iredia, he was engaged as one of the supporting lawyers in the legal team of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2007. While working for the legal team he collected money from one Comrade Patrick Eholor (Ultimate Equal) to do some legal work, but failed to deliver. This made Comrade Eholor to detain him in his toilet for one whole day, until a politician from his Local Government, Ikpoba Okha came to bail him. After Oshiomhole became Governor, fortune finally smiled on Ogie when he was appointed Chief of Staff, although he was later demoted to the position of a Civil Commissioner. After Obaseki became Governor in 2016, it was Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who nominated him to serve as Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG). To secure his re-appointment as SSG, Ogie had to join forces with Obaseki to unseat Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the APC. Such is the nature of Osarodion Ogie, a man that can easily sell his benefactor for a loaf of bread.” On allegations of official corruption the statement read “all Edo people must know for a fact that if there is monumental fraud in the Edo State Government under Obaseki, one of its levers is personified in Barr. Ogie. This is a man who collects a percentage of Local Government allocations accruing to Edo State, till date. Here is a man who controls all the funds of the Edo State Oil and Gas Commission. He is the Board of the Commission and the Board of the Commission is him. It is sad to note that Barr. Ogie has finally converted the Edo State 13% oil derivation funds into a casino royale express route for his private business investments in Lagos. From the 13% oil and gas derivation money he has built the biggest primary and secondary school in Gbagada, Lagos, where his wife sits as the shadow proprietress. He recently acquired a property at CBN Quarters, behind Oguola Crescent GRA Benin City. This is besides the government buildings he bought during the regime of Comrade Oshiomhole.” The PDP group also accused ogie of anti-party activities when it said “in spite of the hundreds of millions Barr. Ogie makes from the Edo State Government on a monthly basis, the PDP woefully lost in his ward and Local Government during the presidential and National Assembly elections. This is besides the fact that he allocated a quarter of appointments of the SSAs and SAs to people from his Local Government Area, Ikpoba Okha. We have it on good authority that the major political grievance Barr. Ogie has against the Deputy Governor is that he frustrated the move made by him and the Chief of Staff Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha to make the Governor leave PDP for Labour Party before the PDP primaries last year. It is no longer a secret that both Barr. Ogie and Osaigbovo Iyoha worked against PDP National Assembly candidates during the last general elections.” The group therefore called on him to take the path of honour by going to the Labour Party to pursue his gubernatorial ambition, as he cannot be allowed to eat his cake and have it.” In the concluding paragraph of the press statement, the PDP Students and Youth Alliance called on Ogie to immediately turn in his letter of resignation as the Secretary to the Edo State Government, as according to them “he cannot be using Local Government Council and public funds meant for the development of oil producing areas to pursue his gubernatorial ambition.” Also the group called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the anti-party activities of Barr. Osarodion Ogie and the Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha. The grouse behind this call according to the PDP Youths Alliance is that both of them used their official positions in government to work against the party in the last Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Edo State. It would be recalled that the relationship between the Deputy Governor of Edo State and his boss the Governor became frosty early August this year, when the former who was on vacation abroad accused the latter of plotting to impeach him, because of his 2024 gubernatorial ambition. Although the Governor later accepted a public apology from his Deputy, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu but their working relationship has been anything but cordial. The PDP recently released the timetable and guidelines for its party primaries which will hold on the 22nd of February 2024.
ONDO- A commissioner in the Ondo State Oil Development Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Kehinde Akinrotoye, has alleged that hoodlums attacked him on Wednesday on the order of the commission’s chairman, Sam Erejuwa.
Speaking to The Gazette on his hospital bed in Akure on Thursday, where he’s currently recuperating, the commissioner claimed he was assaulted after he demanded an equitable distribution of bursary and scholarship awards for students from Ondo Central and Ondo North senatorial districts.
“The chairman (Erejuwa) ordered his security and thugs to beat me because of my agitation that students from Ondo North and Ondo Central must get their quota,” said Mr Akinrotoye.
The commissioner said he earlier protested against the lopsidedness in the disbursement of the bursary to only students from Ondo South, believed to be from the mandate area.
“I am now asking for our quota in OSOPADEC. Students from Ondo North and Ondo Central were excluded. Mr Governor appointed me to represent my people. I should ask for their quota,” he said.
Mr Akinrotoye was beaten to a pulp and narrowly escaped death when over 20 hoodlums stormed the OSOPADEC office in the Oba Ile area of Akure, disrupting the annual disbursement of bursary and scholarship awards to undergraduate students.
Peoples Gazette had reported that a Sienna vehicle conveying Mr Akinrotoye to the office was vandalised and destroyed by the armed hoodlums who forced their way into the premises of the commission with guns and other dangerous weapons.
Revealing that it took the intervention of the police from the Oba Ile Division to rescue him from the hoodlums, the commissioner denied bringing thugs to the venue for reprisal attacks in the commission’s office.
“It is a lie that I brought thugs to the venue. I only brought students to demand bursary for themselves,” he added.
Several efforts to get comments from Mr Erejuwa over the allegation proved abortive as the OSOPADEC chairman repeatedly hung off the phone with The Gazette’s reporter.
On Wednesday night, Mr Erejuwa told this outlet to contact the police command for a reaction to an incident that sources claimed happened right in the glue of his eyes.
The state police, through its spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said an investigation has been launched into the case, as the hoodlums have been declared wanted.
Meanwhile, the Ekimogun Youths Connect president, a socio-community group, Famakinwa Lucaskakaki, said the youths would not join issues with its counterpart in the mandate area and not take laws into their own hands but would rather engage the security agents to do their job.
….Says Subsidy removal is in the overall interest of Nigerians
By Chijioke Asogwa
The Minority Leader House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda has made case for synergy and collaboration amongst the arms of government to enhance socioe-conomic development in the country.
Hon. Chinda representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State made the plea on Wednesday while addressing a group of Online Journalists in his office at the National Assembly Complex. He noted that the success of any administration is dependent on investments and sacrifice made by different arms of government, including the legislature. He reiterated that the failure or success of any administration is a shared task and that no arm of government should be exonerated as it is a collective responsibility.
In his words; “that’s why I said everybody should be blamed. And I keep saying it. I said look, if the society, if the government is failing, some of the blame should also come to the Parliament, because we are supposed to oversight the government. We are supposed to ensure that they do the proper thing and if they are not doing that, it means that we are not actually being very active, we are not proactive, we are not working sufficiently so we should hold them to account .
“if we parliamentarians are failing also it means that you that we are representing are not checking us enough. Sometimes you clap when we do the wrong thing, at another time even when we are doing the right thing you criticize us and discourage us from working hard. I give you an example again today in Parliament take the vehicle issue as an example. Everybody was crying, crucify them.They are buying vehicle at this time in the economy of this country. It is too harsh, too bad .You have sent people to walk and you think that they don’t required cars to work”?
Speaking further on the issue of off-cycle election that has gulped Nigeria so much resources, the Rivers State born politician noted that there is need for harmonization to ensure that elections are conducted in a particular cycle .He acknowledged the fact the it is a herculean task looking at the electoral laws in the country but believes that, the laws can be amended to save Nigeria billions of Naira for off-cycle elections
“The off-cycle election has not been helpful, if you look at it critically. If care is not taken, we may have a situation where we begin to plan for elections almost all year round. If we continue that way, Nigeria will continue to be in election in the four years, because we expect that we will have more off-cycle elections as elections are being nullified by the judiciary.
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Hon. Chinda also praised the opposition members in the House of Reps for ensuring that the administration is given enough support to deliver on its mandate.
Ever since the government came in , we have been grappling with the issue of economy following removal of fuel subsidy and fiscal policy that came on board. For us ,we haven’t opposed most programmes they have offered and they are anchored on palliative aimed at cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal, he said.
