The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has directed the security agencies to raid any suspected area or premises and clamp down on cultists, militant support groups and other miscreants being used by politicians to disturb the peace, safety and security of the State.
Governor Wike has urged anyone with useful information about the camps, gatherings, plans and activities of these criminal elements and their sponsors should forward it to the security agencies for action.
The governor gave the directive for the clampdown of cult groups, militants and political thugs hideouts in a state broadcast in Port Harcourt on Monday following the rising cultism and related activities across Rivers State.
“We also denounce the rising cases of cultism in the State during this electioneering period, which are sponsored by politicians to settle political scores.
“Apart from committing heinous crimes, cultists masking as party support groups and thugs are used by rival party leaders to assault opponents and disrupt party meetings, especially in those political parties with protracted internal crises arising from their flawed primaries.”
He further added, “We are also aware that desperate politicians are recruiting and arming cultists and other miscreants to be used to attack and intimidate voters during the polls.
“I wish to warn that no responsible government will close its eyes to the threat posed by these cultists, fanatical party support groups, and their sponsors to free and fair elections in the State.
“Consequently, I have directed the security agencies to raid any suspected area or premises and clamp down on cultists, militant support groups and other miscreants being used by politicians to disturb the peace, safety and security of the State.”
The governor reiterated that no amount of syndicated misinformation, campaigns of calumny, and diatribes by a section of the media and the political elites will deter the State Government from enforcing the laws of the State against those who vainly claim to be above them.
“Unlike other States, we have refrained from using the State’s Neighbourhood Corps to enforce law and order by allowing the regular security agencies to do their constitutional work.
“We pray we may not be forced to reconsider this position if the security agencies continue to encourage and offer protection to some politicians and party leaders to wantonly breach our laws.”
The governor called on leaders of political parties to obey the laws regulating election campaigns in the State, which are made to instill sanity and safeguard the public interest.
Governor Wike said the State has had generally peaceful campaigns except for the few isolated reported incidents of violence by sponsored rival cults, gangs and support groups in one or two political rallies.
He commended the security agencies for providing adequate security cover for all the political parties to carry on with their electioneering activities, including crowded rallies and meetings.
Governor Wike assured that State government will continue to support the security agencies to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace and security for voters to exercise their voting rights without fear or intimidation before, during and after the elections.
“I assure you that there is nothing to fear as the State government and the security agencies will spare no effort to keep Rivers State peaceful, safe and secure for citizens to go about their normal daily activities.”
February 6, 2023.
January 31, 2023
Press Statement
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Blasts Tinubu over Threats to Udom Emmanuel
…Says Tinubu Is Intimidated by Emmanuel’s Achievements, Presidential Campaign Coordination
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization berates the embattled Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for issuing threats of violence to the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, at the APC Campaign Rally held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday.
Our Campaign condemns in very strong terms the resort to threats by Senator Tinubu, who is now trying to transfer his annoyance over his failed campaign as well as the frustration of crushing rejection by Nigerians to the PDP Presidential Campaign.
It is pathetic that Tinubu, finding it extremely difficult to handle his impending defeat, is now plagued by deep-seated pains, frustration and anger against successful Nigerians which manifested in his attack on the person of Emmanuel.
It is crude, to say the least, for Tinubu to have threatened Gov Emmanuel with chasing him (Emmanuel), a democratically elected governor, out of Lagos State.
Nigerians can now imagine how autocratic a Tinubu Presidency, God forbids, will turn out as vicious, disrespectful, harassing, intimidating and subduing.
It is however instructive to note that Tinubu is clearly intimidated by Udom Emmanuel’s towering achievements as well as his deft management of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council which have further fortified Akwa Ibom and other states of the federation as PDP strongholds, completely impenetrable to the APC at all levels ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Our Campaign has been made aware of how Tinubu expressed frustration when, upon arriving Akwa Ibom State, he was confronted by massive infrastructural development and citizen empowerment achieved by Udom Emmanuel, which he (Tinubu) was lacking during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State and which has compelled him to claim the achievements of his predecessors and successors in Lagos State.
Tinubu was said to have been comprehensively distressed by the heavy presence of the PDP in Akwa Ibom as well as the unshifting solidarity for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the state, for which Tinubu became angry with Udom Emmanuel, having been faced by the futility of campaigning in Akwa Ibom State.
In any case, it is not Udom Emmanuel’s fault that Asiwaju does not have any landmark project he can point to as his achievement as Governor of Lagos State, neither is it his (Emmanuel) fault that Tinubu was not competent enough to put together an effective team to drive his Presidential campaign which has practically collapsed.
It is not Udom Emmanuel’s fault that Tinubu is plagued by corruption charges including reported conviction for trafficking in narcotic for which he forfeited the sum of $460,000 to the United State, neither is it the fault of the Akwa Ibom governor that Tinubu has a record of massive looting of Lagos State resources with his many Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) companies, cases of certificate forgery, perjury, identity theft, as well as inconsistencies in age, ancestry, educational qualifications among many others.
Furthermore, Governor Udom Emmanuel is not responsible for Tinubu’s endless gaffes, articulation errors, incoherence, his many blunders, evident disconnection from reality for which he (Senator Tinubu) has become the butt of weird jokes among Nigerians.
It is important for Tinubu to know that Governor Udom Emmanuel cannot be distracted from his excellent performance as the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council by his (Tinubu’s) unwarranted outbursts.
Tinubu should also know that Lagos State is not his fiefdom and he cannot determine who stays or whom he will chase out of Lagos.
Tinubu should accept the fact that Nigerians have decided to vote for Atiku Abubakar as the next President of our country and his resort to bitter envy, threats and violence will not change Atiku’s impending victory, insha Allah.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization
February 7, 2023
Press Statement
Atiku/Okowa Campaign to Tinubu: Your Hoarding of New Naira Notes is Causing Nigerians Pains
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign asserts that the hoarding of the new Naira notes by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is causing Nigerians unimaginable pain and wrecking their means of livelihood.
The campaign stands with Nigerians in calling on Tinubu and his co-travelers in the APC to end the criminal activities of intercepting and hoarding the new notes, for their vote buying plots not minding the excruciating hardship their sinister action is causing millions of Nigerians across the country.
Our campaign is alarmed by the exposed plot by Tinubu Campaign and some APC Governors to secretly swap a whooping N22.5 billion in old N1000 new notes in Kano as well as Lagos State where they will be warehoused for vote buying for the deflated Tinubu campaign.
The Tinubu Campaign is desperate to mop up new Naira notes by swapping them with their ill-gotten old notes stashed away in secret vaults, because, having been rejected by Nigerians, they had relied solely on vote-buying, financial inducements and heavy bribing to compromise and derail the electoral process.
Our campaign is disturbed by the harrowing experiences being faced by Nigerians who are at the receiving end of the Tinubu Campaign induced cash scarcity ravaging our nation at this time.
More disgusting is that the Tinubu Campaign has disgracefully resorted to hypocritical propaganda, shedding of crocodile tears, pointing accusing fingers at others and posturing as champions of the people, when they are the real enemies of Nigerians.
The Tinubu Campaign, in its fear of the looming failures at the February 25 polls, has turned out like a desperate ferocious wolf seeking to devour the people while at the same time trying to cloak itself in the innocent skin of a sheep.
It is however devastating to see Nigerians sleeping in the cold at ATM centers, assaulted by the elements of nature, fighting one another in banking halls and ATM stalls in the struggle to get some little cash just because the Tinubu Campaign and corrupt APC leaders had diverted the new notes for their selfish political reasons.
We find it disheartening that Tinubu and his allies are taking Nigerians from APC induced seven years of weaponized hunger to a wholesome poverty by triggering this unbearable cash scarcity that has wrecked small businesses, destabilized homes and sunk millions of Nigerians into deeper financial abyss.
Already, Nigerians are forced to face a worse situation than the COVID 19 experience just because Tinubu is hoarding the new Naira notes to manipulate the 2023 presidential election.
Our Campaign counsels Tinubu to lift his knees from the neck of Nigerians by ending his new Naira notes hoarding activities so that the new notes can freely flow to Nigerians to run their daily lives.
Our Campaign however urges Nigerians not to succumb to Tinubu’s design but remain steadfast in their determination to resist him and free our nation from the shackles of oppressors by voting in Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria so that he can commence the work of rebuilding our nation for the good of all.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organizat
Julius Berger: Gov Sanwo-Olu Inspects Ongoing Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridges and roads Project
- Lagos Governor commends good pace of the works and high engineering standards of Julius Berger on site
Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-olu has commended Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for the quality and progress of the ongoing works being executed on the Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridges and roads project. The project is conceived by the Lagos State Government to ease the flow of traffic on the critical axis from Ikeja as well as to mitigate the intense inbound traffic from Ibadan into Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu announced the commencement of the construction of the project January 26, 2022 revealing that it was conceived over 20 years ago. He thus described the project as a legacy of his administration to ease the burden of commuters.
Months into the project, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Mrs Aramide Adeyoye recalled that with a total length of 3.9 kilometres, the project was designed to provide direct link between Opebi, Mende, Maryland and Ojota to Ikorodu road. Adding that the bridge would reduce the perennial traffic on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, and traffic on other roads around the environment, Aramide said the project, designed in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, will not only provide infrastructure solution, but also a transport solution that ensures value and relief for the motoring public.
During his assessment visit to the site Monday, the Governor inspected the precast site and the site of the major bridge where tremendous progress has been accomplished in the laying of beams on the pillar frameworks of the bridges being constructed.
On completion of the inspection, the Governor told Julius Berger engineers on site: ‘‘I thank you very much. It is great to see this vision coming to such good reality. Keep it up. I thank the staff of the state ministry of works too.‘‘
Project Manager, Engr. Dennysenko later said: ‘‘…we are aware of the importance and relevance of this project to the economy and ease of life for the people of Lagos State. So we will not fail in doing what we are expected to do to put in place the much- needed relief to commuters and residents in the affected areas.‘‘ Engr. Dennysenko, with profound professional confidence, added that‚ ‘‘…Julius Berger is committed to join the government in its efforts to provide infrastructure that would be complemented by decent inter-modal transportation system, befitting of a mega city like Lagos.‘‘
On the governor’s entourage were the State Commissioners for Budget, Sam Egube, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde and the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructures Engr. Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, among others.
ABUJA, FCT
FEBRUARY 8, 2023
PRESS STATEMENT
*APC READY FOR ELECTIONS, POSTPONEMENT REPORT FALSE AND RECKLESS*
Our attention has been drawn to a shadowy media report in some media outlets that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is pushing for a postponement of the 2023 general elections.
The report is blatantly false and reckless, and bears no iota of credibility. Beyond its loud headline, the report offers no substantive justifying content aside from its intended purpose of misleading and causing needless anxiety and speculations regarding the upcoming elections. Our general election is matter of extreme national importance bordering on national security and corporate integrity of our country. It is not and should not become a matter for idle, rash or insensitive speculation by the media or any institution for that matter. It bears reiterating that the underlying report is FAKE NEWS.
On record, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership, our Party continues to wage the most extensive and vibrant campaign in the history of our nascent democracy seeking to elect our visionary Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima and our Party’s governorship, national and state legislative flag bearers into office. This is in direct contrast to the lackluster and incoherent campaign of the opposition parties that have placed nothing before the electorate except their vile merchandise of lies, innuendoes and hate propaganda against the APC.
President Muhammadu Buhari has left no one in doubt as to his unshakable commitment to bequeathing a befitting legacy of credible, free and fair election, and has enacted unprecedented electoral reform and innovation that has placed our country in good stead to deliver 2023 general election and bolster our democratic consolidation.
We stand ready for the general election, and remain confident that Nigerians will overwhelmingly renew our mandate in a peaceful, free and credible electoral contest.
SIGNED:
*Barr. Felix Morka*
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
February 6, 2023
Press Statement
Nextier Polls: Tinubu Has Officially Conceded to Atiku, PDP, Says Atiku/Okowa Campaign
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization is pleased that the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has officially conceded to the electoral superiority of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
The Atiku/ Okowa Campaign invites Nigerians to note the admission by the Tinubu Campaign, while responding to the recent Nextier Polls, that Atiku Abubakar is well-grounded, more popular than Senator Tinubu and poised for victory in the most states of the South East, South South, South West, North East and other Parts of the country.
While we completely reject and do not recognize the said Nextier Polls as it is unsupported, baseless and unempirical, our Campaign however acknowledges Tinubu Campaign’s submission in its response to Nextier that Adamawa (and by extension the North East) is a stronghold of the PDP Presidential Candidate and described any speculation to the contrary as “ridiculous”.
Also, our Campaign acknowledges the admission by the Tinubu Campaign that South South States of Delta, the home State of the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Akwa-Ibom, the home State of the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers States are impregnable strongholds of Atiku Abubakar and the PDP and declare any poll to the contrary as jesting.
This is also the case in the South East States of Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi which remain strongholds of the PDP with unwavering support for Atiku Abubakar.
It is also clear that Atiku Abubakar is well grounded and more popular than Tinubu in States of the North West, including Katsina where the APC structure has collapsed into the PDP; Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi where APC members are daily moving in their millions to the PDP due to the overwhelming acceptability of Atiku Abubakar.
In the same vein, in the North Central, the PDP Presidential Candidate is enjoying overwhelming popularity in Benue, the home State of the PDP National Chairman; Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT where Nigerians have demonstrated their preference for the Atiku Abubakar and the PDP as evidenced in the swelling support base as well as the victory of the PDP in recent sub-national elections.
Our Campaign also notes that the Tinubu Campaign could not lay claim on the South West, ostensibly given the fact that Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are more popular than Tinubu in South West State of Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun as well as Lagos State where APC Presidential Candidate’s popularity has fatally dipped following the shocking revelations of corrupt looting of the resources and assets of the State.
Having officially conceded to the political superiority of Atiku Abubakar ahead of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election, our campaign counsels Asiwaju Tinubu to quietly withdraw from the race so as to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Moreover, there is no way Nigerians will elect an individual convicted for trafficking in narcotic as the President of our nation. This is more so with the recent revelation that the APC and the Tinubu Presidential Campaign are behind the biting cash scarcity that has brought so much hardship and distress to Nigerians.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization
PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS DEMISE OF GENERAL WALI
President Muhammadu Buhari mourns the death of Major-General Sulaiman Isa Wali (Rtd), describing him as “a very nice gentleman, calm and dedicated officer who rendered his valuable service to the people of Nigeria in various capacities in the Nigerian Army.”
In a message to the sister of the deceased and his Special Adviser on Social Investments, Mrs Maryam Uwais, the Wali dynasty and the government and people of Kano State, President Buhari said the late Wali dedicated his entire life to the Army for which he should not be forgotten.
He prayed Almighty God to grant eternal peace to the departed soul, and bestow strength to the bereaved family members to bear the irreparable loss.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
ELECTIONS: LAGOS FIRST LADY HOLDS SENSITIZATION PARLEY WITH PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
…Mobilizes Votes For Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Other APC Candidates
Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday held the third sensitization parley with women drawn from various professional organizations and groups in the state, saying it was important for all stakeholders to get fully involved in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking at the event which was held at Lagos House, Marina, the First Lady said the parley became imperative in view of the need to sensitize female stakeholders on matters arising regarding the 2023 general elections, particularly on the proper usage of the Permanent Voters Card and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS).
According to her, “As explained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), BIVAS is a technology that integrates the three-stage voting process.
“It is an integrated device that is multifunctional in nature, which serves as Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) during voter registration, voter accreditation on Election Day and also functions as INEC Results Viewing Device (IReV Device) to be used for election results upload on Election Day.”
She added that the initiative of the parley was also aimed at providing a platform for interaction between candidates and the people, thus paving the way for mutual understanding which was essential to drive inclusive growth and well-rounded development.
“It is in our best interest for every stakeholder to get involved in the electioneering process. We must not only vote but vote properly to avoid void votes, and also ensure that our votes count. As women, we also have a duty to mobilize people to vote and vote wisely.
“For us in Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our Presidential candidate; Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and all APC candidates for Senate, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly elections are our candidates.
“Asiwaju Tinubu has a track record of excellent performance in Lagos State and this will be replicated across the country when he is elected. Also, it is not in doubt that Governor Sanwo-Olu has worked towards a greater Lagos of our dreams, and will be doing more to consolidate on the achievements of the last four years when re-elected by the grace of God and the support of the people,” the First Lady said.
Besides, Sanwo-Olu appealed to all stakeholders to avoid hate speech that can set the country on fire, and also spread the message against utterances that can trigger violence, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve a peaceful electioneering process.
At the parley, there were various presentations on the role of women in the electoral process facilitated by former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan; former Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola; Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya; and Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Atinuke Onayiga.
There were also presentations by the Member, House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon Babajimi Benson; Member, House of Representatives representing Eti-Osa, Hon Babajide Obanikoro; and the Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Lagos Island Constituency 1, Princess Lara Oyekan Olumegbon.
The professional women in attendance were drawn from the Director Generals/ General Managers of Government Agencies and Parastatals, Directors in the Public Service, Senior Special Assistants to the Lagos State Governor, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), The Creatives, Hotels Owners and Managers Association Limited, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Women In International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA), Women In Logistics (WILAT), Women In Maritime in Africa, Female Architects of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute Of Architects, Women In Business & Management, BRT Female Drivers, The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), and the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA).
Others are Civil Defence, Neighborhood Watch, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Wives Association, Wives of religious leaders, MFM Women’s Basketball, Anglican Bishop’s Wives, Women wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOMICAN), Morikaz Li Fuhum Wal- Moaniy, Nasfat Society Of Nigeria, The Criterion, Federation of Muslim Women Association In Nigeria, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Nigerian Girls Guide Association, Nigerian Civil Service Union, Graceful Ladies, Association of Senior Staff Civil Servants of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Eko Nigerian Society Of Physiotherapists, Women Association of Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria Forum, African Women Cultural Emancipation Initiative, National Council of Women’s Societies Nigeria, Orunsii Wellcare Foundation, Jumejilo, Aunt Landa ‘S Bethel Foundation, Women Rights and Health Project and Ceceyara Foundation.
SIGNED
OLUBUKONLA NWONAH
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF LAGOS STATE FIRST LADY
8TH FEBRUARY 2023
DTSG Sets Up Team To Monitor Distribution, Appropriate Pricing Of Petrol Across The State
The Delta State Government has set up a product monitoring team to monitor the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, in other to ensure the availability of the product as well as its appropriate pricing.
According to a Government Special Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, the government decided to take the measures to monitor the distribution of the petroleum product from the point of delivery by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to the various discharge outlets across the state as a matter of urgency to save Deltans and residents of the state from the stress and strains they are currently going through due to the non availability of the product.
The statement further appealed to major marketers of the product to continue to show empathy over the suffering of fellow citizens and to do their utmost to ensure best practice in the product delivery as the present circumstances warrant.
The statement also expressed the governments gratitude to Deltans and residents of the state for the resilience they have demonstrated in these trying times, even as it urged that no one should exploit the situation by stirring up violence for selfish gains.
Members of the monitoring team include the Commissioner for Oil and Gas as Chairman, representatives of the Commissioner for Information, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Army and Navy.
Other members include representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),Tanker Drivers Union, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Rex Anighoro, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Oil and Gas will serve as Secretary.
Okowa’s excellent performance in Delta justified his nomination as Vice-Presidential Candidate
We have read with keen interest the open letter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
First we accord him his due respect as an elder statesman and a respected father in our state, but we state categorically that his letter is not a true reflection of the state of affairs in Delta State as the massive achievements in infrastructural and human capital development recorded in the state in the last seven years are visible to all and sundry.
On the allegation of unaccountability and dictatorship, it is on record that Governor Okowa has been very accountable to the people as he has always briefed Deltans on the state of affairs in the state. He holds quarterly media interaction with journalists in the state where issues across the state are discussed and questions asked and relevant answers provided.
The Governor has had cause to relate with the State House of Assembly on all matters concerning the state finances at all times. How can a Governor that ensured full autonomy for the State’s legislature and the judiciary be said to be dictatorial?.
On the allegation of misuse of N250billion 13% derivation fund, nothing can be far from the truth because the said fund is being paid in quarterly instalments and as at last record we have only received four instalments totalling N19.6billion.
Because of the time value of money and inflationary tendencies we decided to discount N100billion. On application to the state House of Assembly, we listed some landmark projects to be completed from the fund and some of them including the Ogheye Floating Market, Koka Flyover and Interchange, Maryam Babangida Leisure Park, Film Village and Zoo, Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and Advanced Diagnostics Medical Centre have been completed, inaugurated and currently operational.
We are also aware that our leader, Chief Clark has made his own political choice by endorsing a presidential candidate of another political party which we agree and respect as his own fundamental right, but we hold the view that it is not democratically nor constitutionally out of place for other persons to also have right to associate with others which is equally legitimate.
We are all aware that the country is so divided and the rhetoric that tends to divide the country further along the line of North and South dichotomy cannot do the country any good hence we urge that persons of all class need not engage in divisive actions or uterances.
As well meaning Nigerians we expect that senior citizens should promote actions that tends to unite the country and not that which would further divide us.
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar won the party’s primary on the account of a free and transparent votes of delegates of the party across the country.
The constitution of our country is very clear that once a Presidential Candidate emerges, he is duty bound to chose a running mate and by tradition from the other side of the country.
It couldnt have been the right thing to say that we should have rejected the nomination because if we had, other persons would have also accepted it.
We will continue to respect Chief Clark despite the recent attacks on Governor Okowa and we also put it on record that the highly respected elder statesman had supported us in the past up to 2019 and had cause to commend the Governor for his sterling accomplishments in the state.
So we will not begrudge him because he has chosen to support someone else this time around.
Charles Aniagwu
Delta State Commissioner for Information
February 2, 2023.
Fresh Loan Allegation: Omo-Agege malicious, ignorant on due process – Okowa’s spokesman
Delta State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has been advised to tell Deltans what he would do if voted into office rather than his sustained campaign of lies and ignorance.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, gave the admonition at the Government House, Asaba,on Thursday while reacting to some statements credited to Omo-Agege.
He said that Omo-Agege was ignorant on due process principles because he was used to unorthodox procedures hence he was misleading Deltans on the propriety of the approval recently granted to the State Government by the House of Assembly.
Ifeajika said the discounting finance of N100 billion was not a fresh loan as alledged by the APC governorship candidate, stressing that due process, legality and accountability were the hallmark of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration.
According to him, Omo-Agege was around this neighbourhood of Asaba and he was still peddling that rumour about N120 billion fresh loan. Our concern is that whereas we have explained what it is, and for me, Omo-Agege’s antics has left the realm of malice and mischief to envy and low-level understanding.
“It is sheer ignorance on his part and he has taken it to the level of street talk as you see in beer parlours, palm wine spots and newspaper stands where ignorant people discuss.
“He is demonstrating stark ignorance of what the issues are because we have explained that this N100 billion is nothing new.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is just being a due process man, a law-abiding Governor. We said from onset that Governors of other Niger Delta states didn’t even bother to go the way of approaching the legislature for approval to spend one kobo of the refund.
“They discounted theirs and spent it the way they wanted without recourse to their own legislatures. But here, the Governor went to the House of Assembly to seek permission.
“As at the time he went, it was N150 billion he wanted and he articulated the projects that the funds would be deployed to.
“He did all of that and today almost all the projects listed have been completed, inaugurated and operational.
“The pensioners are being paid from the funds earmarked for them and the only reason he went back to the House of Assembly again in compliance with due process requirements is to inform them that yes, you approved N150 billion for us but we had to reduce it to N100 billion.
“We had to do this because the lead financial agent was a bit slow hence we came down to N100 billion. Besides, the bank that was leading the consortium has changed.
“For the purpose of records, we have come back to say we did not take N150 billion again but N100 billion and that the lead agent has changed.
“That’s why we went back to the House of Assembly; we have explained it severally and it’s not a loan in the first place and not a new thing. It’s that same old bridging finance.
“It’s either that Omo-Agege has continued to be daft and doesn’t want to understand simple thing that even a pupil in the primary school would understand or that he is continued in his tradition of being a pathological liar.
“He is going about deceiving people because lies are in his DNA like that of the APC. We expected that he should understand due process and law and we expected him to be applauding Okowa for following due process,” he said.
The governor’s spokesman lampooned Omo-Agege, who is Deputy President of the Senate, for always antagonizing the present administration amidst development in all sectors and gave assurance that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would not be distracted by detractors whose mission was to score cheap political points.
The CPS said most of the projects captured in the bridging finance had been completed and inaugurated, and wondered why the opposition party would not embark on issue-based campaign.
He said the time had come for Omo-Agege to get ready to contend with the Governorship Candidate of the PDP, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, at the election, pointing out that Delta was PDP and no opposition party could wrestle power from the ruling party in the State.
He said the confernment of the Commander of Order of the Niger (CON) on Governor Okowa by President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC leader, was an affirmation of his (Okowa) excellent performance in office, and advised detractors to work with the Governor in advancing the stronger Delta vision.
Ifeajika pointed out that all the bad roads in the State and the country at large were federal roads and called on the APC Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on federal roads, especially Delta and on the East-West road that had become their cash-cow.
He said that the dominance of the PDP in Delta was based on purposeful leadership and success stories of the party from 1999 till date and told Deltans to reject any party that brought hardship to Nigerians.
He said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar picked Senator Okowa as Vice Presidential candidate as a result of Okowa’s excellent performance in public and private life.
“Okowa wasn’t chosen as Vice-Presidential Candidate on his own accord; he was chosen based on the credentials he possess and he towers higher than Omo-Agege in every facets of life, and by the grace of God, he (Omo-Agege) will be alive to see Okowa emerge as Vice-President of this country.
He reminded APC in Delta of the need to base their criticism on facts and not fake news.
“At the Senate where is number two man we have not seen anything he has done in the interest of Delta,. The only thing he has to his credit is mace-rustling and it’s a negative one. It’s either he throws in the towel now or face defeat at the polls.
“Our Governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, as we all know has been on ground in this state doing politics; he had been around well before Omo-Agege came.
“Sheriff has been Speaker for six years and counting and serving as the longest serving speaker in the state and Omo-Agege knows he has a formidable opponent in Sheriff Oborevwori. So, he should go and sit down and plan how he is going to face Sheriff at the polls,” Ifeajika stated.
Don’t mortgage Nigeria’s unity for personal interests, PDP replies Clark
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has admonished political leaders to desist from using their comments to stoke the embers of discord between the North and the South ahead of the general elections.
Spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, gave the advice at a news conference on Friday in Asaba.
He said the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa were prepared to keep to the terms of the peace accord midwifed by very notable Nigerians principally the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and the very revered Bishop of the Catholic Church, Hassan Kukah and indeed other members of the National Peace Accord Committee.
He stressed that the promotion of peace was necessary to achieve the much needed development in the country.
He advised Pa Clark not to mortgage the unity of Nigeria at the expense of his preferences, pointing out that Nigeria’s unity was paramount to the continued existence of the country.
According to him, the PDP will continue to accord enormous respect to persons in the category of Chief Edwin Clark, but in the midst of that, we will also advise that, in line with the need to promote unity and the peace of this country, elders must make comments that are in line with our desire to remain as one country.
“As an administration here in Delta and as a political party the PDP, our Presidential Campaign Council has enormous respect for Chief Edwin Clark.
“We have enormous respect for him on many grounds as an elder statesman, as somebody who has played very wonderful roles in our country as a former minister, and as a Nigerian allowed by the constitution to have an opinion on issues.
“So we have enormous respect for him and that respect we will continue to give to him.
‘’It might be pardonable for the young ones to talk about the North and South dichotomy, but Edwin Clark has been around even before the Civil War, and he knows the geographic composition of Nigeria with brothers and sisters criss-crossing the North and the South.
‘’By tradition, not by law, the choice of a running-mate has always cut across the other zones different from that of the presidential candidate. In this regard, delegates of the PDP overwhelmingly elected Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
‘’In fulfillment of the constitutional provisions and after wide consultations, saw that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would be able to add value to his quest to lead Nigeria out of the woods and have a much more united country,’’ he said.
Mr. Aniagwu reminded Pa Clark that when former President Goodluck Jonathan sought re-election in 2015 to the consternation of the North, his running-mate, Namadi Sambo, was not embarrassed by the North for supporting a southerner.
‘’So, for our elder statesman to cast aspersions on Governor Okowa and label him a betrayer cannot be in the interest of nationalism. If someone must be patriotic, as Pa Clark has shown over time, his recent comments do not suggest the way for our continued unity.
‘’We also know that Pa Clark has made his choice in this election. First, he took sides with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, even when the last President of the PDP (Goodluck Jonathan) was from the old Rivers State (Rivers and Bayelsa).
‘’If we are talking about equity and justice, could it have been fair that the power coming back to the south would have still come to the same state, even when we have 17 states in the south?
‘’Are we looking for a regional president or one who would govern the entire country? So, elders and everybody must try as much as possible to bury their sentiments under the need for us to be nationalistic.
‘’We need a united country that can survive beyond the election and build for us to call home even beyond the elections. So, any comment that fuels such division cannot be in the interest of current and coming generations,’’ Aniagwu said.
Mr. Aniagwu, who also doubles as the Delta State Commissioner for Information, wondered how Pa Clark could have downgraded the state government, whom he had scored high in the past, just because his candidate is not popular in the state.
‘’We advise our elder statesman, whom we respect very well, not to allow the politics of sentiments to injure his prominent position. As an elder statesman, the integrity and sanctity of our constitution are fundamental. The unity of this country should be paramount.
‘’Therefore, those that should know in the categories of Edwin Clark cannot, because of the sentiments and conveniences of today, push an agenda that is inimical to the unity paramount for us to move as one country,’’ he said.
Fuel Scarcity: Delta commences monitoring of petrol stations
The Delta State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee constituted to ensure product’s availability and appropriate pricing across the state has commenced work with an unscheduled visit to fuel stations in Asaba, the state capital.
Rising from its inaugural meeting, the Team led by its Chairman and State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Amgbaduba visited Matrix, NNPC Mega Station and NewPath Petroleum all in Asaba.
Briefing journalists on Friday, Amgbaduba said the overall objective was to ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of the product, admitting that Deltans have been in pains as a result of fuel scarcity in the last few months.
He said the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration was concerned about the horrendous experience of the people in getting the product, assuring that the committee will not rest on its oars until normalcy returns across the length and breadth of the state.
Amgbaduba urged stations with the product to start dispensing at the government approved pump price, warning that defaulters would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“We agreed that Deltans are in pains as a result of fuel scarcity. We feel the pains of Deltans and we have hit the streets running to make sure that fuel is accessible, affordable and available to the citizens.
“We want to appeal to residents and motorists to remain calm as the state government is not resting until the chaotic queues are eliminated.
“We want to advice stations with the product to commence selling immediately, as those hoarding would be sanctioned,” he said.
According to him, the committee has taken a step further to adopt a docket system to monitor tankers from their loading points to the points of discharge to avoid diversion of the product.
He appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to take extra steps to avoid sentiments in the distribution of available products.
On why the state government waited this long before commencing action, Amgbaduba disclosed that they wanted to allow the Federal Government to address the situation to avoid being labelled as over regulators in the petroleum sector.
Delta Govt flays Warri NBA over misleading statement on judge’s appointment
Delta State Government, on Saturday, condemned the false and misleading statement by the Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch, accusing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of truncating the appointment of Judges in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu in a statement in Asaba, said the Warri Branch’s statement was a gross misrepresentation of the facts and undermines the reputation of a respected organization like the NBA.
“We are disappointed by the utter disregard for truth displayed by the Warri Branch and their irresponsible handling of sensitive information.
“With regards to the appointment of Judges, the Delta State Government would like to make it clear that:
“The National Judicial Council (NJC) has not screened or cleared the candidates for appointment to the Delta State Judiciary, as stated in the false NBA statement.
“The timing of the NJC’s scheduled visit to Delta State on Monday, February 6, 2023, is determined solely by the NJC and not by the Delta State Government, contrary to the misleading information provided by the NBA.
“The Governor has not truncated the judicial appointment process, as accused by the NBA Warri Branch. On the contrary, the Governor approved the purchase of vehicles and the renovation of quarters for the Judges, demonstrating his commitment to the administration of justice.
“The KIA vehicles referred to in the false NBA statement were purchased directly by the Judiciary, in accordance with the Judicial Financial Autonomy Law in the State, and not by the Executive arm of Government, as alleged.
“The Delta State Government did not demolish the High Court in Warri, as falsely insinuated in the NBA statement,” he said.
Aniagwu further said the State Government remained unwavering in its commitment to the administration of justice and is actively implementing legislative reforms aimed at improving the criminal and civil justice system.
South-East Past Presidents-General endorse Atiku-Okowa ticket
The Association of South-East Past Presidents-General (ASEPP) on Saturday, endorsed the Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, for the February 25 presidential election in the country.
The endorsement was given at the first quarterly General Assembly of the association in Enugu.
Motion for adoption of the Atiku-Okowa ticket was moved by Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, and was adopted by the whole house.
Okechukwu said that over the years, the South-East and the South-South had been pillars of the PDP and had contributed immensely to the party’s victories, adding that the regions could not afford to be relegated to the background.
“We have resolved to support and vote massively for the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
“Governor Okowa is a true representation of an Igbo man and my colleagues are convinced that Okowa has the intelligence and the experience to be Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the lawmaker said.
Former Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, in his remarks, lauded the former Presidents-General for their support to PDP, and stated that the party remained the best for the Igbos.
He said that ASEPP is the heart and the engine of Igboland because they represented every community and disclosed that when PDP was formed in 1998, it had always won in the South-East and South-South.
Nwodo, who is Deputy Director, Research and Strategy of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, said Okowa had capacity to lead and called on the Igbo race to support the party to rescue and rebuild the country.
Vice-Presidential Candidate PDP, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, was conferred with the Outstanding Igboman-of-the-year award in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in Delta and contributions to nation-building.
Earlier, President of the Association, Mr Omife Omife, had said that the group would support the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa as President and Vice President.
He said as Igbo son, “whoever is fighting you is fighting the Igbos and whoever is supporting you is supporting the Igbos. So we are here to give you support, solidarity and prayers in this election.
“Since the formation of this association four years ago, this is the first time we are giving award to anybody and I am glad that Dr Okowa emerged as Outstanding Igbo Man of the year following due process,” he stated.
Responding, Okowa assured members of the association that the Atiku-Okowa presidency would work with them to promote peace and sustainable development in the zone.
Okowa noted that what was going on in the contemporary Nigerian society was not what Nigerians expected, but pointed out that it was so because of the high level of disunity in the country.
He pointed out that APC-led Federal Government was not fair to the people of South East because, according to him, when they seat in the Security Council, there is no single Igbo man that sits with them.
“I want to promise you that by the grace of God when Atiku Abubakar and myself become President and Vice President, we will work with this association to promote peace and development in the South East.
“What is going on in Nigeria today is not what you and I expected. It’s happening because there is disunity. Why is there disunity? There is disunity because we cannot trust ourselves.
“Why is it that we cannot trust ourselves? We cannot trust ourselves because Nigeria is run in such a way that some parts l cannot trust those at the head of the government.
“The APC-led Federal Government as at today, l don’t want to believe that they are fair to the people of South East or the ‘Ndi Igbo’
“That is not the Nigeria that we expect. There are six geo-political zones and the South East is one of them. If you look at the appointments that have been made, the South East does not occupy any prime position. That obviously, is not the Nigeria that you and l dreamt of,” he said.
The Delta Governor, therefore, urged the people in the South-East not to be obsessed with sentiment, adding that they should vote for the PDP as it was the only political party among the opposition that had capacity and potential to win the presidential election.
“Today, the conversation that we are having is all about sentiments. Sentiment don’t win elections. Elections are won by planning done on the table by people.
“I do not want to play the politics of sentiment but l like to tell people the truth for those who know me. So, we should not waste our votes by voting for a party that will not win election,” Okowa said, and reiterated his appeal for Nigerians to vote overwhelmingly for the PDP in the forthcoming general elections.
Earlier, Okowa paid a courtesy visit on his Enugu State counterpart, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at Government House, Enugu, where they had a closed-door meeting.
The Vice-Presidential Candidate was accompanied by Senator Ben Ndi-Obi, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Ossai Ossai, Ebonyi State PDP Governorship Candidate, Ifeanyi Odii and his running mate, Professor Igwe Nwagu, among others.
Okowa directs govt agencies to embrace cashless policy
Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has directed all government agencies to embrace full cashless policy to mitigate the sufferings of the masses.
Okowa gave the directive in view of the hardship caused by the redesign of the new naira notes and subsequent directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the need for citizens to embrace cashless policy.
Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who announced the governor’s directive at a news conference on Sunday in Asaba, said the directive had become imperative following complaints of patient’s inability to access medical services at hospitals across the state due to unavailability of cash.
The governor also called on the Federal Government and the monetary authorities to ensure full penetration of banking services to the rural communities and urged private businesses to embrace the cashless policy irrespective of the hiccups presently experienced in order to reduce the sufferings of the masses.
“His Excellency the Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has directed that every government agency should proceed to embrace fully the cashless policy.
“We have also directed that all hospitals should make urgent efforts to ensure that they provide PoS services or any other platforms for them to collect funds electronically.
“This is because you cannot refuse to treat somebody because he does not have cash, so if at the state level we are ensuring that we conform, we are also encouraging the private sector to conform with the directive to ameliorate the sufferings of the people in this regard.
“We are urging all hospitals to take steps to provide alternative payment platforms other than cash, nobody should refuse to treat somebody because he is not able to provide cash,” he said.
Aniagwu further urged Deltans to use the window provided by the cashless policy to key into the state’s Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to enable them access health services at any point in time without bothering to pay cash or out of pocket expenses.
“We are also asking Deltans to embrace the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme. We have been able to bring in a number persons in the informal sector such that you can now go to hospital without having cash or out of pocket expenses.
The moment you are able to pay for the year into the Contributory Health Scheme, you just go to the Hospital without having a penny and you are treated.
We have already dealt with that in the formal sector and today we have gone beyond the One million mark in terms of people registered in our Contributory Health insurance Scheme.
With this cashless policy, we now want to impress it on our people to embrace the Contributory Health Scheme so that they don’t continue the out of pocket expenses which is even far costlier than the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
“Imagine just paying N7,000 for a whole year for one person and any day you go into the hospital you are treated? Is that not better than once in a while you have malaria, you spend N20,000 and another time you spend more money.
“As a government we are embracing the cashless policy because we are quite convinced that it will help to reduce incidence of corruption, but we are also asking the monetary authorities to make this policies work well for our people particularly those in the rural communities.
“They must find ways of improving penetration of banking services or point of sale services so that people cannot have their monies stuck and yet they are not able to feed well or they are not able to commute.
“So as we embrace the policy, it is important that that policy begin to have a human face by ensuring that our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters in the rural communities are able to also have access to the platforms that will help them key in very well so that we will have a country that is advancing digitally on all fronts,” he stated.
Voting Tinubu’ll stifle democracy in Nigeria – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council has cautioned Nigerians against voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu saying a vote for him would lead to the death of democracy in the country.
Spokesman of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu gave the advice at a news conference on Sunday in Asaba.
He said that Tinubu had stifled opposition in Lagos State to the extent that it had become almost impossible to display the insignia of other opposition parties in Lagos without being attacked by elements loyal to the APC Presidential Candidate.
Aniagwu said: “Today, democracy has taken a nose dive in Lagos, you cannot even go and advertise any candidate or place the insignia of any political party apart from the APC in Lagos.
“Imaging if that kind of person becomes the president of Nigeria it means that it would be worse than military rule. Any vote for Tinubu is a vote for the death of democracy in Nigeria, its a vote for the death of electoral democracy in Nigeria.
“Hence Nigerians must take notice that the issue is not about his state of mind at the moment but that those canvassing for him, have ulterior motive.
“We don’t believe that their interest is Nigeria because they would have understood quite well that Bola Tinubu does not believe in democracy, if he does, he will not prevent people from being able to freely participate in democracy in Lagos.
“You will recall what happened in 2019 to our brothers in FESTAC area of Lagos, today you can’t have any billboard showcasing the insignia or the picture or campaign message of any of the political parties apart from the APC in Lagos.
“Is that the kind of person we want in our Nigeria were we believe that freedom is the major ingredient of democracy? Therefore this election is not just about voting but about the democratic and socio-economic survival of our country which Bola Tinubu cannot provide solution to,” Aniagwu stated.
He added that the APC had adopted a new tactics of dissociating their Presidential candidate from the policies of the government because they have failed as a government and as a political party.
“You hear them say that the naira redesign and the issue of fuel scarcity and the challenges associated with it is not the policy of the APC and i wonder who owns the policy?
“They are now trying to take away Tinubu who has been the self acclaimed National Leader of the APC. He wants to take himself away from the abysmal performance of the APC.
He said Lagos was only better than Damascus in Syria, a city in a country that has been at war and yet they want to make us believe that Tinubu has done well in Lagos.
Aniagwu who is also Commissioner for Information in Delta, said the state government had uncovered plans by the APC in the state to malign the government by printing posters and banners urging the people to reject the PDP over alleged fresh loans.
“Sometime ago we informed you about the efforts of the APC to blackmail the leadership of the state and indeed the PDP Presidential candidate and his running mate.
They have not succeeded in the many times they have tried but now we have it on good authority because we have evidence that they have printed posters, banners and billboards to discredit this administration on the frivolous allegation of collecting new loans.
“The APC here in Delta had attacked us before now particularly in the area of infrastructure and they couldn’t make any headway because we were able to prove to persons outside Delta that we have justified the resources at our disposal.
“Those in Delta have seen the enormous resources that we have invested in building a number of infrastructure in road, education, aviation sectors and human capital development through the various job creation platforms that we have deployed for the purpose of creating entrepreneurs and reducing unemployment in our state.
“Because they cannot attack us on these planks, they are now resorting to propaganda and lies and one of such is the printing of posters, banners and billboards alleging that we are taking a new loan which is not true.
“We are placing it on record that that is what they are planning so when you see them coming out with posters, banners and bill boards, take note that it is politically motivated as it has nothing to do with what we are doing in Delta.
“I appeal to Deltans not to fall for the cheap blackmail and propaganda orchestrated by Omo-Agege and his cohorts,”
On the Warri NBA statement accusing Okowa of frustrating appointment of judges, Aniagwu slammed the Warri Bar Association for exhibiting crass ignorance on the judiciary in the state.
He advised the Warri NBA Chairman to go back and check the law guiding the appointment of judges, adding that the state government had fulfilled all the requirements expected by the NJC.
“First this administration is among the first to grant autonomy to the judiciary in this country. Today our judiciary is autonomous in terms of their operations and finances.
“Secondly we have been able to provide better court rooms than any other administration had ever done and thirdly the National Judicial Council NJC, has a role to play in the appointment of judges do even when you nominate judges, not until the NJC approves that those judges be appointed you cannot proceed to make the appointment.
“One of the criteria is for the NJC to send a team to verify two major things after they have done their screening, which is availability of vehicles and residential quarters and we have already put in place those two criteria.
“The NJC need to create the time to come and am aware that sometime this week the team from NJC would be coming for the purpose of that verification.
“So for the NBA in Warri to progress in error, to begin to think that it is only the governor that picks a judge, you cannot undermine the constitutional powers of the NJC to appoint judges.
“But the NBA in Warri and its leadership delved into the political arena and as such lost sight of the constitutional requirements that determines how somebody becomes a judge.
“We don’t want to join issues with them because they have only demonstrated ignorance of the law that they claim to apostle of and that is very pitiable.
“We advise the Chairman of the Warri NBA to go back and look at what the law says in the appointment of judges so that he would discover that he progressed very seriously in error on the issues he raised because it is not the governor that just wakes up and appoint a judge.
“The Governor will wait for the NJC to give its nod before the person can be sworn-in as a judge,” he stated.
Delta Taskforce working to end fuel scarcity – Amgbaduba
The Delta State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee on Monday urged residents not to indulge in panic buying, saying that all bottlenecks within the petroleum industry that led to the recent fuel hike in pump price would soon be resolved.
Chairman of the Committee and State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Amgbaduba gave the assurance in Warri shortly after a meeting with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN.
Amgbaduba who also inspected some petrol stations in Warri and environs, said that with the delivery of 20 million litres of petrol at the Warri depot and the expected arrival of additional 15 million litres in a few days time, residents would no longer need to queue to buy the product.
Amgbaduba enjoined marketers to join hands with government to ensure that petrol was made available, accessible and affordable to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
He said the State Governor, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa feels the pains and suffering of Deltans over the non availability of the petroleum product, PMS, hence the setting up of the product monitoring team to interface with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that fuel was made accessible, available and affordable to all Deltans.
He decried the inability of the Federal Government to regulate and fix official pump price on PMS which is under it’s purview, adding that non availability of the product had caused untold hardship for citizens and promised that the state government’s intervention would soon bring relief to all.
On his part, Delta State Chairman Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Comrade Zino Onaemor urged the Committee to interface with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and depot owners to eradicate the activities of middle men.
He said Independent marketers do not buy the products at government regulated pump price because of the activities of agents and middlemen.
He said once the middlemen were removed and the prices brought down, marketers would be encouraged to sell at government approved pump price.
Delta NYCN pledges support for Atiku-Okowa, other PDP candidates
The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Delta State Chapter have thrown their weight behind the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his running mate and Governor of Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Chairman of the State Council, Comrade Kenneth Okorie who gave the endorsement on Monday at a meeting with top government functionaries in Asaba said the choice of Atiku-Okowa ticket would help to rescue and rebuild the country from the challenges being faced by the citizens.
Okorie who is also South-South Chairman of the NYCN also pledged the support of the youths to the Governorship ambition of Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and his running mate Monday Onyeme and other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said a vote for Oborevwori would help consolidate on the achievements recorded by the Okowa administration in all sectors of the state’s economy.
He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Commissioner for Youths Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga for the great achievement thus far on youth’s development in the State.
He said the Council had played significant roles in youth mobilization for youth engagements, sensitization and political participation in the State.
“It is gratifying to note that Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa right from the beginning of his administration, focused on Human Capital and Infrastructural Development.
“The State Government under his watch has given great attention to youth’s development by deploying huge resources to address their challenges through various MDA’s such as Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Technical Education, Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Delta State Vocational Education Board and Ministry of Girl Child Entrepreneurship and Development.
“These MDAs for the past seven (7) years of this administration had achieved tremendous success and the testimonies are there especially at the grassroots for us all to see.
“Let me on behalf of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Delta State Chapter, congratulate Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and members of the Delta State Executive Council for this pace setting developmental stride in Youth Development.
“Without mincing words, the developmental policies of the Okowa led administration, had touched lives of Deltans particularly the youths who have benefited from the various skill training and empowerment programmes organized by those MDAs mentioned above.
“It is our sincere hope that the next government will continue with the present administration policies on youth development in the State.
“As part of the Delta State Youth Council campaign strategy, it has scheduled various meetings with youth groups and “Road walk for Atiku/Okowa 2023” in 25 Local Government in the State between February 8th to 18th 2023. During this programme the Council intends to hold the youths together and ensure that they remain and vote for the PDP.
“My fellow Comrades and Youth leaders across the State, the time to demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding the future of the youths in our State is now.
“Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has done tremendously well for the youths and we as youth leaders must not fail in assisting him to actualizing his future dreams for the State and the nation at large.
“If all of us should work together as a team and be committed to this course, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa will emerge as the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“You will agree with me that the youths of Delta will have a lot to benefit from the office of the Vice President. Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as a person has great passion for the wellbeing of the young people.
“As Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all these youth training and empowerment programmes will be sustained and financed adequately.”
He reminded the youths that the election would be decided by votes from the youth population and urged them to make good use of the opportunity to support all candidates of the PDP during the general elections in order to secure the future of the youths.
Responding, Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Sir Monday Oyeme who represented Gov Ifeanyi Okowa and Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori thanked the Youths of Delta for the solidarity and cordial relationship between the government and the youths of the state.
On his part, Commissioner for Youths Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga thanked the NYCN leadership for their consistent support and collaboration, assuring that the state government would continue to partner with them and other relevant youth bodies to better the lots of the society.
He said that a vote for Atiku-Okowa would ensure that Nigeria returned to winning ways and urged the youths to come our enmasse and cast their votes for the party candidates in the general elections.
In attendance at the endorsement were Director-General PDP Campaign Council, Chief Funkekeme Solomon; Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Darlington Ijeh; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Rt Hon Festus Agas and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr Kingsley Emu.
Others include State Director of Protocol, Hon Ifeanyi Eboigbe, Voluntary Youth Organisations officers, elders of the Youth Council, Chapter Chairmen and members of the State Executive Council.
Atiku’ll collaborate with states to develop mining sector – Aniagwu
Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu says the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar would collaborate with states of the Federation in revamping Nigeria’s mining sector.
Speaking on “Focus Nigeria” on AIT Policy Dialogue with the theme “Ending Illegal Mining in Nigeria” Aniagwu said the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Dr Ifeanyi Okowa were very clear that industrialisation and exploitation of mineral resources would be given priority in their administration.
Aniagwu said the PDP administration would collaborate with stakeholders in the mining industry particularly the states to make the sector work for the good of the country.
According to him, it will not augur well for the Federal Government to seat down in Abuja and grant licences through the Ministry of Solid Minerals to an individual without determining the quantity of the particular mineral resource in the place.
“In doing so, Atiku-Okowa recognised the provision of the Minerals Mining Act of 2007 particularly Chapter 1, Part 1 which states very clearly that ownership of solid minerals is vested in the Federal Government and this means the Federal Government is saddled with a whole lot of responsibilities including the implementation of the Act.
“But Atiku says that in doing that he is going to collaborate with states just as he has also said that he will devolve powers so that in granting licences to determine who should be involved in mining activities and how such products will be marketed, that the states should be carried along.
“It is not enough to collect royalties for licences without determining the quantity of deposits in that environment, Atiku said he would not operate like that because it will not give value to the Federation.
“Atiku believes that just the same way Petroleum products is giving us resources and helping us run our economy, the same way solid minerals should be able to play a very critical role and for that to happen, key stakeholders must be critically involved to perform their roles to ensure the success of the sector.
“When the states are involved, it will be easier to properly police the environment and deal with the issues of insecurity surrounding mining activities in the country.
“When the states are involved in registering or licencing those involved in mining activities it will be a win-win situation for the person mining, the state where the resources is deposited and the Federal Government that is vested with the ownership of the product,” he said.
Aniagwu who is also Commissioner for Information in Delta, said before the discovery of oil, Enugu used to be called the “Coal City”, Jos “Tin City” and Lokoja had a whole lot of iron deposits.
He said for the country to generate enough revenue from the sector, there must be a correct data of the solid minerals in the country.
“Atiku-Okowa will implement the laws, bring in reforms such that at the end of the day the Federation is totally involved and not leaving it in the hands of the artisanal miners alone.
“Beyond the mining, Atiku will also bring industrialisation to the sector to ensure the country benefits from the entire solid minerals value-chain.
“All of these would be taken care of in the Atiku-Okowa Presidency by industrialising the sector and improve the nation’s earnings from the solid minerals industry.”
He said that Atiku-Okowa have the political will to implement the 2007 Mining Act and so review the provisons of the Act to accommodate changing realities adding that the law would catch up with anyone not licenced and proceeded to mine what belongs to the Federal Government.
“Anybody who does not have a licence and who is not entitled to go into mining automatically will be treated as a thief,” he stated.
The PDP Presidential Campaign Spokesman further said there would be a proper policing of what people are mining, what they are selling and the value the Federation is going to get so that the miner as a businessman is not going to operate at a loss, the Federation that owns the mineral will not also operate at a loss.
“We have in our policy document clearly stated how we are going to revitalise the solid minerals sector and get it to begin to play very critical role in contributing to the nation’s GDP.
“A situation where government depends only on mining licences and the little money they get from the sector is not good enough for a country seeking additional revenue to fund its infrastructural deficits.
“We are going to be much more interested in the quantity of the deposits and the ability of such companies to be able to mine and exploit the solid minerals and we are also going to be involved in understanding the value-chain in addition to industrialising the sector,” Aniagwu added.
Ebireri Henry Ovie
Mobile: 08036977194
Email: henryebi@yahoo.com
