A Vote For APC In OSLGA Is Wasted Vote...Maduemezia

* We Are Not Sick, Don't Need APC In OSLGA...Osadebe

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

As the leaders and elders of Oshimili South LGA Chapter, People's Democratic Party (PDP) take their campaign train grassroot, their verbal expressions are finding deeper stance on issues and taking more harder positions.p

Today, Friday, the party's leadership led their campaigns down to wards five and nine, where their arrival met large turn out of party faithfuls.

Energized by the increasing response and potential voters solidarity the party secures at each new wards visited, the party's leadership now with more vigour talk their way through political lines.

Evang Ebeilim Maduemezia, former Oshimili South LGA  party chairman, in his address to party faithfuls emphatically maintained that the PDP will secure over 90% votes casted in the forthcoming council polls in Oshimili South LGA.

While further driving his point home, he called upon party members to encourage their friends, family members and business partners to save their votes and cast same for PDP.

I make bold to say here today that since PDP will secure the most percentage of votes to be casted in the January 6th council elections, what use is wasting any vote then.

I call upon Oshimili South Voters today, not to waste their votes.

The best and wise voting action should be casting your votes for the PDP.

Any vote casted for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oshimili South LGA, is a wasted vote, please don't waste your votes, cast your votes wisely for the PDP, Evang Maduemezia tasked voters.

The ever smiling and somewhat optimistic Ogbueshi Dada  Okonji, PDP Oshimili South LGA Party Chairman, never hid his expressions too.

With these large turn out of party faithfuls gathered at both wards, I am confident that wards 5 & 9 will give the party 100% votes in the forthcoming council polls.

 Both January 6th and 2019 election projects are our collective electoral projects.

If we continue with this tempo, there is no how Oshimili South cannot get more appointment

At various part of Oshimili South LGA, huge construction  works are on going to check erosion, more street lights are getting fixed.

He also urge ward leaders to reach out to all aggrieved party members, seek to understand their concerns and help resolve same and eventually have them return to the party.

I am over confident that comrade Osadebe and his running mate, Comrade Sunny Obi Nwose will perform creditablely well with their youthful energies and uncommon talents, Ogbueshi Dada Okonji assured Oshimili South voters.

The PDP flag bearer in the January 6th, 2018, council polls, Comrade Uche Osadebe, at today's campaigns, observed that he is not worried by any threats from the APC led opposition in the council areas.

Only one party exist in Oshimili South LGA, others just follow behind.

When asked about the formidable opposition stance the APC is piloting and establishing in the council area, his response was straight and remarkable.

There is no opposition in Oshimili South LGA.

APC is a medically expired and irrelevant medication.

But wait a minute, are we really sick in Oshimili South LGA, no is the answer.

We are happy and healthy people in Oshimili South LGA.

We don't need any APC in our local government area, we are healthy and full of life here, so we don't need any APC in Oshimili South LGA, Comrade Uche Osadebe pointed out

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

Just Happening Today

#C-O-U-N-T-D-O-W-N

Just TODAY

All Roads Lead To Asaba on December 23rd.

Don't miss the largest gathering of Intellectuals and Who-is-Who in AniochaOshimili....


NJIKO AniochaOshimili, the Apex socio-political body of Aniocha and Oshimili People in Delta North senatorial district invites you to its  END OF YEAR LECTURE TAGGED: "PERENNIAL SCOURGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT, YOUTH RESTIVENESS AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES: AniochaOshimili AXIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

NJIKO AniochaOshimili IS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND PAVE A WAY FOR PROSPERITY OF OUR PEOPLE.

Don't Be Told About it.

VENUE IS: NELROSE HOTEL, POOL SIDE HALL, SUMMIT ROAD, OPP. RAINOIL PETROL STATION, ASABA.
DATE IS 23RD DECEMBER,17

YOU RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE AniochaOshimili CANNOT DO WITHOUT YOU

SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR:

H.E DR. IFEANYI ARTHUR OKOWA
(Executive Governor, Delta State)

CHIEF CONVENER IS OUR FATHER AND LEADER, Chief Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), THE OKILOLO OF ASABA


RSVP: DR. BRASCA IFEADI (FORMER DCG NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE)
08033982177

CHIEF VICTOR NWOSA ( ANWULIKA OF ASABA)
08034030422

#THINKAniochaOshimiliTHINKHOME

Okowa Aims To Demystify Opposition At Home

Okowa aims to demystify opposition at home

ON DECEMBER 22, 20171:32 AMIN NEWS,

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

The impression that Delta Central is the base of the opposition to successive Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administrations in the state is set to be tested in the forthcoming election given the determination of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his associates to change that narrative.

Associates of the governor in the area have in recent days been sensitizing communities in the eight local governments through aggressive campaigns.

Last Tuesday, an estimated 1,000 former members of the All Progressives Congress, APC reportedly defected to the PDP at a campaign in Ughelli North, the base of the governor’s senior special assistant on political matters.

Delta Central has since 2003 been the base of the political opposition to the successive PDP administrations in Delta State.
It is the base of Great Ogboru (The Peoples General), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Otega Emerhor.

It was also the base of the very popular and influential Urhobo leader, the late Senator Francis Ewherido who broke election records by becoming the first person to unseat the PDP from the Senate seat in 2011.

Senator Omo-Agege who came through his political machine repeated the same feat after he got the courts to uphold him as the winner of the 2015 Senate seat on the platform of Ewherido’s DPP.

Though the ruling PDP in the state is able to mobilise several prominent personalities from the area, the forthcoming local government election is being seen as a stage where the superiority of the PDP would be tested.

Seemingly convinced of the superiority of the PDP in the area, the governor in the course of a campaign stop at Ughelli had to chastise the opposition APC that the party was not marketing itself for the election.

“We are campaigning rigorously from one town to another, but they are at home, when we emerge victorious at the polls, they would be crying wolf.”

Vanguard

NUJ~PRINCE NED NWOKO TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 Gets underway

The much awaited maiden edition of NUJ DELTA~PRINCE NED NWOKO TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 , gets under way today at Ned Nwoke Tourist Resort, Idmuje-Ugboko, Aniocha South Local Government council area of delta state.

The Tennis championship a pet project of Comrade Michael Ikeogwu led state council, s one of the programme lined up by the current leadership of the union to engage stakeholders within and outside the state.

 According to the statement issued by Comrade Etu Moses and Comrade Patrick Uzoyi~Peters Chairman and Secretary NUJ Delta State Council Sports Committee, respectively,  the ideals of the championship amongst other things is to revive the game of Tennis in the state.

It will also serve as a medium to reward and immortalise legendary Duke Nduka Odizor one of the country best ever Tennis players from the country.

Duke Odizor desires to return home and help to make the championship an annual event that will be rated soon, through partnership with NUJ

The star prize is the Duke Nduka Odizor trophy and cash prize, the second is the Prince Ned Nwoko trophy for the second place with cash prize also and the third place trophy called NUJ Delta trophy and also with cash prize.

 The championship commences 9am on Saturday. Three tennis clubs from Asaba and Warri, will compete for laurels at the championship aimed at bringing the NUJ Delta closers to the people and promote a man who has distinguished himself as an astute leader.
END

WE WILL NOT FORGET

Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu : How the Izuogu Z-600 dream was destroyed

In 1997, a brilliant Igbo Electrical Engineer and Lecturer at the Federal polytechnic Nekede, Dr. Ezekiel Izogu designed and developed the Izuogu Z-600, the first African indigenous manufactured car.

The car was described by the BBC as ‘ the African dream machine as 90% of its parts were sourced locally. At a projected sales cost of 2000 dollars, it would have taken the world by storm and become the cheapest and most affordable car on earth. With mass production planned under Izogu Motors plant in Naze owerri, the prospects of an industrial revolution in Igbo land and Nigeria, was in the making.

The car was equipped with a self made 1.8L four cylinder engine that got 18mpg and allowed the car to achieve a top speed of 140 km/h. Front Wheel Drive (FWD) was chosen over Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) because a transmission tunnel, which RWD would require, would be more expensive to fabricate.

So 90% of the car’s components were made locally. General Sani Abacha set up a 12 man panel of inquiry made up of professionals to ascertain the road worthiness and authenticity of the car and after several days of probing, the committee gave Dr. Izuogu’s car a clean bill of health, recommending that some of the bumps on the body of the car be smoothened. It is worthy to note that this was five years before India built their first car known as the Indi.

At a well organized unveiling ceremony which had General Abacha represented by Oladipo Diya, over 20 foreign ambassadors and thousands of people in attendance, the federal government promised a grant of 235 million naira to Dr. Izuogu.

An excited Dr. Izuogu is still waiting for that grant till today. No dime was released to him. In 2006, the government of South Africa invited Dr. Izuogu to do a presentation about the car in the presence of several world class engineers. Being impressed with his presentation, they invited him to come and set up a plant in South Africa and begin the production of the car.

Dr. Izuogu reluctantly agreed, though he wasn’t happy that the benefits of employment generation will be lost on the locals of Naze and the Nigerian human resources environment. On Saturday, the 11th of March 2006, at about 2.00 a.m, a total of about 12 heavily armed men broke into Dr. Izogu’s factory in Naze and carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600, the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history for mass production of Z-600 car, and the moulds for various parts of the car.

According to Dr. Izogu:

“It seems that the target of this robbery is to stop the efforts we are making to mass-produce the first ever locally made car in Africa. Other items stolen included locally produced timing wheel, locally produced camshaft, locally produced crankshaft, locally produced engine tappets, all 20 pieces each.

Also stolen were ten pieces of locally produced Z-600 engine blocks, ten pieces of locally produced pistons, four pieces of engine block mounds, four pieces of top engine block moulds, ten pieces of engine fly wheel and two pieces each of rear car and front mudguard moulds.”The inventor regretted that not only did they lose over one N1 billion in monetary terms, but also time (about 10 years) and the energy it took to design and produce the moulds. “To worsen the matter, our design notebook was also stolen,” he stated.

He regarded the incident as a national economic disaster because the nation had lost a technological and intellectual property. This Press was quiet about this story. The set back and governments attitude frustrated Izuogu  and his dream died.

WHEN A GOVERNMENT STOOPS SO LOW

— Why 2018 must not be painted with Gas Stations inaugurations
— Deltans need to see the Signature Project of this administration in the new year having performed abysmally in 2017.

By Ekwukwo Elvis

What a year!  How else can a year that started on a very low note end for a government that has redefined poor performance and has taken same to such a ridiculous high level. 2017, is year Deltans and all those that has a stake in her affairs cannot forget in a hurry. The year has been characterized with great achievements by  some State governments that deliberately decided to write their names in gold, however this feat cannot be said of our dear State.

The pettiness that dubbed this year for the administration of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa,  the Executive Governor of Delta State was taken to its zenith, when efforts were not spared by ensuring that the year ended on the low note it started. As we are left with few days before this year ends,  it's on record for the first time that we had a government that commissioned at least a Gas Station  (Filling Station)  every four month. It's instructive to note that when a government stoops some low,  invitations to come commission mundane projects,  that ordinarily would be befittingly commissioned by commissioners and some senior aides are extended to the Chief Executive of the State.

Is it not a shame that as early as 9th February 2017,  drums were rolled out by the State Government with a great funfair to commission North West Filling Station owned by Mrs Winifred Akpani  as a sterling achievement of the government. By 1st of August, 2017 the same State Government threw a wide celebration to commission yet another Filling Station,  this time Rain Oil Modern Station and shopping complex owned by Engr Gabriel Ogbechie and finally to cap the year that started with inauguration of gas station with inauguration of Gas station,  the Governor commissioned Falcon Bay Station at PTI Junction, Warri and a shopping complex on 19th December,  2017.The government against wise counsels from appropriate professional bodies in Engineering and Safety about the safety of the project situated almost under High Tension commissioned the project.

As we wish and pray for the government to get it right and better the lots of the people and the State,  this year has gone beyond redemption as we are left with few days to its wrap, however I want to urge the government to ensure that the new year,  those embarrassing stories of kindergarten projects and commissioning of private filling Stations that ridiculed Deltans should not be the hallmark of 2018. While Deltans wait for the opportunity to effect change come 2019,  the current administration should do more to rewrite the ugly face of the already battered image of the State that seem to forbid laudable projects that can attract National and International accolades.
Merry Christmas and Prosperous new year to you all.

#ChangeIncompetentLeaders #DeltansArise and #RescueOurDearState #DeltaDeservesBetter

HON. PRINCE NED MUNIR NWOKO, NMN RECEIVED AWARD FOR EXCELLENT SERVICE.

The international legal luminary, educationist, erudite politician and philanthropist, Hon. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, NMN was award a Plague by Anioma Voice Int. Inc., Thursday, for emerging victorious in a poll conducted by the group to determine who to be honoured with the ANIOMA VOICE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE SERVICE 2017.

The online poll which was carried out by the group among its 60, 000, mainly Anioma sons and daughters in the group, both at home and in diaspora, has Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, pulled more than 80% of the total votes cast during voting which lasted nearly two months, September to November, 2017.

The voting followed the nomination of three prominent Anioma sons for the award. They included;
Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, who was nominated for the award for his efforts in stabilising the Naira.
Chief Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of State for Petroleum, who was nominated for his efforts in sanitizing the Petroleum sector while Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, NMN was nominated for his efforts in securing the Paris Club Over deduction Loan Refunds, whose singular efforts helped to pull Nigeria out of recession.

While presenting the award to the Prince of Anioma land, in his Idumuje Ugboko Castle, the founder and Chief Messenger of Anioma, Mr Akamesike Manuel Okonne, gave a brief history of Anioma Voice and the reasons behind instituting the Award.
In his words, "the idea of forming the Anioma Voice started in 2011 at Giddy's Place Asaba.
It started when I and some friends were discussing the issues regarding the desolate state  of infrastructure in Anioma region and the total failures of successive governments to address the situation, while majority where blaming the Governor of the day for this, I had a contrary opinion about it, because, I know that there were people who we elected to represent our interests in government, so my blames went to them for not representing our interests well." He said.
Continue, Mr Akamesike Manuel Okonne stated, "at the end of our discussions, we decided to form an online group to checkmate the activities of our elected and appointed Representatives in government.' 'Anioma Voice was not conceived as a political group for witchhunts, but as pan Anioma Social media group to put our leaders on their toes and pressure them to use their positions to develop our land.' He further stated, "the group as always in every other groups where you have people of diverse interests, went through turbulent times, but today those who shared its original visions and missions of the group, are together waxing strongly."

On the purposes of instituting the Annual Award, the Anioma Voice founder said, "the purpose of the award is to honour Anioma sons and daughters who have used their positions, talents, knowledge, skills and wealth to bring development to Anioma region.' 'We do not just criticise, we also acknowledged excellence service.'
'The first person to received our Award was Real Admiral Dele Ezeoba (retd), who was acknowledged for using his position to influence the building of the Admiralty University, Ibusa."
In concluding his speech, Akamesike M. O., said, Anioma Voice Award are not sold or bought but are given to individuals who were  nominated and voted for the Award by the people of Anioma, and this places a huge burden on the awardees as they are placed on spotlights, to spur them to do more for our people." He concluded.

Thereafter, the Award was presented to Chief Chris Ogwu, the Iyase of Idumuje Ugboko, who stood in for the recipient, Hon. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko.

In the acceptance speech read on his behalf by the Iyase, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, NMN, expressed joy and satisfaction for being nominated and voted for the prestigious Award and commended Anioma Voice Worldwide incorporated for their great efforts in recognising the contributions of persons to the development of Anioma people. He also acknowledged his competitors in the Award contest and described them as "worthy for the Award," and thanked them for accepting to participate in the event.
While apologizing for his inability to personally be present to receive the Award due to circumstances beyond his control, the great Prince of Anioma land, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko said,' "I believed that this Award is a declaration of the people that they have noticed, we have been enterprising in matters affecting  Anioma in particular and Delta State in general.' 'We have done scholarships to brilliant but indigent students of Anioma origin, the records are available for all to see.
'We have done roads to improve communication and free movements of goods and services amongst our people for which they have been eternally grateful.'
'We have built schools and churches to increase the options for study and worship.'
'We have planted businesses in the area to assist the unemployment situation."
Concluding the speech, he said "going forward, I dare say that with your support and wish for the continuation of the empirical  works like these, that you shall with your votes, during the general election in Nigeria, 2019 put us in a position to make more of these kinds of contributions to the development of Anioma people both home and in diaspora."

Also, while responding to the speech made by Anioma Voice founder, Dr Michael Nwoko, SA to the governor (Special Duties) on Contributory Health Commission, commended Anioma Voice for instituting the Award to honour individuals for their contributions towards the development of Anioma people.
In his words, "constructive criticism is a pointer to the things not done or things not properly done, such criticism help those in position of authority to see what the ordinary people in the street - the electorates are seeing and adjust to meet their demands."
He described the presentation of the Award on Prince Ned Munir Nwoko's birthday as awesome and auspicious event.
Dr Michael Nwoko, went further to describe the recipient, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko as a man whose burning desire to uplift the living standard of the people of Anioma region as untiring, unrelenting and urged the people to rally supports for the actualisation of his (Ned) quest to represent Delta North (Anioma) people at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, come 2019.
In his words, "Hon. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, has demonstrated visionary leadership and astute prowess in the act of lawmaking, in just four years of his stint at the House of Representative, representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal constituency (1999-2003), he recorded unbeatable achievements which remained unrivalled till date."
"He sponsored 22 bills and a motion for the convocation of the National Conference." "Most of the bills he sponsored are helping to shape and enforce the policies of the present administration, he forfeited his salaries and allowances, as a House of Rep member, which he used to carter for the needs and welfare of the less privileged in the area, and he has pledged to forfeit his salaries and allowances for same purposes, if voted as senator to represent the good people of Delta North region." Dr Michael Nwoko said.
He concluded by further soliciting for the people's total support to send the Lion of Anioma land, Hon. Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, NMN to the senate, come 2019.

Among the members of Anioma Voice Worldwide inc., who were on hand to present the award were;
Mr Akamesike Manuel Okonne, the founder and Chief Messenger,
Mr Frank Iroroh, the National Chief Messenger and (Salvage Team 2019, Ned Nwoko for Senate social media Unit's Chairman).
Mr Geoff Chibuzor Elunor, the General Messenger,
Mrs Ebele Ngozi Anazia, women mobilisation Messenger,
Mr Philip Chuks Obiuwevbi, Messenger homeland,
Mrs Tessy Olimah Okuguni, Deputy women mobilization Messenger and
Hon. Asuai Chuks, Messenger.

Those on ground to receive the Award on behalf of Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, were; Chief Chris Ogwu, the Iyase of Idumuje Ugboko and other elders of the community, others includes, Dr Michael Nwoko, SA to the governor (Special duties)  on Contributory Health Commission, and the Director Contacts and Mobilization, SAT 2019, Team, Mr Friday Omesiete, PA to Prince Ned Munir Nwoko and Madam Lauretta Onuma, the manager, Mount Ned Nwoko Resorts, while James Okocha, Jerry Onwuma and Osa Nwachukwu of SALVAGE ANIOMA (SAT) 2019,  MEDIA AND SECURITY DIRECTORATE, and the Press were on hand to cover the event.

The Anioma Voice group were later conducted round the Mount Ned Nwoko Resorts and Recreational Centre by the manager, Madam Lauretta Onuma, where they took time to take photo shots of the Tower, the Tunnel, the mini Pyramid, the Fountain, Snooker and Table Tennis arena, the Swimming Pool, Tennis Court, the Zoo, the Farm, the Soccer pitch and the Golf course.
From atop the Tower, the group were shown the site of the STARS UNIVERSITY.

HON. OCHOR CHRIS OCHOR THE PEOPLE'S GENERAL END OF YEAR CELEBRATION TODAY.

The Executive Director of  Social Services Development DESOPADEC  Hon Ochor Chris Ochor celebrated end of year today in Umutu at Ugbeleme Primary School with all Ukwuani PDP Members.

The event which was supposed to be a big event was organized on a low key due to the incidence that took place during the last PDP rally in Kwale.

All the Ukwuani PDP members and community Chiefs present were asked to observe a moment of silence for the victims of canon shot incidence as he passes words of condolence to the families.

Hon. Ochor Chris Ochor in his address today, made it known to the entire Ukwuani PDP members (Representatives) that he wishes to do it in a grand style this time around by calling out all members to receive their packages in the open as he has been doing it before in a different manner as people claims he has not been doing anything of such.

He also in his statement said there will soon be a constituency briefing from his office in DESOPADEC.
He also added that lots of indigenes and non indigenes have received scholarship from him both in the Secondary and Tertiary levels.

The E.D DESOPADEC also mentioned today that his empowerment to the youth and old will take place early next year as he wishes to do more than he use to do before.

Hon. Ochor Chris Ochor today distributed over 800 bags of rice to party members and all ward's Excos that were present. He also promised to personally distribute that of the Community Chiefs present to their various homes and others outside the shores of Umutu and that of the zones.

The end of year celebration today was filled with lots of the party members who came from all the communities in Ukwuani and outside the LG too.

In his discussion with the media team today, Hon. Ochor was asked if he has declared any intention towards contesting for any political office and he made it known to them today that he has long made it clear to the people that he wishes to run for House of Assembly in Ukwuani constituency to represent Ukwuani people come 2019.

The people expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the People's General for his generous act and his philanthropical deeds so far and also promised to stand by him come rain come sun in the 2019 general election.

Hon. Ochor Chris Ochor ended his speech with the media by wishing the entire Ukwuani people a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Amb. Jeffery Opone

President: The Salvage Ambassadors.

Reporting.

IGP bars SARS operatives from stop and search duties on roads

…Directs them to be in official uniform clearly marked for identification

ThE Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has barred operatives of the controversial Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, from conducting stop and
search on roads.

He also stopped them from acting as bodyguards to prominent Nigerians just as he warned them against further delving into civil matters including land disputes, personal disputes, debt collection and all matters
considered civil.

Besides, the police chief said all operatives of the anti-robbery unit of his organization must henceforth always appear in official unit clearly marked for identification.
Idris, who spoke during a meeting he held with commanders of the Police Anti-Robbery Squad, at the Force Headquarters, said the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership was concerned at recent clsmour by some
Nigerians that the unit be scrapped and attendant opposite reactions by others.

He said they can only conduct stop and search operation on roads only when necessary, adding that such operation must be only on the permission of Commissioner of
SARS or Deputy Commissioners and Assistant
Commissioners of Police in charge of operations in the commands they are answerable to.

Any operation conducted by the operatives, according to the Inspector General of Police, must be in a “non-discriminatory, proportionary, fair and accountable manner.”

The measures, he said,were as a result of the police administration’s demonstration of sensibilities to the yearnings and demands of modern policing.

Other measures which the police leadership has taken to reform the SARS, according to the IGP, were the designation of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations to lead the unit as its strategic
commander, appointment of a Commissioner of Police as a field Commander of all activities related to SARS and the direct supervision of SARS operations in each state
Command under the Commissioner of Police in charge of the state through the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations.
As part of the reform measures, the police boss hinted that psychometric test, training and continuous assessment of operatives will be deployed to SARS to determine the suitability or otherwise of their role in keeping with acceptable standard operating
procedures.

He also said the unit would be confined to its established role of preventing, confronting and solving cases related to armed robbery and generally protect the public from armed robbery and other violent crimes.

“The Nigeria Police Force under my leadership, shall operate strictly guided by the human rights principles as enshrined under the United Nations Charter on human rights and other extant laws.

“In demonstration of good faith to the aspiration of the Nigerian populace, I have given mandate to the IGP’s Monitoring Units and ‘X’ Squad and other oversight units of the Force to monitor the activities of the SARS operatives, while in the same vain, citizens are encouraged to avail the police ways to improve SARS operations across the nation,“he added.

THE FULANI HAVE ENSLAVED NIGERIA

CHIEF TOLA ADENIYI

Veteran journalist, columnist and administrator, Chief Adetola Adeniyi says that restructuring Nigeria is inevitable as it must be achieved either intellectually or by the use of force.

Chief Adeniyi said in this interview with Business Hallmark’s Teslim Shitta-Bey and Obinna Ezugwu how the Fulani have over the years used the military and trickery to bring Nigeria to where it is today, while also criticising former president Olusegun Obasanjo who he said is the
most anti south leader Nigeria has ever produced.

Excerpts:

Nigeria is at a critical point in its existence. The call for
restructuring as a way out is growing. What are your thoughts?

My thoughts remain the same. I recall that in 1983, I called a press conference in Ibadan, the theme of which was the national question. I said that unless the Nigerian national question was addressed, the (Shehu) Shagari government should not go ahead to conduct the election for second term. And that if it did, the government would not last for
three months. I noted that the country was sitting on a keg of gun powder, and the political structure was skewed in favour of the North as it was then because there is no more North now.

I was arrested and detained, and of course they went ahead to have the election. But the government collapsed in three months by December 31.

For many years, even when I was regional editor of the Daily Times, I have always felt that (Lord) Lugard was a devil; that bastard born in India had mischievous agenda for India, Nigeria and Sudan, those three countries where he featured as a soldier, as a mercenary, an
administrator and as a trader. It was the Royal Niger Company that really brought him to Nigeria. The British actually didn’t want any of their colonies to be independent or to ever be able to govern themselves.

What they wanted to do, which France did to a large extent, was to make their colonies caricatures of Britain or France, so you will neither be African nor English. With that devilish plan, Lugard and most Britons of his era believed that pink pigmentation of the skin was superior to dark pigmentation. That was why they gave government
in the Sudan to the Arab North and suppressed the South of Sudan which forced them into war for several years. In India, they encouraged the caste system for a long time and preferred the lighter skinned Pakistanis and Bangladesh to the darker skinned middle and Southern
Indians.

In applying the same thing here, they found out that the Fulani, who at that time, had not really intermarried as they have done now, so you had about half a million of them who were “fair” skinned.

And they also found the Southerners to be more progressive, more aggressive and better exposed than the then colony of the Fulani. Before then, even before Lugard was born, the Fulani led by Uthman Danfodio…one of the lies sold to most of us in Nigeria was that Uthman Danfodio came from Fouta Djallon, hat is not true. He was born in Sokoto and buried in Sokoto, I visited his grave. What I’m saying is that the so called North had been conquered when the Fulani killed the king of the Hausas
and took over.

But they are so clever politically; they didn’t take away the language of the Hausa because it would be difficult for them as a minority to impose their Language on the larger community, so they allowed the Hausa to retain their language while they also retained their fulfude.

So Lugard allowed them to continue, he used what is now called indirect rule. But for the North at that time to survive economically, it needed the South which was already exporting timber, coal, cocoa and so many other things, and had an existing port; the South was very wealthy, and given that kind of background, they wanted
to make sure, especially when they established the West African Constabulary – the Frontier force – they ensured that the bulk of the recruits were from the North because he also foresaw as Ahmadu Bello later did, the dictum of Chairman Mao that power flows from the barrel
of the gun.

They recognised at that point in time that they must get soldiers from the North, equip them such that if they failed politically, they will use their military wing to impose whatever they wanted on the rest of the country.

Lugard violated the natural boundaries of North and
South, the River Niger was there; the River Benue was there, so the boundary ought to have stopped before Niger and Benue which was what it was before the amalgamation. But by amalgamation and the unfortunate incident of Afonja betraying the Alaafin during the Awole
reign, Alimi betrayed Afonja and had conquered Ilorin. In fact, they wanted to push the boundary to Oshogbo, but for the Ijesha army that drove them back. At the time they were driven back in 1888 or thereabout, the British were already in Nigeria; Lugard was already here.

So they prevented the South, the Yoruba from pushing the Fulani further back.

The British eventually ended up giving them such a large expanse of land, and false population figures; the political arrangement was so designed that whether it was parliamentary or presidential system, the so called North must have majority in government.

Then they went ahead in 1952 to give them terrible false figures in census to ensure also that if they base everything on population, they will say the so called North had more population. They also went ahead to falsify
figures about even religion, giving the impression that the North was Muslim, that it had larger Muslim population, but it’s not true. I was a commissioner in National Population Commission in 1988 to 89, and I know that apart from Bida and Kano, there is hardly any town in the whole of the so called North that can boast of large population.

So, they had the military, they had false population figures, they had false landmass; everything was tailor-made to ensure that the so called North will continue to rule Nigeria.

Therefore, they didn’t allow either Zik or Awolowo to rule, and unfortunately, Zik was more pliable – he was a great man, but he was not a deep thinker. So you had only Awolowo standing against all the devilish designs of the British. But some people may ask why we tolerated this for over 100 years. It wasn’t for lack of effort, people tried, but as Zik said to all of us, you don’t argue with a man carrying the gun. It has been very difficult to free ourselves through civil means, and this had prompted the riots in Benue, it prompted Adaka Boro and all the militants that have tried at one time or the other.

And (Emeka) Ojukwu tried, he really tried with his secessionist bid to free the Igbo and the rest of the country from this very manipulative and very power hungry Fulani.

Remember that earlier on I said my own word is not restructuring, you can only restructure a structure, but to me there was never a structure. There was no structure, you had over 250 nationalities and somebody just yoked them together, they didn’t create any structure..
So, what we should be doing is actually to go back to pre 1914.

Leaders of this place called Nigeria, must come together and discuss the terms of coming together as a country. That hasn’t been done. We Nigerian people… if there is anybody that can be so called because there are no Nigerian people. We the people living in this expanse of
land were not involved in what they did with the expanse of land.

There is no structure given to that land, it is a landmass with several nationalities, what we should do is to go to pre 1914 as Solomon Asemota, one of the greatest thinkers on these issues said.

But if that cannot be done, we can at least go back to 1952/54, that this is, going back to the regions using language, culture and all that to negotiate how to live together. Also, to ensure that the landmass itself has to be redefined in a way that natural boundaries are agreed
upon.

You cannot be taking about Western region, and leave the Jembe and so on in Kogi or you have emirs in Yoruba land or emirs in Zango Kataf or in Kafanchan, which are Christian lands.

If there is a correct census in this country, I can say that Western Nigeria has more Muslims than any other part of this country. You have had Islam here in Lagos since the 11th Century, and in other places like Iwo, Oyo, Ijebu and so on. That’s why they called it ‘Esimali’ because it came from Mali.

We had Muslims before Uthman Danfodio was
born, but they (Fulani) have done so much that not only have they conquered the most vociferous and most enlightened part of Nigeria politically and militarily, they have also enslaved us religiously by calling somebody head of supreme council of Islamic affairs.

What is supreme council of Islamic affairs? Somebody that had never been voted for! He has only been a Sultan, then using a puppet like late Dr Lateef Adegbite, and now using another puppet called Ishaq Akintola who is now the secretary of the so called Islamic affairs; there is
nothing like Islamic affairs.

But because of it, the Sultan will dictate to South West when to fast and when not to fast; when to kill ram and all what not. And they won’t allow Muslims from the South to lead prayers in the North. They made it such that the Southern Muslims have submitted themselves to the superiority of Fulani Muslims. And they have accepted to be second class even in their religion. That’s why I’m also leading a forum to free the Yoruba Muslims and ask the Alaafin of Oyo or the Awujale of Ijebu land to act as the Supreme head of Muslims in the South West.

So that when the Sultan is dictating to the Fulani people, the Awujale or the Alaafin of Oyo will dictate to us here.

The Sultan should never be arrogated as supreme head of anybody outside his sphere of influence.

You have spoken extensively about how the entire South has been subjugated by the Fulani, but why is it that the South cannot come together to stop it?

There was a strong alliance between Awolowo and Joseph Tarka, meaning that it’s not just between West and East, but also between West and Middle Belt. And when Awolowo was incarcerated in 1964, (Michael) Opara came to the West and they formed UPGA which was a marriage of
East and West. Again, at a point, there was betrayal, or rather the Fulani played a hand. The Fulani like I said, are still the most sophisticated politicians in Nigeria, there is no doubt about that.

Because the only industry they have is power, and they have always had British and American advisers, till tomorrow, and we didn’t have that.

Up till today, the South does not believe they need the British or the Americans to advise them on politics. But the Fulani have always submitted themselves to British influence and directives.

It is not that they (the South) didn’t try, but we have always had fifth columnists among the Yoruba and among the Igbo. Once they dangle some political office in their face, they fall for it. That has been the bane, but we have all passed that stage. Maybe some governors are
too chicken hearted to talk, maybe some ministers cannot talk, but they are only negligible minority. We now have a hurricane in the South, nobody who knows history can stop it. I have argued in some of my articles that it was the military wing of the Fulani that brought us into this mess. It was them that followed the part and pattern
decided for them by the British.

When (Alani) Akinrinade, Black Scorpion (Benjamin Adekunle) and Alabi Isiama, who were the war heroes that I know, but for them and the Christians in the Military who were mostly Yoruba, there was no way the so called federal military could have defeated the Igbo.

That is now painful, when you read Jimanze Ego-Alowes’ book, ‘How the Yoruba won and lost the Biafra War’. We fought; allowed ourselves to be used by the Fulani to kill the Igbo, but the first thing they did for us was to create 12 states and weaken the federating units.

They gave the Yoruba just one state, and gave the so called North about six at that time, and gave the East three because they wanted the minorities separate from the Igbo. Thus, the Yoruba became the first casualty.

Then the worst came when someone of very doubtful paternity called Olusegun Obasanjo, who for reasons best known to him has remained the greatest anti south southerner in this country. It wasn’t Murtala
Muhammed that took Federal government out of Lagos, it was Obasanjo.

It was Obasanjo who imposed presidential system on Nigerians, it was him who took over all the achievements of the South: the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the Obafemi Awolowo University; the television stations; Liberty Stadium… it wasn’t Murtala Muhammed that nationalised them, it was this … Obasanjo..

He is a rootless man that believes that he can only “satanically” hang on to that mirage called Nigeria since he cannot say he is Igbo, even though j we have question marks about his connection with Obi Onyejekwe, there is a question mark about whether Ashabi his mother was from Yoruba land or from Nupe, there are question marks on whether the man  Judy ñhis mother married later who was called Obasanjo and who according to a television broadcast in 2005 in Abeokuta was actually ‘Sango Sonjo’ but who changed his name to Obasanjo when he became a Christian.

SO you have all these questions hanging around his name and around his PPpaternity.. He has done the greatest harm to restructuring Nigeria; to making Nigeria a truly federal state than any other person in Nigerian
history.

Of course, since they knew who he was, even after (MKO) Abiola was denied the presidency, the Fulani, using some proxies… because among those who brought Obasanjo back to power, it was only Aliyu Mohammed Gusau who is Fulani. Babangida is not Fulani, he is Gwari; Danjuma is
Jukun, but the Fulani used them to choose somebody they know will!
aKNOWS TOlways dance to their tune to make him president, they have tested him
before. But before then, the military government of Abacha, which was
itself a creation of the Fulani had gone ahead to divide Nigeria into
36 states and created 774 local governments that had no rhythm nor
rhyme. I know a particular place called Chalawa in a Local government
in Kano; there are not up to twelve houses there. And the only house
there that is plastered, not painted, is a 2-bedroom bungalow.

You call that a local government headquarters, to compare with
Alimosho Local Government, to compare with Ibadan, to compare with
Obafemi Owode. You have local governments dotted all over the North
that cannot boast of ten thousand or even five thousand people in
population. And yet the sharing formula for Nigeria’s resources is
based largely on landmass, which is false; on population, which is
false and on local governments, all of which are fraudulent. So for
peace and stability to return to this landmass, we have to go
confederate, anything short of it is just window dressing; anything
short of that is still going to collapse. Nigeria must be based on a
confederation.

Let us have six republics: the Caliphate Republic; the Elkanemic
Republic, which is Borno; the Igbo Republic; the Niger Delta Republic;
the Yoruba Republic and the Middle Belt Republic. And those six
republics would then come together and have the confederal republic of
Nigeria on agreed terms. Every republic will have its own
constitution, police and military but to be coordinated by the federal
military for national defence against external enemy. Why should the
federal government have the ministry of education, why should it have
ministry of agriculture or ministry of lands and housing? Federal
government does not own land, you cannot be doing agriculture when you
don’t have any land. The land belongs to state and local governments.
So, once we have that, let every region develop at its own pace.

There is no point in talking about whether or the North wants that to
happen. We cannot be talking about the North when there is no North.
You can’t be killing people in Benue and say they are Northerners;
they are not. I spoke to some professors in Niger State, they told me
that they are more bitter about this so called Nigeria than we Yoruba
are; that they have been the perpetual slaves of the Fulani that they
cannot even talk. They slaughter Benue people almost on daily basis.
The Zango Kataf people in Southern Kaduna are being killed on daily
basis, and you are calling them Northerners? You only have the
caliphate that has overrun the rest of the so called North, but they
never succeeded in overrunning Kanuri, the Borno people.

But of course, for selfish reasons, and for what their stomach will
eat, there are some leaders of Borno, some leaders of Jukun, Benue,
like Paul Unongo, Plateau who they decorate with an empty title of the
chairman of Northern whatever. The person you can say is the leader of
Arewa is (Ibrahim) Coomassie who is a Fulani from Katsina. They
deceived Sunday Awoniyi and made him chairman. Chairman of who? They
deceived Unongo and say he is the head of Arewa, how can Unongo be
chairman of Arewa when they are killing his people every day? I’m
saying therefore, there is no more North and the South must begin to
recognize that fact.

We have been so timid because we have been brainwashed to believe that
there is a superior force somewhere. No, we don’t have any Nigerian
army now, what we have is a Fulani army that may still be exploiting
some people in the military. The kind of military that went to
massacre the Igbo does not exist anymore. I’m still asking whether
there are Igbo among the people from 82 Division who went to harass
people in Abia. I doubt if there were any Igbo or any Yoruba there.
They will selectively call on their Fulani and some stupid Hausa who
have still not seen themselves as slaves to join them.

What about the political conferences like that of 2014. People have
suggested that we take this document and implement what we can.

At that point in time, it probably satisfied some concerns, but now we
have grown beyond that. You cannot be talking about 2014 conference
that recommended that you should create one more state in the South
East, and create more local governments. We have gone beyond that,
state creation is not the business of the federal government, local
government creation is not the business of any federal government. Let
the republics create them. If you want to create one million states in
Yoruba republic, it is your business.

What is obvious from your point is that we cannot move forward without
tinkering with the structure of Nigeria, but still you have a
situation where the Hausa/Fulani…?

There is no Hausa/Fulani, you cannot be Ibibio/Efik, you cannot be
Annang/Ibibio, or Ijebu/Egba. These are the things they use to confuse
us; the use of language for political effect. You have only the
Fulani, about five million of them.

You have this arrangement where the Fulani who like you said are in
control of the military still opposed to restructuring. How do we go
about getting the country you want?

Yes, they control the army, the intelligence service, the SSS,
immigration the police and so on, but it is possible through two
approaches; only two. First is brain, second is brawn.. The Fulani
brought us to where we are today using brawn, and a bit of trickery
and deceit. But it was largely through the military. The creation of
states, killing Biafrans, killing Southerners in the North, local
government creation, presidential system… all those were made possible
by the military. In fact, like I said earlier, it was the military
even though they did well in providing infrastructure that was used by
the Fulani to destroy Nigeria politically.

And I have argued that as unpalatable as it might sound, it is still
the military that can take us out of this mess. It is either organised
military or armed militia that will come from various parts of the
country, this status quo cannot continue. The 36 states cannot pay
salaries, the federal government cannot pay police salaries. They are
owing the military pensioners three months salary areas. So, it’s
either we wait for the oil to dry up or to be unprofitable, which will
happen in the next few years, then everyone will go away. But what we
are saying is, please come now, let us restructure Nigeria. The
caliphate has more to benefit than any other part of this country.

Why do you say that?

They have a lot of resources which laziness and over dependence on
people’s wealth which they have been spoon feeding on has stopped them
from exploring. The caliphate, the North East and Middle Belt are so
rich in agriculture that if you have Middle Belt republic and
Caliphate republic, and Elkanemi republic, they can be exporting
agricultural products: cattle, beef, tomatoes and so on to the rest of
the world. They will make more money from exporting agriculture
produce, but they abandoned all that because they are stealing the
resources of the South. Lagos alone contributes more than 67 percent
of VAT than the rest of the country put together. They say they don’t
drink alcohol… which is a lie, but if you don’t drink alcohol and we
consume it in the South, why are you using our VAT money to develop
yourselves?

So, to answer your question, we will get out of it using our brains
which is what we are doing now, trying to persuade everybody. If that
fails, it would be brawn. But either of the two must yield to us the
country we want. And it is in the interest of everyone to allow brain
to decide for us. If Nigeria breaks into militia as you have in
Somalia, it will not be palatable for anybody. So, let us go the
Czech-Slovakia model. Let’s decide to stay apart peacefully and come
together in a confederation than to wait for militia to emerge from
every part of the country.

The people in Southern Kaduna will not wait indefinitely; people in
Benue will not wait indefinitely. They have been able to conquer
Plateau, but some elements of Plateau are going to wake up and say no,
you cannot put army of occupation in our land. I told some people that
you can say whatever you like about (Nnamdi) Kanu but I believe that
there is no Nigerian today who commands the kind of followership he
commands, so such a person cannot be dismissed. The forces they have
gathered, you can drive them underground, but when they unleash terror
on this country it will not be funny. The military may be the only
organised force, but they don’t have monopoly of violence.
___

A Favour Richly Rewarded

During the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, many Igbo people fled other parts of the country for the East because they were being killed and massacred wantonly and the government was doing nothing about it.

Many abandoned their homes, properties and businesses for safety. Of them, was a young Igbo architect who had a young Yoruba banker as a neighbour in Apapa, Lagos. He also abandoned his home and with his family fled for the East.

However, the young Yoruba banker, while the war lasted, rented out his neighbour's house and kept every kobo for him while he was in the East. After the war, the Igbo architect returned to Lagos and the Yoruba banker handed over the entire proceeds of the rent and also the house to the Igbo architect.

Some few years later, the Igbo architect became the Vice President of Nigeria and the Yoruba banker established a commercial bank, the first by a private citizen in the country's history.

However, he could not get a license to begin banking operations. Many people were against him because it was unheard of at the time.

At this time, the banker remembered his neighbour who was now the Vice President and tracked him to the Christ Church Cathedral, Marina, Lagos on a particular Sunday. He had tried to get appointment to see him in his office but without success.

He and his wife then decided to go lay ambush for him in Church but the security men did not allow them. They then decided to sit by the pew close to the aisle to beat the security in the hope that the Vice President would see them while he walked to the front row. Yet, he still didn't see them.

After the church program they positioned that he will see them on his way out. However, the people following him out and security blocked his view. That was when the banker's wife decided to take a risk and like the woman with the issue of blood, she pulled the Vice President's cloth to get his attention who then turned and saw his old friend.

The young banker then narrated his plight and told the Vice President how he had tried to see him and what he needed to see him for. He told the him about his application for a bank licence.

“Don’t worry yourself. Just come tomorrow at the Federal Executive Council meeting which I would preside because President Shehu Shagari would not be there,'' the Vice President assured him.

By 3.00pm the next day, the Finance Minister called the banker on phone that his licence was ready. The rest they say is history.

That young banker was Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun while the architect in this narrative was one of Africa’s elder statesmen and former Vice President of the Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme. The bank is what is now First City Monument Bank.

One good turn truly deserves another and it is good to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Have a historical week ahead. #HistoryVille

*Credits: Ayomide Akinbode*

2017 ANI AHABA HERO AWARD RECEIPENTS

2017 ANI AHABA HERO AWARD RECEIPENTS

And Our Heroes Are:

Chief Ubaka Attoh
* Ani Ahaba Man of the year.

Obi Benibe Ugboko
* Ani Ahaba Red Cap Chief of the year

Chief Enyi Dr. Barr. Theodorah Anwuli Adadioranma Giwa-Amu JP
* Ani Ahaba Olinzele Chief of the year.

Ogbueshi Adizue Eluaka
* Ani Ahaba Political Icon of the year.

Nwafor Dumebi John
* Ani Ahaba Community Development Icon of the year.

Late Hajiya Maryam Ndidi Babangida
* Ani Ahaba Ever Green Hero of the Year.

Chiedu Odiachi
* Ani Ahaba Youth Role Model Icon of the year.

Obi Chief (Dr.) Ada Nwanneamaka Biosah.
* Ani Ahaba Woman Leader of the year.

S. Elizabeth Bird & Fraser M. Ottanelli
* Ani Ahaba Diasporan Hero of the year.

Hon Arinze Kingsley Chikelu
* Ani Ahaba Non-Indigene Hero of the Year.

Congratulations to you all, thanks for being there for Ani Ahaba.

We will present plaques to our awardees soonest, after notifying them about the award.

Once again we say thanks to you all.

With lots of love from

Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum
Publisher
Asaba Post News Wire ONLINE

Council Polls: Okwe Is 100% PDP........Ward Chairman

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

As the Oshimili South LGA chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) continues campaign to ward levels, her train berthed yesterday, Thursday, at Okwe.

Mr Douglas ijeh, Okwe community-ward 3 chairman, in his welcome speech observed that now is a new dawn for the ward.

We are now beginning to witness good things in our ward, the governor is today keeping his promises.

In Okwe community, no other party exist here, we are 100% PDP, the party ward chairman assured visiting party elders.

One of the ward's leader, Ogbueshi John Agunyea, note that there are none here that is not PDP faithful.

Okwe community is fully PDP, We are the major political force here, others are not there or are just following us behind.

We thank the government for improvement recorded in our schools, We have being assure that our roads will receive attention, we pray the governor to help us as promised.

The January 6th council election is done deal, we are giving PDP a block vote, a 100% vote for PDP is sure from Okwe community, Agunyea promised.


Both Mr Ijeh Afamefuna and Mr Uju Udeme, observed that the ward is more peaceful now than before.

Their confidence that the ward will perform creditablely for PDP was evident in their goodwill messages

For Hon Mrs Caroline ijeh, an appreciation to ward members for their large turn out.

From your large outing today, it shows that come 6th January, 2018, we will show why we are Okwe community, as our votes will all go to PDP, Hon Caroline Ijeh assured.

For Evang Ebeielim maduemezia, Okwe community is a success story.

It is evident that ward 3 is now united more than before, I thanks all of you for this success story.

To your youth, women and elders, I say thank you

We seek block votes, all your registered voters are needed to be mobilized and made to vote for PDP.

To the Party LGA  chairman, Ogbueshi Dada Okonji, I thank you, your leadership has brought peace to Okwe community, Maduemezia noted.

Sen Francis Nwajei, thanked the ward members, saluted their courage, large turn out and urged them to cast all their votes for PDP in the forthcoming council polls.

Madam Kanynwulia Omoko, the party's state woman leader,
prayed that the current wave of peace in Okwe Community   be sustained.

I beg you to go out and get registered at the on going voters registration exercise taking place in Oshimili South LGA.

An obviously elated Comrade Uche Osadebe, the party flag bearer, with joy over the large turn out, expressed his appreciation.

I know that you all will come out to vote for PDP.

Am not here to campaign as the works of PDP is evident in Okwe, It is evident that our governor cares and listens, Comrade Uche Osadebe said.

Ogbueshi Dada Okonji, LGA party chairman, happily relating to the people, shared his reasons for joy.

During my last visit here, you complained about your schools and road infrastructural needs, I recalled I promised you that before I come back here again all your needs will be attended to by the governor

Today, I am happy all the needs are taken care of by the governor, this shows we have a governor that cares.

Vote for your councillor, vote for the chairman, vote for PDP althrough.

We have gone round the 25 LGAs and round wards, yet we have not seen any other party campaigning, this shows we love the people.

We are looking forward to celebrate election victory with you all, come January 8th, 2018, Ogbueshi Dada Okonji assured.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

ANTICULT VOLUNTEER CORPS CALL FOR THE BAN OF CANNON/FIREWORKS IN PUBLIC EVENTS..

Disturbed by the havoc wreaked on residences and participants at Ndokwa West PDP Local Government Council Elections campaign flag off rally by the shot of a cannon, The President ANTICULT VOLUNTEER CORPS      Austyne Emu  has called on the State Government  to look into laws the use of cannon shots in public events as well as the controlling the importation and use of fireworks by Deltans  with the aim to curbing the indiscriminate use of cannon and storage of firecrackers

This decision was reached in an emergency meeting held in the Headquarters of the AVC  after Mr Jerry Ojugbeli  a driver to the Deputy speaker of the Delta state  House Assembly died from injuries sustained from a canon gun shot at the Ndokwa west PDP local Council Elections Campaign flag off rally at kwale on Thursday 22st December 2017 with many injured and properties destroyed.

According to him fire outbreak as a result from indiscriminate use and storage of fireworks is no more a sign for celebration but a gory to the society, noting that thursday ’s cannon incident was disastrous and tragic.

He urged state  to look at  laws on the use of cannon shots as well as  fireworks, insisting that people now use cannon and store firecrackers indiscriminately, a practice he blamed for the disaster.

He said “We use cannon shots indiscriminately in this part of the world.

He also described as wrong the way residence use fire works indiscriminately

He urged the state  to make a law that will curb the indiscriminate use of cannon shots in public places and storage of fireworks, adding that nowadays. “It is difficult to differentiate between the sound of a firecrackers and a bomb,” said

He said the trend is dangerous to security in the finger of God

Following the issue on ground Dr Agboro Andrew,the Executive Director of the  Gender Justice Department of the Anticult Volunteer Corps  call on all Deltans particularly shop owners, to desist from storing explosives at home “and those who deal in this kind of business should not stockpile them where people are residing.

He also urge the legal department of the Delta State House of Assembly   to look at the law that has to do with fireworks order to facilitate working on the  indiscriminate use.

BOBO M. OSUYA
Director Administration
Anticult Volunteer Corps

For the
PRESIDENT

Accept my sympathy: Nwaoboshi, to Ndokwa Nation*

*
By: CYPRIAN ODIFILI

 Senator Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi, representing the Delta North senatorial district at the National Assembly has sent his condolences to the people of Ndokwa West on the sudden death yesterday, December, 21, 2017, of mr Jerry Ojugbeli, one of the drivers of Rt Hon. Friday Ossanebi, the Dupty Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly.

Mr. Ojugbeli was a victim of accidental discharge from a canon shot at the Ndokwa West LG council elections flag off campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held at Kwale on Thursday December 21, 2017.

Mr. Ojugbeli died as a result of injuries sustained.

Senator Nwaoboshi in his condolence message through Hon. Andie Onyemeziem, the Head of his Media Team, expressed his deepest sympathy to the immediate family of the deceased, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi and to the entire people of Ndokwa Nation as well as Delta State PDP.

Senator Nwaonishi expressed his sympathy and prayed for the repose of his soul.

SPON MEDIA TEAM.

MSMEs as panacea to youth unemployment: Delta’s example

Posted By: Okungbowa Aiwerie On: December 22, 2017
Last week, over 400 trained youths participated in a Products Exhibition and Business Fair which held in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The crowd of youthful exhibitors, beneficiaries of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) designed by the Okowa-led administration to help achieve its twin goals of tackling unemployment and nurturing Micro, Small and medium scale Enterprises (MSME’s), filled the cenotaph.

A morning haze, which was tempered by a cool breeze, hung over the venue of the event.  Loud contemporary Nigerian music thrilled the audience -creating a carnival atmosphere .The mood was buoyant and the crowd expectant.

Gaily dressed women, mostly PDP faithful, filled the terraces adding colour and drama to the event.

Hundreds of excited youths, clad in sky-blue vests and base -ball caps, jeans trousers manned colourful booths- exhibiting their creative and productive potentials in a variety of goods and services. The exhibitors were some of the graduates of the Okowa administration’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme (YAGEP) schemes.



Business was brisk at the fair. Rows of food vendors, mainly products of the scheme’s catering and confectionary programme, offered both Nigerian, Foreign and local delicacies to the teeming crowd. Sizzling hot barbecued catfish, roasted ham, bacon and chicken were on display on locally fabricated ovens –an inviting aroma hung over the grounds. Many seized the opportunity provided by the business fair to shop for the yuletide.

The art of weaving of the local fabric (Akwa-Ocha) received a boost with the display of modern Akwa-Ocha machines, to improve productivity and reduce production times.

Akwa-Ocha, a local fabric, literally means white cloth. It is a symbol of the cultural heritage of the Anioma people.

The well-apportioned booths brimmed with a variety of goods and services including ICT, hair dressing and makeover, catering and confectionary, cosmetology, craft/home care products ,decoration and event management ,electrical installation and repairs ,fashion design and tailoring ,shoe-making upholstery ,welding and Fabrication and auto mechanic works.

The agricultural enterprises covered aquaculture, crop production, agro-processing and piggery.

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who declared the Product Exhibition and Business Fair open, was accompanied to the event by Ex-Governor James Ibori and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and several top functionaries.   Other include wife of the Governor of Delta State, Edith Okowa, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, Ebi.



Okowa noted that his administration recognition that certain economic sectors and activities hold the highest potentials for job and wealth creation for the economy ,adding that this informed the need by his  government to spend more on these sectors knowing it is cost effective and go a long way to reduce youth unemployment and poverty

His words, “Globally, it has been established that certain economic sectors and activities hold the highest potentials for job and wealth creation for the economy; these are agriculture, agribusiness, agro-based industries, vocational skills-based micro enterprises, cottage enterprises, small and medium scale enterprises as well as public works such as environmental sanitation, housing and road construction; in fact, interventions in these sectors are generally cost-effective and go a long way to reduce youth unemployment and poverty, while ensuring social inclusion, positive economic growth and sustainable development as has been observed in many countries in South Asia, South East Asia and Latin America.”

Through our flagship Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), we have achieved what many thought was unthinkable; after two programme cycles, two thousand, three hundred and twenty four (2,324) previously unemployed youths are now small business owners and employers of labour.”

Okowa lauded the Products Exhibition and Business Fair organised by the beneficiaries of Job Creation Scheme of his administration.

The Nation

We Have Paid Salaries For December, Okowa

We Have Paid Salaries For December, Okowa
… Says Asaba Stadium To Be Ready For ASAC In March, 2018

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said salaries of civil servants for the month of December have been paid.

According to the Governor, his administration has consistently, paid the salaries of civil servants, noting that approval has also, been given for the release of the sum of N2 billion to pay for other deductions owed civil servants.

Governor Okowa made the disclosure while responding to a question during a quarterly parley with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba on Monday (18/12/17).

“We have approved the payment of December salary and I am confident that from tomorrow (Tuesday, 19/12/17), every worker in the state would have received his or her salary,” the Governor said, disclosing that money from the Paris Club refund was spent on salaries and the execution of projects.

On the 2018 edition of African Senior Athletic Championship, Governor Okowa said construction work at the Asaba Township Stadium will be completed in March 2018 in readiness for the hosting of the championship.

He observed that there are lots of benefits derivable from hosting such a tournament which will attract people from different parts of Africa to Asaba, the state capital.

“We are passionate about sports in Delta State, we have renowned sports men and women; we are excited that we are going to host the 2018 edition of ASAC and we are doing everything possible for the Asaba Township Stadium to be ready in the month of March next year,” he said.

The Governor assured that his administration was committed to Delta State remaining the number one state in sports development in the country, noting that within two years of his administration, Principal Cup championship have been revived in the state while the annual sports festival have been consistent as avenues to “catch them young.”

Governor Okowa also, disclosed that his administration has constructed more than 170 classrooms and established new schools, and ensured that schools in the state are well equipped to cater for the need of teachers and students.

He also, stated that hospitals in the state will be used for the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, adding that work would be completed at the Asaba Central Hospital next year.

Throwing more light on the Health Insurance Scheme, the Governor stated those captured in the scheme would derive a lot of benefits from the scheme, asserting that the success story of the scheme in the state will make Nigerians know that such programme can be executed in the country to ensure a healthy nation.

The People, My Major Concern and Priority...Juluga

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer in the forthcoming January 6th 2018 council elections, has declared his electoral focus and priority.

Mr Chike Philip Juluga today, Tuesday, at a live television program on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), shared that the welfare of Oshimili South LGA people is top most on his agenda.

Of my administration, once the people entrust me with their mandate, is over loaded with lots of benefit for the people.

He reasoned that the people at grassroot deserves enhanced quality healthcare services.

There is nothing stopping our people from benefiting from quality primary and secondary health services at our primary health care facilities in the council area.

Only good leadership at grassroot level makes the difference, Juluga noted.

To better the lot of our people, my administration will leverage on the gains of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

A lot of economic advantage can reach the people through this partnership, as small scale entrepreneurial ventures stand to benefit more.

Juluga maintained that he is the best candidate for the January 6th 2018 council polls.

I am not an opposition candidate, am the necessary complement Governor Okowa needs to help him manage the common wealth of our people in Oshimili South LGA.

For me, the people are my focus, making life better for them is my Committment and priority.

I have no political God Father, the people are my God Fathers.

My agenda is for the people, you see, you have to do something for the people, they must feel the impact of your government.

You have to bring something credible and tangible on the table for the people to benefit from.

RCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE) People, My Major Concern and Priority...Juluga

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer in the forthcoming January 6th 2018 council elections, has declared his electoral focus and priority.

Mr Chike Philip Juluga today, Tuesday, at a live television program on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), shared that the welfare of Oshimili South LGA people is top most on his agenda.

Of my administration, once the people entrust me with their mandate, is over loaded with lots of benefit for the people.

He reasoned that the people at grassroot deserves enhanced quality healthcare services.

There is nothing stopping our people from benefiting from quality primary and secondary health services at our primary health care facilities in the council area.

Only good leadership at grassroot level makes the difference, Juluga noted.

To better the lot of our people, my administration will leverage on the gains of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

A lot of economic advantage can reach the people through this partnership, as small scale entrepreneurial ventures stand to benefit more.

Juluga maintained that he is the best candidate for the January 6th 2018 council polls.

I am not an opposition candidate, am the necessary complement Governor Okowa needs to help him manage the common wealth of our people in Oshimili South LGA.

For me, the people are my focus, making life better for them is my Committment and priority.

I have no political God Father, the people are my God Fathers.

My agenda is for the people, you see, you have to do something for the people, they must feel the impact of your government.

You have to bring something credible and tangible on the table for the people to benefit from.

RCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

ENGR JUAN GOVERNOR PLEADS FOR PEACE BETWEEN IBEDENI AND OYEDE COMMUNITIES.

The PDP Chairmanship candidate for Ndokwa East LGA have pleaded with Ibedeni community in Ndokwa East LGA and Oyede community in Isoko North LGA to sheath their sword and embrace peace. He made this appeal when he visited the palace of the Ogene of Ibedeni today 17th of December 2017. "As a leader, I had to act fast in order to prevent the situation from degenerating further and to initiate a dialogue process." He pleaded for peace to prevail and for them to give dialogue a chance.

Both communities gave their own versions of how the crisis started. It will be recalled that this same issue is before a customary court in Ashaka. The issue surround the ownership of "Okoro-amam" community popularly called "Okrama" for short. "On hearing about the crisis I decided to visit Ibedeni community to attend the peace talk in order to assure them of my sincerity of restoring lasting peace to these communities especially as my LGA is affected."

The incoming chairman of Ndokwa East LGA, successfully initiated a peace process between both communities as they both agreed to meet at the palace of the Ovie of Oleh on a later date to further dialogue on a lasting solution. They both had to settle for a neutral place for the peace meeting. Speaking further, he said both communities have lived together for years and have intermarried, this alone should encourage them to embrace peace

The President General of Isoko Development Union (IDU) was present in the meeting. Hon (Mrs) Matilda Prosper-Onyemgba, the councillorship candidate of PDP for Ibedeni was also in the meeting.

ANIOCHA NORTH COUNCILORSHIP CANDIDATE TASK ON SERIOUS CAMPAIGNS

Councilorship candidates in Aniocha North local government for the January 2018 local government election have been charged to campaign with the seriousness it deserves in order to win convincingly in all the 14 Wards across the local government.

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the area, Prince Victor Egbune, who gave the charge at lssele Uku during the flag off the campaign also appealed to those who lost out during the primary election to put the defeat behind them and work with the candidates to ensure total victory for the party.

Lending his voice also, the member representing Aniocha North in the Delta State House of Assembly, Engineer Emeke Nwaobi, thank all who came out in their numbers to support PDP and appealed to the party faithfuls to come out en- masse and vote for the PDP in order to win with by a wide margin.

Similarly, the Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission, Dame Nkem Okwuofu, enjoined the candidates to deliver their wards, saying that the outcome of the Council polls would determine how the House of Assembly and governorship elections in 2019 would be decided.

The councillorship candidates that were presented the party flags included Chiedu Nioagwuani for ward One, Anene Mathew Ward Two, Ekene Eziunor ward Three, Uche Chiejine ward Four, Okolie Alex ward Five, Emma Ofili ward Six and kawekune Philip ward Seven. Others were Ekene Nwaonye Ward Eight, Tony Kido ward Nine, Uwadinma Ofili ward Ten, Okafor Peter Ward Eleven, Jude Maduabuchukwu ward twelve; Mrs Nkechi Bardi ward Thirteen and Edgar Onyeshinye ward Fourteen.

DAME EDITH OKOWA PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO HEALTH FOR ALL

The Wife of the State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, has reiterated the commitment of the State Government towards the provision of health for all Deltans.

Dame Okowa stated this in Asaba when she flagged off the second round of Maternal Newborn Child Health Week (MNCHW).

She said that the state government as part of efforts to strengthen the health care of Deltans had started implementing free medical care for the elderly and disabled as well as improved the free under five medical services.

Dame Edith Okowa called on mothers to be the ambassadors of health for their wards by taking vaccination of their children and wards seriously or be held responsible if preventable diseases affect them, stressing that ignorance was not an excuse.

She further called on women to help in the reduction ratio of maternal mortality by choosing from the various family planning options saying that family planning reduces the death of mothers.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge during his opening address said that the State had successfully implemented 16 rounds of the MNCHW since its inception in march 2010.

He said that the programme was an intervention measure for preventive and curative services aimed to reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate in Nigeria.

Dr Azinge noted that with the contributory health insurance scheme and the Delta State Strategic Health Work Plan, the state was poised to improving healthcare coverage.

On her part the Chairman of Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA) Dr Mrs Isioma Okobah, said that the Agency was working according to the 1978 declaration on Primary Health Care.

She said that activities would involve fixed post in the health facilities and outreach to markets, school, churches and mosque and appealed to communities to own the programme.

She further praised the resilience of the health workers for their dedication, focus and commitment to duty in the various primary healthcare centres especially in the rural communities for bringing health services closer to Deltans.

Speaking on behalf of the donor partners of the MNCHW, UNICEF Rivers’ Field Office, Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, said that the state was in the five priorities state due to the commitment of the state government.

She appreciated the Governor for approving nutrition and immunization activities in the year 2018 budget opining that it would help in improving the statistics of the state.

In the same vein, the state coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ofonakor Uzoka, said that Nigeria was the second largest contributor to maternal mortality worldwide and appealed to the state government to sustain the health drive by releasing the state government conditional counterparts fund.

He said that the NPHCDA was renovating one Primary health facility per ward in the state to boost health care delivery.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the vaccination of children by Dame Edith Okowa, Mrs Kevwe Agas, wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Azinge, Dr Okobah, the Omu of Anioma, Obi Martha Dunkwu, Omu of Ahaba, Obi Dr Ada Biose, officials of WHO, UNICEF and other personalities present.

YOUTHS TOLD TO SHUN UNACCEPTED LIFE STYLE, CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO GROWTH, DEVT

Youths in the society have been advised to shun all forms of unaccepted life style and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of their localities.

A front line Community leader, in Okpanam, Chief Kanayo Chiemeke, gave the advice in Okpanam shortly after taking the Olor title.

Chief Chiemeke stated that when youths carry-on with an impeccable life style, they were bound to attract recognition from their elders.

He said expressed joy at his chieftaincy installation, saying it had actualized his aged long dreams of becoming a Chief, stressing that he would avail himself of the exalted title to continue to add value to his community.

He pledged to contribute his quota towards decision process making that would take his community to an enviable height.

The ceremony which was attended by the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, attracted several dignitaries including a renowned chief in the community, Chief Paul Nwayalani, among others.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Priest of Okpanam community, Chief Abua Ntoka, urged the newly initiated Chief to avoid any act that would portray the forum of chiefs in the community in bad light.

In their separate remarks, the wives of the newly crowned chief, Ebele and Augustina Chiemeke expressed joy and thanked well wishers for identifying with the Chiemeke family, even as they prayed for good health for their husband.

DELTA CJ RELEASES 150 INMATES, NURSING MOTHER

There was wild jubilation in the Warri Medium Prison as the State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Marshal Umukoro released a total of 65 inmates back to society as he concluded his 2017 quarterly Prison visit in Warri Medium Prison on Tuesday.

Those released included a nursing mother of a two months old baby who was standing trial for grievous harm and several others who regained their freedom to join their families in the Christmas celebration.

The Chief Judge ordered their released amidst jubilation on the grounds of ill health,  lack of diligent prosecutions,  offence committed not known to law and no case submissions rendered by the Attorney-General of the State through the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Other criteria used by the CJ to free the inmates from captivity were on the ground of the validity of the remand warrants whether it was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the period the inmate has spent in custody awaiting trial and other exceptional circumstances.

Justice Umukoro who said he reviewed 3,036 remand warrants and released a total of 150 inmates from the Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku, Kwale, Sapele and Warri Prisons in an exercise that started on November 14, 2017, disclosed that the visits were in pursuant to the provision of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody (Special Provision) Act Cap, Volume 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 saying that they were aimed at decongesting the prisons.

While lamenting the high number of youths wasting in prison custody, the CJ observed that most inmates found their way into Prisons because they refused to live within the confines of law and morality.

He said a majority of age bracket of inmates in custody fell within 17 and 27 years which according to Justice Umukoro,  showed a gross dysfunction in the family system in the country,  adding that many of them were from poor background but was quick to say that poverty should not be an excuse to go into crime.

Amongst those released on bail was a pregnant woman while a man remanded in prison custody for over eight months for stealing a bottle of Benelyn Cough Syrup worth N1, 200 was ordered to be set free by the Chief Judge.

The Chief Judge while commending the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Ernest Edomwonyi and his team for his contributions towards the success of the exercise, called for the reorganization of some Zonal Offices of the Ministry of Justice for more effective service delivery

The Needful For Our Cashless Economy* (My FCT Chronicle I)

*
_By Yusuf Adeyinka Placid_



The Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy was designed to drive financial inclusion and the modernization of the country’s payment system. According to the country’s apex bank, an efficient and modern payment system is positively correlated with economic development and is a key enabler for economic growth. Other benefits listed by the Central Bank of Nigeria include: safety convenience and easy tracking of individuals among others.

While these are noble goals, the Central Bank of Nigeria has not matched its rhetoric with actions. But interestingly,  the story is not all gloom and doom as the policy has also recorded some successes.

Be that as it may, this year will be the sexennium period (six years) after the official launch of this policy and the fact is that cash-based transactions are still common in place when customers still complain about time wasted while carrying out routine transactions in the banks.

Let’s not deny the fact, part of my doubts on the overall success of this policy is especially when traders in the pilot state of our nation [Abuja] cannot read or write and as such it cedes to be too difficult for to them to operate mobile phones as well as to use Point of Sale (POS) and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) terminals to transact their businesses.

On this, the Central Bank of Nigeria could address this through carrying out aggressive cum massive sensitization campaigns, they should bring this to those people through language friendly platforms (the language they understand), there should be specially and specifically terminals of ATM/POS which would be of their local languages.

Also, I am doubtful on the statistics provided by the apex bank, in which less than 70 million Nigerians use the banks for business transactions. A rice seller or buyer might not have a bank account and might not be carried along on the policy.

Even if buyers and sellers have bank accounts, how are they expected to operate the point of sale terminals?

Concomitantly, this POS terminals had not been working effective due to the network problems. Against that backdrop, I could reminisce an experience witnessed in the Federal Capital Territory of this nation, Abuja when a lady wanted to make payments after purchasing some electronics but could not do so because POS failed and the lady opted for an ATM but the ATM also failed as a result of network problems.

In all, adoption and usage of POS/ATM terminals must expand across the formal and informal sectors of the economy. One day, I had the opportunity to spend so urgent and unexpected. However I had grueling experience to get a terminal to withdraw funds from ATM until I spent #500 in the cause of transport just to withdraw #1000. The question to be asked is, why would in a city in fact Federal Capital Territory of our nation, one would have to spend #500 on transport so as to be able withdraw?

On this, corner stores, market woman, road side mechanics and other bottom-of-the-pyramid and operators need to have POS machines installed for utilization by their customers. While I understand there are infrastructural challenges for this to happen, it is however not insurmountable.

In December last year, the Indian government announced some measures to incentivize cashless transactions among its citizens including giving discount on purchase fuels and insurance policies. Beneficiaries are those who make payments using debit and credit cards, mobile phone applications and e-wallets. Merchants who encourage customers to make purchase of up to 2,000 rupees electronically get a waiver on certain merchant discount rate [MDR] charged by the issuing bank.                                                                                                                                                                       The key is incentivization.

When people are used to their old ways it is hard to change. The CBN should also work with the Ministry of Finance to come up with ways to incentivize the citizens to use their cards, incentivizes can also be provided for market women to adopt and use POS terminals.

Another cogent issue is the talked about infrastructural challenges inhibiting the smooth running of payment system and electronic banking must be resolved. Banks owe to their customers to invest more revamping their information and telecommunication technology capabilities. Without efficient e-payment services, the cashless system will stall.

To address the infrastructure problem, efforts should be made to put in place adequate infrastructural facilities in the country .As usual electricity is top on the list. We are in a nation where epileptic power supply is the order of the day, in which power is an impediment to the overall success of this policy.

Also, people do complain the challenges with accessing cash, ranging from frequently arriving at machines and they were out of service to long and rowdy queues at self-service channels.

Thus, government must be proactive in tackling this. The CBN should work with the National Assembly to enact proper legislation that will automatically drive a call or exchange. Private ATM should be promoted and encouraged while more service provider should be licensed.

Ultimately, the key to driving this cultural change is incentivizing. Giving incentives to people to start using their cards, incentivizing retailers to start encouraging banks to be more efficient with service delivery. Once people start using their cards, loyalty card programmers can also be introduced, potentially increasing the level of usage.

While there may still be a long and tortuous road ahead, both the economy and the people will benefit from the increased efforts.

The CBN has a lot of works to do in this regard to advance its cashless policy. It needs to increase efforts in working with other stakeholders to expand financial services to micro and small businesses, artisans and the larger informal sector.

The apex bank should also put in place measures to ensure banks are supporting the cashless policy by overhauling their ICT facilities to improve their payment delivery systems.

For this is the part one of my FCT chronicles.


- (Chronicler) *Yusuf Adeyinka Placid* mnim.
_A journalist and public affairs analyst, he’s a fresh graduate in Economics from Osun State University, Nigeria. A member of The Renaissance Nigeria (TRNG) Writers’ Club._

BAN ON FIREWORKS STILL IN FORCE, CP DELTA WARNS

17th December, 2017

PRESS RELEASE

BAN ON FIREWORKS STILL IN FORCE

CP DELTA WARNS

        The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP. Zanna M. Ibrahim psc

 has announced that the ban on the use of fireworks is still in force and that the Command will enforce all the extant laws prohibiting the use of fireworks such as “knock-out,” “banger” etc. The CP, while noting that the ban is necessary to safe-guard public safety and avoid distractions to security operatives, especially during the yuletide season, enjoins members of the public not to run foul of the law as anyone caught will be decisively dealt with.   

The CP also assures Deltans of their safety at all times and called on them to continue to support the police and other security agencies in their untiring efforts at providing a peaceful and secure environment for the people.



DSP ANDREW ANIAMAKA,

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

DELTA STATE COMMAND.

DELTA LG POLLS: Okowa Predicts Landslide Victory For PDP

... As Ibori, Uduaghan, Others Attend PDP Campaigns in Koko, Oghara, Sapele

Delta State Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has said that with the massive turnout of party faithful in all the PDP campaign rallies,, party candidates will win landslide in the Local Government Elections in 2018.

Speaking today (15/12/17) during the Peoples' Democratic Party [PDP] Local Government Election campaign flag off in Koko, Oghara and Sapele for the January 6, 2018  in Warri North, Ethiope West and Sapele local government areas, Governor Okowa called on party leaders to remain united and committed to the ideals of the party for it to emerge victorious in the elections.

According to Governor Okowa, "PDP is a party that believes in planning hence the vigorous campaigns to ensure victory for all our candidates", adding "with the crowd of party faithful here today, there is no doubt that the party candidates will win landslide come January 6th,"

The Governor assured that DESOPADEC will be empowered to carry out more projects in the areas in 2018.
.
Governor Okowa commended the people for their support for his administration, assuring the people  that the PDP government will continue to deliver on its electoral promises, assuring that the Sapele Road Dualisation and Market projects will be completed before May, 2018.

At Oghara, Governor Okowa acknowledged the sterling contributions of Chief James Ibori to the growth of the PDP in Delta State stating "Chief Ibori built a solid foundation for all of us in Delta State and by the grace of God the foundation will remain solid," stressing the strength of the PDP lies in Ethiope West local government.

Former Governor James Ibori who spoke in Urhobo thanked the people for their support for the PDP and urged them to turn out enmass to vote all PDP candidates in the oncoming Local government elections.

At Koko, Immediate Past Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan noted that Warri North has always been the centre of PDP and thanked God that there was no loss of lives in the choice of the Chairmanship candidate of the party. He called on Governor Okowa to use his good office as Governor, to seal the peace process already initiated in the Local government area.

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso expressed confidence that the PDP will win in the polls, asserting, "there is no other political party in the state; other political parties should come out and campaign if they trust in themselves."

Receiving decampees from other parties led by Keke Omuvwie and Abel Efe in Oghara, and Sapele, Esiso assured the decampees that PDP accords equal opportunities to all members.

Barr. Esiso had earlier presented party flags to the Chairmanship candidates Hon. Aduge Okorodudu, Solomon Golley and Eugene Inoaghan at Koko, Oghara and Sapele respectively.