Saturday, April 6, 2019
I Remain Senator-Elect, Nwaoboshi Cries Out
By Shehu Bello
The senator-elect for Delta North, Peter Nwaoboshi, Thursday said that he has not been sacked by any court.
Nwaoboshi who is also the sitting senator representing the same Senatorial District, noted that contrary to report, no court sacked him as he was no longer the candidate of a political party but a senator-elect with certificate of return.
He said that he has already filed a notice of appeal to challenge the ruling of Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on April, 3rd, 2019.
The Delta North senator told reporters at a press conference in Abuja that apart from filing his notice of appeal, he has taken other steps to curtail what he described as “judicial rascality in the country.
He noted that “the beauty of the Nigeria’s legal system is that we rely on precedence” adding that “what is even worrisome is that the same judge who delivered the judgement on April 3rd, has ruled on similar case that the case was filed out of time.”
Nwaoboshi who said that “this country must be civil” insisted that “this country is not where people believe and boast that they can buy judgement.”
He said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sponsored him “and my party has come to court to say that I am its candidate.”
He said, “I was not sacked and there was no order that said INEC should withdraw my certificate of return and it was not asked.
The court does not give what you did not ask because the court is not Father Christmas.”
Nwaoboshi said that part of ground of his appeal is that the learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the suit was not caught by the 14 days rule in Section 285(9) Fourth Alteration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He noted that the primary election, subject matter of the suit was conducted on 2nd October, 2018 and the 14 days’ time allowed started running on the same 2nd October, 2018 when the primary election took place.
He said that another ground of appeal is that the learned trial judge erred in law when he held that he had jurisdiction to entertain the suit despite same being filed on 11th December, 2018 because the 1st respondent had earlier filed a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which he withdrew and was truck out on 10th December, 2018.
He noted that “the self-same suit withdrawn before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was withdrawn because it was caught by the same 14 days rule in view of Section 285 (9) Fourth Alteration to the Constitution, 1999 (as amended)
The Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday was reported to have sacked Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the senator-elect for Delta North Senatorial District.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Mr. Ned Nwoko challenging the election of Nwaoboshi as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the October 2, 2018 primaries of the party held in Delta.
The court held that Nwaoboshi, a serving senator, was not the duly elected candidate of the PDP in the primary election.
Justice Mohammed ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the name of Nwoko as PDP candidate, having established before the court that he scored the highest number of votes in the said primary election.
Why It May Be Difficult For Ned To Become A Senator
PRE ELECTION CASES AND THE CRUCIAL SECTION 285 AS AMMENDED
All parties to pre election matters need to take heed, for there is a far reaching amendment to section 285 of the constitution, 4th Alteration Act Number 21 of 2017, which came into effect on June 7, 2018 .
Section 285 is a revolutionary provision in the body of our electoral laws. This amendment which aims at curring certain mischiefs in our politics has opened new vistas in our electoral jurisprudence, the full weight and implications of which we shall soon appreciate as judicial decisions unfold in the coming days.
Just yesterday 3/4/2019, Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP Senator elect for Delta north was sacked by the court in a pre election matter. Ned Nwoko was ordered to replace him as the duly nominated candidate of PDP. Expectedly, this matter would get to the Supreme court, and whatever decision therefrom shall be heavily founded on section 285 as amended.
Before then, two APC factions in Delta State have been at daggers drawn in a sweltering pre election disputation that has given rise to several FHC decisions. Both camps, Jones Erue and Ogodo have remained intransigent so far, and except a political solution is embraced, the party, APC stands the risk of some real casualty. If the Supreme court is allowed to put a final seal to this matter, section 285 will be crucial in deciding either way.
For ease of reference, the amendment to Section 285 of the Constitution, provides as follows:
(9) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, every pre-election matter shall be filed not later than 14 days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit.
(10) A court in every pre-election matter shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of filing of the suit.
(11) An appeal from a decision in a pre-election matter shall be filed within 14 days from the date of delivery of the judgment appealed against
(12) An appeal from a decision of a court in a pre-election matter shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal.
(13) An election tribunal or court shall not declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all stages of the election.
It is pointless here to mention any section of the extant Electoral Act supporting or opposing section 285 of the 1999 constitution as amended. This is because it is elementary that any other law, inclusive of provisions of the Electoral Act, remains null and void so long it is at logger heads with the constitution.
Already section 285 has been tested in recent supreme court decisions on pre election matters, going far back as 2015. Interestingly too, the Supreme court has decided that this provision which came into effect on June 7, 2018, should have retrospective effect. In other words , it affects pre elections matters that arose even before it came into effect.
Two panels of the Supreme Court, headed by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria , Justice Tanko Mohammed and Justice Bode Rhodes - Vivour , struck out each of the appeals, saying that the effect of the 4th Alteration was that all pre - election appeals that were either not commenced within 14 days of the arising of the cause of action or determined within the stipulated 60 days had become spent ( no longer valid ).
Justice Muhammad, while presiding over the first panel , explained that the Supreme Court had , in its judgements delivered on January 18 , 2019 , in the appeals marked, SC /307 /2018 and SC /308 / 2018 , held that the new constitutional provisions took immediate and retrospective effects on all pending pre - election cases .
One of the 14 appeals struck out on the basis of the new constitutional provision was one by Senator Umaru Dahiru , challenging the candidacy of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State in the 2015 election .
The court also struck out the appeal filed by Wahab Abiodun and four others against Senator Monsurat Jumoke Aduke Sunmonu and another .
Delivering judgements in two separate suits challenging the qualification of APC governorship candidates to contest the March 9 , 2019 election in Ogun and Adamawa states , Mr Dapo Abiodun and Governor Bindo Jibrilla , respectively, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory , in Apo , noted that the new constitutional provisions was meant to “ cure a mischief” .
“ Experiences of the facts , of which this court is entitled to take judicial notice , being notorious facts , are that pre - election matters , particularly relating to qualification and /or nomination of candidates for a particular election , in many instances protracts beyond the very election in question.
“ In some instances , courts continue to grapple with pre - election actions challenging the nomination of candidates to stand for election even after the elections had been conducted , won and lost .
“ In some other instances, pre - election matters outlast the tenure of candidates that won the election .
“ It is the view of this court , therefore , that it is in order to prevent the recurrence of these ridiculous and embarrassing situations , which have caused chaotic and needless distractions for elected officers from performing the functions for which they are elected .
It was this that precipitated the insertion of Section 285 ( 9) into the Constitution, in order to ensure that all pre - election matters are disposed of timeosly ."
Another very important function of s. 285 is that it cured the michief in Amaechi's case. So that, no longer shall a man reap where he did not sow. See sub (13) supra.
The take home lessons are clear: if you are a pre election litigant, and you did not file your suit 14 days from when the cause of action arose, your suit is a nullity ab initio. You are wasting time and resources as it will not survive the Supreme court.
Two, if you are an aspirant in a political party and you did not participate in ALL THE STAGES of the election, even if your rival at the primaries is sacked after the election as not being the duly nominated candidate of your party, you cannot step in as the beneficiary. That is, Amaechi's precedent can no longer avail you.
We await with bated breath more practical legal applications by the Supreme Court ,of this robust constitutional intervention in our politics.
From this article above, Ned Nwoko can never become a Senator in the coming 9th Assembly. Never!
Un-usable Court Victory
Un-usable Court Victory
I congratulate Mr. Ned Nwoko on his victory at the Federal High Court on the 4th of March 2019. But the victory is merely academic.
He cannot however become a Senator on the strength of a general election in which he did not participate.
In the same vein, Chief Victor Ochei cannot become Governor of Delta State merely because the Federal High Court had nullified the nomination of Chief Ogboru, on the ground of flawed Primary election within his party, the APC.
For those who have forgotten, the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State nullified the gubernatorial primary of the APC held on September 30, 2018 which produced Great Ogboru as the party’s candidate for the 2019 governorship election.
The nullification followed a suit filed by Victor Ochei, who was dis- satisfied with the conduct of the primaries and had approached the court seeking cancellation of the exercise.
Gone are the days when an aspirant within a party, who was not presented by the party at the General election, would incarnate as the office holder even when he did not participate at the election.
Section 285 (13) of the constitution, (4th alteration) was inserted to eliminate the Amaechi miracle, which saw the former governor of River State , take office when he was not the candidate of the party at the general election.
Now that the law has changed, the only person who can benefit from the nullification of a party primary is the candidate of a rival party.
For instance the PDP candidate in Delta Central Senatorial District can successfully oust Sen. Omo Agege on the ground that he a was not qualified to contest the general election, since the Senatorial Primary of the APC which produced him was conducted by an incompetent party executive.
In the case of Delta Central Senatorial District as described above, the victory of the wrongly nominated candidate can only be set aside in favour of a candidate of a rival political party.
Similarly, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi is only endangered by Ned Nwoko's victory, if his rival at the general election from a different political party, pleads the facts and leads evidence that the winner of the general election was wrongly nominated, which will render votes accredited to him( the winner), unlawful.
In that scenario, the candidate who has the highest number of lawful votes cast, becomes the office holder.
Once again I congratulate those who won the academic court judgments.
This is a lesson in democracy.
By Barr. Ewere Odiase
I congratulate Mr. Ned Nwoko on his victory at the Federal High Court on the 4th of March 2019. But the victory is merely academic.
He cannot however become a Senator on the strength of a general election in which he did not participate.
In the same vein, Chief Victor Ochei cannot become Governor of Delta State merely because the Federal High Court had nullified the nomination of Chief Ogboru, on the ground of flawed Primary election within his party, the APC.
For those who have forgotten, the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State nullified the gubernatorial primary of the APC held on September 30, 2018 which produced Great Ogboru as the party’s candidate for the 2019 governorship election.
The nullification followed a suit filed by Victor Ochei, who was dis- satisfied with the conduct of the primaries and had approached the court seeking cancellation of the exercise.
Gone are the days when an aspirant within a party, who was not presented by the party at the General election, would incarnate as the office holder even when he did not participate at the election.
Section 285 (13) of the constitution, (4th alteration) was inserted to eliminate the Amaechi miracle, which saw the former governor of River State , take office when he was not the candidate of the party at the general election.
Now that the law has changed, the only person who can benefit from the nullification of a party primary is the candidate of a rival party.
For instance the PDP candidate in Delta Central Senatorial District can successfully oust Sen. Omo Agege on the ground that he a was not qualified to contest the general election, since the Senatorial Primary of the APC which produced him was conducted by an incompetent party executive.
In the case of Delta Central Senatorial District as described above, the victory of the wrongly nominated candidate can only be set aside in favour of a candidate of a rival political party.
Similarly, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi is only endangered by Ned Nwoko's victory, if his rival at the general election from a different political party, pleads the facts and leads evidence that the winner of the general election was wrongly nominated, which will render votes accredited to him( the winner), unlawful.
In that scenario, the candidate who has the highest number of lawful votes cast, becomes the office holder.
Once again I congratulate those who won the academic court judgments.
This is a lesson in democracy.
By Barr. Ewere Odiase
PRE ELECTION CASES AND THE CRUCIAL SECTION 285 AS AMMENDED
All parties to pre election matters need to take heed, for there is a far reaching amendment to section 285 of the constitution, 4th Alteration Act Number 21 of 2017, which came into effect on June 7, 2018 .
Section 285 is a revolutionary provision in the body of our electoral laws. This amendment which aims at curring certain mischiefs in our politics has opened new vistas in our electoral jurisprudence, the full weight and implications of which we shall soon appreciate as judicial decisions unfold in the coming days.
Just yesterday 3/4/2019, Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP Senator elect for Delta north was sacked by the court in a pre election matter. Ned Nwoko was ordered to replace him as the duly nominated candidate of PDP. Expectedly, this matter would get to the Supreme court, and whatever decision therefrom shall be heavily founded on section 285 as amended.
Before then, two APC factions in Delta State have been at daggers drawn in a sweltering pre election disputation that has given rise to several FHC decisions. Both camps, Jones Erue and Ogodo have remained intransigent so far, and except a political solution is embraced, the party, APC stands the risk of some real casualty. If the Supreme court is allowed to put a final seal to this matter, section 285 will be crucial in deciding either way.
For ease of reference, the amendment to Section 285 of the Constitution, provides as follows:
(9) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, every pre-election matter shall be filed not later than 14 days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit.
(10) A court in every pre-election matter shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of filing of the suit.
(11) An appeal from a decision in a pre-election matter shall be filed within 14 days from the date of delivery of the judgment appealed against
(12) An appeal from a decision of a court in a pre-election matter shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal.
(13) An election tribunal or court shall not declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all stages of the election.
It is pointless here to mention any section of the extant Electoral Act supporting or opposing section 285 of the 1999 constitution as amended. This is because it is elementary that any other law, inclusive of provisions of the Electoral Act, remains null and void so long it is at logger heads with the constitution.
Already section 285 has been tested in recent supreme court decisions on pre election matters, going far back as 2015. Interestingly too, the Supreme court has decided that this provision which came into effect on June 7, 2018, should have retrospective effect. In other words , it affects pre elections matters that arose even before it came into effect.
Two panels of the Supreme Court, headed by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria , Justice Tanko Mohammed and Justice Bode Rhodes - Vivour , struck out each of the appeals, saying that the effect of the 4th Alteration was that all pre - election appeals that were either not commenced within 14 days of the arising of the cause of action or determined within the stipulated 60 days had become spent ( no longer valid ).
Justice Muhammad, while presiding over the first panel , explained that the Supreme Court had , in its judgements delivered on January 18 , 2019 , in the appeals marked, SC /307 /2018 and SC /308 / 2018 , held that the new constitutional provisions took immediate and retrospective effects on all pending pre - election cases .
One of the 14 appeals struck out on the basis of the new constitutional provision was one by Senator Umaru Dahiru , challenging the candidacy of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State in the 2015 election .
The court also struck out the appeal filed by Wahab Abiodun and four others against Senator Monsurat Jumoke Aduke Sunmonu and another .
Delivering judgements in two separate suits challenging the qualification of APC governorship candidates to contest the March 9 , 2019 election in Ogun and Adamawa states , Mr Dapo Abiodun and Governor Bindo Jibrilla , respectively, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory , in Apo , noted that the new constitutional provisions was meant to “ cure a mischief” .
“ Experiences of the facts , of which this court is entitled to take judicial notice , being notorious facts , are that pre - election matters , particularly relating to qualification and /or nomination of candidates for a particular election , in many instances protracts beyond the very election in question.
“ In some instances , courts continue to grapple with pre - election actions challenging the nomination of candidates to stand for election even after the elections had been conducted , won and lost .
“ In some other instances, pre - election matters outlast the tenure of candidates that won the election .
“ It is the view of this court , therefore , that it is in order to prevent the recurrence of these ridiculous and embarrassing situations , which have caused chaotic and needless distractions for elected officers from performing the functions for which they are elected . It was this that precipitated the insertion of Section 285 ( 9) into the Constitution, in order to ensure that all pre - election matters are disposed of timeosly ."
Another very important function of s. 285 is that it cured the michief in Amaechi's case. So that, no longer shall a man reap where he did not sow. See sub (13) supra.
The take home lessons are clear: if you are a pre election litigant, and you did not file your suit 14 days from when the cause of action arose, your suit is a nullity ab initio. You are wasting time and resources as it will not survive the Supreme court.
Two, if you are an aspirant in a political party and you did not participate in ALL THE STAGES of the election, even if your rival at the primaries is sacked after the election as not being the duly nominated candidate of your party, you cannot step in as the beneficiary. That is, Amaechi's precedent can no longer avail you.
We await with bated breath more practical legal applications by the Supreme Court ,of this robust constitutional intervention in our politics.
DELTA GUBER POLLS: OMO-AGEGE IS NOT TO BLAME!
By Annabel Ogheneganre
Since after the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Delta State, a section of the Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has been neck-deep in blame game over the outcome of the polls.
The election, no doubt depleted the popularity rating of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the man that goes with the sobriquet of the Peoples General. Of the 25 local government areas in Delta State, the APC candidate was able to win just in Ughelli North and Ethiope East.
The rest 23 local government areas were captured by the PDP which posted a whopping 925,274 votes while Great Ogboru got just 215,938 with a margin of 709,336. The outcome was shocking to the APC family particularly the common folks which constituted the bulk of his supporters.
2019 was the worst outing for Great Ogboru since he entered the race in 2003. Despite the line-up of political heavyweights that dominated his campaign structure, Great Ogboru poor performance has continued to generate unsavory comments from his supporters who are seeking whom to blame for the development.
And what is trending in most of the social media comments is accusing fingers being pointed in the direction of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as one who is responsible for Ogboru’s woes.
One thing that Ogboru’s supporters cannot deny is that it was Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s contacts and connections that secured the gubernatorial ticket for the Abraka-born politician.
Omo-Agege, from inside sources, spent a fortune to rally the APC behind Ogboru. He made so many enemies to ensure Ogboru was in the ballot. He fought local foes and others on the national scene to get Ogboru on board.
Omo-Agege did everything within and outside the books to pave way for him. The scares of the battle he fought to deliver Ogboru are still fresh and the least one expect from party faithful and leaders is blame instead of commendation for entering the trenches in a selfless manner in the interest of the common folks who have been clamouring for a better and stronger platform for Ogboru.
Omo-Agege saw in the people, the fire and thirst to fight to any level to deliver Ogboru. He did not promise to single-handedly be in all the 25 local government areas to win votes for Ogboru. His major concern was to provide a platform, backed by federal might for Ogboru to run with.
He did just that and expected everybody to retire home and deliver their respective units for Ogboru.
Just as Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor gave marching order for his supporters and political office holders to ensure they deliver in their respective units, Omo-Agege expected those so empowered to work in their units to deliver same for Ogboru.
Therefore, one is at a lost why Omo-Agege has suddenly become the man who failed to deliver for Ogboru whereas, the man fought all the demons in the PDP family to a standstill in Ughelli north and delivered all available elective positions in his local government area for the APC.
From the President, Senate, Governor, House of Representatives and House of Assembly, all the APC candidates won in Ughelli North local government area. How then did the man betray APC, much more, Great Ogboru, in the last general elections?
As we all know, Ughelli north is the home to the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ovie Agas; Commissioner for Finance, Chief David Edevbie; Former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Steve Oru; DESOPADEC Commissioner, Chief Pius Ovbije; Chairman of the local government, Coach Tete, who is PDP, 20 Councillors who are PDP, over 70 Special Assistants to the Governor, Board members, and other political office holders with a marching order to deliver their units, yet Omo-Agege was able to fight through the fire to secure a handsome victory for Ogboru.
The likes of Dr Isaac Akpoveta, Chief Barr Asawota, are all from Ughelli North yet Omo-Agege delivered. So why blame him for fighting so hard for the party? Did he at anytime promise to deliver the entire state for Ogboru?
It was a difficult fight in Ughelli north one yet he delivered. If other APC leaders across Delta state did close to what Omo-Agege did, Ogboru would have been governor-elect today.
While this writer will not subscribe to the blame game, one area that we cannot ignore is the failure of APC chieftains in their respective local government areas.
First on the list of those that one must interrogate is Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor of Delta state who did three elections against Great Ogboru, and ended up being Chairman of Ogboru Campaigns Council for the 2019 polls.
He is from Warri North and failed woefully. Was anybody expecting Omo-Agege to deliver Warri North for Ogboru?
Septuagenarian Abbei Ossai, Chief Great Ogboru's running mate in the election from Abbey, Ukwuani local government area, lost in his unit, ward and local government, yet Omo-Agege is to blame. Why?
What of Chief George Timinimi, Ogboru's Campaign Director General from Warri South West in Gbaramatu kingdom lost in his local government, and could not stop the Sokoto votes from that end, yet Omo-Agege is to blame. Sir Richard Odibo, a Federal Commissioner with the National Population Commission and Great Ogboru’s man Friday, a man who had served as DG to Ogboru in previous polls and one of the closest allies to the Peoples General could not deliver Udu for Ogboru.
Is Omo-Agege to blame for the failure? How about Mr. Peter Omaruaye, Chief Ogboru's Campaign Organization’s Secretary from Gbaregolor, Ughelli south local government area, in Ewu ward 2?
He lost his ward and his local government to the rampaging PDP. Prince Efe Duku, Chief Ogboru's right hand man is also from Ughelli south with Peter Omaruaye. They lost big time. Chief Ayiri Emami, the Ologbosere of Warri Kingdom, one of Ogboru's trusted political forces who boasted in an interview that it was over for Okowa, could not deliver also. Yet somebody want Omo-Agege to answer for Ogboru’s bashing at the polls.
Other leaders who disappointed Ogboru include Mrs. Amokwu Harriet, the Director of Finance for Ogboru campaigns from Ika South in Delta North who is credited with the honour of having singlehandedly selecting all the APC candidates from Delta North in the election, yet could not deliver.
A source within the party disclosed that Mrs Amokwu Harriet was so powerful that whatever agreement one had with Ogboru could be overturned in a minute once this powerful woman from Delta north disagree.
Yet she could not deliver her local government area for Ogboru. Alero Tenuma, Ogboru's Director of Women Mobilization from Warri south lost in her local government area too. She was overrun with merciless ferocity. Dr Cairo Ojugboh, who boasted that Okowa was already history a few days to the elections could not deliver his Ika South for Ogboru yet somebody is blaming Omo-Agege. Why? Is Omo-Agege to blame for the failure of these leaders? What of Chief Enuha, who announced prior to the polls that they have joined forces with Ogboru to deliver the state for APC? Would they have credited Omo-Agege with anything if they had delivered in their respective local government areas?
Information before me says that as soon as Ogboru emerged as the party flag-bearer, Omo-Agege was almost edged out of the inner working of the campaigns. All the directors were picked without consultation with the Senator yet he did not complain. With Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in charge of campaigns, he was contented with working for the party and delivering handsomely in his local government area. And that was exactly what he did. Ogboru picked those he trusted to man strategic positions in building the campaign structure, picked his running mate without consultation with the Senator which almost soured their relationship but for the understanding and maturity demonstrated by Omo-Agege. The much touted federal might was available to all APC leaders yet they could not deliver. Most campaign meetings were held in Emmanuel Uduaghan’s residence. A water-tight plan was put in place but many failed to execute the strategy. Is Omo-Agege to blame for the failure of these leaders?
Politics is a very complex and complicated affair. If Ogboru had won, credit would have gone to Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as an award-winning Chairman of Campaign Council. Now that they have failed, they should take responsibility for the woeful performance instead of blaming the only man who delivered in his local government area. Blaming Omo-Agege for the failure is a despicable political misadventure. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’s victory at the polls cannot be attributed to any one person. The PDP leaders delivered in their respective local government areas. They were determined. They knew what they were up against and fought like never before. In the PDP circle, nothing was left to chance. Unlike Great Ovedje Ogboru and the Delta APC Campaign Council, the PDP campaigned like never before. They took their campaigns to all the nooks and cranny of the state. The PDP campaign was thorough and unit-driven. They knew what the loss of federal might portends and therefore resolved to win in the field by connecting the people and promoting popular programmes that appeal to the people. Omo-Agege is not responsible for Ogboru’s woes. When you failed to deliver your unit and ward, you want to blame Ovie Omo-Agege. Why?
While this writer does not subscribe to blame game, leaders who could not deliver their units and LGA should be blamed for Ogboru’s dismal performance. Omo-Agege delivered handsomely and should be applauded. The two APC House of Assembly candidates from Ughelli north won. What else did the party expect from Omo-Agege that he did not do? He got himself so many enemies at home and abroad all because of Ogboru. In the opinion of this writer, whoever loves APC in Delta state should desist from blaming Omo-Agege, the hard-fighting political maestro, the real ‘Omovodjotu’ of Delta politics, a single combatant that vanquished many, the nemesis of the PDP family in Ughelli north and Delta Central and the Obarisi of Delta politics. He knows the game. He dreams and lives the game. He delivered where others fail. Rather than blame him, the distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege deserves commendation.
Annabel Ogheneganre writes from Garki, Abuja. (09030558731 SMS only or ananabel4christ@hotmail.com)
HON PRINCE NED NWOKO TEAMS UP WITH NTDC TO REVOLUTIONALISE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN NIGERIAN.
...DONATES 1OOM TO PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.
By Sparrow Adaeze with additional report by Iroroh Frank.
The Delta North Senator elect, and Nigeria's foremost tourism investor and promoter, Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko, has once again taken revolutionary steps towards mass involvement of Nigerians in exploiting the tourism potentials in the country and develop them to the highest level of global attentions.
On 2nd April, 2019, the Star Prince of Anioma nation, as Prince Ned Nwoko is fondly called, took a giant step forward in his determination to consolidate on his efforts in tourism development in the country, by unveiling a national body, *PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT,* to analyse, plan and implement all the necessary steps aimed at ensuring all-round identifications of the tourism sites in Nigeria and tourism elements in the country, to harness them to grow the tourism industry in the country.
PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, is an initiative of Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko and the idea is been powered by Linas International Limited, a company owned by the Delta north Senator elect. The project is jointly promoted by Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC.
Addressing the audience during the unveiling ceremony of the PROJECT, Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko said,
"Project Tourism is an initiative that has the potential of helping the country meets the increasing demands of her citizens. Through it, we can showcase our dance, food, culture and every element of the cultural Iife of our country.
In Nigeria, there is no organised sector with Government supports to promote tourism. Tourism must be nurtured, tourism must be put together, tourism must be taken care of," he emphasized.
Further, he added,
"In most civilised countries, Tourism contribute close to 70% of annual national earnings.
Today, we have come together to see how private sectors can help grow tourism in the country".
Continuing, he stated, "the primary mission of the PROJECT amongst other things, are to project the rich tourism asserts of Nigeria and to run profitable projects that will highlight the Country's hospitality culture as well as her rich Cultural endowments."
He went further to outlined the programme of the organization to include.
1. GRASSROOT SPORTS DEVELOPMENT.
This encompasses the involvement of all the Local Government Council chairmen across the country, who are to enter into talks with the PROJECT COORDINATORS, to ensure that Sports are included in their annual local government programme, because Sport is very important part of Tourism.
All the Local Government Areas in the country have to key into the PROJECT.
We should organise annual catch-them-young sports competitions to discover potential sports talents and train them.
2. ACCOMMODATION OF TOURISTS.
To encourage tourists to visit the country, the PROJECT have to find families who are willing to accommodate tourists and we will be supporting such families to make sure they have what it takes to host such guests.
3. CULTURAL VILLAGE.
The PROJECT have to ensure that every state identifies and supports villages in their state that are culturally and geographically rich in tourist features.
For example, in Delta state, Idumuje Ugboko has rich culture and geography features that are delight to behold. There is also Mount Ned Nwoko Tourists Resort. Such community should be identified and supported by the state.
We love our culture and traditions. Delta state have monuments and tourist locations.
In a book on tourism sites in the state, it contains 27 tourist locations, incidentally, three (3) of these locations are in Idumuje -Ugboko.
4. THE GLOBAL ROAD SHOW.
As the name implies, it involves Nigerians coming together with responsibility of promoting Nigerian tourism. There will be Annual competitions where people win prizes. I know that a lot of money is needed to start the road show, we need committed people to help execute the programme. It is proposed to start July this year.
After spelling out the goals of the PROJECT and its areas of focus, Hon Prince Ned Nwoko donated the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (N100m) to the PROJECT as a take off grant.
Responding to the address by the Chairman, its National Coordinator, Chief F. O. Anumba said, "I want to thank Hon Prince Ned Nwoko most immensely for initiating this laudable project, with this progressive collaboration between Linas International Limited and the Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC, I have no doubt that the time for tourism boom in Nigeria is now."
The media Launch of the PROJECT was held at BON Hotel, Elvis Abuja and was attended by many dignitaries and officials from National Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC , Nollywood actors and actresses, like Ejike Asiegbu, Apostle Eucharia Anunobi, Chinda Monalisa, Francis Duru and others.
The organization that were present are; National Children's Park, Zoo Ambassadors, representatives of higher Institution, the Private and Public Primary and Secondary schools across the country.
Foreign missions in Nigeria were also well represented.
The media were not left out of the event NTA, Galaxy TV, AIT, Channel TV LTV, News Agency of Nigeria and a host of others were there too.
EFCC grills Delta Accountant General, Cyril Agbele over alleged N2.7bn loot
Published by THE WITNESS NEWSPAPER
These are not the best of times for the Delta State accountant-general, Mr. Cyril Chukwuma Agbele as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to have interrogated the finance chief for allegedly siphoning from state funds, money laundering, extortion, amassing wealth and assets corruptly, worth over N2.7 billion.
The anti-graft agency, THE WITNESS learnt, is investigating Agbele following a petition written by a non-governmental organization, FOWN. In the petition, the group accused Mr. Agbele of pilfering huge sums of money from the Delta State treasury using several companies to obtain contracts and approve funds for himself. He is also said to have forced other contractors to pay as much as 13 per cent in cash as upfront kickback to him before he processes their payment even after the governor’s approval.
The group further alleged that Agbele has properties scattered all over Delta State said to be worth a whopping two billion naira and these include hotels, school, farms, fast food joints, petrol station and houses. He also boasts of countless number of exotic cars.
“The mammoth fraud and collection of kickback characterizes the office of the accountant-general. It is expected that every contractor must be willing to part with at least 13 per cent of whatever is approved by the governor to any contractor upfront before such funds are approved for disbursement by the accountant-general,” FOWN stated.
“We are aware of other civil servants of his level who only own modest houses which are perfectly in line with their legal earnings and means. Even in rare cases where both the persons were top level civil servants, none is able to amass beyond 50 to 100% of their total salaries throughout their years of service.
“So how does Mr. Cyril Agbele who is on a fixed income live a lavish lifestyle buying properties which only a few businessmen in Delta State can afford?” the petitioner queried.
Mr. Cyril Agbele who is said to have bought a house abroad located at 1010S 17th St, Copperas Cove, Texas, 76522 has formed the habit of traveling to the United States with his entire family every summer for holidays where he spends his annual three weeks leave. His children live in Newcastle, United Kingdom where they attend schools.
Listed below are few of the properties linked to the accountant-general:
LOCAL ASSETS
1. Three Duplexes at No. 3, Ezekwe Street, Off Obiajulu street, off DDPA, Asaba, Delta State, worth over N300,000,000.00 “furniture excluded”.
2. Plot 13, Block 6, Opposite Junior Staff Quarters, DDPA Estate, Asaba. Worth N150,000,000.00Presently leased to Nigeria Institute of Medical Research.
3. Nitika Fast food, DLA Road, Asaba.
4. Ronec Petrol Station, DLA Road, Asaba worth N140,000,000.00)
5. A hotel seated on a 200m by 200m at No 9, Peter Obiagu Street, off Ibusa Road worth over N400,000,000.00.
6. Jostin Excel International School, Okpanam express, off Asaba/Benin express way presently valued at N200,000,000.00
7. A multimillion naira twin duplex mansion at the Asaba Federal Housing Estate, opposite Asaba International Airport. (N250,000,000.00)
8. A multimillion naira students hostel off Asaba Ogwashi Road (N300,000,000.00)
9. A multi-billion naira Hotel in Abuja
10. A multi-million naira mansion in a highbrow area in Abuja
11. A poultry farm with over (30,000 birds) and animal husbandry in Ubulu-uwku area in Asaba.
12. Several hectares of Plantain Plantation on Kwale Road
13. Two Toyota 4-Runner SUV’s (1 Green, Ash colour)
14. Two Bullet Proof Toyota Land Cruiser SUV’s, (1 Silver, 1 Black)
15. One White 2015 Toyota Camry
16. One 2014 Honda Accord (Wine Red)
17. One BMW X6 (Black)
18. One Infinity QX56 (Silver)
19. One Toyota Sienna (Black)
20. Two Toyota Highlander SUV (
21. One Toyota Prado
22. Two Brand new Toyota Hilux (White)
FOREIGN ASSET
1. A 3 Bedroom house at 1010S 17th St, Copperas Cove, Texas, 76522
2. A mansion in Newcastle, United Kingdom.
It was also revealed through the petition that recently, one of his house-helps, a Tiv indigene, conspired with his wife’s brother, Frank Ugo and carted away over $150,000 in cash, a case which Mr. Cyril failed to report to the police or any other agency as it would spark outrage and raise suspicion into his money laundering activities.
The group is calling the EFCC to investigate and prosecute the Delta finance chief and also to request that the illegal properties allegedly scattered all over Nigeria and abroad be temporarily forfeited to the FG.
Efforts to reach Mr. Agbele for his angle to the reports proved futile as calls and text messages placed to his mobile line were not responded to as at press time.
OGBORU LACKS LOCUS STANDI AT THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL - EACGOVDELTA OGHENESIVBE.
...SAYS THE NULLIFICATION OF JONES ERUE'S FACTION PRIMARIES RESULTS IS ENOUGH GROUND TO QUASH THE PETITION.
The embattled and sacked governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, Great Ovedje Ogboru lacks "locus standi" at the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal due to the subsisting court orders contained in the ruling of Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court Asaba; and upheld in the Victor Ochei matter by Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa, which nullified the 2019 primaries and election victory of candidates produced by the Jones Erue faction of the party.
A lawyer and Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, in his legal opinion contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba said, as it is today Ogboru is not known to law as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in the State, pointing out that the doors of the tribunal must be shut against the petitioner and all other candidates presented for elective positions by Erue's faction.
He noted that to have a "cause of action" the legal rights must exist and the petitioner must establish that he or she is directly affected by the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so as to enjoy the legal principle of fair hearing.
Gov Okowa's EA Communications and Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration (FCIDA), further posited that Ogboru stand to be treated as a "political leper and candidate not known to law" by the election tribunal and reasonably deserves nothing but outright denial of right of fair hearing.
Oghenesivbe further asserted that the Court haven nullified the 2019 Erue faction primaries and Ogboru being the sacked governorship candidate of APC in Delta State, as contained in the ruling of Justice Toyin Adegoke and upheld by Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa in the Victor Ochei matter, one of the legal consequences is that the petitioner can no longer refer to himself as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in Delta State.
"Its laughable for Ogboru to file petition at the tribunal challenging the results of the election after a court of competent jurisdiction nullified his candidacy occasioned by illegal primaries which was conducted by a non existent Erue party exco as clearly stated in the ruling of my Lord, Justice Adegoke.
"Ogboru's candidacy is not known to law based on the Court subsisting orders declaring the Cyril Ogodo faction as the legitimate and authentic state exco of APC in Delta State, and subsequently declared the election victory of all candidates presented by Erue faction for the 2019 general elections NULL and VOID and of no effects whatsoever.
"It is the law that Ogboru lacks locus standi to file a petition referring to himself or APC referring to him as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in Delta State, because the court orders contained in the judgment are valid and subsisting since no appeal has been filed, heard and determined in the matter.
"The governor who was returned elected in Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, won the election overwhelming as a result of his visionary leadership, prudent management of state financial resources, open door policy, transparency in governance, accountability; quality health programmes and policies backed by social insurance scheme, substantial and sustainable jobs and wealth creation, sports infrastructure development, giant strides in the education sector, improved inflow of Foreign Direct Investments, massive roads infrastructure like never before, to mention but a few," Oghenesivbe added.
THE PRIDE OF BLACK RACE
In Ojukwu's first post war speech in February 1994 at the Lagos Law school he said the following : ''The war has come and gone but we remember with pride and hope, the three heady years of freedom.
These were the three years when we had the opportunity to demonstrate what Nigeria would have been even before 1970. In the three years of war, necessity gave birth to invention.
During those three years, we built bombs, we built rockets, we designed and built our own delivery system. We guided our rockets, we guided them far and guided them accurately.
For three years, blockaded without the hope of imports, we maintained engines, machines and technical equipments. The state extracted and refined petrol with our own indigenous technology called the 'The Biafran pot '. Individuals refined petrol in their backyards gardens. We built and maintained airports and air strips. We maintained them under heavy bombardment.
We spoke to the world through a telecommunication system engineered by local ingenuity.
The world heard us and spoke back at us. We built armoured tanks and cars. We modified aircraft from trainers to fighters, from passenger aircraft to bombers. In three years of freedom, we became the most civilized, the most technologically advanced black people on earth''.
Now you wonder why I am deeply passionate about Biafra, the answer lies in the above speech. Biafra was able to achieve much in war time under the strictest condition what Nigeria has not been able to achieve in its long years of peace. To show their deep hatred for Biafrans, out of jealousy they destroyed all the feats achieved by Biafrans. The Biafran research documents were burnt, what a waste of ingenuity.
Nigeria all along has what it needed to compete with the world but fear and jealousy blinded them and a people's ingenuity has been left to waste while the whole populace wallow in ignorance.
ANCESTRAL CURSES 1
The Black African, the wretched of the earth, Is the only member of the human race who has been brainwashed to think that his ancestors bequeathed him with a curse that has prevented him from Attaining aspired goals and life desires. Almost every misfortune he encounters on earth is the fault of some ancestor... Who must be bound and cast with the fire of the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus.
The white people dont have terrible ancestors who have done terrible things. No. It's only the black ancestor. Over the years, the black ancestor has been so vilified by Christians they pay tithes, stay up all night, fast and pray to destroy the African ancestor in the name of Jesus. The black ancestor is so wicked he cursed his own kids..
Having cursed his ancestors who gave him life, the black man is roaming around the world like a tortoise without a Shell. He has no backbone. Zero identity. Thus no race respects him. He's lynched in Malaysia, incarcerated in Cambodia. He's shot like a dog in the streets of America. In Europe he cleans the white man's shit. And they spit on him. Why won't they? A man who hates himself and despises his roots deserves no respect whatsoever.
John Hawkins was a foremost English slave trader, a thief, and by contemporary moral standards he can as well be called A Terrorist. John Hawkins made three trips to West Africa In the 1560s, and stole Africans whom he sold to the Spanish in America. On returning to England after the first trip, his profit was so handsome that Queen Elizabeth I became interested in directly participating in his next venture; and she provided for that Purpose a ship named JESUS. Hawkins left with JESUS to steal some more Africans, and he returned to England with such dividends that Queen Elizabeth made him a knight. Hawkins chose as his coat of arms the representation of an African in chains. (*See 1st Comment).
Today the generations of Hawkins and Queen Elizabeth I are alive and enjoying life from the proceeds of their Evil ancestors. They don't demonise their anvestors despite their active involvement in the greatest evil humanity has ever witnessed. Both individuals sanctioned rape, kidnapping and Mass murder, but their children don't bear "ancestral Curses" like black Africans. You'd be hard pressed to see a member of the British elite publicly denounce slavery.
Isn't it time to emancipate yourself from mental slavery oh ye Negro? If ancestral curse exists, who should suffer from it? The ancestor Who kidnapped and raped and murdered and pillaged and stole and enslaved his fellow man, or the man whose freedom was taken from him? Surely, the man who threw pregnant Negro women to sharks at Sea because they were too weak, deserves his future generations to suffer and not the man whose society was so pure they had no prisons to punish offenders.
Do these Black Africans who will go to church today binding and casting "ancestral curses", know that almost all the top British politicians from the 17th century till the 19th century were proud slave merchants? It is on record that 15 Lord Mayors of London, 25 sheriffs and 38 aldermen of the City of London were shareholders in the Royal Africa Company (RAC) between 1660-1690. The RAC alone was responsible for trafficking over 1.5million Negroes to Britain and twice that number to the Caribbean.
David and Alexander Barclays were active participants in the kidnapping and enslavement of millions of black Africans. As was standard practice at the time, The risky and long-term nature of transatlantic slave trading required new banking houses that could offer credits to prospective slave traders, for periods of between one and a half to three years. One bank that provided this service was run by Alexander and David Barclay. Their bank still carries their name. The Barclay's Bank is also a proud sponsor of the English Premier league that me and you are fanatical fans of Chelsea and Arsenal and Man United today.
Their children don't bind and cast their ancestral evil, rather it is the Negro whose ancestors were dehumanised and tortured and enslaved, that keeps praying against "ancestral curses"
The Bank of England was also involved in the slave trade. Sir Richard Neaves, who was the director of the bank for 48 years, was also the chairman of the Society of West India Merchants. A group of vile men who stole Africans and made handsome profit by selling them on to farmers who needed them to work in there sugar and tobacco plantation in the West Indies.
Today Liverpool Football club will be playing Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclay's premier League. Pay attention. How many of you who are Liverpool supporters today know that the initial founders of that football club were retired slave traders, whom in 1892, with slavery outlawed, decided to invest their money in a football club that will reap future rewards for their generations to come via a bank called Arthur Heywood and Sons & Co.. That bank would be absorbed in turn by the Bank of Liverpool, Martin’s Bank and Barclay’s Bank.
You watch them and shout in ecstasy when they score. But a pastor somewhere will tell you the reason you're poor is because your ancestors committed evil, hence the reason you experience ill luck. And you will believe and start casting and binding rubbish!
For your information, Liverpool was a major port for the transatlantic slave trade. Slave ships were often built or repaired in Liverpool. Nearly one and a half million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic in Liverpool ships. The 'Liverpool Merchant' was the first recorded slave ship to sail from Liverpool. She set sail on 3 October 1699 and arrived in Barbados on 18 September 1700 with a cargo of 220 enslaved Africans. Part owner Sir Thomas Johnson is known as the 'founder of modern Liverpool'.
Liverpool city wouldn't be what it is today without the trade in black Africans. The personal and civic wealth gained from slaving cemented the foundations for the Liverpool's future growth.
The children and grandchildren and great grand children of the perpetrators of this monstrosity against the black Man enjoy heaven here on earth, and live in more stable environment. They have managed to stabilise their society and solve their problem and live in relative peace.
But the Negro ancestors, the wretched of the earth, who was kidnapped and his freedom forcefully taken away from him; he was sentenced to a plantation for the rest of his life. It is this ancestor and many others who is demonised by Christians as having bequeathed their offsprings with "curses".
Ikeyahkadibia Onyeji
CRIMINAL ESTIMATED BILLING IS AN EVIL BUSINESS PRACTICE THAT MUST BE ERADICATED.
....EDOCSO with other stakeholders championing stoppage of estimated billing just like the abolished fixed charge.
The unbundling of the power sector in November, 2013 that heralded the privatisation of same was done with high subterfuge which was also shrouded with criminally intended provisos in the various sales agreements with the mind of shortchanging the people through exploitation and extortion by any available opportunity.
Amongst the many ways the people have been exploited is through the issuance of estimated bills to electricity consumers. The other now defeated avenue was the hitherto criminal monthly Fixed Charge of N750 minimum which was forcefully paid whether electricity was supplied or not. Edo Civil Society Organisations fought against it gallantly and a court case was instituted against the DISCOs and NERC with Toluwani Adebiyi Esq in a Lagos High Court.
Funke Osibudu and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company have become arrogant and inconsiderate due to their access to income not worked for through the issuance of estimated bills to customers amidst total darkness across the state.
The push for a regulation to eradicate the issuance of estimated billing is now urgent than ever if we must get the electricity value chain wake up to their core responsibilities of providing reliable power to the nation for economic and social growth.
The recent meeting with the Commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in Abuja by the executive council of Edo Civil Society Organisations with other civil society actors and residents of BEDC franchise states among other things discussed was to seek an end to the criminal estimated billing of customers.
The good news is that, a regulation to eradicate estimated billing of customers will soon be activated as modalities are being developed to bring it to reality. If the almighty monthly fixed charge can be defeated then, the estimated billing is a pinch of salt to be dealt away with. Few weeks from now, we shall be unveiling it to the people.
NO ELECTRICITY, NO PAYMENT.
Leftist Osazee Edigin
Public Relations Officer
Edo Civil Society Organisations
Kidnapped Journalist Recount Experience
Daily Trust staff Ahmad Garba was kidnapped on his way from Abuja to Kaduna on March 7, 2019. Here, he shares his harrowing eight-day ordeal in the kidnappers’ den.
Daily Trust: How were you kidnapped?
Ahmad Garba: It happened on Thursday March 7, 2019. After we finished production in the office, I got set to travel to Kaduna from Abuja because I had an appointment with my doctor the next day (Friday). I left the office around 2pm and got to Zuba Motor Park around 3pm with a friend who was also travelling.
I was excited that we got to the park on time as I had hoped to be in Kaduna in about an hour and a half. Despite the gridlock on the highway due to ongoing road construction, we arrived Jere without much difficulty.
When we got to Rijana town around 7pm, one of the passengers alighted. We didn’t notice that there were no vehicles plying the road. Less than a kilometer from there, we started hearing gunshots close to a bridge.
There were two vehicles before ours. When the two stopped, we did same but our driver immediately switched off the car headlights. By the time the shooting stopped, everywhere was silent and dark. One of the passengers in our car whispered to our driver to reverse the car and he obliged. But immediately he started the car, they came after.
Unfortunately, the car fell into a ditch and then I knew we were in serious trouble. Our driver tried to engage one of the bandits in a fight to dispossess him of his gun but the rest of the group overpowered and shot him. I tried to run into the bush without knowing that one of them was close by, he ran after me and hit me with a stick. I fell down and he collected my phone.
Amongst us, only one person escaped. When I didn’t see him after we were assembled by the kidnappers, I thought he had been killed but I later heard he escaped. They tried to take our driver who was wounded into the bush but he refused to stand up so they shot him again in our presence and left his body right there in the bush.
We trekked from 8pm to 2am before we got to their camp inside the forest. As we trekked, they kept flogging those who were slow. We had no shoes on as we moved deep into the forest. With the light from their flashlights, we were led to their camp, after crossing several streams.
We were seven males and one female – a lady of about 22 who I understand lives around Sabon Tasha in Kaduna. When we got to one area inside the forest, they called their gang members who came on motorcycles to convey us to their camp.
Daily Trust: Were you kept in a house inside the forest?
Garba: No, we were kept in the open because there was no house there. From my estimation, we trekked for about 50 kilometres from the main road to the camp and we didn’t come across any settlement or village. At their camp, they shot in the air to alert their members who awaited their arrival. Those ones also responded to indicate they were around. We were kept close to a big rocky range of hills. The gang leader, nicknamed ‘Commander’, came to us and read out the rules and regulations of the camp.
Daily Trust: What were the rules?
Garba: The first is that they brought us there to make money, so anybody that tried to escape would be killed. According to him, no matter how long one stays there, he/she will surely return home safe as long as he is disciplined and obedient.
He reminded us of what happened to our driver and said anyone who misbehaves will face the same consequence.
In the morning, they discovered my identity card which showed I’m a journalist, so they shifted their attention to me.
Daily Trust: Do you mean there were educated?
Garba: Yes, some of them can read.
Daily Trust: What type of people were they?
Garba: They were Fulani between ages 20 to 25. It’s only their leader and a few others that were up to 30. They were all wearing camouflage uniforms and well-armed. We got used to gunshots while in captivity, because they always shot into the air.
DT: How was life at the detention camp?
Garba: We spent eight days in the forest and slept on leaves. No bath, no new clothes, and they didn’t care about our condition. The moment we lay down to sleep, they would surround us, which means there was no way to escape.
There was an elderly man who always led us in prayer. Although they never prayed, they allowed us to perform ours daily. We sit in the open from morning till night. They served us rice and palm oil on cellophane bags. The lady was served separately. Even at night, her space was away from ours.
In our presence, ‘Commander’ warned his boys not to even attempt to misbehave with her because, according to him, he was in the business to make money and not to rape women.
He warned that any of them that breaks that law would be killed.
In the first three days, we were treated nicely. Then it changed, as the kidnappers started threatening us, saying we were of no value to our families because nobody has called to discuss our release. They said victims only spend three days in their custody and are released or killed. But we’ve been in their custody for almost five days without any strong negotiation with our family members. We pleaded for more time.
They placed N30 million ransom on me because I’m a journalist. They blamed journalists for the nation’s problems, that we were responsible for the raids carried out against them by security agencies. The leader said we write negative reports against them.
I learnt he later reduced the ransom to N15m. The amount was again reduced to N5m. At a point, he realized we couldn’t provide that kind of money, so he assembled us to ask how much we can raise. I told him N500,000. He said he had reduced my ransom to N2m as his final decision.
Daily Trust: So, your ransom was higher because of your profession?
Garba: Yes, and he gave Thursday as deadline but unfortunately my family couldn’t meet up. ‘Commander’ later told me the money has been reduced to N1.5m because my aged mother called and pleaded with him.
I spoke with Lawal, a friend of mine who was raising the funds, and he told me they only have a million naira. I told him to bring it since there was no hope of getting additional N500,000 before daybreak.
After the call, I told ‘Commander’ that my family could only raise a million naira. The following day, around 10am, he informed us that we were going home because they have received all the ransom.
They also gave us N1,500 each as transportation fare. About seven of them led us out of the forest with a warning to be fast or else we could be kidnapped again by another group. After a distance, they went back, leaving us to find our way out.
I couldn’t walk fast due to my health condition so I was supported by one of the victims who always carried me on his back. The girl too was released even though she didn’t pay any ransom. She had no phone and couldn’t produce any phone number off hand, she was just lucky.
We started trekking from 10am, and by 2pm we hadn’t reached Rijana town. Luckily, we came across some Fulani men on a motorcycle and my friends begged them to assist me because of my condition. They took me to the main road where I bought slippers and then boarded a bus back home.
Book Review
Join us this Sunday 7th April as we review AND AFTER MANY DAYS by JOWHOR ILE
Time: 2pm
Venue: Igho's Kitchen, off Okpanam road.
Descriptions: Igho's Kitchen is about 3 poles on road beside DressSence boutique adjacent to Zenith bank by Shoprite on Okpanam road.
08036295103
PDP cried that democracy is more endangered and with more rudeless Rigging in PDP controlled States
Nigerian democracy is truly in danger, the show of shame in the conduct of Rivers State elections has proved this more glaringly. Democracy is seen endangered most states that PDP had incumbent governors in both South South, South East and North Central states. While the democracy played out in most APC controlled States with the people the voting out of some non-performing APC incumbent governors, the worst PDP incumbent governor used state funds to compromise INEC and security agencies
Rivers elections had allegations that INEC was compromised. The allegations were proven in most cases with the arrest some PDP members that was conscripted to INEC to manipulate the elections for Wike
David Okumgba, the Zonal Secretary
South South APC, In a Press Statement exposed the unholy union between INEC and Wike against justice and democracy in these salient questions to political observers:
(1) In whose custody were the collated results? Why were the collated results not in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria even when INEC was proven to be partisanship?
(2) How many LGAs were collated before the suspension of the collation process? How did the Commission arrive at 17 LGAs?
(3) During the fact finding mission by INEC, how many parties were invited? How did they get their facts since Mrs. Mbu-Agbamuche confessed in the interactive session in Port-Harcourt that they carried out their fact findings without inviting all the parties involved for their submissions?
(4) Who are the electoral officers changed in the process and why were they changed? Obviously only collation officers in places the AAC candidate had leads were changed to effect cancellation of such results and easy manipulation of results to favour Wike
(5) What is the proof of the authenticity of collated results since INEC and the Fact Finding Committee were already biased?
(6) Since INEC is aware that the Rivers election/ suspension of collation of results, and the legality of the Fact Finding Committee is before the court of law for determination, why was the hurry to collate and announce a cooked result.
The silence of INEC at the time speculations were at its highest level, alleging the possible doctoring of the Collated results to favour Wike and the sudden announcement of the collation of results from 21 local government areas, 21 days after, can only be the handy work of an umpire, eager to please his pay master.
Engr. Biokpomabo Awara, the AAC Governorship candidate and other concerned stakeholders had called out severally for the immediate release of the collated results which showed the AAC clearly in clear lead as announced by the Various Electoral Officers.
The collation after collation was so cooked in favour of Wike in a way that INEC was found contradicting itself. Initially INEC announced that it had results collated for 17 LGA and supplementary elections will be held for the remaining 6 LGAs. As at the time of collation and final declaration of Wike, INEC has generated additional results for four Local government, while cancelling results for strongholds of AAC candidate
The action of INEC is a repeat of legalization of rigging by Wike that began since 2015 and was permitted by a corrupt judiciary. Democracy is in chains in a State controlled by Wike the self indicted PDP whistle blower. PDP have lost all credibility as it's worst criminals are rigged back to power with the aid of INEC
President Buhari must urgently save our democracy and strengthen institutions to avert the manipulations of the will of the electorates. With what has played out, PDP has defined itself as master riggers and if the arrogance of incumbent governors is not checked, Nigeria will bankroll to the PDP days of impunity. Buhari has proved his integrity, must rise to strengthen democracy to block impunity amongst politicians
Joseph Odok PhD Esq
Director Media and Strategic Communications COBOM
The tragedy of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
* What is Ajaokuta Steel Company?
pulse.ng
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
Ajaokuta Steel Company, the great White Elephant (Pulse )
In 1980, President Shehu Shagari laid the foundation stone for what will become a $4.6bn project. However, the Ajaokuta project is, in fact, older than independent Nigeria itself. Let's rewind to 1958.
The government of Sir James Wilson Robertson, the last British Governor-General of Nigeria, conducted a feasibility study on the possibility of setting up a steel company in the country.
Many reports passed, and a civil war happened, and still, the Nigerian government hadn't decided the perfect place to build the steel plant.
“A lot of it was politics,” an employee of Ajaokuta Steel Company told Pulse. “Some people wanted it in the North, others in the East, and some others in the West. So this place eventually became the perfect place politically.”
It was also the perfect location geographically. In 1972, one year after the Nigerian Steel Development Authority was formed, iron ore was discovered in Itakpe, Kogi State.
Enter the Russians!
A Soviet survey team discovered the deposits and in 1975, a contract was signed between the Nigerian government and the Soviet state-owned company, Tiajpromexport (TPE).
“Everyone at the time was so excited about the potential of this project,” Badams said. Mr. Badams is the head of the Public Affairs unit at Ajaokuta Steel. He has worked here in different capacities since 1985.
One of the large industrial scale equipment at Ajaokuta Steel Company with the inscription 'Made in USSR'. The Ajaokuta project started before the collapse of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991.
One of the large industrial scale equipment at Ajaokuta Steel Company with the inscription 'Made in USSR'. The Ajaokuta project started before the collapse of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991. (Pulse )
“The Nigerian government sent many Nigerian engineers to the Russia and Soviet states to train them and prepare them for Ajaokuta.”
In 1979, Shagari’s government began work on Ajaokuta Steel Project.
“It wasn't just a normal company,” Badams said, “it was a massive project. The entire Ajaokuta Steel Project is bigger than Lokoja. There are 24 housing estates on the project. Some of the estates have over 1000 homes. There's an -ND awarding institution there. Hospitals. There's even a seaport. Then there's the main Steel Plant itself.”
Ajaokuta Steel Plant is 12,000 plots large. It has a 68-kilometre road network and another 24-kilometre road network underground. “It is bigger than every refinery in Nigeria combined” Engineer Akin told Pulse. Engineer Akin, according to Mr Badams, is one of the finest engineers that currently work at Ajaokuta.
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
The Ajaokuta Steel Company lies dormant as it is yet to produce a beam of steel (Pulse )
“It is Nigeria’s biggest mineral resource investment in one place,” Akin continued. “Take refineries for example. Oil is in the South-South but there are refineries scattered far away. With Ajaokuta, everything is either here, or nearby.”
“Long Live the Soviet-Nigerian Operation!”
“When the Russians were building it,” Badams said, “they built it like they were building their own. They built it so it in a way that would make it almost independent of imports. They were very socialist in their approach.”
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company and all you need to know about it. The Ajaokuta Steel Company is one of the products of the Nigerian-Russia relationship (Pulse )
It's why the Steel Plant has 43 plants in it. From Assembly plants to workshops, almost everything needed to function can be built there.
Thousands of Russian engineers lived and worked in Nigeria to make this project come to life and in 1983, Shehu Shagari inaugurated the project.
“It wasn't yet complete at the time,” Engineer Akin said, “40 of the 43 plants are now completed.”
Compared to the amount of progress made between ‘80 and '83, not much has happened after that.
“Corruption started to happen, and Ajaokuta became a conduit pipe,” one veteran staff said. “It became an outlet where money meant for this place never really reached here.”
But, how much did it really cost?
$4.6 billion. That would equate to about $14.5 billion today when you add yearly inflation rates. Before we look into the amount it cost to build it, we have to first look at Ajaokuta’s biggest problem.
“It is the lack of political will,” Engineer Akin said over and over again. “When you look at how far the project has come, and what little is left, it doesn't matter anymore how much it will cost to complete. This project is currently at 98% completion.”
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
Ajaokuta Steel Complex has gulped billions of dollars since 1979 (Pulse )
One question often asked is, if the project has made it this far, isn't it possible to just start up with the ones that are available and then complete the rest as you go?
This is actually happening, to a certain degree. The power plant in Ajaokuta was generating 110MW and transferring to the National Grid until gas pipeline vandalisation halted generation months ago. A few other plants also get small-scale projects done, but very little, compared to what it was built to do. Eagles can hop on the ground, but eagles are born to fly.
The Heart of Steel
At the core of the Ajaokuta Project is a blast furnace, the type of furnace used for 70% of the world's steel production but it has never been turned on. Ever.
“The only time you can turn on a blast furnace,” Engineer Akin said, “has to be when you're ready to begin production. For production to begin, all infrastructure has to be in place, including a functioning seaport and a rail system. You can't turn it off again for another 10 years at least.”
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
The blast furnace at Ajaokuta Steel Company has never been switched on (Pulse )
One end of the Ajaokuta plant is at the banks of River Niger, and in fact, the Yar’adua administration did some dredging work there. Also important is a rail network that will transport the steel out of the plant.
“Road transport is not an option for this scale of production,” Engineer Akin said, “the roads will crumble.”
“It will cost in excess of 1 billion dollars to get this place working again, and 18 months of active work,” he said, “but the problem is not even the amount. It's the political will.”
What are we missing out on here?
“If the blast furnace is ready today, 10,000 technical staff will be needed on ground to get working" said Engineer Akin.
And that's just the first phase. In the steel industry, one technical job created automatically creates 50 more jobs. What this means that a total of 500,000 jobs can be created.
“There's a place for just about any course of study here,” Mr Badams said. “No matter what you studied, there'll most likely be a place for you here.”
And all of this, still, is at the foundational level.
The Three Pegs of Nigerian Industrialization
“Let me tell you a story,” Mr Badams said:
I started working here in 1985 in one of the company-owned schools before I went to get more qualifications. I was doing an industrial attachment in NNPC and we usually have this bus banter after work.
This was the early 90s, Mandela was about to be released from Prison and it was clear that he was going to be President when he got out. So people started arguing in the bus that South Africa was going to overtake Nigeria economically in Africa.
Arguments were flying left and right, but a very senior engineer just sat quietly in a corner. Apparently, he'd worked in South Africa for years and understood some dynamics we didn’t. He said South Africa can't overtake Nigeria for several reasons.
One of them is that most of the country is controlled by White people and that power will only just begin to shift a little to the Blacks, who are mostly poor. The second, more important factor is that Nigeria is on an unstoppable path. Now, three things are very important to jump start a country’s industrialisation. With one, you can do just fine.
The first one is arable land. If your land is good, then you are on track. Example is countries like Malaysia. Next, if you have oil, you're good, like Saudi Arabia. Lastly, Steel. When a Steel Industry kicks off, the country becomes unstoppable. Like South Korea, for example.
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
Welcome to Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Complex (Pulse )
It's why Ajaokuta Steel Company is called the “Bedrock of Nigerian Industrialisation.”
So what happens there now?
“What we do now, is mostly preservative maintenance,” Mr Badams said. While touring the facility, we ran into menial workers cutting grass in a section of the plant.
“The cost of cutting grass alone costs a lot yearly,” one worker said.
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
Weeds have taken over some of the buildings and facilities at Ajaokuta Steel Company (Pulse )
The equipment and plant, though in need of cosmetic maintenance due to rust, is still very much ready to go live.
“Engineers here do idle runs regularly to not only test but make sure everything here stays functional,” Badams said.
“Every few years, an auditing company from Ukraine comes to audit our equipment, and their remarks are mostly satisfactory. Where there are issues, they tell us what needs to be fixed.”
The most profound observation about what's left of Ajaokuta’s workers is the religious devotion in how they go about their duties, making sure none of these falls apart.
Ahijo, a member of the Public Affairs team, said about his first time on the facility:
“I was posted here via NYSC and I didn't even know any of these existed. The first time I walked into the plant and they showed me around, I broke down in tears.”
And he's not alone. Ajaokuta evokes many things in many people. And this devotion is not just on the plant. It's also in the main administrative building.
“We are not just employees here, we're patriots,” a Senior staff said. “I'm responsible for making sure everything works properly.”
And he's doing an incredible job. The water fountain actually works. The elevators work. The building still looks in pristine condition.
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
The water fountain at Ajaokuta Steel Company still works till today (Pulse )
And it's strange in the context of many Nigerian government buildings.
“This administrative building was constructed by Julius Berger during Babangida’s administration,” Ahijo said. “The government directive was that everything used in this building will be sourced from and around Ajaokuta.”
There have been different calls to completely shut down operations at Ajaokuta, one of them was by the former Nigerian minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“There was a time that the former minister was in Abuja asking for a complete shutdown at Ajaokuta,” Mr Badams said, “so we managed to get her to visit this place. After six hours touring, she came back sweating, and her tone was softer. She apologised, saying she was ‘misinformed’ in Abuja.”
Every time a senior government official showed up, they left heavy-hearted, gingered to do more when they get back to Abuja.
There's an inside joke in Ajaokuta, “the moment these people cross the Niger bridge, all the enthusiasm falls inside the water.”
The Real Tragedy
“Every time a new administration enters,” Mr Badams continued, “they promise to change things and make it better. But nothing much ever happens.”
Mr Badams will be retiring next year, and he's not alone.
“Most of the Engineers that were trained in Russia will be retiring next year,” he said, “and many of them are sad because they never got to apply what they believed will greatly change their country.”
You could feel the heaviness in his heart as he said this.
“I believe that one day, a generation is going to come and bring this place to life,” he sighed.
The Ajaokuta Steel Plant should be buzzing with life, three shifts of thousands of workers racing against time, churning out millions of tonnes for the country.
But when you walk through the massive factory, the only machine thumping will be the one in your chest. The only noise will be from your own breathing.
It is as quiet as death. As lonely as a graveyard. A place where great dreams go to die.
But the workers you see still show up, with all the dedication.
From one perspective, they look like grave keepers, tending to the dead, so the living can find a place to stand and weep.
“This place is not a cemetery,” Engineer Akin said.
And he's right because from another perspective, the state of this place, pristine but comatose, is evidence of their hope.
The tragic story of Ajaokuta Steel Company
Is there still hope for Ajaokuta Steel Company (Pulse )
In the way the workers speak about this place, in the way they go about their duties, you can tell that they believe that these dead bones of steel, will one day rise.
Very Urgent
Very urgent, please recommend any PWD with an English-French background for immediate employment by EUROPEAN UNION-EU project.
This project is implemented by West African Federation of the Disabled(WAFOD), the staff is to be based in Abuja.
Very very urgent please.
Please contact;
Ekaete Judith Umoh
Vice Chairperson- WAFOD
Email; umohekaetej@gmail.com
08037253547
PDP warns aggrieved members to withdraw court cases or face sanctions
By Brendan Umoren
The Peoples Democratic Party has directed all members of the party that instituted court cases against the party to withdraw them or face sanctions.
The deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, said in a statement on Thursday that the party considered myriads of cases instituted against it by its members as inimical to the successes it has achieved in the last few years.
The party is apparently disturbed by the ruling against the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the party in Osun, Ademola Adeleke, by a high court in Bwari, Abuja and other outstanding litigations.
Adeleke, a serving senator, was recently declared the winner of September 22 governorship election by the Osun governorship election petition tribunal, which conducted its sittings in Abuja.
But the contest of the party’s governorship ticket for the Osun election by Akin Ogunbiyi has remained an internal concern which had further compounded the challenges of Adeleke.
Ogunbiyi had earlier denied any involvement in the travails of Adeleke at the courts, with particular reference to the Tuesday’s court judgment nullifying his candidature as PDP’s flag bearer in the last governorship election.
Odeyemi however, said any PDP member with genuine interest in the party must not make himself available to be used by elements that wanted to slow down its progress through needless litigation.
“We consider it inimical to our progress as a vibrant political party the myriad of cases instituted against PDP by members who are expected to be part of the concerted efforts towards being the ruling party in Nigeria,” he said.
“We can’t continue to struggle under the yoke of needless litigations when we intend to return to power both at federal level and in other states that are out of control of PDP at the moment.”
Odeyemi reminded members of the decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) to sanction any member, no matter how highly placed, who, through court cases constitute themselves as a cog in the wheel of progress of the party, adding that some members had been expelled from the party in the recent past for same reason.
“We are monitoring situations in Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos and other states across the country regarding court matters instituted by our members,” he said.
He assured that those aggrieved would get justice using the party’s internal mechanism and not through the court.
Odeyemi reiterated the decision of the PDP to sanction any member who failed to comply with the directive.
SENATE, REPS COMMITTEES TASK NIGER DELTA MINISTRY ON BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION
The Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Niger Delta have emphasised the need for effective implementation of budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, for the benefits of the people of the Niger Delta region.
This view was expressed by the Chairmen of the committees on Niger Delta when the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani led the Ministry’s delegation to the National Assembly for the 2018 Budget Defence and presentation of the 2019 Draft Budget in Abuja, on Thursday.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi noted: “If we discover that you do not deserve the money allocated to you by Mr. President, we will ensure that such money is given to other Ministries or agencies that need it, but if will also discover that the money allocated to you is smaller than what you require, we will source for other areas of raising funds for you.”
Senator Nwaoboshi added that the Ministry should ensure timely completion of projects that would benefit the people of the Niger Delta region, while charging it to do away with those projects he tagged, ‘less important.’
He hinted that the discoveries from the committee’s oversight visits to the region would be the major deciding factors for the consideration of the Ministry’s 2019 Appropriation.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta, Honourable Essien Ayi said his Committee was interested in the completion of on-going capital projects in the Niger Delta region, saying that the committee, in its last oversight visit to various projects of the Ministry in the region witnessed a number of uncompleted projects.
Hon. Ayi also advised that completed housing schemes in the Niger Delta region by the Ministry should be handed over to the beneficiaries to address their housing need.
“The Niger Delta people deserve to be treated better,” he reiterated.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, while presenting a draft budget of N41,600,274,568 covering Capital, Overhead and Personnel Appropriation for 2019 before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Niger Delta, disclosed that about 80 projects- roads, water, electricity, housing, blocks of class room, food and cassava processing plants, health care centres, empowerment programmes, sensitisation on peace and security, medical outreaches, land reclamation and erosion control, among others, were completed within the 2018 budget year across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
Pastor Usani said that the implementation of the 2018 Capital Budget was still on-going, adding that more capital projects would still be completed before June, 2019.
He said that the Ministry was guided by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration’s determination to move the country to the Next Level, in preparing the budget. “The core projects earmarked for execution in the fiscal year 2019 are indeed consistent with the programmes spelt out in the Budget guidelines,“ he reiterated.
The Minister stressed that his Ministry will continue to ensure that quality jobs are delivered to the people and residents of the Niger Delta region by contractors.
Signed
Stephen Kilebi
Deputy Director
(Press and Public Relations)
4th April, 2019..
Thursday, April 4, 2019
APC NOW SEES ENEMIES EVERYWHERE, AFTER HEAVY ELECTION DEFEAT - DELTA PDP
PRESS STATEMENT
04th April, 2019
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
Delta State Chapter, has chided the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State, describing its latest outbursts over fears of arrest of its members, as wild, unfounded and the result of a paranoid mentality, provoked by the heavy loss it suffered in the recently concluded 2019 general elections.
A press statement, issued by the nullified faction of Delta APC on April 2, 2019 and signed by Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, the now illegitimate Publicity Secretary of the party in the State, titled: UNWARRANTED ARREST OF APC LEADERS AND MEMBERS IN ISOKO NORTH IN GENERAL AND OYEDE WARD IN PARTICULAR, BY PDP LED GOVERNMENT OF DELTA STATE IS POLITICS OF BITTERNESS TAKEN TOO FAR!, had accused the PDP of plotting what it termed as the unwarranted arrests of APC leaders and members, particularly in Oyede Ward located in Isoko North, as well as in other parts of the State.
But in a swift reaction to the allegations contained in the APC Press statement, the Delta State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, described the APC statement as the hallucinations of certain paranoia provoked by the hay fever of devastating defeat it suffered in the just concluded 2019 polls and the plethora of court cases which have further compounded its endless internal confusion and deepened the no-identity crisis, particularly of the faction whose arrogated authority was recently stripped off, first by a Federal High Court in Asaba and re-affirmed by another Federal High Court in Warri.
Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza said: "The attention of the Delta State PDP was recently drawn to a statement purportedly signed by the illegitimate Publicity Secretary of Delta APC, in which the author raised all kinds of wild alarms over an unfounded plot by the PDP to arrest some persons said to be APC leaders and members, particularly in Isoko North, as well as in other parts of the State, with the intent to annihilate APC in Isoko North and also ostensibly to compel those at the tribunal to drop their election petitions against victorious PDP candidates.
"Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the wild and rambling press statement with any kind of response, especially since the authority of the author has already been nullified by two properly constituted Courts of Law and the document thus lacks any legitimacy whatsoever, but we must necessarily offer a few salient clarifications for the simple fact that such a malicious and reckless statement has been put out in the public space and the matter must therefore be addressed within the proper context it belongs.
"First, we find it amusing and totally childish that a press statement by the APC would accuse the PDP of plotting to annihilate the party in a mere ward (Iyede) in Isoko land, when we can just as easily trounce and devastated the entire APC machinery in the whole of Delta State, as we did and have been doing in all elections, since its creation. Why use the sledge hammer of PDP on the small APC ants in just one ward in Isoko when we are quite capable of decimating the APC in Delta State as a whole? This particular allegation is quite preposterous and the APC should stop embarrassing itself with frivolous insinuations like this, which in any case, we believe is the product of hallucinations caused by the hay fever of heavy defeat it suffered in the last elections and is yet to recover from.
"Secondly, it is common knowledge all over Delta State and indeed nationally, that a Federal High Court in Asaba has sacked the Prophet Jones Erue led faction, which the author of the Press statement belongs to, as the legitimate executive of Delta APC. We are also aware that Prophet Jones Erue is an Isoko man and the long drawn battle between him and the other faction of the APC, which unfortunately has now consumed him and his ilk, also created many political enemies and there may be concerted efforts by those who won him in Court to also proceed to cripple him politically in his political stronghold. Our advise to Jones Erue and his motley crowd of losers is to first remove the log in their eyes so that they can see well and identify those behind their travails instead of these wild and unfounded allegations against PDP..
"Thirdly, the Delta PDP frowns at the suggestions of Barr. Imonina that the PDP may not only be conniving with security agencies to arrest its members but has infiltrated virtually all sectors of the society, including churches and market unions, to whittle away APC's presence in the political space. This is a very sad and sorry reflection of the paranoia which no doubt is symptomatic of the heavy defeat in the aftermath of the general elections. Rather than accept the glaring fact that the crushing defeat it suffered at the polls was not only a reflection of its unpopularity but also a clear statement by Deltans to vote for peace and unity, the APC now sees enemies everywhere and blames, accuses everyone, except itself, of the misfortunes that has befallen its existences after the elections.
"We wish to state for the umpteenth time, the Delta PDP is very satisfied with the professionalism and neutrality exhibited by the security agencies during the 2019 general elections and if, for any reason whatsoever, there is need to clarify issues and allegations pertaining to discrepancies observed during the elections, then those so suspected as instigators would necessarily be invited and given the opportunity to explain and exonerate themselves and then go home, just as the APC statement rightly admitted, had been the case with some of their sympathisers. To therefore suggest partisanship in the actions of the law enforcement agencies, smacks of the same foolish and perfidious mentality of entitlement which led them to great ruin in the elections and to even link the PDP with their travails is absurdity taken too far by the APC, particularly those lily livered fellows from Isoko North, who suddenly see enemies everywhere and are now afraid of their own shadows since after the 2019 elections.
"Finally, let's us state it loud and clear once again that the PDP won the Delta State elections fair and square as a result of our massive campaigns across all the nooks and crannies in the State and the dynamic, visionary and strategic campaign template which our leader, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, joined by our leaders and elders in the three senatorial zones of the State, set down for the party ahead of the elections. It is in full confidence of our excellent operations and performances, that we make bold to tell the APC that we are fully ready and prepared to meet them in court.
"For them to therefore infer that the invitations of their members by law enforcement agencies, who are simply doing their job, may even be remotely connected to a ploy by PDP to dissuade them from pursuing the legitimate right to challenge their defeat at the tribunal, is not only mischievous and quite hilarious, but pitifully reflects the dangerous levels of paranoia which the crushing defeat at the polls has inflicted on their psyche.
"While we do not wish to further compound their daze and stupor beyond the already devastating blow dealt to them by the Federal High Courts in Delta State, it is our candid advise to the APC to try and first of all sort out who exactly, between their factions, has the legitimacy to even instigate a petition challenging our election victory at the tribunal. It would indeed be quite sad and unfortunate if after all their brouhaha, they discover that their legal huffing and puffing was initiated by illegitimate persons, who had no business with the elections in the first place.
As far as Delta APC is concerned, everybody, from market unions, civil society, churches and the security agencies to motor park unions and even the Judiciary, is now their enemy, for the simple reason that they now see enemies everywhere, including the good people of Iyede Ward 7, in Isoko North, after the debilitating defeat they suffered at the hands of the PDP in 2019 general elections. It is a well established and accepted procedure that those who have issues to address or questions to answer with the law enforcement agencies will be invited and must be man enough to clear themselves of such accusations rather than blame others for their predicament.
We wish to assure the APC that we are neither connected nor even interested in the least with the inanities, shenanigans and trivialities of their political cat and mouse game in Iyede Ward 7 as we are too busy preparing for the historic swearing-in and inauguration of our dear Governor, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, for his well deserved and merited second term as the Executive Governor of Delta State, on May 29, 2019.
That is our major engagement and pre-occupation now and it shall come to pass and end in praise, by the Grace of God and the will of the people.
PDP! Power to the People.
God Bless Delta State.
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.
04th April, 2019
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
Delta State Chapter, has chided the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State, describing its latest outbursts over fears of arrest of its members, as wild, unfounded and the result of a paranoid mentality, provoked by the heavy loss it suffered in the recently concluded 2019 general elections.
A press statement, issued by the nullified faction of Delta APC on April 2, 2019 and signed by Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, the now illegitimate Publicity Secretary of the party in the State, titled: UNWARRANTED ARREST OF APC LEADERS AND MEMBERS IN ISOKO NORTH IN GENERAL AND OYEDE WARD IN PARTICULAR, BY PDP LED GOVERNMENT OF DELTA STATE IS POLITICS OF BITTERNESS TAKEN TOO FAR!, had accused the PDP of plotting what it termed as the unwarranted arrests of APC leaders and members, particularly in Oyede Ward located in Isoko North, as well as in other parts of the State.
But in a swift reaction to the allegations contained in the APC Press statement, the Delta State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, described the APC statement as the hallucinations of certain paranoia provoked by the hay fever of devastating defeat it suffered in the just concluded 2019 polls and the plethora of court cases which have further compounded its endless internal confusion and deepened the no-identity crisis, particularly of the faction whose arrogated authority was recently stripped off, first by a Federal High Court in Asaba and re-affirmed by another Federal High Court in Warri.
Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza said: "The attention of the Delta State PDP was recently drawn to a statement purportedly signed by the illegitimate Publicity Secretary of Delta APC, in which the author raised all kinds of wild alarms over an unfounded plot by the PDP to arrest some persons said to be APC leaders and members, particularly in Isoko North, as well as in other parts of the State, with the intent to annihilate APC in Isoko North and also ostensibly to compel those at the tribunal to drop their election petitions against victorious PDP candidates.
"Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the wild and rambling press statement with any kind of response, especially since the authority of the author has already been nullified by two properly constituted Courts of Law and the document thus lacks any legitimacy whatsoever, but we must necessarily offer a few salient clarifications for the simple fact that such a malicious and reckless statement has been put out in the public space and the matter must therefore be addressed within the proper context it belongs.
"First, we find it amusing and totally childish that a press statement by the APC would accuse the PDP of plotting to annihilate the party in a mere ward (Iyede) in Isoko land, when we can just as easily trounce and devastated the entire APC machinery in the whole of Delta State, as we did and have been doing in all elections, since its creation. Why use the sledge hammer of PDP on the small APC ants in just one ward in Isoko when we are quite capable of decimating the APC in Delta State as a whole? This particular allegation is quite preposterous and the APC should stop embarrassing itself with frivolous insinuations like this, which in any case, we believe is the product of hallucinations caused by the hay fever of heavy defeat it suffered in the last elections and is yet to recover from.
"Secondly, it is common knowledge all over Delta State and indeed nationally, that a Federal High Court in Asaba has sacked the Prophet Jones Erue led faction, which the author of the Press statement belongs to, as the legitimate executive of Delta APC. We are also aware that Prophet Jones Erue is an Isoko man and the long drawn battle between him and the other faction of the APC, which unfortunately has now consumed him and his ilk, also created many political enemies and there may be concerted efforts by those who won him in Court to also proceed to cripple him politically in his political stronghold. Our advise to Jones Erue and his motley crowd of losers is to first remove the log in their eyes so that they can see well and identify those behind their travails instead of these wild and unfounded allegations against PDP..
"Thirdly, the Delta PDP frowns at the suggestions of Barr. Imonina that the PDP may not only be conniving with security agencies to arrest its members but has infiltrated virtually all sectors of the society, including churches and market unions, to whittle away APC's presence in the political space. This is a very sad and sorry reflection of the paranoia which no doubt is symptomatic of the heavy defeat in the aftermath of the general elections. Rather than accept the glaring fact that the crushing defeat it suffered at the polls was not only a reflection of its unpopularity but also a clear statement by Deltans to vote for peace and unity, the APC now sees enemies everywhere and blames, accuses everyone, except itself, of the misfortunes that has befallen its existences after the elections.
"We wish to state for the umpteenth time, the Delta PDP is very satisfied with the professionalism and neutrality exhibited by the security agencies during the 2019 general elections and if, for any reason whatsoever, there is need to clarify issues and allegations pertaining to discrepancies observed during the elections, then those so suspected as instigators would necessarily be invited and given the opportunity to explain and exonerate themselves and then go home, just as the APC statement rightly admitted, had been the case with some of their sympathisers. To therefore suggest partisanship in the actions of the law enforcement agencies, smacks of the same foolish and perfidious mentality of entitlement which led them to great ruin in the elections and to even link the PDP with their travails is absurdity taken too far by the APC, particularly those lily livered fellows from Isoko North, who suddenly see enemies everywhere and are now afraid of their own shadows since after the 2019 elections.
"Finally, let's us state it loud and clear once again that the PDP won the Delta State elections fair and square as a result of our massive campaigns across all the nooks and crannies in the State and the dynamic, visionary and strategic campaign template which our leader, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, joined by our leaders and elders in the three senatorial zones of the State, set down for the party ahead of the elections. It is in full confidence of our excellent operations and performances, that we make bold to tell the APC that we are fully ready and prepared to meet them in court.
"For them to therefore infer that the invitations of their members by law enforcement agencies, who are simply doing their job, may even be remotely connected to a ploy by PDP to dissuade them from pursuing the legitimate right to challenge their defeat at the tribunal, is not only mischievous and quite hilarious, but pitifully reflects the dangerous levels of paranoia which the crushing defeat at the polls has inflicted on their psyche.
"While we do not wish to further compound their daze and stupor beyond the already devastating blow dealt to them by the Federal High Courts in Delta State, it is our candid advise to the APC to try and first of all sort out who exactly, between their factions, has the legitimacy to even instigate a petition challenging our election victory at the tribunal. It would indeed be quite sad and unfortunate if after all their brouhaha, they discover that their legal huffing and puffing was initiated by illegitimate persons, who had no business with the elections in the first place.
As far as Delta APC is concerned, everybody, from market unions, civil society, churches and the security agencies to motor park unions and even the Judiciary, is now their enemy, for the simple reason that they now see enemies everywhere, including the good people of Iyede Ward 7, in Isoko North, after the debilitating defeat they suffered at the hands of the PDP in 2019 general elections. It is a well established and accepted procedure that those who have issues to address or questions to answer with the law enforcement agencies will be invited and must be man enough to clear themselves of such accusations rather than blame others for their predicament.
We wish to assure the APC that we are neither connected nor even interested in the least with the inanities, shenanigans and trivialities of their political cat and mouse game in Iyede Ward 7 as we are too busy preparing for the historic swearing-in and inauguration of our dear Governor, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, for his well deserved and merited second term as the Executive Governor of Delta State, on May 29, 2019.
That is our major engagement and pre-occupation now and it shall come to pass and end in praise, by the Grace of God and the will of the people.
PDP! Power to the People.
God Bless Delta State.
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.
I DEDICATE VICTORY TO GOD AND ANIOMA PEOPLE. - NED NWOKO.
Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko on behalf of his teeming supporters in Anioma land and far afield , is elated to accept the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja which sacked Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as the candidate of PDP in the Delta North senatorial election and affirmed him as the authentic winner of the PDP primary election of October 2nd 2018 .
We note with immense joy that the judgement was delivered with the highest judicial focus and aptness as the presiding Judge, Honourable Justice A.R. Mohammed pointedly faulted the process that declared Nwaoboshi the PDP senatorial candidate against the lawful winner of the primary election, Hon. Ned Nwoko.
Today we are victorious .
The widespread jubilation that greeted the landmark judgement among our people across political,social and religious cleavages remained overwhelming and humbling.
Special gratitude to all Delta North people and supporters of good will . We dedicate this resounding victory to God and Anioma people.
According to the star prince of Anioma land and foremost philanthropist , " the victory is not just for me but for Anioma Nation and everyone committed to the task of deepening democratic tenets and instituting good governance in the polity .
I am glad that once again, the judiciary has proven to be the hope of the common man. Anioma people indeed won, because they chose me and stood by me to reclaim their mandate" .
Waxing confident he noted: " We are intelligent stock and people of honour and dignity.
We deserve the best, far removed from mediocrity, ridicule and infamy.
We must at this time remain resolute to the utmost goal of ensuring that credible leadership is enthroned for our people" The star prince further assured. "Let me make a solemn pledge .
I am poised to set a trail blazing stewardship in excellent representation of Anioma people at the 9th Senate .On my honour, Anioma would rise to unprecedented glory "
Ned Nwoko Media and Communication Directorate.
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