19th December, 2022

It is hereby announced for the information of Deltans particularly our teeming supporters, that the Campaign Council of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slightly adjusted its Wednesday, 21st December, 2022 campaign itinerary as follows:

(1). ◼ PATANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

   TIME: 10AM.

(2) ◼ ISOKO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

   TIME: 2PM

Further be informed that a new date will be announced for Bomadi and Isoko South Local Government Areas.

We regret all inconveniences that this slight adjustment may have caused our teeming supporters.

Signed:

Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza,
Deputy Director,
Media/Publicity Committee,
Delta PDP Campaign Council and
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted not less than 1,760,460 pills of tramadol and other opioids hidden in packs of Indomie noodles packs and other packs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as in Gombe state.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi also disclosed that over 600,000 pills of tramadol 225mg coming from Karachi, Pakistan in two separate shipments on Ethiopian Airlines flights were intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport last Monday and Tuesday; noting that 5,960 pills of Rohypnol concealed in 60 packs of indomie noodles going to Johannesburg, South Africa were also seized at the SAHCO export shed of the airport last Wednesday.

He said a female freight agent, Olaleye Adeola has already been arrested in connection with the noodles consignment.

Babafemi also said a trader at Balogun market on Lagos Island, Akunne Tochukwu last Tuesday was arrested in collaboration with the Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Lagos over his attempt to export a tramadol consignment to Dubai, UAE, adding that the consignment was seized at the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives on 25th November while a market labourer, Oke Ronke whose services were requested to convey the drug for export had earlier been arrested.

He revealed that NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Sunday 11th December intercepted a truck and a bus conveying 113 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,802.84 kilogrammes around the VGC estate area of Ajah while three suspects: Taofeek Yusuf; Ifeanyi Okorie and Israel Nwachukwu were arrested in connection with the seizures.

He said in Gombe state, a total of 1,154,500 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and Exol being transported from Onitsha, Anambra state to Gombe by a truck driver, Umar Hassan, 28, were seized lastvThursday at Bye pass area of Gombe by a team of NDLEA officers following credible intelligence.

Babafemi said also acting on intelligence, operatives in Edo state last Friday intercepted a Honda Ridgeline pick-up vehicle with Registration Number BWR 699 CV loaded with 29 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 319 kilogrammes, while the driver of the vehicle, Alfred Vratombo, 32, was arrested with fake police uniforms, which he was using to deceive security men on the road.

The NDLEA Spokesman said attempt by a drug dealer, Chucks Kalu, 29, to smuggle into Kano 26 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa concealed inside packs of blenders was thwarted by operatives who intercepted the consignment along Abuja-Kaduna express road and later arrested him in a follow up operation in Kano, just as another suspect, Rabilu Abubakar,42, was also arrested in a follow up operation in Kano, following the seizure of his consignment 1,980 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, concealed inside cartons, were seized along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

In Bauchi state, operatives last Saturday arrested Muhammed Ahmed, 40, with 288 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 244.5 kilogrammes in Darazo area of the state, while in Delta state, NDLEA officers stormed the home of alleged drug kingpin, Okrika Ozioma, at Usiefurum town, Ughelli South local government area, where an underground drug bunk was uncovered in a three-bedroom bungalow building owned by the suspect who is now on the run. He noted that 17.6 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were recovered from the bunk in addition to a 2003 Silver Golf car with registration number Lagos KJA 572 AZ used for the distribution of drugs within and outside Warri.

In Oyo state, a suspect, Yusuf Ayinde, 40, was arrested with 50.4 kilogrammes cannabis in his residence at Idi-Ose via Amuloko, Ona-Ara local government area last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Gombe, Edo, Delta, Kaduna and Oyo state commands for their commitment and vigilance leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week, urged them and their compatriots across other formations to continue to surpass their past records of achievements.

The Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, Zdenek Krejci has lamented that the reaction of European countries to the ongoing Russian/Ukrainian war has not been too smooth.

Krejci, who is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Gabon, Central African Republic and Republic of Congo, said at the handover of the European Union Presidency to Sweden, that: “As we all know, the Christmas holidays in Europe and Ukraine will be difficult and complicated this year.

“The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has completely changed the geopolitical situation on our continent, while demonstrating that the European Union is able to respond decisively. The events of the last months have shown that Europeans in a crisis triggered by an external threat, are able to act very quickly, effectively and in a united way.”

He stressed that: “The overall objective of the Czech Presidency was to contribute as much as possible to creating the conditions for the security and prosperity of the EU in the context of the European values of freedom, social justice, democracy and the rule of law and environmental responsibility.”

He added that: “The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU has been getting closer to the finish line and is gradually reaping the fruits of almost six months of work. Among other things, it managed to facilitate an agreement among Member States on further measures to tackle the energy crisis, negotiate the EU budget for 2023, successfully conclude further parts of the Fit for 55 climate package, and ensure the non-recognition of Russian passports issued in the occupied territories of Ukraine and Georgia.”

The Swedish Ambassador-Designate to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund on her part, said she would want to congratulate the Czech Republic for a successful EU Presidency in a very challenging time with a war in Europe due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

She noted that: “The Czech Presidency has been able to unite the European Union Member States to have a common response to the war, and to together tackle the energy crises, to advance security and defence related issues and to lead the climate change discussions and results at the COP27. Many of these dossiers will continue to be on the top of the agenda during the Swedish Presidency.”

She added that: “Sweden is number three in the Presidency Trio – first France, now the Czech Republic and from 1st January Sweden. Building on the Trio Programme from December 2021, the political direction for the Swedish EU Presidency can be summarized in five headings:
-Providing security for EU citizens and strengthening the EU’s role in the world
-Stopping organised crime
-Speeding up the climate transition
-Strengthening the EU’s competitiveness for the jobs of the future
-Safeguarding the EU’s fundamental values.”

She explained that the Lucia procession is really about celebrating light and the future return of light in the middle of midwinter darkness, adding that: “The Latin word for light is “Lux” and this is the origin of the name of Lucia. Saint Lucia lived in Sicily in Italy in the 4th century and she came with food to poor people living in caves. As she was carrying the food in her hands, she put candles in her hair to light up.”

-By Dennis Agwa:

As Nigerians prepare for the general elections slated for the first quarter of 2023 a lot of permutations are going on about what should happen and who should get what by way of winning at the polls. The electorate is now the beautiful bride with suitors, many of them sweet-tongued and deceptive, coming to knock at the door to her heart. At the national scene, the furore has escalated around the three leading candidates namely, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). Across Nigeria, some of the states with election schedule that falls into this electoral season are also having their fair share of contentions, disputations and campaigns. This is more so because it is a transition cycle as many of the governors are rounding off their second term and paving the way for new state executives. The media, both conventional and social, is awash with claims and counter-claims. The candidates and their followers are not resting, but toiling to see that they add electoral value to their cause. It is the season of the conflict of interest.

The scenario created above is also playing out in Delta State. What is becoming clearer by the day is the apparent and crystal clear signs that Rt. Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori, the incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has earned the peoples’ support and verdict that he is the next governor of Delta State come 2023. Oborevwori’s favourable run is predicated on a number of factors which the other candidates for the position lack. Despite initial hiccups provoked by opponents and which led to litigations that dragged on to the Supreme Court and during which he was overwhelmingly vindicated, Oborevwori has emerged better focused and he is now on top of the game. While his opponents seize every opportunity to malign him, he has embarked on a strategic meet the people campaign as he takes his message to the people of Delta State who have come to see beyond the lies other candidates told just to undo him politically.

Oborevwori remains the most Pan-Deltan among the candidates and has the real capacity and largeness of heart to continue to drive the Pan-Delta agenda that has made the State socio-economically and politically stable since 1999. A State like Delta State with a multi-ethnic colouration needs a character with a measured temperament like that of Oborevwori to thrive and prosper.

Oborevwori has never exhibited the tendencies attributable to a nepotistic and sectional leader. His credentials as the longest serving Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly remain unmatched by any other politician in the State since the advent of the current dispensation in 1999. As Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the entire State made up of twenty-nine constituencies has been his one vast constituency. He knows the State like the back of his hands and he knows and appreciates the development aspirations of all Deltans.

It is his understanding and readiness to address the State’s development aspirations arising from his engagements with every sector of the State that inspired his desire to serve and entrance into the governorship race. In doing this, he has evolved a most people-friendly and development oriented manifesto which he codenamed the MORE AGENDA where he articulated his vision and strategy for the development of Delta State. Oborewvori’s MORE agenda recognizes that so much has been done, but that MORE needs to be done. The MORE agenda thus seeks to give Deltans Meaningful development, Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms and Enhanced peace and security. Embedded in each of the concepts on which the manifesto is anchored are visions and clear cut strategies for their realization.

Education, healthcare, agriculture, electricity, infrastructure, industrialization and ICT are the key drivers of the MORE agenda.

Oborevwori is conscious of Nigeria’s predicament which has negatively impacted Delta State and her people. That is why he didn’t limit his development vision to the precincts of Nigeria. As a contemporarily conscious and astute politician who has undertaken courses in political development and management studies in the best universities across the globe, Oborevwori has configured a Delta State that will participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution driven by ICT.

The majority of Deltans have come to see Oborevwori’s humble beginning, his struggles to the top and his political achievements as symbolic of their own dreams and aspirations. They have seen his aspirations as their s and have embraced his struggles as their own struggles too. While his opponents deride him because of his humble beginning and attribute the negative essence of the streets to him, the people claim him as their own. The people own the street and the street is where the people live and Oborevwori has a heavy dose of street credibility which his opponents lack. Oborevwori’s grassroots appeal makes him a sure bet for democracy and her populist ideals. He is a listener, a consensus builder and team player.

These attributes which attest to his uncommon leadership acumen are what have made him the longest serving Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. It should be on record that at the national level, Oborevwori is the vice chairman of the Conference of Speakers of States’ Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

Contrary to what his opponents falsely claim, Oborevwori is well educated obtaining degrees in political science up to postgraduate level. His case is that of practicing what he studied. He has in addition to the degrees in political science, which opened his eyes to political economy, attended courses in legislative matters, political leadership and management in top universities in the world. The truth is that no other governorship candidate is as prepared as Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

The people of Delta State have unanimously endorsed him as the best candidate for the governorship in 2023.

-By Festus Okubor:

ALL through the ages, great leaders, who impacted their generations and times rose from among the people and suffered as they emerged from nothingness to become something. The examples of Winston Churchill of Great Britain, Abraham Lincoln of America, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria, just to mention a few, remind us that life for great leaders was never a walk in a beautiful park.

A more recent and contemporary example has been Barack Obama. These leaders have certain things in common. One of which is found in their humble background and beginning.

Another one is that they were clear-sighted and pursued their passion with courage and commitment to the astonishment of those who never gave them a chance. Reading the biographies or memoirs of these men who now occupy looming spaces in the memory or affairs of humanity only tells us that greatness is not always in the circumstances of our birth. The story of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth we are about to celebrate this season, also has the same experience. He was born in a manger, marked for destruction, was despised and eventually crucified, but he emerged as the ultimate savior of humanity.

When Sheriff Oborevwori, the present Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, stepped out to indicate interest in becoming the governor of Delta State, some people laughed him off and called him names. It was not that the astute lawmaker and grassroots mobiliser was not constitutionally qualified.

Those who ridiculed him did so pointing to his humble background and the reality of him growing up in such places that were not fancied by the rich and newly rich. Those making jest of him referred to his early struggles to make it in life instead of commending his courage, focus and doggedness.

Sheriff, as Oborevwori is widely known and fondly called, came from a humble background and worked hard at odd and menial jobs to make ends meet. He never allowed his background to become a deterrent in his sojourn in life. He started from the very beginning with no helper except God.

Like every child of his time and place Sheriff went to primary and secondary schools and earned a pride of place among his peers. He knew the streets, became streetwise and enjoyed massive street credibility. He soon became the champion of boys and symbol of their defence.

Despite his underprivileged condition and becoming the champion of the downtrodden, Sheriff was never in defiance of the status quo. What he did was to get education and join politics and begin his advocacy for a better life for the common people who populate the streets. This stance of his earned him post after post in the executive arm of government and the ordinary people on the street who constitute the bulk of humanity saw his genuineness and acclaimed him as truly one of their own.

They saw him as the advocate of the youths and the masses. This same people came together in 2014 with a message that Sheriff should run for the Okpe House of Assembly seat and have a chance to truly and fully represent them in the legislative arm. He listened to their call and his victory at the polls in 2015 was overwhelming and unprecedented. That was the beginning of the mystique or icon called Sheriff that has today become an idea known as Sherification.

The Nigerian Red Cross Society yesterday flagged off the 2022 flood intervention for 1, 350 households affected by the recent flood disaster in some local government areas of Delta State.
Local government areas that are benefitting are Isoko South, Ndokwa East and Ughelli South.
1,350 households are to get one 25kg bag of rice, one 25kg bag of garri, one 30kg bag of beans, five liters of palm oil and 25 liters of empty jerry can for storage of clean drinking water.
In his welcome address, the Ivrogbor-Irri Community Chairman, Mr. Christopher Ebegbare, thanked the Society for choosing his community for the flag off of the distribution in Delta State.
He prayed that all those who contributed to bring succour to persons in his community who were affected by the flood be blessed abundantly.
In his speech, the Isoko South Local Government Council Executive Chairman, Hon. Victor Asassa, represented by Mr. Issac Omoyero, thanked the Society for identifying with persons in his local government area and coming to their rescue.
Flagging off the intervention at Ewoma Primary School, Ivrogbor-Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area, the National President of the Society, Elder (Chief) Bolaji Akpan Anani, stated that the Society carried out registration using prescribed selection criteria developed with members of the communities which was used to identify most vulnerable persons who will benefit from the intervention.
He revealed that the Society plan to distribute relief items or cash to about 180,000 flood affected persons in 23 most affected states totaling 29,700 households adding that the first phase of the distribution is simultaneously being flagged off in Delta and Kogi States.
Elder Anani expressed appreciation to those that donated, those that will still donate and all who have contributed in one way or the other to make the exercise a success.
Some of the beneficiaries thanked the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the gesture which they described as unprecedented.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, had on Wednesday, on behalf of the state Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, received members of the Society in his office in Asaba.

DELTA North Traditional Rulers Forum, has passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman and the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof Chike Edozien, describing him as a father figure.

Briefing Journalists after a meeting of the forum held in Asaba, Vice Chairman of the forum and the Obi of Abavo, HRM Uche Irenuma, said the Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum led by the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof Chike Edozien remains the apex body of traditional rulers in Anioma’s nation. 

Irenuma who was flanked by the Secretary of the forum and the Obi of Atuma, HRM Daniel Ogbudo, said; “we call on the general public to disregard any other body other than the Asagba led leadership of the forum.

“We commend the state government for the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival in Asaba. We also congratulate the state for coming out overall best in the games.

“We call on all community leaders and security outfits across the nine local government areas to be very cautious and report any unusual movements and activities to the nearest police station before, during and after the Christmas and new year celebrations.

“We urge those who registered in the last registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to go out to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs from their respective local government areas. 

“The forum also approved the donation of N2 million to be distributed to the community most hit by the recent flood and call on federal government, state and well meaning individuals to assist in any way they can as the citizens return to total destruction in the coastal communities in Delta North.”

The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has reiterated the fact that there is no impunity in the Party, and PDP is one big, united family as was demonstrated in the recently concluded and hugely successful, comprehensive Ward-to-Ward Campaigns across the 270 Wards in the State.

This affirmation was contained in a statement by Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, State Publicity Secretary of Delta State PDP, while reacting to several contrary opinions on the unity of the party, including an earlier Press Release titled: “THERE MUST BE AN END TO IMPUNITY IN PDP DELTA STATE”, signed by Chief Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie (Solicitor of England and Wales/Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria).

Describing the Press Release as totally misleading, divisive, and an unnecessary diversion at a time when the party is fully settled and focused, after embarking on the well-received campaigns across the Wards and is now fully prepared and poised to commence its Local Government Campaigns for the 2023 elections, the Delta PDP Press Release reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to a totally misleading and divisive Press Release titled: ‘THERE MUST BE AN END TO IMPUNITY IN PDP DELTA STATE’, signed by Chief Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie (Solicitor of England and Wales/Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria), an erstwhile PDP Governorship aspirant in our last primary election.

“While we are mindful of the fact that he has, by his own admission, already approached the Court over a completely different matter which has no bearing whatsoever on the internal affairs of our party, we hereby inform and assure Chief, Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie, that we are fully and unambiguously satisfied with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the authentic Governorship candidate of our party for the 2023 elections, and so do not wish to join issues with him, or anyone else, over some of the sensitive legal assumptions, as well as the other spurious and baseless allegations, he boldly asserted in his Press Release.

“However, as a very responsible and law-abiding political party, guided always by the provisions and tenets stipulated clearly in our party’s Constitution, we want to state categorically that we take very strong exception to his statement that: ‘The PDP State Party machinery rigged the process of “electing” these purported delegates in favour of the sitting Governor’. The Party ensured that no delegate election took place across the State. The Governor, through his lackeys, selected the entire 835 Delegates and wore the sham/illegal process, the garb of a legal election.’

“In the same vein, we would also commend Chief Ikie for highlighting the appropriate sections of our Electoral Guidelines and Constitution which were the grundnorm on which the elections of the 3-Man AD-HOC Delegates for the PDP Primaries were conducted.

“We are glad to note, without any prejudice whatsoever, that with the exception of a few infinitesimal complaints which were to be expected, since no system or human process is completely infallible, the congresses to elect our ad-hoc delegates was hugely successful across the Wards and LGAs in the State and were widely reported on all media platforms.

“Let us also remind Chief Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie and others who may still be nursing such hallucinations, that our Party’s ad-hoc delegates were neither robots, puppets nor mannequins and since lobbying and competition for votes are two of the important hallmarks in a proper democratic contest, it is only natural that delegates will have choices, especially since our party provided a level playing field for all aspirants, who are qualified to contest at the primaries to have unhindered and unfettered access to all the delegates.

“We are proud to state without any equivocation that our Governorship Primary was not only free, fair, and transparent, it was also an exemplary reflection of what a proper democratic exercise, conducted in the true spirit of freedom of choice, where all aspirants got votes and since again, elections are about numbers, the aspirant with the highest number of votes emerged as the authentic candidate of our party by majority votes and was duly recognized as the Party’s Guber flagbearer for the 2023 Elections.

“This point is incontrovertible and the fact that we conducted a free, fair, and transparent Governorship Primary has neither been challenged nor invalidated.

“It is against this crystal clear backdrop, complemented by the final and decisive Supreme Court pronouncement on the authentic Delta PDP Governorship Candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, that we wonder with some interest at the motive(s) behind the statement and actions of Chief Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie and his ilk, which we see as diversionary, reactionary and aimed dubiously at creating an unnecessary diversion at this auspicious time when the party has fully settled and has set up the formidable structures for our comprehensive campaigns, which have already conducted and successfully delivered our Ward-to-Ward campaigns, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We deem it superfluous and quite gratuitous that someone who claims to have nursed the aspiration for the Governorship ticket of our great party, should exhibit such joyless, unenthusiastic acrimony at this time, when the clarion call of all true, loyal, and committed members of our party, fully buoyed by cheerful exhilaration of the Supreme Court Judgment, is that we should all come together as one family, united with the sense of purpose towards winning the 2023 general elections in a 5/5 clean sweep.

“Let us state explicitly and unconditionally that, as a political party which believes and upholds the sacrosanctity of the rule of law, we are always prepared to submit to due process in the adjudication of contentions, and it is in that light, that we acknowledge and respect the decision of Chief Barrister Aghwarianovwe Novwe Ikie.

“We will however not be deterred or discouraged in our strident call and appeal to all party members, irrespective of their dispositions, to come together, now that our road to victory in 2023, has become clearer and smoother with the Supreme Court Judgment and overwhelming success of our Ward-to-Ward Campaigns.

“We will not relent in our concerted efforts to continue to reach out to all our members with the simple, yet powerful message that we are one united family and we are stronger, more dominant, and persuasive in our quest for an all-round landslide victory, working together as one big happy family.

Delta is PDP and PDP is Delta.

PDP! Power to the People!!

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commission has engaged the leaderships of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders in identifying ways to a peaceful atmosphere before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.

The leaders drawn from the Northwest and Northeastern states of Nigeria were taken on training and interactive engagements on dialogue and mediation for national peace held on Tuesday in Kano. The 4-Day program is geared towards violent-free 2023 general elections in Nigeria with the enhancement of participants’ dialogue and mediation skills and platforms for addressing contentious issues, thus contributing to the prevention and mitigation of electoral-related conflicts and violence before, during, and after the polls.

Speaking, the ECOWAS Commission Programme Officer on Mediation, Directorate of Political Affairs, Dr. Brown Odigie, said the commission is concerned with the situation in the country, hence the need to bring stakeholders on board.

“We are committed to a peaceful electoral process in the region and Nigeria being an important and strategic member of ECOWAS, the commission is concerned that with the findings on the happenings in the nation, one of the key recommendations is to ensure that we interact with critical stakeholders and engage them on the need for the prevention of electoral violence by the use of mediation and creating room for dialogue among political actors and stakeholders.

“More importantly also, to address contentious issues around the electoral process and to ensure that we all work together with the hope that the political actors will appreciate the commitment of ECOWAS using mediation in resolving electoral related disputes and conflicts.”

Odigie had also in an earlier statement made available on behalf of the Commission, stressed that the training and interactive exercise are also expected to help create a healthy opportunity for participants to take cognizance of and appreciate the ECOWAS Constitutional Convergence Principles and Frameworks for transparent and peaceful elections, as espoused by the 2001 supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance, as well as the commitments of ECOWAS to the processes of dialogue and mediation in resolving electoral disputes and conflicts.

The statement noted that the stakeholders are also being brought together for a brainstorm, against the backdrop of electoral contestations which have become a major source of conflicts in West Africa, with grave potential for violence, triggered or heightened by the high premium on political power in the political discourse of both politicians and their supporters.

On his part, the National Chairman of IPAC, Yabagi Sani expressed worry over how the democratic system is being driven on the path of sabotage.

“Looking at the democratic space itself and all the institutions, you will discover that the political parties produce all the other organs of governance. The onus is on us to ensure that democracy survives and serves the purpose of the citizens of the country and that cannot happen without peace. Monetization of the process is so obscene that it will ruin the purpose of democracy.

“If you allow money or violence to take over the situation, what you end up with is compromised in a manner that is not anticipated in the principle of democracy in this country.

“Money has been allowed to be used excessively and violence has not been dealt with in the manner that is supposed to because as we speak today, the bill with the Commission for electoral offenses is still in the works and hasn’t been passed into law yet.”

In the same vein, ACP Daniel Amah, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, listed some of the causes of the election conflict in Nigeria including winner-takes-all syndrome, zero-sum approach to gaining political power, and lack of political ideology.

Amah also listed a lack of discipline by political actors, excess monetization of the polity, and too much focus on attacking personalities rather than on issues.

Also speaking, the representative of the United Nations Office in West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) Liaison Office in Nigeria, Dr. James Aji, harped on the importance of Nigeria’s peace and stability not only to the sub-region but the whole African continent.

According to Aji, “this is because Nigeria is like the engine that drives other issues in the region. This is why, he said, UNOWAS is working with other stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible elections in the country.

The workshop which is part of the ECOWAS‘ strategic and operational support for the country’s peaceful 2023 general elections, is a follow-up to a similar one with members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council and other relevant stakeholders from the Southwest geopolitical zone of the country held in Lagos state in November 2022.

It would be recalled that participants at the Lagos Meeting committed to peaceful general elections by echoing messages of hope, confidence, and trust in the electoral process including upholding the content and spirit of the Peace Accord signed by political parties and presidential candidates on the Prevention of Violence and Promotion of issue-based Campaigns.

The training and interactive workshops are being supported with funding from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark under the Danish Africa Programme for Peace.

In a related development Pre–the election Fact-Finding Delegation from the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) led by the Former Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Ghana, Mr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was in Kano.

The high-powered delegation was in the state to assess the level of preparedness and established issues ahead of the 2023 general elections.

-By Austen AKHAGBEME:

After the initial surge and the baring of the campaign fangs on the electorates last November, the politicians campaigning for the next general election in Nigeria are gradually slowing down.

This probably owes partly to the CBN’s new Naira policy, especially the “facelift” or colour change given to the embattled national currency. It could also be a deliberate tactical move to conserve campaign funds for next February while watching the swing of the apex bank’s pendulum with the accompanying vicissitudes.

However, we can not be oblivious to the fact that we have so far been “entertained” and provoked by the quality of the campaign as regards real issues of the day on one hand and the usual but age-long showboating by aspirants who obviously are unaware of the enormity of our national dilemma on the other.

Who are the real campaigners, you may want to ask? These are those who understand the existential threat to our beloved nation by our self-inflicted wounds expressed in the profligacy of the past and the obduracy of the present drivers to embrace the real change that we truly need.

The orthodoxy of thought and the emotional carelessness with which the show boaters talk about Nigeria and her future vis-a-vis their choice of president speaks volumes of the trouble we have in our hands.

This variant of campaigners has chosen to forget the distant and the immediate past of our chequered history and our ordeal in the hands of these same characters or their progenitors.

So they feel so free to sell the same old rotten potatoes for a new price in a crispy note to the unsuspecting Nigerians; it’s a pity. They lie, pretend, package and repackage failure to look like success going somewhere to happen. What a country!

Everyone that loves the country must endeavour to join the camp of the true campaigners; those who are ready to vote for progress and development with aspirants of proven integrity and strength of character to take Nigeria to her rightful destination. Let the show boaters be put to shame with our collective resolve to have a new nation where peace and justice reign.

• Austin AKHAGBEME is a Cilumnist with Blank NEWS Online

The wife of the state Governor and founder 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, has charged wives of traditional rulers  in the state to be proactive so as to become positive influence in their families, kingdoms and society at large.

 Dame Okowa gave the charge when she hosted the royal mothers to a Christmas luncheon and interactive session at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.

A yearly event, where the governor’s wife gather royal mothers across the state to rob minds together and exchange ideas with a view to maintaining peace and unity

Dame Edith Okowa appreciated the traditional rulers’ wives for their consistent support for the Okowa Administration for the past seven years, which had witnessed tremendous peace and development.

The governor’s wife reaffirmed that she had kept to her electioneering campaign promise that traditional rulers wives would be carried along if voted for.

She enjoined the royal mothers to stand for God wherever they found themselves and  take responsibility for the actions of the in prayers, considering that every mother  will give account of  her  deeds someday.

Dame Okowa  sued for maximum support for the wife of the PDP governorship candidate and lauded the team of the 05 Initiative and other partners for their support, even as she prayed God to reward them.

Earlier the Director General of the 05 Initiative, Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas said the forum was an annual get-together where the governor’s wife interact and exchange ideas with wives of traditional rulers with a view to peace and unity as mothers in the state.

In a brief sermon, Lady Chineze Onya-Dike admonished the royal mothers to rededicate their lives to God, as Jesus came to take away sorrow,  and give life to as many who believed on his name,stressing that December was a season to show compassion to others as God did.

Some of the royal mothers including the wife of  Olu of Warri, Olori Atuwatse the third and the Omu of Okpanam who presented a book on the history of Omuship and a traditional attire known as Akwa-ocha.

They commended the efforts of the governor’s wife through her 05 Initiative  and prayed God to grant her desired.

The event featured dance and drama performances by the Delta State council for Arts and Culture as well as Glory of God Music and Drama Concept.

The governor’s wife in her usual manners, presented gifts to all royal mothers.

Patriotism is fast becoming a scarce commodity among Nigerian politicians, many of who pursue power inordinately for selfish and raw egoistic reasons. Some Nigerian politicians do not understand the essence of politics except to grab power, steal it and deploy it to satisfy their flatulent ego that shouldn’t amount to the least measurement of worth in sane climes. Sadly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has provided a home for such elements that see everything through the prism of gangsterism. A political party that rewards mace theft with a high office and crowns it with a national honour is certainly in huge deficit of altruism. The same political party that is now selling a comatose presidential candidate to Nigerians to replace the one that now lives and rules in the past of fifty years ago. The party has gifted Nigeria and Nigerians the worst socio-economic reality ever in the history of the country. The APC has clearly shown that it is a party of doom that meant no good for Nigerians. Under the APC, Nigeria sinks into the abyss of hopelessness as one of the most corrupt nations on earth, the third most unsafe country in the world and the poverty capital of the world with about 150 million of her 200 million people condemned to penury.

It is from this sardonic political party that the true to type Senator Ovie Omo-Agege rears his head as governorship candidate in Delta State. Never known for altruism, except to steal power for the sake of it, Omo-Agege goes against the grain of altruism and morality when it comes to political engagements. The mace saga remains fresh in the minds of Nigeria. Nigerians still remember how he knelt down before President Buhari with a slavish smile in appreciation for being second fiddle in the Senate leadership. That act of him kneeling down wearing the full regalia of a chief was considered a reprehensible act amounting to a taboo among his Urhobo people. Only a slave of that age kneels before another man who is not his father, but our man did it because of power. This same character with his ludicrous mindset is now out spewing forth balderdash and shameless lies that he wants to become the governor of Delta State. The good people of Delta State are already cringing at the thought of having such a man without character on the saddle. Although, he is crying and throwing tantrums all over the place and offering Deltans lies and lies, the people have long concluded that his would be an exercise in futility.

He describes his BAND to mean building a new Delta. Certainly what he has in mind is ruining the new Delta especially with the kind of legacy of ruins that the APC represents nationwide. His other invention is EDGE which he describes as employment or empowerment, development, good governance and enduring peace and security. These items read like what were picked out of the pages in a Social Studies textbook and which a ten year old will easily reel out off-hand in an interview or an examination. These are basic ideas that a serious candidate will handle with depth and deftness. He even mentioned the highly abused and misused word “empowerment”. Does Omo-Agege who forcefully broke into government file cabinets as Secretary to State Government (SSG) even on a Sunday know anything about good governance? Or has he forgotten how he hijacked contracts, seized the funds and erased evidence of awards? Can he explain the transformation from a pauper fleeing American justice system to his being billionaire within a year of being in government?

Omo-Agege and his handlers are certainly not in tune with the order of things in the contemporary world. They need to put on their thinking cap and interrogate the socio-economic aspirations of Deltans from a global perspective which while taking our local peculiarities into consideration, do not lose sight of global trends in development. Omo-Agege dropped those words which he says make up his agenda for Delta State, but he failed to offer strategies for their realization. Putting together a manifesto for the modern state is not synonymous with stealing a mace. Explaining campaign message is not the same as cringing and kneeling down for a Fulani man.

That Omo-Agege has chosen BAND as his mantra only shows his commitment to offering Delta State to BANDits who will drive the State to the EDGE. But Deltans are saying no to BANDits, no to EDGE, no to Omo-Agege. The APC and the likes of Omo-Agege should never be allowed near public office again. A man who as Senator representing 24 clans took all five major projects he proposed to his small community of less than forty houses is not just acutely nepotistic, but unfit for public office. This is the verdict of Deltans. Even APC leaders have deserted him as they have known that nothing good can be associated with BANDits who want to drive us to the EDGE.

• Utieyon wrote from Warri in Delta State.