The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued operating licences to 19 Private Guard Companies including a security company owned by University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).
Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi while giving the newly registered companies their operating license, charged them to contribute their quota to the fight against insecurity by providing credible intelligence and information to the Corps and other security agencies.
He said that as a way out of the nation’s insecurity, all hands must be on deck to profer solutions to the security challenges confronting the nation.
Audi explained that the Act of Parliament empowers the Corps to monitor, supervise, licence and train operators of Private Guard Companies (PGC).
He however warned them to adhere strictly to the guidelines and conditions of operation and warned against the transfer of operating licences.
He cautioned them on the use of fire arms, impersonation of security agencies uniforms, ranks and other accoutrements.
The CG encouraged the new operators to ensure regular training and retraining of their guards while at the same time placing high premium on staff welfare to discourage compromise or connivance with criminals.
According to him, “the Corps will frown at any company that does not take care of its staff.”
“Operators should be mindful of undercutting to the detriment of the operatives.”
He commended the University of Maiduguri for taking a bold step to register its in-house security company and called on other academic institutions, banks, churches among others to emulate such good example.
This charge became necessary as the Corps plans to clamp down on violators and illegal operators of PGCs across the country.
The Corps is to also seal up unlicensed and invalid PGCs in operation.
Earlier in his remark, the National President, Association of License Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) represented by ALPSPN Vice President, Rev Cannon Mark Abere, tasked members to adhere to the guidelines of operation.
He stressed that the timely renewal of operating licences and ALPSPN membership is mandatory.
Responding on behalf other operators, Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Prof Adamu Umar, thanked the Corps and expressed delight for the approval granted to float UNIMAID Security Services.
He explained that, as an institution which operates in Boko Haram ravaged community, the University’s management resorted to establishing the outfit to complement the activities of security agencies in terms of patrol and intelligence gathering and report.
According to him, PGC is a child of necessity and assured that they will perform their duties with high sense of responsibility and discipline.
The Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA) has issued certificates to the first batch of successful technicians trained on the repair and servicing of Keke Bajaj tricycle in Delta state.
250 youths from the state are to benefit from the ongoing Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA) and Stallion Auto Keke (SAKL) Training/Empowerment Programme on the repair and servicing of Keke Bajaj tricycle.
At the close of the first batch of training on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at the Skill Acquisition Centr in Asaba, Chairman of Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA), Mr. Paul Nmah while delivering his address commended the trainee technicians for their efforts at being certified as authorized auto technicians of Stallion group.
He pointed out that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had directed that the people must benefit from skill acquisition at all times.
He congratulated the graduands and confirmed that the training was part of the agreements reached by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa with Stallion Bajaj company, while signing the memorandum of understanding to establish an auto Keke Assembly Plant in the state.
Earlier, the DG DIDA Chief Lucky Oghene- Omoru, explained that in line with the existing partnership between the state government and Stallion group, they are capable to produce vehicles spare parts.
The DG mentioned that Stallion group is one of the biggest conglomerate in Africa and involves in the manufacture on different types of automobiles, rice production, manufacture/production of fertilizers, ICT, chipping, agriculture with head office in Dubai.
He revealed that DIDA attracted the Stallion group to invest in the state, adding that they will operate on a short and medium term plan by establishing automobile production and assembling plants in Okpanam (Oshimili North local government area and Umunede (Ika South local government area respectively for the Production of chassis, engine blocks and other tricycle spare parts.
According to him, “Some months ago, they came to demonstrate the superiority of BAJAJ Keke over other Keke products. It proved that BAJAJ is superior and has stronger spare parts and tricycle brands. And it was felt that if the company was coming to establish in Delta state and manufacture these products, after sales service and maintenance is very key
Therefore in order to ensure durability and sustainability of their products, it was decided that experts should be trained all over the state.
“Therefore you are part of success story of a long journey of automobile revolution in Delta state.”
The state government had approved a discount of 15 per cent for the cost of each Bajaj Keke produced when the plant comes up to encourage the sales and marketing of the products.
He noted that government is already working with the tricycle (Keke) unions in the state where 70 per cent of the beneficiaries of the discount are for indigene including the trainees while 30 per cent will go for resident non-indigenes.
Mr. Smart Ikem Executive Secretary Delta State Pre-Vocational Education Centre thanked trainers and trainees for being involved in the history making investments process in the state.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Peter Okolie, said that the training would hold in five different locations across the state including Warri and Sapele, adding 50 youths would be trained per centre.
According to him, the training began on Monday in Asaba and ended on Thursday with 50 youths participating and equipped with requisite knowledge to handle repairs of Bajaj Keke.
The Stallion Team Leader, Mr John Emmanuel, expressed satisfaction with the ability of the trainees, adding that they had been exposed to various aspects of the automobile and that they are ready for the job.
He said that they had the mastery and could dismantle and assemble the vehicle with ease.
In his remark, Mr Smart Ikem, Executive Secretary, Delta State Vocation Education Centre, enjoined the trainees not to waste the skills acquired but put them to good use.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed thanks to the state government and Stallion group for the training. They promised to become useful to the society in their entrepreneurial training.
In an interview, the duo of Miss Chinyereugo Okonkwo “a graduate” and Johnson Kinsa, “an undergraduate” said they took to the training for their passion in automobile repairs and as alternative to secure their future.
“It is really a privilege to be trained, I have passion for this and love being an engineer, that is what I studied in school, I graduated from Ozoro Polytechnic, Delta.
“After graduating, we all know how the country is now, so, we have to go into handworks and before this training, I have been repairing keke.,” Miss Okonkwo said.
On his part, Kinsa said, “I am a student of University of Calabar, I already have a skill in repairing bike before I entered the university, so, enlisting for this training now that we are on strike is a great advantage.”
The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to the graduands.
Apex Igbo Socio-cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has blamed the individualistic approach of politicians and Leaders in the Zone as responsible for setbacks in the region’s quest to produce the President of the country in 2023.
Ohanaeze Vice-President, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene passed the blame, Thursday, while addressing the State Executive of the NUJ Anambra State Council led by Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD during a courtesy call in his country home at Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State
Chief Okeke-Ogene who spoke on the country’s emerging issues ahead of the 2023 general election, explained that actions and divisive attitude of some Igbo Leaders have not helped the Igbo agenda so far in the Presidential race.
According to him, “there are issues affecting Ndigbo with regards to the coming general election next year. It is about ten months before the election; I won’t say things have worked out the way Ohanaeze Ndigbo had expected.
“Inspite of sustained efforts and advocacy to ensure that most political parties, especially the major political parties field candidates of Igbo extraction as their Presidential candidates, things eventually did not work out that way which I must say is very unfortunate for the country.”
The Ohanaeze Chieftain said the political class in South-East frustrated efforts of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in championing the course for Presidency of Igbo extraction and maintained that even the performance of the region’s delegates to the conventions with exceptions to Ebonyi was a slap on the expectations of South-East geopolitical Zone.
He said: “It is sad to note that all the delegates to the conventions were more or less controlled by the leadership of their various political parties which was reflected in their voting pattern.
”South-East Governors Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo cannot be totally exonerated from the outcome of those conventions. Their actions made it clear that there is Leadership vacuum in South-East region because failure of South-East Governors to have a united front at this critical time is quite regrettable.
“As far as I know, not for one day did I hear of their meeting to take a stand and position on the 2023 general elections. They were so individualistic in their approach towards this fundamental and decisive issue to the extent that information we received alleged that some South-East Governors coordinated delegates for candidates from other geopolitical zones.
“Similarly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership equally has some part of the blame because when it was obvious that the Governor’s were failing, Ohanaeze Ndigbo never met to discuss and invite the aspirants as we used to do before, to address them on the need to prone down number of aspirants.
“When I fore-saw this coming, I made attempts to reach the chairman of South-East Governors Forum, Governor David Umahi, who did not respond to my calls. I also made calls to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as well as sent message without receiving any response. “
Chief Okeke-Ogene, though, commended the Ebonyi State Governor for his governance style and doggedness at the APC convention, assured that efforts are in top gear with profiled Igbo elders to bounce back on track for Igbo race to achieve her agenda in the 2023 election.
Commending Peter Obi’s Labour party dimension, Chief Okeke-Ogene who is a former National President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) said that Obi’s “emergence as the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party has brought a new dimension in Nigerian Politics.
He said “Obi is a candidate that gained immediate national and to some extent international acceptance. This is not because of Presidency of Igbo extraction or rotational Presidency. Neither is it because of ethnic or religious reasons. Rather, it is because Peter Obi stands for those who want to enthrone a new political and social order that will end recycling of leadership that has become a burden to Nigerians.
“His emergence has engendered a mass movement that will have a similar if not stronger impact like the EndSARS Protests because people see in him a candidate that will evolve a new Nigeria with ability and capacity to change the way things are being done by upholding progressive ideology that is not based on tribe, religion or political leaning.”
CAPTION: Chief Damien Okeke-Ogene with Anambra NUJ Excos, Thursday.
Security operatives in Anambra State, have apprehended one of the Vigilante Leaders in the State for alleged involvement in kidnappings.
Also, Four AK -47 riffles were recovered at the backyard of his house in one of the popular Communities, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State.
Our correspondent, gathered that the Vigilante boss, had been instrumental to majority of the kidnappings around his area in the recent time.
According to a source, who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday, “the security operatives, based on a tip off, stormed his compound on Tuesday and got him arrested.
“It was a shock to him. He has made enough money through kidnappings. Sometimes, he collects as low as 1.5-2million naira to free their victims.
“Those AK-47 riffles were hidden in a thick banana plantation at the back of his house. Our people are being kidnapped almost on daily basis without knowing that our Vigilante Leaders was behind them .
“Our God has exposed him and it has shown that nothing lasts forever. As we speak, he’s with the security operatives and some of his gang members are equally, being picked,“ the source said.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ikenga Tochukwu (DSP), told our correspondent, that he had not received the report.
However, he said that people should know that security operatives had been on the trail of criminal elements in the State for sometime now.
He said the such operation would continue until, Anambra State was fully, recovered from criminal elements.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said none of it’s property has been sold off by any former Chairman/CEO of the agency.
A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi described claims in an anonymous write up going round on WhatsApp platforms that a certain former Chairman/CEO of the agency sold off NDLEA headquarters office buildings in Ikoyi, Lagos, leaving officers and men stranded, as a total distortion of facts.
The statement read: “The Agency wishes to state that buildings referred to in the circulating piece, which did not belong to it in the first place, served as its National Headquarters before its relocation to Abuja some years ago. It should be noted that a Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government Landed Properties took over the buildings following a government directive that all vacated or underutilised government properties be taken over by the PIC, sold and proceeds paid to federal government coffers.”
The statement added that: “At the time of relocation, 70% of the agency’s headquarters staff moved to Abuja while the remaining 30% are still in Shaw road office, Ikoyi. This remaining 30% will soon join the main headquarters in Abuja as soon as the new HQ building, recently bought by the federal government for the agency is ready for occupation.
“Like other federal government agencies whose properties were taken over by the PIC, NDLEA has no hand in the sale of the mentioned properties and does not know who bought them and for how much, as the presidential committee solely handled the sale.”
Babafemi said the challenge before the agency at the moment “is how to remove our officers and men who live within communities where they are exposed to dangers into secure barracks accommodation, a concern already being addressed by the federal government through budgetary provisions for the construction of such barracks across the country beginning from this year.”
He therefore urged members of the public to disregard the anonymous write up, insisting that it is nothing but “an embodiment of distortion and mischief.”
Nigeria’s former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd.) has called on China to assist the Africa to fight the ongoing insecurity on the continent.
Speaking at the 11th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum with theme: “Promoting the Spirit of China-Africa Friendship and Cooperation with Joint Action on the Global Development Initiative”, said: “Several of the bigger African economies would benefit from technology transfer to create self-sustaining ordnance and defence support capabilities. We need to know to what extent China can support these needs.”
Gusau who delivered an online remark the occasion hosted at the Zhongliu Hall of the Chinese Academy of History in Beijing, said the organisation of the event comprising intellectuals, academics, experts, and policy formulators, was timely given the increasingly significant role China-Africa relations has assumed in the development trajectory of African countries and communities.
He said: “It is very important for fora such as this to pause and take a critical look at the roles of both Chinese and African governments and institutions to detect and address policy defects, weaknesses, and errors, but also to appreciate progress.”
He added that: “It is to China’s credit that it has placed Sino-African relations as an important component of its international relations and cooperation policy. Gusau Institute recognizes the importance of the role that China plays and that is why, in collaboration with the Zhejiang Normal University, we instituted biennial bilateral conferences to examine issues of mutual interest to China and Africa.”
He noted that: “Relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), at present, are the most significant strategic link for almost all African countries, and particularly for most sub-Saharan states, because they represent a qualitative difference from past experiences. This is not merely because of the high levels of investment by China in Africa, but because the links do not mirror historical prejudices or expectations.”
He said: “In addition, the important advances China has recorded over the past few decades in economic and political development, poverty alleviation, as well as technological and military advancement are unprecedented in history in terms of rapidity and success. It provides a sound model for developing states to follow.
“Nonetheless, there are also room for improvement regarding effective collaboration between China and Africa in several areas.”
The retired Army general said: “In the security sphere, there is great appreciation for the more than 40,000 Chinese peacekeepers who have served on 24 UN missions, mainly in Africa, since the first deployment in 1989. China has an opportunity to be a positive force for peace, stability, and development, but I would like to emphasize that African citizens should be at the centre of these engagements.”
He said: “In our view, given the tremendous development of relations, especially in the economic sector, the security cooperation between China and African countries has not been given the level of attention required to enable African states improve their capacity to deal with the threats they are facing. Africa and China need to focus greater attention on the causes of conflicts. These include natural phenomena such as the effects of climate change and desertification.
“One issue in our region that deserves mention is the receding Lake Chad which has brought about displacement of communities, large scale poverty, and armed conflict.
“The security threats fuelled by religious extremism, banditry, piracy, etc. are posing existential threats to many African countries. These threats are also endangering the safety of the growing number of Chinese citizens who are involved in development projects on the Continent. As an example, in Nigeria a particular bandit is fast gaining a reputation as an expert in the kidnapping of Chinese citizens for ransom. Many projects that require Chinese expertise are now negatively affected by this emerging phenomenon.”
He said: “African states are also becoming more sophisticated in their battlespace management and require access to greater real-time reconnaissance and communications capabilities. Similarly, several of the bigger African economies would benefit from technology transfer to create self-sustaining ordnance and defence support capabilities. We need to know to what extent China can support these needs.”
He added that: “In the economic sphere, Beijing’s focus on either African resources or African markets for PRC goods is sometimes viewed with scepticism. Critics believe Africa is not seen as a partner with the PRC, but, rather, just a resource and marketplace. Allegations of the deliberate creation of debt traps, lack of transparency, and corruption abound. Therefore, for a country that possesses one of the most robust anti-corruption law and law enforcement systems, China needs to ensure that there is better probity and transparency in the granting and management of loans to African countries.
He said: “While it is absolutely expected by Africans that China should benefit from its relationships in Africa, it is also expected by African societies that the relationship should not be seen as exploitative of Africans. Otherwise, it draws comparison with the earlier colonial powers. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has to date focused heavily on raw materials extraction, both agricultural and solid minerals, and the development of transport infrastructure. It must now move to the next phase. The question is at what point would it be in Beijing’s interest to partner with African states in the development of manufacturing and processing industries on the Continent so that African states could benefit from the full value chain?”
He however lamented that: “The Russia-Ukraine conflict has for example particularly damaged most African states by not just disrupting grain supplies to Africa, but, more importantly, disrupting fertilizer supply. This jeopardizes African agricultural performance in the coming few years at a time of general African economic downturn. Africa needs a greater emphasis on local fertilizer production from its natural hydrocarbon resources. This would be critical if Africa is to meet food requirements for the PRC and other export markets.”
He said: “The overarching question that faces African states in the current political climate of an emerging new Cold War, however, is whether any treaty relationship with China could endanger an African state’s neutrality. In other words, will African states be better off refusing to get into formal alliances with the West, or with Russia, or the PRC? On the other hand, it needs to be acknowledged that China, by interacting with African governments on a higher level of equality, has given African states greater leverage and stature in dealing with European powers and the United States of America (USA).”
–By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Laura Ese Oghene:
JOSHUA UMUAKPERO is the CEO of Mabel-Joshua Agricultural Farm. He hails from Isoko South Local Government Area and is a graduate ofAgricultural Science Education, but was unemployed for eleven years which made him venture into poultry business.
He enrolled in the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2019/2020 cycle as a Brown YAGEPreneur. The support package he received turned his fortune around. He is now into integrated farming. Hear him.
“I had 150 layer birds before job creation bureau came to my rescue. I received as support package, ₦495,000.00 for 300 point of lay birds and 60 bags of grower bird feed. With this support, I diversified to fish production and piggery. I added 250 layers to the 150 I began with to make it 400 layers. I sell 13 crates of eggs daily on the average.
“In addition, I have 150 broilers, 9 pigs and 4,000 fish. Most often, I brood and sell off my birds for quick returns. I know the future is bright. Integrated farming is the best. I am grateful to the State Government for this good initiative that has created jobs and wealth for unemployed youths in Delta State.”
At about this season four years ago, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP governor-elect of Osun state, was exhausted, arm twisted into a facade of a re-run election that left him emotionally bruised and battered. But he wasn’t discouraged.
He was accused of not being educationally qualified to govern the state. But he went ahead to enrol in a degree program and came out with a degree in criminology from an American University shortly before the next election and today, he’s smiling, prostrating, appreciating and dancing in victory everywhere.
It was a tough battle for both political parties as many extraneous factors were competing to sway the results either way. The PDP whose house was badly in disarray after the presidential primaries quickly put their house together in readiness for the battle ahead. Little wonder they won overwhelmingly in 17 out of the 30 local government areas of the state.
The APC on the other hand was wallowing in animosity and unforgiveness among the political power blocs such that powerful interests like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola were far away from the state during the electioneering campaign.
Some others believed that such calculated absenteeism was an anti-party move from within, to punish those who denied his preferred candidate the party ticket in the first place. Some hitherto trusted folks in APC clandestinely turned foes of the party and moles for the opposition. This was how it happened in Edo state a few years ago.
Lessons, no doubt are being learned here and there. To the ruling party, losing another state in her supposedly strong base is a bad omen and a negative sign of the battle ahead.
While the two frontline political parties were slugging it out, soaring like eagles, the remaining thirteen political parties were trudging behind like turkeys. This means that there is still work to be done to extricate Nigeria from a looming two-party state such as we are witnessing today.
APC must have learned a big lesson: that of putting her house together by disciplining erring members as a deterrent to the future. Those who betrayed the party in Edo from within the party were never punished. Hence the repeat in Osun elections.
Congratulations to the dancing senator. May he dance well and govern well, too. * Austen Akhagbeme is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
OPIA ELVIS enrolled in the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in the 2018/2019 cycle as a brown STEPreneur. He was trained in Aluminum Works. He hails from Ndokwa West Local Government Area. Elvis is the MD of Royal Aluminum located in Asaba and is an SSCE holder, who ascribes his success to STEP. He shares his experience after three years.
“I shall ever remain grateful to the State Government for providing me with the tools and equipment I needed to begin my enterprise in aluminum works. I am in partnership with a friend who is in aluminum works too.”
“I earn my living through my business and through it I provide for my family and tackle the challenges of life. I have acquired more tools to enhance my work. STEP took me off the street by creating gainful employment for me.”
“I have 10 casual workers I engage their services from time to time. I also network with others to meet clients’ demands. STEP is the bedrock of my business.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has unveiled a situation room at its Osun State Command Headquarters in Oshogbo in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations and established Anti- Vote Buying Squad to work in synergy with other Anti-fraud agencies to ensure security and control of irregularities in the gubernatorial election in the state.
Unveiling the Centre a day to the election in Osogbo, Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, represented by Deputy Commandant General, Operations, Dauda Mungadi, explained that the Situation room is a proactive measure to swiftly respond to emergencies relating to security breaches and rescue probable victims of electoral violence while the Anti-vote buying squad as its name implies is to checkmate the problem of vote buying.
While appreciating the support of Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, African Land Transport Crime Prevention Initiative and the National Democratic Institute for their collaboration, the Commandant General explained that the centre is also to help in providing update to Osun people and the public on the conduct of the election.
He said the Corps will continue to partner with all relevant organisations to ensure that security and rights of citizens are not violated.
To this effect, the Osun election Monitoring Situation Room and Rapid Response Centre will be deploying the N-Alert security platform from the Ministry of Interior with three alert categories: See Something Say Something, Records and Election Monitoring, the NSCDC helmsman explained.
For ease of access, the Corps has provided a toll-free line 080046837467 through which the public can link up with the Situation Room and furnish them with information from any part of the state.
The CG assured of NSCDC’s determination to guarantee hitch-free polls in the state and called on its to exercise discipline, remain apolitical and good ambassadors, warning anyone found perpetrating unethical conduct will certainly face sanctions.
“let me sound a note of warning to all political thugs, hoodlums, ballot box snatchers and vote buyers.
” Anyone planning to destabilize the peaceful process of the election to relocate out of Osun State or face the full wrath of the law as NSCDC will not condone any breach of peace during the election”.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has allocated 259 houses in Maiduguri to the Nigeria Police.
The governor equally released a total sum of N110m lifeline to help boost the morale of the Nigerian Police.
Zulum gave out the houses and financial commitment during the commissioning of Borno’s branch of the Nigerian Police Force Microfinance Bank (NPFM Bank) on Thursday in Maiduguri.
The Microfinance bank is designed to provide financial services to aid small and medium enterprises for police families, their affiliates and civilians in Borno State.
The Bank’s unveiling in Maiduguri was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali.
Before the unveiling, Zulum explained that the allocation of over 259 houses to the police was meant to compensate the state command for government’s use of some portions of land belonging to the police, for development of some infrastructures in the state capital.
On the N110 million he announced, the governor said that 50% of it, which amounts to N55m, was Borno’s contribution as share deposit aimed at enhancing the bank’s operations at the starting stage.
The rest amount of N55m, Zulum explained, was to be used in supporting families of police personnel in two ways.
The first, Zulum said, was the use of N25 million to be shared to families of police personnel who died in active service.
He ordered that the money be deposited in an account dedicated to educational needs of children left behind by the fallen police personnel.
The balance of N30 million, the governor said, will be deposited into a credit services account for the purpose of supporting policewomen serving across Borno State.
Zulum commended IGP Alkali for unveiling Borno’s branch of the bank which he said, indicated the IGP’s prioritization of police welfare.
The governor alongside the IGP, the bank’s board members and some top police officers, unveiled the branch by a symbolic cutting of a tape.
In his remark before the commissioning, Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, described Governor Zulum’s support towards the Nigerian Police Force as enormous.
“Your Excellency, we want to thank you for the logistics the state command is getting to function effectively in crime prevention and control. I am aware that the only state that got six armoured personnel carriers and handed them over to the police is Borno State. We want to sincerely thank you for taking our trouble, for being kind to us, for being generous to us, for coming to our assistance in terms of providing welfare and working tools”, the IGP said.
The IGP was accompanied to the event by the Board Chairman of the microfinance bank, Azubuko Joel Udah, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr Akin Lawal and top police chiefs while Zulum went along with Secretary to Borno State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, some members of Borno State Executive Council, among other government officials.
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has assured of its readiness to ensure security of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff and safety of election materials, noting that doing such is part of the Corps’ statutory responsibilities.
Representative of the Commandant General of NSCDC, DCG Operations, Dauda Mungadi, who is leading officers and men of the Corps in today’s Gubernatorial election in Osun State, declared this when he played host to the Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen MK Fadah.
Members of NYSC are among the most important variables in election. Giving them and other stakeholders security as well ensuring safety of materials is one of the most important statutory responsibilities of the Corps, CG said.
The CG reiterated that “We will take their safety serious and make it a priority.”
He assured the NYSC and other stakeholders of synergy and collaboration, adding that everything legally possible will be done to make the exercise peaceful and hitch-free.
Speaking earlier, Director General NYSC, Brig Gen MK Fadah, explained that his visit was to consolidate on the existing synergy between the duo and appreciate the Corps for its services rendered to the nation.
The DG stated that he was highly impressed with the conduct of NSCDC in the last Guber election in Ekiti State, describing it as hitch-free.
He added that: “I hope the election in Osun State will be same to that in Ekiti due to the commitment and dedication of NSCDC.”
Okowanomics Scorecard Series is a semi-monthly bulletin of fact sheets showing Governor Okowa’s landmark legacy achievements. The series is prepared by Delta State Job & Wealth Creation Bureau.
This Fact Sheet No. 2 in the Okowanomics Scorecard Series focuses on policy and institutional reforms which form the taproot of the spectacular development strides that have been achieved under the effective leadership of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, since his assumption of office on 29th May 2015.
As recap of our working definition, Okowanonics refers to Governor Okowa’s developmental philosophy and governance ideology defined by his people-centred approach, political mastery, economic prudence and social intelligence. Underlying Okowanomics is Governor Okowa’s exceptional assortment of personality and character virtues notably critical thinking, clear foresight, sound planning, effective execution, clever coordination, humility, self-discipline, people skills and executive intelligence.
By classical definition, policy and institutional reforms imply inventive changes, amendments and revisions to existing framework polices, organizations, methods and laws. Such inventive changes, amendments or revisions are aimed at predetermined development goals, objectives and targets – improvement of existing situations, creation of new and better conditions, elimination of undesirable conditions and replacement with desirable conditions.
Linking policy and programme execution to policy and institutional reforms is one of the essential ingredients of Okowanomics, consistent with the scientific tenet for policy practice. The fact that reforms were conceived, formulated and enacted, as the initial basis for execution of policies and programmes, reflects first-rate critical thinking, clear foresight and disciplined planning culture of Okowanomics. It is a truism that development outcomes become real, enduring and sustainable if and where they are built on solid, genuine and legitimate policy, legal and institutional foundations, as exemplified by Okowanomics.
This brief therefore profiles, in a tabular format, an illustrative sample of policy and institutional reforms that constitute the foundation of the outstanding Okowanomics scorecard across the various sectors, since 2015.
A Sample of Governor Okowa’s Policy and Institutional Reforms
This broad, though not exhaustive, diary of policy and institutional reforms shows that His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, is a pacesetter in development-enhancing reforms. Also, the foregoing sample of cross-sector legal instruments illustrate that the development strides achieved since 2015 are products of good intellect (good thinking).
The implication of these extant legal frameworks is that current policies and programmes are not superficial in nature. Rather they have become duly legitimized and entrenched for sustainability into the future.
Herein lies the novelty, peculiarity and robustness of the Okowanomcis scorecard (i) the outcomesand impacts are not superficial but deeply rooted in the legitimate development aspirations and desires of Deltans (ii) the policies and programmes are embedded in laws enacted by the people’s elected representatives in the Delta State House of Assembly (iii) the connection between policies, programmes and the enabling legal and institutional frameworks stands out as a typical example of good governance.
No doubt, therefore, the Okowanomics development outcomes together with their policy and institutional reform taproots demonstrate a development model that should be emulated by other states of the country and at the national level.
This Fact Sheet is prepared by Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau.
The Labour Party Imo North Senatorial candidate, Dr. Okorondu Nwachukwu, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission over moves by his party to withdraw his candidacy and conduct a fresh primary election.
Nwachukwu, who emerged the winner of the primary election conducted by the Labour Party and witnessed by INEC officials on June, 9, 2022, said he was still in the race, and at no time withdrawn as the senatorial candidate for Imo North.
He stated this in a petition dated July 13, 2022 to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, written by his lawyer, Emmanuel Adedeji.
Nwachukwu in the petition titled, ‘Re: Purported withdrawal as candidate of Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone,” expressed shock that his party wrote to the electoral commission about his purported withdrawal as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone.
The letter read, “We are solicitors to Dr. Okorondu Nwachukwu hereinafter referred to as our client and on whose instruction we write.
“It was brought to the notice of our client that Labour Party wrote a letter dated 8th July, 2022 to the commission, informing the commission of his withdrawal as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone, and also informing the commission of the party’s intention to conduct fresh primary election.
“Our client hereby inform the commission that he did not at any time withdraw as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone, and that he never wrote any letter of withdrawal nor depose to any affidavit in support of any letter of withdrawal.
“Our client was shocked when he discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the commission into believing that he has withdrawn as the candidate of the Labour Party for Imo North Senatorial Zone.
“Our client state unequivocally that the purported letter of withdrawal and accompanying affidavit (if any was submitted by the party to the commission) were forged.”
Adedeji asked the commission to disregard the Labour Party’s letter regarding his client’s alleged withdrawal as the senatorial candidate of the party.
He also urged INEC to refer Nwachukwu’s allegation that his purported letter of withdrawal and accompanying affidavit were forged to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for investigation.
Condemnation has continued to trail Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state, for adorning his wrist with a Jacob and Co Astronomia Sky White Diamond Wristwatch, valued at over Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars.
The State Governor was seen in a meeting of the APC Governors with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, proudly showcasing the expensive diamond Wristwatch worth over 450 million naira when converted to Nigerian currency, at the present foreign exchange rate.
Speaking with cshowcasenews.com, on the matter, Chief Okonkwo Obinna, an indigene of Imo State, expressed disgust over the expensive life style of the Governor and said that it is condemnable and outrageous for a sitting Governor to be gilded with such an outrageously expensive wristwatch, worth over N450 million, in a State where infrastructure has become very deplorable, pensioners and workers of the Government are suffering and dying every day with their wages and entitlement not being paid, employment recording the highest in Nigeria as well as the educational sector in distressed situation.
“The annoying aspect of it all, is that they are the APC people who deceived Nigerians with the promise to fight corruption. How can you fight corruption when you are corrupt?
“APC, as far as I am concerned, is the assembly of highly corrupt elements in Nigeria. What is the annual salary of a sitting Governor that he will be buying and wearing an expensive diamond wristwatch worth over Seven Hundred thousand Dollars, in a state that is one of the poorest in Nigeria?
“Don’t you know what over four hundred Million Naira, that is what you will get, when you convert it to Dollars, could do for the people of Imo State?
“Let me tell you, Hope Uzodinma is a big disgrace to the people of Imo State and indeed the whole of Ndigbo,” Chief Obinna lamented.
Also in his tweet, one Jackson Ude, was sad that a sitting Governor who is supposed to be an epitome of prudence and moderation, could use over four Hundred Million Naira to buy himself a diamond Wristwatch in a state where hunger and starvation is the order of the day.
“After looting Imo state, Governor Hope Uzodinma got himself a Jacob & Co Astronomia Wristwatch for $785,496,00, an equivalent of N478 million. I mean Uzodinma used N478 million of looted Imo State funds to buy himself a wristwatch.
“Tell me why he should not be chased out of Government,” he also lamented.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachukwu, could not be reached for his reactions on the development, as his mobile phone was deliberately switched off several times, when calls were put across to him.
–By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene:
INNOCENT ADEGE, a graduate of Business Education, enrolled into the Delta State Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2015/2016 Cycle. He was trained and established in fish production in YAGEP Farm Cluster located at Owa-Alero. After two years as a fish farmer, he converted his fish ponds into a piggery pen. He shares his experience.
“I have 50 pigs currently. I have 25 piggery pens. I have diversified to crop production; I cultivate yam, plantain, cassava, and maize. I started life with YAGEP, got married from the proceeds, and bought a vehicle for transportation business and a motor bike for mobility.
“I feed my three children and wife, pay house rent and children’s school fees from the proceeds from my farm. I have two staff on my payroll. I give kudos to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for all he has done for youths.”
The media space is once again agog with arguments and counter-arguments about the recent religious choice of a running mate of the Presidential candidate of the ruling party, APC.
The argument is aggressively tilting toward the side of those who have unwittingly chosen to ignore the fundamental reality of the true Nigerian dilemma as against the easier choice to play the ostrich while being politically correct.
Some felt that given the overly precarious situation the APC presidential candidate finds himself, being the beneficiary of the consensus agreement by the majority of the APC northern party leaders to cede the presidency to the South, it, therefore, behoves him to allow for the Muslim majority north to produce a candidate as his running mate despite being a Muslim himself.
This argument according to them, is based on political exigency hinged on the desperate need to win the election by yielding to a religious persuasion presumably capable of delivering their dream. This is angsty. What about the teeming population from other religion who loves the party and their religion, too? Have they suddenly become less northern than others?
Why were we angry about the regional imbalance and berating the perpetrators of this unevenness when we can tolerate and accept religious imbalance, as it were? Why should we hate the calf but loves the beef? Are religion and region, though regrettably, no longer the true reality of Nigerian politics and politicking?
Even Buhari, as desperate as he was to capture the presidency of Nigeria after many attempts, recognised the reality of a mixed joint ticket until he finally mounted on the saddle. So what has changed between then and now? Is religion tolerance better now than before or worse?
It is very easy to misunderstand this writer because of my religious leaning but I will never be cowed and muted because of that. This political miscalculation by the ruling party is not different from the same grievous mistake of the PDP which chooses to feature a candidate from the same region and of the same ethnic stock as the present outgoing President against the party’s statutory agreement.
This blatant display of gross insensitivity to the feelings of the people by both parties shows how much lip service they pay to the genuine needs of the people. Politics is about people. Winning an election to the detriment of the emotional well-being of an already pauperized citizenry is a call to political apathy and distrustful relationships between the rulers and the governed. If we must do away with religion, we must equally do away with region.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has described the choice of his predecessor Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a wisest decision by the Presidential flag bearer of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The governor, in a statement personally signed by him after Tinubu declared Shettima as his choice of a running mate, said: “Earlier today, I received with the greatest joy, the announcement of my mentor, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of our party, the APC and insha’Allah, the next Vice President of the Federal Republic under His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our incoming President, Bi’iznillah.
“It has been my greatest wish that HE Kashim Shettima gets this elevation that he so much deserves as one of Nigeria’s highly patriotic leaders.
“For me, and I am sure for many leaders and members of the APC, Tinubu’s choice of HE Kashim Shettima is the wisest choice at this point in time.”
He added that: “Shettima’s choice is very personal to me and together with our leaders and all stakeholders and members of the APC, we shall campaign vigorously, work day and night, to collectively secure overwhelming victory for the APC in 2023, insha’Allah.”
Zulum further said: “Without the slightest doubt, HE Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen a leader who has very deep understanding of our country and its complexities. There is hardly any tribe in any of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT that Senator Kashim Shettima cannot knowledgeably speak about. He knows the social, cultural, religious, economic and political structure of virtually all the 36 States and the FCT.
“Shettima is extremely patriotic. He believes so much in the unity of this country and he has proved it on a number of occasions.”
He stated that: “Shettima’s administration (in which I am honoured to have served as rector and as commissioner) truly reflected the Nigerian configuration.
“Above everything else, Tinubu has chosen for Nigeria, an incoming Vice President, insha’Allah, with very deep knowledge not only of the Nigerian economy (challenges and prospects) but also of the world.”
He revealed that: “As far back as 2012, Shettima had on many occasions predicted the likelihood of fall in revenue from oil just as he predicted potential fall in the value of naira to dollar, which was why he imported agricultural products worth over N30 billion which today are worth far more, making Borno one of the richest in agricultural machinery.”
China’s Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft has been launched with the three taikonaut, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, will spend half a year in space on the Tiangong space station.
The launching was done on June 5, 2022.
A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria read: Dear youth friends of Nigeria, what questions do you have about the Chinese taikonauts’ space exploration? From now on, the Tiangong Space Station will launch the “Talk with Taikonauts” question collection activity, inviting Nigerian youth to ask questions to the three Chinese taikonauts, and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria will relay your questions to them. About a month later, the three taikonauts will answer the selected questions online. We look forward to your participation!
It added that: “Please send your questions, personal information and contact information to 18049435453@163.com by email before July 13, 2022. The subject of the email is “Tiangong Q&A”. You are encouraged to record videos or take photos when asking questions, which will be selected and played in the promotional video of the event.”
Africans Rising is convening the biggest gathering of social movements, activists, civil society in Africa and the diaspora.
From 29th – 31st August, 2022, the All-African Movement Assembly will bring together in Arusha, Tanzania over 1000 people from across the continent and diaspora for a hybrid conversation on building grassroots power to make Africa great.
In preparation for this year’s All-African Movement Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania in August, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity is hosting a series of Regional consultations to serve as a mobilisation platform for our members across the continent. These consultations are unique opportunities to strengthen the current state of Pan-African organising across the continent. At a time when insecurity is intensifying across swaths of Africa, several African countries are heading into elections, rampant corruption is on the rise, and there is a pressing need for African innovation in health care solutions, we want to hear from our members across Africa about how they are standing up to meet the needs and challenges of their communities in the present day.
These consultations are important opportunities for us to engage with grassroots movements and build solidarity among Africans concerned about the health and well-being of their local and Pan-African communities. They are platforms for our members to showcase their activism work on issues of gender justice, climate change, good governance, equity and dignity, and civic space.
Submissions from the various consultations will be drafted and shared at the AAMA which is expected to host over 750 participants made up of movements, activists, artists, journalists, civil society organisations, etc. To read the concept note for the All-African Movement Assembly and to register for the event, visit our website at https://www.africansrising.org/aama/
After the success of our recent convening in Cameroon, Freetown and Lusaka, we will continue to host consultations in the remaining 3 regions of the continent and diaspora. The schedule for the convenings is as follows:
Central Africa Buea, Cameroon – June 23 Passed (https://fb.watch/e3yl3x210C/)
West Africa Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 29 (Passed: https://fb.watch/e3ycxkJhcO/)
Southern Africa Lusaka, Zambia – July 6 (https://forms.gle/ox8ys1nbdU afmRXw5)
North Africa Rabat, Morocco – July 7 (https://forms.gle/nM9NSGX9CefAFRCf9)
East Africa Nairobi, Kenya – July 14 (https://forms.gle/3oRfRiPM7K)
Diaspora – TBC
In a nutshell, We shall have the All African Movement Assembly end of August in Arusha, Tanzania which among the areas of focus will be how to build solidarity for stronger movements across the continent to help in building the Africa We Want.
In preparation for the 2022 All-African Movement Assembly (AAMA), Africans Rising, a Pan-African movement of movements is hosting regional convenings at grass roots level to connect with them, and hear what they are doing and how they can collaborate with them to better build this Africa. These convenings will serve as a mobilization platforms for movements across the continent to be engaged and will help Africans Rising to re-establish relationships with the grassroots movements in various key countries and build a sustainable plan. The regional convenings are being hosted in all six regions of the continent and diaspora.
For Central Africa Region, the convening happened on 23rd June, 2022 in Buea South West Region of Cameroon while in West Africa, it happened in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Attempt by a human trafficker, Mathew Bassey to export illicit drug to Dubai, United Arab Emirate by planting same in the luggage of an orphan, Ms. Peter Gift Eno recruited for a phantom job in the Arab nation has been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos. Bassey, 29, from Oron LGA, Akwa Ibom state was arrested on Wednesday 6th July following the interception of Eno at the departure hall of the Lagos airport. When Eno’s luggage was searched, 50 parcels of cannabis (2.80kg) concealed in food items were discovered while there were discrepancies between the age she declared and the date of birth on her international passport. Further interview reveals that the human trafficker who recruited and brought her to the airport, Mathew Bassey was still lurking around the airport, waiting for her departure. He was promptly tracked and arrested. Investigations showed that the victim who hails from the same Oron LGA of Akwa Ibom State like Bassey recently lost her mother and as a result made it easy for Bassey to recruit her with the promise of securing her a job in Dubai, UAE. It was further discovered that the recruiter leveraged on the victim’s naivety and planted drugs in her bag for onward delivery to his contact in Dubai. In a related development, the desperate bid by a drug trafficker, Aloysius Ajuruchukwu Onyekwe (a.k.a Kelvin) to travel by road to Algeria through Sokoto state with ingested 47 wraps of cocaine in his stomach has been frustrated by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him in Ibadan, Oyo state following intelligence shared by the Department of State Security, DSS. Onyekwe, 26, who hails from Owerri West LGA, Imo state was arrested on Sunday 3rd July at Ojo park Ibadan where he went to board a vehicle enroute Sokoto to Algeria. He was traveling with an 18-year-old lady, Blessing Nwoke. The father of a 10-month-old child who passed out the 47 pellets of cocaine in five excretions confessed that he began his journey to Algeria from Cele area of Okota, Lagos where he ingested the illicit drug, weighing 1.1kg. Also in Oyo state, no fewer than 1,900 tablets of Tramadol 225mg were seized from a drug dealer, Mustapha Ijabula, 22, who was arrested in a Yola, Adamawa-bound commercial vehicle stopped for routine search along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. He hails from Mubi area of Adamawa state. In Akwa Ibom state, a trans-border trafficker, Fonkou Dassi, 31, was on Friday 8th July arrested with 6,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 3kg by officers of Marine Unit of the Agency when a commercial boat he boarded was intercepted and searched on his way to Cameroon. The suspect concealed the recovered drugs inside indomie noodles cartoon. In the same vein, a wanted drug dealer, Uduak Edidiong Samuel, 29, was arrested on Tuesday 5th July, after attending a court proceeding where his wife was undergoing trial for another drug case. The suspect had abandoned a cannabis sativa exhibit weighing 9kg when his house was searched on 27th June and has been on the run since then. During his arrest on Tuesday, Uduak was still found in possession of a wrap of skunk. In Edo state, a notorious drug dealer Beauty Dauda, 27, has been arrested with various quantities of Meth, heroin, cannabis and crack cocaine in a densely populated slum along Lagos bypass, Benin City. She was arrested on Wednesday 6th July after NDLEA operatives were able to break through the ring of protection often provided her by hoodlums and touts in the area. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Oyo, Akwa Ibom and Edo commands of the Agency for staying vigilant and proactive in their areas of responsibility. He charged them and their colleagues across the country not to rest on their oars.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja Sunday 10th July 2022
The people of Sri Lanka couldn’t take it anymore. The Presidential Palace at Colombo, the nation’s capital, was invaded by hungry and angry protesters such that even the presidential kitchen played host to the August visitors with hurriedly self-prepared meals after a good swim at the presidential swimming pool.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled his palatial home in a hurry, ably assisted by the army a few hours before the protesters arrived. The President who took for granted the earlier call by sixteen members of Parliament from his Podujana Peramuna Party to resign honourably and the general public disdain for his lacklustre performance, never saw this coming.
But this is the chosen path for a leadership bereft of ideas and hardened to the wishes of the people. It is on record that the 22 million Sri Lanka population is under a crushing economic predicament with no end in sight to the people’s sufferings.
The people of this South Asian country have seen hunger and joblessness in its crude form and hence vowed to unseat the President and enthrone a regime that is humane and can turn around the comatose economy.
For a long time since the Arab spring, we have not seen a people’s revolt so daring and audacious as we are witnessing now in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Whether the people will win at last is yet to be seen.
The crisis which was remotely hinged on issues like money creation, nationwide policy shift to organic farming and the devastating effects of covid 19, was escalated and further aggravated by the shortage of essential commodities, the collapse of basic amenities, long fuel queues and the political tussle between the President and the Parliament coupled with the general dissatisfaction of the people with President Rajapaksa’s clueless reign.
There is just so much to take away from all of these in form of lessons, that is. Number one: that the ultimate power lies in the hands of the people and that when the people are vexed to the pinnacle of hopelessness, disruption and disobedience to the civic norm become the rule rather than the exception.
Secondly, a leadership that does not feel the pulse of the people is a steady pack of cards, waiting to be touched by the people’s fingers of anger before its final collapse. These are lessons any government that cares about the people must learn. They are cold lessons but cold messages to us from Colombo.
The Movement for Stronger Delta MSD, has read, watched, and followed with anger and trepidation, the frenetic, devious, diabolical desperation, which has consumed a particular clique of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the moment the name of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was introduced into the gubernatorial race.
This particular clique, quite noticeably in a thinly veiled, undeniably unholy alliance with the main opposition party in the State, had actually commenced their opprobrious campaign with a dedicated manipulative salvo of Governor Okowa bashing, which was anchored on deliberately provocative misinformation tailored toward invoking ethnic political tensions and conflicts, over the destination of the next Governorship candidate of the PDP.
Fortunately, and as it always has been, with everything that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has placed in the hands of God, the most popular and capable aspirant, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori emerged as the PDP Guber Candidate, the destination was Delta Central as had been canvassed by many, who rightly advocated for equity in the conventional power rotation arrangement which existed in the PDP and the entire primaries to the glory of God, had ended in praise for the party and for the majority of Deltans.
But this particular clique in the PDP, which struts around in PDP ranks, with egocentric aloofness and a misplaced, delusional, and self-preserving entitlement mentality, will not rest on its dark, determined motivation of haranguing of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori out of contention.
They actually started with the initial bogus efforts which, simply put, were hellish conjectures from the spiral imaginations of mischief-makers, who neither have the fear of God nor regard for a man of probity in their misguided foray for ephemeral political power, couched in a phony investigation of ‘two’ of the Delta PDP guber aspirants, which they claimed was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President and head of Delta political opposition, Ovie Omo-Agege.
Omo-Agege vehemently denied sponsoring such investigation, but the unhidden intention of the report, which discovered the now contentious ‘discrepancies’ in his documents, was to disqualify Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori either at the Screening Committee stage or by the Party’s Appeals panel and when all these failed, they resorted to wild and dangerous allegations that the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State had been bribed.
The Primary was subsequently conducted in a free, fair, transparent, level playing process and Sheriff Oborevwori coasted home to a landslide victory. The jubilations across the State that greeted his triumph were ample testimony of his popularity with Deltans.
Yet, this clique, in their puerile endeavour and unscrupulous irresponsibility, both to the PDP and to Deltans, proceeded to the Federal High Court, where they bombarded the Court with an avalanche of about eleven cases, all against Sheriff and having lost almost all of them on the grounds of lack of locus, they finally got some hope on Thursday, July 7, 2022, when Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, upheld their case and disqualified Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the PDP Guber Candidate, going into the 2023 elections.
The grounds for the disqualification were cited as discrepancies in the documents he submitted to the PDP in 2014 and 2022, when he contested the Delta State House of Assembly and the Governorship elections respectively.
However, this legal achievement by the garrulous clique, now seems like a pyrrhic victory, as the Court reportedly declined to name anyone, including David Edevbie, as a replacement for Oborevwori on the grounds that INEC has not published any name yet, as the Governorship Candidate of Delta PDP. The Court also refused to call for a fresh Guber Primary.
As to be expected, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as a true leader, has urged his loyalists to remain calm and peaceful even as he has appealed the Federal High Court ruling, on nine grounds, through his legal team, led by Joe Agi, SAN and that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is where we are as at this moment.
The movement for Stronger Delta MSD, feels strongly that it is quite germane at this point, to state a number of irrefutable observations for the purposes of putting this matter in its proper perspective.
Olorogun David Edebvie, has said his decision to seek legal redress was to prevent the opposition from capitalising on a “blindingly obvious situation” to win the 2023 Delta governorship election. He further claimed that most Deltans were bewildered by the outcome of the PDP governorship shadow polls, describing the polls as “wanton disregard of the interests of our party and mood of our nation”.
In his words: “Undeniably, most Deltans received the outcome of the PDP Gubernatorial Primary with bewilderment and exasperation. To many, it appeared to be a wanton disregard of the interests of our Party and the mood of our nation.
“Propelled by the inevitable pall of gloom that hung over Delta State and faced with the real possibility that opposition parties would capitalise on the blindingly obvious situation, I was left with no alternative but to challenge the outcome in the law courts, albeit reluctantly.” He praised the judiciary for the courage to overturn the “travesty” in favour of the will of the majority of the people”.
It is obvious from Edevbie’s statement above, that the major reason adduced for challenging the Delta PDP Guber Primary, is completely different from the rambling gobbledegook sophistry, he has presented in the public space. First of all, Edevbie did not challenge the process of the Primary, which has been adjudged to be free, fair, and transparent. Rather, he challenged the so-called ‘discrepancies’, in the documents, presented to PDP, by Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, which has absolutely nothing to do with the conduct of this particular Primary.
Secondly, his claim that: “Undeniably, most Deltans received the outcome of the PDP Gubernatorial Primary with bewilderment and exasperation”, is completely imaginary, hallucinatory, and could only have manifested in his own delusional camp, which was quite contrary to the widespread jubilation and celebration that broke out across the State, when Sheriff Oborevwori was declared the winner of the PDP Primary.
Thirdly, his heroic, ego-massaging homily, that: “Propelled by the inevitable pall of gloom that hung over Delta State and faced with the real possibility that opposition parties would capitalise on the blindingly obvious situation, I was left with no alternative but to challenge the outcome in the law courts, albeit reluctantly,” is another woeful and deceitfully arrogant and self-serving claim, for the simple reason that there was no reluctance in his decision, since his agenda against Sheriff had been pursued with frenzied zeal, from the onset and indeed the allegorical pall and gloom had only hovered with menacing propensity like a dark, poisonous cloud over his own brood in their sulking corner of Delta State, after the Primary.
Fourth, his assertion that he was “faced with the real possibility that opposition parties would capitalise on the blindingly obvious situation”, is actually an unequivocal admission of his covert agenda of working hand in gloves with the opposition against the PDP, with the singular, selfish and myopic mindset to throw away the baby with the bathwater, if he doesn’t win the primaries or if he doesn’t become Governor of Delta State by hook or by crook.
Indeed, if David Edevbie is half as smart and clever as his image laundering publicists want us to believe, then he would have known, before going to Court, that his entire case is predicated on Section 29 (5&6) of the amended Electoral Law, 2022, which deals with “Submission of list of candidates and their affidavits by political parties.”
To make the matter clearer, Section 29(5) states: “Any aspirant who participated in the primaries of his political party who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by his political party’s candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate in relation to his constitutional requirements to contest the election is false, may file a suit at the Federal High Court against that candidate seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.
Section 29(6) states: “Where the Court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit is false only as it relates to constitutional requirements of eligibility, the Court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate and the sponsoring political party and then declare the candidate with the second-highest number of valid votes and who satisfies the constitutional requirement as the winner of the election.
In order words, the import of Section 29(6) suggests that it can only be invoked for the substantive election and not the primaries. Therefore, if the PDP wins the Delta 2023 Governorship election and David Edevbie, who took part in the Delta PDP Guber Primaries (as stipulated by the Electoral Act) proceeds to challenge in court, the eligibility of the party’s candidate to contest and win, then not only will the candidate be disqualified but the Court shall issue an order also disqualifying the sponsoring political party and then declare the candidate with the second-highest number of valid votes and who satisfies the constitutional requirement as the winner of the election, which in that case, will be the opposition.
Of course Section 29(8) provides the icing when it further states that: “A political party which presents to the Commission the name of a candidate who does not meet the qualification stipulated in this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of =N=10,000,000/= (Ten Million naira only). This is double jeopardy.
So, the question now is, why will David Edevbie, knowing the huge implications of this section of the Electoral Act to the PDP, still proceed with his action to go to court. Or did he read the Electoral Act upside down? Otherwise, is his legal action, knowing what the Electoral Act says, not tantamount to seeking to disqualify his own political party from the election, thus paving the way for the opposition to claim an undeserved and unmerited victory at the polls? Is his action not a deliberate anti-PDP strategy, especially against the backdrop that the PDP is also joined as a defendant in the case and the party will be the greatest loser if this plot succeeds?
Sadly, overtaken by their hate-filled agenda as characteristically resonant with unrepentant crusaders, they threw caution to the wind, and went berserk in their fervent hysterical efforts to disparage Sheriff Oborevwori, without studying the full import of what their ill-conceived plot would unleash, if allowed to run its course. Or perhaps is their action even a subtle, covert, well-scripted, and orchestrated subterfuge, designed to destabilize PDP in Delta State ahead of the 2023 general elections?
Like we stated earlier, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has already appealed the ruling of the Federal High Court disqualifying him as the Delta PDP Guber Candidate for the 2023 election, on nine grounds of appeal which comprehensively covers all the bases, including the consideration of Section 29(5) and also the fact, as Justice Taiwo Taiwo rightly noted that INEC is yet to publish anyone as the Delta PDP Guber Candidate for the 2023 election; a point which actually makes his ruling to disqualify Sheriff Oborevwori, quite surprising and confusing at the same time.
The Movement for Stronger Delta, MSD is however, quite confident in our unshakable faith in the judiciary and unwavering in our conviction, that in the end, justice will be done both in the spirit and the letter of the law, as we approach July 17, which is the present deadline for all political parties to submit the names of their Governorship Candidates to INEC.
That as we have always maintained, is the SIMPLE Agenda.
Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has congratulated Muslims in the country and Delta state as they celebrate Eid-al-Adha.
He urged the Muslim community to continually pray to God for divine guidance in order to enthrone a new era of justice, fairness and development in Nigeria.
In a statement titled *We Will Overcome Our Challenges*, he expressed concern over the worrisome security and economic challenges, adding that “this occasion gives us hope that with greater devotion and obedience to God and adherence to His commandments and will, Nigeria will triumph.”
The statement reads:
“On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC), I rejoice with our Muslim brothers and sisters as they mark the Eid-al-Adha. We must give God thanks and praises for His abiding grace and blessings.
“Coming at a time like this when our country is burdened with a lot of challenges, especially security and economic challenges, this occasion gives us hope that with greater devotion and obedience to God and adherence to His commandments and will, Nigeria will triumph.
“Just as the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, made him find favour before God, this season demands the sacrifice of leaders through selflessness, fairness and jettisoning of avarice for Nigeria to rise again.
“Even though the country is facing its greatest challenges ever, the celebration of this great sacrifice offers us an opportunity to renew our faith in God and love for our fellow men. We must at this time rededicate ourselves to the service of the poor, the vulnerable and the less privileged amongst us.
“I urge the Muslim community to never waver in praying to God for His divine guidance towards enthroning a new era of justice, fairness and development in Nigeria.
“I wish the Muslim faithful a wonderful Eid-al-Adha celebrations.
Barka de Sallah.”
*Editor’s Note*: Another name for this festival is “Eid al Kabir,” but either way, the general meaning is “Feast of the Sacrifice,” referring to the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice Ishmael on Mount Moriah, according to Islamic tradition.
The Public holiday for the celebration as declared by the Federal Government is Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 July, 2022.
AUSTIN ATORI hails from Uvwie Local Government Area and is a graduate of Geology. He enrolled into the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in 2016/2017 cycle after four years of unemployment. He is resolute in his determination to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship not only in ICT, but as a Geologist. He shares his success story after five years.
“I have trained 13 persons. I have four direct staff and six indirect staff on my payroll. I have acquired more equipment and a plot of land. From the proceeds, I provide for my family and sponsor my Master’s degree programme in Environmental Geology.
“To enhance the growth of my business, I diversified into software design, writing of programmes and photography. I own a business centre for photocopying and typesetting. I have also diversified into sinking of boreholes, water supply, hygiene and sanitation services.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has felicitated the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections and the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on the auspicious occasion of his 63rd birthday anniversary.
Elumelu in a statement on Friday July 8, 2022, saluted the Governor for his unrelenting selfless service, his unmatched commitment and dedication towards the unity, stability and economic development of not only Delta State, but Nigeria.
Elumelu said that over the years, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa with his vast experience as a renewed medical Doctor, local Government Chairman, Secretary to the Government of Delta State, Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, two time Governor of Delta State, and now Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, he has continued to demonstrate extraordinary capacity for result-oriented leadership in all spheres of life.
“I particularly celebrate your astonishing humility, vision, proactiveness, resourcefulness, sincerity of heart and loyalty to the good cause, with which you united and transformed our dear state Delta into a model state and flagship of development in Nigeria in the last seven years.
“You are a dazzling statesman and brilliant administrator who loves the people and continues to demonstrate that the essence of leadership is in deploying its authority and influence for the benefit of the people.
“Your confirmation as Vice Presidential Candidate of our Party is without doubt informed by the confidence and trust reposed in you by our Presidential Standard Bearer, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, (Wazirin Adamawa) that with your experience and commitment to duty, our Party is not only assured of victory but our nation is also guaranteed of the purposeful leadership Nigerians earnestly yearn for.
“On behalf of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, the people of Delta State as well as all our members in the House of Representatives, I congratulate you on your birthday and pray to God to grant you many more years in good health to His glory,” the Minority Leader stated.
Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh FCNA, CrFA, has said that the choice of the Governor of Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as Vice Presidential candidate by the Peoples Democratic Party’s flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, speaks volume on the quality of integrity that he possesses as a loyal party man, team player, bridge builder, reliable, dependable, nationally altruistic and a consummate patriot.
Bashorun Askia made the declaration while celebrating the 63rd birthday anniversary of the Governor of Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
In a statement signed by him and titled “63 Garlands For Our Vice Presidential Candidate”, the DESOPADEC boss described the governor as “Humble. Amiable. Unassuming, Godly, Focused. People-oriented. Leader.”
He affirmed that “These attributes and more capture the essential Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Governor of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the February 2023 General elections, the latter being another well deserved and fitting leadership vestment thrust on you by virtue of your rich pedigree as a manager of men and resources.”
The statement further reads that “Today, our amiable leader clocks 63 years.
“For the wonderful works you have done for our people, the accomplishments not just in the provision of infrastructure but also for giving our younger generation the wherewithal to take their destiny in their own hands and become employers of labour, we are proud to celebrate you.
“Most remarkably and it needs stressing here, your choice as Vice Presidential candidate by our party’s flagbearer, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, speaks ample volume on the rare quality of integrity that you possess as a loyal party man, team player, bridge builder, reliable, dependable, nationally altruistic and a consummate patriot. We are indeed glad to be part of history.
“As you add another year, Your Excellency, the Board, Management and Staff of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) are privileged to walk the path you have charted to making a difference in our mandate communities.
“There is no gainsaying that your visionary reform and remodeling of DESOPADEC have ushered robust achievements, in meeting the expectations at the grassroots.
“As we return all the glory and adoration to the Most High God, you deserve a hearty commendation for initiating the projects that have remarkably changed the narrative of development in Delta State.
“We join millions of well-wishers worldwide to celebrate your visionary leadership and guidance that have progressively and positively changed the narrative of development in Delta State.
“We pray for a more prosperous, Stronger Delta and that our younger and unborn generations will steadfastly hold on to the tenets and virtues you continue to espouse for their success.
In less than eleven days from now, the All Progressive Congress, APC will name the running mate for its Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Already intrigue among politicians was high on who to choose for a better strategy to bring home the party flag on the seat of power.
Certain groups from the northwest have been clamouring for one of their own forgetting the facts that the northeast, which stood with them in the past, has a stake and needs to be given the opportunity to serve just as the presidency was shifted to the southwest for fair considerations.
Politics has its own headache, however, if the party allowed itself to be drag by forces from the northwest who appeared to be self-seeking at this crucial time, the repercussion will be politically suicidal and the chances for the party to make impact will be slim.
Like the penguin, I would not fail in my analysis for a victorious APC with Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The wind does not blow from west to the west , rather it should be blowing in the opposite direction. So should be the direction of APC.
There cannot be anyone compared by pedigree in terms of governance, technicalities, and people oriented leadership skills like Senator Kashim Shettima in the line of those already presented to the party.
It is high time for the northeast governor’s forum through His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to do the needful by presenting Kashim Shettima for the choice. Indeed, the northeast must understand the facts that they must awaken from self-seeking to put facts before them.
Kashim Shettima has done what no one else’s done in the movement without wavering. He understands Tinubu as much as Tinubu understands him. There can be no better choice as such, and our leaders and men of reason should know that there is hope for Nigeria with Kashim Shettima working side by side with Tinubu.
A group under the aegis of Northern Youth Unity Forum( Northeast chapter) has declared that the best running mate for APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be Senator Kashim Shettima from Borno State and I totally agree with this line of understanding..
Spokesman of the group Comrade Usman Mustapha who made this known in Gombe at the end of the second quarter meeting of the group, said Senator Shettima has all it takes to be the next Vice President of Nigeria in 2023.
He explained that Senator Shettima, beyond his unalloyed loyalty to Asiwaju Tinubu, has “enormous political goodwill in the Northeast and Northern Nigeria and has strategic ideas that can boost the electoral fortunes of the APC in the region.
According to him, Senator Shettima has the required competence to ensure APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential elections, because he has never failed to deliver on any assignment, from his days as governor of Borno State and as a Senator of the Federal Republic.
He equally challenges any Nigerian to tell us who has been the closest, most loyal political associate of Asiwaju Tinubu in the whole of the North today. According to him, Shettima remains first in line because of his well-known politics of reliability, consistency and legendary generosity in today’s Nigeria.
He said APC 2023 presidential candidate needs a calm, intelligent, well-connected and articulate running mate as such; Senator Shettima is simply unbeatable in terms of modern leadership skills, efficient and effective management of resources, while commanding respect across the North and southern part of the country.
I think this is the final advice. Kashim Shettima is standing on a firm ground. His position is in a win-win space. It would be better to stand with such a person than to run behind the mood thinking its resting place is down the hills or behind the mountains.
Germany, United Nations agencies United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP) have launched a new humanitarian programme aimed at strengthening the resilience of communities and promoting peace in the North East states of Borno and Yobe.
The three-year project, named Resilience and Social Cohesion in north-east Nigeria, will benefit more than 50,000 vulnerable people including pregnant women, conflict-affected children, adolescent girls, the elderly and persons living with disability in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State and Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The Acting Head of Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Maiduguri Field Office, Dr. Clement Adams disclosed the purpose of the project at its launch in Maiduguri on Tuesday
According to Adams, the project which is supported by the German Government (BMZ) will ensure that individuals, communities and institutions in both states have sustainable access to quality basic services, livelihood opportunities and improved governance capacity to enhance social cohesion.
He said: “Today is the beginning of a different journey that will ensure that conflict-affected people will benefit from systematic change. The German Government has shown high commitment to this project and we are hopeful that the gains will be replicated in other locations.”
In his remarks, the World Food Programme (WFP) Head of Area Office in Maiduguri, Mr. Bernard Owadi said that WFP has presence in the communities where the project will be located, noting that it “is an opportunity to demonstrate to parties that we can combine efforts and deliver results as United Nations.”
The Borno State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Adamu Lawan, said the project will strengthen fragile public services.
Lawan noted that violent attacks on communities in the state have disrupted the livelihood of people, adding that the state government would collaborate with the partners to achieve the objectives of the project.
He said: “We are grateful to the German Government for providing financial support to World Food Programme and UNICEF. They are willing to implement multisectoral interventions in Shani LGA of Borno State. This will no doubt help address problems in the local government area.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has promised compensation to the family of its staffer lost in the attack on Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre.
Speaking during a visit to the Centre, in company of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shauibu Belgore, Inspector General of Police, Controller General of Correctionsl Service, Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, representative of the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service and Director Special Duties in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Funsho Alabi, Audi assured that the family of the deceased, Inspector Ilyasu Abraham will be reached out to and necessary compensation delivered in due time.
The Corps helmsman sympathised with the family of a personnel of the deceased, who was deployed by the Federal Capital Territory command of the NSCDC to the custodial centre on guard duty but unfortunately paid the supreme price as he lost his life during the attack.
The CG commiserates with his immediate family and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
He added that Ilyasu was a gallant officer who fought a good fight and died in active service defending the land.
He urged citizens to keep calm as NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of lives and protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.
The CG said that adequate measures will be put in place to avoid such reoccurrence across the country.
In furtherance to my earlier press release on the unfortunate attack by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, I wish to state that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, killing a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Custodial Centre and living three (3) personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service seriously injured.
A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.
The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) in synergy with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.This is also to confirms to the general public that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape. They are presently in custody, hale and hearty.
Recall that after the attack at the Medium Custodial Centre in Agbolongo, Oyo state, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, met with the heads of the security agencies under his supervision where the idea of Joint SecurityTaskforce comprising the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was formed to forstall further breaches on custodial facilities. As at the time of the attack on the Kuje facility, we have 38 military personnels on ground in addition to personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, DSS and our Armed Squad.This is the Minister’s efforts to rejig the security architecture of our facilities.
The public is also informed that some of the attackers were killed while some escaped with gunshot wounds. We therefore appeal to hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency.
The Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa FICMC, mni appreciates the efforts of other security agencies for coming to the rescue of the Service in a timely manner. He calls on the public to volunteer useful information that may lead to the arrest of the fleeing inmates. The CG has reassured the public that the unfortunate incident is been handled with every sense of dedication and professionalism. He further extends his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives during the attack and wishes the injured ones a quick recovery.
Umar Abubakar AICMC, ANIPR. Chief Superintendent of Corrections. Public Relations officer For: Controller General of Corrections.
Delta State Government on Tuesday said it had released the White Paper on the resolution of the communal crisis between Ozoro and Oleh communities in Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas of the state, with approval to compensate families of victims.
The State Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after inspecting ongoing projects at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
He said the State Executive Council had approved the White Paper on the crisis sequel to the recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry on the crisis.
According to him, we have looked into the Ozoro-Oleh crisis and we are already implementing the decisions of the Judicial Panel.
“The Judicial Panel of Enquiry has finished its work and submitted its report.
“The White Paper has also been released by the state’s Executive Council and the whole process to ensure peace is being implemented by the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
“Unfortunately, we lost some people to the crisis. And, it’s unfortunate we cannot bring them back, but I am also aware that approvals have been given to compensate the families who lost loved ones during the crisis.
“The cheques will be released on Thursday this week, I just hope and pray that we do not go into that level of communal crisis anymore,” the governor stated.
It is becoming glaring by the day that an albatross is hanging on the neck of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, albeit momentarily.
The post-primary election crisis is hovering around one man – Governor Wike of River state. Ever since he lost the presidential primaries of his beloved party and the subsequent vice-presidential nomination slot, his deafening silence has truly unsettled the power game and the players within the PDP such that every bloc has come to accept the urgent need to pacify “the beautiful bride” than to allow her to rock the boat.
Mending fences with Wike is so important to the party that a high power delegation is being constituted by the PDP board of trustees to visit with him. Yet, the man has not said anything. Wike has suddenly become even more dangerous in silence than when he’s not.
During an earlier bout with Governor Obaseki of Edo state prior to the primary election, Wike had unwittingly categorize the PDP in an unwholesome hierarchy of landlords and tenants. As at today, one cannot but agree with him giving the enormity of the collective attention being given to Wike’s temporary absence in the party’s scheme of things.
His loyalists within the party are asking for the replacement of the party chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as a negotiating tool to right the wrong of one region producing the chairmanship and the Presidential candidate of the party against the party’s initial arrangement. To them, this will help to win their principal back to the fold.
But how does this truly help Nwike politically? There are those who also muted the idea of an outright replacement of Dr Okowa with Governor Nwike. How can two wrong make a right? Numerically speaking, it is on record that Dr Okowa brought in more votes (five hundred thousand plus as against Wike’s four hundred thousand plus) for the PDP in the last presidential election than Nyesom Wike.
But his avowed commitment to the party coupled with an ever formidable financial war chest makes him the joker in PDP’s pack of cards. And this is his unique selling point at any given time.
But because Governor Wike is a good party man who has paid his dues and knows the rules of the game, he must listen to the voice of reason and consider the unintended consequences of jumping ship, peradventure he’s tempted to do so. This “landlord” must forgive and learn to stay with his “tenants” in peace.
Austen Akhagbeme is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Presidential candidate of the NNPP is a politician with cult followership- the kwankwasiyya movement, within his North-west political enclave.
As a former governor of the most populous state in the North and one that has been fairly consistent with grassroots politicking in Kano state, one cannot deny his grasp of the politics and the grab on the jugular of a sizable number of the “Talakawas” who constitute the majority of the voting public within his political domain.
This, probably, has made the former governor thick, assumingly perspicacious and wantonly arrogant without knowing. This self-proclaimed and widely acclaimed lover of the masses threw a salvo recently that got all tongues wagging and kept all mouths agape.
His asymmetric understanding of the Peter Obi phenomenon vis-a-vis the politics of the South East within the Nigerian political equation leaves much to be desired.
His delusional superiority claim over Peter Obi and his raging but towering political conscientisation movement is an indication of the disdainful perception some elites of other regions have for the South East. And this can be misleading.
The former Kano state governor must have started before Mr Peter Obi having claimed to have been building his movement now for over three decades. Outside that, Obi was a two-term governor of a state too, with a record of administrative dexterity and prudence in the financial management of state resources.
This has endeared Obi to a mass movement of the Nigerian youth rooting for him all across the country, especially in the South. So for Kwankwaso to think that it is demeaning and subservient to serve as a vice-presidential hopeful under Peter Obi is nothing but an arrogant display of superiority complex.
The most painful was his election to tutor the South East about politics and how not to remain at the bottom of National politics. The South East has truly become the punching bag used by political pugilists for sparring.
For a presidential aspirant, seeking to govern a whole nation, to speak the way Kwankwaso did about the South East and their political chances in a federation like ours smacks of insensitivity to the ever-yawning desire of the South East region.
And it goes a longer way, too, to show that these politicians are not into politics for the benefit of the nation but for their selfish interest only. Let Peter Obi look elsewhere and leave this quaking Kwankwaso alone.
Austen Akhagbeme is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
–By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene;
PERCULIAR EHIENTA is the CEO of Pec Bella Enterprise, a poultry farm, located at YAGEP Farm Cluster, Owa-Alero. She holds a B.Sc. Ed. in Business Education and is a pioneer beneficiary of the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP.) She was trained and established in the 2015/2016 cycle. Six years after, she is still in business and has grown it satisfactorily. She shares her story.
“From 400 layers, I now have over 1,000 layer birds from which I harvest 25 crates of eggs daily, and I have also grown my broiler birds from the initial 200 seed stock to 400. By God’s grace I am growing.
“The business has been very helpful. With it, I support my husband in the upkeep of our home and the payment of our children’s school fees. It has improved our living standard.
My business is imparting positively on other families also. I have two employees on my payroll. I look forward to expansion”
Governor of Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has lauded the tremendous efforts of the management of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), in upscaling the skills acquisition programs in the state.
Governor Okowa stated this during the graduation ceremony of the second batch of trainees of the DESOPADEC Skills Academy on Friday, July 01, 2022 at the PTI Conference Centre, Warri.
All 168 trainees admitted to the Batch 2 vocational diet of the DESOPADEC SKILLS ACADEMY successfully scaled through.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah encouraged them to have integrity for sustainable growth in their various businesses in wealth creation.
He said that the management of DESOPADEC have demonstrated its willingness to improve the economic base of the state, in accordance with the wealth creation policy of government.
He mentioned that the state government have been able to create success stories from its job and wealth creation programs, adding that beneficiaries from the various vocational programs have become employers of labour through full scale engagement of youths in meaningful endeavors.
“I commend the MD of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, and the management team for complimenting the efforts of government in ensuring that unemployment is reduced in our state through this empowerment programme.
“I congratulate all the graduands and wish them well as they move on to becoming entrepreneurs in their various fields of endeavours.”
In his address, the Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh disclosed that the roadmap of the Commission’s human capital development initiative to empower two batches of youths (males and females) have been on since 2021.
He said, ‘This pragmatic and bold initiative which is on all fours with the broad entrepreneurial agenda of our able Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to cover the field at the State level has turned out to be more impactful, even exceeding our expectations.
Thanks to the skills acquisition and empowerment schemes of His Excellency, today over 100,000 direct jobs and one million indirect jobs have been created since 2015.
“As key participants with the global community, the policy intent of the Skills Academy finds solid hinge on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) geared essentially at improving lives, boosting skills, becoming employers of labour instead of being liabilities in a hugely fractured contemporary social system, and creating an innovative ambience of eking out a legitimate living that conforms with peaceful order and mutual coexistence.
“The bold initiative we took as a Board in the first quarter of 2021, in the face of a crunch and highly challenging Nigerian economic environment, to square up and re-skill our people in several vocational areas within the mandate oil-bearing communities, has undoubtedly paid off for the successful trainees and their families.
“This was our altruistic objective – giving life to our people to become self sustaining and employers of labour. The intention was to change the hitherto forlorn and hopeless narrative, and the testimonies pointedly attest to this.
“The feelers I got from the monitors of the maiden graduates of the Academy who are doing extremely well in their chosen skills across the State, have been glowingly encouraging and reassuring that we have not wasted scarce resources to commence the programme in whatever way. I am told that some of the last graduates may end up as trainers in the next edition! This is highly fulfilling for us as a Commission. This is how it ought to be. Our products have demonstrated that we had a noble liberating vision beamed on us and we are running with it full swing.
“Again, we are here today to present the second batch of graduands of the Academy to the public. They have undergone a grueling six-month drilling in preferred vocational disciplines that include:
*Hair Dressing; Makeover and Organic Skin Care Production; Fashion Design and Tailoring; Electrical Repairs, Installation and Solar Works; Catering and Confectioneries; POP, Tiling and Interlocking; Welding and Fabrications; Shoe and Bag Making; Information and Communication Technology as well as Health, Safety and Environment.
“They have been monitored and evaluated, assessed and taken practical and theory-based examinations including those of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. They have been adjudged fit and proper to receive the FML&P Trade Test Certificates 2 and 3; and DESOPADEC Skills Academy Certificate of Competence. These qualify them to work and operate in and outside Delta State.
“I am delighted to announce to this gathering that of the total number of 168 trainees admitted to the Batch 2 vocational diet of the DESOPADEC SKILLS ACADEMY, all of them successfully scaled through! This time around, unlike last year when we had a few cases of indiscipline roundly visited, no trainee wanted to be left out, probably due to the high level of seriousness of the monitors with attendant sanctions for notable infraction of the rules and regulations. There was no incidence of absenteeism, indiscipline beyond tolerance or outright refusal to complete the programme.
“The level of commitment, ethical composure, focus, discipline, and determination to succeed were topnotch and on behalf of the Board and Management of the Commission, I say congratulations to all the graduands set to change and garnish the course of their glorious destinies with new skills sets, values, competences and managerial savvy.
“As in the maiden edition of the programme that saw us resourcing the graduands with Grade A Starter Packs, today does not intend to be any different. If any, it is a massive improvement to fully support them both financially and tool-wise. As you can attest physically under the massive tent outside this auditorium, we have again provided all the work facilities and gadgets for a successful take off, aside the financial largesse to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey.
“Our rich bouquet starter packs procured at great cost and sacrifice by the Commission with the unalloyed executive backup of our dear Governor and incoming Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, are instant statement that when we are commit to a course with unbroken resolution, there is no looking back like Lot’s wife!
“We could easily have trained the graduands and given them a qualifying certificate and no more without anyone calling us to question. But we elected to go the extra mile at great sacrifice to complete the cycle of engagement with them. This is how it should be. I therefore use this medium to appeal to our children and wards to understand the dynamics of an interventionist agency like DESOPADEC and how we operate.
“The task of tackling unemployment among the youth is surmountable. Hence we believe that with the even higher number of graduates from our universities in the coming years, the DESOPADEC Skills Academy will continue to evolve innovative strategies to create new vistas of opportunities for our youths.
“As an intervention agency, DESOPADEC will continue to respond to the yearnings of our mandate areas. With this Academy focused on the youth, the objective is to have a paradigm shift in the fortunes of the younger generation by making the beneficiaries of the scheme the pivot for a new narrative amongst our youths.
“To the graduands who already have a date with history, I congratulate you once again and urge you to run with this vision to a certain glorious end. The Delta State Government via the Commission has done its prime best for you. Do not disappoint destiny. Do not fail your family. Do not undermine this costly effort of the Government on you.
“For every one of you, a thousand crave to be in your shoes. Maximize this window and be the new KFT, the innovative Toyota in the waiting, and the new Mary Kay of your generation. In one word, make Delta State proud. Become the successful entrepreneurs in your chosen skill and join the State government to lift others from the deprivation bracket.
“May I state for the umpteenth time that our vision is that through your success which you have demonstrated in this programme, a new mentality driven by the desire to see opportunities in the oil and gas industry for which our State is known, takes root in our region. This is what we need to get our young men and women shun the resort to short cuts and unedifying activities to be seen as successful in life.
His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien CFR, JP, the Asagba of Asaba, has lauded the activities of a frontline political pressure group in Nigeria, Delta Youth Coalition (DYC), for its proactive efforts in ensuring that persons who have attained voting age are sensitized and mobilized to elect the right people into governance.
The royal father gave this commendation at the palace when the President General of DYC, Mr. Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash) led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to the Asagba on Thursday, July 30, 2022 in Asaba.
The Asagba praised the feat the President General of DYC, Mr. Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash) has attained in ensuring that many Nigerians, especially Deltans are fully sensitized and mobilized to exercise their franchise during elections.
He urged other political pressure groups operating in the country to emulate the proactive efforts of the Delta’s Youth Coalition.
Before responding to the speech of DYC President General, the Asagba reflected how to be proactive, revealing that “Many years ago, There was ASUU strike and universities were closed for one year. I was surprised at the silence from the people and parents of students who pay school fees to allow their children to be out of the university for one year and say nothing. It does not provide the good image for this country.
I don’t think this will happen everywhere. How can parents whose children are home for one year sit back and do nothing? Y response was that this matter must be solved, so I mobilized traditional rulers all over Nigeria to meet and resolve this matter. They held meetings with the federal government in terms of their demands. The federal government refused to pay but fortunately, I was the Chancellor of the Federal University of Abeokuta and my university provided the funds for those meetings to settle the ASUU strike.
Earlier, in his opening speech, the President General of Delta Youth Coalition (DYC), Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash), elucidated on the aims of the group to include encouraging people at the grassroots to have their Personal Voter’s Card (PVC) in order to enthrone good governance by voting for candidates with credibility.
He recognized the fatherly role of the Asagba of Asaba in administering his royal duties, saying that his wealth of experience has contributed a lot to national growth.
While commending the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his trailblazing traits in good governance, people oriented development projects and programs, Mr. Dash explained that DYC has been established in the 25 local government areas of Delta state to ensure that Governor Okowa’s sterling quality of good governance is replicated in the state, ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
He said that the vision of DYC was to fill the yawning gap between the leaders and the electorate by forming alignment of bringing political benefits, dividend of democracy to the grass root.
According to him, the mission of Delta Youth Coalition (DYC) is “Promoting community activities by collaborating with different organization to promote peace and harmony among citizens in the state, through joint action that will benefit the people and their communities by way of initiating programs for youth empowerment.”
The Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has been honored for his commitment to professionalism, hardwork and excellence in running the affairs of DESOPADEC.
The award was presented by the Management of Nigeria Centre for Manpower Development (aka NCMD Training Services).
The epoch making ceremony took place during the pre-graduation “Business Skills Development Seminar” for graduating trainees of the DESOPADEC Skills Academy which held in Warri.
According to the presenter, Pastor Afolabi Adun, the award is in recognition of Bashorun Askia’s commitment to professionalism, hardwork and excellence in running the affairs of DESOPADEC.
According to him, the award was on behalf of NCMD trade and consulting services and all the youth in Delta state that were trained and empowered by DESOPADEC under the leadership of Bashorun Askia.
Nigeria’s Damilola Olokesusi are among women appointed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as new “eTrade for Women advocates” to empower women in the digital economy and promote more inclusive e-commerce ecosystems.
Others are Birame Sock from Senegal,, Lennise Ng from Malaysia, Mona Ataya from the United Arab Emirates and Pierangela Sierra from Ecuador, they are the third cohort of advocates since UNCTAD launched its eTrade for Women initiative in 2019.
A statement on Thursday by the UN’s agency quoted the UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics. Shamika Sirimanne, to have said “the global economic landscape has changed tremendously since we launched the eTrade for Women initiative almost three years ago.”
She noted that: “But the challenge remains the same: we need to take action to reduce a growing digital divide. The advocates can help us change the rules of the game to level the playing field for women.”
According to the statement, the advocates will help tackle gender disparities in the digital economy. They will serve as role models, using their knowledge and experience to help other women digital entrepreneurs across the world overcome gender biases and grow successful businesses.
The statement revealed that studies by the International Finance Corporation has shown that women could add over $14.5 billion to e-commerce markets in Africa alone and $280 billion in South-East Asia, between 2025 and 2030.
A critical part of the advocates’ mandate is to bring the voice of women to the policymaking table and help create more and better opportunities in the digital space, the statement added.
The statement further revealed that advocates will engage with policymakers to ensure the needs of digital small and medium enterprises are considered by governments when making policies and regulations on digital ecosystems.
According to the statement, UNCTAD’s advocates have supported over 200 women digital entrepreneurs across the globe since 2019, and under their leadership, the initiative has held eight regional masterclasses in Latin America, West and East Africa, South-East Asia, the Balkans, and the Arab region.
They have also created eTrade for Women regional communities of women digital entrepreneurs in 34 countries.
Ms. Olokesusi is a Co-Founder and CEO of a transport and tech company called Shuttlers, a start-up currently revolutionising the way professionals commute in metropolitan cities like Lagos.
According to her, the company was birthed as a reaction to her constant frustrating experiences using the public transport in Lagos, and the a desire to create an efficient system of transportation for professionals in Lagos using a shared scheduled model enabled by technology.
She narrated that one of her sisters got into a one-chance bus (a commercial bus used for robbing passengers), and it was a traumatic experience for her as the sister was taken to another destination where they were abducted and robbed.
According to her, having had their different bus experiences, they realised it was a collective pain point for them. So, they came together to solve it with their complementary skills.
Olokesusi has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, and as an entrepreneur uses innovation and technology to solve economic and social problems.
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described the death of 42 year old Mr Lucky Ndubuisi Chikezie in Pretoria, South Africa as very worrisome and painful.
In a statement by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NIDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa said the circumstances of Lucky’s arrest, detention and eventual death was very unsettling and heartbreaking.
The NIDCOM boss consoled with the family of the deceased , and friends and prayed unto God to grant him eternal rest. She calls for justice for the family and pleads with Nigerians in South Africa to be patient as investigation is being carried out.
She, however, advised the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to conduct an in depth investigation into the arrest, detention and assault of Lucky and unravel the circumstances which led to his eventual death allegedly at the hands of Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Pretoria, South Africa.
The deceased wife in a report stated that “Mr Chikezie suffered untold brutality at the hands of the members of the police officers and later succumbed to injuries he sustained on his head due to internal bleeding in the early hours on Wednesday, June 22, at Akasia Netcare Centre in Pretoria”.
