It has been more than 2 years of the Dapo Abiodun Government and it seems this government is hell bent on taking the state back to using bush paths. Yes, the roads in Ogun state are that bad. Sometimes you drive in a state that is supposed to be the gateway state and all you see is just nightmares. It gets worse for communities on the Lagos/Ogun border. Going from Ogun to Lagos, you can tell where Ogun state ends and Lagos begins based on the condition of the roads. It is that bad?
Even the roads in the capital city Abeokuta isn't any different from the joke Ogun state roads has become it is almost as though the Dapo Abiodun Government has decided to punish everyone for crimes no one knows who committed. The roads in Ogun East where is from are reportedly not this bad though. Maybe something else is at play
How else does one explain this?
Even roads which were started by the previous admin have either been abandoned or not completed after years, and mechanic have been having a field day fixing broken down vehicles. Please we need a overhaul of the roads in Ogun state.
The Convener , Got Your Back Nigeria, Professor Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr ,has condemned in totality the deliberate plan by some desperate Nigerians who wants to tarnish the Image of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Addressing the press on Friday, Prof. Chris called out the EFCC to resist the temptation of been used by those desperately seeking the office of the president come 2023 , who fear Governor Yahaya Bello as the only possible visible front runner to their ambition.
“I raised three strong points in my last Press Release regarding the desperation of those seeking the High Office of President come 2023 and the ploy to deploy damaging falsehood, perfidy and deceit to hoodwink the media and the people against the very visible front runner Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Like I clairvoyant I stand vindicated”.
“I warned that if zoning and rotation of power which appears to be their short cut to the Presidency come 2023 becomes difficult, they will resort to blackmail and spurious litigations cum media mudslinging, but also left a caveat that we shall not suffer fools gladly, and that we shall conquer their falsehood with the efficacy of Truth. Such and no other is my Cross”.
“And I warned that any attempt to tar or mar the urgency of now and the fervency of a reinvigorated call for a New Deal in Nigeria ala the Youth O’Clock protocol and the Yahaya Bello Movement with fake brush, fake news, fake litigations, fake Court Orders and Preposterous Rulings will not stand, because this is a Movement of intellectuals, egg heads and principled ideologues ready, willing and able to shoot down every fake, false and fictitious kite that his political adversaries may fly. And such is our creed. That said, here is the truth that defeats the present falsehood and confines their perfidy to the ignoble pit of history”.
“Do you know that unlike most States in Nigeria today, the State of Kogi has cleared almost all the outstanding salaries and arrears owed workers, and presently pays workers as at when due? Do you know that the State of Kogi is amongst the States topping the chart in the payment of pensions? Do you know that the State of Kogi is one of the few States that is not owing Medical Doctors and Workers any salary? And have you realized that not having anymore that old cliche and refrain ‘Kogi State is owing workers and not paying salaries’, they have devised the present falsehood and lies, but it won’t stick”.
“The present lie and falsehood fails because the action purportedly brought before the Court by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission EFCC regarding a certain 20billion naira allegedly fixed by the Kogi State Government in Sterling Bank for interest is patently false and fictitious. There is no Account in favour of Kogi State with such deposit in Sterling Bank, and the Bank is presently taking steps against the EFCC on the spurious claim”.
“It is on record that the balance in the Kogi State salary account with Sterling Bank is about 46 million naira only since the 19.3 billion naira meant for Salaries were deployed to that purpose in 2019”.
“To those who have gone to town with the raging falsehood about a certain 20billion naira belonging to Kogi State that was allegedly frozen by the Court, the question is, where is the 20billion that the EFCC deceived the Court into freezing? In what account is it? Can they make public the balance on the alleged Account as at the 31st of August, 2021 when the said account was frozen? Can you cage, freeze or detain what is not? How wicked and sad. As we journey towards 2023 we must as a people implore the EFCC, the ICPC and the other investigative agencies of State to ‘shine their eyes’ and resist any attempt to be used as cannon fodders for falsehood, deceit, blackmail and lies by politicians. Because the lies won’t stick”.
“Need I say clearly, that to further put the naysayers to shame and to right the wrong so done to Kogi State by the EFCC, and their fellow travelers on the path of infamy and treachery, the Kogi State Government has gone to Court against such grievous faux pas. And shall come out clean before the Law Court, and the Court of Public opinion, because this falsehood orchestrated against it will fall like a pack of cards. Yes, the lies won’t stick”.
“We must as a nation resist and refuse the chicanery of political operators who seek through falsehood and deceit to narrow the confines of political contestation. Nigerians must insist that all contestants come before the people with proof of competency and capacity not blackmail and mudslinging. We must challenge the media, the civil society and the clergy to etch new paradigms of truth over falsehood, facts over blackmail, and sound policy over pettiness as 2023 beckons”.
“Finally, may I State without an ounce of equivocation that we shall continue ceaselessly to debunk all lies against the person of Yahaya Bello, against State of Kogi, and against the call for a New Deal for the masses of our Country. Remember it is Youth O’Clock, and the Nigerian Youths along with the masses of our dear Country will purge our politics of the smear campaigns and the vile tendencies of the past. All lies and falsehood in the works for 2023 won’t stick, believe me, so try something else, folks”.
Recall that the Kogi State Government yesterday dismiss the claims by EFCC and has vowed to seek redress in Court.
kids to Disney n spend nights in the same apartment with his kids n their mother! ? How many times have u gone to see ur kids with pero! N she stay with u n
the kids under the same
roof for nights! Or is it when your brother @hi.idibia house u , your kids n pero under the roof ??! I can go onn on!
Your baby mamas constantly use your children as an excuse for all
2/3
sort of rubbish! I try to stay gracious!! You are not the first man
on the planet to have kids by different women! You can do better !
Everything I do is to show the good human that u r!! But today !This move done by you, Efe, Frankie n your family is unacceptable!
I am a patient woma. E I am not a fool innocent!
Your family never loved r from the beginning! No matter how hard I tried!
I was never worthy to them!!! I have made so many sacrifices for you and all your children. God knows I have tired
Annie says the music star's family has never really liked her.
Nigerian music icon 2Face Idibia's wife, Annie has called him out over his relationship with one of his baby mamas, Pero Adeniyi.
The movie star took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday, September 2, 2021, where she called him out over their relationship.
"I am a patient woman. I am not a fool innocent. Your family never loved me from the beggining. No matter how hard I tried. I was never worthy to them," she wrote.
"I have made so many sacrifices for you and all your children. God knows I have I tried. Your baby mamas constantly use your children as an excuse for all sort of rubbish."
I try to stay gracious. You are not the first man on the planet to have kids by different women. You can do better. Everything I do is to show the good human that you are."
"But today, this move done by you, Efe, Frankie and your family is unacceptable."
She went on to call him out for sleeping at the house of one of his baby mamas, Pero for days, during his trip to the United States of America.
"What kind of man takes his kids to Disney and spend nights in the same apartment with his kids and their mother? How many times have you gone to see your kids with Pero? and she stay with you and the kids under the same roof?"
Pero is 2Face's first baby mama who gave birth to three kids for the music star.
She has been at loggerheads with Annie for years now
Their rift can be traced back to 2015 and 2016 when they both called each other out on social media.
Their frosty relationship took a front burner when photos of 2Face Idibia reportedly kissing Pero at the singer's nightclub back in 2015 broke the Internet.
It’s the day that nearly every Nigerian movie lover has been waiting for – the day of the return of the King Of Boys.
After a successful run in cinemas back in 2018, producers of the political thriller film decided to bless fans with a second installment.
Production ran through most of 2020 and now fans finally get the opportunity to see what becomes of the revered Eniola Salami (the powerful character played by veteran actress Sola Sobowale).
With a power-packed first installment that garnered rave reviews and multiple awards, fans have remained at the edge of their seats, anticipating what would now be a seven-part series released exclusively to streaming giant, Netflix.
Written, produced, and directed by Kemi Adetiba, ‘King Of Boys 2’ will return previous cast members such as Sola Sobowale, Remilekun “Reminisce” Safaru, iLLBliss, Osas Ighodaro and some new faces such as veteran actor, Richard Mofe Damijo.
Netflix Naija has also been teasing the film, giving us sneak peeks into what we should expect.
“Is this your king? King of Boys: The Return of The King is now streaming,” they wrote in a post on Friday.
Commends the Governor and Deltans for making the state a model for others.
Oke Umurhohwo rejoices with the Government and People of Delta State on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the State creation, describing the journey so far as encouraging and reinforces hope of a more prosperous future.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday and made available to newsmen by the Ughelli-born Brand Manager, congratulating the State Governor, Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, and past administrators for the monumental progress that the State has recorded so far.
“Today, our state turns 30 years, and it is a moment for us to celebrate,” Umurhohwo noted in the statement, pointing out that “This is so because, in those 30 years since creation, Delta State has experienced progress in so many ways and firmly on the path to a more prosperous future.”
The Delta State House of Assembly aspirant in 2023 acknowledged the sacrifices and foresight that gave birth to the State, noting that “under Governor Okowa administration, the State is experiencing developmental strides that fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the People.”
“Looking back at the last 30 years and the progress the State has made in almost every sector, there will no doubt, be a reason to celebrate as can be seen in every part of the State,” he said.
Oke took out time to also commend his fellow Deltans, particularly recipients of different awards put together for those who have distinguished themselves in several fields, said they should take their recognition as a challenge to do more in moving the State forward.
“To my fellow Deltans, home and abroad, who have maintained a good image for our dear State, I give a big kudos to us all,” he said.
“For those of us who are considered for one award or the other, I say a big congratulation to you and must impress on you that this is more of a challenge for you to do more and bring more glory to the state.
“Once more, I say a happy 30th anniversary to our dear state and the only home we know.”
In the build up to the politics of 2023 there is clearly one individual who has elected to reach out to Nigerians across creed and clan, across religious and ethnic divides and across social cum societal stratification, that person is the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The others are busy canvassing regional cum zonal demagoguery. Some are outrageously pulling ethnic and zonal strings forgetting that we are where we are because rather than search for a Pan Nigerian candidate we have for too long elected leaders whose predilection is ethnoreligous and ethnocentric. We have relegated competency and capacity to the background, and we are more concerned about the superficial than about the very serious issues of nationhood.
We elect leaders based on their geography and seek to etch that pattern on our national canvas, and turn around to accuse them of loyalty to ‘their people’. We preach zoning and rotation of power, and turn around to vilify and accuse the leaders who so emerge of being nepotistic and non-inclusive, who does that. We sow cocoa yam and seek to harvest maize, it doesn’t happen that way. That is why Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello is building blocks and bridges of brotherhood and national consensus, chosing to emerge as a Pan Nigerian candidate come 2023 than as a zonal choice for the big job, and that is the way to go.
Some are banking on the fact that because they supported Buhari to become President in 2015 that Buhari must return the favour in 2023. It is more about a favour for a favour for one of the foremost leaders of the Party from the Southwest. And to some others it is ‘turn by turn’, not seriously about addressing the fundamental wrongs with Nigeria. It is about shortcut to power not about the issues that trouble Nigeria. Sad.
If they are not hiring agents to drum up the ethnic card, they are paying some to call for Zoning and or rotation of power, or they are recruiting liars to defame, malign and misinform, as they cannot seek power fairly and squarely. But the young man from Kogi State maintains that things can be done differently, that politics can be issues based, that competency and capacity can be the linchpin, and that we must build bridges of brotherhood across the nation, that and more stands him out.
From being one of the most unsafe states in Nigeria some five years ago to being one of the safest states in Nigeria today, the helmsman at the Lugard House in Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello is saying that 2023 must be about competency and capacity. And he is reaching out on the strength of his performance and not on account of creed, clan or zone.
From running a progressive government with a cabinet whose average age is 42 and making Lokoja one of the fastest growing cities in Africa, Yahaya Adoza Bello is saying that Youth O’Clock is about capacity, inclusiveness and competency. And he is saying that 2023 must be about verifiable information not about deceit, perfidy and falsehood.
Yahaya Bello runs the most gender sensitive, gender friendly and gender just government in Nigeria. And he is saying that the time to replicate such at the centre is now. He is building and growing ennobling and endearing social capital across the nation whilst the others are seeking shortcuts to the High Office of President.
As 2023 approaches may all those who seek to be President come forward with progressive programs and programmatic, until then, the only visible, committed and passionate card is without an ounce of equivocation, the Yahaya Adoza Bello card, and that is the truth, the whole truth.
Nigerians on social media are demanding the protection of digital freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria. For the past few days, the campaigners have trended their hashtags nonstop. The campaigners, using the hashtags #KeepItOnNigeria and #InternetNoBeEnemy, have been sharing posts for the past seven days on social media, especially on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, urging the National Assembly and Federal Government to embrace “democratic solutions” over punitive legislation.
The idea of “democratic solutions,” according to the non-governmental organisation leading the campaign, Centre for Liberty, originates from a document the organisation calls “democratic solutions to Fake News and Hate Speech.” According to the co-convener of Centre for Liberty, Raphael Adebayo, “the democratic solutions document is a comprehensive collection of how democratic countries across the world are dealing with Fake News and Hate Speech without resorting to punitive legislation as has been proposed by the Senate here in Nigeria.”
Recalling the public hearing that held in March 2020 on the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, popularly known as the Social Media Bill, sponsored in 2019 by Senator Muhammed Sani Musa (Niger East Senatorial District), Adebayo said:
“Nigerians have overwhelmingly rejected the Social Media Bill; the right thing for the Senate to do is shut it down, along with the Hate Speech Bill.
“There are better ways to deal with Fake News and Hate Speech, and that is why our organisation, with the support of Voice Nigeria, has developed the democratic solutions document. We believe that Federal Lawmakers and the Federal Government can learn from and possibly adopt the democratic strategies of other democratic countries to combat fake news and hate speech in Nigeria. Nigeria is a multiethnic, multicultural country, and any attempt by the government to resolve socio-political issues must, as a matter of democratic necessity, reflect the popular will,” he concluded.
The Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill are two controversial Bills before the Nigerian Senate. The former, which seeks to regulate social media, proposes up to five years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of spreading fake news or criticising the government unfairly; and the latter proposes the death penalty for anyone found guilty of “Hate Speech.”
Christ Ambassadors’ College has been awarded the best performing school in Kaduna State. The Award was presented by NAPS (National Association of Polytechnic Students) as part of the Associations Annual Leadership event.
The President of NAPS, Mr Adekanbi Sunday Asuku while presenting the award in the school’s premises, said “over the years our association has noticed with keen interest that students from Christ Ambassadors’ College are usually outstanding in the various higher institutions they find themselves. And this may not be unrelated to the school’s zero tolerance to exam malpractice amongst other excellent cultures.”
In her message while receiving the award, the School Manager, Dr (Mrs) Tosin Akinpeloye, expressed her appreciation for the award from the reputable Association. She further stated that “This award is an affirmation of Christ Ambassadors’ commitment to excellence and integrity in the educational sector in Nigeria”.
Over the years, the college has consistently produced students who are blazing the trail by winning the best student awards in their various institutions around the world. In 2016, the college produced the best student in NECO examinations, Kaduna State. And recently, the Directorate of University Advancement, ABU, Zaria awarded an ex-student of Christ Ambassadors’ College as the best student in medicine with a CGPA of 5.0.
Christ Ambassadors’ College, today, is even more determined and poised in their pursuit and commitment to produce graduates who are sociable, innovative, confident and technically empowered to achieve success through hard work, integrity, creativity and persistence.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that he has nothing to hide from anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Dickson spoke while playing the host to the local chairmen from Bayelsa State who paid him a solidarity visit on Thursday following his invitation by the EFCC on allegation on flood funds diversion and undeclared assets.
The former Governor reiterated that he has declared the assets in question which he acquired before he became Governor to the Code of Conduct Bureau for the fifth time.
He said that the indisputable evidence of the declaration of the assets are before the CCB and the investigating body, the EFCC.
He stressed that he had nothing to hide on his eight year rule in Bayelsa which was marked by unprecedented development in the state in all sectors.
Senator Dickson who also spoke on the alleged diversion of N17.5 billion flood funds said that no such donation was received in Bayelsa during the 2012 flood crisis and he cannot misappropriate funds that never existed in the first place.
He recalled that the state government set up the Flood Management Committee under the Deputy Governor which received logistic support from the government at the time.
Dickson who expressed shock at the allegation stated further that the Government set up the post Flood Rehabilitation Committee headed by distinguished and trusted men of integrity, a former National Security Adviser, the late Gen Owoye Azazi, Chief Doukpola and Barrister Iniruo Wills as chairman, Vice Chairman and secretary respectively. When the late General Azazi died tragically, Senator Dickson appointed Chief Doukpola to head the committee.
According to him, the only cash donation which was received in the state was N500 million from the Chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga which was publicly and properly handed over to the committee in a ceremony. This was publicly acknowledged by the committee.
He added that the call of the state government for donations because of the devastating effect of the flood was ignored even by the Federal Government though some public spirited individuals donated relief materials.
He said that the petition written by the NGO had no name of donor and the name of the bank that received or transferred the N17.5 billion.
Dickson expressed further shock that he did not contest any reelection in 2019 as alleged in the petition to the EFCC.
“I am happy with the support that I continue to get and what you people are still doing, supporting the state government in building a strong party and a strong government”
“ I thank you for your relentless support and services to our dear state. You all know our track record and all what we did even in the management of the councils and our attitude to public finances. So there shouldn’t be any worry. We are not in doubt that the investigating institution will be fair in this issue.
“I assure our people that we have nothing to hide. The allegation about flood donation was frivolous as there was no such thing. The state Government under my leadership had to support the flood committee headed by Gen Azazi ”
“It is also untrue that I did not declare the assets in question to the Code of Conduct Bureau. As a matter of fact, I have declared them for the 5th time.”
Leader of the delegation, and Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr Nigeria Kia said that it would be unacceptable to the grassroots for anybody to take deliberate action to bring down the Senator who they described as one of the most vocal voices in the Niger Delta.
The council chairmen called on the Federal Government to ensure fairness in the ongoing probe of allegations made against Senator Dickson by a non governmental organization.
They pledged their support to Senator Dickson for his unique leadership style which they said created the opportunity for them to be council chairmen.
They noted that Dickson has the record of a Governor who did not touch local government funds for eight years.
“Having heard and saw what happened to our father and leader yesterday, we deemed it right to pay a solidarity visit to him as our father in politics who has made it possible for us to be where we are today,
“If we, the grass root politicians, who have enjoyed the support of our father heard this and we don’t avail ourselves the opportunity to visit him, it will not be well with us. That is why we are here to support him and pray that all will be well with him by God’s special grace.
“And also to let the government and the authorities know that our father today is one of the voices (if not the loudest) in the Niger Delta and this idea of bringing down the voice of the Niger Delta is unacceptable to the grass root politicians.
“It is also our humble prayer that those in authority should be very rational in taking any decision or any action they want to take in this matter.
“We are with you and will still stand firm and strong with you,” Kia said
Will ₦900 Naira be equal to $1 Dollar in 2021? In this video, Finance & Tech Reviewer, Fisayo Fosudo shares a very detailed analysis about the new CBN policy regarding the ban on the sale of foreign exchange to the BDC (Bureau de Change) as well as how speculators think the dollar rate would be against the Naira.
During the Monetary Policy Committee Meeting that the CBN regularly has, the CBN governor announced on the 27th of July that they would stop selling forex, dollars especially, to the Bureau De Change Operators, and the reason cited was because of the unwholesome business practices by the BDCs that are putting a lot of pressure on the Naira. What does this mean for Nigerians and the economy? This is an attempt to look at both sides:
What is Going on?
In the year 2000, BDC operators in the country were only 74, in the range of the year 2010 and 2016, that number rose to 2,000 BDC operators and in 2018 to the 2021 year range, that number went up to 5,000 BDC operators in Nigeria. The thing is Nigeria has 2 markets, the Normal Import and Export Window market or the Bank rate and then the parallel or black market rate. Historically, the black market rate has always been higher, there was a time when Naira to the dollar was 22 on the normal rate and Naira to the dollar was 87 on the black market.
What have the BDCs been doing?
The CBN governor was receiving over 500 applications for BDCs every month and analysts claim many BDCs were flouting the rules of FX Guidelines by selling more than $5,000 per person or even getting more than one license to access the $20,000 (per license) weekly allocation from the CBN to the BDCs. A license requires that the BDCs deposit a minimum capitalization of 35 million Naira. Previous CBN FX Sale Stop
The CBN has in fact discontinued selling of foreign exchange to the BDCs before. in 2016, Nigeria went into a recession because of the low oil prices. The CBN stopped selling dollars to BDCs partly because dollars from oil sales and foreign investors stopped coming in, the federal reserve also fell below the CBN’s target point. The dollar rate rose against the naira.
In January of 2016 and the CBN governor said that the bank has been selling at 197 to the BDCs, they have become greedy and are selling at 250 to ordinary Nigerian people. According to Nairametrics and a frame of reference, in January of 2016 when the CBN banned BDCs, the exchange rate was 268 per $1, in December of 2016, it went crazy to 495 per $1. We had a 46% currency devaluation and an 85% dollar gain against the naira. Basically, if you had $100 in January of 2016, it was 26,800 and by December it was 49,500 naira.
What will happen?
Just like the last time, the dollar rose against the Naira and subsequently stayed at 360 when the CBN was able to attract dollars from overseas with high interest from investors. This time around there’s a prediction that dollar will rise to 600 Naira per $1 or if we go by the 2016 number or 925 naira per $1 in December of 2021. I mean, It rose sharply to 525 from 500 per $1 just 1 day after the CBN made this recent 2021 announcement but it’s said that it would go even higher. At least in the short term. Fortunately, over the course of the days, it gained against the dollar and even went below 500 which is a major positive.
The CBN has taken many power moves and said that 1) Any Bank conniving with BDC now will be sanctioned. 2) They have in fact released 200 million dollars to banks so that people can buy directly, from their banks and 3) The CBN has even put out a letter stating that Bank should have teller points at their branches for the sale of FX to retail customers. Especially for people who want o request for Personal or Business Travel Allowance, School Fees, Medical Payment, Business transactions amongst others
The Aftermath - What does the Future Hold?
Analysts are looking at the fact that this move will drive the dollar rate up really high, at least in the short run and many people will take advantage of it. Do note that they have not banned BDCs or seized anyone’s licenses so people are still patronizing BDCs, however, the thing is that because of this shocking news, people might want to buy and hoard more in fear that the rate would go higher, which will make it go higher because there’s a lot of demand.
Many reputable analysts have advised that the CBN should just sell to the BDCs at that same very high rate of maybe 490 and force them to sell at 500 in the black market. Some also say Nigeria should just devalue the currency at 500 and let’s call it a day. This move might force BDCs to increase the price, causing the dollar to even rise further but again if it can be stabilized, the BDCs will lose almost 90% of their profits, the Nigerian people will gain.
The ultimate advice that can help Nigeria is that we find a way to make even more foreign exchange and not just demand for foreign exchange, it means more freelancers, higher oil prices even can help as it always helps, oil got us here anyway, we need to export way more and bring in more dollars so we can have the bargaining power, we also need to produce and consume locally, that is buying Nigerian and selling Nigerian.
Do you think Nigeria would export way more than we import? Would Nigerians suddenly start buying more locally produced goods and food and would inflation stop rising? Only time would tell, but I want to know your own thoughts about the situation in the comments below.
Senator representing Bayelsa West at the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has asked the general public to disregard the resolutions arising from a purported meeting held by a group who claimed to be the National Working Committee(NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and calling for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.
Senator Dickson urged the public to also disregard the calls by the group as well as those by a purported reps caucus.
Dickson, who is the immediate past governor of Bayelsa state, however, expressed satisfaction with the statement earlier issued by the Chairman who said he would not resign his position, adding that Secondus cannot be stampeded into resigning. Dickson also reminded that only through a national convention of the PDP can Secondus be removed.
He said the activities of those people ran contrary to the constitution of the party and that the decision of an illegal few cannot be taken to be that of the majority of the party members.
According to him:
“My attention has been drawn to a purported statement by some members of the National Working Committee who went outside the constitution of the party and convened a meeting in a hotel room without the knowledge, consent and presence of the chairman.
I want to draw the attention of PDP leaders, members and Nigerians at large that the meeting was the action of a few party officers and does not represent a valid resolution or decision of the National Working Committee known to the PDP constitution.
By the PDP constitution, only the national chairman of the party can summon and preside over meetings of the organs of the party especially the NWC of which he is chairman. So the purported meeting and the outcome therefore are part of the plot to contrive a needless crisis in the PDP.
It is part of the scheme to call a dog a bad name to hang it. The general public should note that the statement signed by some members: 3 members of the working committee and 3 Vice chairmen of the party (as indicated in the press release) does not constitute a valid resolution of the National Working Committee.
By the way, the NWC has 19 members and only 6 of them signed the statement leaving out the majority of 13 who were not at the meeting and the chairman who was not aware, who did not attend, who did not authorize and who did not preside over the said meeting and therefore it is not only a nullity but an act of gross misconduct.
It is all an effort to contrive a crises in the party to further the ulterior objective of those who are funding it, the intent of which is to cause a major crisis in the PDP.
Secondly, my attention was also drawn to a purported statement by the Reps Caucus. As Nigerians and all PDP leaders know, the minority leader of the Reps is Honorable Ndudi Elumelu not Hon Kingsley Chinda, and members of the House of Representatives caucus have already spoken that they did not hold any such meeting and the Chairman of the caucus Hon Ndudi Elumelu has rightly issued a statement which is in the public domain that he did not summon or preside over such a meeting.
Therefore, Nigerians should disregard the reported decision of the purported rep caucus meeting.
All this is to create a media frenzy backed up by the sponsored demonstrations at the party secretariat on Monday which are designed to force the chairman to resign in order to set up a caretaker committee which is illegal. Happily the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus has issued a statement a short while ago that he will not resign. I support this decision fully as it is backed by the PDP constitution.
Let me also bring to the attention of all that by the PDP constitution, a vote of no confidence even by a duly constituted NWC or other organs of the party does not remove a Chairman. The chairman is voted for and can only be removed by the National Convention unless on his own volition, he chooses to resign. So I call on all leaders of the party that this is perhaps their last effort to save the PDP. Like me, most of us have paid dearly and have paid our dues since 2015 when we lost the Presidential elections and like me, we should all not rest on our oars or leave any stone unturned in the bid to strengthen and reposition the party including calling people to order and standing up against illegality when we have to.
There is no crisis in the party. What is happening is only a contrived media crisis orchestrated and funded by some people with a motive to hijack the party without subjecting themselves and their cronies to a democratic vote at the convention which is due in less than 4 months.
This has nothing to do with Secondus performance but a coup against a major democratic institution in Nigeria and must be resisted and stopped by all lovers of democracy and all men of good conscience in Nigeria.
The decamping of Governors and other leaders is not the fault of Secondus. It happens from time to time in all political parties from 1999 till date. The PDP has received Governors, presiding officers of the National Assembly and other political leaders under secondus and will continue to do so after this crisis. It is these people orchestrating these crisis that have made governors and other leaders to leave the party because of the needless crisis and the toxic political atmosphere created by them within the party.
Since we lost the 2015 elections, secondus has labored to keep the party in spite of harassment, campaigned round to support candidates without the so called ‘taxation’ which has been put to an end in the party. He is one of the most experienced political party administrators in the party and in the country right from his days as NPN youth leader till date. He has seen it all and done it all. The whole issue is that Secondus insists that party decisions should be taken by all stakeholders and not by a few especially decisions about the direction of the party in 2023.
I call on the National Chairman to utilize all options and powers available to him under the constitution and to take steps to ensure that no officer or member no matter how highly placed usurps, or impedes the exercise of his rights, powers and duties as national chairman or is allowed to plunge the party into another needless crisis.”
END OF THE ROAD FOR SOLUDO AND VICTOR OYE AS INEC ISSUES AND ACCEPTS NOMINATION FORM OF UMEOJI CANDIDATURE .
… NOMINATION OF CANDIDATE IS LAST PHASE IN THE FORMALIZATION OF CANDIDATURE.
… OYE/SOLUDO CAMP IN DISARRAY OVER DEVELOPMENT
… INEC ACTED IN FURTHERANCE OF UMEOJI CANDIDATURE AFFIRMED BY THE COURT
.. EVIDENCE OF INEC ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINAL SUBMISSION ATTACHED
The road is now closed for the ambition of former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo to be the Governorship candidate of APGA and Chief Victor Oye to upturn his popular sack as APGA Chairman with the issuance of Nomination Forms by INEC and acceptance of the filled Nomination Forms containing the list of Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji’s nominators as required by Section 32 of the Electoral Act. The official deadline for making the submission closed today been 6th August 2021
This phase which is a statutory process that marks the close of the process of nomination of candidates has thrown the Soludo camp into disarray and seems to have buried the guber ambition which could not fly.
Majority of APGA chieftains and House of Assembly lawmakers who spoke described latest development as victory for APGA members who have stood with Umeoji and willing to sink and die for his ticket. The member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency in the house of Representatives Ifeanyi Momoh, the Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly who led over 10 other lawmakers and the APGA State Auditor all welcomed the development and expressed the readiness of the APGA family and stakeholders to hit the ground running and bring landslide victory for Umeoji.
The lawmakers appealed to His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano, Chief Victor Oye and Prof. Charles Soludo to as one family rally round Umeoji who holds the key to APGA victory to help develop on the agenda of APGA to keep doing more and expanding the good works of the Party.
COMRADE IKECHUKWU CHUKWUNYERE APGA NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The Kano State Hisbah Board has prohibited the sharing of pre-wedding photos of the daughter of Emir of Kano Zahrah Bayero, saying it is a sin.
Pre-wedding photos showing exposed shoulders of Ms Zahrah has elicited much criticism for Hisbah, a religious police known for sanctioning people for ‘immoral behaviours.’
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, the Kano Commander General of Hisbah, Harun Ibn-Sina, said the Emir’s daughter is not above the law, and failed to set a good example to other Muslims.
According to the BBC Pidgin, the religious police chief said those Muslims sharing the Emir daughter’s wedding photos and videos have sinned.
“Hisbah boss Sheik Harun Ibn Sina say di Emir daughter na muslim wey no dey above di law and suppose lead by example if she wan blessings for her marriage.
“Di Hisbah boss also criticise pipo wey dey share di fotos and videos from di event saying na sin to share di materials,” BBC Pidgin reported.
Before now, Hisbah had banned tailors, supermarkets and boutique owners from using mannequins to display clothes in the state. In June, the religious police arrested 40 teenagers for selling condoms and Marijuana in Kano.
AS APPEAL COURT RESUMES SITTING IN KANO: TENSION, UNCERTAINTY IN OYE/SOLUDO CAMP OVER INCURABLY DEFECTIVE NOTICE OF APPEAL FILLED OUTSIDE 14 DAYS AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 285 OF THE NIGERIA CONSTITUTION
…HOW OLANIPEKUN,IKPEAZU,IKWUETO AND OTHER OYE LAWYERS HAVE RUINED HIS CASE AND DESTROYED OYE AND SOLUDO CHANCES OF WINNING AGAIN BY FILLING OYE APPEAL OUTSIDE 14 DAYS STATUTORY TIME FRAME.
… NOTICE OF APPEAL FILED OUTSIDE THE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROVIDED TIME
… ALLEGATIONS OF SABOTAGE HIT OYE LEGAL TEAM, AS OBIANO WEEPS IN GOVT HOUSE ,ACCUSES LAWYERS OF SABOTAGE.
Reports from the Chief Victor Oye camp of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Prof. Charles Soludo Campaign Organization shows there is palpable tension since it was revealed that the Notice of Appeal filed on their behalf by their legal team at the Court of Appeal Kano Division was incurably defective and thereby incompetent and deserving of being struck out by the Court when it resumes hearing on the Appeal on Thursday.
The Notice of Appeal seen by the our correspondent and signed personally by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN also had the names of Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, Patrick I. N. Ikwueto SAN, Ken Mozia SAN, Bode Olanipekun SAN and seven other lawyers listed as Appellants’ Counsel was filed at the Registry of the Court of Appeal instead of the Registry of the High Court from where it should have been transmitted to the Court of Appeal.
One of the lawyers listed on the Notice who also is a member of the Oye led NWC of APGA was seen shouting in Awka that by not filing the Notice of Appeal at the High Court and having withdrawn their prayer before the Appeal Court to transmit further records and for a deeming order, it meant there was no Notice of Appeal properly so called. He questioned why the junior counsel who must have been instructed to file the Notice of Appeal was not clearly instructed as to the Registry where to file it.
The NWC member lamented how after heavily paying the lawyers and flying them by private jets to Kano for the Appeal, they had jeopardized the Appeal. “We cannot be paying six SAN’s and making such elementary and fatal mistakes.” He later identified the sixth SAN as Yusuf Ali who led the team on the 30th July when the Court delivered its ruling on their Motion seeking leave to appeal as interested person.
Further, in his fury, he disclosed that the legal team for some inexplicable reason withdrew the Notice of Appeal filed within time on 6th July and correctly at the High court Registry for one which was filed out of time on 30th July and wrongly filed at the Court of Appeal. There was no reason for us to shoot ourselves in the leg. We have just lost a case we had clear chances of winning he lamented.
“We must find out who the saboteur is in our legal team. If not for deliberate sabotage how can we undo all the correct things we have done for the wrong things. I suspect one of the SAN’s may be working for our opponents. We filed correctly at the High Court and within time and we withdrew it for a Notice that was filed out of time and wrongly at the Court of Appeal. We withdrew our prayer for deeming order, we withdrew our prayer to transmit further records, in fact we killed our case ourselves.”
It would be recalled that on Friday, the Special Panel of the Court while delivering its ruling in the Motion filed by Chief Edozie Njoku seeking leave to appeal as an interested person struck out the Motion for having been filed out of time as it was filed on the 22nd July, 2021 more than 7 days after the constitutionally required 14 days within which to file any appeal to a pre-election matter. It is therefore expected that in similar matters, Courts are bound to reach similar decisions. Hence having struck out Chief Edozie Njoku’s Motion, the Court of Appeal is also expected to strike out the Notice of Appeal filed on behalf of Oye.
The implication of this will mean that the dreams of the Oye led APGA and Governor Willie Obiano to ensure that Prof. Charles Soludo emerges as the candidate of APGA is dimmed and clears the coast for Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji who has been listed by INEC.
The mood in the Soludo campaign has been quite moody since the revelations came to the fore and the ones boisterous office now looks like a shadow of its former self.
Sen Ben Ayade will vacate the office of Governor in the next 1year ,10 months.
Despite his impressive performance in industrialization and expansion of Government to accomodate more unemployed youths and adults, his recent political moves has created so much blank lines behind his political history.
Can anyone truly Trust Ayade to Stand, Fight and Protect him when “push comes to shove”?
Can Ben, actually be Trusted to watch over anyone’s fragile political “back”?
Is Ben worth dieing for?
Let’s take a historical review of his digital political battles.
1) In the build up to the 2019 elections, Ben projected his best Friend Chris Agara to run for Senate from central senatorial district after hijacking the 2015 PDP congresses.
At the end,outsider Sandy Onor strolled to the ticket effortlessly. Chris wept, Ayade blamed Imoke and Wike.
2) In his second Term transition, the only member of the Ayade’s Team to win a primary to any National Assembly elections was his Speaker, Hon Gaul.
Having accepted automatic tickets for NASS members, Ayade couldn’t replace any NASS members, despite hijacking their ward and chapter structures.
Under Ayade’s watch his most loyal No 3 man lost the elections, Gaul was to fight gallantly to victory at the Tribunal and the court of Appeal, where he got a rerun.
Ayade lost the rerun despite having over 9000 votes aheadwith less than 12,000 votes at stake in the rerun.
Ayade Blamed Imoke.
3) Ben’s third political battle was the ward and chapter PDP congresses of 2019, As sitting Governor, Ben lost control in 15 out of the 18 local government chapters of the party to a few National Assembly members led by Sandy Onor .
Sandy pulled out one of the most outstanding political victory against a seating Governor by adopting Hon Jarigbe as his political field commander and used Jarigbe to deliver both the battle and the victory inside the Governors Senatorial District, while oversighting the whole project from the comfort of his Aso Villa apartment.
4) Ben, the sitting Governor haven failed to convince his party to reverse his delegate list went to court, from the high court, the court of Appeal and supreme, The Governor was given a cerebral judicial trouncing classically funded by Sandy and his “Paddy-man” Wike, another seating Governor in near by Rivers State. Ayade blamed Wike.
5) Then came the demise of Sen Rose Oko, the Governors Senator. He nominated his former Senior legislative Aid to replace Sen Oko.
With the Support of the PDP, Imoke and Gershom, Ayade took full control of the Party Primaries and even voted at the primaries in ogoja amidst gun shots and harrassment of delegates.
But again, his nemesis Sandy and Jarigbe were preparing a political martial music, the one Ayade doesn’t seem to comprehend.
In brief, Jarigbe was declared candidate of the PDP up the supreme court.
Ayade blamed Wike.
6)PDP in a desperate bid to retain Ayade in the party offered a soft landing and wrote NASS declaring Odey as their nominated candidate. And Boom Sandy and Jarigbe switched on their martial music .
Again Ayade danced zanku and sent odey to the Election Tribunal,while waiting for “consequential orders”. Despite the low current judgment of the Tribunal , the court of Appeal declared Jarigbe as Senator in conformity with the earlier supreme court verdict.
The Court of Appeal is the final court in this case.
Who is Ayade blaming? Maybe, Wike, Sandy, Rain Maker, Thunder Controller or consequential orders. Lol.
7) From the cases of Agara, Gaul, Odey and the PDP Congress defeat, Ayade has inherent and natural problems.
A) Lacking capacity to take critical responsibilities despite who is involved.
B) Ayade does not enjoy the influence and Goodwill Associated with a sitting Governor as in the past, the Goodwill that can be called upon at crucial moments of crisis.
C) Ayade is not Trusted by Nature, Fortune, Grace or Favour to fight for anyone beyond fighting and protecting self.
D) Ayade has invested so much vital social capital to protect the perfection of self / family and is blinded by the Grace to look after anyone else.
1. Unfortunately, a lot of people will still fall asleep blindly counting on the Governor to protect, project and fight for them in 2023. Beyond the stomach infrastructure advocates, even experienced politicians still expect Ben to understand the lyrics of the martial music playing in the background ahead of 2023.
I don’t blame them, Ayade has the gift of constructing a “perspective and perception quarantine” and hold his loyalist spell bound.
Remarkably, he has the gift of 2 extreme behaviours:
One, To dance in public when he is over excited and his loyalist take his Zanku steps for internal happiness or confidence.
And Secondly, to Cry in public when he is depressed or frustrated, his loyalist taking it as exhibition of Emotional empathy and sober attachment to their sufferings.
” I wish I Can Help ” kind of scenario. Lol.
The Danger of Trusting Ayade ahead of 2023 is simple…
1) Those who are fighting Ayade ahead of 2023 know him so flawlessly perfect, they have used 6 years to study and test run his fragile Political Immune system and successfully infected him with a wicked Virus, his immunity is going down daily.
And From Agara, Gaul, Odey and PDP congresses, they have carried out successive Strategic Dry Run on Ayade with one Simple Martial music rhythm .
2) Incredibly, Ayade knows how to Run away from the battle field thereby exposing his loyalist.
For instance, how one member of the house of representatives, Jarigbe successfully fought the sitting Governor in his senatorial district, took away his party structures and senatorial seat without any form of return Fire.
And typically of Ayade, he jumped Bail, took AWOL and ran away to APC sucketing to the National with a Low Current Transformer, at a time APC has become what hausa people call “Kasuan Dere “( Night market.)
3) Ayade has been politically humiliated and bruised right inside his own party of 6 years PDP and after sucketing to the APC National, his beaten run still continued.
At this point, my people “Shine Ya Eyes”!!! real politicians should now understand that the level of Trust to place on Ayade should be counterfeit.
Obviously, Ayade is not near the Clinical Execution elements in Duke and Imoke.
In 2023, clearly if you choose to Trust Ayade, check the unbeaten Runs of his opponents against him, take note of his proclivity for “Unforced Errors” And like Lawyers will say, “Caveat Emptor ” Buyer beware.
1. We have state laws in Nigeria and what he did ran against the Laws of Adamawa state.
2. He was charged by the Adamawa state government (which might interest you to note as governed by the PDP) to a state magistrate court.
3. The DSS was petitioned by various people to come and stop a breakdown of law and order. They never charged him to court; the state did based on the laws of that state.
HONG/Nigeria: The Youth Leader of Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa state, Ikamu Hamidu Kato, on Friday wept uncontrollably when he was docked for allegedly insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Gida Mustapha.
The 41 year old Youth Leader and resident of Wuro Dole in Hong LGA, described Buhari and Boss Mustapha as useless human beings and specifically called SGF bastard and a dog in a video he posted on social media on the 10th July, 2021, which went viral.
Kato in a video clip he produced and posted on his Facebook page on that fateful day, according to Platform News, rained serious insults on the SGF and blamed Mr. President for appointing him in that capacity.
But according to the complainant, the video generated so much public outcry, tension and breached public peace more especially between the supporters of the President, SGF on one side and those of the accused person on the other side.
It alleged that the defendant created so much tension across the state that it took the intervention of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) who calmed down both factions, so as not to take laws into their own hands by channeling their grievances to the appropriate authorities.
It said that the timely intervention of DSS prompted many non-governmental organisations who petitioned the department, and urged it to investigate the matter so as to serve as measures to prevent the aggrieved factions from disrupting public peace.
The prosecution informed the court that the action of the defendant amounted to the use of insulting or abusive language contrary to section 385 and inciting disturbance contrary to section 80 of the state penal code law.
Kato was later invited, investigated and arraigned before Chief Magistrate Dimas Elishasma, led Chief Magistrate court 4 in Yola by the DSS through the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner Ministry for Justice in the state.
The defendant told DSS that he had produced the video clip out of anger as a result of the hovering of military jets over the people of Hong LGA few days after attack on Dabna community in the area.
Earlier, when the charge sheet was read and interpreted to the defendant in Hausa language as prayed by the counsel to the complainant, M. A. Adamu, Senior State Counsel 2, the defendant admitted committing the offence.
Thereafter, M. A. Adamu, urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him call a witness and tender exhibits in order to corroborate the plea of the defendant.
Ruling on the application, Chief Magistrate Dimas, granted the application and adjourned the case to the 2nd August, 2021 for hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility till then.
But Kato had while in the dock, wept profusely while pleading guilty to the allegation levelled against him, and further admitted that he actually did it and he is regretting his action.
It took extra effort of the presiding judge to calm him down where he urged him to stop weeping as court is not a place of killing people.
Star Lager Beer Partners Nigeria Olympic Committee to support Team Nigeria In Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Foremost Nigerian Beer Brand, Star Lager Beer, and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) today announced the official kickoff of their historic partnership. The agreement will have Star Lager Beer headline the partnership as the official alcoholic brand of Team Nigeria at Tokyo 2020.
Speaking on the partnership, Kehinde Kadiri, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said, “Star has over the years identified and continues to identify with the Nigerian passion for sports, as well as the desire and expectation for more groundbreaking feats by the Nigerian teams. We are delighted to be partnering with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to celebrate this true passion that is fueled by patriotism, resilience and desire for victory, at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
Describing the groundbreaking nature of the partnership, the Senior Brand Manager, Olaoluwa Babalola stated, “This strategic partnership that we are announcing today is very significant, not only because of what Team Nigeria aims to achieve, but also because of what is in it for the fans and supporters of Nigerian sports. The benefits of having Star as the official alcoholic brand of Team Nigeria respectively will ultimately support Team Nigeria to success.”
With the kick off of the partnership, Star, Nigeria’s most iconic lager beer, becomes the Official Alcoholic Beverage of Team Nigeria. The brand will be providing support to athletes and coaching crews, as well as premium enjoyment to passionate fans that will be cheering Team Nigeria during and after their events.
Team Nigeria includes athletes across track and field events, water sports, and weightlifting and will be led by renowned record breakers, led by the flag bearer Odunayo Adekuoroye and Captain Aruna Quadri.
The individual teams also consist of exceptional athletes, including the Nigerian basketball team “D’Tigers“, who have given the nation renewed hope due to their recent performances in their exhibition games leading up to Tokyo 2020
The track and field team, responsible for 13 out of the 25 medals and 2 out of the 3 gold medals the country has won in past Olympic Games, features superstar athletes like the fastest girl in Nigeria, Grace Nwokocha Nzubechi; Olympics and World Championship medalist, Blessing Okagbare and Nigerian triple jump record holder, Ruth Usoro to name a few.
Nigerian Breweries, makers of Star, is a Heineken operating company. Since the first STAR lager beer bottle rolled out of the bottling lines in the Lagos brewery in 1949, the Star lager brand has been a premium market leader and was listed by the African Business magazine in its 100 Most Admired African Brands in 2015.
Over 70 years after it debuted in the Nigerian brewing sector, Star lager beer has continued to occupy the premium position bringing a brighter shine to millions of fans and actively supporting the development of sports in Nigeria.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has read with shock a statement credited to Senator Eremienyon Degi, his counterpart from Bayelsa East, where he wrongfully accused him of inciting violence in the Niger Delta over the 3 percent allocation to the producing communities in the PIB.
For the records, Senator Dickson spoke on pressing national issues including the Bill to amend the Electoral Act and the PIB when he addressed the National Assembly Press Corp on Thursday. The Senator who recalled that the former President Umaru Yar’Adua under whose administration the PIB was initiated, recommended 10 percent for the communities added that even President Mohammadu Buhari initially recommended 5 percent to them.
Senator Dickson used the opportunity of his interaction with the media to explain what senators from the region did in terms of interacting with their colleagues from other parts of the country. He narrated how the Southern Nigeria Senators Forum and the South- South Senators Forum led by Senator Bamidele Opeyemi and George Sekibo respectively made efforts to get the buy-in of their colleagues for 5 percent which was how the executive proposal for 2.5 percent was upgrade to 5 percent in the joint committees’ report. These efforts were ably coordinated by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo Agege and supported by all Senator from the region. Senator Dickson thanks all the Senators who supported these efforts and those who voted five percent at the conference committee session of the National Assembly.
In his characteristic manner of honour and truthfulness, he relayed how most senators even from the North, pledged to support the minimum of 5 percent as a result of these interactions.
He explained further that on the morning of the vote, the Senate leadership permitted the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the GMD of the NNPC to highlight the technical aspects of the bill, which in retrospect proved inimical to South South’s quest for 5 percent as the presentation by the ministerial team clearly and strongly stated that anything other than 2.5 percent was going to drive away investors from oil industry.
Senator Dickson narrated this sequence of events for the public to know that the southern Nigeria and the South-South senator’s had done a lot of work and were confident of the support of their colleagues, who had pledged support for the minimum of 5 percent. This was the point Senator Dickson stressed.
Senator Dickson further stated that the other senators they discussed with were willing to consider 5 percent which was why Senator Sabo Nakudu, lead chairman of the committee supported by his co-chairman Senator Albert Bassey agreed and presented a report recommending 5 percent an effort we all appreciate.
The Senator clarified further that the dramatic change of opinion came after the categorical briefing and statements made by the ministerial team. There were intense period of disagreement and consultations on the floor during which majority of Senators who had pledged 5 percent agreed to support 3 percent higher that the 2.5 percent proposed by the executive and defended by the ministerial team led by Chief Timipre Sylva.
When asked by a reporter why Sylva, a former Bayelsa Governor from the South South led the team to propose 2.5 percent against his own region and people, Senator Dickson declined comment and directed the reporter to redirect the question to Chief Sylva.
Senator Dickson’s statement was not a personal attack on the minister or anybody but a statement of fact unknown to the public which was relayed for better information and appreciation of the efforts made by the South South senators to get at least 5 percent for the communities.
Senator Dickson narrated this sequence of events for the public to know that the southern Nigeria and the South-South senator’s had done a lot of work and were confident of the support of their colleagues, who had pledged support for the minimum of 5 percent. This was the point Senator Dickson stressed.
Senator Dickson further stated that the other senators they discussed with were willing to consider 5 percent which was why Senator Sabo Nakudu, lead chairman of the committee supported by his co-chairman Senator Albert Bassey agreed and presented a report recommending 5 percent an effort we all appreciate.
The Senator clarified further that the dramatic change of opinion came after the categorical briefing and statements made by the ministerial team. There were intense period of disagreement and consultations on the floor during which majority of Senators who had pledged 5 percent agreed to support 3 percent higher that the 2.5 percent proposed by the executive and defended by the ministerial team led by Chief Timipre Sylva.
When asked by a reporter why Sylva, a former Bayelsa Governor from the South South led the team to propose 2.5 percent against his own region and people, Senator Dickson declined comment and directed the reporter to redirect the question to Chief Sylva.
Senator Dickson’s statement was not a personal attack on the minister or anybody but a statement of fact unknown to the public which was relayed for better information and appreciation of the efforts made by the South South senators to get at least 5 percent for the communities.
It is therefore difficult to understand the basis upon which Senator Degi would come up with such a curious publication accusing Senator Dickson of inciting violence
Aware of the the recent political developments in Bayelsa, we urge Degi to live above his personal pains. He should refrain from spreading hatred, propaganda and falsehood. He should concentrate on making productive contributions to the development of his communities, state and indeed the Niger Delta.
If there are people who should know that Senator Dickson cannot be intimidated by mischief, propaganda and falsehood at the federal level, Degi and Sylva should know more than most. For his information, Dickson does not play petty politics by bringing local issues to blackmail people at the federal level. This is why in spite of the attacks on him, Senator Dickson has lived above them to try to show solidarity with all Bayelsans across party lines in the interest of our people.
It is also important to state that in Senator Dickson’s characteristic manner, when Chief Timipre Sylva was nominated minister, he congratulated the minister, thanked the president for the appointment, and as governor, directed Senator Degi’s former colleagues in the Senate who now are Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, to assist with his clearance, an act that the Senate President, HE, Senator Ahmed Lawan publicly commended. Senator Degi knows what Senator Dickson stands for and the impact he made in Bayelsa if he chooses to be honest.
Degi, Sylva and their cohorts should note that the truth has to be told, that actions and inactions have consequences and he can not put them away by propaganda and scapegoating. History will record who did what at what particular time. The judgement belongs to history.
It is common knowledge that the oil producing communities, the entire Niger Delta and all well meaning Nigerians are outraged by the reduction of the host community funds and other sections in the PIB now passed and Degi and Sylva should make bold to address this. The challenges of managing communities with the way the PIB has been mismanaged are obvious for all to see and have nothing to do with Dickson’s frank, honest, advice, views and proposals which are available as he continues to work with other Nigerians in the pursuit of the National good as a patriot. Senator Dickson’s view which many see as rational is that the two percent difference is not what the tension challenges and uncertainties. That the increased security expenses, the anger, the restiveness, hostilities would be more than the two percent reduction. A sustainable future for investors and the communities lies in first getting the good will and support of the host communities. The PIB is the first law that is giving oil producing communities direct funding. It is a historic development which we must get right and It would be better to start with the full cooperation and support of the communities.
It is indeed a shame that Degi and his cohorts can condescend so low.
All Nigerians are hereby advised to disregard the latest propaganda of Senator Degi’s as it is a typical case of taking the local Bayelsa politics to the National level.
Finally, Degi should explain why and in what way and for what reason and purpose Senator Dickson would be envious of Sylva.
Premium drink brand Amstel Malta Ultra, the malt drink of choice for health enthusiasts announced its’ official sponsorship of Team Nigeria at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The news of the sponsorship comes as a welcome development for sports enthusiasts and the public at large.
Optimistic about the upcoming games, Senior Brand Manager Amstel Malta, Aminah Jagun said, "We have no doubt whatsoever that Team Nigeria will make the country proud. We have watched them train tirelessly over the past months, and we know they're poised to bring home several medals."
"As proud sponsors of Team Nigeria, we look forward to celebrating our athletes on their journey to Tokyo, where we believe they will shine and make the nation proud. As a brand, we have remained committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle among Nigerians and have now extended this commitment to revive the nation's sports terrain and unite Nigerians once again through sports," she continued.
Team Nigeria comprises of athletes across track and field events, water sports, and weightlifting and will be led by audacious record breakers. Captaining the subsects of this formidable Team are table tennis champion, Aruna Quadri; powerlifter, Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike and basketball sensation, Adaora Nnenna Elonu.
The individual teams also boast phenomenal athletes who have given the nation renewed hope due to their recent performances at the trials and training.
The track and field events team in particular – responsible for 13 out of the 25 medals and 2 out of the 3 gold medals the country has won in past Olympic Games – features athletes like Grace Nwokocha Nzubechi (the fastest girl in Nigeria), Ruth Usoro (who recently broke the Nigerian triple jump record of 14.50m), Blessing Okagbare (an Olympics and World Championship medalist), Divine Oduduru, Enoch Adegoke, Tobi Amusan and Annette Echikunwoke amongst others.
As a proud sponsor of Team Nigeria for Tokyo 2020 and a partner of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Amstel Malta Ultra aims to empower Nigerian athletes to shine and entrench Nigeria in world sports.
Initially scheduled for 24th of July to 9th of August 2020, the Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Games will be held this year from the 23rd of July to the 8th of August 2021.
Justice Halilu Yusuf of Federal Capital Territory high court sitting in Maitama Abuja on Thursday, granted bail to Miss Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe, the estranged associate of Former Governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim.
The Police is prosecuting Amuchienwa for providing false information in a petition she wrote against Dr Ohakim.
In a petition to the IGP, Mrs Igwegbe had accused Ohakim of conspiracy, criminal intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to life as well as accepting payment of a sum of N500M for the purchase of a land in Lagos but failed to provide any single evidence to back up her claims.
Police however claimed that these allegations were not proven and aimed at blackmailling her victims-Ohakim and one Chinedu Okpareke.
In a 4-count criminal charge against the defendant, the Police is accusing the defendant of furnishing it with false information and for displaying obscene materials.
The defendant who pleaded not guilty to the charges said she was brought to Court from Police custody.
Ruling on her bail application moved by her lawyer, Ifeanyi Nweze the court granted Mrs Igwegbe's bail application, with the condition of presenting two sureties who must be residents of Abuja with valid means of livelihood.
The defendant is also to deposit her travel documents with the court and must not travel out without the court's approval.
The matter has been adjourned to 28th October 2021 for commencement of trial.
DIRECTED TO DELIVER THE SIMPLE JUDGMENT WRITTEN FOR HIM ON MONDAY
… JUDGE SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION BUT AGREES TO OBEY THE GOVERNOR
There seems to be a very major trouble in the Governor Obiano administration efforts to impose Prof Charles Soludo as the Governorship Candidate of APGA as the Governor was visibly angry with the judge who he summoned Sunday afternoon and directed to deliver a judgment in favour of Prof. Soludo unfailingly on Monday morning.
The Governor who intermittently raised his voice demanded to know from the judge why he failed to be in control of his Court and deliver a simple judgment already written for him on Friday knowing that it was the day INEC was to make their publication of list of candidates. A source close to the Soludo campaign who is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and who begged not to be quoted in order not to incur the wrath of the Governor and Prof. Soludo but who was privy to some of the meetings, said a former house of Assembly member from Onitsha who is the liaison between the judge and the campaign was already in Abuja with a copy of the pre-written judgment waiting to serve it on the Electoral Commission immediately he gets information that the Judge had read the judgment. He quoted a visibly angry Governor as saying that “you know that somebody was waiting at INEC Headquarters with a copy to serve immediately you read the judgment yet you failed even after I have met all your demands. Now you have crumbled the entire campaign just because you were not man enough”.
All the protestations of the judge that from the processes filed before him few days and some a day before the Friday date planned for the judgment that it was obvious he lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter fell on deaf ears as the Governor directed that the judgment must be delivered on Monday morning.
There were rumours that the judge would deliver the judgment of the case that day even before hearing which warranted many citizens to fill the Courtroom.
However matters took a twist that Friday morning when the court was faced with more than 5 fresh applications and motions. It became impossible for the already written judgment to be read even as the proceedings dragged to 4pm as the said judgment would not have factored in the very many applications heard the Friday morning till afternoon some of which the court reserved their rulings to be read with the judgment in the case.
It would be recalled that very strange things happened in the Court of Justice Okaa on Friday 16th June, 2021 when he struck out two Motions on Notice for joinder by the Jude Okeke group and also struck out another Motion for him to Disqualify himself backed with two affidavits for holding a private meeting with an associate of Soludo in the absence of other parties. This Motion for disqualification of the judge was dismissed without a hearing. A letter for stand down of the case till 12 noon to enable Counsel to the 4th to the 6th Defendants see his doctor which was consented to by all the lawyers in the case was ignored by the judge who proceeded by dismissing the motion which contains unassailable evidence of his meeting with one Barr. JPC Aneto , an APGA chieftain and a long time associate of Prof Soludo at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He also refused to rule on a Motion for stay of Proceedings seeking to allow the Anambra State High Court Administrative Judge ascertain whether the Suit before Justice Okaa which is Suit A/201/2021 and another suit being Suit A/202/2021 before Justice Ike Ogu both of which were filed by agents of Governor Obiano and Victor Oye and which had very similar prayers should be heard differently by two different Courts. This Motion for Stay of Proceedings was admitted by Ikwueto SAN who represented the interests of Victor Oye and Governor Obiano by not filing any Counter Affidavit to the Motion. But the Judge will dismiss this Motion tomorrow we have been informed. The judge heard another Motion challenging his jurisdiction which he has also been directed to dismiss and deliver judgment.
The counsel for INEC who appeared for the first time on Friday informed the Court that he was still within time to file his responses to all the different processes filed in Court, the Court over ruled him and directed that INEC would not allowed to file anything.
To underscore the fact that the judgment had been written before last Friday sitting of the court for the judge to deliver it that same Friday, a contingent of heavily armed police men were deployed to the court to protect the judge and escort him out of the court after he must have delivered the already written judgment. The deployment of the Policemen came upon the pleas of the presiding judge that his life will be in danger if there is no Police reinforcement. There were over 50 Police officers deployed by the Commissioner of Police of the State on the directive of the Governor.
Funnily while the sitting lasted, the judge was informed that INEC had published the name of Hon. Umeoji from the Jude Okeke faction of APGA as the candidate of APGA for the election and told that it was the same Jude Okeke group he refused their joinder application because he wanted to deliver judgment same day, the judge in exasperation removed his wig and slammed it on his desk. So it is no surprise the marching orders of the Governor that the judgment must be delivered Monday morning.
Our sources also disclose that the judge will start sitting by 9am tomorrow morning and will deliver judgment in favor the Oye and Soludo group. It remains to be seen however how he would bring in the Jude Okeke faction and his candidate, Hon. Umeoji popularly known as Oba Aguata into the judgment when he had thrown out their application for joinder, and how the judgment will affect the decision of Inec in publishing Hon. Umeoji’s name as the candidate of APGA for the November 6 election.
..says INEC has proven its independence ... describes decision as victory for Anambra people
The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has accepted the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Hon Chuma Umeoji as the party's candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
With Umeoji's recognition as our party's flagbearer, INEC has again proven its independence and its ability to conduct credible electiom without fear or favour.
We also view this recognition as victory for democracy and the good people of Anambra State who are trusting our party for a credible candidate capable of moving the state forward after winnimg the November election.
We urge our teeming party faithful and supporters to keep faith with APGA in the party's desire to win the election and go ahead to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
While calling on all party leaders and members to support and campaign for our candidate, we also urge Hon Umeoji to be magnanimous in victory by bringing all stakeholders on board.
The task of winning the forthcoming election is one that we must pursue and achieve collectively.
UNIZIK Dean and renowned female professor, Lillian Orogbu, emerges APGA deputy governorship candidate to Chuma Umeoji
...INEC publishes Umeoji/Orogbu as APGA confirmed flagbearers, drops Soludo
A female erudite professor, Lillian Orogbu, has emerged the running mate to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the election in Anambra State holding in November.
The Dean of the Faculty of Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, will be flying the party's flag with the governorship candidate, Chuma Umeoji.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed their candidature in the list of candidates published at the end of the submission of the personal details of candidates by all the registered political parties participating in the November election.
With the development, the electoral.body has sealed the fate of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, who emerged in a parallel primary organised by a faction of the party.
It is expected that with this development, all stakeholders of the party, including the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; Soludo and others will rally round Umeoji and support him to win the forthcoming election.
Umeoji will be flying the party's flag with his rich political experience while his running mate will be complementing him with her deep experience in the academic.
Obiano should be rest assured that he has a worthy potential successor who will sustain his legacies and uphold them in Umeoji.
He should therefore support the governorship candidate and his running mate to succeed in the election
Already, 12 members of APGA in the state House of Assembly led by the Chief Whip, Ezeudu, have hailed INEC’s decision.
They have gone a step further by pledging to support Umeoji’s ambition.
Their argument is that the federal lawmaker is the only key to APGA’s victory in the election.
The massive supports coming the way of Umeoji and Orogbu are not limited to the state legislature alone.
Some members of the state executive have also taken a position on the matter.
Specifically, majority of Obiano’s aides have expressed their readiness to work for Umeoji’s victory.
The Umeoji and Orogbu joint ticket promises to be a formidable one. It is a ticket of consolidation, inclusiveness and expansion.
While Umeoji will be leveraging on his political prowess, Prof Orogbu is bringing academic excellence, women inclusiveness, youthfulness beauty and brain to the Government House.
..says INEC has proven its independence ... describes decision as victory for Anambra people
The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has accepted the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Hon Chuma Umeoji as the party's candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
With Umeoji's recognition as our party's flagbearer, INEC has again proven its independence and its ability to conduct credible electiom without fear or favour.
We also view this recognition as victory for democracy and the good people of Anambra State who are trusting our party for a credible candidate capable of moving the state forward after winnimg the November election.
We urge our teeming party faithful and supporters to keep faith with APGA in the party's desire to win the election and go ahead to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
While calling on all party leaders and members to support and campaign for our candidate, we also urge Hon Umeoji to be magnanimous in victory by bringing all stakeholders on board.
The task of winning the forthcoming election is one that we must pursue and achieve collectively.
IKECHUKWU CHUKWUNYERE
PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Press Release 16th July 2021
UNIZIK Dean and renowned female professor, Lillian Orogbu, emerges APGA deputy governorship candidate to Chuma Umeoji
...INEC publishes Umeoji/Orogbu as APGA confirmed flagbearers, drops Soludo
A female erudite professor, Lillian Orogbu, has emerged the running mate to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the election in Anambra State holding in November.
The Dean of the Faculty of Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, will be flying the party's flag with the governorship candidate, Chuma Umeoji.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed their candidature in the list of candidates published at the end of the submission of the personal details of candidates by all the registered political parties participating in the November election.
With the development, the electoral.body has sealed the fate of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, who emerged in a parallel primary organised by a faction of the party.
It is expected that with this development, all stakeholders of the party, including the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; Soludo and others will rally round Umeoji and support him to win the forthcoming election.
Umeoji will be flying the party's flag with his rich political experience while his running mate will be complementing him with her deep experience in the academic.
Obiano should be rest assured that he has a worthy potential successor who will sustain his legacies and uphold them in Umeoji.
He should therefore support the governorship candidate and his running mate to succeed in the election
Already, 12 members of APGA in the state House of Assembly led by the Chief Whip, Ezeudu, have hailed INEC’s decision.
They have gone a step further by pledging to support Umeoji’s ambition.
Their argument is that the federal lawmaker is the only key to APGA’s victory in the election.
The massive supports coming the way of Umeoji and Orogbu are not limited to the state legislature alone.
Some members of the state executive have also taken a position on the matter.
Specifically, majority of Obiano’s aides have expressed their readiness to work for Umeoji’s victory.
The Umeoji and Orogbu joint ticket promises to be a formidable one. It is a ticket of consolidation, inclusiveness and expansion.
While Umeoji will be leveraging on his political prowess, Prof Orogbu is bringing academic excellence, women inclusiveness, youthfulness beauty and brain to the Government House.
Politics › Does Ogun State Have The Worst Roads In The South West? by AnonPoet(op): 10:12am On Sep 03, 2021
