₦airaland Forum

COLLEGE OF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE

OFFICIAL CONDOLENCE ADDRESS TO THE FAMILY OF HIS EXCELLENCY, THE LATE DR. EMMANUEL EWETA UDUAGHAN, CON, FORMER GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE

Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026

Presented by: Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje Esq
Chairman, College of Executive Assistants to the Executive Governor of Delta State, on behalf of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire College.

CONDOLENCE SPEECH

The head of the Uduaghan family, members of the immediate and extended family, distinguished guests, political associates, and well wishers, it is with profound sorrow and deep respect that we visit you today on behalf of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire members of the College of Executive Assistants to the Governor, to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing of our revered former Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON. We recognise the pain that accompanies the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, brother and family patriarch. At this difficult moment, we stand in solidarity with you, sharing in your grief and praying that Almighty God will grant you the strength, courage and comfort to bear this irreplaceable loss.

Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan was a medical doctor, administrator, politician and statesman whose years of public service formed an important chapter in the history of Delta State. From his service as Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government to his tenure as Governor from 2007 to 2015, he occupied positions of responsibility and contributed to the development of our dear state. His administration pursued projects in infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education and economic development, including the Asaba International Airport, Asaba and Warri stadiums, Delta Mall, Asaba Mall, improvements to road networks, judicial infrastructure and public facilities. These projects remain part of the record of his administration and provide important points of reflection on the opportunities and challenges of governance in Delta State.

In healthcare and education, his administration pursued programmes intended to improve the welfare and opportunities available to ordinary Deltans. These included free healthcare initiatives for pregnant women and children under five, the development of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, improvements to Eku General Hospital, and support for educational advancement through free WAEC and JAMB registration for eligible students, DESOPADEC bursaries and scholarships for First Class graduates to pursue postgraduate studies abroad. His administration also pursued initiatives in agriculture, commercial farming, transportation and economic diversification under the Delta Beyond Oil vision. The implementation of the DESOPADEC Law, support for oil-producing communities, and initiatives relating to employment and social welfare also formed part of his administration's record. We acknowledge these efforts while recognising that the lasting value of public policy is ultimately measured by its impact on the lives of the people.

Our Principal, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has acknowledged the personal and political significance of his relationship with the late former Governor, including Dr. Uduaghan's role in his early political journey. This connection makes his passing a moment of reflection for our Principal and for all who have served in public office in Delta State. As members of the College of Executive Assistants, we understand that leadership is not only about occupying public office; it is also about service, responsibility, mentorship and the contribution one makes to the growth of institutions and people. While every administration has its achievements and shortcomings, it is important to recognise the contributions of past leaders and preserve the lessons their experiences offer to present and future generations. The history of Delta State is shaped by successive administrations, and each has a responsibility to build upon the foundations laid by those who came before.

Paragraph Five: On behalf of the Executive Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire College of Executive Assistants, I convey our deepest sympathy to the Uduaghan family, his wife, children, grandchildren, relatives, political associates and the entire Itsekiri nation. We also extend our condolences to all Deltans who mourn the passing of a former leader who occupied a significant place in the political history of our state. Our presence here today is a sincere expression of solidarity and respect, as well as an assurance that your grief is shared by many beyond the walls of this family residence. We pray that Almighty God will surround you with His love, strengthen you in moments of weakness, comfort you in moments of sorrow, and grant you peace in the days ahead. May the family remain united and find comfort in the memories, values and experiences shared with the departed.

At this solemn moment, we commit the soul of our departed former Governor into the hands of Almighty God. We pray that the Lord, in His infinite mercy, will forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest and receive him into His everlasting peace. May God comfort his wife, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends and all those who mourn him, and may He grant the entire Uduaghan family the grace to endure this painful period. We also pray for wisdom, unity and compassion among our leaders and the people of Delta State, that the lessons of the past may guide us towards a more peaceful, just and prosperous future. May the good works of public service be sustained, may the welfare of our people remain paramount, and may those entrusted with leadership always remember that public office is a temporary responsibility requiring humility, accountability and commitment to the common good.

Distinguished members of the Uduaghan family, the passing of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan reminds us that human life is temporary, but the influence of leadership can remain long after a person has departed. Today, we mourn with you, honour his memory and recognise his contributions to the development and political history of Delta State. On behalf of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, and the entire College of Executive Assistants, please accept our heartfelt condolences. May you find strength in God's grace, comfort in the support of family and friends, and peace in the knowledge that you are not alone in your grief. May the Almighty grant the departed eternal rest and preserve the family in unity, faith and good health. Rest in peace, Your Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON. May God bless the Uduaghan family, and may God continue to bless Delta State.

Presented by:

Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje Esq
Chairman, College of Executive Assistants to the Executive Governor of Delta State

On behalf of:
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori
Executive Governor of Delta State.

Prepared and signed by:

Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD
Secretary, College of Executive Assistants to the Executive Governor of Delta State

Thursday, 29 October 2026

OBIRE PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER DELTA GOVERNOR EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN, CELEBRATES HIS LEGACY OF SERVICE

It is with profound sadness and deep respect that I pay tribute to His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State, whose years of public service contributed to the development of our dear state. His passing calls for sober reflection on the life, leadership, and public contributions of a man who occupied a significant place in the political and developmental history of Delta State. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the people of Delta State, and all those who knew, worked with, and admired him.

As Governor of Delta State from 2007 to 2015, Dr Uduaghan pursued a development agenda that emphasised infrastructure, healthcare, education, peace and security, and economic diversification. His administration's Delta Beyond Oil initiative reflected an effort to broaden the state's economic base beyond petroleum revenue by encouraging agriculture, tourism, commercial activities, and private-sector investment. These policy priorities formed an important part of his administration's approach to governance and its vision for the future of Delta State.

In infrastructure development, his administration pursued major road and bridge projects, urban renewal, drainage construction, and improvements to transportation networks across the state. The development and opening of Asaba International Airport in 2011 represented a notable milestone during his tenure, while projects involving the Effurun Roundabout Flyover, roads in Asaba, the Ughelli–Asaba corridor, and riverine communities formed part of the wider infrastructure programme. His government also invested in electricity distribution, street lighting, and other public infrastructure intended to improve connectivity and support commercial activities.

Healthcare was another prominent feature of his administration. As a medical doctor by profession, Dr Uduaghan gave considerable attention to maternal and child healthcare, including free maternal healthcare and interventions for children under five. The development of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, alongside investments in other hospitals and health facilities, reflected his administration's efforts to expand access to medical services and specialist treatment. These initiatives remain part of the public record of his years in office and the broader history of healthcare development in Delta State.

In education, his administration pursued the rehabilitation and construction of school facilities, bursary payments for eligible Delta students, scholarship programmes, and initiatives to encourage school attendance. The Education Marshals programme was designed to identify out-of-school children and encourage their return to the classroom. His government also pursued the development of additional polytechnics and improvements to facilities in tertiary institutions. Together, these measures represented an effort to expand educational opportunities and strengthen human-capital development across the state.

His administration also addressed public transportation, rural development, environmental management, and peace and security. Subsidised mass-transit schemes were introduced to support affordable mobility, while rural roads, electricity projects, drainage systems, and community facilities formed part of the government's development priorities. His emphasis on peace and security was particularly relevant to the wider Niger Delta environment, where stability was essential to community life, commerce, and investment. Although the completion and impact of individual projects varied, these initiatives constituted important elements of his administration's development agenda.

As we reflect on the life and service of Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, we are reminded that public leadership is ultimately measured by its contributions to society and the lives it touches. His eight years as Governor remain an important chapter in Delta State's political history, and his policies, projects, and decisions will continue to be examined by future generations. His passing also reminds us of the transient nature of earthly power and the enduring importance of service, compassion, responsibility, and commitment to the common good.

On behalf of my wife, Maria, my entire family, and myself, I extend my deepest condolences to his immediate family, friends, political associates, and the entire Delta State community. I pray that Almighty God grants his loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss and comforts all those mourning his departure. May the Almighty grant the soul of His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Rest in perfect peace, Your Excellency. Your earthly journey has ended, but your contributions to the history of Delta State will remain a subject of remembrance and reflection.

OLOROGUN GODWIN OBIRE, PhD
Executive Assistant (Political Matters) to the Governor of Delta State
Secretary, College of Executive Assistants to the Governor
Political Strategist | Public Affairs Advocate
From Agbarho, Orohokpokpor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

EL-RUFAI CANNOT HOLD NIGERIA TO RANSOM: THE NORTH DOES NOT OWN THE PRESIDENCY, AND THE SOUTH WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED IN 2027

Response to Mohammed Bello Doka’s Article Published on Nasir El-Rufai’s Facebook Page

By Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD

It is shameful that Nasir El-Rufai would publish or promote a write up of this divisive nature on his Facebook page and other social media platforms, encouraging Northern Nigerians to distrust the Southwest simply because of his personal political disagreements with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Mohammed Bello Doka’s article, “Tinubu, Akintola, El-Rufai: Why the North Cannot Trust Southwest in 2027,” is a dangerous attempt to transform an individual’s political predicament into a regional confrontation. Let us begin with the obvious: President Tinubu will win re election in 2027 with a wide margin if he earns the confidence of Nigerians through his performance and political mobilisation. Secondly, everything in this article is viewed through the prism of political and regional interests that Nigerians have become accustomed to, while other critical issues surrounding El-Rufai, his political conduct, and Northern politics are deliberately pushed aside. This is not an honest argument for national unity; it is a calculated attempt to mobilise regional sympathy around a powerful politician facing serious controversy. El-Rufai’s personal political problems must not become the burden of the entire North, and the Southwest must not be declared an enemy because one former governor is no longer enjoying the political relationship he once had with the President.

If anybody genuinely wants to discuss power distribution and alleged power hoarding in Nigeria, the person should begin with the history of our country from 1960 to date, unless that person is being deliberately economical with the truth. Nigeria’s political history includes substantial periods of Northern dominance, both under military administrations and civilian governments. Northern leaders exercised considerable influence over the national leadership for decades, and the country cannot pretend otherwise simply because the presidency is presently occupied by a Southerner. Since 1960, the North has enjoyed substantial periods of power and influence; it is the turn of the South, and we will not apologise for defending that position. This North-South dichotomy that Mohammed Bello Doka is aggressively preaching is precisely the kind of divisive politics that will compel some of us to fight even harder for the South to retain the presidency. The South has repeatedly demonstrated restraint in the face of severe political provocations. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, followed by Abiola’s imprisonment and death in detention under the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, remains one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria’s democratic history. Pro-democracy activists suffered persecution, imprisonment, injury, and assassination. Yet Southern Nigerians did not abandon the struggle for a united Nigeria. The South also supported former President Muhammadu Buhari throughout his eight year administration. After such a history, it is insulting to suggest that the South must continually prove its loyalty to the North by surrendering its democratic entitlement to the presidency.

Let us address the central issue without sentiment or political gymnastics. El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and any allegations concerning corruption or national security, must be treated as matters for the relevant authorities and the courts, not as a contest between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The existence of an investigation does not automatically establish guilt, and El-Rufai remains entitled to due process, a fair hearing, and every protection guaranteed by law. However, if the authorities have credible evidence against him, they must be allowed to proceed according to the law. Nobody is bigger than the state, and no former governor is entitled to immunity simply because he helped another politician win an election. El-Rufai was publicly insulting President Tinubu and his government, and he cannot reasonably expect the President to fold his hands while political attacks escalate, particularly if the authorities have independent grounds for investigating alleged wrongdoing. Political criticism is a constitutional right, but it does not confer immunity from lawful investigation. If El-Rufai believes that the process against him is politically motivated, his responsibility is to challenge it with evidence through the appropriate legal channels. He cannot transform a personal confrontation with the Federal Government into a demand that the entire North withdraw its political trust from the Southwest. This country belongs to all Nigerians. Nobody is more Nigerian than another, and no political alliance gives any individual ownership of the Nigerian state.

Mohammed Bello Doka must also understand that Nigerians have not forgotten El-Rufai’s own political statements and controversies. His public comments concerning the prospect of Peter Obi winning the 2023 presidential election generated serious controversy and were interpreted by many Nigerians as inflammatory and self-serving. Whatever interpretation one gives those statements, the public has a right to remember them and assess their implications. Why should Nigerians be expected to forget politically provocative statements when they are convenient to El-Rufai’s present narrative? Why should the North be mobilised against the Southwest because a political alliance has broken down? Is the entire Northern population now expected to carry the burden of one man's grievances? El-Rufai is a former governor, not the owner of Northern Nigeria. He does not speak for every Northerner, and he cannot dictate whom millions of Northern voters should support in 2027. Northern Nigerians are intelligent citizens capable of making their own political decisions. They are free to support Tinubu, oppose him, support another candidate, or reject any political arrangement they consider unsuitable. What is unacceptable is the attempt to turn their regional identity into an instrument for settling an individual's political score. Oga, carry your cross alone. Do not use the North as a shield for personal political grievances, and do not assume that Nigerians have short memories simply because you believe a new regional narrative can erase yesterday's controversies.

Furthermore, those preaching regional solidarity around El-Rufai must not pretend that his record as Governor of Kaduna State is beyond criticism. Many people, particularly from Southern Kaduna, have deep and enduring grievances about his administration and its handling of communal tensions, insecurity, and relations with affected communities. Those concerns cannot simply be dismissed because El-Rufai is now facing difficulties of his own. Southern Kaduna residents are Nigerians whose experiences and grievances deserve to be heard with the same seriousness that El-Rufai’s supporters demand for him. Nobody should be convicted by public opinion, but nobody should be elevated above scrutiny either. It is hypocritical to demand that Southern Nigerians demonstrate unquestioning solidarity with a former governor while disregarding the people who believe they suffered under his administration. The same principle applies to the claim that the Southwest owes El-Rufai an eternal political debt because he supported Tinubu in 2022. Politics is not a permanent contract of personal loyalty, and supporting a presidential candidate does not entitle anyone to control the administration or dictate how the state responds to allegations of wrongdoing. El-Rufai’s past disagreements with Tinubu, his reconciliation with the President, his political alliances, and his subsequent falling-out with the administration are all part of his political history. None of them makes the entire South responsible for his present predicament.

Finally, the figures presented in Mohammed Bello Doka’s article are themselves selective and require careful scrutiny. The claim that the South occupied the presidency for 14 years between 1999 and 2023 while the North occupied it for eight years is mathematically inconsistent with the dates supplied in the same article: Muhammadu Buhari alone served from 2015 to 2023, completing eight years, while Umaru Musa Yar’Adua served from 2007 until his death in 2010. The article’s calculation therefore needs correction before it can credibly support its sweeping allegation of Southern power hoarding. More importantly, Nigeria’s political future cannot be reduced to an arithmetic contest between two regions. Tinubu’s administration must be judged by its performance, and his re-election must depend on the freely expressed will of Nigerian voters. But the South is fully entitled to defend its political interests and support continuity in 2027 without being threatened with regional distrust. The presidency is not the exclusive inheritance of the North, just as it is not the exclusive property of the South. It belongs to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. If El-Rufai is innocent of the allegations against him, let the legal process establish that fact; if evidence exists, let the law take its course. What Nigerians must reject is the shameful attempt to turn an individual’s legal and political difficulties into a national ethnic confrontation. Mohammed Bello Doka should stop preaching regional hostility, and El-Rufai should stop allowing personal political grievances to be dressed up as the collective struggle of Northern Nigeria. The North is not El-Rufai’s private estate, the Southwest is not his political enemy, and Nigeria will not be held hostage by the grievances of any individual. In 2027, Nigerians not regional blackmailers will decide who governs this country.

EL-RUFAI MUST STOP HIDING PERSONAL POLITICAL GRIEVANCES BEHIND THE NORTH: NIGERIA BELONGS TO ALL OF US

By Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD

It is shameful that Nasir El-Rufai would allow a write up of this divisive nature to be published on his Facebook page and other social media platforms, preaching regional distrust because of his personal political grievances with the Tinubu administration. Mohammed Bello Doka’s argument is nothing but a desperate attempt to turn an individual’s political troubles into a collective confrontation between Northern and Southern Nigeria. El-Rufai’s detention is not a referendum on the North, and allegations against one politician must never become a declaration of war between two regions. If El-Rufai believes he has been unjustly treated, he should defend himself through the courts and available legal processes. Nobody is above the law, regardless of political influence, ethnicity, religion, or former office. The North does not own El-Rufai, just as the South does not own Tinubu. Both men are Nigerians, and neither has the right to hold the country hostage to personal political interests.

Secondly, this argument about the South supposedly betraying the North is a recycled political narrative driven by regional calculations rather than a genuine commitment to national unity. If anyone wants to discuss the history of power distribution in Nigeria, the starting point should be 1960, not a convenient selection of dates that supports a predetermined political argument. For much of Nigeria’s post-independence history, Northern political and military leaders have exercised enormous influence over the country’s leadership. It is therefore intellectually dishonest to portray the current presidency of the South as an intolerable act of power hoarding while conveniently ignoring the broader historical record. Since 1960, the North has enjoyed substantial periods of national leadership and influence; it is the South’s turn to lead, and that reality should not be twisted into an excuse for ethnic hostility. We cannot build a united country by pretending that history began when a particular politician lost access to power.

Thirdly, nobody should confuse political support with a permanent obligation to protect a politician from scrutiny. El-Rufai’s contribution to Tinubu’s political victory, whatever its extent, does not confer ownership of the presidency or immunity from investigation. Did he support Tinubu because he believed in a national political project, or was that support merely an investment expected to yield unlimited personal rewards? Nigerians deserve to ask that question. El-Rufai publicly criticised the President and his administration, and he is entitled to his political opinions. However, he cannot reasonably expect political disagreement to guarantee him immunity from lawful scrutiny, nor should he expect the President to surrender the authority of the state because of past political alliances. No individual is bigger than Nigeria, and no political godfather owns the President he helped elect. If the authorities have credible evidence against El-Rufai, they must present their case through due process. If the evidence is insufficient, the law must equally protect him. Justice must be established by evidence, not by regional bargaining.

Fourthly, the attempt to drag the entire North into El-Rufai’s personal political predicament is both dangerous and irresponsible. Mohammed Bello Doka’s argument appears designed to convince Northerners that supporting Tinubu or accepting another Southern presidency would amount to betraying their region. That is political blackmail disguised as regional solidarity. Northern Nigerians are not political captives who must surrender their independent judgment to one former governor. They have their own interests, aspirations, leaders, and constitutional rights. They are free to support Tinubu, oppose him, or support another candidate without seeking permission from El-Rufai. Equally, Southern Nigerians are not indebted to any politician for eternity because of a political alliance formed in 2022. The suggestion that the North should punish the South in 2027 because one politician is facing investigation is a dangerous invitation to collective political retaliation. Oga, carry your political cross yourself; do not turn the North into a shield for your personal battles.

Fifthly, Nigerians have not forgotten El-Rufai’s record in Kaduna State, particularly the deep controversies surrounding his administration and its relationship with Southern Kaduna communities. Those communities have their own grievances and their own accounts of what they experienced under his leadership. It is therefore hypocritical to demand that the entire South demonstrate unquestioning solidarity with El-Rufai while dismissing the legitimate concerns of Nigerians who have criticised his politics and governance. The same people who now preach reciprocity must understand that political history is not written by one side alone. Nobody should be condemned without a fair hearing, but neither should a former governor be transformed into a national victim whose personal circumstances automatically invalidate every criticism of his record. A public office holder must answer questions about his own conduct without hiding behind the population of an entire geopolitical zone. The people of Southern Kaduna, like every other Nigerian community, deserve to have their grievances heard rather than erased by political convenience.

Finally, let us be clear: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has every opportunity to win re-election in 2027 with a wide margin if his administration strengthens its performance, addresses insecurity, improves the economy, and earns the confidence of Nigerians across the country. His victory must be determined by voters, not by threats of regional retaliation or demands that the South surrender its turn at the presidency. Nigeria belongs to all of us. No Northerner is more Nigerian than a Southerner, and no Southerner is more entitled to national leadership than a Northerner. The way forward is competence, accountability, fairness, and respect for constitutional democracy not ethnic blackmail, religious mobilisation, or political entitlement. El-Rufai should face whatever allegations are lawfully brought against him through a transparent and fair process, and he should receive every protection guaranteed by law. But the North must not be recruited into a personal political war, and the South must not be bullied into abandoning its democratic choices. Nigeria is not anybody’s private estate, the presidency is not a political inheritance, and 2027 will not be decided by El-Rufai’s grievances. It will be decided by Nigerians at the ballot box.

SAN RANK: GODWIN OBIRE CONGRATULATES TWO DELTA BORN LEGAL EAGLES, CHARGES THEM TO UPHOLD JUSTICE AND EXCELLENCE

By Timothy Abiodun
Point-Blank Magazine
Saturday, October 17, 2026

Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, Chairman of Concerned Nigerians for Better Nigeria (CNBN) and Secretary of the College of Executive Assistants to the Governor of Delta State, has congratulated two distinguished Delta State legal practitioners of Urhobo extraction, Jim Okodaso, SAN, and Onome Okodiya, SAN, on their elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Obire, an indigene of Agbarho Orhokpokpo in Ughelli North Local Government Area, described their elevation as a landmark achievement that brings honour to Delta State, the Urhobo nation and Nigeria's legal profession.

In a congratulatory message signed by his media aide, Mr Kenneth Ogheneworo, Obire described the new SANs as accomplished legal professionals whose elevation reflects years of hard work, discipline, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to professional excellence. He noted that the prestigious rank is not merely a personal accomplishment but also a recognition of the dedication required to distinguish oneself in a highly competitive profession. According to him, their achievement reinforces the importance of merit, integrity and diligence in building a credible legal system and a society governed by the rule of law.

Obire maintained that the elevation of Okodaso and Okodiya sends a powerful message to young Nigerians that excellence remains attainable through determination, competence and consistency. He said their achievement should inspire aspiring lawyers and other professionals, particularly young people from Delta State and the Urhobo nation, to pursue their ambitions with courage and discipline. He added that the honour conferred on the two lawyers further demonstrates the intellectual capacity and professional contributions of Deltans to national development, stressing that such accomplishments deserve recognition beyond ethnic and geographical boundaries.

“It is with immense pride and profound joy that I congratulate Jim Okodaso, SAN, and Onome Okodiya, SAN, on their elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. This is a well deserved recognition of professional distinction and a proud moment for Delta State, the Urhobo nation and the entire legal community. On behalf of my wife, Maria, and my family, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to these distinguished legal practitioners on this remarkable milestone,” Obire stated.

He further challenged the newly elevated Senior Advocates to regard their new status as a greater responsibility to the legal profession and society, rather than merely a badge of personal success. According to him, the SAN rank carries a heightened obligation to defend justice, uphold professional ethics, strengthen public confidence in the judiciary and ensure that the law remains an instrument of fairness and accountability. Obire expressed confidence that the two legal luminaries would continue to distinguish themselves through exemplary service and make meaningful contributions to Delta State, the Urhobo nation, Nigeria and humanity at large.

Obire wished Okodaso and Okodiya greater accomplishments in their professional journeys, urging them to use their expertise, influence and experience to mentor younger lawyers, advance the administration of justice and contribute to the development of a stronger legal institution. He expressed the hope that their elevation would mark the beginning of even greater achievements and opportunities, while praying for continued wisdom, strength and success in their service to the nation. He concluded that Delta State has every reason to celebrate the achievement, expressing optimism that the two new Senior Advocates would continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, excellence and service worthy of the prestigious rank they have attained.

DELTA 2027: OBOREVWORI’S PROJECTS WILL BOOST APC’S PROSPECTS, SAYS COLLEGE OF EAs

By Timothy Abiodun

ASABA, Delta State — The College of Executive Assistants to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing the administration’s infrastructure development, road construction, drainage systems and educational facilities as evidence of its performance since assuming office in May 2023.

The Secretary of the College, Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, stated this during an interaction with journalists in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area. He said the administration’s completed and ongoing projects had improved transportation, strengthened connectivity between communities and expanded access to public infrastructure. According to him, these developments would feature prominently in the APC’s engagement with voters ahead of the next general elections.

Obire recalled that Oborevwori won 21 of Delta State’s 25 local government areas in the 2023 governorship election, adding that the projects executed since the governor assumed office had given the administration further achievements to present to the electorate. “When Sheriff Oborevwori contested the 2023 election, he won in 21 out of the 25 local government areas, even before becoming governor. Since assuming office, his administration has continued to deliver projects across Delta State. These achievements speak for themselves, and we are confident in presenting the administration’s record to the people ahead of 2027,” he said.

A major project highlighted during the interaction was the 4.8-kilometre Oko–Amakom/Oko-Obiokpu/Oko-Anala Road in Oko Kingdom, Oshimili South Local Government Area. The College secretary explained that poor road access had previously made it difficult for farmers to transport agricultural produce to markets, particularly during the rainy season. He said some farmers had been compelled to travel through neighbouring Anambra State to sell their produce, sometimes at unfavourable prices because of transportation difficulties. The improved road connectivity, he added, had made the movement of agricultural produce easier and supported commercial activities and rural livelihoods.

The College also disclosed that the Delta State Government had approved Phase Two of the Oko road project at a reported cost of ₦16.9 billion, with Setraco Nigeria Limited expected to complete the work within 24 months. Obire expressed optimism that the contractor could deliver before the deadline. He further highlighted the Amaechi Agusi and adjoining roads project in Asaba, noting that the road network and drainage infrastructure had improved access in an area previously affected by erosion, flooding and difficult driving conditions. He said the improvements would benefit residents, motorists and businesses operating within the area.

Other projects cited included the Government Technical College in Omadino, new faculty buildings at the University of Delta, Agbor, and developments at Southern Delta University, Ozoro. Describing the spread of completed and ongoing infrastructure as a “harvest of projects,” the College secretary said the administration’s MORE Agenda also included empowerment initiatives for youths and women. He maintained that investments in infrastructure, education and economic opportunities, alongside efforts to sustain peace and stability, remained important elements of the state government’s development programme.

The College further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic reforms introduced in 2023, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to foreign exchange arrangements. Obire said these policies had improved the financial capacity of state governments to undertake development projects. He maintained that the APC would present the Oborevwori administration’s record to Deltans as the 2027 elections approach, expressing confidence that the government’s infrastructure investments would remain a significant part of the political discourse across the state.

A FRUITFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH DR. ISAAC WILIKIE, HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER FOR WATER RESOURCES: CELEBRATING GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI'S DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES

Today, I was in Asaba to visit my brother, friend, leader and one of the finest and most refined personalities of our time, a perfect gentleman and distinguished public servant, Dr. Isaac Wilikie, the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, Delta State. We had an extensive and fruitful discussion on national and state affairs, governance, infrastructure development and the remarkable work being undertaken by the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, to improve the lives of Deltans.

A significant part of our discussion centred on the achievements of the Ministry of Water Resources since Governor Sheriff Oborevwori assumed office on 29 May 2023. We discussed the water projects delivered by the present administration, including the rehabilitation and improvement of water supply schemes in Owa-Alero, Owa-Ekei, Umunede, Issele-Uku and Ogo-Ikilibi, alongside other interventions across the state. These projects reflect the administration's commitment to restoring water infrastructure, expanding access to potable water and addressing the practical needs of our communities. These achievements belong to the current Oborevwori administration, and many more water projects are still ongoing across Delta State.

Our conversation also covered wider interventions in rural and urban water supply, borehole development, solar-powered water facilities for riverine communities, and water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives. The reported execution of more than 2000 water projects during 2025/2026 further illustrates the scale of activity in the sector. Beyond the projects already completed, ongoing interventions demonstrate that the administration's efforts to improve access to clean and safe water are continuing. These investments are particularly important to communities where reliable water supply remains essential to public health, household welfare and economic development.

I sincerely commend Dr. Isaac Wilikie and the entire Ministry of Water Resources for their contributions to the development agenda of the present administration. Our discussion reinforced the importance of completing ongoing projects, maintaining existing facilities and extending water infrastructure to underserved communities. With sustained commitment and effective implementation, these interventions can deliver lasting benefits to residents across Delta State and strengthen the state's progress towards improved access to potable water.

My profound appreciation goes to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for his remarkable work, purposeful leadership and continued commitment to the development of Delta State. I sincerely thank the Governor for the developmental strides being recorded across the state and for sustaining the MORE Agenda through investments in essential public infrastructure. I also appreciate my brother, friend and leader, Dr. Isaac Wilikie, for his warm reception and the insightful exchange of ideas. May the Governor's vision continue to yield meaningful results, and may the ongoing water projects be successfully completed for the benefit of our people. Together, through purposeful leadership and dedicated service, we can build a healthier, more prosperous and better served Delta State.

DIGITAL JUNGLE JUSTICE: WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA BECOMES A COURTROOM, A GALLOWS AND A GRAVEYARD

BY DR. GODWIN OBIRE

I have followed the Anthony Kila controversy with considerable circumspection, not because integrity is negotiable or academic qualifications should be shielded from scrutiny, but because I recognise the dangerous pattern unfolding before us: the transformation of legitimate questions into a merciless public execution. On 16 August 2026, I wrote about Professor Jason Arday, the Cambridge academic whose final days, as I argued, were overshadowed by relentless social media scrutiny. A study of fifteen British news outlets documented 188 articles during the final nine full days of his life and another 136 in the nine days following his death a staggering 324 articles across eighteen days. Today, Anthony Kila faces a storm of public scrutiny, with his professorial title questioned, his university suspending him pending investigation, and his academic credentials attracting further attention. The central question is not whether allegations deserve investigation; they absolutely do. The question is whether our society has become so intoxicated with public condemnation that we can no longer distinguish between investigating allegations and destroying the person against whom they are made. When did accountability become a licence for collective cruelty?

I grew up witnessing jungle justice, that barbaric spectacle in which somebody shouts, “Thief! Thief!” and an angry crowd immediately becomes judge, jury and executioner. One person finds a tyre, another brings petrol, and another supplies the matches. Before the facts are established, a human being may be reduced to ashes. Today, the instruments have changed, but the mentality remains disturbingly familiar. The tyre is now a smartphone; the petrol is internet data; the matches are our keyboards. Everybody suddenly becomes a prosecutor, judge and executioner, armed with fragments of information, unverified conclusions and an appetite for public humiliation. Unlike physical mobs, digital mobs operate around the clock, cross international borders and preserve their condemnations long after the original controversy has faded. The Bible declares in Proverbs 18:17 that the first account of a matter may appear convincing until another party comes forward to examine it. That is the wisdom many online crusaders have abandoned. They hear one side, pronounce judgment and begin the execution before the other side has even entered the courtroom. This is not justice; it is jungle justice wearing a digital suit and pretending to possess a conscience.

Let nobody misunderstand my position: I do not condone dishonesty, forgery, fabrication or any abuse of public trust. If wrongdoing is established, accountability must follow, and the consequences must be lawful, proportionate and appropriate. Even a person accused of the gravest crimes must be afforded due process; otherwise, justice becomes whatever the loudest crowd says it is. Consider the historical enormity of Adolf Hitler’s crimes: had he been captured alive and brought before a competent criminal court, the principle of due process would still have mattered, not because his alleged crimes were insignificant, but because justice must not abandon its own standards even when confronting the most despicable conduct. This is precisely why our public debate must also confront its glaring double standards. In Nigeria, questions surrounding the educational histories and qualifications of people who have occupied the highest political offices have repeatedly generated controversy, yet public outrage is often inconsistent, selective and politically convenient. I am not suggesting that one controversy excuses another; I am asking why the demand for accountability becomes deafening against some individuals and remarkably subdued against others. My first newspaper article was published on 10 June 1988, when I was eighteen, and decades of public commentary have taught me that accountability and condemnation are not synonymous. Demand the truth without manufacturing a verdict, and insist on integrity without surrendering your own integrity.

Now let us discuss friendship, because adversity has a brutal way of exposing the difference between genuine friends and spectators disguised as concerned citizens. Scripture declares in Proverbs 17:17 that a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. A genuine friend does not abandon a troubled person to the wolves, nor does genuine friendship require concealing wrongdoing or obstructing an investigation. Real friends reach out privately, ask what happened, establish the facts, offer honest counsel and help the person confront whatever responsibilities the truth may reveal. They can condemn misconduct without declaring the individual beyond redemption. If Anthony Kila has questions to answer, let him answer them through appropriate channels, with the benefit of competent advice where necessary. There is nothing inherently illegitimate about seeking legal counsel or choosing a responsible process for responding to serious allegations. A delayed public response is not, by itself, proof of guilt, just as a forceful denial is not proof of innocence. James 1:19 counsels us to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. Christ’s words in John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone” remain a powerful warning against self righteous condemnation. If your friendship disappears when a man enters the valley of adversity, it was never friendship; it was convenience wearing the costume of loyalty.

My final position is uncompromising: let the institutions investigate, let the evidence speak, let the truth emerge and let lawful accountability take its course. But let us reject the barbaric assumption that a person must be publicly annihilated before justice can be served. If allegations are established, there may be room for correction, restitution, appropriate consequences and, where possible, restoration. If they are not established, the damage inflicted by reckless condemnation must not simply be forgotten because the internet has found another victim. Anthony Kila remains a human being, regardless of the outcome of this controversy. His dignity does not depend on public approval, and his right to fair treatment does not disappear because thousands of people demand an immediate explanation. The empathy we deny another person today may be the mercy we desperately seek tomorrow. Therefore, let Anthony Kila breathe. Let due process prevail. Let those responsible for establishing the facts do their work, and let genuine friends stand beside him without becoming accomplices to any wrongdoing. I am not asking society to abandon integrity; I am demanding that we stop using integrity as a respectable disguise for cruelty. The ultimate test is not merely whether Anthony Kila can defend his credentials; it is whether we can pursue the truth without destroying our humanity. If our version of justice leaves no room for evidence, fairness, proportionality or redemption, then we must confront an uncomfortable question: are we defending justice, or have we simply become another mob searching for its next victim?

DON’T PLAY POLITICS WITH THE URHOBO NATION: THE INDUSTRIAL PARK MUST NOT LEAVE DELTA CENTRAL

Ede Dafinone and Ovie Omo-Agege are, in my view, birds of the same political feather both are pursuing their political interests. But neither political office nor political ambition gives anyone the right to treat the collective interest of the Urhobo people as personal property.

I sincerely hope the information reaching me that Senator Ede Dafinone intends to relocate the proposed Industrial Park from Delta Central to Delta South is false. If the project must be relocated, it must remain in Delta Central and within the Urhobo nation. Period. Agbarho, Udu, or any other suitable Urhobo kingdom is acceptable. If Agbarho is chosen, I am prepared to make land available in Orhokpokpor for the project.

The excuse that Delta Central is landlocked is weak. Industrial developments exist in landlocked areas, including Edo and Imo. If logistics, transportation, infrastructure, or access to waterways are concerns, solve those problems. Do not use them as a cover for political manoeuvring.

We have already seen the consequences of political decisions that move major institutions away from Urhobo territory. The Federal Medical University located in Ndokwa nation and associated with Ovie Omo-Agege is a case in point. Had that institution been located in Urhobo territory, our people would have benefited enormously from the jobs, businesses, infrastructure, and economic activity it would have generated. We should not make another mistake of this magnitude.

Let me be brutally clear: if Senator Ede Dafinone attempts to move this Industrial Park to Delta South, I will mobilise politically against the decision through every legitimate democratic means available to me, including working against his return to the Senate, irrespective of party affiliation. If he is the APC candidate, that does not mean every APC member must surrender his conscience or the interests of his people. Party loyalty ends where the collective interest of our people is deliberately compromised.

Neither Ede Dafinone nor Ovie Omo-Agege owns Delta Central. Neither owns the Urhobo nation. Political office is a mandate, not a licence to dispose of our collective interests according to personal calculations.

If Delta South needs an Industrial Park, let them establish another one there. I have no objection to development anywhere in Delta State. But do not take a strategic project from Delta Central and relocate it to another senatorial district because of politics.

If relocation is genuinely necessary, keep it in Delta Central and within Urhobo territory Agbarho, Udu, or another suitable Urhobo kingdom. No Urhobo kingdom is anybody's political colony, bargaining chip, or personal estate.

I am not threatening anybody; I am stating a political position. I will support what benefits my people and oppose what I believe harms their collective interest, regardless of party affiliation. Those who want our votes should understand that party membership does not mean political blindness.

So, Senator Ede Dafinone, if this relocation plan is true, stop it. If it is false, make that clear. Do not turn a project capable of transforming our people's economic future into another casualty of political ambition.

Play your politics. Fight your elections. Pursue your ambitions. But do not gamble with the economic future of the Urhobo nation.

The Industrial Park must remain in Delta Central and within the Urhobo nation. That is my position.

Dr. Godwin Obire

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY BELOVED DAUGHTER, OBIRE MIRACLE ONANEFE ❤️🎂🙏

How time flies! Today, my beloved daughter, Obire Miracle Onanefe, celebrates another year of her life. You are a precious blessing to our family, and I thank God Almighty for giving me the privilege of being your father.

I named you Onanefe after His Excellency Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, because of the important role his administration played in my life during the early days of his administration. Those of us who came into the family in 1999 remember those days and the opportunities and sense of belonging that existed then. I pray that God continues to bless, preserve and reward him.

You were born in the same year as James Emmanuel Uduaghan, the son of my dear friend and brother, the Elema of Warri Kingdom. Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan named his son James, while I named my daughter Onanefe both names carrying the memory of a leader who made a significant impact on our lives.

My daughter, my prayers for you are simple but powerful: May God protect you from every evil, give you wisdom and understanding, grant you excellent education, good health and long life. May He guide your steps, bless everything you do, surround you with good people and open doors of favour and success for you. May you grow into a woman of great character, excellence and distinction.

May your life be better than the challenges of our generation. May you never lack, never be stranded and never lose your way. May God make you a source of joy, pride and greater blessing to this family.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful daughter. Daddy loves you dearly. ❤️ May God continue to uphold, protect and bless you today and always.

From your Daddy,
Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD
Executive Assistant (Political) to the Governor of Delta State

A RESPONSE TO BASIL OKOH’S ATTACK ON DR. FESTUS GOZIEM OKUBOR

Basil Okoh’s attack on Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor is nothing more than political noise dressed up as intellectual warfare. When a man cannot defeat another man’s argument with facts, figures, evidence and superior reasoning, he reaches for insults, ridicule and reckless personal attacks. That is not strength; it is intellectual surrender. Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor has earned his place in Delta’s public life through education, professional service, administration and political experience. Basil is free to disagree with him, challenge his views and defend APC with every legitimate political weapon available, but attempting to rubbish the name and reputation of a respected public servant through abusive language does not make the attacker stronger; it only exposes the weakness of his argument.

Let us be brutally clear: Dr. Okubor does not need Basil Okoh’s permission to speak, write, analyse politics or express his opinion about Delta State. He is a medical doctor, former commissioner, former Chief of Staff and an experienced administrator and political strategist who has served in important public positions. His record may be debated, his political judgments may be challenged and his opinions may be opposed, but his credentials cannot be erased by social-media insults. The attempt to reduce such a personality to casual name-calling is cheap politics. If Basil truly believes Dr. Okubor is wrong, then bring facts. If his political analysis is defective, dismantle it with superior analysis. If his position is false, prove it false. But abusing the man instead of defeating his argument is the refuge of a person who has run out of intellectual ammunition.

What makes Basil’s attack particularly disappointing is the apparent confusion between political criticism and character assassination. Political disagreement is healthy; personal vilification is not. Nobody should be above criticism, including Dr. Okubor, but criticism must have boundaries if it is to remain credible. Allegations concerning a person’s private life, character or alleged wrongdoing should never be thrown around recklessly as political ammunition without credible evidence. The burden of proof rests on the person making an allegation. You cannot manufacture accusations, attach them to a respected name and then demand that the victim prove a negative. That is not courageous journalism or political analysis; it is irresponsible mudslinging. Basil should understand that the louder the insult, the more necessary the evidence becomes.

And let us address the political arrogance behind the argument that one party somehow owns Delta while every opposing platform is treated as political garbage. No political party owns the people of Delta State. APC does not own Delta, just as PDP, ADC or NDC does not own Delta. The electorate owns the mandate. Parties compete for it. Candidates campaign for it. Leaders earn it. Elections decide it. If APC is genuinely as strong as Basil portrays it, then there should be no need for abusive propaganda to establish its strength. Let the party present its achievements, programmes, candidates and vision. Let its supporters campaign vigorously. Let its opponents do the same. Then let Deltans decide at the ballot box. Political confidence is demonstrated by winning arguments and elections—not by screaming louder than everybody else.

Basil’s greatest mistake is believing that insulting Dr. Okubor somehow diminishes Dr. Okubor’s history. It does not. A man who has built a long professional and public-service record cannot have that record deleted by one angry article. Dr. Okubor has served in medicine, government administration and political strategy, and his return to university decades after his first degree, culminating in a First Class degree in Music, is itself a powerful statement about discipline, learning and intellectual curiosity. Basil may disagree with his politics, but he cannot honestly rewrite the man’s biography with insults. You can attack a position without destroying the person who holds it. You can oppose a political strategist without pretending he has no experience. You can reject his argument without pretending his entire career never happened.

So, Basil Okoh, enough of the political theatrics. If you have evidence, present it. If you have superior facts, present them. If APC has superior achievements, present them. If Dr. Okubor is wrong, demonstrate exactly where he is wrong. But stop hiding weak arguments behind personal abuse and sensational language. Delta politics is bigger than one man’s anger and certainly bigger than a contest over who can manufacture the most insulting metaphor. Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor can be challenged, but he must be challenged with substance. He can be opposed, but he must be opposed with facts. He can be defeated politically, but that defeat must come through the democratic process—not through character assassination. Anything less is political cowardice masquerading as courage.

Finally, Basil should understand one simple truth: you do not destroy an accomplished man by shouting his name with contempt. You only reveal the poverty of your own method. Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor has every right to speak, analyse and participate in Delta’s political conversation, just as Basil has every right to disagree with him. But serious politics demands evidence, discipline, intellectual honesty and respect for the people whose mandate everyone is fighting to earn. If Basil wants a political battle, let him bring facts, policies, records and arguments. Let him bring his strongest intellectual weapons. Dr. Okubor should be ready to answer them. But if all Basil has left is insult, ridicule and personal attacks, then the battle is already settled: noise may attract attention, but substance wins history.

THE THIEVES OF APC POLITICS IN DELTA ARE ANGRY

A Response to Basil Okoh’s Attack on Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor

Basil Okoh’s response to Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor is a fascinating piece of political theatre. It contains plenty of anger, plenty of sewage imagery, and enough personal abuse to make one wonder whether the author set out to write a political rebuttal or simply emptied his emotional dustbin onto the page.

But before Basil gets carried away with his own metaphors, he should first learn something very basic: who exactly is the man he is attempting to diminish.

You repeatedly call him simply “Festus,” as though you are addressing a roadside acquaintance. That is not necessarily offensive by itself, but in this context it reveals a rather unfortunate ignorance of the pedigree of the person you are attempting to attack.

The man is Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor—a medical doctor, administrator, strategist, former commissioner, former Chief of Staff to the Delta State Government, former chairman of the Delta State Hospital Management Board, former chairman of governing councils of Delta State polytechnics, former local government transition chairman, political strategist and, remarkably, a first-class graduate in Music decades after graduating in Medicine.

That is not exactly the résumé of a man who needs Basil Okoh's permission to have a voice.

Available biographical records show that Dr. Okubor obtained his MBBS from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, after attending Edo College, Benin City. His professional career included medical practice and health-insurance work, and sources credit him with being among the early Nigerians involved in the development and practice of health insurance. His presentation on health-care financing at a National Health Summit was reported as contributing to the adoption of health insurance as a preferred national policy direction.

He subsequently served Delta State in several capacities—including Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Health, Director of Protocol, Chief of Staff to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and chairman of the Hospital Management Board. He also served in leadership roles involving Delta's polytechnics.

And here comes the part that should make a writer who prides himself on intellectual superiority pause before throwing insults around:

At the age of 63, after already becoming a medical doctor and serving in senior public positions, Dr. Okubor returned to university to study Music—and graduated with First Class Honours.

That achievement was reported by The Guardian and other Nigerian publications.

So while Basil Okoh was busy counting pit latrines, Dr. Okubor was apparently busy collecting degrees.

Perhaps Basil should try collecting qualifications before collecting insults.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRITICISM AND CHARACTER ASSASSINATION

There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with Dr. Okubor.

There is nothing wrong with challenging his political opinions.

There is nothing wrong with defending APC, Ovie Omo-Agege, Victor Ochei, or any other political interest.

That is politics.

But when a political argument collapses into allegations about someone's private life, sexuality, marriage and alleged criminal conduct—without establishing credible evidence—the writer has abandoned political criticism and entered the territory of character assassination.

A serious writer does not need unverified personal allegations to defeat an argument.

Ideas are defeated with better ideas.

Policies are defeated with better policies.

Political claims are defeated with facts.

Not with sewage.

Interestingly, Dr. Okubor's original article deliberately used the language of “pit latrines” and “refuse dumps” as political metaphors to describe what he considers the present character of ADC and NDC politics in Delta. Basil's response then spends an extraordinary amount of time reproducing that same imagery.

So who exactly won the battle of metaphors?

The reader may decide.

BASIL'S BIGGEST PROBLEM: HE CONFUSES INSULT WITH ARGUMENT

The most amusing part of Basil's article is that he accuses Dr. Okubor of lacking intellectual quality while producing an article whose strongest weapons are insults, innuendo and repeated personal attacks.

He calls Dr. Okubor a “lackey.”

He questions his self-worth.

He attacks his medical profession.

He attacks his grammar.

He attacks his personal life.

He attacks his political history.

And then, after all that, he apparently expects us to conclude that Dr. Okubor has no intellectual argument.

That is rather like a man entering a boxing ring, refusing to throw punches and spending the entire fight shouting at the opponent's shoes.

BUT LET US TALK ABOUT “STRUCTURE”

Basil asks whether APC is dominant in Delta and attempts to present its political structure as though political dominance were established by declaration.

Fine.

Let us then apply the same standard consistently.

If structure is the measure of political strength, then elections, mandates, memberships, grassroots organization and actual electoral performance must matter.

Political parties do not become dominant merely because their supporters write the word “dominant” repeatedly.

And political parties do not become irrelevant merely because an opponent calls them “pit latrines.”

The people ultimately decide.

THE IRONY OF THE APC ARGUMENT

Basil's response also contains a fascinating contradiction.

He celebrates defections into APC as evidence of political strength while portraying defections away from APC as evidence of political failure.

That is convenient mathematics.

When politicians move into your party:

«“They have seen the light.”»

When politicians leave:

«“They are political rejects.”»

When another party receives them:

«“That party is a refuse dump.”»

This is not political analysis.

It is partisan arithmetic.

If defection proves that APC is attractive when politicians enter it, then logically defection can also prove that another political environment has become attractive when politicians leave it.

You cannot have it both ways.

AND ABOUT DR. OKUBOR'S “LOYALTY”

Basil seems particularly offended that Dr. Okubor has political associations and strategic relationships.

But Dr. Okubor's career history actually demonstrates something far more interesting: political longevity.

He has operated through different administrations and held significant responsibilities across different periods of Delta's political development. He was Chief of Staff under Governor Uduaghan, served under the Okowa administration, and was subsequently reported as Chief Strategist to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

That does not automatically make every opinion he expresses correct.

But it does demonstrate that successive political leaders have considered his experience useful.

And that fact cannot be erased by calling him “Festus” fifty times.

A MAN WHO WENT BACK TO UNIVERSITY AT 63

Perhaps Basil should pay particular attention to this.

Many people leave university and never return.

Many people obtain one qualification and spend the rest of their lives reminding everybody about it.

Dr. Okubor did something different.

Forty years after studying Medicine, he went back to university and studied Music. He reportedly graduated with First Class Honours.

That is not the behaviour of a man suffering from intellectual stagnation.

It is the behaviour of somebody who believes that learning does not have an expiry date.

And that achievement carries a lesson Basil's article badly needs:

A person's intellectual pedigree is measured by the totality of his journey, not by the insult another politician throws at him on social media.

THE “FIRST NAME” ISSUE

Basil, there is a reason people say Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor.

It is not decoration.

It reflects education, professional achievement and public service.

He is not merely “Festus” the way Basil attempts to reduce him in his article.

He is a medical doctor.

He has served as a commissioner.

He has served as Chief of Staff.

He has served as a board chairman.

He has served as a political strategist.

He has participated in national policy conversations.

He has returned to university decades after his first degree and graduated with First Class.

He has also been publicly described as a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.

Therefore, Basil's repeated casual reduction of his name says considerably more about the writer's understanding of the person he is attacking than it says about Dr. Okubor.

Before attempting to belittle someone's pedigree, it is advisable to first read the person's biography.

AND NOW TO THE APC “THIEVES”

Basil's final metaphor is that APC is the “owner of the farm” while others are thieves.

That metaphor would be amusing if Nigerian political parties came with certificates of ownership issued by heaven.

Political parties are voluntary political organizations.

Membership changes.

Leaders change.

Coalitions change.

Politicians defect.

Voters change their minds.

Political fortunes rise and fall.

No political party has a permanent deed of title over the Nigerian electorate.

And certainly no party has a permanent deed of title over Delta State.

If Basil believes APC will dominate Delta until eternity, he should make the prediction confidently and allow history to grade him.

Because elections have a very irritating habit of exposing political arrogance.

THE REAL QUESTION

Instead of spending pages calling ADC and NDC pit latrines, why not tell Deltans what APC will do differently?

Why not explain:

- How APC will improve the lives of ordinary Deltans.
- How it will create jobs.
- How it will strengthen education.
- How it will improve healthcare.
- How it will address youth unemployment.
- How it will develop Delta's infrastructure.
- How it will protect democratic institutions.
- How it will convince voters rather than insult opponents.

That would be political writing.

That would be intellectual competition.

That would be useful.

But when the central argument becomes “your party is a refuse dump and my party is a big river,” one begins to suspect that the river has run short of water.

FINALLY, BASIL...

You accused Dr. Okubor of being surrounded by latrine imagery.

Yet your response is so obsessed with the same imagery that one might reasonably ask:

Who is actually living in the latrine—the man who used the metaphor once, or the man who spent an entire article rolling around in it?

You wanted to diminish Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor.

Instead, you reminded Nigerians that he is a medical doctor, former commissioner, former Chief of Staff, administrator, political strategist and a first-class Music graduate who returned to university at 63.

You tried to reduce his name to “Festus.”

But history has already attached something larger to it:

Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor.

And Basil Okoh should perhaps learn the difference between attacking a man's argument and attempting to bury his pedigree beneath insults.

Politics is not a cemetery where every opponent must be buried.

It is a contest of ideas.

So let APC bring its ideas.

Let ADC bring its ideas.

Let NDC bring its ideas.

Let PDP bring its ideas.

And let Deltans decide.

Because, ultimately, the electorate—not Basil Okoh, not Dr. Festus Okubor, not APC, not ADC, not NDC—owns the farm.

And when the harvest comes, every political thief, landlord, tenant and self-appointed gatekeeper will have to stand before the same farmer:

the people.

VERYDARKMAN, THE NBA AND THE VOICE OF THE STREET: PROFESSIONAL TITLES MUST NOT SILENCE GRASSROOTS REALITY

I HAVE HEARD FEMI FALANA, SAN AND I RESPECT HIS RECORD, HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS PLACE IN NIGERIA’S LEGAL HISTORY. BUT ON THIS MATTER, I STAND FIRM WITH VERYDARKMAN. The Nigerian Bar Association is a prestigious professional institution, and nobody disputes the importance of lawyers, judges, academics and security professionals contributing to serious national conversations. But Nigeria is not a courtroom, and Nigerians do not live their entire lives inside law chambers. The country is a rough, complicated battlefield of real life problems, and any serious discussion about justice, insecurity and society must have room for voices coming directly from that battlefield. Professional status should never become a gate that locks ordinary Nigerians outside conversations about their own suffering.

Let us be brutally honest: VERYDARKMAN DOES NOT NEED A LAW DEGREE TO KNOW WHAT NIGERIANS ARE GOING THROUGH. He is not claiming to be a SAN, intelligence officer, professor or security commander. His strength comes from somewhere else his direct contact with the people. Nigerians send him complaints, reports, videos, testimonies and information from places where many institutions are often slow to arrive. He has used his enormous public platform to drag buried issues into national consciousness and force conversations that might otherwise have died quietly. That does not automatically make every allegation he raises true, and it certainly does not make him infallible. But pretending that his grassroots reach and public influence are worthless simply because he lacks professional credentials is intellectual arrogance.

A CERTIFICATE TELLS YOU WHAT SOMEONE STUDIED; EXPERIENCE CAN TELL YOU WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LIVING. A security specialist may understand intelligence systems. A lawyer may understand statutes and constitutional principles. An academic may dissect policy from a scholarly position. But the trader whose community is terrified, the family whose relative disappeared, the young man facing injustice, and the ordinary citizen who has lost confidence in institutions also possess a form of knowledge that cannot be printed on a certificate. VeryDarkMan has positioned himself directly in that space. His approach is loud, confrontational and sometimes uncomfortable but discomfort is not automatically ignorance. Sometimes the person shouting from the street is shouting because the people inside the building have stopped hearing what is happening outside.

I AM NOT ARGUING THAT VERYDARKMAN SHOULD SIT ABOVE LAWYERS OR REPLACE SECURITY EXPERTS. THAT WOULD BE ABSURD. Let the legal giants dissect the law. Let security professionals explain threats and intelligence. Let academics analyse the evidence. Let judges provide judicial wisdom. But after all those experts have spoken, why should the grassroots voice be treated as contamination? If anything, professionals should be confident enough to hear opposing perspectives without trembling behind their titles. The NBA should not become a fortress where only people carrying professional credentials are permitted to discuss Nigeria’s problems. If lawyers truly want to understand the society their profession serves, they must occasionally step outside the comfort of their chambers and hear the language of the streets.

SO, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO FEMI FALANA, SAN I DISAGREE. VeryDarkMan is not a lawyer, and nobody should manufacture qualifications for him. He is not a security professional, and nobody should confuse activism with formal expertise. But he is a formidable public voice with extraordinary grassroots reach, and millions of Nigerians clearly pay attention to what he says. That reality cannot be wished away by professional prestige. THE PEOPLE ARE NOT A FOOTNOTE TO NIGERIA’S LEGAL SYSTEM. THEY ARE THE REASON THE SYSTEM EXISTS. If the NBA wants a conversation that reflects Nigeria as it truly is not Nigeria as it appears on paper then it should be prepared to hear uncomfortable voices. LAW MUST COME DOWN FROM THE SHELF, WALK INTO THE STREET AND CONFRONT REALITY. That is why I stand with VeryDarkMan on this issue.

Dr. Godwin Obire

CONGRATULATIONS TO HON. CHIEF HENRY AFURE SAKPRA: A SQUARE PEG IN A SQUARE HOLE

On behalf of myself and my associates, I heartily congratulate you on your well deserved appointment by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the General Manager of the Delta State Social Investment Programme (DSIP).

This appointment is a clear demonstration of the Governor’s confidence in your competence, experience, character and capacity to deliver on the objectives of the programme. Indeed, it is a classic case of “a square peg in a square hole.” Your appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, considering the important mandate of the Delta State Social Investment Programme to address poverty, hunger, unemployment and other forms of social deprivation among residents of the State.

I commend His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for making such a strategic and timely appointment. It further underscores his administration’s commitment to building an inclusive Delta where government interventions reach the vulnerable and disadvantaged without discrimination.

Your new responsibility is both a privilege and a significant call to service. I am confident that, with your wealth of experience, dedication and understanding of the needs of our people, you will bring renewed energy, professionalism and effective leadership to the programme.

As you assume this important office, I wish you wisdom, strength and success in the discharge of your duties. I am confident that your tenure will contribute meaningfully to the success of the MORE Agenda of the Oborevwori administration and, most importantly, improve the lives of vulnerable residents across Delta State.

Once again, congratulations, Hon. Chief Henry Afure Sakpra. May your appointment mark the beginning of an impactful and rewarding chapter of public service.

Warmest congratulations and best wishes.

Signed:
Olorogun Amb. Frank Avwerous' Ossai
Former APC Aspirant, Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency

COLLEGE OF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS LEADERSHIP VISITS DELTA STATE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, REAFFIRMS COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO GOVERNMENT AND 2027

The leadership of the College of Executive Assistants to the Delta State Governor, under the chairmanship of Hon. Misan Raphael Ukubeyinje, Esq., MCMC, MCArb, paid a courtesy visit to the State Director of Protocol (SDOP), Government House, Chief Sunday Onoriode, JP, a respected political strategist, unifying figure and dependable stakeholder in the administration.

The visit was anchored on a simple but fundamental principle: the collective interest must always rise above personal ambition, factional interests and individual considerations. Discussions centred on strengthening the College of Executive Assistants, deepening cooperation among members, supporting the administration and ensuring that Executive Assistants remain effective grassroots bridges between government and the people.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the College of Executive Assistants, Hon. Misan Raphael Ukubeyinje, Esq., commended His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, for the remarkable achievements of his administration across Delta State, particularly in infrastructure, road construction, flyovers, healthcare, education, human capital development, security and other people oriented projects. He noted that the visible development across the state reflects the Governor’s commitment to good governance and the wellbeing of Deltans, describing the achievements as worthy of commendation and continued support in the collective interest of Delta State.

The Chairman further emphasised the importance of unity, purposeful leadership and collective responsibility, stressing that the College must remain organised, disciplined and politically relevant while ensuring that its members are adequately positioned to contribute meaningfully to the success and stability of the administration.

He added that Executive Assistants are not merely political appointees but critical actors in grassroots mobilisation, communication and representation. Consequently, the collective welfare, political advancement and professional dignity of members must remain central to the agenda of the College.

Receiving the delegation, Chief Sunday Onoriode, JP, welcomed the leadership and commended the College for taking steps to strengthen unity and constructive engagement. He encouraged members to remain focused, loyal and committed to the success of the administration, emphasising that the essence of political leadership is humanity, service and the ability to give people a genuine sense of belonging.

The Director of Protocol urged Executive Assistants to return to their respective wards, communities and local government areas to strengthen engagement with the people. He emphasised that political strength is built from the grassroots and that every aide has a responsibility to listen to the people, identify their concerns, communicate government programmes effectively and mobilise support for the collective political interest as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.

He further encouraged members to avoid unnecessary divisions and personal conflicts, stressing that where the collective interest is at stake, unity must prevail over individual differences. He noted that the success of the administration and the political future of the collective depend substantially on the commitment, discipline and grassroots effectiveness of those working within its political structure.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss practical ways through which the College can become stronger, more coordinated and more useful to the administration, particularly in grassroots engagement, political mobilisation, welfare, communication, unity among Executive Assistants and strategic participation in the political process.

The College leadership expressed profound appreciation to Chief Sunday Onoriode, JP, for the warm reception, valuable counsel and continued commitment to issues affecting the collective interest of Executive Assistants. The leadership described his intervention as a timely reminder that political appointments come with responsibility and that the ultimate measure of leadership is the positive impact made on the people.

The delegation comprised Paul Uwechue, Esq., Deputy Chairman, College of Executive Assistants; Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, Secretary, College of Executive Assistants; and Chief Paul Osemele, Elder and Leader, College of Executive Assistants.

The College of Executive Assistants remains committed to unity, responsible political engagement, grassroots mobilisation, the welfare of its members and the overall success of the administration. As 2027 approaches, the College will continue to encourage its members to take the message of good governance, unity and collective responsibility back to their respective wards and local government areas.

The message is clear: the time for fragmentation is over. The collective interest must come first, and every Executive Assistant must be prepared to return to the grassroots, engage the people and contribute meaningfully to political stability and the success of the administration.

Signed:

Hon. Misan Raphael Ukubeyinje, Esq., MCMC, MCArb
Chairman, College of Executive Assistants

Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD
Secretary, College of Executive Assistants

THE CROWN IS WON BY THE ARMY, NOT THE GENERAL: ADELEKE’S VICTORY IS A MONUMENT TO EMPOWERED AIDES, A DEATH KNELL FOR NEGLIGENT GOVERNORS.

OBIRÉ BLASTS ADELEKE’S ENEMIES, HAILS A BOSS WHO FEEDS HIS SOLDIERS – WARNS LAZY GOVERNORS: YOUR THRONE IS A TIMEBOMB.

Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, the battle-hardened Chairman of Concerned Nigerians for Better Nigeria (CNBN) and Executive Assistant (Political) to the Delta State Governor, has fired a thunderous salute across the political landscape, congratulating Osun State’s Governor elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for a victory carved from the bedrock of loyalty, not luck.

This is not a victory won by federal might or the godfathers' coffers. No. This is a brutal, earth-shaking triumph built on one unforgiving principle: Adeleke took care of his own. While his opponents hoarded power and starved their foot soldiers, Adeleke bathed his Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and every aide in the rain of empowerment. He gave them more than a salary he gave them a stake. He gave them a reason to bleed for his return. And they did.

Obire declared in a no holds barred statement: “That Osun people saw the heart of Sen. Ademola Adeleke and reposed their trust in him is because he treated his men like lions, not like beggars. He did not merely pay them; he empowered them, he gave them a sense of belonging, and he made them co owners of the collective vision. There was no internal conspiracy against him because there was no internal starvation. You cannot lay down your life for a master who doesn't feed you. Adeleke fed his people, and they devoured his enemies at the polls.”

Obire drove the dagger deeper: “This victory is a lesson for every conceited, deaf, and blind governor who rides on the backs of their aides and forgets them the moment the certificate of return is printed. Hear me clearly, you incompetent overlords: Your aides are not slaves; they are your pillars. If you squeeze them dry without empowerment, they will rot the very foundation you stand on. As we march toward 2027, you have two choices wake up and empower your people, or face a merciless internal conspiracy that will oust you from your own palace.”

“Do not be deceived that your seat is secured by your personal brilliance. It is a collective responsibility. You are the head, but your aides are the neck. Twist the neck, and the head dies.” Obire charged.

“The light has blazed across Osun State in August. It will burn through every state in Nigeria come February 2027. To neglecting governors: empower your aides or prepare your obituaries. Politics is a battlefield, and the soldiers you starve today are the rebels who will bury you tomorrow.”

The statement concluded with a firm pledge: “Senator Adeleke, we stand with you. The dying greedy politicians who used men and discarded them will scheme, but they are already dead men walking. Your victory is the people’s verdict. Glory to the collective, shame to the oppressors.”

OBIRE CONGRATULATES ADELEKE: OSUN VICTORY IS A BRUTAL LESSON IN POLITICAL LOYALTY AND EMPOWERMENT

Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, Chairman of Concerned Nigerians for Better Nigeria (CNBN) and Executive Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has congratulated the Governor elect of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory at the polls.

Obire described the victory as a powerful demonstration of what happens when a political leader gives his people a genuine sense of belonging, empowerment, dignity and ownership of the political project. According to him, Adeleke did not merely ask his aides and political associates to work for him; he made them feel that they were part of his success and had a personal stake in protecting the collective interest.

“Senator Adeleke’s victory is not accidental. It is the product of effective leadership, teamwork, strategic mobilisation, humility and, most importantly, the way he treated and empowered the people working with him. His aides, commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants and other political associates were not treated as disposable political tools. They were given a sense of belonging, supported and empowered to the extent that they could see his victory as their own victory.

“That is the difference between merely having aides and building a loyal political army. When people know that their principal genuinely cares about their welfare and political future, they will go beyond the ordinary call of duty to defend the collective interest. They will work, sacrifice, mobilise and fight for the success of the administration because they know that its success also protects their own future.

“Osun has therefore delivered a message that every political leader must understand: you cannot continuously neglect, impoverish and humiliate the people working for you and expect them to put their lives, resources and political futures on the line for you. Politics is a collective responsibility. Nobody becomes governor by himself. Behind every successful governor are aides, commissioners, party leaders, supporters, political associates and ordinary citizens who make the victory possible.

“This victory should serve as a wake-up call to governors who have forgotten those who helped them get to power. As we approach the 2027 elections, any governor who continues to neglect, frustrate or deliberately disempower his aides and political structure should not be surprised when internal conspiracy, resentment and political rebellion begin to grow from within. You cannot starve the engine of your political vehicle and expect it to carry you to another victory.

“Some governors have become too comfortable and have started believing that becoming governor was entirely their personal achievement. It was not. It was a collective effort. The people who worked day and night, mobilised voters, defended their principals, spent their resources and endured political attacks also own a piece of that victory.

“Adeleke’s victory is therefore not just an electoral victory; it is a political lesson. Empower your people, give them a sense of belonging, protect their interests and they will protect your political future. Neglect them, abandon them and treat them as expendable, and you may discover too late that the greatest opposition to your re-election is not outside your government but inside the structure you built yourself.

“On behalf of the Concerned Nigerians for Better Nigeria, I congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke on this historic victory. May his victory translate into greater development, unity, empowerment and prosperity for the people of Osun State.

“Osun has spoken. The message is clear: political loyalty must be earned, not demanded. Leadership must be reciprocal, not one-sided. And those who empower their people will have people willing to defend their collective interest when it matters most.

“As we move towards 2027, other governors should wake up, look inward and put their political houses in order. The people are watching, the aides are watching, and the electorate will ultimately have the final say.”

No More Fake Fuel Promises: Tinubu Stopped the Bleeding

By Dr Festus Goziem Okubor writing from Ute-Erumu

Let us begin with a number so obscene it should make every Nigerian's blood boil: Four trillion naira. That is what the fuel subsidy hemorrhage cost this nation in 2022 alone. Not on schools. Not on hospitals. Not on the roads that swallowed trucks. Four trillion naira vanished into the pockets of smugglers, cartel kingpins, and the political godfathers who turned Nigeria's treasury into their personal automated teller machine.
No doubt, the forecasts for 2023 were worse: over six trillion naira, a sum larger than the entire federal budgets of Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire combined, was projected to go up in smoke, literally. This was not a social safety net. This was not a helping hand for the poor. This was beyond reasonable sense, organized, industrial-scale looting dressed in the language of compassion. The Nigerian fuel subsidy was the greatest heist in the economic history of modern Africa, and for forty years, every single man who occupied Aso Rock looked the other way until May 29, 2023.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the microphone, looked the subsidy vampire in the eye, and drove a stake through its heart. "Subsidy is gone," he said. No committee. No white paper. No six-month stakeholder consultation designed to produce nothing. Just three words that every one of his predecessors lacked the spine to utter. That is what this piece is about: not spin, not propaganda, but the Cowardice Archive: Forty Years of Broken Promises.
Let us be brutally honest about our history, because the opposition would prefer we rather forget it.
Olusegun Obasanjo tried in 2003. He announced subsidy removal, faced protests, and retreated so fast you could hear the wind break. He tried again in 2004, then 2007; each time blinking at the first sign of resistance. The man who once boasted that Nigeria was not a nation of cows, yet the subsidy swallowed another trillion.
Goodluck Jonathan's turn; 2012. The Occupy Nigeria movement took to the streets, and Jonathan, facing an election season capitulated completely. He not only restored the subsidy but entrenched it, ensuring the government, deducting billions at source for "under-recovery" a phrase that should live in infamy as the most expensive euphemism in Nigerian history.
Recall the scene again; Inauguration Day. The presidential speech writers must have scripted the norm; politically correct platitudes; false hope, soothing words with unrealistic inanities. Instead, Tinubu went off-script and detonated a policy bomb: "The fuel subsidy is gone."
The political class was stunned. Where were the committees? Where was the national dialogue? Where was the six-month palliation window that had killed every previous attempt? Tinubu had done the unthinkable: he simply acted. No consultation with the subsidy cartel. No negotiation with the smugglers. No advance warning to the political godfathers who had grown fat on the arbitrage between Nigeria's subsidized campaigns on removing the subsidy. Unlike his predecessors, who promised reform and delivered capitulation, Tinubu promised action, and for the first time in Nigerian history, a president's word was total, final and unbreakable.
Tinubu's May 29 declaration was not cruel. It was the long-overdue demolition of a criminal enterprise masquerading as social policy. No doubt the petrol prices soared as the immediate effect of the proclamation. This part is always painted by political antagonists, in its most gruesome form, while seeking to defame Tinubu as the cruelest President Nigeria ever had. They refuse to speak on the positive effect that this has on the economy: monthly allocations to states and Local Governments that once struggled to pay salaries now routinely exceed pre-2023 levels by margins of forty to sixty percent. Governors who spent years blaming Abuja for their insolvency suddenly found themselves with resources they had never seen. Whereas this article does not refute the fact that the masses have borne the immediate effect of subsidy removal, the price shock, real and painful as it is, should not mask the other reality of structural reallocation of national resources. Nigeria was spending more on subsidizing premium motor spirit than on its entire capital budget. Let that sink in: more on fuel than on roads, power, health, and education combined. Have you ever wondered why since 2023 there has been no serious fuel scarcity in Nigeria? By now, with the current military interface between America, Israel and Iran, and its attendant global oil crisis, the queues at filling stations as well as unreachable prices would have crippled the nation.
The IMF, no friend of populist presidents, wants us to believe that the Dangote Refinery with its 650,000 barrels per day of domestic refining capacity is somehow Aliko Dangote's achievement alone, disconnected from government policy. This is either ignorance or deceit. The Dangote Refinery reached operational status under Tinubu's watch, because Tinubu created the conditions for it to thrive. A downstream sector still shackled to subsidy economics would have made the refinery commercially unviable. Why would anyone invest billions in domestic refining price, quality, without competitive market access?
Consider where this leads: Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has spent decades importing refined petroleum because its own refineries were monuments to incompetence and corruption. The subsidy regime made this madness profitable. Why fix refineries when you could import and pocket the subsidy differential? Tinubu, the political tactician broke that vicious circle.
The end of fuel importation is no longer a distant dream. It is the logical terminus of policies now in motion. And when that day comes, when Nigeria refines every drop of its own crude, the credit will belong not only to Tinubu but to all of us through our collective resilience and defiance against all that robbed Nigeria thin and lean through the heist of petroleum subsidy. This collective resilience and defiance, no doubt, is coming with painful cost, as no honest supporter of this administration is oblivious to the pain, through inflation that the removal of Oil subsidy has brought on household budgets. This temporary painful condition, which will soon end in the glory of a salvaged nation, that the rent-seekers who fed on Nigeria for forty years will not refrain from deploying, using every bureaucratic trick, every media plant, every political proxy to claw 2027 general elections.
As we approach the 2027 crossroads, the question on the ballot cannot be clearer. On one side: the subsidy vampires, the political actors, business cartels, and bureaucratic networks that fed on the narrative that "Tinubu has made life harder." They will promise to bring back the "good old days" of cheap fuel. They will not mention that those days were financed by debt our grandchildren will repay. On the other side: a president who, whatever his imperfections, did what no one before him dared to do. He looked at a system designed to impoverish the nation and enrich a few, and he dismantled it. Not gradually. Not after a committee report. On Day One.
The history of nations is written at moments like this. Every country that has ever broken free of a resource curse, whether Indonesia under Suharto, Brazil under Cardoso, or India under Rao, did so because someone, somewhere, decided to stop the bleeding, whatever the political cost.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu made that decision for Nigeria on May 29, 2023. The reforms are not complete. The pain has not fully subsided. But the hemorrhage has been stanched. The patient is stabilizing. No more fake fuel promises. Nigeria has heard enough of those to last a lifetime. What we have now for the first time in a generation, is a president who said he would act, and did.
That is a story worth telling in 2027. That is a record worth defending. That is a man worth reelecting.

Happy 7th Birthday to My Beloved Last Child, Efebunor!

Today, I give all the glory to God for the precious gift of your life. As my beloved last child, you are a special blessing to our family, and I thank the Lord every day for entrusting you to me. As you celebrate your 7th birthday, I pray that God will continue to protect you, guide your steps, and fill your life with His grace, wisdom, and unfailing love.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." — Jeremiah 29:11

May the Almighty God grant you long life, good health, divine favor, knowledge, understanding, and the courage to always walk in His ways. May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, excel in all that you do, and fulfill the glorious destiny God has prepared for you. May His angels watch over you every day of your life.

Happy 7th Birthday, my beloved last child, Efebunor. You are deeply loved, and I pray that the Lord will bless you beyond measure and make you a source of joy to your family and to the world.

With all my love,
Dad.

Godwin Obire PhD

DR. GODWIN OBIRE

Scholar, Political Strategist, Public Affairs Consultant, Entrepreneur, and Advocate for National Development

Born in Agbarho Orohokpokpo, Delta State, Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Obire is a distinguished scholar, political strategist, public affairs consultant, entrepreneur, and advocate for good governance whose life reflects an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, public service, leadership, and national development.

His educational journey began at DSC Model Primary School 3, where he laid the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and excellence. He subsequently attended Fieldcrest International High School, Ekete Udu, before completing his secondary education at JFK International High School, Warri.

Driven by an exceptional passion for learning, Dr. Obire gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt, where he graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Accounting, distinguishing himself as an outstanding student. Following the successful completion of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Niger State Ministry of Finance, Suleja, he expanded his academic horizons through further studies abroad.

His quest for global knowledge led him to the prestigious Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, one of the world's leading research institutions, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) Degree in Chemical, Environmental and Logistics Engineering. This achievement further reinforced his multidisciplinary academic profile and global perspective.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Dr. Obire continued his pursuit of higher learning by obtaining a Master's Degree in Environmental Management from Delta State University, Abraka. He subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Public Administration, demonstrating his commitment to understanding and advancing governance, public policy, and institutional development. In line with his belief that education is a continuous journey, he is currently pursuing a Degree in Law at Admiralty University of Nigeria.

Beyond his academic accomplishments, Dr. Obire has built an impressive career spanning governance, legislative affairs, political communication, and public administration. His expertise earned him an appointment as Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ovie Omo Agege during his tenure as Deputy President of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In this role, he played a significant part in strategic political communication, legislative engagement, and policy support.

He later served as Political Consultant to Senator Ned Nwoko, providing strategic political counsel and contributing to legislative and policy initiatives. During this period, he became actively involved in advocacy efforts supporting the creation of Anioma State, reflecting his commitment to constitutional development, equity, and regional advancement.

Over the years, Dr. Obire has worked closely with several distinguished senators, political leaders, and public officials across Nigeria, offering valuable expertise in governance, legislative processes, policy formulation, political communication, and strategic planning. His deep understanding of public administration and political systems has earned him recognition as a respected political strategist and public affairs consultant.

A firm believer in nation building and civic responsibility, Dr. Obire founded Concerned Nigerians for a Better Nigeria (CNBN), a platform dedicated to promoting good governance, democratic values, and national development. He was also associated with the Save Nigeria Group, contributing to advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening democracy, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.

His experience in public service further expanded when he was appointed Senior Special Assistant (Political) to former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. He currently serves as Executive Assistant (Political) to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, where he continues to contribute to political administration, stakeholder engagement, and policy coordination.

In addition to his public service career, Dr. Obire is an accomplished entrepreneur and business executive. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of E.O.E Nigeria Limited, Obire Nigeria Limited, and EDAFE ONANEFE EFEBUNOR Nigeria Limited, overseeing diverse business interests and contributing meaningfully to economic growth and enterprise development.

Widely admired for his intellectual depth, strategic insight, leadership capacity, and dedication to excellence, Dr. Obire has established himself as a respected voice in governance, politics, and public affairs. His life story is one of determination, continuous self improvement, visionary leadership, and service to humanity.

Dr. Godwin Obire is happily married to Maria Godwin Obire. Their union, which commenced in 2005, is blessed with children. Together, they have built a strong family founded on faith, love, integrity, and shared values, while continuing to make meaningful contributions to their community and society at large.

Godwin Obire Profile & Biography

Born in Agbarho Orohokpokpor, Delta State, Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Obire's life journey reflects a remarkable commitment to education, public service, leadership, and national development.

His educational journey began at DSC Model Primary School 3, where he laid the foundation for what would become an outstanding academic career.

He later attended Fieldcrest International High School, Ekete-Udu, before continuing his secondary education at JFK International High School, Warri.

Determined to excel, he proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt, where he distinguished himself academically and graduated with a First-Class Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Accounting.

Upon completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Niger State Ministry of Finance in Suleja, he broadened his horizons by pursuing further studies abroad.

His quest for knowledge took him to the prestigious Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, one of the world's foremost research universities.

There, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) Degree in Chemical, Environmental and Logistics Engineering, adding an international dimension to his academic accomplishments.

Returning to Nigeria, Dr. Obire continued his pursuit of excellence by obtaining a Master's Degree in Environmental Management from Delta State University, Abraka.

Not satisfied with stopping there, he further advanced his academic credentials by earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Public Administration.

In keeping with his belief that learning is a lifelong process, he is currently studying Law at Admiralty University of Nigeria.

Alongside his academic achievements, Dr. Obire built an impressive career in governance, politics, and public administration.

His expertise and dedication earned him an appointment as Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the 9th Senate, where he played an important role in strategic political communication and legislative affairs.

He later served as Political Consultant to Senator Ned Nwoko, providing strategic political advice and contributing to policy and legislative initiatives.

During this period, he became actively involved in advocacy efforts supporting the creation of Anioma State, demonstrating his commitment to constitutional development and regional advancement.

Over the years, he has worked closely with several senators and senior public officials across Nigeria, providing valuable input on governance, legislative processes, policy formulation, and political strategy.

His deep understanding of public administration, governance, and legislative affairs has earned him recognition as a respected political strategist and public affairs consultant.

Driven by a passion for national development, Dr. Obire founded the Concerned Nigerians for a Better Nigeria (CNBN), a platform dedicated to promoting good governance and national progress.

He was also associated with the Save Nigeria Group, where he contributed to advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening democracy and accountability in Nigeria.

His experience in government further expanded when he was appointed Senior Special Assistant (Political) to former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Building on that experience, he currently serves as Executive Assistant (Political) to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, where he continues to contribute to political administration and stakeholder engagement.

Beyond politics and public service, Dr. Obire has established himself as a successful entrepreneur and business executive.

He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of E.O.E Nigeria Limited, Obire Nigeria Limited, and EDAFE ONANEFE EFEBUNOR Nigeria Limited, overseeing diverse business interests and contributing to economic development.

Widely admired for his intellectual depth, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to excellence, he has earned a reputation as a leader who combines academic achievement with practical experience.

His story is one of determination, continuous self-improvement, and service to humanity, making him a distinguished figure in both public and private life.

Dr. Godwin Obire is happily married to Maria Godwin Obire, and their union, which began in 2005, is blessed with children.

Together, they have built a strong family founded on love, faith, and shared values, while continuing to make meaningful contributions to their community and society at large.

NDC AND ADC: DELTA’S POLITICAL PIT LATRINES AND REFUSE DUMPS

By Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor

Writing from Ute Erumu

There is an old African proverb which says: “When a goat begins to eat from the refuse dump, it soon forgets the difference between vegetables and nylon.” That proverb perfectly captures the present political comedy playing out in Delta State.

The NDC and ADC have suddenly transformed themselves into political pit latrines and refuse dumps — open spaces where every rejected, expired, smelling, and politically decomposed element believes there is still room to land. In those parties, nobody asks questions. Nobody checks ideological temperature. Nobody asks where you are coming from or what disaster you caused before arriving. Once you can crawl, limp, stagger, or be wheelbarrowed in, you are welcomed with drums and stale rice.

Indeed, these parties have become like public refuse bins beside a market during the rainy season. Everything enters there: rotten tomatoes, dead rats, leaking pampers, broken buckets, expired ambitions, and failed politicians. The only thing missing is a signboard saying: “Bring Your Political Waste Here.”

In APC, there is structure, competition, discipline, and political relevance. You must prove capacity. You must show strength. You must convince the people. But in NDC and ADC, the story is different. The moment APC closes its gate against unseriousness and political indiscipline, these parties quickly open their back doors shouting, “Come inside! Even if the people rejected you, we can still manage you!”

It is gradually becoming a rehabilitation centre for political casualties.

One begins to wonder whether these parties are political organisations or emergency shelters for rejected ambitions.

An elder once said: “The vulture does not reject rotten meat.” That is exactly the situation. APC leads and sets the pace, while NDC and ADC wait eagerly like roadside scavengers hoping to inherit whatever APC throws away. If APC sneezes, they catch cold. If APC disciplines a member, they rush with buckets to collect the tears.

What kind of politics is this?

A politician abuses a party in the morning, condemns its leadership in the afternoon, and by evening is negotiating for automatic tickets elsewhere. Tomorrow, he will begin to speak about “rescue mission” and “moving Delta forward.” Forward to where? To the refuse dump?

This is no longer politics. This is pure rascality decorated in agbada.

Politics is supposed to be built on principles, ideology, conviction, and loyalty. But what we see today resembles a village masquerade running mad in the marketplace. People move from one party to another like hungry goats jumping fences in search of cassava peels.

The tragedy is that NDC and ADC appear excited about it. They celebrate every defector as though they have captured a political lion, whereas most of them are merely political mechanics whose vehicles have refused to start. Some could not win their polling units. Some cannot gather ten youths under a mango tree without sharing transport fare. Yet, immediately they threaten to leave APC, desperate parties begin to promise them tickets as if they are electoral messiahs.

One proverb says: “When a drowning man sees a floating coffin, he mistakes it for a rescue boat.” That is the current romance between failed politicians and these parties.

Imagine a student repeatedly failing examinations but still demanding to be made class captain. That is exactly what is happening. Political failure is now seeking promotion through defection.

The funniest part is the sudden grammar that follows every movement. Somebody who could not maintain relevance in APC suddenly begins to speak about “democracy,” “justice,” “consultation,” and “inclusive participation.” These are usually the same people who disappeared after elections, only to reappear when ticket season arrives.

If political inconsistency were an Olympic sport, some of these defectors would win gold medals for Delta State.

The truth remains obvious: APC is the dominant political force. Others survive largely by feeding on bitterness, recycled grievances, and rejected ambitions. APC is the big river; the others are seasonal gutters waiting for rainwater.

And there is another proverb for them: “A refuse dump may grow taller, but it never becomes a mountain.”

No serious political party builds its future by assembling every disgruntled politician with a cracked ambition. When every rejected item becomes valuable simply because it was rejected elsewhere, then standards have collapsed completely.

One must ask: if these politicians were truly transformational leaders, why were they unable to survive where real political competition exists? Why do they suddenly become attractive only after rejection?

The answer is simple: a drowning political structure will celebrate even a leaking canoe.

NDC and ADC have become political orphanages where failed ambition goes for emotional support. There, everyone is promised “automatic ticket,” “stakeholder recognition,” and “strategic relevance.” It is the same way roadside herbalists promise to cure headache, broken legs, infertility, and spiritual attacks with one bottle of concoction.

Sadly, the electorate is wiser today. Delta people know the difference between genuine leadership and political tourism. You cannot continue jumping from one party to another like a cricket escaping broom strokes and expect people to clap for you.

As our elders wisely say: “The fly that has no adviser follows the corpse into the grave.”

Political prostitution disguised as strategy will never replace integrity, loyalty, and genuine service. Parties that specialise in collecting APC rejects may make temporary noise, but noise alone does not build political credibility.

In the end, a pit latrine may receive every kind of waste, but nobody mistakes it for a dining table.

And that is precisely the political tragedy of NDC and ADC in Delta State.

It's accumulatively allocations for almost 7 years it should be above that amount because they get about 500million every month apart from internal generated revenue

Pressure Mounts on Oshimili LG Boss as Residents Drag Chairman to ICPC Over Alleged ₦18bn Fraud

The Chairman of Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, has come under intense scrutiny following a petition filed before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing him of allegedly diverting and misappropriating over ₦18 billion meant for developmental projects in the council area.

The petition, dated May 11, 2026, was submitted to the anti-graft agency by a group of concerned indigenes and residents of Oshimili LGA, who alleged that huge allocations received by the council over a five-year period could not be matched with visible projects or meaningful development on ground.

In the document addressed to the Chairman of the ICPC in Abuja, the petitioners claimed that Oshimili Local Government received an estimated ₦500 million monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between 2021 and 2026, bringing the total allocation within the period to about ₦18 billion.

They alleged that the funds, which were intended for the provision of roads, schools, healthcare centres, water projects and other social amenities, were not properly utilized for the benefit of the people.

According to the petitioners, several communities within the local government still grapple with deteriorating infrastructure, abandoned public facilities and poor social services despite the enormous allocations allegedly received by the council administration.

The petition further alleged that no major developmental project of significant value could be traced to the administration of Hon. Esewezie, claiming that existing schools, health centres and road networks across the local government remained in poor condition.
The aggrieved residents also accused the council chairman of failing to provide transparent records of expenditure or subject the council’s finances to public scrutiny.

They maintained that repeated demands by community leaders, civil society organisations and stakeholders for accountability allegedly yielded no result, as the administration reportedly failed to organise public briefings, release audited financial statements or provide procurement records for projects executed within the period.

The petitioners alleged that the refusal to make the council’s financial records public raised strong suspicions of diversion of public funds and abuse of office.

They further claimed that available information suggested that a substantial portion of the allocations may have been diverted for personal enrichment rather than public development, describing the situation as a betrayal of public trust.
The petition cited alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the Criminal Code Act and the EFCC Act 2004, including allegations bordering on criminal breach of trust, stealing, conspiracy, abuse of office and concealment of proceeds of unlawful activities.

As part of the investigation being sought, the petitioners urged the ICPC to obtain FAAC allocation records for Oshimili LGA from the Federal Ministry of Finance, subpoena banks managing the council accounts and invite all officials connected to the management of the local government funds for interrogation.

They also appealed to the commission to trace, freeze and recover any funds found to have been illegally diverted and prosecute anyone found culpable after investigations.
The petition was jointly signed by Peter Okeleke, Chief Hilary Okafor, Martins F. Esewesie, Sir Abuha Oliver, Charles Odinma and Dr. Hallelujah Asiano, who declared their readiness to provide additional evidence and testify under oath before investigators.

Attempts to get the reaction of Hon. Innocent Esewezie on the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

OLOROGUN AMBASSADOR FRANK AVWEROSUOGHENE OSSAI PASSES APC SCREENING, SETS THE STAGE FOR A NEW DAWN IN UGHELLI/UDU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

Today in Abuja, I, Olorogun Ambassador Frank Avwerosuoghene Ossai, proudly and successfully appeared before the Screening Committee of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 Ughelli/Udu Federal House of Representatives Primary Election. This successful screening process is not just a personal achievement, but a clear confirmation of our collective preparedness, credibility, capacity, and unwavering commitment to serve the people of Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency with vision, competence, and integrity.

I sincerely appreciate the leadership of our great party under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, alongside the respected members of the National Working Committee, for conducting a transparent, credible, and successful screening exercise which has further strengthened confidence in the democratic process of our party. The successful outcome of the screening has once again affirmed that we have fully satisfied every constitutional and party requirement necessary to fly the flag of the APC after victory at the forthcoming primary election.

This movement is beyond politics; it is about the future of our people, the rebuilding of trust between leadership and the electorate, the strengthening of effective legislative representation, and the restoration of dignity, accessibility, and purposeful governance in the Green Chamber. Our mission remains firmly rooted in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda while consolidating and complementing the developmental strides of our dynamic and performing Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the overall progress of Delta State and Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency.

The growing support across Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Local Government Areas is a clear indication that the people are ready for a new era of responsive representation, people-oriented leadership, youth inclusion, infrastructural development, empowerment, and quality service delivery. The voices of the people are becoming louder each day, demanding a representative who understands their struggles, shares in their aspirations, and possesses the capacity to effectively defend their interests at the National Assembly.

I remain deeply humbled and inspired by the overwhelming solidarity, prayers, encouragement, and confidence reposed in me by the good people of Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, particularly the Urhobo Youth Movement (UYM) — Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Chapters — the Ughelli/Udu Motorcycle Association (UUMA), and The Transformation Movement (TGU) Group for Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, who collectively purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms on my behalf. Your sacrifice and belief in this project will never be taken for granted.

Together, we are building a stronger, united, and more prosperous Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency where every community matters, every youth has hope, every woman has a voice, and every stakeholder is carried along in the journey of progress and inclusive development. The time has come for purposeful representation driven by competence, accessibility, accountability, and genuine love for the people.

I assure our party faithful, supporters, stakeholders, and the entire electorate that this journey shall remain people-centered, issue-based, peaceful, and focused on delivering practical solutions that will uplift our constituency and create lasting opportunities for future generations. By the grace of God and with the support of the people, victory is certain and a greater future lies ahead for Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency.

Signed:
Olorogun Ambassador Frank Avwerosuoghene Ossai
Incoming Member, Ughelli/Udu Federal House of Representatives

Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas and the Oteri Consensus Plot: Ughelli/Udu Will Resist Political Fraud and Illegal Candidate Imposition

Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas should immediately stop misleading the people of Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency with illegal consensus politics and intimidation tactics designed to undermine democracy and violate the Electoral Act 2022. At the political meeting reportedly held yesterday at his residence in Oteri, Ughelli, attended by Hon. Barr. Fred Majemite, Olorogun Morrison Olori, Olorogun Sir Kowho, Olorogun Justin Uloho, Barr. Jaro Egbo, the Ughelli North LGA Chairman, Dr. Akpoveta, Dr. Chris Oharisi, and other political associates, statements were allegedly made suggesting that aspirants who purchased nomination forms had already signed withdrawal consent documents binding them to forced consensus arrangements. That position is false, deceptive, unlawful, and completely inconsistent with both the Electoral Act 2022 and the democratic principles recognized under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act clearly provides that political parties may select candidates through direct primaries or consensus, but Sections 84(9), 84(10), and 84(11) specifically state that consensus can only stand when all cleared aspirants voluntarily agree in writing to withdraw and endorse a particular candidate. The law is clear and unambiguous: no aspirant can be forced, intimidated, manipulated, blackmailed, or deceived into consensus. Where even one aspirant refuses consent, the party is legally required to conduct direct or indirect primaries. Section 84(14) further gives every aggrieved aspirant the constitutional and legal right to challenge any illegal process in court. Therefore, any claim that aspirants unknowingly signed permanent withdrawal consent at the point of purchasing forms is not only politically dishonest but a dangerous abuse of due process that can throw the party into avoidable legal crisis and prolonged litigation.

It is disturbing that individuals who should understand the law are instead promoting political arrangements capable of destroying internal democracy within Ughelli Constituency I, Ughelli Constituency II, and the entire Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency. Nobody has the authority to impose candidates on the people through private meetings, pressure tactics, or backdoor arrangements. Democracy is not built inside living rooms or private compounds; democracy is tested openly through transparent and credible primaries where aspirants face the people and prove their popularity. Aspirants contesting elections today are backed by supporters across polling units, wards, communities, and local governments, not by a few individuals who gather to allocate positions among themselves in the name of consensus.

Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas must also understand that leadership is not inherited, self-declared, or enforced through intimidation. Nobody elected him as the sole political owner or landlord of Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency. Every stakeholder, political family, ward structure, community leader, polling unit coordinator, and aspirant has influence and relevance in their respective domains. He should therefore stop overestimating his political capacity or behaving as though decisions taken in his residence can determine the political destiny of an entire constituency. Political relevance is measured at the polls, not through closed-door meetings and threats. If any aspirant is truly popular, let such person go into a transparent primary election and emerge legitimately instead of hiding behind illegal consensus manipulation.

Let it therefore be clearly stated once again that nobody will be forced to step down for anybody in Ughelli Constituency I, Ughelli Constituency II, or Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency under threats, coercion, manipulation, or political intimidation. Any attempt to impose candidates, manipulate delegates, force withdrawals, or circumvent democratic procedures will be resisted politically and challenged legally to the fullest extent permitted under the law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees internal democracy, while the Electoral Act clearly defines the lawful conditions for consensus. Forced consensus is not recognized under Nigerian law and will never be accepted by genuine stakeholders committed to fairness, equity, and democratic participation. Those who believe they have the support of the people should stop hiding behind political meetings and go directly to the field to test their popularity through credible primaries.

Dr. Godwin Obire

Omelora Dumps ADC for NDC Amid Party Crisis

By Gavin Omote Abdullahi
Vanguard Newspaper

Dr. Chuks Okonji, popularly known as Omelora, a frontline aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State, has formally resigned his membership of the party, marking a significant political shift in the state’s evolving landscape.

His resignation, which took effect immediately, comes on the heels of the high-profile movement of former presidential candidate Peter Obi to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a development that has begun to reshape alliances and loyalties across party lines.

In a letter addressed to his Ward 6 Chairman in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Dr. Okonji expressed appreciation to the party structure at the grassroots while clearly stating that his decision was borne out of deep concerns over the internal state of the ADC.

“I hereby write to officially inform you that I have resigned my membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” the letter read, citing persistent litigations and internal disharmony that, according to him, have crippled the party’s ability to function effectively or provide a viable platform for political advancement.

He further noted that the lingering crises within the party had made meaningful progress increasingly unattainable, stressing that his political future could not be tied to a structure plagued by instability and uncertainty at such a critical time.

Dr. Okonji, a known loyalist of Peter Obi, wasted no time in aligning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), signaling what observers describe as a strategic realignment aimed at consolidating progressive forces ahead of future electoral contests.

The Ibusa-born politician is widely recognized for his strong grassroots appeal, having contested the Oshimili North State House of Assembly seat in 2023, where he claimed victory before the outcome was controversially overturned, a development his supporters continue to describe as a miscarriage of the people’s mandate.

Beyond politics, Omelora has built a reputation as a philanthropist whose generosity has impacted countless lives across Delta State, earning him a loyal base of supporters who view his political journey as a reflection of their collective aspirations.

With his defection now official, political analysts believe his move could trigger further exits from the ADC in Delta State, while strengthening the emerging influence of the NDC as it gathers momentum through high profile entrants and a growing grassroots following.

2027: Frank Avwerosuoghene Ossai Urges APC Unity to Secure Victory

By Gavin Omote Abdullahi
Tribune Newspaper

A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Olorogun Amb. Frank Avwerosuoghene Ossai, has stressed the need for unity within the party, warning that internal divisions could undermine its chances in the 2027 general elections.

Ossai, a party member from Orogun Ward in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, said cohesion, discipline, and mutual respect among members remain critical to sustaining the party’s electoral strength.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the aspirant reaffirmed his loyalty to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the leadership of the APC, describing the party as a stabilising force in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“The APC remains a foremost stabilising force in Nigeria’s democratic journey. With a clear mandate anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda, our party has continued to demonstrate capacity, resilience, and direction in steering the affairs of our nation,” he said.

He, however, emphasised that unity must take precedence over individual ambitions if the party hopes to secure victory in 2027.

“A united APC is an unbeatable APC. It is only through cohesion, discipline, mutual respect, and collective commitment that we can consolidate our achievements and secure a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections,” Ossai stated.

The aspirant also alleged that opposition forces are already attempting to exploit perceived cracks within the ruling party through what he described as “opportunistic alliances.”

“Recent developments indicate that opposition elements are attempting to capitalise on perceived differences within our ranks by orchestrating alliances designed to mislead Nigerians and derail our progress,” he said.

He added: “Let it be clearly stated: no coalition built on convenience, desperation, or mere power-seeking can rival the strength, depth, and credibility of a party grounded in ideology, service, and the enduring trust of the Nigerian people.”

Ossai called on party leaders and stakeholders at all levels from the grassroots to the national leadership to close ranks, strengthen internal harmony, and deepen engagement with Nigerians.

“We must remain focused on delivering good governance while reinforcing the unity that has sustained our dominance since 2015,” he said.

Speaking on his House of Representatives ambition, Ossai said it is driven by a desire to contribute to national development and the growth of the party.

“As an aspirant for the Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency in 2027, my ambition is not driven by personal gain, but by a sincere commitment to contribute meaningfully to the continued growth of our party and the advancement of our nation,” he said.

He added that he is ready to work with stakeholders to foster inclusivity and mobilise grassroots support ahead of the polls.

“The road to 2027 must not be defined by individual aspirations, but by a shared vision one party, one purpose, one Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency,” he said.

The call for unity comes amid early political realignments and subtle jostling for influence within major parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the APC continues to hold power at the federal level, political observers note that internal cohesion will be crucial as new and returning actors position themselves for future contests.

Formed in 2013 through a merger of opposition blocs, the APC rose to national prominence after defeating the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections the first time an incumbent federal government was unseated in Nigeria.

Since then, the party has retained power, producing successive administrations, including the current government led by President Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on economic reforms, infrastructure development, and social welfare programmes.

However, recent reports of shifting alliances among opposition parties and increased political consultations across the country signal a gradual build up to the next electoral cycle. Analysts say how effectively the APC manages internal differences and consolidates its base will play a decisive role in determining its electoral fortunes in 2027.

Consensus Without Full Consent of Aspirants Is Undemocratic and Will Break APC — Obire Warns

By Ibrahim Timothy
Punch Newspaper
Saturday, April 25, 2026

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun Godwin Obire, PhD, has delivered a blunt and uncompromising warning that any consensus arrangement imposed without the full consent of all aspirants is a political time bomb that will tear the party apart across the country. He stated clearly that what is currently being pushed as consensus in many quarters is nothing but disguised imposition, capable of destroying unity and weakening the APC ahead of future elections.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Obire described the situation as a dangerous abuse of democratic principles, stressing that democracy cannot survive where a few individuals hijack the process and silence the majority. According to him, a true consensus must be built on collective agreement, not coercion, intimidation, or exclusion of aspirants who have legitimate rights to contest.

He warned that granting enormous and unchecked powers to governors and a small circle within the party hierarchy has created a toxic political environment. In some states, he revealed, aspirants cannot even purchase ordinary House of Assembly nomination forms without first seeking the approval of the governor—an arrangement he described as oppressive, undemocratic, and completely unacceptable in any civilized political system.

Obire lamented that many of these governors are largely inaccessible, even to their own aides, making it nearly impossible for young and emerging politicians to engage them. “If aides cannot reach their principals, how then do you expect a grassroots aspirant to get approval?” he asked, noting that such a system is deliberately structured to exclude and frustrate genuine contenders from participating in the process.

He stressed that if the reported practice of forcing aspirants to seek clearance before purchasing forms is true, it will inevitably lead to deep division within the party. According to him, this kind of gatekeeping will push many aggrieved members to either withdraw or seek alternative platforms, thereby weakening the party’s structure and national cohesion.

Condemning the ongoing trend of unilateral decision-making, Obire said the era of one-man control must end if the APC truly intends to remain strong and competitive. He insisted that aspirants—those who have shown commitment by purchasing or intending to purchase forms—must be the primary decision-makers in any consensus arrangement, not self-appointed leaders who have no direct stake in the race.

Obire, who once served as Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and as Political Consultant to Senator Ned Nwoko, as well as Senior Special Assistant (Political) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and currently serves as Executive Assistant (Political) to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, emphasized that his position is rooted in experience across different levels of governance. He noted that even in states like Osun, the consequences of exclusionary politics have shown how quickly divisions can weaken party strength.

He concluded with a strong appeal for justice, inclusion, and fairness, urging the leadership of the APC to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants across the country. According to him, every member deserves a sense of belonging, and anything short of equal opportunity will not only divide the party but ultimately destroy it.

THE MATHIAS OSANEBI PLAN FOR OKPAI IPP

Light for Ndokwa Nation

My brothers and sisters of Ndokwa and Ukwuani, for more than 20 years we have lived in a hard and painful situation. We have a big power plant in Okpai, yet our homes are in darkness. Our children struggle to read at night. Our traders and business people suffer daily. Our communities are left behind while others move forward. This is not normal. This is not right. It is clear injustice, and it must stop now.

The problem is simple and clear. The Okpai power project was built to give us electricity, but the part that brings the power to our homes was abandoned. That is the step-down project. Because of this failure, power is produced in our land, but we do not enjoy it. We watch others benefit while we remain in darkness. This is wrong, and we will no longer accept it.

I am not here to talk too much. I am here to act. In my first 90 days, I will open everything up. I will order a full investigation to find out why this project stopped. I will show the people the truth. Anyone who wasted time or money will be exposed and held responsible. No hiding place. No covering up. The truth will come out.

I will take this fight to the national level. I will stand in the National Assembly and push this matter until it is treated as a serious national issue. I will demand that this project becomes a top priority. I will fight to secure the money needed to complete it. We will not beg we will demand what belongs to us.

This project will be completed, not abandoned again. There will be a clear deadline of 12 to 18 months. No stories. No delays. The substations will be finished. The power lines will be connected. Light will enter our homes. This is not a promise made for politics. It is a job that must be done, and it will be done.

While the main work is going on, we will not sit in darkness and wait. We will bring quick relief. Solar power will be provided to key communities. Small businesses will get support to run without heavy fuel costs. We will reduce the suffering now, not later. At the same time, our people will be involved, jobs will be created, and we will protect the project from damage and theft.

When light finally comes, everything will change. Businesses will grow. Jobs will open. Our youths will have something to do. Our economy will rise. Our people will stand with pride again. I, Mathias Osanebi, will not rest until Ndokwa Nation gets the power it deserves. Enough is enough. No more darkness, no more delay, no more abandonment. Light is coming to Ndokwa Nation.

HOW NNAMDI EZECHI ALLEGEDLY BLOCKED OMO-AGEGE AND KEPT NDOKWA IN 20 YEARS OF DARKNESS

By Timothy Ajeoboghuku
Vanguard Newspaper

Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi has been accused of playing a harsh and damaging role in keeping Ndokwa Nation in darkness for over 20 years. What should have brought light and development through the IPP step down project was, according to the Ndokwa Peoples Movement (NPM), deliberately blocked. The group claims Ezechi chose personal political gain over the progress of his own people.

The group described his actions as not just political decisions but a cruel and calculated move that denied Ndokwa a better future. They said he stood against a project that could have changed lives, choosing instead to protect his political interests. According to them, this was a direct betrayal that forced Ndokwa people to continue living in hardship and darkness.

They further alleged that Ezechi acted with the backing of Ifeanyi Okowa, making the situation even more troubling. According to the group, this was a deliberate effort to stop development and keep Ndokwa from enjoying the benefits of its own resources. They insist that this single act of obstruction has had long lasting consequences, leaving the region stuck in avoidable suffering.

At a press conference held in Kwale, the Ndokwa Peoples Movement made up of Ndokwa sons, daughters, and residents, including non indigenes raised serious concerns about the continued lack of electricity in Ndokwa Nation. They expressed deep frustration that a region rich in gas and energy resources remains in darkness despite its huge contribution to Nigeria’s power supply.

The group said their communities have been without stable electricity for more than 20 years. They pointed out that electricity generated from Ndokwa supplies about 16 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, yet Ndokwa itself remains without power. They also noted that several oil and gas companies operate in the area, but basic infrastructure like electricity, healthcare, and education is still poor.

They alleged that on May 29, 2021, youths from Okpai community reportedly influenced and sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi with the support of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
blocked Ovie Omo Agege from inspecting the Federal Government’s Phase 2 Independent Power Plant (IPP) step down project in Ndokwa East Local Government Area. This action, they said, stopped a major opportunity to bring electricity to the region.

According to the group, if Omo-Agege had been allowed to carry out the inspection and push the project using his influence at the time, Ndokwa would not be struggling for electricity today. They added that he had already helped secure a federal university for the area, proving that he had the capacity to deliver results if he had not been blocked.

The group concluded that the continued lack of electricity is no longer a technical problem but a clear failure of leadership by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. They called on the Delta State Government led by Sheriff Oborevwori, as well as other stakeholders, to act immediately. They warned that if Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi does not correct the situation and ensure Ndokwa gets electricity, he should forget about returning to the House of Representatives in 2027, as the people will no longer support leaders who put politics above their well-being.