The Chairman, Committee on Nutrition and Food Security of the House of Representatives, Rep Chike Okafor has warned that the rising inflation rate will worsen the already high level of hunger as well as Food and Nutrition Insecurity (FNI) in Nigeria.
Okafor issued the warning on Tuesday in Owerri, the Imo State capital as part of his welcome address at a 3-Day retreat for Speakers of the 36-State Houses of Assembly and development partners hosted by the Committee.
The lawmaker said the summit was organised in recognition of the need for the government, including the legislature at the national and state level to intervene and turn the situation around.
He therefore called for the creation of the Nutrition and Food Security Committee by State Houses of Assembly specifically to domesticate laws geared at promoting food security and ending hunger in the country.
Read more@:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/rising-inflation-rate-will-worsen-level-of-hunger-in-nigeria-rep-warns/

If I ever disagreed with the school of thought that says “we are a country of short memoried people,” I now certainly have a germane reason to agree wholeheartedly with that school of thought, in the face of the unfolding reality in Nigeria, today.

The North has without doubt ruled Nigeria far more than any other part of this federation, and it will be trite fact to say they have always enjoyed maximum support from the other regions, both during the military era and in this present democracy.
As such, the recent utterances prodding the Southeast to join the ongoing protests have struck a nerve. These calls, particularly from the North, come across as disingenuous, in the light of historical contexts and current realities.

It is indeed a surprise that the North suddenly finds its voice to criticize when they should support. It is even more shocking that they are making frantic efforts to stir up and incite the other regions, particularly the Southeast, into taking to the streets, in protest.

The Southeast has always decried marginalization, and it has been so, for almost six decades, precisely, in the last fifty – four years, since the end of the Nigeria – Biafra Civil war and we need not mention that this has been under the leadership of the North, save for the Olusegun Obasanjo years, both as a military Head of State and civilian President.

From May 29, 2015, through May 29 2023, the marginalisation of the Southeast became more evident and glaring. Several reconstitutions of the Service Chiefs, including Inspectors General of Police and heads of other para – military agencies like the Immigration, Customs, Prisons, and even the Civil defence still did not factor – in, or accommodate anyone from the region, and nobody from the North urged the Southeast to protest this, neither did they make a case for us. But today, one of our very own, Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, from Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, is the Chief of Naval Staff In the last dispensation, 2015 – 2023, it was certainly considered an aberration, if not a taboo for some one from the South East, even if he is the most qualified, to occupy such a strategic command position, in the armed forces.

In the 8th National Assembly, we may recall that Senator Godswill Akpabio, then, in the opposition party, became a Principal Officer in his first term in the Red Chambers in 2015.
Today, he is the Senate President in the 10th Assembly. But we are witnesses to the fact that the ruling party, the APC between 2015 and 2019, in a brazen show of disregard, did not factor the Southeast in the election and appointment of Principal Officers, even with the presence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers like late Senator Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu in the Red Chambers and the presence of Hon. Austin Chukwukere and myself, Chike Okafor in the House of Representatives.

Yet, nobody, not even from the North, called for protest on behalf of the Southeast, nor even lent a voice in that regard.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/just-because-southeast-will-not-join-the-protest/

Fresh facts have emerged on how former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Nigerian Leader, General Ibrahim Babangida worked for the emergence of the then General Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the build-up to the 2007 presidential election.

Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, gave this revelation on Friday, December 29, 2023, while featuring on the second edition of ‘Inside Sources’ on Channels TV anchored by former Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande.Obasanjo, who had already anointed Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the PDP presidential candidate, rooted for Buhari to emerge as the opposition candidate, believing that would give him a less tedious ride to win the presidency for his party as he didn’t want Yerima, also a top contender in the ANPP then, to go head-to-head with Yaradua.
The then-governor of Zamfara State, Senator Yerima, had on October 27, 1999 introduced Sharia law in his state, and 11 other states in the north with majority Muslim populations, including those of Kano and Kaduna, followed suit, which made Yerima’s popularity to soar in the north and positioned him ahead of others as a likely winner in and general elections.
Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/how-obasanjo-ibb-begged-me-to-step-down-for-buhari-in-2007-ex-gov-yerima/

Ark is the latest luxurious addition at Abuja's foremost entertainment centre, The Dome.

Ark has a lounge bar seating with the best menu, alongside fine wine, champagne, cocktails and high-end spirits. Service at the rooftop lounge is quick and professional, even as the combination of the gifted DJ and crisp sound production adds to classy, yet lively ambiance of the new hangout.

Celebrities thronged the new spot to see things for themselves Thursday night.

See more pictures from the event @https://frontlinenews.com.ng/see-photos-as-celebrities-throng-opening-of-ark-the-dome/

The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has upheld the decision of the Imo State National Assembly election tribunal which declared Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor winner.

The three man panel made up of Justice B.A Georgewill, Justice B.B . Aliyu and Justice J.Folashade-Ojo, held that the tribunal was right in its judgement, thus the appeal lacked merit.

Recall that the Imo State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, in Petition No EPT/IM/HR/13/2024 has nullified the return of the PDP candidate, Hon Jonas Okeke as the House of Representatives member for Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State.

In a unanimous decision the three-man panel comprising Justice Anthony Olotu Akpovi (Chairman), Justice Usman A.S Kudu, and Justice Ibrahim Mohammed declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party, APC Hon Deacon Chike Okafor, as the duly elected candidate of the election conducted on 25th February, 2023.

Hon Chike Okafor, an Economist, investment banker, former Commissioner for Finance, Imo State and a two-term federal lawmaker, who served as the 8th Assembly Chairman, Committee on Healthcare Services, Chairman Adhoc Committee on Non Oil Revenue and Remittances, and a very key Member of the Committees of Appropriation, Finance, Banking and Currency, among others in the 9th Assembly challenged the declaration of Jonas Okeke by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election on the grounds that the respondent was not duly sponsored and qualified to contest the election under the People Democratic Party, PDP.

In its judgment on the petition, the tribunal agreed with the petitioner that the candidate of the PDP was not qualified to contest the election, and subsequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Jonas Okeke, and issue same to Okafor.
Read more: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/court-of-appeal-declares-chike-okafor-winner-sacks-pdp-rep-member/

By Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD

The last time I did a piece on why it should be Hope Uzodimma again, for Governor of Imo State, from 2024 to 2028, despite all odds, it was greeted with vain mudslinging rather than a convincing and valid argument that would have deepened the intellectual discourse on the journey to Douglas House 2024.

It is Vintage me, to not give credence to puerile display of loquacious ignominy and so I aim to further the conversation on the relentless affirmation of Governor Hope Uzodimma by the good people of Imo State; across the over Six hundred autonomous communities, three hundred and five wards, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), twenty-seven Local Government Areas, ten Federal constituencies, and three Senatorial districts of Imo State.

The very fact that all the germane points put forward in my penultimate piece were totally ignored, in the barrage of responses that ensued shows the dearth of ideas among the crop of candidates angling for a chance at the plum job in Imo State Government house,and their few supporters.

And the point remains, that apart from mischievously clutching on the straws of insecurity, which is bedevilling the entire Southeast region, and struggling in vain to heap the blame of the entire eastern region on the Imo State Governor (which, by the way, unknowingly affirms and underscores the very indispensable and prominent position of the current Imo State Governor, in the scheme of things, east of the Niger), it is important to see other Governorship HOPEfuls, as it were, reel out their multi-sectoral vision of Governance for the Eastern Heartland State of Imo.

The recent mass movement which has seen people across political divides, Senatorial districts and religious inclinations coming together to throw their weight behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the November 11 2023, Imo State Governorship election is a new trend, never before experienced, in the Forty – Seven years of the creation of the eastern heartland State of Imo.

Simply put, Imo State is on the verge of producing the very first Governor on a totally “Imo Unity Ticket.”

Read more on: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/gov-hope-uzodimma-and-imo-state-first-ever-unity-ticket/

Imo 2023: Why It Should Be Senator Hope Uzodinma Again By Hon. Chike Okafor PhD

The Imo reality since 2019, and the circumstances that birthed the present government of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma should be enough pointer to anyone who cares to know, that there is a God who presides over the affairs of men, and that irrespective of our human machinations, choices and scheming, only the divine will of God will prevail.

There is no gainsaying the fact that, for good or otherwise, nothing happens without the direct approval and knowledge of the Almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth. Thus, it will be completely an aberration, for a Christian, to question God’s design when it comes to pass.
Chike Okafor, a seasoned banker, two-term member of the House of Representatives and former Commissioner for Finance, Imo State, wrote in from Owerri, Imo State.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/imo-2023-why-it-should-be-senator-hope-uzodinma-again/

Indeed, Goodnews is just one of the many players in the industry worried about the NITDA Bill. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has rejected the bill saying it will increase regulations even as telecom operators already pay 30 different levies and may not be able to pay yet another levy to fund the NITDA Development Fund as proposed in the bill. Another important group, the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON) agrees with ALTON that any additional levy is a threat to the sector.

Obviously, Part IV of the proposed bill is seen by investors as another tool to introduce yet another levy. This is even as anti-corruption campaigners have rejected the idea of creating the National Information Technology Fund as proposed in PART IV of the NITDA Bill. Yet still, it is a fact that the new high levy on all digital services will lead to an increase in prices of ICT and other related services.

This Sub-section reads: (1) There is established a Fund, which shall be known as the National

Information Technology Development Fund (in this Act referred to as “the

Fund”) and shall be used for the advancement of the country’s digital

economy objectives and related purposes. (2) There shall be paid and credited into the Fund:

(a) a levy of one per cent of the profit before tax of companies

and enterprises enumerated in the Third Schedule to this Act

with an annual turnover of N100, 000,000 and above;

Section 15 is something anti-corruption campaigners are most agitated by. It gives the Director-General control of the NITDA Trust Fund. It reads: (1) There is established a Fund, which shall be known as the National Information Technology Development Fund (in this Act referred to as “the Fund”) and shall be used for the advancement of the country’s digital

economy objectives and related purposes. (2) There shall be paid and credited into the Fund:

(a) a levy of one per cent of the profit before tax of companies

and enterprises enumerated in the Third Schedule to this Act with an annual turnover of N100, 000,000 and above.

Section 17 Sub-Section 3 ( a-e) further exposes the intention to turn the NITDA Trust Fund to some kind of slush fund for the Director-General at a time when government must block loopholes, stop leakages and ensure that all income generated by government is deployed for development. Historically the National Assembly has severally kicked against MDAs not paying in money raised into the federation account, as agents of government, under the guise that the Act establishing them gives them the power to generate income and spend. This controversial section reads: (3) The Agency may, without prejudice to the provision of Section 13 (1) of this Act, apply the proceeds of the Fund established under Section

13 of this Act:

(a) to the advancement of the purpose of this Act;

(b) to the cost of administration and operation of the Agency;

(c) for the development and maintenance of any property vested

in or owned by the Agency;

(d) for investments in initiatives to attain the objectives of the

Agency; and

(e) to any other expenditure in connection with any of its functions

under this Act.

Beyond fears of creating a heavily taxed ICT sector, different stakeholders say it is highly unnecessary to create a large and unwieldy regulator which will regulate many aspects of people’s lives and cover various sectors since digital culture is all-encompassing. Section 5 of the bill titled “Functions of the Agency” gives the NITDA which is to be turned to a regulator from its government tech hub and instigator role to an agency with power to regulate consumer protection, roles which the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria already perform. Specifically, Section 5 (22) of the bill seeks to “protect the interest and rights of consumers against unfair practices in collaboration with the consumer protection regulator.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/nitda-bill-as-a-recipe-for-disaster/

A clandestine move by the Joint Senate and House Committee on Information Communications Technology, ICT, to pass a controversial bill concerning the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has attracted harsh responses from the industry.

Controversy began after an invitation for a public hearing, jointly signed by the Clerks of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security; and House Committee on ICT, Mr. Ayo Ogon and Abosi Lolo, respectively, and published in a daily on Thursday, December 22, 2022, fixed the hearing on Friday, December 23, 2022, a day after both Chambers of the National Assembly had proceeded on recess, indicating desperation by the Committee to pass the controversial bill to favour NITDA and cause a disruption of the entire ICT sector in Nigeria.

While it was suspected that the Committee wanted to pass the bill without substantial public participation it was also alleged that the submissions of the industry stakeholders made during its first public hearing, were jettisoned, and that the current invitation may be the ultimate smokescreen to pass the controversial bill.

There were also allegations that the Committee did not formally invite key stakeholders for fears that the process to force down the bill in the industry may be scuttled, hence the Joint Committee capitalized on a hasty public notice, issued within hours to the public hearing.

According to a source from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies, ALTON, the attempt to push this bill will amount to creating a behemoth that will erode the gains made by the industry for many years.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/controversy-over-secret-public-hearing-on-nitda-bill-by-nass-joint-ict-committee/

PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has vowed to restructure the country if elected next year.
He reiterated his promise to restructure the country during an interaction with the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

READ MORE @:
https://frontlinenews.com.ng/no-going-back-on-restructuring-atiku-vows/

#Safe to Surf: Young People Speak To Education As a Vaccine On Their Experiences Using online Spaces

Education as a Vaccine asked young people to share their experience on using the online platforms and if they have experienced any form of online gender based violence. Here are some responses:

I started on Twitter and then moved to Facebook and Instagram. The tweet I made was:

“I don’t think seeking permission from one’s husband before going out makes any sense. Informing your spouse that you’re going out should be enough, of course with information about the place and time and with whom, for safety reasons. If there’s a reason your partner doesn’t want you to go to a certain place after informing them, y’all can talk about it and come to a reasonable decision.”

Minutes after this, my Twitter mentions blew up with people telling me that I was being sacrilegious because Islam says as women, we have to seek permission from our husbands before going anywhere at all. I was called names like Kaafir (an unbeliever), and some people messaged me directly telling me that I am teaching young MUSLIM girls how to be disrespectful to their husbands and that my father raised me as a LovePeddler. This went on for almost two days. Some people made screenshots and posted my Tweets on Instagram and Facebook.

My parents saw this and were extremely scared for me as some people were making violent threats in their comments. They even promised to pay anyone who would provide them with my personal information.

At first, I felt defeated, and I absolutely stopped tweeting or sharing my opinion for a while. However, I decided that I would not let the trolls de-platform me. This made me have a very serious anxiety attack because of the violent threats I received and because my parents were extremely worried about my safety. ( Mai Lap 25 years)






Read more: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/safe-to-surf-young-people-speak-to-education-as-a-vaccine-on-their-experiences-using-online-spaces/

It is quite interesting that the 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held in Abuja on Tuesday had the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu warning that internal crisis can affect APC’s fortunes in the general elections to be held in 2023. His statement represents a glaring irony, as many believe that he and members of the current National Working Committee emerged through different consensus arrangements that has enveloped the party in a silence of the graveyard. Probably sensing that the consensus option isn’t popular, the NEC meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, who again warned against imposition of candidates, adopted indirect primary for the election of the party’s presidential nominee.
Coming down to my home state of Adamawa, of late, there has been talk of plans to impose a governorship candidate in a flagrant abuse of consensus option as stated in the Electoral Act.

The rumored plan to select former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallm Nuhu Ribadu, as consensus candidate should be dropped immediately. According to Article 20 (iii) of APC’S Constitution, the nomination of a candidate for governor shall be through direct or indirect primary election to be conducted at the appropriate level. It therefore behooves on new leadership of the APC to follow the honorable path by abiding with the constitution of the party rather than reverting to the Electoral Act and selecting an option that isn’t listed in the party’s constitution. As it is, Adamawa APC has 12 well known aspirants, why the desperation of picking one aspirant as candidate who is most likely to be rejected by party faithful, many of whom have pitched their tents with their preferred aspirant?






Read more@: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/adamawa-2023-apcs-unholy-connivance-for-consensus-governorship-candidate/

The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously adopted a motion sponsored by the member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State,

Rep. Chike John Okafor, on the need to probe the outrageous rise in the price of diesel and cooking gas.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas Resources to investigate the crippling rise in the prices of diesel and cooking gas in the country.

The committees are to report back to the House six weeks for further legislative action.

Leading the debate on the motion, Okafor noted that the hike in price of both essential commodities have caused families untold hardship even as businesses are struggling to survive.






Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/reps-probe-hike-in-price-of-diesel-cooking-gas/

Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje, represented the people of Bende Federal Constituency for twelve years, part of which she become the ranking chairperson of House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. In this interview with KEMI YESUFU, the articulate former member, who also was the official orator of the House spoke on the performance of the 9th National Assembly, the rejection of the gender bills as part of the constitutional amendment, the upcoming elections, Igbo presidency and the kind of President Nigeria needs come 2023. She also opened up on the recent attack on her country home.

You spent twelve years in the National Assembly, can we have your analysis of the 9th Assembly, looking in from the outside?

You know something, we fought for the autonomy of the National Assembly. There were certain things that we did, I recall a certain headline that said: “Coup at the National Assembly, Reps elect Tambuwal Leader”, that was the beginning of the emancipation of the National Assembly. Legacies of militarism and colonialism and so on and so forth, has suppressed , repressed the Nigerian political space. And because the National Assembly was always absent when there are military interventions, it took the National Assembly a lot of work to fight to have a space at the table. Even though they said there are three different but equal arms of government, the truth of the matter is that the National Assembly has to continue to fight for relevance within the political space. And Nigerians were quick to embrace a National Assembly that was at loggerheads with the executive, and I use the word “loggerheads” advisedly. Now, the reason I said that was because, the way the executive arm of government is situated in Nigeria with the amount of over- bearing powers the arm of government has- they control the military, the police, I mean the Exclusive list is fraught with all amazing things that props up the executive and strengthens it. Now, we(NASS), continue to have to fight for our space. So, because of that, there’s the impression that the National Assembly, once it’s on its back leg in disagreement with the executive arm of government, we become the darlings of the Nigerian people. Now, there’s also a saying that you can’t talk with a full mouth, the impression, ab initio, was that the leadership of both the House and Senate were darlings of the executive arm of government. Because of that, from the beginning, there was suspicion for that leadership. Let’s also not forget that there was a lot of rancour as well in the elections of the opposition….and so, if you recall, Femi Gbajabiamila as the opposition leader was very vociferous on the floor of the House, people don’t see that amount of fire anymore from the opposition in the parliament. They probably have their own style of doing things. But, you know, parliament is a place where the Nigerian people want to watch and hear you speak on their behalf. There’s also the saying, of course, that the opposition will have its say, the majority will have its way, but the Nigerian people want to hear the minority speak vociferously on their behalf about things that affect them. Unfortunately, that voice was not as loud as the Nigerian people want it. So, it would appear, should I say, that they have been emasculated by the ruling party. And because those voices are not loud, it gives the impression that the National Assembly is acquiescing. Unfortunately, leadership in the time of social media is difficult, things that other people got away with, people are watching government in real time, everybody has a ringside seat to government, and you know Nigerians are very opinionated people. And so, things that have affected the people, like the valuation of the Naira, the high inflation rate and so on and so forth, Nigerians are a bit more disenfranchised, and they expect a parliament that is whipping at government every day, but they don’t hear that. So, a lot of Nigerians are of the opinion that parliament is a little docile in the face of heightened poverty that a lot of Nigerians face. Let me also make a point that a lot of things have conspired to create this feeling of disaffection we’re feeling in Nigeria. Covid-19 has done that, Coronavirus caused a lockdown, loss of income, global devaluation and so on and so forth. It has created a lot of frustrations, poverty and anger within the polity. Of course, the insecurity has not helped, the trans-border crime, the movement of ISIS, the banditry and so on has not helped. Nigerians are yearning to see that government is coming up with actionable plan. They’re not seeing that from the executive and they’re not hearing loudly enough, the National Assembly condemning it. So, people are concerned about the strength of the National Assembly. That, I believe has formed the opinions. However, I’ve seen flashes of excellence. I’ve seen some very interesting bills passed in this constitution review, my Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, I’ve seen them try to do something about it. I’ve seen them do something about devolution of powers in this constitution amendment in certain ways. I’ve seen some audacious pieces of legislation, but as with everything else, there’s room for improvement.

During a recent interaction on the 2023 election shown live on TV, you said electoral violence is keeping many women out of politics, not a lack of funds. Now, your country home was set ablaze, same for your cars. Did you envisage that you would be a victim political violence?

I wasn’t seeing a vision, it was real, it was a clear, and present danger. And I’ve always said it, this is one of the problems of not having enough women in the Parliament. Because have we had enough women in parliament, they would have been able to speak up against gender-based violence in the political space in the Electoral Amendment Bill. I think that those are very important. And I know that yes, poverty wears a woman’s face in Africa, especially in Nigeria. What we have is a political space, badly affected by a parochial, patriarchal society…. a misogynist society. At worst, people die. Already as it is, I’m in court for libel, I’ve been slandered and I say to people, the reason I went to court is because over time, you have these slurs thrown at you, and you continue to listen to people say, ‘oh, you’re a woman, that’s what happens’. No, that’s not what should happen. And for me, it was so interesting. A penny dropped, I had gone to some platform, and I was asked: what have you done as a person to keep the door open for other women. And I spoke to mentorship and all that, but the truth of the matter, is that going to court to challenge these sexual innuendoes and these slurs and disrespect will help get more women in because these insults scare them away. I have faith in the judiciary system and I’m hoping I get the relief I seek, so that it’s a deterrent to other people who say they can throw these slurs at women and nobody stops them. There is cyber- bullying. You open messages up and see all kinds of news, super imposed bodies on female members to paint in a bad light, that’s cyber bullying. Many times, these pictures go viral, and a lot of women just can’t deal with it, especially married women. In the words of Winston Churchill, “a lie goes round the world twice before the truth’s get the chance to put its pant on ” so, you find that a lot of women just can’t put up with that, and I was speaking about it, and I’ve seen the escalation of violence in the political space. In the Nigerian space, violence and politics are always talked about pari-passu. So during the televised interaction, I was sounding a note of warning that with the recent escalation, we’re going to see a lot worse as we go forth. I wasn’t in the house in the village, yet, people went into my house/ father’s house, burnt it down, burnt the cars in the house in the village, to act as a deterrent to stop me from even contemplating the thought of running in the next elections. Unfortunately, I don’t scare that easy….but can you imagine if it was not someone steeped in the political space, or someone who wanted to test the waters of the political space, she would go and never come back. The greatest deterrent for women is violence and the conversation s around this should be open.

Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/south-east-should-be-given-opportunity-to-produce-next-president-elendu-ukeje/

Activities in the ancient town of Mubi briefly came to a standstill as crowds of supporters, party faithful, and associates, joined Adamawa frontline governorship aspirant, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas who to launch his campaign office ahead of 2023 election.


Enthusiastic youths in their thousands who turned the event into a carnival held placards with various supportive inscriptions and chanting slogans like “come and save us; you are the best; the messiah has come; tomorrow’s governor, Mai capacity.”
The supporters then escorted the gubernatorial hopeful to the palace of the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, leading to a long traffic snarl as activities in the commercial hub came to a halt.
The Emir of Mubi who expressed delight with the visit of the gubernatorial hopeful wished him good luck in his quest to rule the state.
He urged politicians to conduct themselves peacefully as we approach another electioneering year.
During his interaction with the mammoth crowd, the gubernatorial hopeful said, he was in the race to turn around the fortunes of the state, noting that he has the magic wand to bring rapid socio-economic development into the state.
He noted that one of his priority project in Mubi is to rejuvenate the state university which is still crawling more than 20 years after its establishment.
“This zone is blessed with state university that was established 20 years ago when I was in governor Boni Haruna’s administration. But we are yet to get the full potentials of the university. We don’t have faculty of medicine, we don’t have faculty of engineering and we don’t have faculty of pharmacy and what have you.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/adamawa-2022-massive-turnout-as-namdas-opens-campaign-office-in-mubi/

Twenty-seven journalists were on Thursday inaugurated as members and national executives of Journalists For Disabiity Inclusion(J4DI) in Abuja.
This association of journalists will be working to mainstream issues affecting persons with disabilities. Members of the association drawn from the print, electronic and online media have also committed to playing a major role in making laws and policies put in place to protect and make life better for persons with disabilities more effective.
National Coordinator of the association supported by the Albino Foundation (TAF) with the backing of the European Union/ British Council/ Agent for Citizens Driven Transformation Programme (EU/BC/ACT), Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche disclosed that will equally be focused on setting the agenda when it comes to policies at it relates with Persons With Disabilities.

Ogbeche who is the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Council stated the importance of implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018 in all the states of the federation.
He decried the situation where leading political party was accused skimmed out a candidate with disability in favour of another because of his disability, adding that such injustices must be brought to light and corrected.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/journalists-for-disability-inclusion-hosts-inauguration-in-abuja/

By Kemi Yesufu

The event was the launch of the Adamawa South campaign office of frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas. At the formal opening of the campaign office of the member representing the Jada/Ganye/MayoBelwa/Toungo Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, stalwarts of the APC took turns to express support for his candidature with the common theme in their speeches being the commitment of the lawmaker to returning Adamawa State to the APC. The North-East State is currently being governed by Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who defeated Sen. Jibrilla Bindow in 2019.

At the carnival-like ceremony, APC bigwigs took turns to express support for the aspiration of Hon. Namdas. Former commissioner in the state and member of the House of Representatives Hon. Abdulrahman Shuaibu described Namdas as APC’s best bet to take power from the ruling party in the state. Arguing that as with charity, politics equally begins at home and APC can only win the next governorship election with a candidate like his former colleague in the House. He noted that Namdas enjoys massive support in the nine LGs which make up his Adamawa South Senatorial District, giving him an obvious advantage that no other aspirant can flaunt.

Shuabu who also spoke with journalists after the launch held on Saturday February 5 in Numan said Namdas single-handedly revived the APC in Adamawa State, hence he is best person to fly the party’s flag. He said: “A lot of people thought that by now APC would be dead in Adamawa, but Namdas has created activities and programmes for the party. You heard what the Vice-Chairman of Adamawa APC who was representing the chairman of our party said at the opening of the campaign office earlier today. He said that activities like what happened today is what has kept the party alive. It is someone like Namdas who has been moving around, keeping party members active and this is galvanizing majority of our members.

“PDP winning in 2019 wasn’t a case of our not having support, rather it was a case of APC supporters angrily voting for the PDP. This is why we are saying that all we want is a level playing field. We are not asking for favours for our preferred aspirant, all we want is for the party to do justice to all aspirants. But for now, Namdas is the only aspirant moving around, funding the party and creating activities for the party”.

Speaking in the same vein, Coordinator of the Women For Namdas organization, Hajiya Halima Mohammed-Hayatu opined that, it may just be too late for aspirants coming after the reps member. Mohammed-Hayatu who served as commissioner for Women Affairs under the Muritala Nyako Adminstartion said Namdas took it upon himself to rebuild the APC when many others stayed away after the party’s loss in 2019. “Namdas is gaining a lot of support because he is the candidate who can successfully challenge the current governor. We have a PDP governor because of the internal crisis in the APC back in 2019”, she opined.




Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/abdulrazak-namdas-the-rep-who-wants-to-return-adamawa-to-apc/

Frontline governorship aspirant on the platform All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas has said he is running an issues –based campaign, adding that uplifting a significant percentage of people from his state out of poverty is the major message he is selling to the electorate.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the commissioning ceremony of his Adamawa South Senatorial District zonal campaign office held on Saturday in Numan, the lawmaker who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Army, said he is a homemade leader who understands the challenges facing his state, even as he is in tune with the yearnings of the people.

Recall that the lawmaker opened his first campaign office in his Jada/Ganye/MayoBelwa/Toungo Federal Constituency.
He said: “You will see that the campaigns that will be coming will be issued based. We should stop seeing politics as a dirty game. As much as the population of people here is very large, there hasn’t been any fighting, everything has been done in an orderly fashion. We have not said anything against anybody. What we have been able to do is tell the people what I have to offer and that I have the capacity to lead the state. This is the message that we are sending, it is now left for the people to decide.

“I am the son of the soil; I am the son of the downtrodden. I started from the scratch to the top. I have gone through the leadership processes. I haven’t said I was born at the top, rather I started from the ground and God is lifting me up, so I know all the challenges the poor man is facing in Adawmawa, I have seen them all. Again, I am highly experienced in governance. I have been in government from 1999 till date. I have gained experience from working in the executive arm in Adamawa State to the National Assembly where I even served as a member of the international parliament. I will deliver the dividends of democracy”.



Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/adamawa-2023-im-running-issues-based-campaign-rep-namdas/

This doctor's license should immediately be suspended by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, while the Nigeria Medical Association should also kick him out. Maybe the Nigerian Butchers Association will accommodate the barbaric butcher disguised as a doctor. No patient is safe with a doctor which such a destructively primitive mindset.

The member representing Ehime-Mbano/ Ihitte-Uboma/ Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Rep. Chike Okafor has explained his focus on health related projects and programmes for six years of his being in the Green Chamber.

Okafor, who served as chairman House Committee on Healthcare Services in the 8th Assembly opined that the provision of health services is vital to improving the economic status of the citizenry.

Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/why-i-focused-on-healthcare-for-my-constituency-projects/

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday led a group of members to celebrate with the member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/ Obowo, Federal Constituency of Imo State, Rep. Chike Okafor on his 49th birthday.

Gbajabiamila who repeated his warm tradition of sending birthday cakes to outstanding members of the House on their birthday, further extended his show of love by leading a group of lawmakers to Okafor’s office at the National Assembly complex immediately after plenary on Wednesday.

The Speaker in his brief remarks before joining the Imo lawmaker to cut his birthday cake described him as an asset to the legislature. He recalled the contributions of the lawmaker from the 8th assembly to the current assembly, describing him as good ambassador to the Green Chamber.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/speaker-gbajabiamila-extols-rep-chike-okafors-virtues-49/

Popular skit creator, Debo Adebayo, better known as Mr. Macaroni has taken to Twitter and Instagram to explain why he rejected the invitation of the Nigeria Skit Awards organisers to visit Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Aso Rock.

Macaroni using his verified @DeboMacaroni verified Twitter handle said though he was invited to the much criticised meeting with the VP, he turned down the invitation because he is not impressed with the current administration.

Taooma, Woli Agba, Josh2Funny have tried to explain to some disappointed fans that the meeting with Osinbajo was not to promote him, neither were they given ‘brown envelopes”. The comedians who were part of the team to Aso Rock said they rather used the opportunity of the meeting to share the opinion and needs of young people with the country’s number-2 man.

Read more@: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/popular-skit-creator-mr-macaroni-explains-snub-of-osinbajo-nigeria-skit-awards/

The Anambra State Chapter of Integrated Religions Council (IRC), has adopted Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) as its choice candidate for the November 6 governorship elections in the state.

The IRC, said in a statement in Awka, Anambra state signed by the duo of Nze Ferguson Umeh, National President of IRC and Chairman, Anambra State Chapter of The Jews of Nigeria and, Chief Arthur-Regis Odidika, President, Nigeria Jewish Community, that the decision was taken after its General Council meeting in the state.

The statement reads: “At a recent General Council meeting of IRC held in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, we examined the place of the Council in the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra state.

“We carried out a thorough review of the personal character traits of each of the 18 listed candidates and their hands-on experience on job creation and entrepreneurship.

“We also reviewed the manifestoes of all the candidates as made available to us with a view to understanding their vision and mission for the general good of Anambra state and its people.

“After a painstaking review process, we found Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) as the best prepared for the task ahead. We also found his manifesto to contain workable solutions to the myriad problems besetting Anambra State.
Read More @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/anambra-2021-integrated-religions-council-adopt-zlp-obiora-okonkwo/

Former member of the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola is still as loss at what caused a rift between him and his long time ally and political associate, Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Daramola stated this much in an interview with Punch Newspaper. The former lawmaker popularly known as Congressman, disclosed in the interview that the soured relationship between him and Fayemi will be the topic of four chapters in his yet to be released book.

The ex-lawmaker accused Fayemi of stopping him from returning to the House in 2019. “I wish I knew (reasons for rift) and I’m being honest with you”, he said.

“I’m writing my memoirs and this question you raised would take three to four chapters. Dr Fayemi is one man I love so much. Several times, I put my life on the line for him and I served him with everything I had. I’m not too sure I read him rightly or understood him perfectly. When these people come up to say they are JKF ‘Tokan Tokan’, you wonder.

“That acronym, JKF (John Kayode Fayemi), was coined by me. I have known him for 43 years. He was 15 and I was 13 when we first met in 1978. We went to the same secondary school and he was my senior for two or three years. So, when I speak, I don’t speak like a politician but like a man who wants him to succeed. By this time next year, we will surely have another governor in that state. I want him to be able to return to that state after his tenure and people would hail him and not deride him.

Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/story-of-rift-with-fayemi-major-part-of-my-autobiography-daramola/

Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Army, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas is one of the early birds in the race for the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Adamawa State. Namdas who once served as the spokesman of the House has been described as a unifying figure in his party and state as he has consulted top politicians across party lines. His style of politics has been described as unique, even as he insists that he is in the race to win. The member representing Jada/Ganye/MayoBelwa/Toungo Federal Constituency, spoke with KEMI YESUFU on his ambition, local and national politics. He also shared his opinion on the performance of the Armed Forces, even as the nation grapples with high level insecurity. This as he spoke on the timeliness of the newest amendments to the Electoral Act, chiefly, the introduction of direct primaries and the electronic transmission of votes.

You have met former governors, Boni Haruna, Senator Jibrilla Bindow over your governorship ambition without problems, and you seem to still be in good terms with former Vive-President Atiku Abubakar. How are you able to manage your relationship with different powerbrokers in Adamawa State?

What I understand in politics is loyalty. You should be loyal to anyone who has helped you. Even when you part ways politically like the instance of my principal, Boni Haruna, his being a member of the PDP, while I am of the APC…..I still recognize the fact that he is my boss anytime, any day. Our being in two different parties shouldn’t stop us from relating. He (Haruna) can still send me on errands and I will go. It is the same thing for Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. I still have respect for him. (Former) Governor Bindow and I are in the same party and we have always been together politically. As young men, we need to remain loyal to those who gave us the opportunity to serve, we need to show this kind of example. I prefer to be a symbol of unity, so much that other aspirants and I relate well. When you have it at the back of your mind that power belongs to God and He gives it to whom He pleases, you will relax your mind and do whatever you can to sell yourself to the people and let them decide.

You are the representative of the former Vice-President in the House though you belong to different parties. Do you think you can repeat electoral victory at the governorship level?

People have asked me this question a number of times. But you see, we are looking for two different offices. He is operating at a higher level. I seek the highest office in my state and he is a big person, who is interested in the highest office in the land. We don’t belong to the same party. We will play the game according to the rules. I have respect for him, but I know Adamawa is an APC state, never mind what happened in the last election. We lost though we were on ground because some people were aggrieved and got involved in anti-party activities which contributed to our defeat. But now, we have learnt from our mistakes and have decided that whoever emerges from the party, we will rally round him to ensure that he wins.

Are you saying the current governor hasn’t done well or you would prefer that your party is in-charge?

I feel that I will do better if given the opportunity to serve. The experience I’ve garnered gives me the edge. I was in the media for a while, I have contested elections, winning and losing at different times. If you look at the committees I have headed and been a member, they have exposed me to the working and challenges of government. As chairman House Committee on Army, I have knowledge that is most needed in Nigeria today. The major challenge in Nigeria is the level of insecurity, so, if you can manage security effectively in your state, other forms of development will follow. Aside from having the needed expertise, I have good plans for Adamawa State. I come from the state. I am a local person. My father was a primary school teacher. I know what education has done for me, so education is a key aspect of my plan for Adamawa.

Read more @:https://frontlinenews.com.ng/im-apcs-best-bet-to-beat-gov-fintiri-rep-namdas/

Amputees in Nigeria have cause to smile, as all is set for a wholly indigenous company, SunTech Limited to commence the production of prosthetics in Abuja, Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer of SunTech, Mr. Sunny Ukachuwku on Thursday conducted journalists on a tour of his firm’s state-of-the art factory.
The production line which starts from measurement room, two production rooms, the cosmetics room to the training section consists of the latest of equipment in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics. Just as the equipment are some of the best in the world, Sun-Tech has in its employ experts who will ensure that products supplied to clients fit and are durable.

A prosthesis substitutes for a part of the body which may have been missing at birth or that is lost through an accident or through amputation. Many amputees have also lost a limb as part of treatment for cancer, diabetes or sever infection.

Speaking with the media after the tour, Ukachukwu revealed that the major goal of his company is to provide Nigerians with quality prosthetics, built to specification and aesthetics tastes, but at an affordable price. He noted that for too long amputees in Nigeria spend huge sums to purchase prosthetics from overseas though they often don’t fit. This is as a significant number of people who need prosthetics suffer in silence as they cannot afford it.

He stated that Sun-Tech’s goal is to change the narrative by making affordable prosthetics available to Nigerian who need it.

“Sun-Tech is here to make life easy for people who have difficulty moving. Our vision is to make prosthetics available and affordable in Nigeria. Before now, we’ve had discussions with NGOs, we have our potential clients as our major stakeholders. In fact, our in-house counselor has lived as an amputee for 35 years and she has lived a productive life. She was amputated at the age of five, yet she completed her education, graduating with a Law degree.

“So, we have been talking to those we will be serving and when they talk to us, we can see that they desire to use prosthetics, some desire to have supporting materials due certain health challenges, but they can’t afford it. Yes, many are aware of prosthetics they can buy off- the-shelf abroad, but they lack funds. This is why our main target is not only to make the devices and prosthetics available but to find every means to make it affordable to our people. In fact, we want to break that cycle of, if a person doesn’t have N1million or N3million he/she cannot get a ‘leg’, he said.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/suntech-commences-prosthetics-production-in-nigeria/

Majority of the time, top lawyer and good governance advocate, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, talks about human rights, development and issues that promote egalitarianism. But there is also a soft side to the legal juggernaut, this much can be seen in this interview with KEMI YESUFU. Ajulo who spoke to Frontline News Online CEO at his exquisitely furnished head office tucked in the highbrow Maitama District of Abuja opened up on his impeccable dress sense, his love for classiness and why his mother is his biggest inspiration.

You are considered to be one of Abuja’s best dressed lawyers. Why do you pay attention to your dressing?

To be honest, it was until people complimented my dressing that I took a back seat to reassess myself, if they were being honest. I believe in people doing what makes them feel good, like looking well dressed. I started taking note of where to buy certain fashion items when people admire them on me. I can say, my love for dressing well started from my mother. Now, we call them fashion designers, but when I was young people involved in my mother’s trade were called seamstresses. From being a seamstress my mum started traveling to nearby countries to stock her shop. She later veered into book selling. In my home you must know how to sew. We all do till date. It was from my early years that I learnt how to design my clothes. Now, I don’t sow, but I still design for tailors to sow. I learnt how to combine colours from my mum. She is highly fashionable. She is the main explanation to my prioritizing looking good. Again, I believe that a lawyer should look presentable and dignified. There are lawyers I look up to and they look good every day. Quick to come to mind is Justice Kayode Eso. I think I picked my love for bowties from him. I got to know him when I was in elementary school. All the lawyers I look up to are stylish: Olumide Aluko, GOK Ajayi, they dress in the classic style. I also admire lawyers in the UK, they dress well, they drive good cars, they conduct themselves properly. I believe that in emulating certain good lifestyle choices of admirable personalities, one day you will be as successful as they are.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/my-style-carriage-intentionally-modelled-for-success-kayode-ajulo/

President Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engineer Ali Rabiu has announced that the council will be collaborating with Zeetin Engineering a Nigerian firm pioneering the manufacture of electric cars and other car spare parts for the training of engineers and technicians.

Speaking with the media after a guided tour of Zeetin Engineering’s factory in Abuja on Friday, Rabiu described the facility as world-class, adding that the Council is fully interested in sending its young members for training.

He said: “When we travel out, people take us on excursion to some factories and they are really not better than this. I would like to commend the promoter of this venture, that what we travel out to find, we now have it right here in Abuja.

“We have issues with training engineers and technologists, but I want to believe that this place will be a good training ground for upcoming engineers and technologists”.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/coren-to-collaborate-with-zeetin-engineering-on-training-engineers-technicians/
Read more@https://frontlinenews.com.ng/zeetin-engineering-seals-export-mou-with-turkish-american-company/

Speaking to Abuja Metro on how it all started, at the poolside of the Grand Cubana Hotel, Iyegbu who despite the popularity of his nightclubs and hotels loves to maintain a low profile, opined that his was a case of necessity leading to invention. “After an unsuccessful search for employment, I set up a garden where people hangout after work. From the patronage I got at that level, I knew that I could do better, if I upgraded a bit by providing quality service in a more posh environment. This led to the establishment of Ibiza in the Garki Area”, he said in his characteristic self-effacing manner. Even when he says divine providence the bigger part of his story, the soft spoken hotelier says his shouldn’t be categorised just as meteoric rise but a case of constant planing and hardwork. “People may look at what one has achieved and think that it happened like magic. But from the onset, we understood the nitty-gritty of the business. It took a lot of planing and determination to change how the business was done here in Abuja. When I was setting up Ibiza, friends said I should pour palm kernels on the ground, but I insisted on using inter-locking tiles. We invested on having a cosy interior, got good hands for the bar and kitchen department. We didn’t compromise on security. Ibiza was the first lounge to have standby cleaners in its toilets and despite how well we did then, we soon noticed that Wuse 2 was were the crowd always headed to, so we took the giant leap by opening Cubana in that neighbourhood”, he said.



He equally opined that finding one’s niche is important to exceling in Nigeria’s tough business environment. “I so much believe in the service industry in an economy like ours and most especially in a place such as Abuja which is still rated a good conferencing city and a city where people have time for leisure”, he enthused.

Read full interview @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/how-i-became-king-of-night-life-obi-cubana/

Frontline Aspirant for the Anambra governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has described the model of governance implemented by the late Premier of the former Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara as still useful to Nigeria especially with its current challenges.

Okonkwo therefore said that he would replicate the Michael Okpara style of governance should he pick the ticket of the PDP and is eventually elected governor of Anambra State.

The governorship aspirant who has made his mark in business and philanthropy described the Premier’s leadership model as one that was humanitarian in approach, transparent, holistically developmental and people- oriented.

Okonwko who delivered a lecture entitled: ‘Quest For A New Nigeria, The Michael Okpara Leadership Model’ as part of activities to mark the centenary celebration of the late Premier, stressed that like him, many Nigerian leaders see the Okpara as a role model whose principles are still worthy of emulation unto significant results.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/ill-replicate-michael-okpara-model-of-governance-in-anambra-if-elected-obiora-okonkwo/

Former chairperson House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje may just be returning to the soapbox in 2023.

The eloquent politician who once served as the official orator of the House of Representatives told Frontline News Online in a recent chat that though 2023 election was still far off, she is someone to watch.

Elendu-Ukeje who spoke to the online platform following the hugely successful homecoming event organised by youths in her federal constituency said she will be keeping her plans close to her chest, adding that, “I think its early days yet, but as the days go by I will unfold my plans. I am still enjoying the euphoria of my home coming. But I guarantee you that this is a space to watch”

On her homecoming event signaling a reconciliation between her, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abia chapter, the former lawmaker said : “To say that I am fully reconciled would suggest that there was a fight. Let’s just say, I have come back….I took a well-deserved rest. It was a political hiatus for deep reflection. When you say, I have fully reconciled with the PDP, I’d rather see it as standing for something.

“Every time I go out to speak at events, young women walk up to me and say, I inspire them. A lot of people have also said they are interested in joining politics because of me. So, it is important for me reinforce the fact consistency must be an integral part of leadership”.

Recall that Abia political leaders, led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, on Wednesday 12 May honoured Elendu-Ukeje at a grand civic reception organized by youths in her Bende Federal Constituency.

Ikpeazu who led a long list of dignitaries to the eventful ceremony held at the Bende stadium, described the delectable former lawmaker as an invaluable asset to Abia people, saying, she is the “jewel of Abia politics”.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/2023-nnenna-elendu-ukeje-asks-supporters-to-keep-eyes-on-her/

How do you think your experience as former chairman of the Nigeria-Belgium Business Forum and the current chairman Nigeria-RUSSIA Business Forum will rub off on your running Anambra State should you be elected governor?

It surely will. One of our cardinal focuses is attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Anambra State. To attract FDI to Anambra, you need to put in place a government that has integrity and credibility. Certainly, my background and relationship with RUSSIA and past relationships with countries with credible, long term investors will be a blessing to Anambra State and the South-East as a whole. RUSSIA is desirous of competing for economic opportunities in Nigeria and with someone like me, who they trust; Anambra will be a launch pad for them. RUSSIA is coming with huge investments in infrastructure. They are interested in investing in roads, rail, power, manufacturing, agro-allied chain and technology transfer. We are looking at investments worth about $5 billion which can come into Anambra, not too long after swearing-in. What really matters to RUSSIA is who is governor of Anambra State. Is he someone they (RUSSIANS) can do business with? What foreign investors are looking for is a corruption-free government, a team that knows what takes to make a state peaceful and investor-friendly. What we offer the Anambra people is a team with a leader that has courage, a leader who will be accountable to the people, a leader who comes with strong sense of prudence and the efficiency of the private sector. These qualities have been lacking in government. This explains why you see a person in the private sector start a business with small capital, yet he will grow the business and pay people millions as salaries with perks of office. Why is it that people borrow money from the bank to start a business and they manage these businesses providing employment, while those in government borrow much more along with federal allocation and you have governors negotiating for N17, 500 as minimum wage? Some can’t even pay the minimum wage, while those who pay this figure beat their chests….government should be able to use all its resources to pay its workers and create the right atmosphere for the private sector to create jobs. When you have an individual who has succeeded in the private sector, he will be able to bridge the gap between managing government effectively and making businesses grow, so they can employ people as well as pay tax. For me, this is the best way to create wealth in the state. Today, what we have in Anambra for generating revenue for government is people flogging old women front and back to collect the little they have. They eventually keep a huge percentage of what collected from the women in the market to themselves and give peanuts to government. We can do better than this in Anambra.

Political watchers say you have a good chance of picking the PDP ticket despite the long list of aspirants. How do you intend to defeat APGA which has been in power for a long time in your state?

Yes, APGA has been in power for a long time. You cannot take the party for granted. But for me and other Anambrarians, APGA is that tree that doesn’t produce good fruit anymore. The bible says of such a tree, that you cut it down. I amend it to be that you uproot it. APGA can be uprooted. Where APGA draws its strength from has been cut off because I am in the race, with me in the race APGA is in trouble. The only strategy they are left with is to stop me from me picking the PDP ticket. So, all the hullaballoo about zoning is being championed by APGA. This long list of aspirants in the PDP is being orchestrated by APGA, to create confusion. So I am APGA’s only nightmare. They believe that they are better off with any other candidate from PDP than me.

Read more @: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/anambra-2021-ill-attract-5bn-foreign-investment-if-elected-governor-obiora-okonwko/