The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Why we must embrace state police, by monarch

    Nigeria should embrace state police as an effective means of crime reduction, the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, said.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, the traditional ruler said, it would be faster to respond to emergencies and distress situations with state police.

    Agbabiaka noted that the crime rate was on the particularly in terms of kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers disputes, ritual killings, armed and highway robberies, among others, which should be tackled decisively.

    He said he was in support of community policing, adding that complementing it with state police would help to improve security.

    “I am very much in support of community policing because it is the best way to stop some of these identified crimes in society.

    Read Also: Why I support regional co-operation, state police, by Makinde

    “We know ourselves and almost everywhere in our community. If there is any crime in our community, members or indigenes of the community know where to go.

    “They know almost every part of the community and how to identify their people,” the monarch said.

    The officers, he said, would be familiar with their terrain and know how to nip problems in the bud.

    “Imagine how long it will take a security officer who is a non-indigene to understudy the new place he is posted to, compared to a person born in the state and posted to one of the areas in his state.

    “We all know that if there is any problem, he knows what to do, who to call and how to quickly solve the problem of that area before it escalates.

    “For example, in a situation where kidnap occurs, the state police know where to look with the support of members of the community like farmers, fishermen and others, who know the nooks and crannies of the community, ’’ the monarch said.

  • France president, Infantino booed at FIFA Women’s World Cup final ceremony

    The crowd at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final match on Sunday in Lyon booed FIFA president Gianni Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron.

    This was as the U.S. fans demanded equal pay for the players after their team claimed a fourth global title by beating The Netherlands 2-0.

    Macron and Infantino, the head of football’s world governing body, were turned upon by the supporters as they approached the ceremony podium.

    It was a sharp contrast with the hero-like reception given to player of the match Megan Rapinoe by the 57,900 crowd.

    In spite of a recent rebound, Macron’s popularity was last at 38 percent in an Ifop poll, up 15 points since a low in December at the peak of the anti-government yellow-vest crisis.

    U.S. captain Rapinoe, the leading voice for equal pay in a sport where the men are far better paid than the women, scored the opening goal with a VAR-awarded penalty kick.

    She scored in the 61st minute at the sold-out Groupama Stadium.

    Read Also: USA Are Women’s World Cup CHAMPIONS

    Rose Lavelle rounded off the victory eight minutes later as the Americans added to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 world titles.

    After the game, Rapinoe told reporters: “I think everyone is ready for this conversation and move to the next step. I think we’re done with: ‘Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?’.”

    Earlier this year, members of the U.S. squad were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the national football federation alleging gender discrimination.

    It was filed in a federal court last month and it says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts.

    On Saturday, Rapinoe launched a scathing attack on FIFA, saying the organization did not respect the women’s game.

    Rapinoe said FIFA’s decision to allow the men’s Copa America final and Gold Cup showpiece to take place on the same day as the women’s final was “unbelievable”.

    Rapinoe shook Infantino and Macron’s hands as she received her medal.

    “It’s unbelievable to know all the people who put in so much in this group,” she said.

    “We have all our families and friends here. It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel right now. It’s ridiculous.”

    NAN

  • Kaduna offers Harvard scholarship to best graduating KIF fellow

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Sunday announced a scholarship award to Jemimah Jatau, the best graduating fellow of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows (KIF), a one-year leadership programme of the state government.

    El-Rufai announced the offer in Kaduna, at the graduation ceremony of the pioneer set of the KIF programme.

    “The Fellows have justified the hopes invested in them,” the governor said of the 16-member pioneer group of the scheme that brings together young Nigerians from across the country.

    He explained Jatau would be sponsored for a Masters degree at Harvard or the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, while the second and third best would be appointed as his special assistants.

    He identified the second and third best as Mohammed Usman and Leonel Echa.

    He added that the chairman of the Governing Board, Keem Belo-Osagie, would equally pursue scholarship opportunities in the Knight Hennessy Fellowship at Stanford University for interested members of the graduating set.

    He explained that the Kaduna State Government introduced the KIF programme in 2018 to help develop and nurture leadership ability across Nigeria.

    “The overall mission is to raise the next generation of leaders who will most likely be absorbed into the Nigerian public sector having had a first-hand experience of its workings and challenges.

    “This is because we believe in our young people; these 16 youths, from different places and backgrounds, have amply affirmed that youthful potential abound in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Nigeria is two countries in one: Backward north, developing south, says El-Rufai

    “The graduating Fellows have validated our conviction that the youth of our country can respond to opportunity if the platform is provided.

    “We have exposed the fellows to a rich and varied programme of immersion in the daily work of government agencies, lectures and seminars on leadership, working trips and speaker series.

    “This enabled them to share from the experiences and insights of leaders in government, business and other endeavours.

    “We have made considerable investments in these fellows as a deliberate intervention in building leadership capacity and promoting a meritocratic culture.

    “As they graduate today, they have been empowered to assume responsibilities of leadership, and contribute to helping our country to master the challenges of an increasingly complex and more competitive world,” he said.

    The governor explained that the programme was named after Sir Kashim Ibrahim, a former Governor of Northern Region for his leadership role in building the region when the colonial shackles were dropped.

    “I am especially proud and impressed by the energy, zeal, talent and ability of the pioneer set of Kashim Ibrahim Fellows, who have set a remarkable standard for future participants in the programme.

    “As the pioneer fellows graduate today, we look forward to welcoming the second set in August,” he said.

    The graduating fellows have described the initiative as ‘life changing’, adding that the programme had completely changed their orientation and perspective about effective leadership and public service.

    Jemimah Jatau, from Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, particularly thanked the state government for the opportunity to participate in the programme.

    She described the scholarship award as a testimony of the government’s confidence on the youth.

    Another participant, Michael Medubi, a 35-year old Civil Engineer from Kogi State, described the programme as ‘priceless and a golden opportunity to learn and create new network.’

    (NAN)

  • Police arrest three kidnappers, rescue four-yr-old girl in Kano

    The Kano State Police Command on Saturday rescued a four-year-old girl who was abducted two weeks ago by three kidnappers from her parents’ residence at Naibawa quarters, in Kano.

    Khidijat Rilwanu was recovered in Kaduna from the residence of her abductors.

    Parading the suspects, Police Commissioner Ahmed Iliyasu, said: “on 4th of July, 2019, a team of Puff Adder detectives arrested one Ibrahim Musa of Ungwar Rimi quarters in Kaduna. On interrogation, two female suspects of the same address were arrested and a victim, one Khadijat Riliwanu, four years old of Wailari Quarters, Kano was rescued at the residence of the female suspects, while investigation is in progress.”

    Iliyasu said 10 other suspected bandits were intercepted at Koki Quarters in a Toyota Hiace Bus, heading to Badawa Quarters.

    When the vehicle was searched, they were found to be in possession of 22 various dangerous weapons, including long knives, short knives, large quantity of hard drugs, and intoxicating/hallucinating substances, with new weapons of violence, known in local parlance, as ‘fate-fate tsitaka and barandami”

    Read Also: Lecturer kidnapped as Police, suspected kidnappers engaged in gun duel

    Iliyasu said  61 suspects were arrested at various criminal hideouts, while one Aminu, who graduated from Kano University of Science and Technology, currently undergoing a Masters Degree programme at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), was arrested , alongside his accomplice for stabbing a night guard at the university and was found to be in possession of 15 stolen laptops.

    He said six armed robbers and kidnap suspects were arrested, while Bashir Sani of Rimin Kebbe Quarters, Kano was apprehended in possession of a single barrel gun, loaded with 15 rounds of cartridges, adding that during investigation, another one locally-made gun, one chemical/pepper spray, one jack knife, one walkie-talkie, one handcuff and a police belt were recovered from him.

    Iliyasu said, over 122 suspects, who were arrested and paraded two weeks ago have been charged to various courts of law within the state for prosecution, adding that those, who have just been arrested would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.

    Items recovered from the suspects, include 15 laptop computers; 26 parcels, as well as 250 wraps and other large quantities of Indian hemp; three stolen motor vehicles; 18 live ammunitions; 16 live cartridges; eight cut lasses; 32 clubs; 43 knives, 32 sachets of Diazapam tablets and 220 bottles of Suck-and-die.

  • Buhari vows punishment for murderous herdsmen, terrorists

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday pledged his administration’s continued political will and determination towards ridding the country of insurgency and other forms of criminalities. He promised that his government will punish murderous herdsmen, terrorists and all other criminal elements in the country.

    Buhari, who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, made the promise at the grand finale of the 2019 Nigerian Army Day Celebration and Combat Support Arms Training Week at Ikeja Cantonment Parade Ground, Lagos.

    The Nigerian Army Day is an annual event held every July 6, since 1976, in honour of the Nigerian Army with the theme; ‘Professionally Responsive Soldering: A Panacea for Successful Military Operations’.

    The President said the security challenges in the country were being tacked in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “The challenge for us is to recognise this sick extremism of Boko Haram for what it is and form alliances across faith, ethnicities, to destroy an evil that confronts us all.

    “We will continue to demonstrate the political will and determination towards ensuring that our land is rid of insurgency and that criminality is kept at the barest minimum.

    “There are also other situations of insecurity in our midst, the Fulani Herder and farmer conflicts, random killings, banditry and kidnapping.

    “In different parts of the country, there are challenges that the army has had to intervene in, in many occasions.

    “We assure all Nigerians that these challenges are being seriously tackled by the federal government working with the states through a multi-pronged approach, working with the Nigerian Army and all our security forces and law enforcement agencies.

    “Nobody will be allowed to maim, kill or commit other crimes and escape. It is our duty to apprehend and punish these criminals and we are doing that and we will continue to do so,” he said.

    Buhari urged the judiciary to ensure timely dispensation of justice in the cases of arrested bandits.

    “Several bandits’ hideouts and camps have been destroyed and hundreds of arrests have been made.

    “It is now up to our Judiciary to ensure that justice is meted out, not just comprehensively, but in a timely manner,” he said.

    The president said his administration would intensify efforts to bring back the remaining Chiboks girls, Leah Shuaribu and others who were still in captivity.

    “We want to reassure the affected families and friends that this administration will not relent in its efforts to bring back all the remaining girls, including Leah Shuaribu, who has become a postal child for the heinous activities of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Read Also: Buhari hails Super Eagles for defeating Cameroon

    “We will reunite them with their families and friends by the Grace of God,” he said.

    Buhari appreciated the sacrifices of the Nigerian military in ensuring safety and security in the country.

    “The Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to put in their best with several others who have paid the price in order to keep us safe and secured.

    “We acknowledge and appreciate these sacrifices and as a government and political leaders, we will ensure that they do not die in vain and will continue to give all the moral, material and financial support they require.

    “In this our Next Level administration, we are committed to the welfare of both serving and retired members of the Armed Forces.

    “I urge you to continue to discharge your duties according to the rules of engagement and in line with constitutional provisions,” he said.

    In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. – Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Army Day was an opportunity to showcase the history, values, achievements and combat capacity of the Army.

    “ We are all aware that the country is facing numerous security challenges and this has necessitated our involvement in conducting operations aimed at tackling the numerous nefarious acts of criminal elements to restore sanity to our dear country.

    “Our efforts must not be relaxed until we have achieved the complete defeat of insurgency and other criminalities in the country,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the Chief of Army Staff  Commendation Awards were conferred on serving and retired officers for operational excellence, bravery, gallantry, innovative services and contributions to the development of the Nigerian Army.

    Each awardee will get N2 million cash reward. There was also the unveiling of first indigenous Light Armoured vehicles.

    Some dignitaries present at the event were the former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd), Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.

    Also present were Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, represented by Sen. Solomon Adeola, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.

  • No rift between Oshiomhole and I, says Obaseki

    The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said there is no rift between himself and the national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as is being projected by people.

    The governor made the statement in a chat with reporters on Saturday in Abuja at the annual convention of the Usagbe Club of Nigeria.

    He said: “I don’t have any feud with the national Chairman. There are political issues in Edo which are being resolved. As far as we are concerned, we have a House of Assembly which has not been inaugurated, the key members have not accepted to be inaugurated, so when they go get inaugurated, the issue there will be settled.”

    Read Also: Will Edo APC survive Oshiomhole, Obaseki’s feud?

    On the leadership crisis rocking the assembly, the governor said: “These are all issues in court. Let the court adjudicate. I am not an expert in constitutional law.” The governor also explained why he changed members of his cabinet saying “we’re on the last lap as a government, we need to review how we operated in the last two or three years. We need to put our best foot forward and give the final push. So, it is not unusual in the life of governments after a few years.”

    While clarifying his statement that he met thugs who masqueraded as role models and took over power in Edo State, Obaseki said: “If you understand what happened in Edo up to 2006, the lone state actors have become empowered by the political class. They were collecting revenues, determining things. They were like an alternative government. They constituted themselves into a vermin that were used for political activities. Part of the crisis we had to deal with was how to remove these thugs from the streets, from collecting revenue and intimidating private businesses.”

  • Senior govt official charged with forging documents to obtain passport

    The federal government has charged a Director of Protocol in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maikudi Haruna, with forgery and international passport racketeering.

    Haruna appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a three-count charge brought against him by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

    He was charged with “conspiracy,” “making false statement for the purpose of procuring Nigeria passport,” and engaging in “forgery.”

    The prosecution, led by the Head of Prosecution, NIS, Collins Obilor, alleged that Haruna forged the official identity card of his ministry and signature of the Minister on a letter he issued to a friend, Abubakar Mustapha Bida, for whom he procured an official passport, after  collecting N250,000 from him.

    The accused pleaded not guilty, following which the court granted him bail at N250,000.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo commended the NIS and the Comptroller General for their diligence in the prosecution of cases.

    Read Also: Workers forging my signature, VC cries out

    He adjourned till September 27, 2019 for trial.

    The charge reads:

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: forgery, by fraudulently making official identity Card of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida and signing a letter of introduction for him, on the letter headed paper of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing purporting same to have been written and signed by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, for the purpose of procuring Official Nigerian Passport for Abubakar Mustapha Bida supposing him to be a Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal M1mst1y of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja did conspire with one Mr. Henry Canton, (now at large) to procure official Nigerian passport for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida, who you know is not a senior government official and who is not entitled to hold the Federal Government of Nigeria official passport after he paid you the sum of N250,000 only.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May,2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: Knowingly making false statement for the purpose of procuring official Nigerian passport for for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida by introducing him to be a Special Assistant to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to: the Nigeria Immigration Service, knowing that he is not an eligible government official.”

  • House leadership: PDP govs split over Wike’s candidate

    The controversy sparked by the choice of minority leaders in the House of Representatives has caused a split in the ranks of governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The governors are divided over the push by their colleague, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to make his loyalist, Kingsley Chinda the House Minority Leader  instead of Ndudi Elumelu ,who is the candidate of  minority members of the House.

    Chinda is also being backed by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

    Elumelu was announced as Minority Leader by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila at Wednesday’s sitting amidst protest by some PDP members and the NWC of the party which proceeded, on Friday, to slam suspension on Elumelu and some of his supporters for alleged anti-party activities.

    The PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) seems alarmed by the brewing crisis, prompting it to summon a meeting for Tuesday to find solutions to the division in the House by its elected members.

    Soon after the Wednesday business in the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the BOT, Senator Walid Jibrin had accepted the election of Elumelu only for the NWC to summon Elumelu and his main supporters to come and defend their action.

    What followed was their suspension by the party.

    Investigation by The Nation shows that the disagreement between the PDP BoT and the NWC over the development in the House of Reps has spread to the ranks of the party’s governors.

    It was learnt that while some of the governors are backing Elumelu, a few others are insisting that the party’s list forwarded to the Speaker should be sacrosanct.

    Some of the PDP governors are even indifferent to the situation.

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has sent a congratulatory message to Elumelu, saying: “The unity and progress of Nigeria are bigger than any personal, political or religious interests.

    Read also: How PDP Reps rebuffed party, Wike, Dogara

    “I call on the leadership of the National Assembly to work for Nigeria instead of Nigeria working for them.”

    A member of the NWC confirmed the split among the governors.

    He said: “We have a challenge at hand because our leaders, especially governors are not on the same page over the choice of House Minority leaders.

    “Some have also faulted the suspension of Elumelu and six others. This division is understandable but I can tell you that most of the governors are with the NWC on this.

    “Our overriding interest is the supremacy of the party. We have got to a level that we must enforce discipline.

    “The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is just out to cause disaffection among PDP members in the House. It is a case of divide and rule.

    “If the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan could accept APC’s list of principal officers, why would the Speaker ignore PDP’s list of minority leaders in the House?”

    A PDP governor, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Some of us are really indifferent because we were not consulted by the NWC in arriving at the list sent to the Speaker. We have other ranking members besides Kingsley Chinda.

    “It is unfair and unjust for the National Chairman of the party to come from Rivers State and the House Minority Leader to be selected from the same state. I think we should have been more circumspect.

    “The last Majority Leader/ Minority Leader of the PDP, Leo Ogor came from Delta State. We were not expecting that out of the six states in the Southsouth, the NWC will zone the Minority Leader to either Rivers State or Delta State. The party should have been fair to other states.

    “The challenge we have is that the party’s leadership defers to a few governors as if they own the PDP. This was not the dream of the founding fathers of the PDP.”

    A member of the BOT said: “The truth is that some PDP governors are displeased with the way Governor Nyesom Wike is calling the shots in PDP because he influenced the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as the national chairman.

    “For assisting the party to regain its rhythm before the 2019 general election, Wike deserves some praises. But his contributions should not make him the leader of PDP.

    “There was no basis for the recommendation of Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State in an opposition party which has to manage limited political offices statutorily due to it.

    “So, there is a cold war within the party from the governors to other levels. Some of us have been saying it that Secondus must watch it.

    “The BOT chairman was hasty in recognizing Elumelu without hearing from the National Chairman of PDP, Secondus. Although he has recanted, the damage is already done.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The BOT will hold a meeting on Tuesday on the development on the choice of minority leaders.

    “We want to avert a major crisis in PDP over these House leaders. And if we do not manage the situation with tact, it could destabilize the party.”

    Notwithstanding, 111 of the 147 members of the opposition in the House have so far signed a register in favour of Elumelu.

    The PDP had nominated Kingsley Chinda, highly favoured by Governor Nyesom Wike as Minority Leader; Chukwuka Onyema (Deputy Minority Leader); Yakubu Barde (Minority Whip); and Muraina Ajibola (Deputy Minority Whip)

    But based on majority consensus by PDP members and the representatives of other opposition parties in the House, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila announced a new set of leaders.

    Those preferred by members of the opposition are Ndudi Godwin Elumelu as Minority Leader; Toby Okechukwu (Deputy Minority Leader); Gideon Gwani (Minority Whip); and Adesegun Adekoya (Deputy Minority Whip).

    Disturbed by the alleged defiance of its directive, the PDP suspended Elumelu and six others for accepting to serve outside its official list sent to the Speaker.

    The PDP accused those suspended of alleged indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience of party directives contrary to Section 58 (1) (b) (c) (f) (h) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

    A new member of the House said: “Before the election of principal officers in the Senate and in the House, we waited for weeks from PDP for direction but the party was not forthcoming on where it was headed. The only exception was ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara who tried to guide us.

    “Having been left in the wilderness, we decided to individually make ourselves available to candidates in APC for lobbying. When it was too late, the PDP leadership now came up with some guidance.

    “Yet we were insulted that the same PDP had the temerity to raise a panel to investigate why its members in the National Assembly voted for some principal officers.

    “On the choice of minority leaders, the PDP did not consult its caucus in the House before coming up with the list it sent to the Speaker.

    “The PDP members however invoked Order 7 Rule 8 of the House to pick the minority leaders, headed by Ndudi Elumelu. The order says members from any party will meet and choose candidates for principal offices. We met, built a consensus around Elumelu and others.

    “If PDP had consulted its members in the House, it would have realized that some opposition members in the House came from a few parties too.

    “As at Saturday, 111 out of 147 House members from the opposition parties have endorsed Elumelu. No going back even if all of us are sanctioned.”

  • Police uncover plans by secret cult groups to cause chaos in Oyo

    Oyo State Police Command on Saturday said it has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous elements in the state to cause breach of the peace, today July 7, and August 8, 2019, under the guise of celebrating annual festival of secret cult groups in the South West region.

    The secret cult groups include Eiye and Buccaneer confraternities, according to the police.

    In a statement issued by the police command spokesperson, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the command warned those behind the plans to have a rethink or face the full might of security agencies in the state.

    While assuring the peace-loving people of the state to go about their lawful business without fear, the police said they have put every machinery in place to prevent any break down of law and order.

    Read Also: Police arrest three terrorists commanders, 87 others in Kano

    Quoting the state commissioner of police, Mr Shina Olukolu, the police spokesperson said the command is working assiduously to check the influx of the criminal elements bent on causing chaos in the state.

    Describing the secret cult groups planned festival as illegal and criminal, the police said it would not give any breathing space to criminally minded groups to cause breach of the peace or create chaos in any part of the state.

    “Therefore, the commissioner of police warned any individual or groups and also advised parents to sternly warn their children who are bent on causing mayhem on the aforementioned days to refrain from testing the will and capacity of the state security agencies to respond adequately to deal decisively with any individual found in the dastardly act,” the statement quoted the state police commissioner.

  • Bayelsa 2019: Audu Ogbeh endorses Lokpobiri for APC ticket

    A founding father of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Minister for Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Saturday endorsed the aspiration of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to fly the flag of the party for the November governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    Ogbeh, who inaugurated the campaign office of the aspirant along the Isaac Boroh Expressway, Yenagoa, said Lokpobiri, who served under him as a Minister of State for Agriculture, was the most qualified person to seek the governorship ticket of the party.

    Speaking to crowd of party faithful, who gathered to witness the inauguration of the campaign complex, Ogbeh said Lokpobiri acquired the right experience and capacity to solve the problems of Bayelsa.

    He said Lokpobiri having served in many capacities including working under him for about four years deserved the support of the people of the state to form the next government.

    He said: “Heineken is like a son to me. We worked together in the ministry of agriculture for three and half years. You know his history. You know him and he knows you. He has experience, knowledge and intelligence. When we were in the ministry, we were always discussing the big problems of Nigeria today, the problem of unemployment.

    Read Also: Bayelsa PDP primary: New moves to reconcile Jonathan, Dickson’s loyalists

    “We realise that what we need to do is to create jobs. If you give Lokpobiri a chance and I believe you will, he will not let you down. So, please work hard for him and give him all the support and make sure he gets into the government house.

    “You will be grateful to God at the end of this exercise that you brought somebody in who has capacity and understands your problems. Give him a chance and support him. He knows your problems and I can assure you that from the rest part of the country, we will give him the support he needs to make sure he wins.”

    In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Heineken Lokpobiri Campaign Organisation (HLCO), said following the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) it was not yet time for campaign.

    “We invited you here to be part of history-making occasion, a process to enter the Government House of Bayelsa State. They said we are not popular in Bayelsa but we proved them wrong in the last election. As we commission this campaign office, the process of our journey to Government House has started,” he said.

    Lokpobiri, who expressed happiness over Ogbeh’s endorsement, described his former boss as his mentor and father, adding that Ogbeh was the brains behind his ambition to rule Bayelsa.

    “One day I was talking with him, Chief Ogbeh said to me, ‘Heineken Lokpobiri ,you have to go and rescue your people.’ I didn’t know what he was talking about because he said it about three years ago. But on another occasion, he repeated it. So, the person, who actually started this rescue mission, is Chief Ogbeh,” he said.

    Lokpobiri alleged that there was no government in Bayelsa, explaining that the administration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) failed to satisfy the reasons for the existence of government such as security and welfare of the people.

    Lokpobiri and his entourage earlier visited the state working committee of the party led by the APC Chairman, Jothan Amos, at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa.