The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Osun 2014: What hope for PDP?

    Osun 2014: What hope for PDP?

    Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in internal strife. In this piece, Olumide Lawal writes on the implications of the division for the party at the next general election.

    Events unfolding right now within the Osun Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) family is unsettling. The party chieftains in Osun State are not making the expected waves to give them reckoning in the race towards the 2014 governorship election in the state, where Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola is thundering on without batting an eyelid.

    Opinions in some informed quarters, are that Osun PDP, as it is presently, is a house divided against itself and could not be said to be prepared challenge the ruling Action Congress Nigeria (ACN) for the peoples mandate. Besides, the ACN in the state is now ready to force ‘APC ELERIN’ down their throats, to heal them of their fatigue and wake them up from deep slumber.

    Some of those who are supposed to hold the fate and fortunes of the PDP tenaciously in Osun, are busy setting personal scores, bothering over one business interest or the order. Others are just not ready to dip hands into their deep pockets and provide the financial succor, the party badly needed right now to match Aregbesola, everything for everything. Do they have other agenda up their sleeves? Why has everything gone torsy-turvy?

    It is saying the obvious, that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is transforming and transfixing the state as it has never been done before. Fact are sacred. The governor is marching on progressively to the applause of the citizenry, inclusive of some PDP bigwigs, who have silently acknowledged his performance at one forum or the other. Aregbesola, however, despite his modest achievements, should not allow political sycophants and hypocrites to indulge him in over-singing his praise.

    Back to the Osun State PDP stalwarts. To the best of my knowledge and reading of the situation at hand, some of them are ready to “jump the ship” of their party and seek solace elsewhere. These big wigs are of the opinion, that they don’t think PDP may win the governorship election in 2014. Is this not a defeatist attitude? Why not get to the river, before deciding how to cross it. They should not be chicken-hearted or lily-livered.

    Another dangerous signal is the alleged roforofo in-fighting between a PDP governorship aspirant and another top chieftain of the party. The issue is over the business interest. Must they wash their ‘dirty’ linens in the public, at the expense of the success of their party in future elections as recently enacted? The two PDP juggernaunts, are alleged to have vowed to undo themselves and their chances of victory at any election they partake in. Is somebody in WADATA Plaza listening? We want the political war-lords to please sheath their swords, so as not to allow the fifth colummists infiltrate their ranks. Or else we wait to see who blinks first among the two gladiators.

    It is pertinent to state, that all Nigerian politicians without exemption are no longer interested in discussing issues and policies. According to a former Senator from Osun and I quote him: all that the politicians concern themselves with , is how to effortlessly make billions out of the political system and rush to invest same in developed economies of the world, with DUBAI as the new destination of choice and affluence.” I believe him.

    The former parliamentarian went further to offer words of advice for his co-travelers in Osun PDP and again I quote him; “ right now, anybody worth his name should tarry a while, as far as seeking elective offices in Osun State is concerned . What is the point, if we cannot win governorship seat at Abere to stick out our necks for other elective offices”. I beg to disagree with the former lawmaker this time around.

    There are, including himself, individuals in Osun PDP, who are long distance runners, that could win election on their own merit and sterling pedigree and deliver dividends of democracy to their constituents as they did in the past, much against what obtains presently among those presently at State and national assemblies on ACN ticket. PDP has credible people with towering image. We should not throw away the baby with the bath water. When the going is tough, the tough gets going. The “umbrella” should be strengthened.

    Where are the Osun PDP “SHEHUS” and Lions of Judah of yesteryears to salvage the situation at hand. Those who became bulls in the chinaware shop and dest6royed everything on their way while in the saddle.

    Yes, Osun is making modest progress under Gov. Aregbesola’s aggressive visionary leadership and passionate commitment. But must we ‘borrow blind” as it is being alleged, before we can fix infrastructure in Osun State and in the process, mortgage, the future of our unborn children? This is an area, where the PDP should come up with a viable & workable blueprint, instead of the unnecessary squabbles they are currently engaged in.

    The voting public should fashion out avenues to sieve the grains from the chaffs among our politicians in Osun. The state political affairs is too volatile to be left in the hands of one political party as far as elections into local government, state and national assembly’s are concerned. We cannot afford a one-party status in Osun, so as to make for viable democratic practices and accountability among public office holders.

    As presently constituted, there are no opposition members in the state and national assemblies and even among L.G Chairmen, who can look the governor straight in the face and ask questions. Timidity and winners-take-all profile has taken over an articulate State like Osun. Nobody in Osun PDP, should think he or she can rely on any force or influence, outside the will and wish of the electorate to rule Osun. Anybody with this thought should perish it.

  • Rivers: Groaning under mayhem

    Rivers: Groaning under mayhem

    The festering crisis in Rivers State has taken its toll on the various aspects of life in the state and diverted Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s attention from governance, reports Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

    There is tension in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. That has been the situation for more than two months. Since overzealous policemen fired tear gas at the edifice, the reality has dawned on Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the members of the State Executive Committee that they are not insulated from danger. Under this pervading atmosphere of rancour and discord, much energy is dissipated on the crisis more than governance.

    The protracted crisis has polarised the state into pro-Amaechi and anti-Amaechi forces. The clash of the two groups has raised serious security concern. Also, the lack of neutrality by the police has further ignited the flame. As the two groups flex their muscles, the chance of early reconciliation is slim.

    Many civil servants have complained that the crisis may be slowing down governance. “Commissioners, special advisers and other top aides hold emergency meetings, which are not related to the running of their ministries. They brainstorm, not on policy implementation, but on the fight among the political leaders,” said a top civil servant, who chided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders for the persistent chaos.

    “Project implementation and monitoring are impaired. The commissioning of projects are put on hold. It remains two years for the governor to go, but he and his team cannot concentrate again. Major assignments and appointments are put on hold. We don’t even know what is going on in the local governments. There is suspense,” he added.

    It is an understatement. The crisis has taken its toll on the House of Assembly, which now has a legitimate Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, and self-acclaimed Speaker, Evan Bipi. The Speaker is backed by 27 lawmakers. His rival is supported by five parliamentarians, who are allegedly inspired by the Presidency to cause havoc. According to observers, it is worrisome that the legislators cannot hold plenary session without full police protection for the chambers. During the fracas in the House, some legislators were injured, thereby further fueling the tension.

    The debate on the budget was apparently shifted, owing to the cloudy climate in the House. On the day the deputy governor came to the chamber to defend the supplementary budget, hell was let loose. The five antagonistic legislators attempted to hold their 27 colleagues to ransom. They held a kangaroo session before they were chased out of the chamber. When the 27 returned to the chamber to consider the appropriation, the five legislators had mobilised thugs to disrupt the session. They were prevented from entering into the chamber by the police.

    Following the disruption of the House, the House of Representatives passed a motion passing its functions to the Lower Chamber. A legislator was severely injured during the fight in the House. He has been flown abroad for medical treatment. Other legislators who went away with minor bruises landed in the various hospitals in Port Harcourt.

    Last week, Amaechi cried out that the gains of his administration, especially in security, were being wiped out. Following the demobilisation of the helicopters for surveillance, he complained that the kidnappers had attempted to return to the capital to continue their nefarious activities. “They are capitalising on the situation on ground to stage a come back”, he lamented to a delegation that paid a solidarity visit to him in his office.

    Another government official said: “The militants are back on the street. we have the strong evidence to believe that they were prompted by the anti-Amaechi forces to create mayhem and make the state ungovernable. This is not in the interest of anybody”.

    Fear has gripped other government functionaries over the alleged plans to impose a state of emergency, especially since the attempt to shove the governor aside through impeachment failed. Commissioner for Information Mrs. Ibim Semenitari said that the recourse to that option smacked of frustration on the part of those she described as the enemies of the state. A section of the divided PDP has warned that the declaration of a state of emergency may spark off violence.

    The governor is facing fierce battles from many fronts. Although President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he has no hands in his ordeal, many have doubted his sincerity. “There must be an authority up there backing these people. There is a motivation somewhere,” said Dr Nnadi, a political commentator.

    It is also believed that the President’s wife, Patience, has contributed to the crisis in no small measure. Since, he quarreled with the governor at a public function in Okrika, where she hails from, there has been no love lost between the two indigenes of Rivers State. She has accused the governor of hot temper and disrespect for her husband, Dr. Jonathan.

    Another factor in the crisis is the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who is believed to be nursing a governorship or a senatorial ambition. He is said to be the presidential face in the crisis. His supporters have been at loggerheads with Amaechi’s. Party sources said many of these supporters cannot comprehend the reason behind the crisis, but they are sustained by inducements.

    The factional PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, is also leading an onslaught against the governor. He has visited President Jonathan and the warm reception he received has boosted his morale. It has become the tonic to challenge the governor to a duel.

    However, the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph, has allegedly compounded the crisis by taking sides in the divisive issue. His handling of the security challenge imposed by the logjam has lent credence to the feeling that the President may not be neutral.

    Amaechi is worried that the state may suffer the consequences of this tragedy for a long time. The return of militants, armed robbery and kidnappers in droves is a threat to the big companies, which had heaved a sigh of relief from terrorism in the state. “This crisis has affected the investment drive in the state. The big companies are afraid. How can they feel safe when the governor has even raised alarm over his personal safety?”,asked a government official.

    Since the crisis erupted, the governor has also not been stable in the state. He is either in Lagos or Abuja, seeking an end to the crisis. Also, organisations, groups, institutions, foreign diplomats and investors have put off their visits to the tension-soaked state. Eminent indigenes who have advice for the administration on how to implement people-oriented policies and programmes cannot easily secure access to the governor because he is busy diffusing the effects of the war. The weekly cabinet meeting still holds, but the major item is the crisis. “The cabinet is just maintaining a skeletal schedule. The execution of development program-mes, which gave the administration its popularity, has been grossly affected. The governor promised to devote the last lap, the last two years, to the completion of the laudable projects, but he is now being diverted.

    “In the past, he was effective in project monitoring. The governor always visited the project sites to monitor the contractors. Sometimes, he would visit the sites at night, sometimes on broad day light for on the spot assessment. It can be said that many duties which the governor cannot delegate easily have suffered since the crisis escalated”, added the official.

    Former university don Prof. Itsey Sagay (SAN) condemned the major PDP actors in the crisis, saying that they are heating up the polity. He disagreed with the plan by the House of Representatives to take up the function of the Rivers State House of Assembly, stressing that it is not the answer to the crisis. The onus, he said, is on the President to rise above the narrow interest and ego by restoring order into a state of pandemonium.

    Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka asked the President to ponder on the fate of the people who suffer because of the crisis. He advised him to call his wife to order, noting that her involvement has aggravated the pronlem.

    The Northern governors, who visited Amaechi on solidarity, condemned the security arrangement in Rivers State coordinated by a partial police commissioner. Alhaji Sule Lamido, governor of Jigawa State, said that Amaechi’s ordeals was an eye opener. “We will need state police,” she said.

  • 2015: Will the north speak with one voice?

    During the week, Professor Ango Abdullai of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) repeated the position that all northern groups, including the ACF, NEF, NU, MBF, etc, have resolved that power must return to the north in 2015.

    Unlike in the recent past when the ACF, through its spokesperson, Anthony Sani, denied knowledge of such a resolution, no person or group from the north has faulted the former Vice Chancellor’s claim so far.

    This development is easing the worry among political observers over the ability and readiness of the north to be united and speak with one voice in its quest to produce the next president of the country in 2015.

  • Jonathan to cut cost of governance?

    Jonathan to cut cost of governance?

    IT is a big surprise that the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, says he is prepared to prune the growing cost of running public affairs. All the newspapers have reported that he is set to confront the challenge headlong by scrapping some government bodies, merging others and restructuring many. The details are still being worked out.

    All that has been released so far is that the National Examinations Council, National Poverty Eradication Programme and the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination are the first casualties of the plan.

    By the announced plan, it is clear that the president and his men either do not appreciate the magnitude of the problem or he is again playing games with a deadly disease afflicting the country. How does scrapping NECO and directing WAEC to absorb the workers amount to cutting cost? Or how would changing the name of NAPEP amount to enhancing the value of governance? What is he doing to ensure that every kobo that goes into the national treasury counts? What is he doing to ensure that public policy is tailored towards alleviating the suffering of the people?

    A government that really wants to free money for development would not encourage freeing those convicted of invading the public till to continue from where they had stopped when apprehended. A president who genuinely feels for the people would have come up with a solution to the logjam at the courts where looters of the national wealth are being shielded by legal technicalities. A man who intends to leave his name on the rock would have stirred the soul of the nation against the vampires who have always held a promising country like Nigeria to ransom.

    But, no, enemies of the people are the friends of government. They move freely, fleece the country through contracts over-invoiced and left unexecuted. If our president genuinely wants to lay the foundation for a free Nigeria where thieves would feel a sense of shame, he would have started with a token trimming of his executive council. What really do we need a bloated council of 42 for? Why do we need ministers and ministers of state? True, the constitution stipulates that there shall be a minister from each of the states of the country. But, the last time I checked, Nigeria still had 36 states. So, if the government is committed to a lean government and is only being hamstrung by the constitution, why did he not start by appointing 36 ministers?

    Then, in this season of constitution amendment, what has the president done to get that section amended? If he wants to free cost, why is he not campaigning for an amendment to ensure that we have not more than three or four from each zone? If the president is a member of the executive council, why should his state be represented by a minister? If the Vice President is the automatic vice chairman, why appoint a minister from his state? What about the Secretary to the Government of the Federation? These are elementary and token steps that ought to have been taken by a genuinely concerned president.

    How many Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Personal Assistants has the president? How many are attached to each of the ministers? How many other hangers-on have these officials, many of whom have no job schedules? As it is at the federal level, so it is at the states.

    Besides, how do we cut the cost of governance without touching the emoluments of elected officials and political appointees? It is all too obvious that wealth of the nation is being shared by a parasitic few who paradoxically hopped on the stage by popular votes. The legislators and members of the executive have refused to make full disclosure of the criminal allowances they award themselves. Even in a democracy where transparency ought to be the watchword!

    A president who claims to realise the need to prune costs, has just announced a programme of celebrating 100 years of nationhood over a one year period. How much is budgeted to feed occupants and visitors of Aso Rock this year? How many cars do we have in the president’s pool? How many do we have in the pool of each of his 42 ministers? How many aircraft do we have in the presidential fleet? How many are in the fleet of the president of the United States of America ? How much is spent yearly to maintain the aircraft? How much has been voted to service and maintain the office of the First Lady? A president who wants to cut cost would have started by providing convincing answers to these questions.

    The earlier we realised that this path that we have chosen with Brother Jona in the saddle can only lead to perdition, the better for the country. Otherwise, the fate that awaits blind men being led by the blind would be the lot of the country.

    May the good Lord help this country.

  • When APC stormed Anambra State

    When APC stormed Anambra State

    Last weekend was unique in several ways for the newly formed All progressives Congress (APC).

    Over 5,000 members of the party had gathered waiting for the National Vice Chairman, South, Senator Annie Okonkwo, and his team of APC national officers.

    They arrived in style in company of the governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), now APC, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, Chief Executive Officer of Orient Daily Newspaper and Magazine.

    Other officers with Okonkwo were Deputy National Chairman, South; National Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazo; National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso; Deputy Financial Secretary, Sony Chukwu.

    There were also the National Welfare Officer, Emma Enukwu ; Secretary Constitution Committee, Hon Obi Igwedibia; Deputy National Youth Leader, Uzoma Igbomma ; Chairman, South-East, Dr Ayim Nyerere; Dr Mike Areh , Chief Jerry Nwakobi, among others .

    Ezeemo had mobilized thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria members for the visitors as well as intending members to grace the interactive session where they would be told first hand on the developments in APC to enable them have informed knowledge of why they should be in the party.

    The thousands of APC members, in a voice vote, rejected their membership of the other political parties that merged to form APC and accepted to be henceforth addressed as APC members in Anambra State as directed by the National Organizing Secretary, Senator Izunaso.

    The party members had besieged Emmaus House, Awka, as early as 8am until the arrival of the party national officers about 3pm to hear first hand information from the visiting national officers of the party led by the National Vice Chairman, South , Senator Annie Okonkwo on the successful registration of the party with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier.

    APC therefore vowed to start from the forthcoming local government election in the state this October to show its strength in the country, followed by the governorship election billed for November 16th this year. The members said the party is taking over South-East since the party recognized the strength of Ndigbo in forming its national officers.

    Senator Chris Ngige, a frontline leader in APC, was conspicuously absent as many of his teeming supporters anticipated to see him at the event.

    Addressing the party members, Senator Annie Okonkwo reiterated that Ndigbo, particularly Anambra peopel, own the party and should do everything possible to deliver the local government election and governorship in the state this year to appreciate the large members of the National Executive of the party from the state.

    ”APC is ready for election in Anambra . We are not afraid . We are ready to win the local government election, the Anambra governorship election because the truth of the matter is that we have two parties in Nigeria ,the APC and the PDP. I can tell you that 80 percent of APGA is in APC now and in APC there is nothing like bring your list as we witnessed in the other party.

    ” In APC , whatever you want to be , you will be in as much as you subject yourself through the party primaries which would be free and fair and must be seen to be so. I don’t believe in injustice. I can tell you that your leadership are contented and can be counted as wealthy, so there is nothing you will give them to buy them over. The party is wise to entrust the leadership of the party on people of integrity.

    ” This is your party and there is no other party but APC because it has been registered by INEC. They came to our office to inform us at Abuja, hence we decided to come to the grassroots to inform the ward leaders on the development because there is too much propaganda and bad blood about our successes from day one.

    ” But now that we are here informing you rightly , you would be rightly informed and know that APC is on ground and will take over Anambra and South East. We would uphold internal democracy. Anybody who is not here and is trying to stop others from coming to the APC stakeholders meeting is not a democrat and should not be seen as progressive.

    In a vote of thanks, Ezeemo assured the national leadership of APC that the party is already coasting to victory. ” APC is headed to victory and now that the existing parties that formed APC have decided to drop their names today and answer APC, we will actualize our vision of taking over Anambra state.

    But before Ezeemo’s speech, Senator Ossy Izunaso traced the history of APC starting from the merger in February 6, 2013 with eleven Governors in attendance. He explained why Anambra appeared to be having an upper hand as and why Ndigbo is enjoying the positions it has in APC, making it a true Nigerian party with bias for Ndigbo.

    He appealed to them to remove the toga of other parties and work for the success of APC in Igboland, starting from Anambra that would be having election soonest.

    The National Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazo, who was formerly women leader of CPC, now APC, appealed on the conscience of Anambra women to massively support APC as they would not regret their support. She said while PDP gives women 35 percent affirmative action, APC gives 50 percent.

    She reminded them that since Ndigbo has no position of authority in the PDP’s sharing formula, they should reject PDP at all levels.

    National Welfare Officer, Emma Enukwu, insisted that no party would have the welfare of its members at heart like APC and gave instances to buttress his point even as he appealed that they would have their tears accumulated from other parties that have failed their expectations in the past wiped away in APC.

    Chairman, South-East, Chief Nyerere Anyim, was more prophetic when he told the crowd that APC will carry the day in any election in the south-east as he has done his home work very well. He charged the existing parties that formed APC to harmonize as everybody is a winner and would be rewarded as against winner takes all in other parties. He thanked everybody that witnessed the event, urging them to work for the party.

  • 2014: Many troubles of Ekiti PDP

    2014: Many troubles of Ekiti PDP

    Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, unveils the aspirants for Ekiti State governorship race in 2014 and the issues that will come into play during the election

    Ahead of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will have to scale quite a number of hurdles if it is to make good its promise of returning to the Government House next year.

    The party is balkanized into splinter groups loyal to various chieftains. There are, at least, three factions within its fold. Several efforts from various quarters, including the zonal and national headquarters of the PDP, to mend fences and calm frayed nerves, have failed.

    The men who enjoy the loyalties of the various PDP factions in the state, including the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Cptain Caleb Olubolade (retd); former Governors Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni, and former deputy governors Abiodun Aluko and Paul Alabi, have variously been accused of putting their gubernatorial interests ahead of party unity.

    The closest the party got to uniting the various factions was the last year stakeholders’ meeting, convened in Ipoti-Ekiti by Olubolade. At the end of the meeting, all the warring party chieftains addressed the press on their readiness to close ranks and work together to ensure victory for Ekiti PDP in 2014.

    “All the leaders of the party were present at the meeting where we all resolved to close ranks and work for the party. We agreed that in all issues, there will be no imposition; that transparency will be the order of the day and that where we have grey areas, they should be resolved in the various localities,” Olubolade told pressmen way back then.

    But the gains of the meeting survived for barely two weeks as the gladiators returned to their warring paths almost immediately after the state congress of the party that produced Makanjuola Ogundipe as the state chairman. Oni, Aluko, Alabi and other party leaders, including Senators Clement Awoyelu and Bode Olowoporoku, rejected the new leadership of the party in the state and resurrected their various factions.

    Clashes between the various factions became regular occurrences. The warring party chieftains accused one another of ‘crimes’ ranging from imposition of state executive committee members to plots to rig the party’s gubernatorial primary election ahead of the 2014 poll.

    Last Tuesday’s commotion at the state secretariat of the party in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti, was the climax of the pent-up tension within the embattled party. At the end of the free-for-all, some aggrieved members of the party announced the suspension of the chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, for alleged misappropriation of funds, corruption and inability to carry along other members of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the party.

    He was also accused of unilaterally constituting the 11-member screening committee to pick the gubernatorial candidate for the 2014 governorship election.

    In a statement by the party’s Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, the embattled chairman was suspended for one month, while his deputy, Mr. Femi Bamisile, was asked to take over from him.

    Newsmen and party faithful had to run for safety, as the hoodlums, armed with guns, cutlasses and cudgels, took over the secretariat.

    The hoodlums fired into the air, apparently to scare away Ogundipe’s supporters who had wanted to address a press conference.

    In the ensuing melee, the PDP state Legal Adviser and former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Kola Adefemi, and state Auditor, Mr. Olatunji Olanrewaju, who were said to be loyal to the chairman, sustained head injuries.

    But Ogundipe, who was not at the party’s secretariat at the time of the tussle, claimed ignorance of his removal and the planned press briefing.

    Members of the CWC, who signed the statement for the suspension of the chairman are, the Secretary of the party, Dr. Tope Aluko, Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, state Women’s Leader, Mrs. Busola Oyebode, PDP Vice Chairman, Central, Mr. Femi Ogunleye, State Organising Secretary, Alhaji Lateef Agbaje, the State Treasurer, Mr. Aluko.A.O. and the State Youth Leader, Mr. Tayelolu Olatunji.

    Meanwhile, the numerous crises occasioned by incessant politicking by party chieftains is not the only hurdle confronting the PDP in Ekiti State as a court case, aimed at sacking the Ogundipe-led State Working Committee (SWC), is still raging.

    The suit, number HAD/02/2013, filed by Mr. Akinbowale Omole, who contested the party’s chairmanship position with Chief Ogundipe, was first heard on Monday, 24 June by Justice John Adeyeye of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti.

    It was adjourned till 17 July for further hearing. During the congress that is now being disputed, Omole had scored 310 votes, while Ogundipe scored 318.

    Joined as defendants in the case are the party; chairman and secretary of the Transition and Congress Committee (TRCC), Tunde Odusina and Princess Iyabo Fakunle, respectively. Others are former zonal chairman of the PDP, Chief Segun Oni; state chairman, Ogundipe; secretary, Dr. T.K.O Aluko; deputy chairman, Femi Bamisile; Mrs Busola Oyebode, Taye Olatunji, Alhaji Ganiyu Bankole and Kola Adefemi.

    Omole, a legal practitioner, said in the 51-paragraph affidavit he deposed to in support of the originating summons that on the basis of zoning, “Mrs Busola Oyebode, who emerged as Women Leader, was disqualified under the party’s constitution because she was the Labour Party (LP) House of Assembly candidate for Efon Local Government in the 2011 general elections. Mrs Oyebode was, therefore, ineligible to contest because as of June 22, 2011, she was of LP, and no waiver from the PDP to hold any office in the party.

    Should Omole succeed in his legal quest to wrestle control of the party from Ogundipe, the State Working Committee will become an illegal body and may need to be reconstituted.

    Pundits are of the opinion that should that happen, the rancor that will be generated by a fresh party congress to elect new state leaders, so close to the gubernatorial contest, will leave the already battered PDP too bruised to make any meaningful impact in the race for Governor Kayode Fayemi’s job.

    There is also the worrisome issue of more than 20 governorship aspirants running on the crisis-ridden platform of the party for the 2014 governorship. As if oblivious of the division within the party, the aspirants are seemingly pursuing their ambitions without thoughts for the disunity in their homestead.

    This has heightened the fear that the Ekiti PDP will go into the 2014 elections in ruins, and will consequently be roundly defeated.

    Apart from Fayose and Olubolade, who have declared their interest in Fayemi’s job, other aspirants include Prince Dayo Adeyeye, (Ekiti South); Senator Gbenga Aluko (Ekiti South); Abiodun Aluko (Ekiti South); and Chief Adeyanju Bodunde, former aide of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (Ekiti Central).

    Others are former federal legislator Wale Aribisala (Ekiti North); Senator Ayo Arise (North); former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Bode Olowoporoku, former Deputy Governors Abiodun Olujimi, (South) and Chief Bisi Omoyeni (South); and former chairman of Emure council, Chief Ropo Ogunbolude.

    To further compound the crises within the party, some chieftains and aspirants recently introduced the very controversial issue of zoning into the politics of the troubled party.

    The aspirants, under the auspices of Ekiti South Senatorial Gubernatorial Aspirants’ Forum, in a communique last Sunday, urged the leadership of the party to select its candidate for the 2014 election from Ekiti South Senatorial District.

    The communique was signed by Abiodun Aluko, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Bisi Omoyeni and Dayo Adeyeye. Others are Ropo Ogunbolude, Bimbo Owolabi, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Adekunle Folayan and Mr. Femi Bamisile.

    The forum noted that the zone had yet to produce a governor in the state since the return of democracy in the country in 1999. They argued that since Ekiti Central and Ekiti North had produced two governors each, the South should be considered for the slot in 2014.

    But the move is already being viewed as a grand plot aimed at edging out both Olubolade and Fayose who are from the north and central senatorial districts respectively. Then new development, pundits say, can only worsen the crises within the troubled party.

  • Between Saraki and Abdulrahman Oba

    Between Saraki and Abdulrahman Oba

    Things are no longer the same between the former governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof.

    Abdulrahman Oba. The bone of contention may not be unconnected to an allegation that Oba, who is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, is being used by some forces in the PDP and the Presidency to challenge the leadership of Saraki in Kwara State.

    As the story goes, Oba, who is yet to forgive Saraki for not supporting his governorship ambition in 2011, has now seen the opportunity to get back at the former governor, who reportedly nominated him for the FCC job.

  • Anambra 2014: ‘Ubah will boost Labour Party’s victory’

    Anambra 2014: ‘Ubah will boost Labour Party’s victory’

    Chief Sunday Akabueze, a chieftain of the Labour Party from Akama na Nansa Autonomous Community of Ihitenansa in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, said in this interview with Emmanuel Udodinma that if the Anambra State chapter of the party nominates Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah as its candidate in the 2014 governorship elections, it would be sure of victory

    You are not from Anambra State. You are from Imo State. So, why are you so much involved in the current search for the right candidate for 2014 the Anambra State governorship elections?

    The man I am proposing, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, is not for the people of Anambra State alone. He is a rare material, good for Ndigbo and Nigeria generally. Actually, I am from Imo State while he is from Anambra State, but irrespective of where I am coming from, God used this man from Anambra State to turn my life around positively. A lot of Ndi Anambra have also experienced and benefited from this man’s generosity. God has used him and is using him and will still use him to turn around the lives of many Ndigbo and Nigerians positively. He is a detribalised Nigerian. He doesn’t want to know where you are from. Be it Anambra, Imo or anywhere; it is not his business. He doesn’t want to know whether you are an Igbo man, Hausa man, Yoruba man etc. He believes in equity, justice and fairness and that is why many people from various states and tribes whom God has used this man to turn their lives around positively are saying he is good to govern Anambra State. If God can use him to bless people from different states and tribes as a private businessman, don’t you agree with me that, that same God will use him more as a governor? That is why we are championing his governorship bid in Anambra State, irrespective of the fact that we are not from there. All we are saying is that he is a new face to shape the old face of Anambra politics. Frankly speaking, as an Igbo man, we have been following the politics of Anambra State and I can tell you that Ifeanyi Ubah is the only aspirant in the current governorship race that has a new face and Anambra people need a man with a new face and there is no other person on the governorship race with a new face.

    Besides the fact that he impacted positively on your life, as you said, which other reason or reasons informed your conviction that Ubah is a good governorship material?

    I have known Chief Ifeanyi Ubah for some time now and have been following his transformation agenda right from his oil company, Capital Oil and Gas. It is this same agenda that he has promised to bring down to Anambra State in governance if elected as governor. I have therefore seen, believed and can confirm that this man, Ifeanyi Ubah, will be totally committed to the transformation of his dear state (Anambra). He promised it in his company, he practicalised it there. He is still doing it and he is hoping to translate it into governance in Anambra State. I believe him because he is a man who truly means what he says. The only thing he needs now is to be nominated by the Labour Party, and his candidature will certainly boost victory for the party at the polls.

    Don’t you think Ubah is too controversial to be nominated as a candidate for the governorship position in Anambra State of today?

    No, I don’t think so. Dr. Ubah that I know very well, who I am recommending to my great party and to the people of Anambra State, is a genuine and successful businessman, an oil magnate from Nnewi in Anambra State. He is a fulfilled man. He is a great organiser of men and women, an activist, a lead fighter for the rights of men and women, youths, and the under- privileged in Nigeria. He is equally a very strong, committed and spirit-filled Christian, a Catholic.

    The fear that some enlightened Anambra people have been expressing is that they do not want, as their next governor, a jobless opportunist, a ‘419ner’ scheming to embezzle the state funds. This is understandable and this is why people want a person like Ubah. With the assets of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd., which Ubah has unveiled to Anambra State people, the people are now not only satisfied with him but are also of the firm view that Ifeanyi Ubah is the man who God has prepared and positioned to save Anambra State from the ruin and maladministration of yesteryears.

    The good people of Anambra State do not need to search further or any longer, for the Messiah is here. They have found out from a recent tour he organised that Uba’s investment is huge, massive and outstanding. The facilities they saw included ships, jetties, depots, filling stations, tankers, and a host of others. They did not only learn that Uba’s Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited is one of the biggest distributors of petroleum products in Nigeria but also that the activities of the company in the area of supply of petroleum products is one of the reasons fuel is available everywhere in Nigeria today.

    This is because while other companies hoard fuel in order to make huge profits, Uba’s company is directed by him to ensure that the product is available to all and sundry. This is a good indicator of Ubah’s heart and his person. He is not just successful but caring and good. Many indigent students across the country are enjoying scholarships at all levels, courtesy of Ubah.

    He tars roads everywhere. His filling stations supply fuel free of charge to motorcyclists in Nnewi every Monday. He intervenes in all cases where poor people are being discriminated against or marginalised. He donates money throughout the federation in pursuit of worthy causes. He has also contributed immensely in the fight against poverty and diseases. His Capital Oil and Gas Company is at the forefront in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He has done marvellously well in curtailing the epidemic, especially in the south-west and the south-east.

    He is a committed Catholic who has contributed a lot to the church in Nnewi, the entire Anambra State and beyond.

    Given this enviable record, I know he will do more as a governor of Anamba State, so I will want my party to take advantage of this opportunity.

    His choice of LP as his party is excellent. This is because the Labour Party is a party with a new face just like Ifeanyi Ubah. They have one spirit and one mind.

    A core businessman, he is not bugged down by the traditional infirmities that affect professional politicians. So, I know that both him and the Labour Party have potentials and these are some of the positive attributes we, as a people, must look out for even in our badly messed- up political terrain. In Anambra, they are lucky for they have found such a man in Ubah.

    I recommend him to every Anambra man and woman that really wants significant improvement in the delivery of dividends of democracy to Anambarians.

  • Sambo’s fate hangs in the balance?

    Sambo’s fate hangs in the balance?

    Some months ago, there were reports that President Goodluck Jonathan is considering dropping his deputy, Namadi Sambo, for either the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda or his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema. But it appears a new name has come into the mix, with the unconfirmed plan by the president to pick former Governor of Zamfara State turned senator, Ahmed Yerima, as his running mate in the 2015 election.

    Yerima came into the picture after he allegedly facilitated a meeting between the president and some prominent Islamic clerics from the north. Mum has been the word from the Presidency and the senator, even as there are unconfirmed reports that Yerima has dissociated himself from the Jonathan’s 2015 re-election project

  • ‘Our goal is to finish strong in 2015 -Delta Information Commissioner’

    ‘Our goal is to finish strong in 2015 -Delta Information Commissioner’

    Until he was appointed Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, a  lawyer,  was a successful player in the private sector. In this interview with Remi Adelowo, he speaks on this transition and also the achievements of his boss, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

    Your boss, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, recently presented his mid-term report. How would you rate the performance of the present administration so far?

    The presentation of the mid-term report is in keeping faith with the promises that were made by the governor while campaigning for his second term. There is a time for making promises during electioneering period and there is a time for delivery. And we have resolved that between now and the terminal date of this administration, what we need to do is to continue to give Deltans the dividends of democracy, which was promised. I don’t think we are doing anything extraordinary; We are just keeping faith with those promises because promises are like debts. Our goal is that by the time the tenure of the present administration ends in 2015, we will be leaving a template of achievements and development based on our three-point agenda, which are infrastructural development, peace and security and human capacity development.

    Two of the challenges in the state is kidnapping, caused by youth unemployment. How is the state using its achievements in sports to address this?

    This question is pre-determined on our ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative and sports is a key component of this. When we marked the second year anniversary of the administration, we had a footbal match during the Governor’s Cup, which has been resuscitated and it was fantastic to see these young talents coming up. A day before that, Ogendegbe Primary School, Warri, won the Channels Kid Cup. What that tells you is that we are already developing sports from the grassroots. The major aim is that young talents discovered at such competitions will become good citizens and not go to the creeks and get distracted, because whether you like it or not, sports is now a big business all over the world. What has put us at an advantage is that Delta has always had the history of producing. Apart from sports, other key components of the Delta Beyond Oil initiative are information and communication technology, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, culture and tourism and entertainment.

    Is the war against kidnapping in the state achieving results?

    The era of kidnapping in the state is gradualling coming to an end. One of the things we have done is that through the Ministry of Youths, we have established various skills acquisition programmes all over the state for the youths. You recall that the state House of Assembly has passed the anti-kidnapping law. Before the law was passed, there were misconceptions that the Assembly and the governor were on war path. But what happened was that the governor felt that as a medical doctor, his first calling is to save lives and not to kill. But the Assembly said no based on the separation of powers, enshrined in the constitution and they vetoed the governor’s assent. So, right now, kidnapping is punishable by death. That is the law.

    Can you enumerate the major legacies this administration intends to leave behind?

    In terms of physical infrastructure, we have built a first class airport in Asaba, which is just ten minutes away from the Onitsha and Nnewi markets. And in terms of the cost, the airport can be said to be the cheapest in this country. A sum of N27b has been spent on it so far. Work has also started on another airport in Warri which serves as the economic zone of the state. We are also putting in place three PPP arrangements for two or three mega projects. The first is the Warri Industrial Park, which will be a major cluster of industries. We are also putting in place an Export Processing Zone. In addition, we are dredging and developing the Warri Ports to accommodate more large cargoes. Closely linked to this is the urbanisation of Asaba roads, which will link all parts of the state. Other road projects are also being embarked on in different parts of the state. Tourism is also being given the desired attention. In Ogwachukwu, we have a world class animal and poultry farm, which is a partnership between the state and Obasanjo Farms. We are also building an ICT park located at Ugbolu in Asaba where things like computers will be assembled. The basic idea behind these projects is to develop a sustainable economy that will develop the state with or without oil. In education, we are rebuilding schools, but more importantly, we give scholarships to first class graduates from the state to study in any country of choice. In health, our specialist hospitals in Oghara has been rated as the best in this part of the world, boasting the very best in equipment and personnel. There is also a massive mother and child hospital in Warri. So, it has been a harvest of projects all over the state. Our mantra in the government is that ‘we are finishing strong’ when our tenure comes to an end.

    How has the transition been for you from a private sector player to being a commissioner?

    Initially, it was frustrating. In the private sector, the emphasis is on speed if you want to succeed. But in government, the mantra is due process, which makes execution of government programmes rather slow. But in all, I would say the experience has been an eye opener and very fulfilling.