The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Can power shift in Delta?

    Can power shift in Delta?

    Three political parties-the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP)-are battling for the soul of Delta State. The three parties are preparing for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

    Sources said that there are eight politicians already jostling for the exalted seat. “Four of them are members of the cabinet. Two are legislators”, added the source who declined further clarification.

    Ahead of the poll, an ethnic group, Anioma, is lobbying the parties to zone the governorship to the area. Prominent indigenes who are from the ethnic group are seriously canvassing for power shift based on zoning, although the choice of the governorship candidates in the state has not been based on any rotational principle.

    In the PDP, three groups are scheming to produce the flag bearer. The three competing forces cannot be ignored. The first group revolves around the elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who is opposed to the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Clark, according to political insiders, wants a man in his own image as the next governor of Delta State. The second caucus is led by the governor. The third group is led by the former governor, James Ibori, who is in jail in London. Sources said that there is no tension between the governors camp and Ibori’s as both leaders have agreed to collaborate on 2015.

    “Ibori is still a potent force in Delta, despite his current predicament and that is why many politicians who have ambitions have been scrambling for his endorsement. He is still powerful in jail and he dictates the tune”, said another source. Irked by this, a chieftain of an opposition party wondered why the PDP leaders were celebrating graft in high places. “Delta State is the personification of corruption in Nigeria because it is only our former governor that is in jail in London”, he fumed.

    The main opposition party, the DPP led by Great Ogboru, is now in disarray. Sources said that the businessman-turned politician is planning to defect to the ACN. His defection may revive the party, whose members were downcast, following its desertion by the its former governorship candidates, Peter Okocha and Ovie Omo-Agege, to the PDP. Also expected to defect to the ACN is a radical scholar and professor of entrepreneurship. In the last election, he was a presidential candidate of one of the mushroom parties.

    Last month, a group emerged to discredit the existing status quo. The ‘Delta Forces’, which is canvassing power shift to the young generation, is mobilising the people for the governorship ambition of the Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo. Confirming this in Lagos, the radical lawyer said that Delta deserves a credible leadership in 2015. He said those who have rule the state since 1999 have failed the people. “They continue to deceive the people through their deceitful empowerment peogramme, instead of embarking on infrastructural development”, he said. The Delta Forces also said that, as its members explore the alternative route to liberation in the state, the media should also set agenda for the people. Currently, the members of the ‘Delta Forces’ are touring the local governments to educate and enlighten the people on the imperative of right choice.

    The opposition believes that change is possible in Delta State. They take solace in the Edo example. Although the PDP held forte in the state for eight years, the Adams Oshiomhole’s ACN dislodged the party from power. The ACN governorship aspirant Navy Commander Onabu (rtd) said in Lagos that PDP can be uprooted, if the people are properly mobilised.

    “People believe that ACN can actually do better. The state has resources, but the government lacks vision. Corruption is on the increase in the state and the resources are wasted. This should not continue. That is why I said that the people must be properly organised and mobilised for the next election”.

  • Can falsehood catapult Omisore to power?

    Can falsehood catapult Omisore to power?

    Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politician Senator Iyiola Omisore has made some sweeping allegations against the Rauf Aregbesola Administration. In this piece, LATEEF RAJI writes on the futility of pressing for power shift through rumour peddling, fabrications and prevarications by the opponent.

    In June, last year, when Iyiola Omisore threatened to stop the convoy of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to search him for God knows what, many Nigerians were alarmed at Omisore’s resolve to ignite mayhem in the state, as if that is what will make him the governor.

    But even in the face of overwhelming evidence of his outbursts, Omisore denied making such a statement when it dawned on him that his threat contained elements of crime against the state.

    While failing to clean up the mess of an open threat against a serving governor, the desperation for office has led to more faux paus from the cantankerous politician, whose career has been dogged by controversy.

    Of course, many Nigerians know that all the hoopla about Islamising Osun, concocted security reports, secession plot, cancer, and other forms of manipulated diatribes are aimed at only one thing: Discredit the governor and his administration for his inordinate gubernatorial ambition.

    His interview currently circulating in some national dailies, including that published in Thisday of last Sunday, is another clear manifestation of the incorrigibility of a purveyor of falsehood; dexterous at concoctions and highly gifted in manipulative tendencies.

    Omisore is desperate for a rebirth and image laundry. First, he needs to show the world that he is not himself and he is the best his political party can put forward in 2014 while he is faced with the gargantuan opposition by other governorship aspirants within the PDP who believe and insist that Omisore, for the sake of all that is good, cannot be the face of their party. He needs, secondly, to neutralise many of the heavy, unwholesome political baggage that he carries with him as a politician. Unfortunately, none of these can be wished away by mere ranting, fabrication of lies against the governor and his administration. Lies would remain what they are: lies!

    A quick look at some of the lies told in his interview:

    · That Aregbesola employed 10,000 youths, instead of 20,000,

    · That the government, after two years, laid them off and employed another 10,000,

    · That the governor purchased a helicopter for private use at the cost of N7billion,

    · That Osun got an allocation of N10. 9bn for March and declared N2b,

    · That the governor awarded a contract for the construction of the Osogbo-Ila Odo-Kwara Boundary Road for N19bn while, according to him, the contract had been awarded at an original cost of N7b,

    · That the East Bye Pass Road (which he ignorantly called Western Byepass Road) was awarded at the cost of N15b,when the original cost was N7.2b

    · That Osun is giving “mini-computers to students at the cost of N11b to download textbooks

    · That the state cannot pay minimum wage to its workers

    · That a strike was on in the state as at the time he was granting his interview.

    And now the truth of the matter:

    · Aregbesola’s government did not employ 10,000 youths. His government engaged 20,000 youths for a period of two years for community, social and public work volunteer services in a two-year rolling scheme within which the volunteers are given entrepreneurial life-changing skills. By the time the first batch of 20,000 recruited in March 2011 left in February 2013, no fewer than 18,000 of them had gained one form of employment, either through absorption into the state’s civil service system, or set up one small-scale investment or the other through the skill-acquisition scheme that is part of the package called OYES.

    But for his desperate attempts at brazen falsehood, we know that Omisore, whose extended family is a beneficiary of this scheme, knows that he can confirm from the First Bank Plc, which handles the payment of these 20,000 volunteers every month, if his figures are not mere concoctions.

    · Only ignorance or pure mischief would make a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria fail to realise that a brand new helicopter costs about $4.5 million (equivalent of less than N700 million), rather than the ridiculous N7bn he quoted as the cost of the helicopter in question.

    · The Osun government leased the helicopter for its Swift Action Squad (SAS) for its aerial surveillance, in addition to the over 200 patrol vans and five Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC) that have all combined to make Osun a no-go-area for criminals. The arrival of this helicopter was widely publicised in February to also sound a note of warning to hoodlums that, whether on land on from the air, the state is well covered and fortified against their activities.

    · Osun did not get any N10.9bn and declared N2bn as monthly allocation in March. It is baffling that Omisore could lie so cheaply on a matter so open as allocation to states, which are published on monthly basis for all to see. His lies are calculated at hoodwinking unsuspecting members of the public.

    · Osun would not wait endlessly for a do-nothing PDP-led Federal Government to construct the Osogbo-Ila-Odo-Kwara Boundary Road when we realise the economic importance of the road to our people. Of course, this is the second time Omisore is being challenged to come forward with the evidence of his claim to have awarded the same contract at the cost of N7.2b as against the N17.8 b, which is under a contractor-financed arrangement. In what capacity did he award the contract for the road in question? Was it as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation or what? Of course, it is only ignorance that would make Omisore querry the business of Osun government with what he called the Federal road. Even as a senator representing the state, was Omisore unaware that the state had got the nod of the Federal Government to reconstruct the road?

    · Omisore should come forward with evidence of an earlier award of contract for the East Bye-Pass Road at the cost of N7.2bn as against the cost of N14.5bn for which it is being constructed now. The ACN government is not patching roads as was the practice under the PDP government. Massive reconstructions of roads are going on for all to see.

    · That what Omisore called mini-computers at his concocted cost of N11bn is the landmark Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) nearing its completion and currently being test-run by students of final year in secondary schools. With 56 textbooks on 17 subjects being taught in Osun, no family in the state would wish to be excluded from having their children experience this ipad-like device with past questions, lesson notes and virtual classroom to prepare students for their examinations. In this age of digital technology, what more would an administration do to bring children in the remotest part of the state to modern day digital devise for quality education? Whatever the state may have spent on that project must be a far cry from the present and future benefits to the state, certainly a far cry from Omisore’s outlandish and bogus claim.

    · Omisore must be referring to another Osun where workers are owed salaries for no worker would come out to say that, even with delayed allocations from Abuja, which makes the Federal Government workers to get their salaries, almost one month in arrears, Osun pays salaries of its workers every 25th of the month with even a proviso that when the 25th of any month falls on a Saturday, payment must be effected before that deadline. The only period of delay was when the workers union leaders insisted that all workers must be captured on the biometric system of payment recently introduced to ensure transparency, before payments of salaries. At least, Omisore should bring out just one civil servant known to him whose salaries are not paid as at when due to justify his claim that the state cannot pay salaries.

    · Closely related to that is the fact that Osun has not implemented the Minimum Wage Act. How fallacious! When Osun blazed the trail on the minimum wage with N19,001, exceeding the N18,000 in 2012 without agitation, where was Omisore?

    · Of course, because Omisore and his cohorts are bent on perpetrating confusion, using some elements within labour, had believed a strike would be on by the time he was granting his interview. Sorry, no worker went on strike in Osun. That ‘strike’ only took place in the imagination of those who plotted it; waiting for it to precipitate the chaos masterminded to destabilise Osun.

    There is a pattern that must have become discernible to those following the whole hoopla about the alleged Islamisation agenda in Osun, the merger of schools, and others. Those who have visited the state easily marvel at the massive transformation of the state in the areas of urban renewal, education, the environment, agriculture, youths engagement, infrastructure upgrade, and above all, restoration of peace.

    Apart from major road projects being constructed (some already completed) by the state government, totaling over 500kilometers, the 218 kilometre-roads by the 30 council areas and one area office are taking development to the door steps of the ordinary man.

    The PDP, in its almost eight years in the saddle, could only do 513 kilometres of roads, whereas in two years of the Aregbesola Administration, 532 kilometres of roads have been completed, aside the 218 kilometres of roads listed above.

    The school feeding programme that takes care of all the elementary pupils from Primary One to Primary Four has ensured that no single family can say the government has not touched their life directly. Other social welfare schemes such as the Agba Osun (Care for the elderly) that gives N10,000 to critically vulnerable old people across the state; the rehabilitation of destitute; and organised skill acquisition for youths, have restored the hopes of the people. These and more are sharp departures from the culture of waste of resources, violence against the defenceless, lack of any clear cut programme for the youths and others, which hallmarked the PDP government in the state before the advent of this administration.

    Omisore’s smear campaigns will only work in an environment where the government merely entices the populace with tokens. No amount of orchestrated calumny would neutralise the giant development strides people have seen in the state.

    What the people of Osun have witnessed since the advent of this administration makes the road to be predictably rough for any governorship aspirant who flaunts the ignoble credential of diatribe, misinformation, outright mudslinging and capacity for mayhem, mischief and manipulation as if those are what it takes to assume the gubernatorial office.

    Yes, the records are there. The six innocent souls killed in the most brutal manner in a church in Ile Ife on the eve of the last National Assembly election; the crazy attempts to steal and stuff ballot boxes, the threat to attack the convoy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and others all add up in the theories of violence being sketched and perfected by those who believe that the state must be brought down if only to be governor over a depopulated state.

    Omisore, in the most shameful manner, flaunts the record of being elected from prison as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Of course, was that not one of the oddities of an electoral climate where the votes of the people did not count? At the time he claimed to have won an election in Ife/Ijesha Zone, which is the same as the Osun East Senatorial District, the memory of the dastardly killing of former governor of old Oyo and former Minister of Justice, Chief James Ajibola Ige, was as fresh as it remains till date. For an accused person standing trial at the time for the alleged killing of this illustrious son of Nigeria and Odua to claim to have been elected by the same pained and bereaved people stands logic on its head. Oh! Do the people of Ijeshaland and Ife have short memories to have discarded their hero even in death for a man standing trial to represent them? What happened was no more than the crass and dubious allocation of positions to the highest bidders in the bazar called election under the watch of the PDP-led Federal Government. Even, during the preparations for the 2007 flawed elections, was Samuel Olanrewaju not assassinated? It was a deep shame. It cannot be a triumph for any electoral exploit by any politician.

    This writer witnessed the trial from the first day Omisore was brought to the court in Iyaganku, Ibadan till the very moment a nolli prosecui was entered by the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State under very curious and alarming circumstances. Our memories are not so short!

    On a final note, those scheming to unleash violence and terror on Osun as the only route to the Government House have the common people to contend with. Aregbesola Administration has no apology to those who cannot come to terms with the reality that people, the common, defenceless and vulnerable masses, must be the centre of every government policy.

    Such people have lessons to learn from the words of the Indian hero, Mahatma Gandhi, who said many decades ago in “The roots of violence”, condemned wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principles.”

    In Osun, the Omoluabi ethos tells us that only work can produce wealth, pleasure must be with conscience, knowledge must be with character, morality must accompany commerce, science must have human face, worship must be full of sacrifice, and above all, politics must be with principles.

    • Raji is the Special Adviser on Information in Lagos State.

  • Who succeeds Olayinka as deputy governor?

    Who succeeds Olayinka as deputy governor?

    Correspondent SULAIMA SALAWUDEEN examines the factors that may influence the appointment of a new deputy governor in Ekiti State.

    THE death of Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Funmilayo Olayinka has created a vacuum. Her boss, Governor Kayode Fayemi, has described her as a loyal deputy, adding that she was not a spare tyre. Many Nigerians have also said nice things about her life and time. To her party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), her death was unfortunate and painful.

    However, nature abhors vacuum. According to the 1999 Constitution, the governor is expected to be assisted by the deputy governor. Although no serious role is alloted to the office of the number two citizen of the state, the position must be filled.

    A critical challenge facing the governor of Ekiti State is the choice of a replacement to fill the void. Sources said this would be done, following the funeral of the deeased deputy governor.

    Qualities of deputy

    governor

    Despite its characterisation as a spare tyre, the position of a deputy governor is full of prospects. In politics, loyalty is never compromised. Therefore, the deputy governor must be faithful and loyal to the governor. In addition, he or she must embrace the limitations imposed on the office by the constitution.

    In the Southwest, political parties are usually careful to select “agreeable politicians”, judging by the past experience. In the Second Republic, a war of attrition broke out between the former Oyo State governor, the late Chief Bola Ige, and his deputy, the late Chief Sunday Afolabi. The relationship between their counterparts in Ondo State, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo, was also not cordial.

    In fact, in 2002, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) asked the former deputy governors of Lagos and Osun states; Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor and Chief Iyiola Omisore to resign, following irreconciliable differences between them and their bosses – Senator Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.

    In Ekiti, there may be no shortage of competent, disciplined and loyal persons that can replace Mrs. Olayinka. However, since they have not been tested, the governor and the party will have to critically vet the list of the contenders for the purpose of making a rational choice.

    A party chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent, said that Ekiti looks forward to the appointment of a credible indigene as the deputy governor.

    “Let us put it this way. The person should be hardworking, honest and humble like the departed deputy governor. The person must have succeeded in his or her profession. The person must be an Ekiti patriot,” he added.

    Zoning

    Where will the new deputy governor come from? The late deputy governor hailed from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. It is a stronghold of the ruling party. Many believe that the “Ado factor” cannot be downplayed. Some have rationalised that it would be a mark of honour for the Mrs. Olayinka and the people of Ado, who stood by behind the ruling party during the liberation struggle.

    Another party chieftain, who said that the late Mrs Olayinka’s successor may come from the town, added that it would be a double tragedy, if the slot is given to another town. “But, let us even ask, do you think it would be easy to take such a position away from Ado-Ekiti, which is Ekiti Central, with the present arrangement of the governor coming from Ekiti North and the Speaker of the House of Assembly from the South?”

    “Ekiti people are ever sensitive to politics and political appointments and a move to appoint someone from another town, apart from Ado-Ekiti, will not only alter the distribution and spread of appointments against the capital and this may ruffle feathers”, he added.

    Gender

    The ruling ACN is gender sensitive. The party leaders have often championed the agitation for increased women participation in politics and governance. This is based on its avowed belief and commitment to the affirmative action on gender balancing in political appointments. Although the gender consideration is a weak constitutional issue, it has become an integral part of the political culture.

    2014 calculation

    Analyts have raised two questions: will the new deputy governor hold forte till the expiration of Fayemi’s first term? Would he or she be appointed, based on his or her fitness to emerge as the governor’s running mate in the next governorship election?

    Religion

    Curiously, few elements are advocating religious balancing. They claim that since the governor is a Christian, his deputy should be a Muslim. However, there is no evidence that religion has ever shaped the politics of Ekiti State, and indeed, the Southwest. The people live in harmony, irrespective of their diverse religious leanings. Also, religion has not dictated the distribution of social amenities to the three senatorial districts.

  • Okwu’s activities are illegal, says Umeh

    Okwu’s activities are illegal, says Umeh

    How would you react to Maxi Okwu’s speech that APGA will not embraceOjukwu’s extremist approach?

    For Maxi to come out and describe our great and respected leader as an extremist, it shows the level of destruction that he is planning for APGA. Ojukwu was never an extremist. Ojukwu was a man who stood very strongly for justice; a man who stood very strongly against injustice; a man who stood against the oppression of people, a man who stood for equity and fairness, a man who stood for the rule of law and a man who stood for democracy. It is an abomination for anybody, who claims to be standing on the platform of APGA, to describe Ojukwu’s virtues as extremist.

    This is a blasphemy of the highest order. Those of us who worked with Ojukwu as our leader in APGA will not standby and watch a man who does not have any political vision to describe Ojukwu in such denigrating words. APGA is a political party that is committed to the vision which Ojukwu represented as enumerated above. APGA will continue in that direction without apology to anybody.

    Do you support party members calling for sanction against him?

    They should tender an immediate apology for this attack on Ojukwu. But for Ojukwu, Maxi probabbly wouldn’t have been alive today. He must apologise to the Igbos and announce publicly that he has nothing to do with APGA anymore. He has demonstrated that he is an enemy of APGA, an enemy of Igbo people, an enemy of the rule of law and an enemy of democracy in this country. For all these years, he has been wandering about, according to the traditional ruler of his community, Achi. He he has never achieved anything politically. Maxi Okwu was in Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Enugu State. When we registered APGA, he crossed over and had a short stint with APGA. When he was expelled alongside Chekwas Okorie, he joined the Green Party. From the Green Party, it metamorphosed to Citizens Popular Party (CPP). He was the National Chairman of the CPP from 2005 to 2013. Within this period, it never won a councillorship election anywhere in Nigeria. That is the man Governor Peter Obi has brought to kill APGA in Nigeria.

    Others say apology is not enough. Is this your position too?

    After the apology, the entire Ndigbo should sanction him. He should be ostracized for making such a statement against the Ezeigbo-Gburugburu. He deserves nothing short of that punishment for daring to denigrate our great leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

    Today, Maxi Okwu is parading himself as the National Chairman of APGA. How would you react to it?

    We will never accept this. Looking at the short stint he had in the APGA, since he was mentioned in connection with theAPGA on February 16 till date, all the activities in the purported faction they are leading, all of them have been enmeshed in illegality. There is nothing they have done that is legal. They started with an illegal national caucus that has no constitutional power to elect or appoint the interim officials for APGA. That was where Maxi Okwu first emerged and he knew that it was wrong under the provisions of the APGA Constitution.

    He participated in it and emerged as the interim national chairman. Knowing that his emergence was unconstitutional and unlawful, Maxi Okwu never wrote a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, describing himself as the interim national chairman of APGA. There was no correspondence between INEC and Maxi Okwu. There was no correspondence between INEC and Maxi Okwu between that period and today where he claimed to be anything. Instead, he created non-existent things in the name of APGA and on the pages of newspapers and finally deceived the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into attending their illegal convention that was conducted by 1.00 a.m on April 8, 2013. On March 9, at Awka, they were purported to have held a meeting of state chairmen of APGA/National Executive Council meeting.

    There is no such meeting under the APGA Constitution where you have the forum of chairmen/National Executive Council meeting. At least, for the communiqué they issued. Everything about that meeting was shrouded in secrecy. The names of people who attended that purported meeting was never published. Unlike us, we have been taking advertorials, publishing names of those that attended our meetings. They hid the list of people who attended that meeting from the Nigerian public. Instead, they continued to engage in propaganda that 36 state chairmen attended the meeting. I suspected foul play and wrote the INEC requesting for a certified true copy of the list of those who attended that meeting, including the notices they gave them, because they were always publishing them in the papers. All these things we requested from INEC, we were not obliged with the certified true copy of people who attended that meeting.

    On Friday, April 5, it was announce that INEC has acceded to the request of Governor Obi’s faction to convene a convention of APGA on April 8, and they will be attending it.

    INEC never said they will attend or monitor the convention until the 5th, which was Friday. That was when the meeting was allegedly held and they agreed to send monitors to that convention. Once I got that, I sent my personal assistant to INEC immediately to obtain the certified true copy of the people who issued that notice to INEC. And on that day, it was released to him. And when we went through that list, it was discovered that 29 people signed the notice of the congresses and convention to INEC, claiming to be state chairmen of APGA. On perusal of the names printed on that attendance sheet, 24 members out of 29 were never APGA chairmen anywhere in Nigeria, up till that moment. They were not known to us. Now, we have the certified true copy of state chairmen of APGA that attended APGA NEC meeting of December 1, 2010 monitored by INEC. INEC issued a certified true copy of those people that attended that meeting. In that certified true copy, those 24 names that are unknown to us, claimed to be chairmen, giving INEC notice of congresses, even though without capacity under APGA Constitution were not on that list. So, it is all a game of illegality. You recall that, last year, Sadiq Massala announced that he had 20 signatures of the NWC members that removed me as the chairman. On verification, INEC discovered that 11 signatures were forged for which the Inspector-General of Police has charged Massala to court for forgery. This is another forgery just to do what is not right. Now, we have requested again that INEC should give us the copies of the notice given to them for the venue of this convention and the time that convention will take place.

    The Electoral Act requires you to give the notice that you will hold a meeting, state the venue of the meeting, and the time of the meeting. By the time the details come out, you will discover that they never informed INEC in writing that their convention will be taking place by 1.am on April 8. There is no political party that will give INEC the notice that they will start an event by 1 a.m INEC is a public institution and public institutions have hours prescribed under the Civil Service Rules, 8am to 4 p.m or 5 p.m as the case may be. You must start your activity within time and may be spill over late. You cannot start an activity by 1.am and then invite a public institution to be part of it on Sunday.

    The Court of Appeal ruling was perfectly in order and what the Court of Appeal did was to stay the order made against me as a consequence of the declarative decisions. The court was wrong. It cannot do that. So, if you want to go and ask for a declaration from a court, you cannot ask the court that, following that, that this thing should be done. And the Court of Appeal was very emphatic on that. And again, the grounds for staying the decision of the Enugu State High Court was bothered on jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal said that consistently, from the trial court, I raised the issue of jurisdiction.

    That the court has no jurisdiction. And in the Court of Appeal, the major grounds of my appeal bothered on jurisdiction. So, the Court of Appeal wouldn’t have allowed that judgment to continue to operate or for anybody to use it if the appeal is before me. If the Court of Appeal agrees that the trial Court has no jurisdiction, all these things they have done, they have done in vain.

     

  • Okwu: I ‘m APGA’s authentic chairman

    The newly elected national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Maxi Okwu, has declared that he is the authentic chairman of the party.

    He dismissed the re-instatement of Chief Victor Umeh as the national chairman by the Appeal Court, Enugu, as a hoax.

    The chairman also said that Umeh’s hope of bouncing back as the chairman has been sealed.

    Okwu said that the ruling has no legal implication capable of hindering the elected national officers from performing their roles as party leaders.

    Okwu was recently elected as the APGA national chairman at a convention held in Awka, Anambra State capital.

    However, few hours after the convention, the Court of Appeal ordered for a stay of execution of the judgment of an Enugu High Court, which sacked Umeh and the members of the party’s National Working Committee on February 8.

    Okwu, who spoke with reporters at his country home, Achi, in Oji, explained that the court ruling had no effect on the newly elected executive.

    He spoke shortly after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Ogbaturu Enyi,” (one that conquered a giant) by the traditional ruler of Akwunobi Kingdom, Igwe Ginger Ibeneme.

    He said before the ruling came, the High Court had ruled that the party could proceed with the convention.

    Okwu added: “Anybody who knows how the court operates will tell you that you can’t stay a declarative judgment, such as that of the Enugu High Court.

    “You also can’t stay a judgment that has already been executed. The judgment was executed as early as 8a.m on Monday and around 12 noon, some people started talking about othe rder for the stay of execution.

    “So, that ruling is an exercise in futility. Even, a first year Law student knows that you don’t stay an order that has been executed. We already have a new born baby, which is the APGA executive and it can’t be aborted again”.

    Okwu reiterated his commitment to the restructuring of the party, assuring that the next year’s governorship election would be won by the party.

    He added: “Governor Peter Obi has done so much in Anambra State. He restored sanity to the state. So, I’m optimistic that Anambra people will vote for APGA again.”

    Igwe Akwunobi had earlier urged the new APGA chairman to remain committed to the responsibility of his office.

    He said: “You have been going around in the political arena, but in this year, your own time to shine politically has come”.

    The monarch, who stressed that he was not a politician, but a father to all the politicians, irrespective of their political leanings, called for the equal treatment of the parties by the electoralcommission during the election.

    But, in a statement, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Anambra State chapter, has called on the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to investigate the conduct of the convention, alleging that the process was controversial.

    Its Secretary, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said the monitoring of the convention by INEC was confusing.

    Ezugwu, who is also a chieftain of the APGA, said that CNPP believed that the convention was an eyesore.

    He said: “We are calling on INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega to investigate the fraudulent conduct of the convention and the INEC personnel that monitored the proceedings of the event between 1am to 7 a.m that Monday.

    “How did INEC itself got entangled? I doubt if Jega was given adequate notice to be part of such a deal to monitor a convention at that unholy time or is INEC no longer a public institution?”.

    Ezugwu also wondered why Gov Obi should applaud the convention and allow his cohorts to discredit the Court of Appeal ,where three judges gave a ruling for a of execution and ordered the reinstatement of the national chairman and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    He added: “I do not see any reason why Governor Obi should support the convention by applauding it and allow the Commissioner for Information and culture, Mr Joemartins Uzodike, to disregard the Appeal court judgment by describing it as judgment in futility”

    The party chieftain also called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the 24 impostors claiming to be state party chairmen of APGA. He said that they had erred by signing the notice of the congresses and convention.

    He cited a similar case, which is pending in the court where Mr. Sadiq Massala claimed he had the mandate of 20 NWC members to remove Chief Victor Umeh from office, but INEC later discovered that 11 signatories were impostors.

    Ezugwu advised Governor Obi to engage in activities that can assist in building APGA, instead of creating tension in the party.

    He added: “Gov Obi should refrain from destroying APGA and disobeying court judgment because he was a beneficiary of the court judgment and rule of law.”

     

     

  • Nigeria can achieve greater integration, says US envoy

    Nigeria can achieve greater integration, says US envoy

    A United States envoy, Mr. Greg Lawless, has urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to national unity and integration as the country prepares for the centenary celebrations.

    He noted the prediction by some foreign bodies that the country may break up next year. But the diplomat said that Nigeria can achieve greater integration and prevent disintegration, if the government and people show commitment to national unity and cohesion.

    Lawless, who is the Political Counselor, US Embassy, spoke in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission. He also answerd questions from Lagos reporters during the tele-conference.

    The diplomat reiterated US commitment to security, transparency and good governance, peace in the Niger Delta, electoral reforms, and sanctity of the ballot box at the local government elections.

    Noting that Nigeria is passing through some challenges, he said the people can use the centenary celebrations to rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existence and unity.

    Reviewing the activities of the commission, he recalled that its five working groups have been meeting regularly to focus and depeen engagement on the core issues, including governance, energy, security, agriculture and the Niger Delta.

    The five groups are ‘Good Governance, Transparency, and Integrity’, ‘Regional Security Cooperation’, ‘Energy and Investment’, ‘Food Security and Agriculture’ and the ‘Niger Delta’.

    Sheding light on the ‘Good Governance, Transparency and Integrity Group, Lawless said that it has been brainstorming on how to curb corruption and improve sub-national governance among the three tiers of government.

    The diplomat promised US commitment to free and fair elections at the grassrrots. He recalled that the embassy has supported local electoral agencies during the recent grassroots elections in Abuja, adding that it would do the same in respect of the Kogi council elections.

    Lawless added: “The states are responsible for the local fgovernment elections. We will support the electoral bodies to ensure better elections in terms of giving technical support, but the agencies concerned will determine the technical support”.

     

  • Oshun: Don’t extend amnesty to Boko Haram

    Oshun: Don’t extend amnesty to Boko Haram

    Former House of Representatives Chief Whip Hon. Olawale Oshun is the leader of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG). He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the insecurity in the country and the imperative of a national conference to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence.

     

     

    How would you assess the Jonathan Administration?

    We have confronted the nation with information regarding the mind-boggling issues of corruption, profligacy and the scared-cow syndrome, including the unprecedented marginalisation of the Yoruba by the Jonathan Administration, focusing on the issue of lopsided recuitment and promotion in the public service. Unfortunately, this situation has not abated. The current reality also paints the picture of an underestimation of the scale of impunity and flagrant disregard for the laws of the land and every sense of propriety and good order. These have been exhibited, most notably by the recent pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diprieye Alamieyeseigha. This blatant display of deficit in ethical-based governance, has received widespread and worldwide condemnation, which ARG also reacted to via a press statement.

    It was reported that ARG was part of the recent re-union of Afenifere in Akure. Could you shed light on this?

    For the avoidance of any doubts, ARG was neither involved nor represented at that meeting. None of those who attended that meeting could claim to be representing ARG. Whoever attended or participated at that meeting did so entirely on his own volition. ARG is a group that recognises the independent mindedness of individuals. Therefore, we concede to individuals, their right and choice of association.

    ARG is a group with explicit and untainted moral values and stance. We affirm therefore, that anybody who purports to be an ARG member, and sits in a meeting with Iyiola Omisore, and some of the other personalities mentioned at that meeting, is on his or her own and cannot and will not be a member or an associate of the ARG. We need to emphasise that ARG does not and will not quarrel or contend with the old Afenifere. We have met with them and consulted with them on Pan-Yoruba issues where and when necessary. We also affirm that there is no question of a re-union between Afenifere of old and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG). ARG has and does projects a uniquely vibrant identity, a clearly distinctly defined mission and philosophical stance that are carved in progressive and developmental independence of thoughts and actions, that are informed by engrained Omoluabi values.

    It has been alleged that ARG is closely associated with a political party. What is the true position?

    We also make clear that we are tied to no strings – individual or institutional. ARG is an independent group of Yoruba patriots, an ethos we hold in high esteem and guard with principles. ARG is not controlled from anywhere, by anyone, by any group or by any political party. In our midst are professionals, businessmen, academics, intellectuals, technocrats and people across the length and breadth of Yorubaland and in the Diaspora. We have made no secret of the fact that we are a political organisation. However, many of our members are not partisan and they view the socio-economic and political development of Yorubaland as a major goal. Only the mischievious would continue to make unsubstantiated claims about any juggernaut behind ARG or any money-bag funding the activities of the group – in the past or even now. We reject these claims completely; they are totally baseless.

    PDP is threatening to capture the Southwest in 2015. What is your reaction?

    It has become evident in the history of Nigeria, that whenever Yorubaland is poised for development, or is seen to be on the path of development, all forms of threats and conspiracies begin to rear their heads. These threats are usually from within and outside the region. We do not fail at any time to recognise them. Our progenitors in the distant past and, of course, in the not-too-distant-past, have had to contend with these scenarios, and they have done their best to either mitigate them or fight them off. This time around, the Yoruba people are prepared for them. ARG will stand in constant watch and will sensitise and mobilise Yoruba people everywhere against the threats that have started to emerge, apparently to truncate our march to development. Of course, internal collaborators from within, foisting all kinds of pernicious and suspicious agenda are never in short supply.opportunists where they belong.

    Is the marginalisation of the Yoruba not confounding to you?

    Without any doubt, the Yoruba have always been specifically targetted either for development decimation or at best arrested progress. The trajectory is all too familiar. Awolowo’s travails, just as colonialism was winding down in the country, and of course with active collaborators from within Yorubaland, led to the end of the First Republic. When another opening emerged for development in the UPN days after 13 years of military rule, the internal colonialists, through the military, struck in 1983 to truncate the advancement of the progressive Southwest governments. Moshood Abiola emerged on the political scene. Nigerians voted for him out of their free will, but his victory at the polls was viciously scuttled. Those who have continued to arrogate to themselves the decision of who would rule and reign over the rest of us, crafted an arrangement that imposed former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the country. The eight subsequent years of a PDP led government in the Southwest imposed a reign of terror and violent dispossession of our value system, foisted on us strange people and strange policies and took away the development agenda of the progressive Yoruba people.

    Former PDP National Chairman Senator Ahmadu Ali has described Yoruba as ungrateful people…

    We are mindful of the recent thoughtless and insulting statement made by the former PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Alli, against Yoruba people and our collective sensibilities. Some of our people have adequately responded to his tirades and we are sure he will continue to suffer the opprobrium of the majority. We would, however, like to say that we would not further dignify this man, who in the course of his odious public engagements within the Nigerian space, has had no credible record of performance, but has constantly acted against the interests of Nigerians, including of course his own Igala people. He is so thoroughly bad, discredited and evil that the PDP, as bad as they are, could not risk him being the Chairman of their Board of Trustees, against his wishes and those of his master.

    Specifically, the ARG wishes to make it clear that we are aware of the plans by the PDP-led Federal Government to take advantage of our historical sensibilities, by promoting certain individuals to form political associations and political parties in our Region, and providing funding to them through spurious and dubious contracts in order to use them as agents of destabilisation, in fulfilment of a sinister 2015 agenda. We are putting this in the public space, so that our people would be informed about the threats that are being massed against them. However, this is Yorubaland.

    We are hereby placing our people on high alert, and asking them to be on guard against the enemy within and the enemy outside. This time around, we must not allow them to succeed, as this is in our interest and that of generations unborn. ARG would like to warn those who are involved in any invidious project or plot against the Yoruba people to desist, or they would inevitably face the wrath of the people.

    What is your reaction to the growing insecurity in the country?

    Our group is concerned about the current spate of bloodshed in the country, mainly as a result of the activities of the so-called Boko Haram and another group that calls itself Ansaru. We are deeply touched and we sympathise with the victims of these unfortunate occurences, and like most Nigerians, we call on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibilities and put a final stop to this frequent bloodshed. This is squarely within the scope of their responsibilities, and there should be no beating about the bush. I will like to warn that this type of tendency is alien to us in Yorubaland, and so it would not be permitted, it would be resisted by our people, and it would never be allowed to have a foothold. However, while we appreciate the concerns of those who have canvassed amnesty as a response strategy to this menace, we would however like to say that the Boko Haram menace is a persistent indication and manifestation of a deeper malaise beleaguering the country. Amnesty will therefore, be another attempt not only to create an opportunity for anarchists, but to further postpone the evil days. Considering the structural deficiency of the country, it is not likely that we would see an end to the use of amnesty. Therefore, in line with our constant agitation for the imperative of restructuring this multi-ethnic, multi-religion and multi-faceted country, it is our view that there is no better time than now to convene a National Conference that would finally resolve the nationality question that constantly and continuously pushes this country to the precipice. We demand a convocation of this Conference without any further delay.

     

     

  • Who succeeds Obi?

    Who succeeds Obi?

    Political parties are warming up for the next governorship election in Anambra State. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU examines the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants.

    The next governorship elec tion is expected to be a milestone in Anambra State. Governor Peter Obi will bow out in March, next year, following the expiration of his second term in office. Will he hand over to another All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governor? Will any of the opposition parties steal the show and instal his successor?

    The political parties are warming up for the epic battle. The contest may hold in November. The governorshipaspirants have started positioning themselves.

    Four parties are in contention. There is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which is fusing into the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP). There are two other parties-the African Democratic Party (ADC) and the United Peoples Party (UPP).

    The PDP, which is the self-styled largest party in Africa, is in disarray in Anambra State. The ruling party,APGA, also has its problems, although the governor has done it proud by performing in office. The fearsome APC is being expected when the merger plans between the ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) are concluded. APGA is basking in the euphoria of the power of incumbency. But ACN has said that this will collapse on poll day.

    There are three zones Obi is pushing for power shift to Anambra North Senatorial Zone. He is mobilising party leaders to support the rotational principle.

    The governor has pointed out that since the creation of the state in 1991 by the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida the zone has not produced any civilian governor.

    The Central Senatorial Zone produced Obi (2006 till date), Dr. Chris Ngige (2003-2006), Dame Etiaba (November 2006-February 2007).

    The South produced Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju (1999-2003), Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife (January 1992-November 1993) and Dr. Andy Uba, who was deposed by the court. Thus, in the last 22 years, the South has produced three governors and the Central has also had a stint.

    Anambra North has only been playing the second fiddle. The former deputy governor, Dr. Chidi Nwike, who was recently murdered in Asaba, Delta State capital, hailed from the zone. He was until his demise the National Vice Chairman of the ACN in the Southeast. Chief Chinedu Emeka, who was deputy to Mbadinuju, is also from the zone.

    The various groups and associations calling for power shift to the North have been strengthened by the governor’s position.

    However, the aspirants from other zones are not deterred by this clamour. Those of them who belong to the ruling party have vowed to resisit the governor’s move to back a contender from the North.

    From all indications, the aspirants from the other zones seem to be stronger than those from the North. Therefore, observers contend that the North may end up producing another deputy governor.

    Already, the posters of the aspirants have flooded the nooks and crannies of the state. Those who have not come out with posters said that they are consulting with the stakeholders.

    The aspirants include ACN strongman, Senator Ngige, who represents Anambra Central, the federal legislator from Anaocha/Njikoka Dunukofia Constituency, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, Senator Andy Uba, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. Others are Chief Olisa Metuh, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba, Mr. John Nwosu, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Oseloka Obaze, Senator Emma Anosike, and Sir Godwin Ezemo.

    PDP has more aspirants than other parties. APGA has a sizeable number. But ACN seems to parade the strongest aspirant.

    There are some aspirants still floating without any political platform. Some are just in the race to seek relevance. Some of them lack a strong financial base. More aspirants may still join the crowd.

     THE ASPIRANTS

    Ngige (ACN)

    He is the political bulldozer.

    The dimunitive, bearded politician is very popular in the state. Many admire him for his courage and strong will. He is vocal on the podium and he has mobilisation skill. Ngige is running for the third time. He ruled the state between 2003 to 2006, before he was removed by the Appeal Court in Enugu, which ruled that Obi won the 2003 poll.

    He has a good leadership style. He also performed creditably as the governor. Ngige constructed many roads that have continued to remind the people that he cared for them. The roads opened up many communities.

    Recently, Ngige said that he was not coming back to play but to continue the good work. He explained that his motto now is: “Operation totality for restoration of the abused system”.

    However, he will have challengers in the ACN, although there is the pervading feeling that he will get the ticket.

    Ngige’s popularity has reflected in the outcome of past polls in Anambra State. His party won six House of Assembly seats, one House of Representatives seat and a senatorial seat. During the senatorial election, he defeated the former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili of APGA.

    If he emerges as the ACN candidate, he will be the candidate to beat.

    Ekwunife (APGA)

    Uche Lilian Ekwunife has endeared herself to the hearts of the people because she is a colourful politician.

    Recently, there was the rumours that she is only interested in becoming the deputy governor. But she debunked it, saying that “if anybody is thinking of such a thing, it means the person does not understand what politics is all about. I was there in 2010 and I want to state it here again, that I, Uche Ekwunife will be running for the governorship of this state. Why should I vie for deputy? I am not joking about it.”

    Ekwunife is contesting on the platform of APGA. She is from Central Senatorial Zone and the only woman running for the position at present.

    She is the House Committee Chairman on Environment. She has given scholarship to over 300 students, not only in Anambra, but also in other states. She has widows and other less privileged persons on her pay roll.

    In the state, Ekwunife is described as the woman with the heart of gold. The only thing that disturbs her mind right now is the crisis tearing her party apart.

    Already, the aspirant has visited the 21 local government areas for the inauguration of her campaign committees.

    Ekwunife, Ngige and Ifeanyi Uba are the only contenders for the governorship position who are serious with their projects at the moment.

    Uba (PDP)

    Andy Uba, who represents Anambra South Senatorial Zone in the Senate, had tested the carrot in 2007 when he won the seat under (PDP).

    But his tenure lasted for only 17days, following the interpretation of tenure by the Supreme Court that returned Obi to power.

    In 2010, PDP denied him the ticket and handed it over to the former Central Bank Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo. Uba moved to the Labour Party, but he failed to make an impact. Many believed that he was in the race to reduce the chances of Soludo.

    After the election, Uba returned to the PDP, where he has been consulting with stakeholders on his ambition to return to power . This seems to be yielding dividends. Although he has not formally launched his ambition, political hangers-on have been urging him to contest.

    Analysts believe that Uba may make an impact during the election, if given the ticket by his party. However, others are equally going for the same ticket. The only problem he may face is clearing the mess of his enfant terrible younger brother, Chief Chris Uba.

    Political observers say he may not likely pursue his project on the platform of PDP because of his alleged romance with LP , if he is denied the PDP ticket, which is likely to happen.

    Nwankpo (PDP)

    Many believe that he has the backing of the Presidency to grab the PDP ticket. He is the Secretary of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which has been enmeshed by controversies.

    The man, who hails from Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area, has been acquiring chieftaincy titles since 2012. He has also actively participated in alleviating the sufferings of the flood victims.

    However, some people have been alleging that he does not have what it takes to rule Anambra State and that he is not a grassroots politician. Alhough he has not corrected such impression already created by delving into the foundation work, analysts still believe that he still has a lot of work to do.

    A close look at him could convince one that he is a gentle man, but the question remains whether he could swim in the political water of Anambra State, despite his closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Nwankpo is believed to be in the good books of all the appointees of the President, but can he get the ticket?

    Ukachukwu (PDP)

    In 2010, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu contested the governorship on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), but failed to secure the ticket.

    Today, he is back to the PDP . He has not formally announced his ambition, but insiders in his camp told The Nation that he is seriously mobilising for the exercise.

    A dogged fighter and mobiliser, Ukachukwu is known for contesting every election in the state. He contested and won the House of Representatives seat in Abuja Municipal Council in 1999.

    Already, he has taken a full duplex in Awka for his campaign, with his photograph boldly displayed in front of the building along Onitsha-Enugu Express Way.

    His major problem now is how to get the PDP ticket, which is also being contested by Nwankpo and Uba. If he eventually emerges, he is likely to face stiff opposition from some party chieftains.

    Obaze (APGA)

    A career diplomat, Obaze returned to the state on Obi’s request to become the Secretary to the Government.

    Described as a gentleman and a hard worker by his admirers, Obaze replaced his younger brother in Obi’s executive council, Dubem, who was referred to as de-facto governor of the state during his time as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    The Nation gathered that the ground is being watered for him by APGA to replace Obi, despite the number of interests in the plum job.

    The Ogbaru Local Government born-diplomat, returned to the country in 2012, when he assumed his new position. Many APGA faithful believe that the party may be embarking on a suicide mission, if eventually he picks the ticket because he is a political neophyte.

    But what is going for him is his humility, sense of direction and organisational acumen.

    Ezeemo (ACN)

    For now, he is the only person to battle Ngige for the party’s ticket, having been with the party when he was in London. He is a party financier.

    Sir Godwin Ezeemo’s gestures to churches, markets, artisans, corporate organisations and has really brought him closer to the masses.

    Moreover, his support for Ngige for a period of over seven years has made people to believe that, if given such opportunity, he is likely to surpass what the former governor did.

    The amiable young man built a two-storey edifice for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Anambra State. It is worth over N80 million. Previous and present administrations could not achieve that.

    Not only that, in May 2012, the Orient Magazine and Newspaper publisher took another giant stride in collaboration with the Anambra State NUJ by organising a one-week public conference on value re-orientation.

    He is a formidable challenger to Ngige.

    Ubah (APGA)

    Ifeanyi Ubah is the man the Uba Dynasty in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area, refers to as Ubah with “h” in the state. The Chief Executive of Capital Oil and Gas hails from Nnewi. It was believed that his travails recently were the handwork of some people in the state because of his political ambition.

    Apart from Ngige and Ekwunife, who are on the lips of ACN and APGA faithful, Ubah is the next person in line that has appealed to the people.

    In 2012, he distributed kerosene to many homes at the peak of scarcity which hit the country. He ordered that a litre should be sold at N50 when it was being sold at N150 per litre elsewhere.

    Many associations have been formed in the state by the youths and the women in support of Ubah with “h”, while Nollywood actors and actresses have been following him to every nook and cranny to show their support.

    Before now, he has supported the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who is battling other party leaders for the soul of the party. His subtle endorsement earlier by Umeh was what triggered off the sour relationship between Obi and his chairman.

    However, political observers believe that, with Uba and Ekwunife pairing , APGA is likely to give other candidates sleepless nights as being speculated.

    Anosike (PDP)

    The only thing that has been hampering Emmanuel Anosike from kicking off his campaigns is the crisis that has bedeviled his party in the past eight years.

    The senator, who represented Anambra North, but was replaced by Senator Joy Emodi following a Court of Appeal verdict, has been holding meetings in his country home, Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area.

    Anosike had equally represented his Anambra East and West in the House of Representatives between 1991 and 1993 where he excelled.

    Since then, he has not looked back in Anambra politics and is regarded as a political buldozer by his admirers and supporters.

    He seems to be the only person in the PDP that has officially announced his interest and readiness to represent the party during the election. Furthermore, it is believed that “Opete Umueri” has the ears of the powers that be in the party. He is close to the Presidency, which was the reason for his being made the Southeast Co-ordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation during the 2011 presidential election.

    Apart from these gladiators, there are other candidates in other smaller parties. They include Dr. Chike Obidigbo, who hails from Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area. He is the Southeast Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). He has been going round to canvass for support and relies heavily on the promise of Governor Obi that the North should produce the next governor.

    There is also Dr. Alex Obigbolu from Onitsha, who was the chairman of the Anambra State Local Government Civil Service Commission. He contested the governorship in 2010 on the platform of African Political System (APS). Later, he defected to the PDP. He sees himself as the most qualified among the candidates. Though his backers are not known, but from all indications, he has a large following at the grassroots. The only thing that can hinder his chance is the lack of strong financial base.

    An orator and a gentleman, Obiogbolu’s intelligence is another strong point. Recently, a PDP chieftain told The Nation that the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, is also interested in the plum job. He however, said Metuh is studying the crisis in the party, which has failed to abate.

    Other aspirants are John Nwosu and Patrick Obianwu. The list may swell as time goes on. The Nation learnt in Awka that Obi’s deputy, Emeka Sibedu, may throw his hat into the ring.

    A source said that the pendulum may swing to his favour, despite the clamour for a candidate from the North.

    However, his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Madu, told The Nation that those behind such speculations are on their own, adding that his boss has never has no ambition.

    “My boss is only interested in giving his full support to his oga, his Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, in making sure that Anambra State becomes better than they met it”, he said.

    The whistle has been blown. The race is on. Whoever emerges as flag bearer of his party would work harder to replace Obi n 2014.

  • Fresh cracks in Cross River PDP

    Fresh cracks in Cross River PDP

    Cracks within the ruling People’s Democratic Party in Cross River State are becoming more visible with crisis in the Obudu Local Government Council.

    The party in a strongly worded statement, dated April 5, 2013, suspended the chairman of Obudu, Emmanuel Ikwen, for not abiding by the party’s instructions in the manner he ran his council.

    The statement, signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Joe Bisong, on behalf of the state chairman, John Okon, also suspended the leader of the Obudu legislature, Ugar Andeshi.

    The statement was not particular on what their sins were, but said the action had to be taken after series of meetings between the leadership of the council and the party aimed at “reducing rancour and acrimony” in the council’s governance proved abortive. According to the party, “clear instructions aimed at enthroning stability in the council,” were treated with “utter disdain and undisguised contempt.”

    The suspended chairman and leader, the statement said, would appear before the party’s disciplinary committee on a date that would be communicated to them and, in the meantime, have lost rights as members of the party until the determination of the matter by the committee.

    Bisong, in an interview, said, “Candidates are sponsored by the political party and once they are there, they are liable to the party. The whole idea of sponsoring a candidate is to ensure good governance, but where we can no longer guarantee that good governance, the party becomes bothered that you are injuring the conviction of the people and thereby jeopardising the chances of the party in subsequent elections. Where that happens, we take drastic steps to address the situation. The attitude of the Obudu chairman has been of great concern to the party and it is grave offence to disobey directive of the party.

    He added that the action was within the confines of the constitution.

    However, it was gathered that the travails of the LG chairman and leader were not unconnected with the leadership of the party’s attempt to meddle into the affairs of the Obudu legislative council. A source within the party alleged that the leadership of the Obudu Legislative Council had resisted an attempt to impose its impeached deputy leader, Martin Orim, on the instructions of the leadership of the party in the state, saying he had no hands in the affairs of the legislature.

    It was learnt that Orim was on March 7, 2013 impeached by eight of the 10 councillors on allegations of leaking classified information to the public, among others.

    State Chairman of PDP, Ntufam John Okon, it was learnt, was averse to the development, ordering Orim’s reinstatement. His argument, it was learnt, was if there were issues with any of the party’s elected officials or appointed officers, the matter must be brought to the party’s leadership before any disciplinary action can be taken against anyone.

    Though the Obudu chairman could not be reached, the suspended leader, Andeshi, told The Nation, the party chairman, John Okon was unduly hard on them for a democratic process they carried out by impeaching the deputy leader “who was overbearing on us.”

    He said, “The chairman invited us and told us to reverse the matter and we vehemently said no, that it was not democratic, and that we cannot do anything against the House. He insisted that we should reinstate the man, meanwhile we had already elected a new deputy leader. There was no way we could reinstate him by magic. The new deputy leader is Fidelis Togo.”

    Also rising in defence of their leadership, eight, out the 10 councillors, in a letter, dated April 9, to the Obudu Caucus chairman of the party said they have absolute confidence in the chairman, Ikwen, and the leader of the legislature, Ugar Andeshi. They said the chairman had no hand in the activities of the legislative council.

    According to them, the impeachment of the former deputy leader of the legislative council, Martin Ojie Orim, was based on breach of House Rules regarding release of information about activities of the House to the public.

    They accused the state chairman of the party, John Okon, of being too quick to act on the matter without exhausting local remedies and without recourse to the chapter caucus.

    “This scenario has the potential of aggravating issues rather than proffering solutions to the problems. He should desist from this practice. The impeachment of the former deputy leader is sacrosanct and the Obudu Legislative Council will not shift grounds therein,” they said.

    Joining the fray is the Cross River State chapter of the Conference for Good Governance, which condemned the suspension of the chairman and the leader of the legislature.

    A statement signed by its secretary, Adung Ogar, read, “ We write to condemn with the strongest language, the unconstitutional and satanic interference of the People’s Democratic Party chairman, Ntufam John Okon, and his leadership on the suspension of a local government chairman and interference in the management of councils.

    “Ntufam John Okon is fast becoming a deity who wants to be worshipped by party members who are duly and constitutionally elected government officials for selfish reasons.

    “We take exception on the recent suspension of the executive chairman of Obudu local government area and the leader of the legislative council from the PDP by John Okon. This suspension was premised on the refusal of the chairman to reinstate the deputy leader of the legislative council who was duly suspended on account of his flagrant abuse of office by the majority seating of members.

    “It is unfortunate that a man who should consolidate party’s structures and advice government officials on state building is busy chasing vanities.

    “We are after the rule of law and good governance in Obudu, in the absence of this, we shall employ legal means to restore order and sanity in our political system,” the group said.

  • Intrigues as second term governors scheme for senate seats

    Intrigues as second term governors scheme for senate seats

    Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, and Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, report that plans by some second term governors to retire to the Senate in 2015 is the source of political crisis in their states.

    It has been confirmed that the ambition of some second term state governors to retire to the Senate at the expiration of their tenure in 2015 is the root cause of the political tension in their states today.

    At the last count, over 10 of such governors are currently scheming to pick their party’s senatorial tickets in their districts, a development that has irked the present occupants and some aspirants, who had sworn to frustrate such moves, thus heightening the political temperature of the states.

    In the northern part of the country for example, the senatorial ambition of at least six state governors has been a source of heated controversy and political schemings. The governors include Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.

    Others include four governors who have also been linked with presidential ambition in 2015. They are Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State.

    In the southern part of the country, the alleged senatorial ambition of governors like Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Theodore Orji of Abia State and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, has also became a major issue in the politics of their states, ahead 2015.

    Since late last year, when some political intrigues in some states were first traced to the senatorial ambition of some state governors, party leaders, according to insiders, took bold steps to save the situation for the sake of governance.

    The leadership of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for example, had, sometime in February this year, declared its resolve to scuttle the ambition of second term governors elected under its platform and to stop them from picking the party’s senatorial tickets in their districts. Part of the reason for that resolve was the need to clip the wings of the affected governors, who had allegedly shown glaring disloyalty both to PDP leadership and to Mr. President.

    Our investigation, however, confirmed that this move did not yield much fruits in PDP. This, according to our findings, was because the affected PDP governors ignored the party’s directive that they must rest their 2015 ambitions for now. They allegedly chose to disobey that directive, said a source, because most of them are directly involved in the prolonged political battle, both against the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and for the office of the President in 2015.

    It would be recalled that since the 2007 elections, a number of governors across the political parties have been elected to the Senate after completing two terms in their states. This easily explained the desire of most of the outgoing governors to follow this political path. But going by the level of opposition presented both by the incumbent senators and other political forces in each of the states, it remains to be seen if all the governors will successfully fulfil their ambitions. For now, the political manipulations are intense and intriguing.

    Babangida Aliyu:

    When the news first filtered out that Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, a second term governor, was nursing the ambition of retiring to the senate by vying for the so called Zone ‘B’ seat of the state, it generated lots of brickbats among the opposition elements, especially among political opponents of Gwari extraction.

    The incumbent, Senator Dhairu Awaisu, did not hide his determination to resist the governor. In fact, as soon as Aliyu’s intension was made public through the media, Awaistu quickly told newsmen there was no vacancy in the senatorial zone.

    He lashed that if the report about the governor’s plans is true, it would then mean that Aliyu wanted to reap where he did not sow, adding, “It would amount to back-stabbing the Gwaris.”

    Aside political opponents, there is also allegations that some top civil servants in the state, who have not forgiven the governor over their disagreement on the payment of the national minimum wage, have since last year, been mobilising forces in the senatorial district to frustrate the governor’s quest.

    These challenges notwithstanding, Aliyu has remained economical with words over the matter, especially after he became prominently linked with presidential ambition of the north ahead 2015. Though his role in the quest of some northern political elite to produce Nigeria’s President in 2015 have since overshadowed his alleged senatorial ambition, The Nation learnt that the senatorial card had never been dropped altogether. It remains a fall back position. This explains why the political schemings have ever since last year remained rather intense in the Zone B district.

    When the speculation became too much to be ignored, Aliyu’s first direct response was diplomatically evasive, “I have never stated that I wanted to contest for the presidential position, or any other position come 2015, but people are mentioning my name anytime they are naming likely presidential candidates,” he said.

    This is not a denial of either presidential or senatorial ambition in 2015.

    Godswill Akpabio:

    Although the most widely discussed political topic in Akwa Ibom State today is the ethnic group or senatorial zone that will produce the next governor after the expiration of Godswill Akpabio’s tenure, our investigation shows that it is the governor’s alleged senatorial ambition that has further complicated the political arithmetic in the state.

    The Nation’s investigation confirmed that the governor’s alleged 2015 senatorial ambition has become a more critical factor in the choice of his successor as Akpabio has, since last year allegedly endorsed a succession strategy that would first guarantee his smooth ride to the Red Chamber at the senate.

    Already, it has been alleged that the relationship between the governor and the senator representing his district, Senator Alloysius Etuk, may have been punctured by the new realities. Before now, insiders said the two had very robust relationship.

    During senator’s retreat in Akwa Ibom State last year, an event packaged by a committee headed by Etuk, it was observed that the two political leaders from the same senatorial zone avoided each other, a development sources attributed to the puzzle over the district’s senatorial ticket in 2015.

    The Nation learnt that today, most of the governorship hopefuls in the state from PDP, are eager to see how the senatorial issue is resolved before throwing in their resources for the race.

    Reactions of some critics, however, suggest that Akpabio’s men still have a lot of work to do.

    Some chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the five local government areas of former Abak Division, i.e. Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun, who begged not to be named, told The Nation that the governor may not win the senatorial election even if he picks the PDP ticket.

    They alleged that “the governor has only empowered particular set of people from Etim Ekpo, and may therefore not get the support of youths in the area.”

    Describing Akpabio’s ambition as unfair, one of the respondents said “it would be the turn of Abak Federal Constituency to produce a senator in 2015,” adding, “the area has never produced a senator but Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has produced three senators: Ukanafun Federal Constituency has produced two senators while Ikono/Ini one senator, but none from Abak Federal Constituency.”

    Gabriel Suswam

    It is no longer news that Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State intends to represent Benue North East Senatorial District at the National Assembly after the expiration of his governorship term in 2015. It is also no longer news that his ambition is now tearing the state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart.

    Already, the incumbent Senator representing the area at the National Assembly, Senator Barnabas Gemade, has described what he called the plot to draft Governor Gabriel Suswam into the 2015 senatorial race in his constituency as an act of mischief and conspiracy against his constituents.

    Observers of the politics of the state say a contest for the ticket of the party between Suswam and Gemade, who is a former national chairman of the PDP, will be tough, given Gemade’s recent declaration that his second term is non-negotiable and Suswam’s determination to go to the upper chamber in 2015.

    The PDP in the senatorial district is already sharply divided behind the two politicians ahead of the senatorial primaries.

    While Gemade, a former National Chairman of PDP, enjoys the support of most party elders and functionaries of the PDP at the national level, the state leadership of the party and the youths are solidly behind the governor’s quest to displace the incumbent senator in 2015.

    Given this scenario and the fact that Suswam was instrumental to Gemade’s emergence as senator in 2011, there is no gainsaying the submission of pundits that Benue North-East will once again be the hotbed of politics in 2015.

    Liyel Imoke

    Although he continues to deny speculations making rounds that he is nursing a dream to represent Cross River Central Senatorial District in the Senate after his second tenure as Governor of Cross River State, tongues are still wagging about Senator Liyel Imoke’s alleged plan to upstage Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, at the Senate in 2015.

    If it turns out to be true, a senatorial ambition on the part of Governor Imoke will surely create lots of stir as the incumbent Ndoma Egba leaves no one in doubt that he still wants to continue after 2015 when he would have spent 12 years in the Senate.Sources in the state said while the two politicians continue to relate well within and outside the state in spite of the rumoured political clash of interests, their supporters are already bracing up for what many say will be a titanic political battle.

    According to sources, Imoke, who represented the senatorial district between 1992 and 1993, when the late General Sani Abacha stalled the return to democracy, is being wooed by various interests in the district to enter the race for the senatorial ticket of the PDP in 2015.

    “Some people feel he hasn’t had enough time at the National Assembly. Others think it is better for the area to put its best material forward. There are those who just want him in the senate because he deserves it. If all these interests succeed in prevailing upon him to change his mind and run, then a showdown is imminent between him and Ndoma Egba,” a source said.

    Jonah Jang

    There are indications that Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State will be seeking to represent the Plateau North Senatorial District at the National Assembly after the expiration of his term as governor in 2015.

    Signs that he is eyeing a seat at the upper chamber became rife after he allegedly supported his former Chief of Staff, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, to clinch the senatorial seat last year following the death of the then incumbent, Senator Gyang Dantong.

    During the October 6, 2012 senatorial bye-election that produced Pwajok, there were talks that the former Chief of Staff was in the race merely to hold the position in trust for Jang.

    So loud was the insinuation that Pwajok had to constantly deny it. But mute was the word all the while from Jang who before then had allegedly told the late Dantong of his desire to replace him at the senate in 2015.

    “As to the question of me standing in as a stopgap or fill-in, I want to say that to a large extent only God controls the future of mankind. Whoever is planning about tomorrow does not even know what tomorrow will look like. But one thing that is clear is that tomorrow begins today. And what we need to do today we need to do today so that our future can be better assured and we can be greater together and we can move together,” Pwajok had said back then.

    Today, with the governor reportedly oiling his political machineries in preparation of a political trip to the Senate to represent Plateau North, sources say his relationship with Pwajok may have been strained as the later is no longer willing to leave the national assembly so soon.

    Sullivan Chime

    Until recently, when some posters in Enugu State, confirming Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s alleged ambition to contest for the governorship position in Enugu State caused a stir, reports that the Deputy Senate President and Governor Sullivan Chime has reached an agreement to switch offices in 2015 had been dismissed by many as a mere rumour.

    This is because a zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is alleged to state that the Enugu North Senatorial Zone, comprising of the six local government areas that make up the old Nsukka Zone, is expected to produce the next governor of Enugu State after Chime completes his second four year tenure in May 2015. Given this alleged formula, Ekweremadu’s ambition allegedly fueled by Chime’s plot to proceed to the Red Chamber, has become one of the most thorny issues in Enugu State politics.

    The matter, according to sources, is not helped by the fact that the Udi born state governor cannot, up till now, be pinned down on the issue of succession although he promised, during his 2011 second term campaign, to hand over power to an Nsukka man if Enugu North Senatorial Zone supported his re-election bid then.

    The tension in Nsukka area today is that if Ekweremadu’s and Chime’s alleged exchange agreement materialise, the zone would have been cheated. This fear is because Ekweremadu represents Enugu West Senatorial Zone, the same zone with incumbent governor, Chime.

    Feelers from the Nsukka Zone suggest their determination to resist the alleged arrangement, a development that is poised to heat up the governorship election in 2015.

    In the other states affected, the intrigues are also as intense. For example, in Sokoto State, just like in Enugu, there are allegations that Wamakko may have reached agreement to exchange position with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. Although this is not yet confirmed, it has become a major factor in the politics of the state.