Category: South East

Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have disagreed on the performance of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and good governance in the state.

Edo PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, yesterday in Benin, described APC as a rag-tag party.

The newly-elected Chairman of APC in Edo State, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), was quoted by the party’s Assistant Publicity Secretary, Victor Osehobo, as insisting that Obaseki’s PDP administration was the worst political scam that had ever happened in the political history of Edo.

Nehikhare said: “Edo people are disappointed. Edo people were hoping for a quality team to keep the ruling party (PDP) and government on their toes, to attempt to stand in gap for them, but what Edo people have been saddled with is a team that lacks vision and inspiration, but motivated by greed, bitterness, resentment and cynicism. The APC executive is a selection of cronies of the defeated godfather.

“It is a pity that APC members in Edo State have still not exorcised the demons in their midst. Governor Obaseki’s insistence on using the state’s resources to develop and build infrastructure for Edo people and not stomach infrastructure for APC leaders and cabal was the reason he left APC for PDP on June 19, 2020.

“Our party, the PDP, and its government, are the most organised, people-centred and credible administration in Edo State. Our policies and programmes for the society are with a view to promoting the collective good and not the personal aggrandisement policy that is the cardinal programme of APC.”

“APC has a deplorable effect on our society – corroding justice, good governance and prosperity. APC is like a desperate conman. APC is trying to flog a clapped-out and broken-down model, by slapping on a new coat of paint. They are arrogant enough to think that Edo people will forget what they are.”

The Edo publicity secretary of PDP also stated that Obaseki and PDP would continue to deliver on good governance, while claiming that resetting Edo agenda was causing serious discomfort for APC.

Osehobo said: “As you know, we do not have a governor in Edo State, we have a sole administrator. Obaseki’s PDP administration is the greatest scam that has ever happened in Edo political history. Obaseki surrounds himself with political sycophants, predators, opportunists and vagabonds.

“APC is now fully prepared to play the role of credible opposition with constructive criticisms based on facts and intelligence. With the political road to year 2023 and 2024 now under construction, a united APC in the state will not only deliver Edo to the party, but also retake the seat of government in Benin City.

“Leadership of our party (APC) will be governed with new ideas that will cater for now and future. It has faced a lot of obstacles over time, just as it has climbed many mountains and descended several valleys, prepared to meet the challenges of future.”

The Edo APC assistant publicity secretary also urged members of the party in the state to ignore the propaganda of Obaseki’s administration and remained focused on bringing about the desired change in 2024.

 

 

The senator representing Anambra North in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Uba, has applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for an order to allow him visit leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is being detained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Uba, the candidate of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, prayed the court to grant him leave to visit Kanu in custody as part of his oversight legislative function.

This happened as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, urged the Federal Government to release Kanu to end the insecurity in the Southeast.

In the motion on notice, Uba also sought an order directing the DSS to give him access to its detention facility for purposes of visiting Kanu.

In a supporting affidavit, Uba said: “There had been serious agitation aimed at pressing home his release and this had degenerated into proclamation of sit-at-home orders in the Southeast, a situation which is crippling the economy of the Southeast.

“I know that the sit-at-home orders are a medium of expression of solidarity to the detained defendant and same has been hijacked by unknown criminal elements who are now terrorising the Southeast and engaging in wanton killings, assassinations and burning of valuable properties.

“I state that the sit-at-home orders have gravely affected the economy of the Southeast and had often led to the killing of flouters, arson and assassination of notable persons by a terror group called unknown gunmen.

“There is an allegation that all the above criminalities are being championed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra under the leadership of the detained defendant; an allegation which has been denied severally; yet, the situation continues to worsen…:

Uba’s lawyer Maxwell Opara said the application was necessitated by the DSS’ insistence that his client needed an order of the court to visit the detainee.

“Thetained on the order of the court, and that we should get the court’s permission to visit him,” Opara said.

Ozigbo noted that a different approach should be adopted in addressing the agitations for self-determination in the country.

The PDP candidate, alongside 17 other candidates, are slugging it out for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, following the approval of their parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ozigbo spoke on Sunday night in Awka, the state capital, during a governorship debate organised by a local radio station.

But two other front runners with Ozigbo for the governorship seat, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not attend the debate.

On the detained IPOB leader, Ozigbo said Kanu should be released by the APC administration, adding that non-violent and diplomatic means of addressing the calls for secession should be adopted.

“Indeed, Nnamdi Kanu should actually be released while we go back to the root cause for the agitation.

“I always focus on the root causes of problem-solving. We can’t be addressing a problem from the symptoms. An efficient way to address any crisis is to deal with the root.

“Why the agitations? If you think deeply, you’ll understand that it is because Nigeria is not working. Our leaders have failed us. The sense of hopelessness brought about by poor governance pervades the land.”

“There’s a lot we need to do to get Nigeria working again,” he said.

 

 

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, yesterday unfolded his development plans for the state.

He promised to establish industrial parks to drive industrialisation across the state, if elected in the November 6 poll.

The APC candidate described himself as the best man for the job, drawing attention to his antecedents as a problem solver and developer of human resources.

He said it was ironical that many people he had assisted one way in the other, including All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, are in the race with him.

Emphasising that he has an edge over other contender, Uba, who addressed reporters in Lagos, said he understood the gravity of the challenges on the ground, the solutions they require and people’s expectations.

He said: “I know my people. I know what they want. I know what they are going through.”

Uba reiterated that he had made sacrifices in the past for some people to attain enviable heights, like the erstwhile CBN governor, a minister and other highly placed individuals.

Unfolding his plan for industrial parks to drive industrialisation, he said: “Industrial parks encourage rapid industrialisation through Foreign Direct Investment, expertise as well as the production of quality goods and services.

“That way, more and better jobs are created; more people are gainfully employed and are able to spend a part of their earnings in the market place, which boosts the economy, creates a bigger tax base for the government, and reduces crime rate in the state.

“The World Bank-funded Ethiopian Competitiveness and Job Creation Project (CIC) is a good case in point, illustrating the demonstrable benefit of industrial parks, especially from small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

“My government will work with the Federal Government to construct the Onitsha-Awka-Nnewi gas pipeline, which will become a boost to manufacturing in the state, especially the industrial parks we intend to set up.”

Uba decried the worsening insecurity in Anambra State, which he said had threatened the electioneering.

According to him, a proactive state government ought to have found solution to the problem.

The APC stalwart recalled that he rose swiftly in 2007 to solve the same problem by visiting Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB in detention, five times, to dialogue with him and his men.

Uba regretted that Governor Willy Obiano lacked the wisdom and skills of engagement and capacity to reduce youth restiveness through job creation.

The APC candidate stressed that in the absence of credible government, people have resorted to non-state actors who are responsible for the sit-at-home order in the Southeast.

He said one of the ways to boost employment is to partner the private sector through the provision of an enabling environment.

Urging Anambra not to despair, Uba said infrastructural development would be one of his priorities.

He added: “Roads are bad in Anambra, and there is no water system. There is no Government House.”

Uba promised that if elected, he would conduct local government elections and pave the way for council autonomy.

The APC candidate stressed that while N220 million was due to the each of the 21 local government areas, the state government was only willing to release a meagre N5 million as monthly allocation.

Uba said he has the backing of the church, adding that he and his deputy, Emeka Okafor, belong to Anglican and Catholic.

Acknowledging the push for zoning, he said many of the governorship flag bearers are from the South Senatorial District.

Uba rejected the notion that the Uba brothers -himself, Ogochukwu and Chris – were working at cross-purpose.

The APC stalwart explained that they were on the same page about his ambition to rule the state.

On his structure, he said: “I have a formidable structure while in he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The structure is still working with him.”

He expressed delight that Anambra APC had been enlarging its coast, following the defection of the deputy governor, National Assembly members and other chieftains into the fold.

Uba said the top politicians defected to APC because of their belief in his ability.

He said although he was not desperate to become governor, the time was ripe for him to fulfil his destiny.