The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has said its candidate in the November 6 election in Anambra State, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, is ready against any party.

The party said it is not scared by the names of ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as it is set to win the election.

Briefing reporters yesterday at the party’s secretariat in Awka, the state Chairman of the party, Uche Ugwuoji, said ZLP was not afraid of those parties, as crises had affected them.

ZLP, however, called on the parties to withdraw from the coming governorship poll, as their inconsistencies in candidature was confusing the people.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party’s campaign council, Mr. Afam Ofomata, said the contest by the three parties would be efforts in futility, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the confusion trailing the authenticity of candidates of the parties would confuse the electorate.

“We are urging the APC, PDP and APGA to withdraw from the November 6 election, as they do not have valid candidates.

“The parties have mismanaged their nomination processes, leading to invalid candidates, endless litigations, bitter in-fighting, confusion and inability to forge a direction.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said Anambra State cannot afford to elect an elitist and a greenhorn politician on November 6.

Its Campaign Director General, Dr. Harris Chuma-Odili, told The Nation in an interview yesterday that the next governor must be a grassroots person, who has connection with the people.

He said the likes of the standard-bearer of the factional All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and his People Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) counterpart, Val Ozuigbo, were not electable, regardless of their profiles.

Chuma-Odili said the election was not about big names, big parties, or about money, but about structures and the candidate’s ability to convince the electorate of his plans for the state.

He said: “You mentioned Soludo and Val Ozuigbo. You’re not even talking about people like Ifeanyi Uba. These are people, when you mention their names; we will tell you how we’re going to handle them, and not people who are not electable.

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“Soludo and Ozuigbo are not electable. Val Ozuigbo is a greenhorn, he’s a virgin. He’s just a ‘Jonny-Just-Come’. His presence in PDP has even destabilised the party because those people who are behind him are the real problems of the PDP. I don’t want to go there.

“Soludo is an intellectual and a great man, but he’s unelectable. Ask me why, Soludo is elitist in nature, you need someone who can come down to the grassroots and descend to their level.”

“You need someone who can stand side by side a vulcanizer and an ‘akara’ woman on the road and speak the language they will understand, and not concepts and theories.

“Anambra isn’t looking for a professor. Anambra is looking for one who has link with the people. And that’s where Akachukwu Nwankpo comes in. He is a man of the people.”

Chuma-Odili added: “Again, it’s not about money. It’s about what you have upstairs. Can you convince the electorate about what you’re bringing on the table, your manifesto? What structures do you have on ground to reach out to the electorate to convince them that you’re the right man for the job?

“Not the right man for a group of cabal who want to impose you on the party members and by extension, the good people of Anambra State. So, the election is not about big names.

“I’m not saying my principal doesn’t have a name. He has a name, someone who has been in politics for close to 20 years. A man who worked with former President Goodluck Jonathan for six years without a blemish. He was retained by his principal as his personal envoy.

“He was with him right from his days in Bayelsa as deputy governor, governor, to vice-president, acting president, to president. When they left Aso Rock, he made him his personal envoy. That’s not a child’s play. We don’t really see tough contenders.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, has urged the Rivers State Government to embrace the home grown feeding programme for public school pupils.

Farouq, who spoke yesterday at the kick-off of the school feeding programme enumeration exercise at Primary School 1, Borikri, in Port Harcourt Local Government of Rivers State, said 124,000 children from 963 government primary schools in the state are being fed.

The minister, represented by the leader of the enumeration team, Mr. Charles Uko, said 148 caterers have been engaged for the programme.

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“Over 124,000 pupils from 963 schools in the state are benefiting from the scheme. One hundred and forty-eight food vendors have been contracted to cook and feed the children in schools in every part of the state, including those in the creeks.

“We urge the state government to key into the programme like other states.”

The state Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Young Ayotamuno, expressed concern about the increasing number of out-of-school children in the state and hoped that the programme would address the challenge.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday gave university scholarship to a youth, who manufactured an aircraft.

He assured talented and resourceful youths of his preparedness to assist them realise their potential.

Uzodimma gave the scholarship while receiving a youth, Akobundu Kenneth, who  manufactured a mini-aircraft and displayed it to reporters in Owerri.

Read Also: Uzodimma: youths are change agents

He said the state is endowed with talented youths whose potential, if harnessed, would promote the development of indigenous technology.

Uzodimma, who announced a  university scholarship for the teenager in any institution of his choice in the country, promised to assist him gain admission in the next academic session.

Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, the governor advised  Akobundu to remain focused and resolute, to enable him excel in his career.

The youth, who hails from Umuezeala Owere in Ehime Mbano Local Government, said he achieved the feat out of instinct and intuition. He pledged to actualise the project to an international standard.

Farmers along Aruogba/Egbirhe road, close to Okhuoromi in Oredo Local Government of Edo State, have protested the destruction of their palm produce 11-hectare farm and their belongings, including vehicles and working tools.

They accused the Ohen (Chief Priest) of Okhuoromi, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, of ordering the destruction of their farm and property, while allegedly threatening to kill them if they returned to the farm.

The aggrieved people yesterday moved round Benin and ended the protest at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council, at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Ohen, stop disturbing us on our farm”, “Police must not sweep our complaint under the carpet”, “Ohen, leave our land alone” and “Ohen of Okhuoromi must be arrested.”

One of the protesters, Faith Alfa, said: “We have been farming in the area in the last 14 years, but in May this year, they came to our farm and destroyed the materials we were using in working, destroyed our vehicles and went with their batteries. They threatened to beat us up and kill us. We need help from the government and the police.”

The Operations Manager of Shalom Jare Ventures, Efosa Aguebor, said Okhuoromi claimed that he and other invaders got a victory in court, thereby chasing away their workers and destroying their property.

Aguebor disclosed that the protesters earlier wrote to Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing Igbinovia of taking the law into his hands.

Spokesman for Zone 5 of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Benin, Tijani Momoh, confirmed that there was a petition on the issue, which he said was being investigated.

Igbinovia said the land belonged to Okhuoromi people, in line with the court’s judgment, stressing that he was not aware of the destruction of any farm.

The Ohen said: “We don’t have any banga (oil palm) farm at Okhuoromi. Although, they have at Aruogba, we do not have any issue with Aruogba. The matter is in court.”

“The company took Okhuoromi to court, after we got judgment against the people that sold our land. Are the farmers the owners of the land? We are in court.

“We have a court judgment covering the area. We also have judgment from the palace of Oba of Benin covering the area. We have the High Court judgment and a survey plan showing that the area is our own.”

Igbinovia asked the aggrieved persons to go to court.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State chapter, has urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene in the economic war between the Asagba-In-Council and the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government.

The party made the call yesterday in Asaba in a statement by its Publicity Secretary (Caretaker), Mr. Sylvester Imonina.

He said the information at the disposal of the state APC showed that the Asagba traditional council had not received its constitutional stipends from the Oshimili South Local Government for the past two years.

According to Imonina, the call has become inevitable in view of the fact that Asaba is now a cosmopolitan city, and a home to people who are not indigenous to the city.

“Besides, the squabble between the Asagba-In-Council and Oshimili South Local Government Council chairman could be interpreted wrongly or rightly by the public.

“Particularly, the indigenes may see it as an affront and denigration of the traditional stool, and or an act of economic and political war against Asaba people.

“Information at the disposal of the state APC is to the effect that for more than two years, the five per cent stipends that is constitutionally due to Oshimili South Traditional Council is yet to be paid despite humongous monthly federal allocations to the local government council.”

Imonina added: “In spite of meetings, entreaties and demands by the Asagba-In-Council, the Council chairman gave deaf ears to same.

“As a result, the Asagba-In-Council recently issued a proclamation to the effect that no one should have any dealing with Oshimili South Local Government Council in respect of some key assets in Asaba, as they belong to Asaba community.”

“We have information that during the recent birthday celebration of the Asagba of Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Council chairman was not invited by the Asagba-In-Council to the celebration.

“Regrettably, the council boss allegedly stormed the palace with thugs, for whatever intention, which resulted in malicious damage of properties, while many people sustained injuries.

“Delta APC unequivocally states that no kingdom and its indigenes will tolerate the desecration of its traditional stool by anyone or group of people by whatever means; the traditional stool is seen as their symbol of who and what they are.

“We, therefore, state that whatever the issues are should be settled without delay by the governor.

“The people of the state want peace. Politics and economic consideration must not take front row on issues affecting our monarchs and peace of our dear state.”.

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Save Anambra Group (SAG), has said it is not convinced that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a free and fair governorship election in Anambra State on November 6.

It alleged that INEC had given tacit encouragement to individuals and groups in the crisis brewing among aspirants in the parties.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, SAG National Coordinator Dr. Okwuoma Okeke said the body had watched in consternation, the unfolding drama surrounding the acceptance of candidates for the Anambra governorship election.

The statement alleged that INEC had not shown enough independence in its conduct so far, with regard to equal standard in the acceptance of party candidates, beginning with its hurried recognition of some candidates and rejection of others.

“How can any person not see the obvious attempt to whittle down the strength of some parties by denying their candidates recognition?

“Why the hurried acceptance of a court judgment from Birnin Kudu, yet dithering to accept vacation of the same by a superior court? Okeke asked.

Said he: “It’s no longer a secret that INEC is playing to the script of some external forces bent on foisting an unpopular party and candidate on the people of Anambra State.

“How do we explain the latest judicial witch-hunt of an alleged suit instituted against ‘unpublished candidates’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) based on private submissions to INEC?

“How did the individuals gain access to the documents and what is their locus on the issue of the content of a form filled and submitted to the umpire?

“Why is INEC aiding and abetting subterfuge by a desperate candidate bent on excluding others, to have a free ride to the Anambra Government House?

“We use this medium to implore President Muhammadu Buhari to call on INEC officials to live up to its ‘independence’ in the Anambra governorship election.

“We advise the judiciary to maintain its independence and avoid being drawn in by mercantile politicians, who can lure them, only to be ridiculed by the truth.

“Ndi Anambra and indeed men of goodwill are watching with keen interest and will not allow the will of the people to be trampled on.”

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has said it is time to stop other churches in Anambra State from producing the next governor.

It said it has played second fiddle for long, adding that it is time for it to take its rightful place in the politics of the state with the November 6 governorship election.

PFN said it had not endorsed any candidate in any party to take over from Governor Willie Obiano, as being speculated.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the PFN headquarters in Amawbia, near Awka, the Chairman, Bishop Moses Ezedebego, said they had mobilised their members to arm themselves with their voter cards for the task ahead.

Flanked by other bishops from PFN churches, he said the group would organise a prayer rally at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka on September 17 for the election.

Ezedebego described it as a special day for Anambra because of the election, saying PFN President Bishop Wale Oke would lead the prayer session.

Congratulating the governorship candidates, PFN urged them to hold issue-based campaigns without violence.

“We advise our youths not to allow any candidate to use them during the campaign and election day to foment trouble. We have mobilised our teeming members to arm themselves with voter cards to vote on November 6.

“We have emphasised that Anambra State needs a God-fearing man, a good manager of resources and a man of impeccable character.

“We need a governor for everybody; someone that will carry everybody along. We are praying for the right candidate to take over the mantle of leadership from Governor Obiano,” Ezedebego said.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has deployed a task force in Ebonyi and Enugu states to tackle fallout from the school feeding programme.

The Minister, Sadiya Farouq, said the verification and enrolment drive across the country is targeted at not just the schools or benefiting pupils, but also at vendors and cooks, to ensure an efficient operation and provision of balanced meals for children.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the media aide to the minister, Nneka Anibeze.

As schools prepare for the new academic session, the minister said: “We have embarked on an enumeration to verify the existing data of the benefitting pupils on the programme as provided by each benefiting state, update our database with accurate data and ultimately scale up the programme to reach more beneficiaries across the nation.”

The minister, through the Ebonyi State Coordinator, Sunday Mbam, said N95million was spent in the year under review, with 64,301 pupils as beneficiaries.

He hoped that the exercise would address the challenges confronting the programme in the state and give the opportunity to accommodate more schools.

In Enugu State, the minister, represented by the Team Lead of the State Monitoring and Enumeration of the Programme, Ms Adanne Wadibia-Anyanwu, said the government has engaged 1,532 cooks, who supply the daily meals to public primary schools in the state.

During the enumeration and monitoring at Igbariam Primary School, Achara Layout, Enugu, Wadibia-Anyanwu said the Federal Government spent about N7,998,270 daily in the feeding of 114,261 pupils in public primary schools.

She said the programme had impacted on junior primary pupils in 799 public schools in the 17 councils.

“We are here to get more details on the ongoing programme. We are doing enumeration and biometric data capturing of the pupils enrolled under the programme, getting feedback from cooks and head teachers within the programme.

“We want to keep an up-to-date record of the programme and make it more responsive as well as meet the beneficiaries to get real-time feedback from them as well,” Wadibia-Anyanwu said.

Urhobo and Itsekiri youths have met in Warri, Delta State, to chart youths’ agenda for the governorship position in 2023.

The youths, under the aegis of United Urhobo Youths Association/Middle-aged Leaders (UUYA/ML), led by Mr. Isaac Omemedia, who visited the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) at Ikengbuwa Primary School, Warri, noted that the meeting became necessary as the politicking for the 2023 governorship election gains momentum.

The group comprised youths and leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union-Youth Wing (Ufuoma Duty), Urhobo Youth Council (Joseph Uwaye), Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (Samuel Oghotoma), Urhobo National Youth Movement (Idu Alex), Urhobo Host Communities (Sweet Otiotio) and Urhobo ex-agitators (Austine Ogedegbe).

Addressing their hosts, the Coordinator of the Urhobo group, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, described the move as “self-determination and self-actualisation” that can only be achieved through unity among youths.

He said: “This is a dream of self-determination, self-actualisation. How do we go about the dream? We need unity. We are here for self-determination. Self-determination for me and you. In 1997, during the SDP, NRC, GDN and now PDP, some of us were used as thugs or area boys. But today, are we not men?

“Now if care is not taken, many of us are already grandfathers, but we are still been used as youths. We are begging our fathers to go to Abuja. The people we follow, if they cannot give us a chance, our children will be the ones to drive us to go and retire.”

Oyibode said the age of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, 62, ex-governor James Ibori, 63 and other political leaders show that they started playing political leadership as young people, hence the need for youths to “take over”.

He urged their Itsekiri counterparts comprising the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, Itsekiri Ex-agitators, among others, to support them to clinch the governorship seat, which will be the turn of Delta Central  in 2023.

“Delta State has a model set up by Ibori. When he was leaving office in 2007, he set a pace that government should rotate among the three senatorial districts. It rotated to Delta South and now Delta North.

“We are here, very humble, to appeal. The card has turned to Delta Central. We (youths) are the ones that do the election. But if we don’t grow from that stage for our children to take over, we will lose.

“We are begging that the Itsekiri nation should support the Urhobo nation for the governorship. We want to use the model of no fighting or carrying of arms for the governorship poll in 2023. The person that will assume power must be a youth or middle-aged person. Anybody more than 55 years should go to Abuja. It is going to be a solidarity movement,” Oyibode said.

The UUYA/ML condoled with the Itsekiri on the death of their monarch, HM Ogiame Ikenwoli.

It congratulated them on the coming installation of the Olu-designate, Omoba Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, as the 21st Olu.

The group hailed the peaceful disposition of Itsekiri youths throughout the period prior to the coronation, noting that it was never heard that they were used to perpetrate crime, thus they have sent a message to youths across Delta State.

INYC President Weyinmi Agbateyiniro said the visit served as a reminder that it was time for youths to assume leadership positions in the state and nation.