Category: Southeast report

The Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chairman of Tinubu Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers State, Tony Okocha has explained why he asked former Governor Nyesom Wike to join and lead the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okocha said the party is in coma and needs a seasoned politician with pedigree and administrative wherewithal like Wike to resuscitate it.

He spoke during a chat with reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.

APC members who are loyal to him (Okocha) last week called on the immediate past Governor to defect and lead the opposition party.

The group also nominated Wike to the Federal Government for whatever entitlements due the state in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

They hinged the nomination on the overwhelming supports he gave to the President during the poll, adding that they are comfortable with him than others who allegedly are making overtures to divert the rights from the Presudency.

But Wike’s invitation attracted criticisms from both current and former members.

The spokesman of the APC, Darlington Nwaju, former members of APC and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last elections, Magnus Abe and finance Director, SDP Governorship election Campaign Council and also the Coordinator of Tinubu/Shietima Independent Presidential election campaign council, Augustin Nwokocha criticised the invitation.

The politicians distanced themselves and the party from the call, insisting that Wike is unfit to lead the opposition party in the state.

But Okocha disagreed. He explained that the decision to woo Wike to breath life into the state APC was reached at a review meeting on the past elections , putting the 2027 exercise in view.

He said: “The call on Wike to come over to APC and lead us came from members during a review meeting we had sometime ago.

“At that meeting, somebody moved a motion and said, APC failed election in 2015 when Amaechi was Governor and the Director General of Muhammadu Buhari Presidential campaign, I was Chief of Staff then, yet the total number of votes we were able to give to Buhari was 69, 000 plus, while PDP gave President Goodluck Jonathan over two million votes.

‘APC election score in 2019 was even worse than that of 2015; we did not score even 12 percent of the total votes cast in that exercise, but then Wike was already in government; the party did everything to stiffen every chances for APC to breathe in elections, even though Amaechi was already a Minister and had the chances to win the poll for the party.

“Then the recent one, the jinx of many years was broken, APC was able to win Presidential election simply because former Givernor Nyesom Wike mobilised his PDP members and supporters to support and vote for APC.

Read Also: Group warns Tinubu on Wike, G-5 members

“Okay, iyou say your stong, but PDP won all the 32 House of Assembly seats, won 12 of the 13 Federal constituency and the entire three senatorial seats, and the Governorship, even when with all your candidates in the field and contested the exercise.

“After Gov reasoning into all this records when that motion was raised, I accepted it . This is because if he agrees to come over to us, definitely APC 2027 is sure as long as we’re alive.” Okocha projected.

He noted that Wike has the niche, the pedigree and administrative wherewithal to help us come out of the current comatose our APC is into.

He maintained that APC has bled to comma, and needs a real political juganaught like the immediate past Governor to resuscitate it.

He advised non-party members to stop meddling into issues that do not concern them, insisting that they have no rights to speak on APC affairs.

“If we allow Wike to go back to PDP after helping us to win the Presidency in 2023, will he still come from there to help us again in 2027.

‘’Going forward “, we need to have a robust APC, …and someone who is not a member of APC is somewhere criticising that the call is unrealistic…, he has no right; locus standi, he is a gate crasher to where he was not needed and invited; he is a meddlesome interloper” Okocha said.

Edo State’s many residents have condemned the attack by thugs in Benin on a frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of Labour Party (LP) in Edo, Kenneth Imansuangbon, a billionaire philanthropist, and two other leaders of LP, after receiving the party’s identity and membership cards.

Imansuangbon, popularly referred to as “Rice Man,” in view of his regular distribution of free bags of rice to Edo residents in the 192 wards, across the 18 local government areas of Edo; a former Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, and later Youth and Gender, both in Godwin Obaseki’s government, Andrew Emwanta, a constitutional lawyer; and a daughter of the pioneer governor of the defunct Bendel State, the late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Dr. Amen Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho, received LP’s membership and identity cards at Edo state secretariat of the party on Ogbelaka Street, by Sokponba/Sakponba Road Junction, in the state capital.

A coalition of artisans and traders in Edo state, under the aegis of Skilled Workers for Imansuangbon, called on leaders and members of opposition political parties in the state to play by the rules.

Chairman of the artisans and traders in Edo, Comrade Imatitikua Egbe, urged Imansuangbon not to be afraid, but to remain focused and be determined to succeed in the governorship race, ahead of the September 2024 election.

He said: “They want to scare Imansuangbon out of the governorship race. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the party collapsed. That’s why they want to stop him.”

Edo Youths Change Agenda (EYCA), through its Coordinator, Comrade Reuben Imokhena, also yesterday, described as barbaric, the attack on the leaders of LP.

Read Also: Imansuangbon joins Labour Party, declares PDP dead in Edo

It noted Edo PDP’s leaders knew that the defection of Imansuangbon to the LP was the end of its tyrannical rule in the state.

EYCA, through its Coordinator, Comrade Reuben Imokhena, called on security agencies to carry out thorough investigations into the attack, and prosecute the perpetrators.

The group said: “The attack on Imansuangbon and others was clearly the handiwork of leaders of PDP in Edo, but they have failed. Imansuangbon is the people’s choice.

“Imansuangbon is the most popular politician in Edo State today. He is the only man, whose activities have touched lives of the ordinary Edo people, without any political appointment.

“We are also sending a strong warning to the hirelings. Nobody has monopoly of violence. Our opting to be law abiding does not mean that we are stupid or scared of them.”

Imansuangbon stepped down as the leading standard bearer on the platform of the PDP for Obaseki, ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election, but he (Obaseki) opted to anoint Asue Ighodalo, a lawyer, from the same Edo Central Senatorial District as Imansuangbon, also a legal practitioner, as his preferred governorship aspirant on PDP’s platform for the 2024 race.

Obaseki was also accused by the eminent politician of being a worse dictator and cruel godfather, who was performing so poorly, and below the expectations of Edo residents, with PDP not to be allowed to produce Obaseki’s successor during the September 2024 governorship election, while LP’s eventual governorship candidate would take over from the incumbent governor on November 12 next year.

The thugs, immediately after Imansuangbon, Emwanta and Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho spoke with reporters in Benin, after picking their membership and identity cards from Edo Chairman of LP, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, and members of his executive, the hoodlums suddenly started hauling missiles, including, stones, bottles, sticks and sachets of water, at them and their cars, but they were adequately protected by the agile security operatives, who accompanied the famous politicians.

Imansuangbon said: “Hon. Emwanta, Dr. Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho and I rightfully joined the LP, a party for the good and ordinary people of Nigeria. Two weeks ago, I was received in Abuja by the National Chairman of LP, Barr. Julius Abure. On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, I was in my village (Ewohimi in Esan South-East Local Government Area, Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria), where I actually formally joined the LP in Esan South-East Ward 2. It was like a carnival, and a very wonderful day, with showers of blessing from God. Hon. Emwanta, Dr. Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho and I have been received by Edo LP, led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, a complete gentleman. We are excited.”

While also firing from all cylinders, Emwanta condemned the dictatorial tendencies of Obaseki, who he declared must not be allowed to produce his successor in 2024.

He said: “Today is my happiest day in politics. About a week ago, I left the PDP. In 2020, when Governor Obaseki joined PDP, we promised to support him, because he assured us that he was going to end godfatherism in Edo State. It is sad to know that in 2023, Governor Obaseki occupies the position of the godfather of Edo State’s politics. His level of imposition is worse than that of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Governor Obaseki runs Edo State as sole proprietorship. I decided to join LP to rescue Edo State.

“We should play politics of inclusion, not exclusion. On June 19, 2020, when Governor Obaseki defected from the then governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP, we had leaders, including Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman, South-South, of PDP, who is the immediate past Edo State Chairman of the party (PDP), but because Governor Obaseki lacks interpersonal relationship’s skills, the frontline PDP’s leaders have been ostracised from the party.

“Little wonder why PDP performed very abysmally during the 2023 general elections in Edo State, with APC and LP’s candidates emerging victorious in almost all the polls. It has never happened in the history of Edo State, that a party in government would perform so poorly at the general elections. That was a referendum on Edo State Government and Governor Obaseki.

“Prior to the House of Assembly election of 2023, I was to resign as the Commissioner for Youth and Gender, because I was spoken to by Governor Obaseki in a manner that I did not like. Governor Obaseki and his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, pressured me, and told me to remove a validly-elected Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Edo State chapter, because of the 2024 governorship battle, but I said no, because that was not democracy. I was about resigning, but the ministry’s Permanent Secretary pleaded with me not to do so. I believe in democratic principles.”

The former Edo state commissioner for communication and orientation also revealed that the state’s executive council was dissolved partly because of the NYCN’s crisis, stressing that shortly after the dissolution of the executive council, Obaseki directed security forces to remove from office, the duly-elected Edo chairman of NYCN, and she was forced to resign, while a kangaroo election was conducted, and Edo governor, in his style of celebrating democracy, inaugurated an imposed executive for NYCN, just because of desperation to produce his successor next year.

Emwanta pointed out that Obaseki and his aides, especially the Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, were always telling lies, and were deeply involved in propaganda.

The ex-Edo commissioner for youth and gender disclosed that Obaseki’s government had so far received over N1 trillion, and he must give account.

Emwanta declared that this was not a time by Obaseki to prepare more Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), but to prepare his handover note, while maintaining that Edo was not for sale, but described Edo governor as being very reckless with the state’s people’s funds.

Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho, while also speaking, insisited that Obaseki lacked interpersonal relationship, stating that persons without interpersonal relationship were doomed, as she described interpersonal relationship as the greatest asset that somebody could have.

The Executive Director, Education, in Oshiomhole’s administration (Ogbemudia-Uhunmwangho) reiterated that his late father loved development, but lamented that development was not being seen today in Edo, while assuring that from November 12, 2024, the state would again witness development.

She said: “It is good to do what is right. I served in Comrade Oshiomhole’s government as the Executive Director, Education. Floods are now killing Edo students in primary and secondary schools. Desks and chairs are no longer provided by Edo State government. Ten students were recently hospitalised, because of dilapidated school buildings in Edo State.”

Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare; and Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, were contacted for their reactions, but they declined to speak.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has blamed Nigeria’s comparative backwardness in the comity of nations despite its huge pool of material and human resources on the selfishness of the majority of the country’s political leaders.

Ewhrudjakpo made the assertion yesterday at the Literary Swansong and Day of Tributes organized in honour of the late Paramount Ruler of Tombia Community, HRH Christian Atani Otobotekere, at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke as special guest of honour at the event, lamented that selfishness had been the bane of progress in the country, stressing that every progressive nation has leaders who are not only patriotic but selfless.

Describing the departed foremost traditional ruler and educationist, popularly known as The Poet King, as a man of impregnable integrity, he urged the political class to emulate people like Chief Otobotekere to make positive impact in society.

Read Also: Ewhrudjakpo performs groundbreaking

He said the lifestyle of the late nonagenarian was devoid of greed and selfishness, which enabled him to lead the Tombia community for about 50 years and his native Ekpetiama Kingdom as Clanhead for 14 years without recording any major intra or inter-communal crisis.

In his 30-minute book review, Professor Kontein Trinya of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, stressed that although Otobotekere’s creative writings had not been streamed in the global literary screen, his works are quite outstanding, especially in the genre of poetry.

Prof. Trinya, who was represented by Professor Saviour Agoro, cited several works of Chief Otobotekere such as Live Two Lives, Beyond Sound and Voice, All Around About, amongst others, saying “he was a contemporary poet of revered ancestral order.

The Partnership Initiative in Niger Delta (PIND) and the Ford Foundation have called on host communities of oil and gas to trust the process of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to enable them the overall benefits of the Act.

Speaking to over 100 stakeholders in Port Harcourt at a one-day PIA training and sensitization for host communities, PIND’s  Programme Director, Essien Effiong, appealed to participants to take advantage of the provisions contained in PIA.

Effiong advised host communities to develop positive attitude towards the PIA and make efforts to fulfill all its requirements to enable them reap all benefits enshrined in the Act.

He said the training funded by Ford Foundation was designed to provide community leaders, youths, women leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders deep and better understanding of the PIA.

He said the training was designed to equip the stakeholders with perfect understanding of their roles in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT).

Read Also: Sanlam, aYo partner on affordable insurance for Nigerians

In his speech, the PIA Consultant for PIND Foundation, Ineba Bob-Manuel, observed that most members of Community Board Committee lacked knowledge of the provisions of the Act.

Bob-Manual said: “I think from the interactions we can see that when a question was raised on who has prior knowledge of the PIA, only two persons raised their hands.

“So this obviously brings to the open the fact that communities need to be sensitised. It is very important for the various communities to understand what the Act says so that they would be able to work towards ensuring proper implementation.”

Also, the Advocacy Manager, PIND, Chuks Ofulue, said the training became necessary following the cumbersome nature of PIA as a new law.

He insisted that for the host communities to benefit from the Act they must understand their roles and expectations and set up the governing organs of the Host Community Development Trust.

One of the participants, Prof. Christopher Ahiankwu, a member of BOT of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni cluster communities of Agip, called on the oil multinationals not to misinterpret the provisions of the PIA  

The Opu-Nembe Council of Chiefs in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has raised the alarm over the menacing presence of security operatives who have laid siege in their kingdom.

The Chairman Opu-Nembe Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Chief Ezekiel Samuel Teigbenyo-Ikoli, in a statement on Saturday informed the Federal Government and the  Bayelsa State government that the peaceful people of Opu-Nembe were currently facing a grave situation.

He claimed that the military personnel had invaded the community following directives by a former minister and his cohorts that had been terrorising the kingdom because of their closeness to the federal authorities.

He stated that the development came days after the community received credible intelligence reports of another imminent attacks on the Opu-Nembe kingdom in order to cause chaos and mayhem in the area.

Recall that in the community’s last press conference held on May 18, 2023, the Council of Chiefs named the alleged sponsors and actors involved in the dastardly attacks.

Teigbenyo-Ikoli said that the former minister was the person shielding the perpetrators of the dastardly act from being arrested by the security operatives.
He claimed: “The military men descended upon Opu-Nembe earlier today (Friday) creating a scene of fear, chaos and confusion as armoured vehicles and armed soldiers patrolled round the kingdom and searched houses, causing distress among the people.

Read Also: Leadership tussle: Court remands community leader

“The invasion has disrupted the daily lives of the community’s residents, leaving them feeling vulnerable and unsafe within their own homes.
“This unwarranted military presence threatens the core values of the peace loving people of Opu-Nembe. It is imperative that immediate action be taken to address the concerns of our people and restore the tranquility they once enjoyed.”
Teigbenyo-Ikoli called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Bayelsa State government as well as other relevant authorities to intervene swiftly and ensure the protection of the Opu-Nembe Kingdom from any forms of attack as it was their rights to live in peace and be secured by the security agencies.
He noted: “We, the people of Opu-Nembe kingdom, deserve to live without fear, with our fundamental rights protected. Thus, we appeal for a swift end to this distressing situation and restore the harmony that the kingdom so deeply cherishes.”
End.

•Donates bus to church in PH

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said the sister states and people of Bayelsa and Rivers are one and the same and inseparable.

Diri stated this yesterday during the service of songs in honour of the late Amaopusenibo Godfrey Brown at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The late Brown, who died at the age of 95, is father-in-law to General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace Church, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that both states had come a long way and the people must continue to encourage the brotherliness between them.

While expressing condolences on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa to the Brown family and the St. Cyprian’s Church, Diri eulogised Pa Brown and noted that although he lived to a ripe age, no one was too old to die.

Read Also: Diri compensates late Bayelsa Queens supporters

Diri later donated a bus to the church in honour of the late Brown.

In a sermon, Rev. Canon Sunday Akuroseokika said the church was celebrating a Christian life in the late Brown, whom he said lived as a father to many and loved everyone who came in contact with him.

Akuroseokika explained that the secret to peace with God was to discover, accept and appreciate His perfect timing even in death and called on the congregation to realise that the way they live determines where they end in eternity.

In his remarks, Apostle Zilly-Aggrey, on behalf of the Brown family, appreciated Governor Diri and his entourage for honouring their patriarch.

On the governor’s delegation was the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa, Mr. Solomon Agwana, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tonye Isenah, among other top government functionaries.

Southeast youths in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint party members with electoral value as Ministers, Special Advisers and board members capable of improving the fortunes of the party in the region.

The youths under the auspices of Southeast APC Young Progressives Forum, also urged the President to ensure the officials to be appointed for the zone would assist the party galvanize grassroots for the party.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Awka, Anambra State, National Convener, Paschal Candle who particularly singled out Anambra for the appeal, said the state was in need of officers who have the capacity of assisting the party in winning elections.

He further urged Tinubu to demand from those lobbying for positions in his government their polling units and ward results, stressing that it would be aberration expecting something from a party one could not boldly identify with.

While feigning ignorance of any name being penciled down for the ministerial slot in the state, Candle explained that the briefing was targeted at urging the President to be wary of lobbyists so as to avoid making wrong choices.

Read Also: Extend Emefiele’s probe to Lamido’s tenure, APC chieftain tells Tinubu

He said, “We plead with Mr President as a thorough party man to ensure that only core party members with sound profile, impeccable Integrity and character in Anambra State and Southeast are appointed as Ministers, Special Advisers, Chairman and Members of various Boards to help build a vibrant party with mass followership in the States across the Southeast.

“While we understand that the buck stops at the President’s table and the choice of a Minister is solely his prerogative, we urge him and his kitchen cabinet to ensure the next minister or set of ministers are not a “Johnny Just Drop” and those who cannot claim to be of Anambra APC stock with mouth.

“It is on record that one of the challenges of the party in Anambra State and Southeast is the harrowing non-reward system for party members who have slaved and toiled and are always being bypassed for expired leaders.

“People without any electoral value or those who are only APC members in Abuja by lip service, but who never identified with the party in their States.

“We may have understood such an absurdity owing to the former President Buhari’s disposition to party politics but how can such an attempt rear its ugly head again under the watch of a core party man such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? The stones will surely cry out!”

•’I have no contract with NNPCL’

A coalition of Urhobo and Isoko Ex-agitators in Delta State have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the alleged ‘diversion/ suppression of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pipelines surveillance slots’ belonging to them.

They accused former Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, of being behind the diversion.

Chairman of the coalition, Godspower Okoro, who addressed reporters yesterday at Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area, also called for Omo-Agege’s arrest and prosecution.

Reading from a statement tagged ‘Save Our Soul’, Okoro said the call was sequel to an ultimatum issued in March, over the same subject.

“It must be noted that this ungodly action by the former Deputy Senate President has brought much hardship and restiveness to Urhobo and Isokoland, a situation which has forced us to send this Save Our Soul (SOS) message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.

According to the group, Omo-Agege influenced the awarding of the pipeline surveillance contract to ‘his proxy Jimmy Omo-Agege, who refused to engage the youths of Urhobo and Isoko, thus giving oil thieves and bunkers unfettered access to the Agura oil field and several of our communities to the detriment of our national economy’.

Insisting that Omo-Agege must be made to face the law, the ex-agitators said while other pipelines surveillance companies pay their supervisors N300,000 and field workers N200,000 monthly, ‘a paltry N60,000 is paid to those engaged from the Urhobo/Isoko axis’.

Urging President Tinubu to intervene in his determination to make a positive impact in Nigeria’s economy, the ex-agitators noted that the surveillance jobs have led to relative peace in the riverine Ijaw and Itsekiri areas, while the Urhobo and Isoko axis have become ‘a frenzy of bunkering and oil theft because there are no organised youth groups to confront the oil thieves’.

Read Also: Marketers to NNPCL: release petrol we paid for

But Omo-Agege denied involvement in crude oil pipeline surveillance contract with the NNPCL.

The former senator, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Sunny Areh, said ‘he is not a contractor and obviously has no contract with NNPCL on pipelines surveillance. This is an easily verifiable fact’.

One of the ex-militants, Ogaga Ivwromon, called for the termination of the NNPCL Pipeline Surveillance Contract for Urhobo and Isoko nation with the current contractor, who they said has ‘cornered everything to himself and family and left others to their fate’.

He also appealed to President Tinubu to establish an Artisanal Modular Refinery Commission and Petroleum Technical College, at Uzere and Oleh communities in Isoko South, as part of his 100 days in office projects to create jobs for the youths.

Other ex-agitators, Jonah Marshall and Timibra Gabriel, lamented untold hardship in their communities, asserting that despite being from oil bearing communities, they benefit little or nothing from the petroleum sector.

• •Governor Mbah assures of safety

The Monday sit-at-home seems to remain in Enugu State though the government had announced a cancellation.

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which initially ordered the sit-at-home, had cancelled it, but a splinter group headed by Simon Ekpa has continued to threaten residents who come out on Mondays with violence.

Few days after assuming office, Governor Peter Mbah also cancelled the sit-at-home, urging residents to return to their jobs and businesses on Mondays, and promising safety and security.

But residents seem not confident in the government’s assurance of security. Our correspondent who monitored the situation yesterday observed that schools, banks and business premises did not open, while the markets which opened were empty.

At Ogbete Market, despite the heavy presence of joint security operatives, traders and transporters did not come out as major businesses in the area were shut.

A private school proprietor, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Usually, we send messages to parents and guardians that we would not open. Today (yesterday) we decided to open but no parent sent their wards to school. We cannot force anyone to come to school on Mondays.”

Only workers at the state secretariat were at their duty posts, perhaps because the Secretary to the State government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, was visiting.

Read Also: We are freedom fighters, not oil pipeline guards-IPOB

Meanwhile, Governor Peter Mbah has re-assured the people that their safety is priority, even as he insisted that the Monday sit-at-home was cancelled.

In a Facebook post yesterday, the governor encouraged residents to resume their daily activities, emphasising the need to promote creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity.

He wrote: “Monday is the first working day of the week. Feel free to go about your various businesses. I assure you that everything has been put in place to ensure your safety. Your security is my priority.”