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Tag: Anambra

  • Anambra community protests government’s neglect

    •‘Allegations unfounded’

    Youths of Ogbunike community in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State yesterday marched on the streets to protest their alleged neglect by the government.

    According to them, the Wille Obiano-led government had neglected their basic needs, failed to fulfil its electoral promises and played the politics of exclusion.

    The protesters, under the auspices of United Ogbunike Youths Association, marched through Oye Olisa Market junction and the Awka Old road, before receding to the Ogbunike Town Hall, chanting protest songs.

    The chairman, Board of Trustees, Chibuzor Unachukwu said the protest became necessary because the Obiano-led administration had reneged on all the promises it made to the community, though his wife is an Ogbunike daughter.

    He presented an eight-point communique by the aggrieved youths, noting that the first project ever inaugurated in Ogbunike since the inception of the present administration was a toilet facility which, according to him, was sponsored by an oil mogul from Ukpo community, Dunukofia Local Government.

    Unachukwu regretted that after working for Obiano’s success and visiting him, the governor promised the urbanidation of Ogbunike community but they are filled with regret today that all the promises had not been fulfilled.

    But Obiano’s media aide Emeka Ozumba, in a statement yesterday, said there were fears that some opposition elements may have infiltrated the peaceful town of Ogbunike to instigate youths to stage the protest.

    Ozumba said the allegations had no relationship with the truth, and were obviously orchestrated to mislead and incite unsuspecting residents against Mrs. Obiano.

    The statement reads: “The wife of the governor has neither a statutory role nor financial allocation from the government. Her role as the governor’s wife has no executive powers to it. “However, to support her husband’s programmes, she set up an NGO, under whose auspices she does charitable programmes and projects, including the popular CAFÉ Housing Programme for indigent widows.”

    Ozumba said the government had executed several projects, including roads in Ogbunike, which the monarch, Igwe John Umenyiriora, even attested to.

  • When ‘ll INEC conduct Anambra Central rerun?

    When ‘ll INEC conduct Anambra Central rerun?

    In this piece, a commendator, Michael Jegede, writes on the agitations of political parties for the conduct of the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun by the electoral umpire.

    Eighteen months after the Enugu Division of Court of Appeal quashed the election of Mrs. Uche Ekwunife as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, and ordered a rerun poll to be held within 90 days (from the date the judgement was delivered), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to conduct the exercise. Hence, the people of the senatorial district have remained unrepresented and continued to be denied the opportunity of feeling the positive impact of governance from all that should rightfully accrue to them through their representative in the Senate.

    The Supreme Court had on February 10, 2017, ruled that the December 7, 2015 verdict of the Court of Appeal on the Anambra Central Senatorial election was final forever. The apex court maintained that no court can overturn the judgement of the Appellate Court on National Assembly election matters, in line with the letter and spirit of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It made the pronouncement, after Ekwunife ignored the provisions of the Constitution, to appeal the nullification of her election and disqualification from participating in the ordered rerun poll, on the ground that she was not appropriately nominated by her then party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Observers had thought that, following the February 10,  ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue, coupled with the February 13, 2009 verdict of the same Supreme Court that new candidates are not allowed in a court ordered fresh election, INEC would immediately put necessary machinery in motion to conduct the long awaited Anambra Central rerun. Unfortunately, the electoral body has continued to drag its heels and failed to take a firm decision, even though the law appears to be fully on its side to hold the rerun poll, regardless of the so-called pending court cases some politicians in Anambra Central are trying to use to frustrate the conduct of the election.

    Evidently, the electoral body was prepared to conduct the rerun as directed by the Court of Appeal on March 5, 2016, but decided to postpone it indefinitely after the February 29, 2016 order of Justice Anwuli Chikere asking INEC to include the PDP against the ruling of the Appeal Court which disqualified the party and its candidate. The Chikere’s judgement in favour of PDP was believed to have been given to pave way for the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, to replace the disqualified Ekwunife. INEC appealed the decision and that gave rise to other frivolous cases from different litigants all meant to perpetually put the Anambra Central rerun on hold.

    A year after her order compelling INEC to allow the PDP bring in a fresh candidate, the same Justice Chikere gave a conflicting judgement declaring that All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot replace its candidate in the Anambra Central rerun election. The APC had also gone to court last year when INEC refused to allow the party to substitute its original candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, now Minister of Labour with Barrister Sharon Ikeazor after the former voluntarily withdrew from the race.

    In the latest judgement of Chikere, delivered on March 14, 2017, she ruled: “That the time for nomination/withdrawal or substitution of candidates for the Court ordered election in Anambra Central Senatorial District had elapsed; that as decided by the Court of Appeal in the case of LABOUR PARTY VS. INEC (2008) 13 NWLR PT. 1103 PG. 73 (and duly affirmed by the Supreme Court on February 13, 2009), there is no room for fresh candidates in Court ordered election.”

    Again, the recent ruling, in the thinking of those who are genuinely worried about the outright denial of the right of the people of Anambra Central to have a voice in the Red Chamber, should ordinarily give more leeway to INEC to go ahead with the rerun poll without further ado. After all, it has been held that when there are two contradictory rulings on a similar issue from the same court, the decision later in time prevails. So, it is safe to say that Chikere’s latest verdict has taken precedence over the earlier order that PDP must be allowed to participate with a fresh candidate.

    A legal practitioner, Ikechukwu Ikeji, in a recent interview on Channels Television, while decrying INEC’s failure to conduct the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election, argued that the commission ought not to have announced the indefinite postponement of the exercise in the first place.

    According to Ikeji, “They (INEC) are right in rejecting candidates that were not part of the original general election. But they are wrong in stopping to hold or refraining from holding or not holding that election. INEC has a strong platform, a strong foundation of law to stand on to hold the election and let whatever court processes that was going on to continue. In whatever ramification and dimension you want to talk about it, there is absolutely no challenge stopping INEC legally, morally, and jurisprudentially from holding the election.”

    The legal pundit explained further that “Section 87, subsection 10 of the electoral act (as amended) clearly states that no court process or court proceeding or court order can stop the holding of any general election. And the Supreme Court in the Labour Party and INEC case which is the locus classicus on fresh elections has clearly held that any court ordered election is a general election. And therefore if it is a general election the law says that nothing can stop it from being held. So, it is surprising that INEC hasn’t held that election…  The law is very clear. When you are faced with two judgements of the court, you do not cherry-pick. You obviously have to do one of two things. You obey the one that is later in time or you obey the one that has superior jurisdiction. And the one that has superior jurisdiction is the one that there should be no new candidate for a fresh election.”

    Expressing joy over the March 14, 2017 judgement by Chikere which validated INEC’s position in refusing to accept new candidates for the Anambra Central rerun, the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the appeal on the PDP case will be withdrawn and he urged other parties to follow suit, so that the rerun can be conducted. He said: “We are happy that not long ago, the Supreme Court has given a favourable judgement (the February 10, 2017 verdict) on one of the cases. Also, the lower court (Justice Chikere) has recently given a judgement stating that INEC was right on its decision.” What then is holding INEC from fixing a date for the election? With all the superior judgements on the matter, should the electoral body still be bogged down and confused on the right way to go?

    Responding to Ngige’s recent outburst that the Anambra Central election would not hold until all pending court cases are disposed of, the leading candidate for the rerun contest and former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, remarked: “I was surprised to read those audacious statements by Dr. Chris Ngige. My surprise stems from the fact that I could not fathom under what capacity Ngige was saying categorically that the poll can never take place until all court cases are cleared. From the question you asked me, he is the Minister of Labour and Employment, he does not work for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that is empowered by the constitution to conduct elections.”

    Umeh maintained that none of the cases the Labour Minister was referring to in his assertion can stand as legal impediment against the conduct of the rerun, stressing that “The issue of the eligible candidates who can take part in a court ordered fresh election or rerun election has been permanently settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in its judgment in a case between Labour Party and INEC, which judgment was delivered on the 13th February 2009.”

    He warned that “Ngige should not intimidate INEC in the discharge of its constitutional mandate. The era of intimidation by ruling parties in Nigeria should be over in line with President Buhari’s promise of change. We experienced these things during the PDP days, but now that we are in a government that has preached change, nobody should use his membership of the ruling party or any arm of government to intimidate and dictate to INEC. That is what Ngige has demonstrated, and he has said it everywhere.”

    The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate for the Anambra Central rerun poll, Oby Kate Okafor, has also called on INEC to do the needful by conducting the long delayed election. Okafor gave the electoral body an ultimatum of two months (from April), after which according to her, she might be compelled to sue the commission for unnecessarily delaying the conduct of Anambra Central election.

    Lamenting that people from the senatorial district had lost so much for the past two years due to non-representation, in terms of funds, amenities and empowerment opportunities, she said: “They (Anambra Central people) can no longer afford to waste further time, and they want to be like their counterparts. The issue is that Anambra Central is losing. What I am seeing now is a case of sabotage, because since the election was cancelled nothing has been done.”

    Various groups and individuals have continued to appeal to INEC to take urgent steps towards ensuring the conduct of Anambra Central rerun election in the interest of the citizens of the senatorial zone. It is described as completely unfair that of all the court ordered fresh polls, resulting from the nullification of about 80 National and State Assemblies results in the 2015 general election, only Anambra Central case remains unresolved.

    The people of the constituency are the greatest losers and not the politicians, who are doing everything possible to stop the election from holding. INEC must therefore, be decisive on the Anambra Central rerun. The electoral umpire should not in any way pander to the whims and caprices of those who have lost out and vowed to ensure that the rerun does not hold. The people of the senatorial district have patiently waited for too long.  They deserve to have a voice in the highest legislative body of the country.

    • Michael Jegede, a media expert writes from Abuja.

  • Anambra to set up computer-based vehicle inspection centre

    Anambra Government on Thursday said it would set up a computer-based vehicle inspection centre to replace the old ways of checking vehicles for road worthiness.

    Mr. Christopher Okeke, Head, Vehicle Inspection Office, Ministry of Transport, made the disclosure in Awka on the sidelines of the ongoing week of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017 edition of the WARSO celebration, which commenced on Monday, is entitled, “Save Lives, Slow Down”.

    According to him, the state government is committed to ensuring rickety vehicles are easily detected and ordered off the roads.

    “The vehicle inspection, when established, centre will ensure that vehicle inspection will no longer be done manually.

    “Before any vehicle in Anambra state is issued certificate of road worthiness, it vehicle must have undergone the computer-based testing.

    “This effort will go a long way in minimising accidents on our roads,” he said.

    He further disclosed that the centre would be a multi-purpose one with facilities for checking head-lamps, brakes and other parts of vehicles.

     

  • Anambra ex-council chiefs threaten to drop support for Obiano

    Anambra ex-council chiefs threaten to drop support for Obiano

    The former chairmen of local government councils in Anambra, who served between 2014 and 2016, have appealed to the state government to pay their entitlements, threatening not to support him in the next governorship elections in the state if they were not paid.

    One of the ex-council chiefs, who pleaded anonymity, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Awka on Thursday.

    He said the councils’ chairmen were worried that several weeks after a four-page letter on the issue was sent to Gov. Willie Obiano, the state government had not responded.

    According to the letter, made available to newsmen, each of the ex-chairmen is demanding about N22 million, said to be the shortfall of their approved take-home pay.

    He said the money was legitimate as contained in the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) Law Vol. 1, 2007.

    He said the14-day ultimatum as contained in the letter given to the state government elapsed on May 11, adding that the ex-chairmen had yet to hear from the government on the matter.

    “We may drop our support for the governor in the next election if our legitimate demands are not met.

    “The ultimatum of 14 working days we issued expires today (May 11) and it is unfortunate that till now, we have not received positive response.

    “Our demands are legitimate, all we are asking for from the state government is the shortfall of our entitlement as approved by RMFC,’’ he said.

    The Chairman of the group, Chief Azubuike Iloh, said they were waiting for the government to respond to their demand.

    Iloh, the former chairman of Awka South Local Government Council, said the ex-chairmen would address a news conference on the administration of the councils for the 30 months they were in charge.

    He said they might take legal steps as well as petition various anti-corruption agencies in their bid to get justice.

    “By today (Thursday), we have exhausted the time for us to dialogue. It may interest you that no word had reached us since we wrote the letter.

    “We will do everything legally possible to get what is due to us; we will address a World Press Conference to tell the world how the local governments were administered for about 30 months we were in government.

    “We will also petition the various anti-corruption agencies against the government,’’ he said.

    Efforts by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to get the reaction of Chief Greg Obi, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters was unsuccessful.

  • Obosi residents solicit Obiano’s intervention in waste disposal

    Obosi residents solicit Obiano’s intervention in waste disposal

    Residents of Obosi, near Onitsha, have called on Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra to save their community from impending epidemic as a result of indiscriminate refuse and sewage disposal.

    Chief Patrick Ngadiuba, Chairman of Ogbodogbo/Ugbongene Layout, Obosi, conveyed the people’s concern at a news conference on Monday in Obosi.

    Ngadiuba said that the neighbourhood was used by some refuse and sewage disposal agents as a dumpsite in spite of several calls to stop the act.

    He said that due to the improper waste disposal habits, several farmlands in the layouts had been covered by the human waste.

    “Some families in Obosi made some arrangements with some soak-away cleaners to use the layouts as a dumpsite, to the detriment of property owners and residential purposes for which most of the lands were acquired.

    “These elements collect fees from the cleaners, ranging from between N700 and N1, 000, as the case may be, per tanker of excrement to dump the human waste in the area.

    “This has made it difficult for the landowners to enter into the area and continue the development of their respective properties.

    “Being mindful of the danger posed by continued dumping and presence of the untreated human waste in the layout; we, hereby, appeal to Gov. Obiano, through the relevant authorities, to come to our aid and save us,” he added.

  • Battle for Anambra Government House

    Battle for Anambra Government House

    Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU examines the preparations of the political parties for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State. 

    The governorship election in Anambra State is gathering momentum. Although the political parties have not conducted their primaries, some of them already have ‘candidates.’

    For now, only six political parties are in the governorship race, while others are still peeping.

    Major parties in contention are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) and the United Progressive Party (UPP).

    Governor Willie Obiano is expected to emerge as the APGA candidate, a chieftain, Dr Elo Aforka, has said that he will also contest.

    Also, the PPA has Mr. Godwin Ezeemo as its candidate without any primary. Dr Stephen Obiorah Mbah is expected to emerge as the PRP candidate. The APC has eight aspirants. The PDP has four. APC aspirants are the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu, Dr Obinna Uzor, Hon Tony Nwoye, Sir Paul Chukwuma, National Youth leader of the party. Others are Barth Nwibe, an engineer, Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Senator Andy Uba and Dr Chike Obidigbo.

    In the (PDP), Chief Osita Chidoka has indicated interest. Also in the race are Dr Alex Obiogbolu, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and Zeribe Ezeanuna.

    The APC has assembled some political eggheads in the Southeast into a committee to deliver Anambra to the party on November 18. The Anambra State Gubernatorial Election Planning and Strategy Committee of the APC is chaired by Senator Jim Nwobodo, the first civilian governor of old Anambra State. Other members are the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, vice chairman, Senator Emma Agboti, secretary,  Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Senator Nkechi Wogu, Chief Madugba Cosmas and Chief Gbazueagu Nweke Gbazueagu.

    The committee is to monitor the political environment and report to the party leadership, evaluate the aspirants in the party, raise funds and advise on zoning. The decision was reached during the Southeast APC meeting in Alor, the home town of Senator Chris Ngige. In a communiqué by the zonal publicity secretary, Hon Hyacinth Ngwu and the National Vice Chairman, Hon Emma Eneukwu, party members were urged to gird their loins, ahead of the poll.

    Apart from APGA, PPA and APC, no other party has begun full preparations for the election.

    The Chief Willie Obiano Support Group, led by Sir Jude Emecheta, has traversed the nooks and crannies of the state selling the governor’s candidature.

    Despite moves by the APC to wrest power from APGA, the PDP is not relenting in its bid to re-capture power. Its arrowhead is former Governor Peter Obi. PDP aspirants have been moving round the state to sell themselves to the people. The party lost power to APGA in 2006.

    But, the crisis in the PDP has been a major blow to the aspirants and their followers. Indeed, the PDP is divided in Anambra State.

    As a result, many PDP chieftains have either defected to the APC or the APGA, while Prince Ken Emeakayi, the chairman, is fighting hard to reposition it.

    Recently, Emeakayi raised the alarm that about 12 cases instituted in various courts in the state by various groups and individuals have hampered the progress of the troubled chapter. The members are confused on whether to align with Obi or follow the aspirants.

    On its part, the UPP said it has put machinery in motion to battle other parties. Its Publicity Secretary, Uchenna Amaku, told The Nation that the chapter will not allow those he described as political hawks to hijack the political space in Anambra.

    He said such people had deceived the state and the zone in the past, adding that the UPP will battle them to a standstill.

    The anger of UPP, according to Amaku, stems from the fact that the youths in the Southeast are being killed and the political leaders are aloof.

    The aspirants across the parties are as follows:

     

    Tony Nwoye (APC)

     He is a former Chairman of the PDP in Anambra State. He was the party’s governorship candidate in 2014. Nwoye is a member of the House of Representatives representing Anambra East and West Constituency.

    He hails from Nsugbe, Anambra East. He is from the same local government with Obiano.

    Not only a dogged fighter, but a great mobiliser, the former student union leader is determined.

    The only obstacle to Nwoye’s ambition is that he defected from the PDP to the APC. He is not a foundation member of the party.

    His major strength is his closeness to the grassroots and his philanthropist activities. One of his major supporters is Prince Arthur Eze, an oil magnet.

     

    Stephen Obiorah (PRP).

    He has said that his main objective is the reconstruction of Anambra State. Dr Stephen Obiorah is a political feather weight in the politics of Anambra. He may not make any head way during the election.

    Besides,  the PRP has no footing in the state. He told The Nation that the party has given him a platform to pursue his ambition. He was briefly in the APGA, but found the party too tough and dumped it in last year.

    Mbah said APGA does not give people chance to lead. He also alleged that the party does not believe in the ability of any other person, except those around the government.

    An Awka indigene, Obiorah is not a threat to anybody in the race.

     

    Osita Chidoka (PDP)

     Osita Chidoka was the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and former Minister of Aviation under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The only strength he has is the position he held and his romance with members of his political party.

    He hails from Obosi in Idemili North local government area and stands a chance of defeating other contestants at the primary.

    Some members of his party have described him as a snub and arrogant person. But, the primary of the party will tell.

     

    George Moghalu (APC)

    Moghalu is the National Auditor of the APC. Hehails from Nnewi North local government area.

    He had contested for the governorship on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2003.

    After the contest, he went into political oblivion because his party did not make it. He was the only face of the ANPP in Anambra.

    One thing going for Moghalu is his simplicity and maturity, which had endeared him to the people, despite his lack of a deep purse.

    Some APC members are saying that he should be given the ticket for his loyalty. Besides, The Nation gathered that Nnewi kinsmen are investing heavily on his ambition.

    Moghalu is somebody that can call you by your name any where he sees you just like Senator Chris Ngige, Tony Nwoye and few others. He is unlike those who see themselves as demigods.

     

    Osekola Obaze (PDP) 

    He is the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the administration of Obi. Obaze is simple, intelligent and easy going. Despite his position, he was in the shadow of his younger brother, Dubem Obaze, who is the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, who was the de-facto- governor.

    Today, Oseloka Obaze wants to govern Anambra state and he is seen as Obi’s favourite in (PDP).

    He hails from Ogbaru local government area but his main undoing is his selective and discriminatory attitude.

    He is a political neophyte. He relies on Obi and his younger brother Dubem for relevance and victory.

     

    Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo (UPP)

    According to observers, Okonkwo is not a lawyer, but he seems to know the law more than the lawyers, judging by his references to the law at each turn. He hails from Nnobi in Idemili south local government area.

    Though not seen as a strong contender because his party, the (UPP) is perceived as a party on the fringe, the party has the backing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other agitator.

    This is not the first time Okonkwo is contesting for governor. He may not have the financial muscle to challenge others in the race.

    But, because of his eloquence and background as a rights activist, he may get the blessing of the founder of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie.

    The UPP Publicity Secretary, Uche Amaku, said other aspirants have indicated interest in the ticket. But, their posters are not yet out.

     

    Godwin Ezeemo (PPA)

    He stormed out of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) because of the disagreement he had with the party leader, Ngige, over the ticket in 2014.

    Ezeemo joined the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) to pursue his ambition. He came fourth. Since then, he has not looked back in his bid to be governor. He has made PPA stronger in Anambra with his philanthropy.

    The aspirant is perceived as a gentleman by all and sundry, and a man with meek of kindness. His major problem is that his party is a small party. It can hardly compete with the APC, the PDP, and the APGA in the state.

    Majority of the people in the state see him as a good material for the position, but those around him are not interested in what he is doing. Sources said they are around him to get his money and disappear.

    Ezeemo has the wherewithal to prosecute his ambition. But, a major obstacle he is facing now is that he has another aspirant from the same Umuchu community in another party. People in the state see him as one who the cap fits.

     

    Willie Obiano (APGA) 

     He became the governor through the instrumentality of Obi, his predecessor. The former governor had insisted that Anambra North, which had been marginalized, should produce the governor in 2014.

    The sentiment worked. Obi made Obiano governor. He got former president Goodluck Jonathan, who abandoned his PDP, to support him.

    Since Obiano came into power, he has not really faced any opposition as the political juggernauts have rallied round his government.

    However, trouble started when Obi defected to the PDP because of their disagreement over the purported 75 billion naira bond the former governor said he left in the state purse when his tenure expired.

    Obiano’s sins, according to the people, are many. Although he has some good works to his credit, some people want to have a pound of flesh during the election.

    Some opposition politicians believe he runs a government of deceit. But, he is not cunning. He is a honest politician.

    His strength lies in his support base. The people of Anambra North are behind him. He has been accused of concentrating his projects and appointments in the area.

    The governor is shielded by a cabal. Although he is a good administrator, he is surrounded by hawks.

    An APGA chieftain, Dr Elo Aforka, is challenging Obiano at the primary. It will be a futile effort. A source aid APGA is ready to prosecute the electoral project with billions of naira.

     

    Barth Nwibe (APC)

    Barth Nwibe is a strong contender in the APC. He has been in the political family from the days of he defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN).

    He contested for House of Representatives under the CAN. He lost his deposit. He is a close associate of Ngige. He is a party financier.

    Before now, some people used to see him as a political neophyte and an arrogant. But, Nwibe is humble, intelligent and he is a good listener.

    If the APC holds a free and fair primary, the Igboukwu-born politician may make a statement.

    He is wealthy. It has been alleged that he is preferr4ed by Ngige, the APC leader.

     

    Elo Aforka (APGA)

    Dr Elo Aforka may be a jester in the race. He cannot withstand the Obiano machinery. According to observers, it will be difficult for him to get the ticket at the primary where the governor is the strong contender.

    He is one-time Special Assistant to Obiano on Political Matters. He is believed to be Chief Victor Umeh’s apogee. But, one thing is clear; he is in the race to spoil the fun for Obiano.

     

    Andy Uba (APC)

    The three-time senator from Anambra South was once elected governor of Anambra State in 2007 in error. He spent  17 days before the Supreme Court booted him out. The verdict was that Obi’s tenure had not expired.

    Uba was in the PDP from where he defected to the APC. He said he left the PDP because of its protracted crises. Uba has paid his dues in Anambra politics. He is a disciple of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    But, he has started battling opposition in his native Uga, Aguata local government area. His younger brother, Chief Chris Uba, regarded as the political godfather, is bitter that his brother deprived him of the opportunity to be a senator in 2015.

    His kinsmen see him as somebody who has not done enough in the Senate to warrant being a governor. Some have even agitated for his recall.

    Uba may not get the APC ticket, having joined the party recently. According to an APC chieftain, “APC does not behave like other parties; we do things according to hierarchy.”

    Furthermore, some politicians in the state have christened Uba as a use-and-dump politician.

    His closeness to Obasanjo may continue to give him hope. Also, if money is the deciding factor, he is a strong contender.

     

    John Bosco Onunkwo (APC)

     He is a rich politician. The young politician hails from Umuchu in Aguata local government area.

    His father was Ngige’s teacher and that closeness with the family has made some people believe it is his turn.

    Onunkwo’s philanthropy has endeared him to the people, especially the youths who believe that there is the need for a generational shift. He is a loyal party man, who has shown commitment from the days of the ACN. He has stronger contenders, including Moghalu and Nwibe, to contend with at the primary.

     

    Paul Chukwuma (APC)

    He hails from Umeri, a neigbouring community Obiano’s village in the Anambra East Council Area.

    Not much is known about the young man with tremendous wealth. He is the Southeast Youth leader of the APC.

    Nobody knows where he draws his strength, but he is close to manyAPC big wigs.

    One APC chieftain who pleaded anonymity told The Nation that Sir Paul Chukwuma is being used to play spoiler’s role in the governorship game.

     

    Zeribe Ezeanuna (PDP)

     He is an unknown quantity. The only time his name was heard was some years back in a protest.

    Zeribe Ezeanuna is not a serious contender.

    Though from Aguata local government area, he is based in Onitsha. He does not possess that political clout like other contenders. Indeed, he is a pretender.

     

    Alex Obiogbolu (PDP)

    The people of Anambra believe that Dr Alex Obiogbolu will behave like Obi, if he becomes the governor.

    He is a loyal party man, having been in the  PDP and gone through thick and thin, unlike others who jump from pillar to post each time one appointment or the other elude them.

    Obiogbolu is a former Chairman of Anambra State Local Government Civil Service Commission and also a former chairman of Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA).

    He is an orator and a gentleman.

    He comes from Onitsha North Local Government Area in Anambra North. The zone has been protesting its marginalization from the scheme of things. The aspirant is close to Obi and Senator Stella Oduah. But, will Obi allow him to gain upper hand against Obaze?

     

    DR OBINNA UZOR (APC)

    Dr Obinna Uzor is a man of many parts. He is a successful business man from Ihiala local government area.

    The only thing working against him was his outspokenness. In 2003, he said he was coming to clear the mess of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Both are from the same area.

    Uzor contested that governorship election on the platform of National Democratic Party (NDP) and lost.

    He had built a Catholic church for his people and he engages in philanthropy.

    The people of Anambra say he does not have the clout of a governor and it will be difficult for the APC to give him the ticket, despite his closeness to Ngige.

    One thing is clear about Uzor;  he is a good man with a good heart. But, he is perceived as a serial defector. Indeed, moving from one political party to another has eroded the trust and confidence of the people.

     

    Chike Obidigbo (APC)

    Dr. Chike Obidigbo gave Obiano and Obi a run for their money during the 2014 contest.

    The disagreement and controversy that trailed the selection process made him to drag the party to court where he lost.

    After the court judgment, he decided to team up with the APC.

    Obidigbo is from Umunya in Oyi local government area. He is not seen as a grassroots man. But, he has a deep purse.

    He was derided as political neophyte when he joined APGA. He is now perceived as a political heavy weight.

     

    Zoning:

    However, it is now obvious that three persons are contesting the election from Anambra South; Moghalu, Uba and Uzor.

    The Central Zone parades eight Nwibe (APC), Onunkwo (APC), Ezeanuna (PDP), Mbah (PRP) and Okonkwo (UPP).

    From the North, six persons are in the race with Obiano (APGA) leading the pack. Others are Nwoye (APC), Obidigbo (APC), Obaze (PDP), Obigbolu (PDP) and Chukwuma (APC).

    But, is zoning a factor? Time will tell.

  • Ohanaeze applauds FG on agric initiatives

    The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has applauded the agricultural initiatives of the Federal Government saying they are yielding positive results in Igbo speaking states.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Igbo speaking states in Nigeria.

    Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, Nwodo contended that with the implementation of the initiatives, the federal government had taken the best move to take the people out of recession.

    He said that the various agricultural schemes embarked by the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were a huge success.

    The Ohanaeze chieftain said that the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, should be commended for the intervention of the apex bank in various empowerment programmes aimed at stimulating the economy.

    Nwodo said: “we want to use this opportunity to salute the governor of the Central Bank.

    “This gentleman has had one of the most difficult challenges that have faced any governor of the CBN.

    “What he has done lately in terms of fighting the value of the naira is most commendable.

    “His programmes at assisting agriculture have impacted positively on the sector.

    “It is working in Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and it is beginning to work in Enugu state and we are immensely grateful to him.

    “We encourage him to continue to work in this way to ensure that the ordinary people in Nigeria can bounce back as this recession continues to recede in its calamitously effect on our standard of living.”

    Nwodo said that the achievements of the government in the petroleum sector should not be overlooked as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had been reinvigorated.

    He said that the achievements recorded in the NNPC during the tenure of Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum and Managing Director were outstanding.

    “Since the NNPC was incorporated, no minister or managing director has ever put the corporation on public portal.

    “But by the click of the mouse, when our son was there, you could tell how much came into NNPC every day and how much was spent.

    “For the first time, petroleum subsidy was removed without the economy collapsing,” he said.

    The Ohaneze president appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and rehabilitate the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway which he described as “death trap.’’

    “While we commend the minister of Power, Works and Housing for the work that has started on the Enugu/Onitsha road, we want to draw his attention to the road between Enugu and Port Harcourt.

    “The road is a death trap. It is tortuous and God knows how long it will take to rehabilitate the road especially with all the stops by security men,” he said.

    Nwodo expressed concern that the entire South-East seemed to be under security siege by officers of the armed forces, who he alleged, extort money openly from innocent citizens and road users.

    He said that complaints by the organisation against the brazen impunity of the security agencies on the roads across the zone had remained unattended to.

  • Nwibe: how APC can win Anambra

    Nwibe: how APC can win Anambra

    Barth Nwibe, an engineer,is one of the governorship aspirants in Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with reporters in Lagos on his ambition, his vision, the state’s politics and his party’s chances. Excerpts.

    Why do you want to become the governor of Anambra State, despite the feeling that politics is dirty?

    There is nothing dirty in politics. It is only because of the way some of us have bastardised and monetised the process here. But as you can see with the APC-led government at the centre, things are changing for good gradually. The issue of money politics and electoral malpractice is being reduced and politics of superior ideas, performance and integrity is being upheld and valued.  I know that with this present government’s style, we will get there soon.

    I got involved in politics because I need to contribute my own quota to help fix the things that are wrong with our country. I want to see whether I can change the way things are done. I set up a Foundation in my community about 12 years ago, and through the foundation, I discovered that there is pervasive poverty in the land and this is holding us down. I just realised there’s poverty in the land; our institutions are in bad shape due to poor leadership.

    As a successful businessman, yes you can try, but, it’s only through politics that you can effectively impact your immediate environment. If people like us don’t get involved, then these other people will get there, make laws and do all sorts of things to control us.

    Life is not just about being comfortable; there’s need for some of us to get involved in politics. My take is that we can do it differently. It is people like us who when we start something, see its end, people like us who had worked and started our businesses from the scratch and taken it to a certain level that should be involved in governance; people like us who have good background in terms of education; if somebody wants to lead or do something by himself, he should be prepared.

    What are the challenges confronting Anambra State?

    The challenge in Nigeria today is leadership. The country is in a mess today because of poor leadership. Religion is also part of it. Pastors preach prosperity as opposed to hardwork.  Our tribal sentiments too: He is Ibo, no, he is Yoruba, oh, and he is Hausa. Sometimes, they are the bedrock of our support. We have to work together to change that mentality. I’m in the race to provide quality leadership for Ndi Anambra and by extension the Igbo race, which is in dire need of credible leaders with track records.

    Look at my own state, Anambra. People involved are career politicians. Times are changing. The oil resources is thinning out, so, I believe that it is time for people to think out of the box. That’s why I’m offering myself. I’m in the race to provide credible leadership in Anambra State.

    Politics in the state had always been fixed in the past; it was always kind of rigged. People get together sometimes in a place, write results and announce them. Sometimes, they use the Police and Military and do whatever they want to do. But that is not possible now under the APC-led government. Look at the elections conducted so far under Buhari’s government. They have been credible and unquestionable.  That is what we are looking forward to in Anambra on November 18.

    What difference do you think you can make in the contest?

    These people you are talking about are not popular on the ground; they don’t win popular elections. I know this time around, they are not going to have INEC, DSS and Police with them; they are going to come out and contest this election like every other person because of the times we are in today; because of the politics of change.

    The PDP had been manipulating things in Anambra State, until APGA got into it. APGA was not standing alone; they had always had a deal with PDP during governorship elections. So, all the elections in Anambra State were always manipulated one way or the other in favour of PDP and APGA. But I believe that times have changed because of the man we have today as the President; we are going to have a level playing ground in the election.

    For the first time, the so-called powerful and manipulative politicians will go and test their popularity on the ground. It wouldn’t be a situation where somebody stays in his house to write election results and announce. That’s what gives me confidence; I believe we will see real democracy in action this time around.

    What are your chances of getting ticket?

    I come from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc and George Muoghalu comes from the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) before we merged to become All Progressives Congress (APC). As far as I’m concerned, we are the only two people, who, morally, should be contesting this election.

    We shouldered with our leader, Chris Ngige, whatever it took to keep the party alive. You know how politics is played during registration and you know when people are poor, they expect you to even pay for the passport. Before the election, we spent our money.

    It is not easy to play opposition politics. But some of us who believe in certain principles, when it was fashionable to be in PDP and APGA and get the benefit of being in government, but we said no, this is the right way to go. And when election came, those guys gathered together and called us all kinds of names. Some said we were Boko Haram terrorists. Some called us Yoruba names. Some said Fashola deported Igbo people in Lagos. They caused all kinds of opposition in Igboland. Fortunately for us, APC won the election and today, you see these people jumping into the party. But they have come in like armed robbers, and want to contest election. All you hear is: “I want to contest for the governorship election.” It is morally offensive for a person, who believed in what PDP stood for four months ago to now say you’re putting on APC shirt. You don’t even want to recognise that people have been there. The only claim they have is that they have more money than some of us. If you come into the system, you take your time to understand the situation.

    Is the APC on ground in Anambra?

    The election is between APC and other parties, probably, APGA because of the governor. But the governor knows his days in office are numbered.

    Again, if you check today, the dynamics of who-is-who in Anambra State politics, you will see that almost everybody is in APC. Our people have realised that the PDP was a wrong one and APGA was a lie, a deceit. APC today is the party to beat. If we lose this election, it is because we brought the wrong candidate.APC is on he ground. I have had consultations with people across board, I’m not sure today that Anambra people are going to stigmatise or reject people based on their party. We have come to realise that we have to reconnect to the centre to get our fair share.

  • Health challenges: Makarfi urges Buhari to hand over to Osinbajo

    Health challenges: Makarfi urges Buhari to hand over to Osinbajo

    . . . Blames sycophants for Jonathan’s defeat in 2015 poll

     

    The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over power to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo pending his full recovery from his undisclosed illness.

    Makarfi, who made the call in an interview with our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, said if President Buhari is not fit enough to remain in office, it’s better to tell the Nigerian people and allow the Vice President to continue as Acting President and return to work after full recovery.

    The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the President would be working from his official residence, after failing to attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for three consecutive weeks.

    But Makarfi disagreed with the APC’s position, saying, “It cannot be okay and it can never be okay. My take is that if the President is not fully fit to stay in office, it is better that he tell Nigerians, so that the Vice President will continue to be Acting President, exercising the powers of acting president.

    “Then you run away from this kind of situation when we allow time for the President to fully recover and assume his mantle of leadership. Me as PDP person, as a human being, I will never wish any human being ill-will even if I disagree with you politically.

    “So it does not matter that it is APC that is the person that is sick. May prayer is that he is fit to serve his term. As a politician, I equally want him to finish his term. So when some people begin to insinuate things, of what interest would it be to PDP should the President be unable to finish his term.

    “We don’t wish him ill will, we want him to be well, we want him to be fit enough to be on seat when in 2019 we go for election and defeat the APC .

    “For a number of reasons, the PDP wishes the President well, for stability of this country, political stability and the fact that we want to defeat a sitting President. We don’t want any confusion politically in this country. It is not good for anybody and as a human being; I never wish anybody ill will irrespective of political differences”.

    Makarfi also reacted to the claim by former President Goodluck Jonathan that some prominent members of the PDP from Northern Nigeria, including the erstwhile party chair, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, betrayed him by working against his re-election in the 2015 elections.

    The Caretaker Committee chairman said Jonathan was betrayed by sycophants he surrounded himself with, coupled with the fact that the party leadership made many mistakes and failed to take wise counsel.

    Said he, “The PDP made many mistakes and I have said it before. Of course there were betrayers left, right and centre, even those of us who stood for other elective offices we can be talking that way.

    “We made mistakes; we were not listening to what people had to tell us. We were too comfortable, then of course sycophancy took over and when sycophancy takes over what would you end up with.

    “There were all kinds of betrayals. We have learnt our lessons now. I don’t want to cry over spilled milk. We should learn from the mistakes that we have made for not listening to the true voices of the people.

    “Going forward, we should try to avoid a situation where we would be saying someone betrayed us. No matter what, you will find Judases here and there and you cannot do away with them in life not even in politics.

    “And when they are in majority, you have to look at yourself as a party and the honest truth is that we made fundamental errors. And it created a fertile ground for that betrayal. I am not defending it because it ought not to have happened. And people would have been more patient but not everybody can be patient”.

    On the argument by some prominent Northern party chieftains that PDP would have won the 2015 election if the party had fielded a popular candidate from the North, instead of Jonathan, Makarfi agreed that the race would have been easier for the party.

    “Yes, the result would have been different, but even then, Jonathan as the candidate if the party had listened a lot more, and rejigged its campaign, its language and the message.

    “True or false, the votes difference was about two million. It would have been different even with Jonathan as a candidate. It is not just of him as a candidate, but communicating better and dealing with the right people could have made the situation different.

    “But that is history. So we should learn from the mistakes we have made. So you cannot entirely say because Jonathan was a candidate, of course it would have been much easier, but even with him as candidate, the characters fronting for PDP were not characters that could have won election for the party”.

    On the future of the PDP, in view of the party’s protracted leadership crisis, Makarfi said his group are waiting for the commencement of its appeal against the court backed National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff. The Supreme Court is to commence hearing in the matter on May 5.

    Asked what would be the fate of the PDP should his faction lose the case to Sheriff at the apex court, Makarfi said that would spell the death knell of the crisis-ridden opposition party.

    He continued, “If it happens that way, PDP would die. But those who would be working to kill PDP that way, I assure you they would end up being confronted with a bigger political force than the PDP itself.

    “Because politics is about people, there is no way, let me speak here for the North that I know so well; there is no way in the North with Sheriff at the helm of affairs of PDP that voters would on their own go and vote PDP. There is no way.

    “We have just seen it in a recent election in Delta State that they have turned their back against PDP because of Sheriff. And it may be so in many states of the southern part of this country.

    “These people are alive, they are politicians, they are active. Water will surely find its level. And consistently, we have been saying that we are not going to be caught unawares. We are not going to be caught without options.

    “We cannot boast of what the Supreme Court judgment would be but we are hopeful that they would do what is right. And in our opinion, what is right is upholding the Convention.

    “But should what we think is right not be in law right before the Supreme Court, so be it. We will decide our political direction in good time. And that political direction, I assure you, would be one that would be more potent than the PDP as it is.

    “Because PDP as it is, we know that we carry wounds, a lot of stigmatism, a lot of things and in an effort to kill a rat, you may let a lion loose because God  Almighty that created us loves us and He looks over everybody.

    “God wants something that is good for our people and there is no way you can deny whatever is good for our people no matter the intrigues you apply. You may think you are squeezing people one way, but you may be giving birth to something that you may not be able to squeeze.

    “Win or loose, members of PDP have a bright future. So I am saying PDP members should not be bothered because win or loose at the Supreme Court, they have a brighter political future. A decision will be taken at the appropriate time”.

    Describing what he described as Sheriff’s sinister antics, the party chief accused some prominent members of the ruling APC of foisting him on the PDP against the wish of the majority.

    Said he, “There are invisible hands that are hoisting him, and hoisting him purely with the view to destroying opposition and that is what he is basking in. Nigerians should wake up.

    “It is not about PDP, it is about development of democracy and the voice of democracy in Nigeria. And if it is PDP today, it will be another party tomorrow.

    “That is what we are standing on and that is what we are fighting for so that tomorrow whichever party may find itself in power will not be able to stop easily or decimate opposition in order to have an easy way.

    “You can take a horse to the river, you cannot force it to drink water.  And people will decide for themselves at the appropriate time”.

    According to him, PDP members across the federation would never remain in the party with Sheriff calling the shots, stressing that the party chairman has gone into financial deal with some APC governors with the sole aim of destabilising the PDP in their various states ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “Sheriff is busy factionalising the PDP across the states but we are not going to erect parallel structures in any state in deference to the Appeal Court ruling and in order not to further compound the problem.

    “He is doing this for the APC governors to win comfortably in their various states and he is being paid for the job. Sheriff has taken up a job to destroy the PDP for a fee and that is exactly what he is doing”, Senator Makarfi said.

    On the fate of the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, Makarfi said voters in those states will never allow themselves to be without options.

    “You see, politics is local, those states are not sleeping. They have their eyes wide open; they would never allow themselves to be without options.

    “PDP men and women would never allow themselves to be without options, our prayer is that on May 4, all the motions filed before the Supreme Court would have been heard.

    “And if all this are heard, our prayer is that the Supreme Court would do justice in time. And mind you, within the week, even the INEC said this crisis in PDP is affecting its ability to properly plan for elections.

    “So this matter is more of elective matter than that of political party issue because every day there are elections and it is causing confusion in the land.

    “Our prayer is that the Supreme Court will do justice and in our opinion, justice is respecting what the overwhelming party men and women want and do it in good time.

    “Either way, whatever they decide, people would take their position as to what they are going to do and our prayer is that their decision will bring sanity in the land”, he stated.

     

     

  • Anambra 2017: ‘APGA will win’

    Anambra 2017: ‘APGA will win’

    Hon. Chinedu Nkwonta is the Publicity Secretary of the Anambra State All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). In this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, he speaks on the party’s strategy to win the November 18 governorship election and the chances of other political parties. 

    How prepared is the APGA for the November 18 governorship election?

    Anambra State belongs to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Every Anambrarian understands the fundamental principles of the party. In fact, no Anambra person needs to be told that our collective destiny changed for the better when APGA took over the governance of the state. The gods of our land physically and spiritually agreed with the principles of APGA. That is why we do not need any extra preparation for any election, especially the governorship election coming in November.

    Anambra State was like a leper before APGA took over. Former Governor Peter Obi came in and started the progressive movement that the state witnessed within the first eight years of APGA government. The story today is that Willie Obiano is working. Willie is working is not just a mantra; come to Anambra State today and you will be delighted by the monumental development going on in the state.

    The APC and the PDP are threatening to take over the state…

    The PDP is a forgotten party; the people of Anambra do not talk about the PDP anymore. It has been dumped in the dustbin of politics. Anambra is a traditional core Igbo state; it is the central of the Igbo nation. The APC’s wild dream of coming into Anambra is only a figment of the imagination of few politicians that still believe that brigandage still rule. Anambra has nothing politically, culturally, spiritually or otherwise in common with the APC. We are conscious of their obvious interests in our dear state; we can only say that Anambra State today is not the Anambra of yesterday. Our people are politically savvy and we know where our bread is buttered; it is in APGA.

    You are sounding optimistic. What of the crisis in your party?

    It is expected when you have people who feel disgruntled for one reason or the other. There is no major crisis in APGA today; compared with APGA, other political parties are in worse situation. APGA is a family; more like a religion. For us all, the followers, therefore, any minor misunderstanding does not remove the fact that the party is supreme and every member is expected to succumb to the superior authority, which is the APGA government under Dr. Willie Obiano. The fact still remains that Dr Victor Ike Oye is our National Chairman and Sir Norbert Obi our State Chairman.

    What are Obiano’s chances of reconciling with people like Victor Umeh and Peter Obi?

    Governor Obiano has no problems with Chief Victor Umeh. He is a grounded party man who would do everything for APGA to survive. He was the National Chairman of APGA for two consecutive terms. The rumoured squabble between him and the governor is only being propelled by mischief makers that want to create crisis where there is none. Of course, you know that Chief Umeh is still in court, fighting over the Anambra Central senatorial election. We are confident that he will triumph and all APGA members will jubilate, including Governor Obiano.

    On the purported position of former Governor Peter Obi on the second term bid of Obiano, it is also another design by jobless politicians who want to benefit from such crisis. I will be the first to tell you that Mr. Obi knows he is not God. Therefore, he cannot say he will stop Obiano’s second term bid. The future of Obiano and APGA is in the hands of God and Ndi- Anambra. Governor Obiano will triumph, because hehas exceeded expectations in all facets of developments.

    All over the world, Ndi-Anambra are holding their heads high, because we have a working governor. As you know, the voice of man is the voice of the God, Ndi Anambra all over the world have spoken; they want Willie Obiano to sustain the strategic developments taking place all over the state.