The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dave Umahi

  • PDP releases zoning of national offices

    PDP releases zoning of national offices

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday released its zoning arrangements for the various party offices at the national level.

    In a report presented by the chairman of the zoning committee, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, the position of  National Chairman was zoned to the south, comprising the Southwest, Southeast and the South-south. The North takes the position of National Secretary.

    The party will now have two Deputy National Chairman, one for the North and one for the South.

    Other positions zoned to the South include those of the National Treasurer, National Legal Adviser, National Youth Leader, National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Woman Leader, Deputy National Auditor and Deputy National Financial Secretary.

    The North, comprising the three geopolitical zones in the region will share the positions of National Secretary, National Financial Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, National Auditor, National Woman Leader, Deputy National  Treasurer, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Deputy National Legal Adviser and Deputy National Secretary.

    Each of the six geopolitical zones is to present a National Vice Chairman who will be included in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Under the new zoning arrangement, all positions are to be keenly contested by aspirants from all the states that fall under the region to which the offices are zoned.

    While presenting a report to the caretaker committee of the PDP, Governor Umahi said, “As a guide, the committee considered earlier zoning arrangements in the party since its inception to date, and equally examined previous happenings in the party in respect of restrictions to equal participation of members.”

    He added that in arriving at the new zoning arrangement, the committee opted for a paradigm shift from what he described as the unsatisfactory practices within the party operations in the past.

  • Why I did not support Umahi as Ebonyi governor – Elechi

    Why I did not support Umahi as Ebonyi governor – Elechi

    Immediate former governor of Ebonyi state and elder statesman, Chief Martin Elechi Friday explained why he backed former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu as his  successor instead of his erstwhile Deputy and current governor, Chief Umahi.

    He said the governor lacked the spirit of accommodation and other qualities necessary for a person occupying such position.

    The former governor spoke at his country home, Echialike Ikwo to select journalists in a press conference preceding a thanks giving church service being organized by former members of his state executive council and former council chairmen and friends.

    He said: “I have no apologies to anybody or to any group of people for what happened. I still stick to my conscience and to my belief that what I did in that circumstance is what I should do”

    “Yes I made my point clear to him (Umahi) as early as September 2014 that I wouldn’t support him because my observation showed me that he lacked certain qualities that we hold very high and very dear in governance; the spirit of accommodation.

    “That whether you are in opposition or in government you have a right to be protected, you have a right to say your mind and somebody who opposed you was not necessarily your enemy or your opponent.

    “We believe that everybody has the right to differ and if you don’t accommodate people’s quest to differ, it is a major minus to you in governance. But having said so, your destiny is your destiny, I have no control over your destiny, if it is God’s wish that you become governor then you will be”.

    “That is my position, but whether that is appreciated or not, that it is a statement of fact, that it is a statement of sincerity, I do not know.”

    He lamented that instead of enjoying a quiet retirement after his service to the state, his freedom has been curtailed as he now lives in bondage, having to face 54 petitions before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Elechi who indirectly points to the direction of his former estranged deputy, and present governor of the state, Engr David Umahi as the source of his ordeal, stated that he is currently on bail, and has been restricted to his home and frequent invitation to Abuja to respond to the EFCC queries.

    According to him, his major offense may have been his decision to anoint someone else as against his former deputy as his choice of successor in office, an action he said, triggered series of political maneuvers that pitched him against Umahi who was then backed by the federal might and the party hierarchy.

    He said that due to manipulations and total disregard to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) constitution and disrespect to the former president Goodluck Jonathan’s directives, the end of the battle was predictable as he was overwhelmed by the array of federal forces during the party primaries and the subsequent general elections.

    Elechi however contended that there was indeed, ”no real elections in Ebonyi state” as according to him, everything was stage-managed and skewed against his choice candidates using federal might.

    He insisted that he had no regrets for his actions, and that he would still take same decisions and actions if given another opportunity with similar circumstances.

    He said that the question of forgiving those that might have injured him, especially some of his trusted aides that dumped him at the moment of crisis, does not arise.

    According to him, it was for those people to seek forgiveness if they felt that what they did was wrong and out of vengeance, because for him, he did not feel anybody injured him by acting in line with their conscience and what they believed was the right course of action.

    He nonetheless believed that the economic and pecuniary interests could have influenced some peoples’ course of action.

  • Umahi suspends aide indefinitely

    Umahi suspends aide indefinitely

    Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Dave Umahi Friday suspended indefinitely his Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Chief Jeremiah Oketa for taking actions beyond the authorities and command of his office.

    Though details of why Oketa was suspended was not disclosed  by the government, The Nation learnt that he was suspended for creating a separate bank account for payment of  IGR without the consent of the state government.

    Oketa was said to have aligned with a company given the contract to enumerate all the buildings in the state for tax payment and created separate bank account where the taxes will be paid without the knowledge of the government whereas the government had already created its own account for the purpose.

    Angered by the development, the government wielded the big stick and suspended Oketa indefinitely.

    Announcing the suspension at a press briefing on the decision of the state government on the matter and the outcome of the executive council meeting, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Sen. Emmanuel Onwe said Oketa had already been stopped from collecting IGR for the state.

    He announced that Commissioners have been banned from collecting IGR for the state, adding that only Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) is charged with the responsibility of collecting Internally Generated Revenue.

    He said the decision was to allow the Commissioners to concentrate on their jobs for optimal performance. ENDS

    The commissioner said,  “The Special Adviser on IGR ,Chief J.O.J Oketa, has been suspended indefinitely for going beyond the authority and command of his office.

    “Special Advisers and commissioners are no longer authorised to collect taxes or revenue of any kind. The Only legal body now authorised by council to collect revenue is the Ebonyi Board of Internal Revenue or any agent that the board may legitimately engage to do so.

    “All payments of all kind of revenue should be done in the way it goes directly into the account of government.”

    He explained that the Executive Council received presentations from companies on enumeration and collection of taxes and revenues for government without imposing hardship on Ebonyians.

  • Update: Supreme Court upholds Wike, Amosun, Umahi’s elections

    Update: Supreme Court upholds Wike, Amosun, Umahi’s elections

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the elections of Nyesom Wike, Ibikunle Amosun and Dave Umahi as governors of Rivers, Ogun and Ebonyi States respectively.

    The court in three unanimous judgments in the appeals filed by Wike, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), set aside the concurrent judgments of the Rivers State governorship election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The appeals were all heard by a seven-man panel headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

    Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgments in the three appeals, upheld the return of Wike as winner of the election.

    “I find and hold that this appeal is meritorious and it is allowed. The judgment of the lower court delivered on the 16th of November 2015 and the judgment of the tribunal delivered on 24th October 2015 are hereby set aside.

    “The petition of the petitioners is dismissed. The return of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is restored,” she stated.

    Justice Kekere-Ekun said she will provide reason for her decision on February 12.

    Justices Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kumai Akaahs and Amiru Sanusi, who were members of the panel agreed with Kekere-Ekun’s lead judgment.

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dakuku Peterside and his party had gone before the Rivers State governorship election tribunal to challenge Wike’s return by INEC as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.

    The tribunal, which sat in Abuja, ruled in favour of the petitioners and voided the election on grounds of widespread violence and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

    It ordered a rerun election within 90 days.

    The apex court also dismissed the appeal by the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Adegboyega Isiaka.

    Isiaka had challenged the judgments of the Court of Appeal and Ogun State governorship election tribunal, which both upheld the election of Ibikunle Amosun as governor of Ogun State.

    Justice Akaahs, who read the lead judgment, held that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it.

    The court equally dismissed the appeal filed by governorship candidate of Labour Party in Ebonyi State, Edward Nkwegu.

    Justice Chima Centus Nweze, who read the lead judgment, held that the preliminary objection raised by Umahi succeeds in part.

    He resolved the two issues on the main appeal against the appellant.

    “No merit in this appeal. Umahi is the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State. Reasons will be given on Friday, January 29,” Justice Nweze held.

     

  • Appeal Court upholds Umahi’s election

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu on Friday upheld the election of Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi in the case brought against his election by Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Chief Edward Nkwegu.

    An election petition tribunal had in October in Abakaliki dismissed the petition filled by Chief Nkwegu challenging the declaration of Umahi as winner of April 11 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for lacking in merit and the inability of the petitioner to prove allegations of corrupt practices and criminalities as contained in the petition.

    Dissatisfied with the judgment of the tribunal, the petitioner proceeded to the court of appeal sitting in Enugu to challenge the verdict.

    In the appeal filed by his counsel, Chief U.N Udechukwu (SAN), Nkwegu prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal, describing the verdict as a grave error of law.

    He urged the court to annul the election of Umahi with fresh election conducted, adding that the governorship election was marred by widespread irregularities.

     

  • Umahi suspends Special Adviser indefinitely

    Umahi suspends Special Adviser indefinitely

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Monday suspended indefinitely his Special Adviser in charge of Lagos Liason Office, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie, for alleged unruly behavior.

    A statement issued by the Governor’s Principal Secretary, Nweke Clement, said the suspension followed alleged unruly behaviors and acts unbecoming of a public office holder, which portrayed the state in a bad light.

    The statement directed the suspended Special Adviser to immediately hand over all government properties in her possession to the most senior civil servant in the office.

    Mrs. Nworie was last week redeployed back to the state to take over as Special Adviser on Talent Development in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

     

  • APGA condemns Ebonyi new tax policy

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday condemned the new tax policies introduced recently by the Ebonyi State government.

    The new tax policies,  according ton the party, could lead to collapse of the state’s economy.

    APGA Deputy National Secretary,  Comrade Jerry Obasi, said this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He also condemned the government’s demolition of some shops and attachments in the state, saying it was unwarranted because Ebonyi lacks infrastructural development.

  • Umahi sacks GMs, dissolves boards, parastatals

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has sacked General Managers and Heads of public parastatals in the state.

    He also dissolved 11 boards and parastatals in the state.

    The affected boards are – the state broadcasting corporation (EBBC), Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (EBUBEB), Secondary Education Board (SEB), Capital Territory Development Board and Ebonyi State Water Corporation.

    Others are – Environmental Protection Agency (EBSEPA), Ebonyi State Road Maintenance agency (EBROMA), Community and Social Development Board and Pilgrims Welfare Board, among others.

    In a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Benard Odoh, the government directed the General Managers and Heads of Parastatals to hand over to the most seniors officers in their offices and vacate the offices immediately.

    The statement which commended the General Managers and Heads of parastatals for their service to the state, said the dissolution was in line with the resolutions of the state House of Assembly which recommended the exercise.

  • Umahi wins governorship primary in Ebonyi

    Umahi wins governorship primary in Ebonyi

    EBONYI State Deputy Governor Dave Umahi has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s primary.

    The primary, which took place at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, was contested by eight aspirants, including, Paul Okorie, Dr. Aja Nwachkwu, Chief Hycinth Ikpo, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Chief Michael Ude Udumanta and Senator Offia Nwali.

    Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former minister of Health and some others loyal to Governor Martin Elechi did not take part in the election.

    Announcing the results of the election that had 592 delegates, the chairman of the primary committee and Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose declared the deputy governor, who polled 541 votes, as the winner and candidate of the PDP in next year’s general election.

    Other members of the electoral panel were Chineneye Oji, Hajia Hauwa Kida, the PDP state Chairman, Onwe Joseph Onwe and Deinma Iyalla.

    In his remark, Umahi thanked God for his victory, stressing that his loyalty to Elechi remained intact, even as he asked the governor to forgive him in any way he might have wronged him in the course of the exercise.

    According to Umahi, his priority would centre on improving the living standard of the people.

    The exercise ended peacefully without any reported case of violence and disruption of peace.