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Tag: disappointed

  • Why I’m not disappointed in Jonathan over my bill he failed to assent

    Why I’m not disappointed in Jonathan over my bill he failed to assent

    Evelyn Oboro, who is the Chairperson, House Committee on Women in the Parliament, represents Okpe/ Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, Delta State, in the House of Representatives. In this chat with Victor Oluwasegun, she highlights her joy with the recent assent by the President to the bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, a bill she first initiated during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Excerpts: 

    YOUR bill on the establishment of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, was recently assented to, what’s your reaction to that?

    Well, I’m grateful to God first and foremost for giving me the opportunity to be in the 7th Assembly where I first presented the bill on the floor of the House, where it was duly debated and passed. But it wasn’t signed into law by the former President. And God also gave me the opportunity to come to the 8th Assembly to raise the bill on the 8th Assembly on the floor of the House and debated by my colleagues, passed and was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which looked at it before it was later transmitted to the Senate for concurrence. And the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed the bill into law a few days ago. I’m so happy, our people across the nation are happy, the people of Delta State are very happy and Niger Deltans are happy. This is because the last and present students of that University can flaunt their certificates, tender their certificates with all confidence, both nationally and internationally. For the bulk of the youths who didn’t have confidence in the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, their confidence will now be restored. They will now have a rethink and be further encouraged to apply for admission to be trained in the university. The bill, which has been signed into law no doubt, will continue to take youths off the streets in the Niger Delta area. It will also further strengthen the economic growth of the people in the community where the university is established. Business will begin to grow, people will begin to go into different types of trade and the children in the host community will now have a sense of belonging and be interested in going to school. It’s victory for Nigerians, Niger- Deltan and Delta State.

    As the sponsor of the bill, do you feel a sense of fulfillment?

    Yes, I have a sense of pride and fulfillment. Even my Royal Highnesses in my constituency are proud of me. They acknowledge my work. The youths in my constituency acknowledge my work. And I’m happy because I know that if not for God, I wouldn’t have been able to put the bill together, to present it and get it passed. It wasn’t signed the first time, but God wanted to use me to ensure that the bill became real. That is why he sent me here again. I know he has other assignments for me in the National Assembly. I am happy and give the glory and honour to God.

    What are your expectations on the growth of the university, perhaps more expansion and investment from government?

    Yes, even before now. Government and different parastatals have been putting structures in the university. Now that the bill has been signed into law, I think and I know that both the state and federal government will channel more attention to ensure that the university is adequately funded and infrastructural development is fast-tracked to ensure that the university is able to carry on effectively in the different departments and that learning condition is conducive.

    What is in it for the host community?

    Development would be brought to the doorstep of the host community and the people. It’s very encouraging, it will awaken them. You know some persons might be laid back in some communities that are semi- rural, but when you bring development close to the doorstep of the people, it re-awakens their confidence and knowledge. It makes them to know that something they have been thinking is impossible is possible. They have a lot of children that have the intention of becoming petroleum engineers but they might have had the impression or might even know the university that ought to train them to become engineers may not have been established in Nigeria. Some of them are in West Africa, some are in China. Owing to the situation and the economy, it might be difficult for some of the parents to begin to think of transportation, school fees and all that. But in a situation where they have a university established there, the host community would be very happy because all they need to do is to ensure that the children are qualified to be admitted and it would be easier to pay their fees.

    Are you disappointed that a President from that region could not sign the bill the first time?

    I am not disappointed because the former President did not refuse to sign the bill. There were several bills and those bills were passed towards the end of the president’s tenure. And you know towards the end of the tenure, there were many activities, this wasn’t the only bill passed by the House of Representatives; he didn’t single out the bill to say he wouldn’t sign it. The circumstances surrounding the non- passage of the bills was simply beyond anyone’s control.

  • Buhari has not disappointed Nigerians, says Momoh

    Buhari has not disappointed Nigerians, says Momoh

    Former Information Minister and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Prince Tony Momoh, in this interview with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), speaks on the Buhari administration, the crisis in ruling party and other partisan issues. Excerpts:

    You allegedly said Nigerians should stone APC leaders, if the party failed to perform after two years. Did you actually make that statement?

    Yes, I said so.  I said if APC does not perform. In fact, the interview where I made the statement is still on my website. I said if things did not go as usual, I am quite sure we will perform by 2019. I also granted another interview where I said if in two years we do not perform, we should be stoned.  Though it is not yet two years that this government was sworn-in, I am now telling you that we cannot be stoned because we have performed. To me, President Buhari has performed creditably well. To some others, even if the people of Mars say the president has performed, I know of others in Nigeria who will still not agree that the president has performed. So, I am confidently saying that as at now, nobody can say Buhari has not performed and this is before the end of his first two years in office.  Now, we promised to secure Nigeria. We also said that we will stabilise the land through infrastructural development and then, there will be prosperity. So, the campaign foccused on tackling insecurity, fighting corruption and also reviving the economy. In the area of insecurity, there were 14 local governments under the control of Boko Haram in Borno state. As things were going, if Buhari had not been elected president, by now, many of us would have run away or died because Boko Haram would have taken over Abuja. Today, where is Boko Haram? In the latest video posted by Shekau, there were four people behind him and a voice supporting what he was saying but you can’t see the crowd. It is obvious that Boko Haram is finished. Gone are the days when they will decimate a whole village and hoist their flags. So, in the area of security, nobody can say that we have not performed.

    What about corruption?

    In the area of corruption, nobody can say that we have not tried. The fear of the EFCC today is the beginning of wisdom for corrupt ones. Everybody who has anything to hide is jittery of the EFCC, if not on the run.  On the economy, nobody can now say Nigeria solely depends on oil. Everybody now sees agriculture emerging. People are now going to the farm.  In fact, many of the farmers today are smiling to the banks. Another thing that people are not looking at is what is happening in the Southeast. I am confidently saying that a lot of our votes in 2019 will come from the southeast. Then, Enugu- Onitsha road was not addressed for the four years that Goodluck Jonathan was there. Enugu-Port Harcourt road was also not addressed.  They were singing songs about Second Niger Bridge and not much was done. The erosion sites were all and neglected. Now, these issues involved a lot of capital and are now being addressed in the Southeast. Many leaders in the Southeast are seeing what APC is doing and are now moving in droves to the APC to help galvanise support for the party. So, we are performing and I am saying nobody can say they want to stone us if they are real in their assessment in the area of security, fighting corruption, and in the development of the economy.

    You said the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom. What do you make of the rejection of Acting EFCC Chairman; Ibrahim Magu for a second time even after President Buhari has given him a clean bill of health?

    All these are areas of lack of understanding.  The Senate, whether we like it or not, is to do the confirmation of those that the constitution says should be confirmed by the senate. People like ministers, ambassadors, judges etc. But, those not to be confirmed by the Senate are those the president can appoint for himself. The constitution shares power among the organs of government: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. So, if you want to know the limit of your power, you go to the constitution and point to the section that grants you that power. Specifically on Magu, if the senate refuses to confirm, that does not mean the powers of the president to appoint is removed. The senate can refuse to confirm him 100 million times and the president can send the name to the senate 100 million times. He can be Acting EFCC chairman for 100 thousand years, if he lives up to that time. So, there is no problem at all if we understand what we are supposed to do.

    What do you make of the decision of the senate asking the president to replace him with another person?

    That is why I said everyone must know the limit of his power. They cannot dictate to the president what to do. You can only reject him for confirmation. The president knows what to do next. If the president likes, he can send his name to the senate one million times. if he likes he can replace him with another person.

    There is this general belief that  President Buhari has lost control of his government to the cabals. What do you make of this?

    All these show how much interest there is in the affairs of the EFCC. The EFCC is breaking bones right, left, front and centre and it is natural that some people will feel uncomfortable about that. If there is more than one report from the presidency on Magu, I have no hesitation to say it is indiscipline. But that doesn’t mean that the president has lost control. Everybody who knows the president knows that he gives responsibilities and then gives you the authorization. He is not those who will ask you to do something and will not give you the free hand to do it. That is his own way of governance. During his time as military head of state, his second-in-command, the late Tunde Idiagbon was very visible but that doesn’t imply that Buhari was not in control because he was the one who gave Idiagbon the work he did. The same thing is happening with Osinbajo today. Now, compared that to what happened between Obasanjo and Atiku between 2003 -2007. Buhari will always allow others to do job. There are some people who become envious because their subordinates are succeeding; not Buhari. He doesn’t compete with his subordinates and I tell you nobody is competing with him. The loyalty to him is total.

    What is the way out of the face-off between the Senate and the Presidency?

    There is no stand-off between the presidency and the senate. You know, all these things are routine in democracy. People may try to exceed their powers, but the beauty of democracy is that you put them where they belong. What powers do they have to summon Prof. Sagay? People have been quoting Tony Momoh vs the Senate. When I was the editor of Daily Times, the National Assembly invited me because we wrote something in the Grapevine column titled ‘MPs, Senators and Cards’. We said that some elected people, the highest elected body in Nigeria, should behave to sustain the image of that height because some of them will go to banks to seek loans. When they ask them for collateral, they will bring complimentary cards. They were not many that do this, but few. So, we pointed to this that they should be called to order. They became angry and started debating Tony Momoh and said I should come to tell them who among them were doing so.  I told them I am not coming and I went to court that the invitation be quashed because the sergeant-at-arms has the powers of the Commissioner of Police. They can arrest you if you refuse to come. By the time the issue came up for hearing, they had withdrawn the invitation. I still went to court and the court addressed the powers of the senate, which is anchored in the constitution. I am a private citizen, editor of Daily Times. In fact, the senate invited me earlier because we said their salary was too high. They said we should come and tell them our salary in Daily Times. I said I am not coming for the fact that the Managing Director of Daily Times, Dele Cole, was sent from the Cabinet Office to be the MD. So, I said since he is a public officer, he can go. He went. It is not that one is stubborn by not going, but they have no right to call me to tell you what my salary is. I refused to go and the court told them the limit of their powers.

    So, Prof. Sagay was right when he said they have no powers to summon him?

    Of course! Why should they summon him? He has freedom of speech. He can say what he likes. If anybody is angry, then, they should take him to court. How can they ask him to appear before them? That is not their power. The power to call people for adjudication belongs to the judiciary. You can’t be a judge in your own case.

    Many of your supporters are angry that they worked for this party, yet they are not being taken care of almost two years after the party came into power. Some even argued that many supporters of the PDP are still holding crucial positions in the government. What is your take on this?

    About 73 million persons were registered to vote. We had 15 million votes and all of them are entitled to positions. But, how many positions are available? Everybody wants to be recognised for what they have done, but how many positions are there? My area of concern is to create an environment where people can do what they know how to do best. Not everybody can take political positions. Having said that, many APC members are angry especially because PDP people ought to have been removed but the fact is that Buhari is a democrat that annoys many other democrats because many other democrats are not tolerant. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law. Many of this people you call PDP members are there because of statutory position of their being there. If they have senate clearance to be there for years, you can’t remove them. I know some people may not like what I want to say now, but the truth is that many of these so-called PDP members who are holding positions are Nigerians. What if they have services to render and they are delivering in their positions? Should we move them out? This is my personal opinion.

    What is your reaction to the release of the 2019 election timetable by the INEC?

    INEC did not release anything. It only says you can predict the election that we will have in 2023, 2027 and even 2031. If you look at the constitution, it says the election must be conducted by a particular period before swearing in. That is the way to look at it. Anybody can work it out. There is nothing about heating up the polity. Politicians always heat up the polity. The fact is that Nigerians never end politicking. When elections are over, governance begins. Everybody is aware of this but they play politics throughout, which is wrong. This is the time for governance, not politics but some people are playing politics. Some people are even already consulting that I want to be this and that. Yet, they don’t know if they will live till then. Why do you think there was so much noise about the president’s illness? Some were even praying for him to die. It happened in the time of Yar;Adua, it happened in the time of Obasanjo. It also happened during the time of Azikiwe.

    Will you advise the president to run in 2019, given his current state of health?

    Am I the one to advise him? The president is entitled to two terms and then, he defeated all other candidates in the primary and his ticket to run between 2015 and 2019 was not negotiated. If he had said he will only do one term, then, one can start discussing whether he should seek re-election or not. The man is elected until 2019. At that time, God willing, he will express his intention. In 2011, he said he wasn’t interested anymore, but a lot of people pushed him to be interested and he ran. So, even if he says he is not interested in 2019 now, by that time, people will push him to be interested. And based on his performance, I don’t think even if he wants to go, people will allow him to go.

    As a chieftain of the APC, are you happy with the way the affairs of the party are being managed?

    Absolutely no. There are lot of problems in running the party. You can’t run the party without money. For instance, all the governors ought to be paying something every month. All the elected members ought to be paying something every month. The NASS ought to be paying something every month. All political appointees ought to be paying something every month to run the party. But, how much have they paid? You can’t run the party without money. Who is going to fund the party? It is as simple as that. That is the first basic thing. The party organs are all there; about 14 to 18 party organs from polling units, through the wards to local government, state, geo-political level and then, the national. All these are party men and they need to fund the party. Look at the Edo and Ondo elections. How much did the party give? Once someone has the ticket, the party takes over. But, the APC has no money to take over. So, people just blame the party for nothing. Democracy is not a child’s play. The key thing is money. The other one is organization and you can’t organise without money. Money is the fundamental thing.

  • My daughter disappointed me!

    My daughter disappointed me!

    Dear Temilolu, You have been doing a great job spreading the message of chastity to our girls even in this perverse generation. Thank you. I was informed that sex education yields results from parents and having followed your column decided to educate my daughter on the need for chastity. I covered areas such as the feminine reproductive organs, signs and effects of puberty, rape, its consequences, how to avoid it etc. To my greatest surprise, I got to find out last year that the same daughter had been sexually active since she was eight and is now nine-plus.

    It all started when my wife laid on the bed one day and my 4-year-old son climbed on her pretending to make love to her. I asked him who taught him and he told me he had been watching his big sister. He told me anytime we were away from home; our neighbour’s 15-year-old son would come into the house and have sexual intercourse with my 8-year-old daughter. I also discovered that other boys usually came to the house and each time her mother sent her to charge her phone at another neighbour’s house, she’ll go missing for hours. I was too dazed and in great shock for days. I didn’t even want to be near her, least of all discipline her by caning her. Eventually, I had to summon courage, reprimand her in the best possible way and put her back on the right track. She then promised to stop all that.

    Unfortunately, I had to lecture her on all her mother should have enlightened her on and this has made me so unhappy with my wife because of her laxity towards our daughter’s upbringing.

    Not long after, I discovered that not only was she failing in her academics but anytime she was asked questions on even what was taught on the same day, she would go blank. And in November last year, I was invited by her head mistress and was told she was caught writing love letters. That was too much for me to bear and I beat her so much in great grief. Though I took her to my pastor who suggested we embarked on a 3-day retreat of fasting and praying, which we did. Her grades in school are still below average. I feel so disappointed and wonder why and where things went wrong. I have lost hope in her. How can I help her again? Thanks.

    Mr. J

     

    Dear parents,

    Why are a good number of you sleeping and allowing the devil take over your joy? These kids God has mercifully given you are not only for signs and wonders but your future. They are to take care of you and save you from living a life of hell on earth when all the chips are down. Why can’t you concentrate on them now and guide them on the way to go, rather than allow the devil turn them to his playground? Mr.J, I sympathise with you. But there’s a solution that would change your daughter’s life forever no matter what she has done at such a tender age. It is the word of God. Even if you take her for countless deliverance sessions etc, the greatest yet is the word of God. She needs to have her mind renewed and her spirit fired up to ward off any foul spirit that’s overcome her mind. The spirit of fleshly lust and confusion has taken over her mind and it has to be expelled by all means.

     

    “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…”

    Hebrews 4:12

     

    For the next one month, please get two verses appropriate to her situation and get her to memorise and meditate on the two along with you before she goes to bed. I mean two different verses daily. You need to sit beside her and let her master these verses and recite them by heart till it resonates in her spirit. I’ll tell you what will happen to you both next Sunday and other steps you may take. May God bless you sir!

  • Youths who robbed our dead members disappointed us more than soldiers — Shi’ite member

    Youths who robbed our dead members disappointed us more than soldiers — Shi’ite member

    MANY have described last Saturday’s clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as the Shi’ite sect, and men of the Nigerian Army as an avoidable crisis. While some said the Chief of Army Staff ought to have changed his route to avoid the Shi’ite protesters, others said the Shi’ite members should have allowed the Army boss to pass.

    Be it as it may, the situation degenerated into a bloody clash between some soldiers and members of the Islamic group. The military explained that its action was meant to defend the Chief of Army Staff, who it said was the target of what it described as an assassination attempt. The Shi’ite group, on its part, saw the army’s action as premeditated genocide attack on them.

    It was reported that about 10 Shi’ite members were killed that Saturday afternoon before heavy fighting broke out late in the night until the early hours of Sunday between men of the army and members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria also known as Shiite, following the surrounding of the house of leader of the movement, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, by troops.

    The Nation gathered that the troops returned to El-Zakzaky’s residence in Gyallesu area of Zaria at about 11pm on that day to whisk their leader away. It was gathered that moves by the troops to arrest the leader of the movement were resisted by members. Residents of the area said heavy gunfire accompanied with chants by members of the movement were heard in the area for more than two hours in the night.

    But a security source said the troops were there to forestall what would have been a public disturbance the following day. He said there was a report to the effect that members of the Shi’ite sect had been mobilised from other states to protest what happened on Saturday, and their plan was to descend on innocent members of the public and cause destructions of public property.

    The military officer said the Army does not act irrationally without any intelligence information.

    But a member of the group, Mallam Abdullahi Usman, told our correspondent in Zaria that they thought they had seen worst of the military on that Saturday, not knowing they wåould come on a fresh attack later in the night.

    Usman said: “Having heard what happened in the afternoon, our brothers from other places like Kaduna and Kano came to visit our Sheikh, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky. As for me, I live in Zaria, but I had already relocated to Hussainiya Baqiyya ahead of the Maolid that we were preparing for.

    “We were there, busy receiving our brothers from other cities. In fact, I could not sleep on time because of that. Later, when I got to sleep around 12 midnight, my sleep was suddenly interrupted by sound of gunshots. When I heard the first few gunshots, I thought it was security men that were on patrol. But when it continued at close range, I realised that there was trouble.

    “Let me tell you that what the military told the public, that there was exchange of fire with the sect members, was false. Because even me, I was nearly killed. I slept among my dead brothers, pretending to have been hit by the soldiers’ bullets too.

    “Let me tell you, I cannot even say this is the number of brothers that the soldiers killed. They were so many. After lying down in the midst of the corpses of other brothers for hours, I became psychologically traumatised seeing soldiers killing unarmed citizens.

    “I don’t even know how I escaped from the scene after the soldiers had gone with Sheik (leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky).”

    Another member of the movement, Abdulmumin Giwa, told The Nation that residents of Zaria did worse than the soldiers who killed their brothers.

    He said: “We are consoled by the fact that our brothers who were killed by soldiers died as martyrs, and by Allah’s grace, paradise is their abode. But, residents of Zaria, particularly those around the area displayed lack of fear of God.

    “While our brothers were lying in the pool of their own blood, some youths resident in the area went there not on a mission to rescue the injured but to rob the dead. This is not something hidden. The video of how people robbed our dead colleagues has gone viral on the social media, particularly Facebook. This shows that there is no sympathy for the dead any longer.

    “Mind you, these are the people who live around the scene of the attack. They heard everything that transpired between our brothers and the soldiers. This is not even someone who died of a natural cause. They were killed by soldiers and some people did not even feel sorry for them. Instead, they were robbing them.

    “In fact, they were fighting themselves over the money, mobile phones and other valuables stolen from corpses of their fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. This is even worse than the action of the soldiers who killed them. It is an indication that if those people had guns too, they won’t mind killing people to take their property.”

    When our correspondent visited Zaria on Wednesday, roads to El-Zakzaky’s residence in Gyallesu and the Hussainiyya remained blocked by soldiers, who also refused journalists access to the scenes.

    But Giwa alleged that troops had on Sunday morning set part of their leader’s residence ablaze and went back to level it to the ground after his (El-Zakzaky’s) arrest.

    In another development, Islamic Movement of Nigeria alleged that their members in the custodies of the army and the police were dying from absence of medical attention.

    The sect had stated categorically that one of its detained members had died after he was refused medical attention at the Gabasawa Police Station in Kaduna.

    A statement signed by the President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, reads: “It has come to the notice of the movement that severely injured persons in detention, including women and children, has been left without medical attention since last Saturday and this has aggravated their conditions.

    “Presently, one of such detained members of the movement has died as a result of being refused medical attention at the Gabasawa police station in Kaduna.

    “There are many other members of the Movement facing the same calamity at the Operation Yaki Station along Constitution Road, Kaduna, with another three hundred women in custody at Jaji Cantonment, apart from those detained in army barracks across Zaria.”

  • Ujah disappointed to lose to Bayern

    Ujah disappointed to lose to Bayern

    Anthony Ujah was disappointed that Werder Bremen lost 1 – 0 to Bayern Munich in their last Bundesliga game but the Nigeria international took some solace from the fact that the team gave their all against one of the best teams in Europe.

    Thomas Muller’s 23rd minute strike separated the two sides at the end of the contest at the Weserstadion (Bremen).

    “We did a few things better today than in recent games, and we showed that we can compete against the very best,” Ujah, who clocked 25 years last week, told his club’s official website on Saturday.

    “For that reason I’m optimistic about the future, but we did lose today, which hurts.  Our fans were very, very loud. It’s a shame that we couldn’t bring them any points.”

    Ujah is still searching for his first goal in the German top flight this month.

  • ‘Defectors from Bayelsa PDP ‘ll be disappointed’

    ‘Defectors from Bayelsa PDP ‘ll be disappointed’

    The Secretary of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and founder of Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF), Chief Thompson Okorotie, speaks with MIKE ODIEGWU in Yenegoa, the state capital, on the gale of defections from the party and other issues.

    What is responsible for the crisis in the Bayelsa PDP?

    I will call it misunderstanding. In every family, big or small, particularly the big ones, there are bound to be misgivings, complaints, grievances at one time or the other, particularly now that it has become well established in Bayelsa state. Especially when it is election time, there are so many interests. I believe that PDP remains strong, united and that is why we have reconciliation committees at various levels and we are making sure that grievances, where they are established to be genuine, are looked into because there are some complaints that have no basis in truth. Some are fabrications, some are excuses for them to do what they want to do. There are those who are not very patient. There are those who must see themselves enjoying all the time. Some people are not used to self-sacrifice at some point. This makes the unstable politician jump ship very frequently but at the end of the day they end up damaging their political image. It s something that is happening in Bayelsa state. Even in any other place, when it is election time, there is usually a lot of tension.

    You are a member of the reconciliation committee set upby former President Goodluck Jonathan to unite the party. How far has that committee gone?

    I’m not just a member, I’m also the secretary of the committee and we are doing that work. It will not be proper to talk about the committee prior to the submission of a report, but we are working and there is a lot of progress.

    Are you not worried that some founding members of the PDP are leaving the party for the APC?

    Not all founding members are leaving. Maybe they are one or two. Founding members of the party are those who signed the document that brought about PDP in Sheraton Hotel in 1998. Call them for me. I signed the document.

    Why are the elders not supporting the governor again?

    There are some people who don’t want to have self-sacrifice at some point. But, things cannot be good for them all the time. I have been in this game for close to 40 years. I have seen many administrations having hiccups at this kind of time. At the end of the day, because of their grounded nature in terms of accomplishment, in terns of their support base, they always at the end of the day prevail. Those who miscalculate go and before you know it like the immediate past President said, they come back with empty stomachs. APC has not finished looking after their members to remember you who was a creation of PDP, developed by PDP, empowered by PDP and now you are moving. They know you and your antecedents. There are one or two people that have left us. We have to watch and see because we are still in the majority. There is no way there will be 100% at any particular time.

    The defectors have accused the state government of polarising the PDP. Do you share that view?

    I don’t share that view. The only area I see them talk about is the fact there were disciplinary actions. I think for a party, there should be disciplined. There should be party supremacy. You can’t belong to a party, even work closely with those that are in government and at election time you go out of that party to sponsor or develop candidate in parties that don’t even exist in reality in the state. That is why Article 23 of our party Constitution provides for an elders’ committee with a responsibility to go into dispute and carry out conflict resolution because at some point there will be misunderstanding because most people look at politics from their own personal viewpoint.

    Some say ‘I wanted to be this and I was not picked’. Will someone die because of that? At every time, somebody will become lucky. At every point in time, somebody will be picked. It could be destiny. Everything that is happening to somebody is not an accident, it is as proposed by God and that is why you will find some people assuming offices under very mysterious circumstances. It is God’s own wish and therefore, I’ll appeal that we should try and be patient. We should try and understand. When there is an atmosphere of reconciliation,there should also be discipline.

    So, you are supporting the expulsion and suspension of the PDP heavyweights?

    Yes, I back it. But at some point, we are also saying that if there is an opportunity to review it, we can review it in the spirit of reconciliation.

    Is governor Seriake Dickson electable for a second term?

    Very much electable. In fact,he is the best foot that PDP has for the following reasons. First,he has performed creditably, comparatively with any other governor that has ever ruled here. What he did in two and the half years is history. What has slowed project down is purely a function of economic downturn. You can only develop with money that you have especially when you are running a government of prudence especially when you are running a government that is not corrupt.

    He has credibility. Apart from that, he is going into areas other governors did not have the courage to go into. For example, the three senatorial roads, they are federal roads, but he has gone to them. Road has gone to Nembe. Road is approaching Oporoma. The one going to Ogboibiri, has gone beyond Ofoni. Our wealth is in the ocean and if our roads get to that area, we will experience development and the energy that is locked up in our rural areas will be unlocked. We are very energetic people, but inaccessibility by way of lack of road has been a problem.

    But, the governor has been accused of  embarking on many projects at the same time without considering their implications. How will you react to this?

    It is not true. The governor was carrying out projects within the limit of the funds he had. Dickson is one of the consultative governors. Go into the government house, downstairs and upstairs, people are full. He is one of the most accessible governors that we have had. In fact, some people have even told him, ‘you will die very early. Why don’t you programme some if these visitors for the deputy governor, for commissioner and all that’. He will say, ‘What will I do? Most people want to see the governor’ Accusing him of lack of consultation is not right. These people that are talking are beneficiaries of this government. They had contracts. They were paid and they had appointments. I am an elder. I’m looking for reconciliation and even  those who have are welcome back.

  • Udoji disappointed despite brace

    Udoji disappointed despite brace

    Former Bulgaria youth – teamer Chigozie Udoji netted twice for Dinamo Minsk in their 3 – 3 draw with Russian Premier League campaigners FC Ufa on Wednesday afternoon.

    Despite being a friendly, the attacking midfielder was disappointed that Dinamo Minsk did not win the game.

    “What can I say? That I scored 2 goals? We did not win …, ”  said Udoji to the official website of Dinamo Minsk, dinamo-minsk.by.

    “We are ready, and I think every day, with every game, with each workout we become better.

    “That’s why we are here, we have to work and improve our result every day. Of course, at the beginning of the championship we will play much better than in this game.”

    Dinamo Minsk are guests to Neman Grodno in the opening round of the Belarusian Premier League on April 9.

  • ACF: we are disappointed

    ACF: we are disappointed

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed disappointment over the postponement of the general elections.

    ACF lamented that the security chiefs, who earlier assured that they were prepared for the election to hold as scheduled, could make a sudden U-turn.

    A statement by the forum reads: “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) received with disappointment the INEC’s decision to re-schedule the elections slated for February 14 and 28, citing security challenges in the states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe as the main reason.

    “ACF appreciates the concern of the security agencies and Nigerians regarding the security situation in the Northeast region and the urgent need to put an end to the insurgency, which has been on for so long.

    “However, the earlier assurances given to Nigerians by the security chiefs that elections would definitely hold as scheduled heightened the enthusiasm of Nigerians to look forward to the scheduled February elections.

    “The political parties and NGOs embarked upon vigorous campaigns and sensitisation programmes on the need to a free and fair elections. Unfortunately, seven days to the election, the hopes of Nigerians were dashed by the same military authorities, despite INEC’s submission of their preparedness and its determination to conduct a free, fair and credible election.”

    The group added: “ACF and indeed all Nigerians have no option but to accept the security reasons advanced by INEC and to have faith in our security agencies’ determination to bring an end to this insurgency.

    “ACF particularly welcomes the collaborative effort of our neighbouring countries (Chad, Cameroon and Niger) to rid the Northeast region of the Boko Haram insurgency as promised by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    “The security chiefs should remember that as representatives of the Nigeria Armed Forces, Nigerians will hold them on their words.”

  • Keshi disappointed fans in Nigeria – Mike Obiku

    Keshi disappointed fans in Nigeria – Mike Obiku

    Former Nigerian international cum team mate of Coach Stephen Keshi has heavily criticized the Big Boss for failing to qualify the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the next AFCON Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

    According to the former Feyenoord player, Keshi has disappointed millions of football fans in Nigeria and is therefore expected to quit the position of Head Coach in the senior National team of Nigeria.

    “ Keshi is expected to bring good result, if the result is there, He will be paid for it, once he begins to go down, He is out ! That’s how football is, it has nothing to do with the Players. “ Obiku started.

    “ As a coach, you study your opponents, know how they play, know what their weak points are, that’s how to prepare well for a football match. “

    Obiku also expressed that Nigeria with such a teaming population should be able to produce dedicated professionals who will represent the country well in all categories of football competition.

    “ If you are in the Junior team for example or in the Super Eagles and not doing well, you should be kicked out, so everybody has to be mature and professional here. “

    “ Also the president of the NFF should be professional, I mean, it is over 160 millions of people we are talking about here.” He added.

    Mike Obiku played for Fayeernood Rotherdam Football Club of Holland for four years and now the Head Coach of the Fayernoord Academy.

  • Idah disappointed with Eagles display

    Idah disappointed with Eagles display

    Ex-international goalkeeper Peterside Idah has expressed disappointment with the display of the Super Eagles in an AFCON 2015 qualifier against South Africa on Wednesday.

    The game in Cape Town ended goalless with Nigeria having just two shots on target.

    They are now third in Group A with a point, while Congo are top of the standings on six points, South Africa are second with four points.

    Sudan are bottom of the table having not recorded any points after two rounds of matches.

    The former media officer of the Eagles said Nigeria did not play like African champions and must improve if they were to make it to the Nations Cup in Morocco next year.

    “I was disappointed in the Super Eagles. They didn’t raise their game at all,” Idah lamented.

    “The South African team were ordinary, nothing spectacular about the team, it was just that the Eagles didn’t play well.

    “There must be tremendous improvements if the team were to make it to AFCON 2015.”

    Nigeria will take on Sudan both at home and away next month in continuation of the qualifying series.