The Nation Newspaper

Tag: government

  • Buhari in Imo Government House

    Sir: The need for change of government was in the air. One Father Mbaka had reversed himself from support for President Goodluck Jonathan to General Muhammadu Buhari in a sermon. Nigerians being vaingloriously responsive to prophecy drifted in massive support of Buhari. His visit was described by some as evidence of Divine intervention. Party faithful were mustered with GSM invitation to Governor’s office and they thronged out to hear what the governor had to say about the visit. Elders were invited to boost authenticity. I was among the invited.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha had invited us to develop an advice to him on what he would raise before the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our discussions on what was to be presented to the prospective president, was marshaled out in dilated offerings that denied aged people their promise of breakfast. Table had been laid. Consensus was reached on two people to make presentations on behalf of Imo Council of Elders after some contentions were raised on persons within the fold. The candidate was believed to be on board and landing time was long since reached. All of a sudden alert came that entourage of the candidate was on ground at Governor’s private residence. The governor in his usual reverence for visitors almost dashed out to receive them and forgot that he had assembled at least 20 seniors in his home from time-barred breakfast time of 7.30 up until alarm blew. Some seniors were on medication that demanded food before using. They suffered through the long period before Buhari came and after 11 a.m. when his entourage moved in. The seniors were abandoned in separate parts of Okorocha’s mansion to their pains. It was necessary after breakfast with the hallowed guest to move to Sam Mbakwe Chambers for a formal meeting with the visiting guest and his entourage comprised of top executives of APC and some of their board members.

    Chief of extemporization, Governor Okorocha opened up at Sam Mbakwe Hall formally welcoming candidate Buhari to Owerri. His wits about his defeat at primaries set up a mild uproar. He himself rushed through what could have been presented by the nominated duo for time to return on a scheduled flight had come. Governor Okorocha could only speak about roads-Enugu to Port Harcourt, Aba to Calabar and Owerri Port Harcourt as primary arteries. He wanted direct contract on Second Niger Bridge. He forgot Petrochemical Plant that had huge employment and subsidiary industry potentials. He did not dwell enough on national insecurity and the threat on Igbo people with amazing potentials for dispersal all over the world and the need to ensure their safety and productive life wherever they may dwell and make positive contributions. He forgot to stress that the real responsibility of leadership is protection of the led and assurance that only the best technocrats should be engaged without discrimination to fend for the betterment of the majority. Those who qualify to add multiples to national wealth and well being should be engaged without qualms as to origin. The bottom line of good governance is pervasive wealth and well being of all in the land. If one tribe can assure that why should a president bother? The decline of Nigeria should be levied on Quota.

    Buhari did not address any of the issues raised to him by Governor Rochas. He spoke of his military exploits and precipitately landed on his quip on Jonathan that corruption was growing in leaps and bounds under his watch and something drastic had to be done about it. I believe he will choose the right technocrats for the job if he lands it. He did not address the price Ndigbo have had to pay through the war years and the losses of relevance their loss of the third position in Nigeria has cost them. Neglect of Ndigbo will always count as Nigeria’s loss any time into the far future. The disintegration proclivity was not even on Buhari’s radar. The Boko Haram debacle did not feature.

    Famished like desert dwellers, elders dispersed with glum faces and utter revulsion for the treatment meted out to them.

     

    • M A C Odu,

    Owerri, Imo State

  • Government seeks way out of multiple taxation

    Government seeks way out of multiple taxation

    The Federal Government, is contemplating a way out of multiple taxation.

    In conjunction with Broadband Council (BC), it is  promoting a ‘’smart state” initiative geared towards engaging governors and others at the federal and state levels to address the issue of multiple taxation. The government and BC  believe that multiple taxation, is impeding the acceleration of the roll out of critical infrastructure across the country.

    Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, who spoke in Lagos, said the effort is aimed at creating the enabling environment for the deployment of communications infrastructure across the nation, adding that the initiative is already yielding result.

    “The states considered for the smart state initiative by the Broadband Council are Bayelsa, Gombe, Katsina, Ondo, Anambra, Lagos. They are responding positively to be part of the league of states in this initiative. The initiative will   lead to accelerated roll out of critical ICT infrastructure across the state necessary for development. “The initiative will also lead to a reduction in the cost of network deployment and an increase in the rollout of such networks to commercial centres, underserved and rural areas by communications operators.

    “With this, an  enabling environment will be created that will  increase broadband penetration -both fixed and mobile and increase access to such services at affordable prices for customers, creating digitally enabled urban areas called ‘smart cities’.

    “Those states that provide such an enabling environment, according to the ministry, will be labeled ‘Model States’ and afforded the utmost support in achieving these objectives. In exchange, participating states can expect to see growth in economic activity and productivity and subsequently the positive development of the state,” he said.

    The initiative, according to Juwah, will cover areas such as standardised fees for site building and approvals within the state, reduction in fees and possibility of waiver for Right of Way (RoW) in deserving instances, implementation of a Dig-Once Policy, promotion of co-location between operators in the state and connectivity to state institutions within one kilometre of the given RoW.

    The NCC, he said, has the responsibility of ensuring that there are guidelines and regulations governing all aspects of telecommunications service provision, including the installation of masts / towers and radio frequency exposure limits.

  • ‘I’ll run my government without office of First Lady’

    ‘I’ll run my government without office of First Lady’

    One of the governorship aspirants in Abia State on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Ndukwe Iko, has assured his supporters and Abians in general that, if given the chance to govern the state, he would run his administration without the office of a First Lady.

    Iko, who made the remark at the Aba Recreation Club, Aba, Abia State, said his decision to run without the office of a First Lady was not to sideline women in his administration, but to avoid waste of resources on an office that is not recognized by the constitution.

    The PPA governorship aspirant assured women that his administration would create other opportunities for the female gender to play active roles in governance, saying he would create a Ministry of Women and Children Affairs with a woman commissioner to oversee it.

    According to the aspirant, he got involved in politics to answer a call to service; to serve the people and to put the state on the path of economic growth. He added that the economy of the state has collapsed in the last seven years.

    Iko has vowed not to visit the state until 2019, if a “stooge” becomes the governor next year.

    He decried the state of roads and infrastructure in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, describing the city as a “concrete jungle”. The aspirant boasted that he has drafted a master plan to give the state a facelift, if he is given the opportunity.

    He said: “I am against the philosophy of zoning. It is foreclosing chances of people that have better and creative ideas on how to turn the fortunes and economy for the good of its citizens. Zoning is a Greek gift the present administration wants to give to the Ngwa people.

    “Being a trained engineer, citizens will see me on the streets more often, supervising projects. I will be on my polo and jean trousers; I will make sure that I visit every contract and project site to ensure that works were done according to contract specifications; I will not hesitate to revoke contracts that does not meet the terms of agreement.

    “A governor must have passion for his people. I will serve my people honestly and after my years of leadership, I will go back to pick my tools. I have not seen Aba in the kind of terrible state it is at the moment. If we survived the civil war and got back to our feet, we will survive this period.”

  • Government and his army

    Government and his army

    Bad blood. Lives lost. Properties destroyed. Neigbours becoming suspicious of one another. Trust taking a long vacation. And like Femi Kuti noted in one of his songs: “Truth don die.” This, in a nutshell, is the tale of the $16b Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project in Warri southwest, Delta State, which has remained stagnant all this while.

    But despite all these, nothing prepared me for the event of Sunday, November 16. My phone buzzed. The first instinct when the inspiring ringtone “There is power in the name of Jesus” blared out was for me to meditate and allow the phone ring for some time before answering it.

    The man at the other end is Shola O’Neil, our Southsouth Regional Editor, who I consider one of the shining stars of Nigerian journalism’s new generation.

    I was nearing the newsroom’s door when his call came in. I had taken permission to close early because I needed rest. Unlike my restless self, I had sat the bulk of the four hours or so that I spent at work that day.

    “Hello Shola,” I said.

    “Hello editor,” he answered me. The humble man in Shola always likes to address me as editor.

    “I don’t even know how to start,” he said and paused, “we are in a kind of situation.”

    The reception was not very good. So, at some point, I was not hearing Shola very well.

    He told me a group of 14 reporters, including two from The Nation— Shola and Bolaji Ogundele— were in the custody of men of Tompolo, the man whose full name is Government Ekpumopolo.

    The phone cut at a point. I went into my car and re-dialled Shola’s number. He explained to me that they were arrested on their way back from a news conference addressed by Itsekiri over the controversial EPZ that President Goodluck Jonathan was not allowed to carry out its ground-breaking last weekend.

    The EPZ has been a subject of controversy between the Ijaw and Itsekiri since the idea was mooted. Last week, this paper had used the picture of Ijaw youths declaring war against the Itsekiri to lead its Southsouth edition. With this in mind, I wondered why it became a sin for reporters to cover the Itsekiri side of the debacle. Shola was in Oporoza, the home town of Tompolo to cover this news conference and rally over the $16bn EPZ project. Shola has been on top of the fuzz over the project and he was excited when he got a call that the Itsekiri were also protesting at Ogidigben. So, there he went to get their side of the EPZ brouhaha.

    On their way back to Warri from the Itsekiri event, Tompolo’s boys hijacked the boat conveying them and took them to their camp in Oporoza.  They seized all documents on them and the pictures of the Itsekiri protest.

    What Shola told me next shocked me: “They came with a rifle, which they claimed to have found on our boat.” The gun, Shola said, was only ‘discovered’ two clear hours after they were seized by gun-wielding men and held at their camp. The mention of camp got me thinking. Do they still have camps? I thought all such camps were disbanded when the militants accepted the presidential amnesty programme. I began to query the sincerity of the leadership of the militants to the whole amnesty programme.

    The excuse that a gun was found on the boat carrying the reporters, which also had some civilians on it, gave the militants the temerity to manhandle them. Shola, Bolaji, Shola Adebayo, Regional Editor of Leadership, who has covered Delta State for many major newspapers in the country, and others were there for no less than six hours before they were handed over to the Navy.

    Other seized reporters are: Regional Editor of Vanguard, Emma Amaize, Warri correspondent of National Daily, Emma Arubi, Awoso Harry of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Warri; Olu Philips and Paulinus Odedeyi of Channels Television; Osarose Sadoh and Alex Omoniyi, of Africa Independent Television (AIT); Anthony Ebule, Celestine Ukah, Josephine Ughweri and Victoria Nwaeze, all of Fresh Angle, a Warri-based tabloid.

    The excuse for handing them over to the Navy was that a gun was found on their boat. That makes them criminals. Warped logic.

    The news hounds were thus guilty of taking sides with the Itsekiri to attack them. Their explanation of covering the Itsekiri event for fair hearing made no sense to the obviously high militants, who detained them from 1pm till about 7pm.

    Shola could only call after they had been handed over to the Navy. The militants, he told me, said Itsekiri journalists were colluding with their people. Shola is Itsekiri. Bolaji is not and the bulk of the 14 seized reporters are not Itsekiri. So, how did they arrive at this conclusion?

    The reporters spent the night at the NN base in Escalon and were brought to Warri on Monday morning. When I spoke with Shola on their way to Warri, I assumed they were being taken home by the Navy. How wrong I was! They were actually taken to another naval base in Warri for detention. They spent several hours and only regained their full freedom in the evening. They left the naval base traumatised and sorry for our dear country.

    Daily Independent’s Arubi was tortured alongside the other six non-journalists seized on the boat. Their sin: being Itsekiri. They accused Arubi of writing ‘nonsense’ against their leader (Tompolo). He was forced to hold a rifle and his picture was taken and reportedly published on the social media.

    What kind of a nation is this? The militants who handed over the reporters to the naval men for alleged gun-running were also bearing arms, which I doubt they have licence for. The navy could not query them on this; yet, it willingly detained men who have, over the years, contributed through their pen to the nation.

    Aside contributing to the nation, these men have also contributed to the lives of men such as Tompolo, who became overnight billionaires. In saner societies, Tompolo and his like are unlikely to be treated as heroes. It is very unlikely they will have the sort of access they have to the corridors of power, not to talk of enjoying million-dollar contracts from government agencies.

    Since we started Niger Delta Report last year, Shola has repeatedly promoted the activities of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) floated by Tompolo to burnish his image. He would always plead with me to accommodate the stories on the foundation. That was why I was shocked that Shola could have problem with Tompolo’s boys.

    Perhaps Shola and others fell victim to the dictum that “all is fair in a war” because that is what the EPZ matter has become.  Brothers do not trust brothers again. Or how does one explain the situation in Ugborodo, one of the communities hosting the EPZ? Camps have emerged in Ugborodo and destruction has been the name of the game. And now the Ijaw have joined the fray demanding that the name of the project must reflect joint ownership by Ijaw and Itsekiri. The Itsekiri say the project is on their land and so should have no Ijaw colouration.

    What is in a name, you may ask? Will the project be more beneficial to the people on the account of the name it is given? Will its name mean a better tomorrow for the people?

    My final take: This avoidable fight over name and sundry issue has dragged on unnecessarily. I suggest that a neutral name should be found to ease the tension. I believe Jonathan can call Tompolo to order and remedy the situation. Detaining and torturing reporters for writing ‘nonsense’ against Tompolo gives me the impression he runs a government of his own. At the risk of being marked for writing ‘nonsense’, I dare say that the fact that he bears ‘Government’ and is close to the powers-that-be should not get into his head. He has been lucky thus far and should not take it for granted.

  • A government not listening to itself

    The greatest pickle or predicament that this country faces from time to time is the inability of government to listen to itself. A greater percentage of our problems should have been deciphered by now, if only the government has listened to itself. Let’s take two issues, the recent National Conference and the sustenance of the oil subsidy which is the greatest conspiracy against Nigeria and the Nigerian people.

    Just like the on-going campaign agenda styled Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, the idea of the National Conference was conceived by Oronto Nathan Douglas (48) from Okoroba in Nembe Area, Bayelsa State. A man with big ideas but highly elusive, Oronto carries the title of Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation. He is more than that. He is the alter – ego of the President. Other alter egos of the President include Dieazani Agama Alison-Madueke, Godknows Boladei Igali, Ita Ekpeyong, John Olatunde Ayeni, King Amalate Johnie Turner, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyesegha, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Mujahid Dokubo Asari, Senator Emmanuel   (59), Steve Oronsanye, Hassan Tukur, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekepemupolo alias Tompolo.

    Oronto was part of the legal team that represented the Ogoni leader, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa (1941-1995).I have not seen Oronto since Saro-Wiwa was executed on November 10, 1995. He later became the Commissioner for Information and Culture in Bayelsa when the state was created on October 1, 1996.

    With his failing health, a background worker, romanced the Afenifere to come on board for the National Conference and to be sympathetic to Jonathan’s Presidency. The National Conference was inaugurated on March 17 with 492 delegates-an assembly of the best brains that we could boast of.

    The conference ended on August 14 and its report was submitted on August 21 to the President who assured that the report of the conference “will not be wasted”. On October 5, the President set up a seven-man Panel headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Adoke Bello Muhammed (51) from Okene in Kogi State. That was the last we have heard of the National Conference. With the help of my friend, Senator Musa Adede (60) from Ogoja in Cross Rivers State, who was the chairman of Committee on Transport, I was able to read the report of the National Conference. I must confess that I commend members of the National Conference for a job well done.

    Now, party politics is in the air and with the election fever that has gripped the nation, at best, the report of the National Conference, like the Justice Niki Tobi/Sule Katagun/Bishop Matthew Kukah report of 2005 dialogue conference, the Justice Kutigi/Bolaji Akinyemi’s report will end up in the library of the office to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    In June 2000, there was a national strike over the prices of petroleum by the Federal Government. President Olusegun Obasanjo then set up a committee of all stakeholders to look at all aspects of problems associated with petroleum product supply and distribution through widespread and genuine consultation with the entire spectrum of the Nigerian society. The 33-member committee was headed by Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi (70), son of the late industrialist, Chief Sule Oyeshola Gbadamosi, the late Otun of Ikorodu. The Secretary of the committee was Chief Olusegun Olujimi Oloogunebi Ogunkua.  He retired as a Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, August 2006. The committee was inaugurated on August 14 2000 by Chief Ufot Ekaette (75) who was then then Secretary to the Government of the Federation at that time.

    The committee submitted its report on November 15 2000. The NLC members of the committee headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole wrote a minority report. On November 26, 2000, the government set up a five man panel headed by Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, then Minister of Economic Matters, to reconcile the two reports. Chief Gbadamosi’s committee made 47 suggestions and the government accepted 42 of the suggestions especially on price support and market liberalisation. Only one of those suggestions has so far been implemented and that is the establishment of Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency with the appointment of  Dr. Oluwole Oluleye as the pioneer Secretary.

    The Gbadamosi committee insisted on the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry so as to resolve most of the issues in cost structure pricing and subsidy of the petroleum industry. The committee also insisted that deregulation of the industry will mean that market forces of demand and supply, will be the determinants of product prices.

    Suffice it to note that the four refineries that we had, were no longer working. For example, the Warri refinery was commissioned in 1979; the Kaduna in 1980 and the two in Port-Harcourt were commissioned in 1965, and 1971 respectively.

    After failing to implement these recommendations, the government unilaterally increased the prices of petroleum on January 1, 2012 resulting in massive protest by all Nigerians and the establishment of a pressure group known as OCCUPY NIGERIA which has become moribund now.

    No other subject has drawn the attention of Nigerians more the issue of oil subsidy. The latest figure indicates that Nigeria has so far spent over N2 trillion on oil subsidies alone. No doubt the oil subsidy is killing us and only few very few of not more than 20 are benefiting from the subsidy.

    On March 18 this year the Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Alison-Madueke (54) raised an alarm at the Oil and Gas conference in Abuja that the payment of subsidy to oil marketers can no longer be sustained by the Federal Government. “The subsidy policy cannot be sustained any longer, this is because the subsidy payment did not benefit the poor it was targeting but rather benefitting the rich” she had declared. Only Alison-Madueke can identify the “rich”, she referred to. On May 28, the Senate Committee on Finance headed by Senator Ahmed Muhammed Markafi (58), former Governor of Kaduna State,demanded the removal of oil subsidy. Just recently on September 15, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee ended in a deadlock when the Commissioners of Finance of the 36 states insisted that the oil subsidy should be withdrawn because of the drop in the oil money allocation to the states. The question we need to ask is why can’t this oil subsidy be removed?

    With the way things are going and with the sustenance on oil subsidy and the global drop in the prices of petrol, many poor states like Adamawa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Gombe, Osun, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kogi Kwara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Taraba and other landlocked states will run into economic problems by January.

    Now we are finding it very difficult selling our oil.

    Certainly if we have implemented Gbadamosi committee’s report, we would have faced some problems at the take-off in 2000 but by now, we would have overcome those problems.

    We are now held captive expecting the inevitable.

    With declining capacity in the real sector, poor performance of major infrastructural facilities, large budget deficit, rising level of unemployment and inflation and with the impending devaluation of the naira soon to be announced, we are heading for economic depression.

    As the say in Spanish,” Recojetuhenomientrasque el sol luziere which means make hay while the sun shines”. And the French also said “aide toi et le cleit’aidera which also means help yourself and heaven will help you”.

    There is economic doom in the horizon.

    Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, writes from Lagos.

  • Time for Transitional National Government?

    SIR: Without prejudice to the contributions of President Goodluck Jonathan administration to the nation’s development especially in key sectors like agriculture, power, aviation, water resources and transportation, there is the urgent need for inauguration of a Transitional National Government to stabilize the ship of the nation that has been facing high turbulence of security challenges and social unrests especially in the last two to three years. The present administration no doubt has tried its best possible to curtail the situation, but the desired results are not forth-coming. It is either the government lacks the capacity needed to confront the challenges and sanitize the system or its efforts are being undermined by the activities of the fifth columnists or saboteurs for their own selfish reasons.

    Whatever may be responsible for the retardation or retrogression into a pariah state, all hands must be on the deck to avoid a shipwreck. The TNG should be headed by a man of high-integrity who fears God and selfless and who really loves this country. Having a military background may be an added advantage. He and members of his cabinet on this national assignment should see their appointments as a call to duty or to rescue mission so to say, and not an opportunity to corruptly enrich themselves. If need be, they should be placed on stipends. The members should be men and women who have made their marks in their respective callings or disciplines. They do not have to be old fellows. Energetic and visionary youths whom their respective constituencies can vouch for, can be part of this Rescue Mission Team called Transitional National Government (TNG) whose tenure should be 12 calendar months with the possibility of an extension which should not be more than 3 – 6 months.

    This is one of the credible political options open to this country lest we descend into a state of anarchy.

     

    • Gbemiga Olakunle, JP

    General Secretary

    National Prayer Movement

  • Union seeks local government autonomy

    The leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ondo State has urged traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure the quick passage of bill on local government autonomy by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    The union noted that sections 3(2) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gives recognition to local government administration which should be a legal entity distinct from the state and the Federal Government.

    Besides, NULGE said the third tier administration should be administered by democratically elected officials and have specific powers to perform a range of functions assigned to it by law.

    At a news conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, President of state NULGE, Dr Bunmi Eniayewu praised President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly for the passage of the bill on local government autonomy.

    At the briefing were the Deputy National President (Southwest) of the Union, Oludare Famofo and other top officials in the state.

    Eniayewu noted that if local government is adequately funded, the poverty level in the country, especially at the grassroots, would be reduced.

    He thanked Nigerians for making their views on the need for local government autonomy known, stressing that Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Ondo State House of Assembly are “workers-friendly.”

    The NULGE chief said Mimiko’s administration has not been using funds meant for the local government as erroneously believed, stressing that the state government is workers-friendly.

    He, however, decried the failure of most states in the country for not conducting elections in the local government and install democratically elected officials since 1999.

    The NULGE President noted that if the council officials are elected, such people would have been held responsible for any lapses in the third tier government. He said it is wrong to appoint sole administrators or chairmen of caretaker committees.

    He emphasised that people should be committed to the enthronement of democracy at the grassroots because of its closeness to the masses.

    Eniayewu further said the era of frauds in the local government administrations is gone; assuring that a well-focused local government system would soon emerge for the benefit of all.

  • 2015: Battle for Abia Government House

    2015: Battle for Abia Government House

    No fewer than 10 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants are warming up for  primaries in Abia State. Governor Theodore Orji is pushing for power shift to Ukwa Ngwa, Abia South Senatorial District. But, some stakeholders are calling for a level-playing field for contenders. Who becomes the flag bearer? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the scramble for power in the Southeast state.  

    The succession battle started last year. At the ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the creation of Abia State, Governor Theodore Orji reflected on  governance and peoples’ expectations. He told stakeholders in Umuahia, the state capital, that the next governor would inherit some challenges.  He highlighted some of the virtues expected of his successor.

    Orji said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate would be a credible politician worthy of peoples’ vote. The governor said he would not impose any aspirant. He was also emphatic that he would not permit any imposition by any stakeholder.

    Few weeks ago, the governor maintained that his views had not changed. When critics alleged that he had already anointed a candidate, he dispelled the rumour. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, the governor said  the candidate would emerge in a democratic primaries. Orji said no aspirant would be excluded from the process, adding that the state would not be under any family domination and idol worship.

    “There was a time in the history of Abia State that nobody could become an ordinary councilor without worshiping an idol. After worshiping an idol, you then worship an individual and his family. Abia people may not have known what I did for them; my major achievement is the liberation of Abia State from idol worship and family domination,” he stressed.

    However, the governor said the ruling party will adopt zoning for next year’s poll. This statement has implications for the contest. In fact, it has polarised the state into pro-zoning and anti-zoning forces.

    In the last one month, the contest has assumed a new dimension. Aspirants have embarked on last minute consultations with stakeholders across the 17 councils areas. Some of them have been endorsed by various individuals and groups. Keen watchers of the Abia politics have described the state as a potential flashpoint, owing to the interplay of forces.

    Sources said former Governor Orji Kalu and his supporters are challenging the governor to a duel. There is a plot to weaken him, ahead of the exercise. But, the governor is also gathering supporters to resist the onslaught. The entire South District is backing the governor, following his support for the rotational principle.

    Haling the adoption of zoning, the leader of the Abia Democratic Movement, Prince Sonny Aku, said: “Let no none take Abia for granted. Power must shift and the next governor must come from Ukwa Ngwa.

    “Those who had rule the state cannot come back through the back door through their crony. It will not work. The governor must not be disturbed or distracted. He must complete all his projects and be allowed to hand over to an Ukwa Ngua man. We will not sit down and fold our arms. We will not allow anybody to rubbish the governor. Any attack on the governor is an attack on Abias.”

    Aku, a prominent businessman and community leader, added: “We will do everything legally to stop the attack on the governor and the confusion they want to create to deny the people of Nkwa Ngwa their right. Abia will go where the governor will go. Governor Orji has followers and Abia people are with him. In 2015, power shift to Ukwa Ngwa is non-negotiable. Anybody who wants to truncate this agenda should wait and see what will happen. Those who have skeletons in their pocket will be exposed. Abia people know the source of their wealth.”

    But, apart from zoning, there are other factors that will shape the contest. These include the quality of aspirants, their popularity among stakeholders and delegates, financial strength and the influence of the governor,  who is expected to hand over to a successor who has the ability to continue with the modest foundation laid by his administration.

    Close associates of the governor insist that it would be a great disservice to the state, if any aspirant who has a link with past retrogressive forces succeeds  him. In their view, another retrogressive successor may reverse the gains of the last seven and half years.

    A PDP chieftain from  Ohafia Council, Chief Kalu Asiegbu, said Abia cannot afford to return to another period of doom. “If I have my way, I will call on  delegates to the primaries to shun any aspirant who held positions during the last administration between 1999 and 2007,” he said.

    Also, the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Sunday Agwu, said  the state must not return to what he described as the years of locust. At a thanksgiving service organised for the Secretary to the Government (SSG), Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, at the Wesley Methodist Church, Umuahia, the cleric also reflected on zoning, saying that it is only meaningful, if it throws up a competent person. Turning to the governor, he said: “We have heard that your party has a zoning system. So, you intend to hand over to Ukwa/Ngwa indigenes. Your Excellency, our plea is that you should be careful about the person you are handing over to.

    “We will not want to have a governor who is selfish, inaccessible, an idol worshipper, not compassionate, parochial, clannish and inhumane, or a governor who does not like to support the work of God.”

    Aspirants eyeing Orji’s job include Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mr. Friday Nwosu, a lawyer, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Mr. Marc Wabara, Mr. Okey Emuchay, Mr. Uche Ogah, Chief Acho Nwakanma and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti.

    Nwosu has been endorsed by party chieftains, monarchs, religious leaders, businessmen, women groups, youths and non-indigenes, who are fascinated by his hard work, accomplishments and integrity.

    Nwosu hails from Obingwa Council. He is popular across the three districts. He is a staunch supporter of the governor. Observers see him as a front runner, a bridge builder, who is not in the race to settle scores, a loyal party man and an aspirant who does not have links with previous rulers of the state. Nwosu is also perceived as a non-controversial figure.

    Declaring his ambition in Umuahia, he said: “I’m in the race for the governorship position in Abia State, not just to run, but to build on the foundation laid by Governor Theodore Orji, who has laid a solid foundation for the State. As a legal practitioner of 22 years standing, I have the capacity, vision and commitment to take the state to the next level.

    “I offer my wealth of experience to serve and assure you I will not disappoint the people of Abia State. If I have any plans to deceive Abia people when I become governor, let God stop me, but if I have good intentions for the people of the state better than other aspirants, let God make me governor to the glory of His name. I vow to serve God and humanity selflessly.”

    Nwosu urged the people to support Orji. “Abia state has witnessed several administrations in the past, yet, it has no secretariat, conference centre and other structures. Ministries were scattered around the state capital while the Government House is rented. It was only during Governor Orji’s tenure that things began to change for the state.”

    Abaribe, who is in the race for the second time, is a former deputy governor. He was shoved aside as the number two citizen under former Governor Kalu. He went to the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). When he returned to the PDP, he bounced back as a senator. In the Upper Chamber, he is the spokesman.

    Like Nwosu, the senator is favoured by zoning. Besides, he said that he is the most qualified for the front seat, having served as the deputy governor. Many groups and associations have also endorsed Abaribe.

    Nwaogu is the only woman in the race. She is an Amazon. She is popular in her district. But, she is not favoured by zoning.

    The senator is active in the Senate. He is also in touch with the grassroots. On regular occasions, he has organised empowerment programmes for constituents, who have applauded her kind gestures. Nwaogwu has supporters. But, it appears that she may not be favoured, owing to gender consideration.

    Nwakanma is a seasoned banker. He is popular in the financial sector. He is also perceived as a man of integrity. But, he is new in politics.

  • Inter-religious panel in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has inaugurated a 28-member inter-religious and ethnic committee. The governor, who performed the inauguration at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, appealed to members to ensure the maintenance of the existing peace in the state.

    The committee, which draws its membership from religious organisations, ethnic groups and security agents, is headed by Ajimobi.

    He said since the inception of his administration, government is working to ensure the safety and peaceful co-existence among residents.

  • Photo: Flooded government house

    Photo: Flooded government house

    Kebbi state government house
    Kebbi state government house