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Tag: governor

  • Makinde for Oyo governor

    Makinde for Oyo governor

    An engineer, Mr. Seyi Makinde, will on Thursday make a public declaration of his bid for Oyo State Government House in Ibadan.

    The event is billed for the Polo ground in Eleyele.

    According to a statement by his media aide, Alhaji Akeem Azeez, events have been lined up for the declaration.

    The event is expected to attract national and zonal leaders of the party.

    Makinde will also host a special prayer session for 13 pilgrims he is sponsoring to this year’s Hajj at his Omititun House Campaign office, Ibadan.

    The prayer will be led by the Chief Imam, Omi-titun Mosque, Ibadan, Sheik Mojeed Lanase, who is also a beneficiary of the Hajj scheme.

  • Akwa Ibom: Ibibio elders back Emmanuel for governor

    Akwa Ibom: Ibibio elders back Emmanuel for governor

    A group, the Ibibio Elders’ Fo-rum, has endorsed the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for next year’s governorship election.

    The forum said the aspirant will defend the  growth, unity and development of the state.

    The forum is made up of elders from Ibibioland. It explained that Emmanuel is a humble and committed administrator.

    When some of the elders visited the SSG in his office at Uyo, the state capital, they urged him to declare his intention to run for the office.

    They said Emmanuel has lived up to expectation as a technocrat before he was appointed as the SSG.

    Hailing his patriotism, they said: “those who got jobs through Emmanuel’s assistance have established themselves to the envy of their contemporaries in other states.”

    Noting that Emmanuel is the only Ibibio son on the board of African Finance Corporation and the highest ranking Akwa Ibom son in the financial sector, they wondered “why Akwa Ibom should go to war with a mere recruit when they have a ‘General”

    Former Minister of Lands and Housing Chief Nduese Essien said the SSG will be a worthy successor to Governor Godswill Akpabio.   He said: “It is on this basis that the entire Ibibio elders of Akwa Ibom State have realized that we need someone like Udom Emmanuel as Governor, come 2015, because he is the right choice and truly deserves the seat.”

    The Chairman of the Forum, Dr Okon Uko, decried the  falsehood,  propaganda, blackmail and the “pull him down syndrome” that have characterised politics in Ibibioland.

    Uko extolled the sterling qualities of the SSG, saying that he will be a good governor.

  • Princewill to run for governor in Rivers

    Princewill to run for governor in Rivers

    The former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill,  has joined the governorship race.

    The politician is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He will face the  Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other aspirants at the primaries.

    Already, Princewill has set up a campaign structure, the ‘Princewill Exploratory Committee’ to mobilise support for his bid among stakeholders.

    His media aide, said the outfit will also mobilise for the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said the aspirant was advised by the committee “to use his popularity among youths, the non-political class and elders to encourage participatory funding by the generality, to prevent the system being hijacked by moneybags. The belief is that he is about the only one who could do this.

    Princewill told reporters in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, said that his ambition is not a conjecture.

    He said: “I’ve been with the grassroots many years ago, even when it was not about politics. Let others play catch-up and tell the public where they were and what they were doing for them, even without a political appointment.”

    Princewill recalled that, in 2007 when he contested for the governorship, he defeated the  governor in his ward and  Buguma Local Government.

  • PDP appeal panel clears acting Adamawa governor

    PDP appeal panel clears acting Adamawa governor

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Appeal Committee has voided the disqualification of the Adamawa State Acting Governor, Umar Fintiri.

    Consequently, the panel has given him the clearance to participate in the party’s primary election coming up on September 6.

    Briefing journalists shortly after the appeal seating at the PDP national secretariat yesterday, the chairman of the panel, Senator James Manager, affirmed Fintiri’s qualification to participate in the election.

    Manager said the Ibrahim Mantu-led screening panel that disqualified the Acting Governor on Saturday committed an error of judgment in arriving at its  decision.

    The Mantu committee had relied on Section 191 (2) of the Constitution to ease Fintiri out of the race, saying; “Fintiri is not qualified to contest in the primaries because he is not a deputy governor that emerged as acting governor.

    “He is a child of circumstance. He is the midwife and should not be the one carrying the pregnancy. He is like a referee who cannot participate in the match.”

    But faulting Mantu’s position, Manager said: “We have taken a critical look at the entire gamut of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution before arriving at our decision.

    “The prerequisite for qualification to contest the election, as quoted by the Screening Panel, does not in any way affect the rights of the Acting Governor to contest.

    “On the strength of that, we have decided to issue the Acting Governor a provisional clearance certificate to participate in the primary election.

    “This decision is based on the facts on ground and not informed by any primordial sentiments. The outcome of our exercise is a unanimous decision by all members of the committee.”

    Fintiri appealed his disqualification, arguing that the  committee erred in its judgment and that the constitutional provision relied upon for his disqualification was misinterpreted.

    The Acting Governor’s petition had stated inter alia: “With due respect to the eminent members of the Screening Committee, they cannot read into the provision of the 1999 constitution what is not contained therein.

    “Even though I am the Acting Governor, my role is just to fill the governance vacuum created by the impeachment of the Governor and the resignation of the Deputy Governor and not that of a “referee or “midwife” carrying a pregnancy.

    “The referee or midwife is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If this were so, every governor who completes a first term and seeks election for a second term must resign from office before he or she can contest.

    “In the event of the need to interpret that provision of the Constitution, it is only a court of law that can do so. Not being a court of law, the Screening Committee was not competent to come to the conclusion it came to with regard to the provision of Section 191 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “I, therefore, appeal to you to set the decision of the Screening Committee disqualifying me aside and allow me to contest the gubernatorial primaries coming up on 6th September, 2014.

    “Apart from being my inalienable right to contest, I make this passionate appeal as a loyal party member who has over the years contributed immensely to the good fortunes of the party in Adamawa State.

    “Furthermore, disqualifying me will make nonsense of the provisions of the party constitution which guarantees a level playing field for all members and candidates for political offices of the party and the ideals which I know the President of our great country stands for”.

    Fintiri, who was accompanied by aides and associates, expressed satisfaction with the decision of the panel, saying it was a victory for democracy and victory for the people of Adamawa State.

    Before the upturning of his disqualification, supporters of the acting governor took to the streets in Yola, the state capital at the weekend.

    Some students and artisans carried placards denouncing PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and screening panel Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu.

    The inscriptions on the placards are: “Down with Adamu Mu’azu”; “Adamu Mu’azu is Ebola”; “Mantu is wicked”; “Stop this injustice”; etc. The protesters barricaded the Bekaji Roundabout from the State Polytechnic, saying anti Mu’azu songs.

    The demonstrators also lambasted “Abuja politicians” who played roles in barring their man from contesting the PDP primaries.

    Fintiri requested his supporters to dismiss the report of his disqualification as baseless and of no effect whatsoever.

    The chairman of the Fintiri campaign Organisation, Dr. Jonathan Silas Zwingina, told reporters that the group rejected the screening panel’s decision.

    Zwingina described Ibrahim Mantu panel’s decision as irrational and lacking moral or constitutional basis.

    Zwingina said the organisation would contest the disqualification decision to the highest level.

    “The committee that did the screening did not find any misgiving – legally, constitutionally or otherwise – on our aspirant and we hereby reject that report totally as an aberration,” he said.

    According to him,” Fintiri has challenged the report of that committee to the highest level as the issues raised by the Mantu committee have been resolved by the organisation as a figment of the imagination of Ibrahim Mantu. The appeal committee will resolve the matter in the favour of Fintiri.”

    Zwingina urged members of the PDP to remain calm, adding that the Fintiri Campaign Organisation would go into the race not to only participate but to win the PDP primaries and eventually win the general election. “We strongly believe that we shall win the primaries and the Organisation is strong and thriving to defeat the other aspirants by winning the primaries in a landslide victory,” he said.

    Before the Appeal panel’s decision, Fintiri was believed to be lobbying First Lady Patience Jonathan and top leaders of the party to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to mandate the Appeal Committee to clear him for the primary.

    Fintiri was also rallying nine aspirants to stop hot contenders, such as former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair Nuhu Ribadu,  former Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Executive Secretary Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, who is enjoying the backing of the “grassroots” in the state; ex-Lagos Military Administrator Buba Marwa; and a former governorship candidate, Marcus Gundiri.

    Fintiri might support one of the nine aspirants to prove to the PDP National Secretariat that he is in charge.

    On Saturday, Fintiri protested against his disqualification by the Mantu Panel before leaving the party’s National Secretariat.

    He accused the panel of working for Ribadu.

    A PDP source said: “But the extent to which our leaders has been polarised since Saturday night is baffling. Some respected BOT members have kicked against Fintiri’s disqualification, alleging that the party may sink into a deeper crisis in Adamawa State.

    “The Acting Governor has also been sending emissaries to President Jonathan and the First Lady. Bigwigs have been mounting pressure on the President to clear Fintiri for the primary.”

    In a statement through his Director of Press Affairs, Solomon Kumanga, the Acting Governor insisted that the Mantu Committee acted illegally.

    He said he is still in the race because his eligibility to contest is unquestionable.

    The statement said: “The Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has called on Adamawa people, particularly fellow supporters and members of the PDP that believe in his cause not to rest on their oars but continue to mobilise for the delegates election as he is still in the race.

    “The Governor said the issues surrounding His non-clearance by the Mantu PDP screening Committee have been resolved.

    “Fintiri drew attention to the fact that the Committee did not disqualify him from the race as widely touted by the chairman because it lacked any legal or constitutional grounds to do so just as there was no ground under the statutes of the party to take such an arbitrary decision.

    “The Acting Governor is confident his eligibility to contest is unquestionable because the decision not to clear him had no political or legal precedence. Fintiri also drew attention to the fact that the decision of the committee to withhold his clearance on moral grounds could not stand because a day earlier, fellow aspirants who just returned to the party were granted waiver on the premise of fairness and justice.

    “However, where is the fairness or justice to the man who reclaimed the party’s mandate and wiped shame from the faces of all the Adamawa party bigwigs, who failed to do so in the first place?

    “If Fintiri as Speaker was able to remove Nyako and secure the PDP’s chance to reclaim Adamawa State, a state that is on the verge of being captured by the APC, then this is the time to reward him. Fintiri expresses unflinching loyalty to PDP which he served very well and the people whose overwhelming support he enjoys.”

    It was gathered that the acting governor met with nine of the 14 aspirants.

    They are: Auwal Tukur; ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong; Sen. Abubakar H. Girei; Jerry Kumdisi; Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; and retired  Gen. Aliyu Kama; Ahmed Gulak and Dr. Umar Ardo.

    At a meeting on Saturday night, it was agreed that the nine aspirants should meet in Yola to pick a consensus candidate against Ribadu and Modibbo.

    A chartered jet was provided yesterday to convey the aspirants to Yola to go and protest to the State PDP Secretariat against the disqualification of Fintiri.

    The aspirants will also seek a level-playing field, transparency and fair primary on Saturday.

    Another source added: “The Acting Governor might work against the top aspirants in the race. With the backing of the House of Assembly members and 21 local government chairmen, he might swing the primary in favour of any of the nine aspirants.

    “If PDP is adamant in disqualifying the Acting Governor, the man and his supporters have concluded plans to also play a spoiler’s game against Ribadu, Modibbo, Marwa and  Gundiri.”

  • Stakeholders back ex-commissioner for governor

    Stakeholders back ex-commissioner for governor

    The elders, concerned Bekwarra youths and other stakeholders in Bekwarra community have endorsed Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbor, for governor, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Declaring their support for his aspiration at Abuochiche, the headquarters of Bekwarra Local Government, they said their endorsement was based on his antecedents and track records as two-time chairman of Bekwarra Local Government from 2007 to 2011.

    Speaking on behalf of the elders and stakeholders, Mr. Linus Etalong Adie, a lawyer, said: “Having carefully watched his performance in office and his developmental strides and innovations as the chairman of Bekwarra Local Government from 2007 to 2011, from where he was made the Commissioner for Works by Governor Liyel Imoke, we have no doubt that he is the right and best material for the governorship.”

    He went on: “As a grassroots politician and son of the late judge of the state, Justice Ochikiri Idagbor, he will bring about equity, justice and fairness in the conduct of the affairs of the state. That he was made Commissioner for Works by Governor Imoke speaks of the confidence the governor has in him.”

  • Julius Agwu for governor

    Julius Agwu for governor

    Let’s get this straight from the beginning.  The man I write about is Julius ‘the genius’  Agwu. The same Julius Agwu you have probably attended his Crack Ya Ribs comedy shows or seen his comedy VCDs, which sell for as cheap as N100. You can even get the VCD for N70 at Alaba International Market on the outskirts of Lagos.

    Some years back, Julius Agwu was one of the many graduates of Theatre Arts trying to find their feet. He had always had a funny side and comedy came easy to him. Many who underwent the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme with him in Katsina, including my elder sister, said he cracked their ribs at the orientation camp.

    I understand that when he was still struggling, he squatted with ace actor Segun ‘Oju’ Arinze in his flat somewhere in Lagos. From Arinze’s home, he tried his hands on some comedy and theatre stuffs. With time, comedy paid off and his story changed from that of grass to grace.

    After conquering the comedy world, it is time to move on. And what else is there to move on to other than politics? It took a lot of begging from his people for Agwu to finally take the bait. They pleaded and pleaded and sent delegations upon delegations before he deemed it right to join the crowded race for Rivers governor.  The knee caps of some of the women involved in the begging almost peeled on the floor of his mansion before he decided to serve his people and help continue the legacy of his brother, Rotimi Amaechi.

    The message on Agwu’s poster on the social media simply reads: “Our moment of change. Julius Agwu for governor. Rivers 2015.”

    You may never see the poster on the streets of Port Harcourt, where for four years he was a university student. Chances are that you won’t see it also on the streets of Buguma or Finima. The world has gone digital and ‘the genius’ is taking advantage of this.  There are so many platforms on the social media that it will soon become needless wasting money on billboards and posters and all those stuffs politicians do. ‘The genius’ is set to put that to test using the social media.

    Forget his height; it has nothing to do with being a governor. Pay less attention to his financial capacity to run for such an exalted office; he will disarm the people with his jokes and he will have their votes free of charge. For security reasons, he is not revealing the identities of his financial backers.

    Agwu has no political party. My mind tells me he wants to run as an independent candidate. Don’t tell me the constitution does not allow it. What a genius will see sitting down, a fool will not see even with the aid of binoculars. What does he need a political party for anyway? Political parties are sources of headache, which ‘the genius’ can do without.  Better still, he can run as a quasi-independent candidate by using a less popular platform like the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which had a dismal outing in the Osun governorship race by scoring a little over 400 votes. He stands no chance in the big parties in his state.

    In Rivers, there are two dominant parties: the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which already have power centres, which ‘the genius’ cannot break into. In the APC, Agwu stands no chance of clinching the party’s ticket. The race is between two serving members of the National Assembly. And to add salt to injury, he will also find a bottleneck in his kinsman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi who has vowed that nobody from his area will succeed him.  Like Amaechi, Agwu is Ikwerre. Amaechi, by next May 29, would have been governor for about eight years. On this basis, he says he will not support any Ikwerre person to be governor.

    The PDP, whose ticket he could have sought, is a mad house. At the last count, there are some 20 men who have shown interest in being its governorship torchbearer. But the man who seems in control is Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike. He helped install the Felix Obuah-led executive council, which has not hidden where its loyalty lies. The others are not leaving anything to chance. Last weekend, some of them announced a breakfast meeting with the sole agenda  of  ‘cutting Wike to size’. The Wike camp last weekend too, through an advertorial, condemned the breakfast meeting.  So, with this sort of fire in PDP, Agwu needs a new order.

    He also does not need the brouhaha associated with which part of the state has the right to produce the governor after Amaechi. In over 15 years, the upland part of the state has been in charge. The riverine people, who are basically Ijaw, say it is their time. The Ogoni are also angling for the position. They say as the majority in Rivers Southeast the seat should be conceded to them. The riverine people have said this will amount to still keeping power in the upland part, which has had it since 1999. And they are screaming injustice.

    This is my advice to Agwu. First, he needs to rebrand by presenting himself simply as the third force and severing every ethnic tie. He should sell himself as the Rivers candidate. His manifesto should also show the power of comedy in disarming the Federal Government to give the state its dues. Federal roads in the state need attention. Agwu’s manifesto should promise that he has got the skills to get the Presidency to fix these roads and other infrastructure pronto. The manifesto should also show that never again will Rivers be cheated of its rights. In fact, he can promise to get back the oil wells taken from the state through his comic skills.

    With Agwu as governor, the state will also be saving a lot of money. Never again will the state spend any kobo on any Master of Ceremonies (MC). Governor Agwu will play this role. All he needs do is to dash from the high table to the microphone stand as the need arises. The era of the state wasting money on stand-up comedians will also be gone. Agwu will also dish out comedy free of charge at government functions. And in case the state decides to go into film-making,  Agwu’s’ training as a theatre artist will come into play. He will act, produce and direct at no cost to the state. He will also be able to get his colleagues to work on the production at a reduced rate. Since he can also sing, there will be no need to pay for the soundtrack. He will simply head for the studio and produce the soundtrack.

    And if you think this whole Agwu-for-Rivers-governor stuff is a joke, the 41-year-old Choba indigene, in an interview on his ambition, said: “Ever since that story broke, I have been receiving calls and getting text messages from people. Even on social media, people have been telling me to just stick with comedy. They think it’s just another joke from me but it’s not. I mean to contest in 2015. I am above 40, to be precise I am 41 and I doubt if those who go for governorship have two heads. I think it’s high time youths realised they need to be part of the change that they so much desire and that’s exactly what I am doing.”

    What more is there to say? All hail His Excellency Julius ‘the genius’ Agwu, the next governor of Rivers State.

  • A governor for Lions

    A governor for Lions

    Mr AbdulGaniyu Abiodun Adediji, a director at Cosmic Insurance Brokers Limited, has been installed as the pioneer district governor of the Lions Club District 404B-2 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    Call the Lion Club District 404B.2 baby and you may not be wrong. But, it is a fast growing baby. It emerged from District 404B Nigeria, courtesy of the late Yinka Bolarinwa. Last Sunday, it got its pioneer governor, Mr Abdul Ganiyu Abiodun Adedeji, an insurer, who was installed at an elaborate ceremony at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The hall was turned to haven of many colours.

    The women shone in different  attires that kept heads turning. The celebrator, Adediji, was ubiquitous on the occasion. His wife, Aderonke was all over the place ensuring a successful outing. Guests were pampered with sumptuous meals while various drinks flow freely.

    For Adediji, a native of Ede, Osun State, it was payback time when family members, well-wishers, fellow lions members gathered to share in his joy.

    He joined the Lions Club of Nigeria in 1986 and served in various capacities in the last 28 years. But hard work, commitment and dedication to a noble cause paid off for him when he was installed as pioneer District Governor 404B-2. The occasion was also used to install cabinet officers and raise fund for projects.

    There were accolades from his childhood friends and siblings who described him as a talented and brilliant man with clean academic records, very industrious, kind and gentle.

    Shortly after his decoration and official presentation amid paparazzi of photographs, clapping and standing ovation, Adediji could not hide his joy.

    He thanked the late Bolarinwa for the foresight and commitment to ensure the 404B-2 creation.

    Adediji hailed his fellow members for their commitment to humanity.

    He said: “In this Lions year and in a new district, we intend to consolidate on the worthy legacies of our heroes past, both living and gone and lay a solid foundation for our new district that would become pride of our future. To this end, the district has concluded arrangements to procure and donate dialysis machines and accessories to some tertiary hospitals within the district. Several others project and activities to support diabetes patients, provision of portable water, support to special  schools, hospices and other charity homes will be added.”

    According to him, the task ahead is numerous.

    “I believe with the support and partnership of kind hearted Nigerians, we will overcome the challenges and together put smiles on the faces of our people by raising an estimated sum of N120 million,” Adediji said.

    Former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, described the celebrator as a kind hearted person.

    “He is gentle, quite. I have known him for some time now as a very reliable fellow. I know he will make resounding success during his tenure. He is a very respectful being who also has a very clean record all round,” Alhaji Smith said.

    Chairman, Cosmic Insurance Brokers Limited, Dr Ahmed Salawudeen congratulated Adediji, urging him to continue his good work.

    “He is a kind, humble and dedicated man who believes serving humanity is the best legacy one can leave behind. He is gentle and humane in nature,” he said.

    Among the eminent personalities were former Punch Chairman, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola; Prince Alaba Oniru; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by Dr Jemilade Longe; Chief Sakariyahu Babalola; Chief Adebutu Kessington, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Oba Saheed Elegushi were ably represented.

    Leading the pack of donors was Chief Kessington Adebutu who doled out N5 Million. It was followed Dr Salawudeen with N2 naira, Mobil oil N2 Million, Chief Babalola, a million naira, Alhaji Jakande, N100, 000, Laitan Onalaja N100,000, among others.

     

  • ‘Ogoni should produce next Rivers governor’

    ‘Ogoni should produce next Rivers governor’

     The President-General of Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum, Rivers State, Emmanuel Amadi, spoke with Precious Dikewoha in Port-Harcourt on the agitation of the Ogonis for power shift in next year’s governorship election. 

    Why is your group not in support of the agitation for a ‘riverine governor?

    The Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum is made up of people from Ikwerre Local Government, Emohua, Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor,  Etche and Omuma  local councils. In 2015,  the forum will not support any ‘riverine governor.’ The former governor, Dr. Peter Odili, is from Rivers West Senatorial District. Governor Rotimi Amaechi is from Rivers East. Okrika has produced Chief  Rufus Ada-George.  We are expecting the Southeast Senatorial District to produce the next governor. But, when you look at this senatorial district, Opobo/Nkoro, which is under  the South East District, has produced  the deputy governor. Adoni  has also produced the deputy governor. But,  Ogoni has produced none. The forum is totally in support of the Ogoni project in 2015. They have suffered a lot. Their kinsmen were murdered by the Federal Government.  Their environment has been sentenced to death due to oil exploration and production in the area. Ogoni has lost its natural resources. The Federal Government has refused to implement the UNEP report, which would have been leverage for them. It will amount to injustice, if we refuse to give them a chance in 2015. Even, the Kalabari has also shown sympathy for Ogoni people.  No Ogoni in 2015, no governorship in Rivers State.

    It apppear some of your members are divided over the decision to support the Amaechi Administration… 

    That is incorrect. That is propaganda. Because of the visionary leadership in the state, we have decided that there is no other person we could give support than Amaechi.  We have not seen what the PDP has offered.  All what they have offered is violence, which cannot attract our support. Those who are supporting the PDP in Rivers State, especially in Ikwerre and Etche, are not supporting them with sincerity. They are following them because of what they will gain from them. Some of the chiefs and elders who claim that they are supporting the PDP are being deceived. If you want to know where the major chiefs and elders of the area belong, then, you go to the Ogbakor Ikwerri, which is the highest consultative assembly in Ikwerre. They are in support Amaechi. We have passed a vote of confidence on Amaechi after assessing his developmental strides.

    The opposition has said that the governor is not working. What is your assessment?

    One of the goals of Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum is to support good governance and sustainability. We believe that a good and hardworking leader sgould be supported. In Rivers State, we have seen the developmental strides of  Amaechi. All of us cannot claim ignorant of the development. He has  shown that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. He has touched the lives of the people. We are not talking about giving people cash.  We are talking about projects that have touched the lives of the people and communities.

    There are accessible roads. That means the poor are beneficiaries of the massive development.  The same thing also happens in the education sector, where those who cannot send their children to private schools now enjoy the same facilities in government  schools. What the rich man’s children benefit, in times of teaching aids, are now available in our model schools. The government of Rivers State has also gone further by providing free school bags, uniforms, and sandals to the pupils. In our health sector,the government has made health accessible to the poor,  especially the primary healthcare.

    If you talk about scholarship, thousands of youths are studying in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.  In the area of employment, Amaechi has become a reference point. Apart from the employment of thousands of teachers, he has also employed graduates and non-graduates in other sectors. More than 35 doctors were given scholarship. That is what we call democracy. That is what a visionary leader should do. During the dark days in Port Harcourt, when cult groups were ruling the state, the governor descended on them.  Today, that issue is a thing of the past. Today, if not that some desperate politicians have begun create  tension in the state, Port Harcourt could be regarded as the most peaceful city.

    If Wike becomes the PDP governorship candidate, can the APC candidate defeat him?

    Look, we don’t need to struggle to  defeat the PDP. How many people are members of the PDP?  To me, I see no battle because of what the government has done at the grassroots level.  During the last party registration,   my  community, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, registered over 4000 APC members. So, how many PDP members are left in that ward?  PDP members are just making noise in the state. They love propaganda. The PDP once put the photograph of Lamido as the presidential aspirant and that of Amaechi as his running mate. Today, Lamido is in the PDP while Amaechi is in the APC.  Look at what is happening in the Rivers State PDP. Supporters are busy destroying APC flags and banners.   As far as I am concerned, the PDP will not win this state.

  • Ex-deputy governor to aid elderly

    Ex-deputy governor to aid elderly

    Former Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere has promised to institute a welfare scheme for the elderly, if elected governor next year.

    Ekere, who is one of the leading governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the scheme would care for people aged 65 and above.

    Addressing a crowd yesterday at Ikot Abasi, he pledged to build on the “world-class infrastructure” put in place by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    Ekere said he had an industrialisation blueprint for the state, adding: “We have built infrastructure, now is the time to build our people.”

    He said he had consulted far and wide on the possibility of running for governor and the outcome was positive.

    Ekere said he had not started campaigning because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not given the go-ahead and thanked stakeholders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency for adopting him as their sole candidate.

    He pledged to do them proud.

    The member representing Urue Offong/Oruko Constituency in the House of Assembly, Bassey Etienam, declared his support for Ekere and urged the people to support him.

    His Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo counterpart, Uduyok Aboh, and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Deputy Chairman Johnson Essien Ibok also pledged their support for Ekere.

    The Chairman, Steering Committee of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Project (AKCP), Joseph Effiong, said Ekere enjoyed massive support of

    Akwa Ibom people, urging Ikot Abasi people to remain united in supporting their son.

  • Benue 2O15: As governor, I’ll unite opposing forces – Ortom

    Benue 2O15: As governor, I’ll unite opposing forces – Ortom

    Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who is aspiring to be governor of Benue State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, interacted with journalists at his residence in Makurdi recently where he spoke about his plans for the state, the pruning of aspirants by the Tiv Area Traditional Council, his relationship with Governor Suswam and other issues. Our Correspondent Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi, was there. Excerpts:

    Can you comment on the alleged pruning of governorship aspirants of Minda by the Tiv Area Traditional Council Gboko?

    I have been in this game of politics for over thirty years now and I know that in this game, you are dealing with people. In political calculations, one plus one can be two, and the same one plus one can be ten or even five. Those of you who were there when we did the primary elections that Suswam emerged in 2007 the rule then was that even with your highest number of votes, you most have 50% of the total votes otherwise you will go for a runoff with the person next to you. At that time, to suit the peculiar situation we found ourselves in we had to adopt a method that was convenient for all the stakeholders. We said they should donate votes and nobody was coerced into doing it and people willingly came and donated votes for Suswam to attain the 50 percent that was required and he became the winner. Did he not become the governor? So, I really want to commend what our traditional rulers did, coming together to say look, of the five ruling houses in Tiv land covering Zones A and B, it is only Minda political bloc that has not taken a shot at the governorship position, now it should come to Minda. I think it was a positive development for those of us from the Minda axis. In this axis alone, we were 18 and I know that every Minda son and daughter that has come out is qualified to rule Benue State. But the unfortunate thing is that the seat is only one. Even the four of us that were recommended, the seat is just for one person. There are no four Government Houses and so there is no way all of us will be there. Even if the method used by the Tiv Area Traditional Council to arrive at the four of us was not perfect, I believe it can lead us to somewhere that we can dialogue.

    Do you have a rift with Governor Suswam over alleged association with Senator George Akume?

    I don’t know where this thing is coming from, but may be one of you will tell me where Suswam stood and was insulting or complaining about Samuel Ortom.

    The body language shows that you and Governor Suswam are not together politically. Is it correct to think so?

    Body language or whatever can be a logical fallacy. I want to assure you that I have no single problem with the governor. The governor is my friend till tomorrow. Let me tell you, this house where all of you are sitting now I completed it in 2007 and I want to tell you that it was the governor that built it for me. When he was at the National Assembly, he sowed the seed. The first two million naira that I ever had in my life, even when I was a local government chairman, I never saw it because the whole allocation was less than one million, was given to me by Suswam. When I started my printing and publishing company, the governor was then at the National Assembly. He visited me and saw what I was doing. Where our headquarters is now, that is where I was operating in, one room, trying to start off the business. When he saw it and I opened up my vision to him he was moved and invited me to Abuja. I went there and he gave me two million naira. That was what I started my printing and publishing company with and today, we are where we are. Through that business, I was able to build this house. I was also able to establish other factories that are today giving employment to our people. In 2006 when the party in the state had crisis and the national secretariat dissolved the state executive committee, it was Suswam that lobbied and secured the position of deputy chairman for me. In 2007, when my tenure as the deputy chairman was about to expire and Suswam had won election in which I participated fully, you will recall that for three days, I anchored the primaries that ushered him in as the candidate of the party. When he eventually got elected and I could not be made a commissioner, he asked me what I wanted and I told him that I wanted to serve the party at the national level. Then the position of the National Auditor of the PDP was zoned to Kogi State. Suswam took it as a challenge and went to Abuja, met with his colleagues and the then President Yar’adua and they were able to reverse the zoning to Benue State and made me the National Auditor of the party. Today, as I am standing before you as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was Suswam. We were not to get two slots in Benue because it was argued at the national level that we have the Senate President, so why should we be given two ministerial slots? Suswam was with me in Abuja for a whole week for me to secure the position I am holding today. So I don’t know, if you hate someone, will you also contribute in building him to the level I am today? Where have you heard me complaining or insulting the governor? You talked about the relationship I have with Akume. Akume is my neighbour. Look at his house there and I am here. At my age of 53 years and as a born again Christian who believes in making peace and building bridges of unity, which I have been practicing for many years and you want to bend me? Yes, if I have my way today I will reconcile Akume and Suswam so that Benue State can move forward. Politics is a game of interest, no permanent enemies; no permanent friends. If tomorrow Akume returns to PDP, will we not accept him? We will accept him. Today he is in APC and I am in PDP. When he contested for Senate in PDP, I supported and worked for him and he won in my polling unit, council ward and in my local government. But when Akume contested on the ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Akume lost in my polling unit. Tsegba, who was not the best of my friends then, (now we are best of friends), won in my polling unit, won in my council ward and also won in my local government. In fact, he got the highest number of votes in my local government. ACN lost heavily in Guma Local Government. So how do you now talk about my association with Akume and all that? I don’t believe in forgetting the past so soon. Akume was my leader. I served under him for seven years and we worked together very closely. In those days somebody came and told Akume that I was a Paul Unongo man, later we were able to convince him that look that is not the case. I’m a different person; I’m a Christian who works for peace and respects elders. Up till today, I respect Paul Unongo and everybody. That does not translate to me doing their bidding. So, I told Akume that look, one day, all these people you see around you, sycophants and mediocres, tomorrow you will turn round and you will not see any one. Some will even go to blackmail you, but if you turn, you will see Ortom. Today I’m being blackmailed that I’m an Akume man. I don’t even see him often, but any where I see Akume, I respect him as a former governor of my state and the Senator representing my zone. But I don’t share in his disagreement with the governor. At my age, I’ll try to make peace and build bridges rather than create problems. I stand to be corrected, all the stakeholders and leaders in Benue State, I relate with them, whether in opposition or anywhere. That is why you need me as the governor of Benue State because I will unite everybody and bring all of them on board. Some of these leaders if they invite others for a meeting they will not come but if I do they will all come and they will eat on the same table and then we can settle our differences for everybody to talk Benue, forget about our differences so that Benue will move forward. We have suffered for too long. We don’t need to be fighting.

    There is the thinking that Tor Tiv and the governor cannot come from the same place in which is your case now. What is your reaction?

    Look, I am a Nongov man and the Tor Tiv is Iharev man. We are the eldest in Minda. The Tiv have two components, the Ichongo and the Ipusu. The other part of the Ichongo is in Zone A, that is the Turan people. In Minda here, Nongov is the senior. I want to tell you that Tor Tiv is a paramount ruler which has nothing to do with political leadership; after all, he is the Tor Tiv and not Tor Benue. He is the Chairman, Benue Council of Chiefs. We are talking about political leadership not the traditional leadership. When people say Tarka did it, I told you that in politics, one plus one can be many things. If Tarka were to be alive today, he would tell you a different thing.

    Will you decamp to the opposition party if you fail to win the PDP primaries?

    I am not a pessimist and so I don’t see how I will not win nomination. By the grace of God, I will be given nomination. Why will I have to leave the party that has been very helpful to me? I have been the Secretary of the party for six years, deputy chairman of the party for one year, National Auditor for four years and now a minister for three years as a PDP man. What will I be looking for in another party?