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  • Dogara, Nnamani, Etteh, others endorse Tinubu for second term

    Dogara, Nnamani, Etteh, others endorse Tinubu for second term

    • Hail President’s economic reforms, ‘purposeful leadership’

    • Say new nation in the making

    The Southern Summit of Former Legislators, comprising the likes of ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani and ex-House of Representatives Speaker Patricia Etteh, yesterday adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 election.

    The former legislators, who were joined at a summit in Abeokuta by another ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said their decision was informed by the various reforms of President Tinubu, which have, in the last two years, re-engineered the economy, strengthened the currency and set the nation on the path of socio-economic recovery.

    They stressed the need for state governments to key into the reforms and support the President in his efforts to birth a new nation.

    The former lawmakers, in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, said the south deserved to complete its eight-year tenure in the leadership of the country.

    They particularly hailed the “innovative reforms of government, which include, among others, the establishment of regional development commissions, local government autonomy, student loans scheme and deregulation of the electricity sector, and called for greater collaboration of state governments, and support of citizens alike to be able to harvest the great potentials of these reforms.”

    They former lawmakers added: “That as a body, we will always align ourselves to those things that will promote the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country, Nigeria.

    “We commend the patriotic courage of our colleagues of the Northern Caucus in calling for the South to complete their tenure of the leadership of the country.

     “We affirm that it is the turn of the South to complete its tenure.

    “We posit that it is in the best interest of the South and the nation that the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, completes the tenure of the South.

    “Accordingly, we adopt him as the sole candidate of the South.

     “We call on the South to support the North in 2031 to take up their tenure for the leadership of our dear country.

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     “We call on all Nigerians to pursue this course to promote national unity and firm the foundation of nation building.”

    The communique was signed by Hon. Adeyemi Oluwole; Chairman, Southern Caucus and Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, Secretary South.

    At the summit’s formal opening, the Chief of Staff to the President and convener of the summit, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that with the signing into law of the tax reforms, President Tinubu has ushered in a new era of economic justice built on fairness, accountability, and national purpose.

    The Chief of Staff, while quoting the World Bank Development Update, said Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6 per cent in the final quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4 per cent; the fastest pace in a decade.

    He further added that the country’s fiscal deficit narrowed from 5.4 per cent of gross domestic product in 2023 to 3 per cent in 2024, driving the federation revenues from N16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated N31.9 trillion in 2024.

    The former House of Representatives Speaker noted the importance of unity in diversity, adding that without national unity, there could be no national development and that a nation without peace cannot experience progress.

    His words:”The country can draw strength and inspiration from culture, music, arts and traditions.

    “Nation building is a joint task that goes beyond building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals; it is about forging a sense of common identity and purpose among the citizens.

    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ensured purposeful leadership through the establishment of development commissions across the six geo-political regions of the country.

    “The development commissions will no doubt help channel more federal resources to develop and implement infrastructure and human capital development across the country.

    “Nation building is not only the work of the government but also for citizens, both at home and in the diaspora, who have a stake in the Nigerian project to join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to build a nation every citizen will be proud of.”

    Also speaking, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that nation building is not the sole responsibility of one region, one party or one institution, but a shared duty that transcends tribal, religious, political and economic divides.

    Abiodun added that unity does not mean uniformity, but a celebration of diversity under the framework of justice, equity and respect.

    While acknowledging the former legislators as embodiments and essence of representative democracy, Governor Abiodun said that apart from performing legislative duties, they also perform oversight functions and representation through which the voice of the people at the grassroots is brought to the government at the centre.

    “You must be committed to a united, secure, and economically vibrant region. You must continue to support policies and programmes that promote inclusive governance, human capital development and inter-regional cooperation,” he said.

    Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Ken Nnamani, in his opening remarks, stressed the need for former legislators to come together to deliberate on the challenges confronting the nation and proffer workable solutions to the government.

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who would be remembered for campaigning against Tinubu in 2023 over same faith ticket and even left the APC in protest, urged Nigerians not to allow pretenders in the political space to cause them to lose faith in the Tinubu administration.

    He said the agitations of the so-called pretenders do not hinge on patriotism, but more about vengeance and power.

    While affirming that the structure of the pretenders was built on mendacity, fury and spectacle, Dogara noted that the country has begun to experience economic recovery.

    Speaking in the same vein, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, called for cohesion, dialogue and shared purpose to navigate the journey of sustainable development, adding that unity remains an ingredient for peace and democratic progress.

    The National Coordinator of the Summit, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, assured that the meeting would serve as a platform for finding solutions to the nation’s problems, urging the sub-nations to collaborate with the federal government in moving the nation forward.

    Others who have already endorsed Tinubu for a second term in office include APC governors and leaders across the six geo-political zones.

  • Nnamani visits Enugu Govt House 12 years after

    Former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani has thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for recognising him as a former governor and given him the opportunity to visit the Government House 12 years after he left office.

    Senator Nnamani, who was given a heroic welcome yesterday after supporters trekked with him into the Lion Building, thanked Ugwuanyi for “giving me a second chance”.

    Addressing the crowd, the former governor said “Ugwuanyi has wiped my tears”.

    Senator Nnamani described the governor as “a great man, a man of inestimable greatness and tremendous humility”, adding “he is a man of grace, a man of honour, a man of uncommon valor, a man of uncommon humility and a man of God”.

    According to him, “he (Ugwuanyi) has a seed in my life for giving me a second chance. He has reinvigorated me. He is a man of inestimable greatness. He is a man that is gifted. His name is Ifeanyi and nothing is impossible with God.

    Read also: Re: Lies against Enugu

    “I am very grateful. I am thanking all of you and the governor who made this possible. I am very surprised with the level of reception I am getting. The reason why I said I was surprised is that this is the 12th year since I last stepped into this Government House,” he said.

    Nnamani, interrupted several times with songs, said: “Who can explain, who can decipher. Nobody can explain this. If it were to be written, nobody can write it, if we were to draw it, nobody can draw it.

    “It is only God who can explain this. I’m telling you people that I never expected what you have done for me. When I look around, I begin to wonder if I really deserve this honour. I am saying to the governor, let that benevolence which God has given me through you, let that benevolence be shown also to you in Jesus’ name,” he said.

    Responding, the host governor Ugwuanyi said: “what the people of Enugu East said they came to do was to come and thank me. But if I should place things the way it should be, I don’t know who should thank the other. The only thing I do is to give all due thanks to God.

    “I say that in all we do, let it be likened to a spring that never fails. We shall grow from strength to strength. I don’t want to talk about His Excellency, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani today.

    “In 2015 you people gave me massive support and elected me as governor. In 2019, I know that I will also receive the same level of support from you. I thank everyone here and I say that it is well with all of us in Jesus’ name,” he declared.

  • APC cautions ex-Senate president Nnamani on anti-party utterances

    FORMER Senate President Ken Nnamani and All Progressives Congress (APC) was under fire yesterday for allegedly praising Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    The APC local chapter Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, who demanded a clarification from the senator on why he was praising an opposition party’s governorship candidate, warned the senator to desist from anti-party utterances.

    He, specifically, urged Nnamani to clarify a statement he made while commissioning a four-room building with Ugwuanyi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor and the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship poll.

    Nwoye also asked Nnamani to explain why he could not campaign openly for his party’s governorship candidate but rather was telling the PDP governorship candidate that “a good product markets itself’’.

    The party chair accused Nnamani of promising that when the time comes, he would say where his “people belong.’’

    “This is very misleading. Could it be that Sen. Nnamani is so ashamed of his political party that he could not canvass openly for the party? Nwoye wondered.

    The party chair noted that the APC in Enugu had observed Nnamani’s double standards for too long, adding that the party could no longer fold its arms and watch him de-market the APC in the state.

    He said: “We deplore this attitude of being APC in Abuja and PDP in Enugu State. How can the vice chairman, South of APC Presidential Campaign Council feel more comfortable in the midst of candidates of the PDP than among APC candidates almost on the eve of an election?”

    Nwoye alleged that Nnamani was surrounded at that event by candidates of the opposition PDP for various offices, and wondered what signal he was sending to APC supporters.

    Read also: APC alleges anti-Buhari plot as PDP knocks rally

    He said: “This is a man who has just been unveiled as the vice-chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council romancing and hobnobbing with the opposition party and making insinuations that his people would vote for the opposition.

    “How can the PDP governor work for Buhari, when he is still busy campaigning for PDP presidential and national assembly candidates?’’

    Pointing out that the APC was strong in the state and the Southeast zone, the chair urged the authorities in Abuja to ignore the self-serving misinformation being propagated by the PDP.

    Nwoye said “How can people who are so scared of their impending loss of election be the same people being touted to help the APC?

    “We want to say it loud and clear that the APC will sweep the polls in Enugu State. We don’t need anybody to help us. Buhari will score over 90% of the votes that will be cast in the Southeast.’’

    He warned that the party would not hesitate to commence disciplinary action against any members found to be engaging in anti-party activities.

  • Nnamani lauds Ugwuanyi’s virtues

    FORMER Senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani,  has lauded the virtues of Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, describing him as a  true friend of his community, Amechi Uwani, Enugu South Local Government Area,  and “one of us who has always supported his people in so many ways.”

    Nnamani spoke during the inauguration of the rebuilt Amechi Uwani Town Union Centre, which was completed with the N5 million first tranche of N10 million earmarked by the  Ugwuanyi’s administration for every community in the state to execute priority development project of their choice. The elder statesman, who thanked the governor for finding time to identify with them despite his tight schedule this festive season, declared: “We remember those who remember us.

    A good product markets itself. When the time comes, I will say where our people belong.” In his welcome address, the President-General of the Town Union, Deacon Okoye Ogbodo, welcomed Ugwuanyi to the community noting that they set aside December 28 of every year as a special day “to celebrate Amechi Uwani community, exchange gifts and reassess what God has done for us. The governor has always been our guest.” He explained that the community used N4 million of the N5 million released by the state government under its “one community one project” programme to complete the town union centre , revealing the balance of N1 million was dedicated for another priority project.

  • Nnamani warns Nigerians to be wary of desperate politicians

    •Foreign group to invest in oil, gas, power

    Ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani yesterday warned Nigerians to beware of desperate politicians without a second address.

    He addressed State House correspondents after he and the Chairman of Chrome Oil and Gas, Chief Emeka Offor, led foreign businessmen to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s office.

    Nnamani, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), advised struggling politicians to have a second address.

    To politicians who do not have any other business apart from politics, he said: “I think our problem is that if you enter politics and you have no second address; the chances of your getting in trouble is very high.

    “I am here strictly on business, they are talking about billions of dollars investment in Nigeria and that tells the confidence his company has in our country.

    “I am not just a politician; I was in business before entering politics, so I have a second address and my suggestion to Nigerians who are struggling in politics is to make sure they have a second address. Don’t be a desperate politician; desperate politicians do desperate things and we can see the examples.”

    Nnamani said he was part of the meeting to observe how the Federal Government would receive the investment proposal, adding that the government was receptive.

    “I am here just to observe how receptive the government is to this. The government is quite receptive according to the vice-president; because they have made other investments in Nigeria and they are continuing to do so,” he said.

    Offor said he brought foreign investors from Europe to meet the vice-president on the investment opportunities in oil, gas, power and electricity.

    Said he: “We brought a major investing group from Europe. That’s why we are here. We are looking at investing in oil and gas, electricity and others.

    “They have seen that the atmosphere in the country is conducive for investments. We are exploring the particular investment region we are going to invest in.”

    Offor said they were partnering ELAND Oil and Gas from the United Kingdom, adding that the investment would be all encompassing and in billions.

    The President of Integra Capita, Argentina, Dr. Jose Luis Manzanita, hailed the investment climate in Nigeria, which he said was conducive.

    He said: “We are happy being in Nigeria. We like the business atmosphere. There is credibility. We believe Nigeria has material industry, but can produce much. We have already invested in Nigeria and we plan to do more.

    “We work closely with ELAN. ELAN has been very successful. We support them and keep investing with them.

    “The vice-president was so warm. He transmits the trust the government has in private investment.”

     

     

  • Judge strikes out money laundering charge against Nnamani

    Judge strikes out money laundering charge against Nnamani

    Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out the money laundering charge filed against former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

    He expunged the entire proceedings before him, including the bench warrant he issued for Nnamani’s arrest.

    Justice Obiozor ruled that the case was re-assigned to him in error as there was no valid charge before him.

    “All proceedings in this matter are hereby struck out and expunged,” he ruled.

    Justice Obiozor ruled based on an oral application by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kelvin Uzozie.

    The case was before Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who was transferred to another division before being suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Justice Yunusa had ordered Nnamani’s companies to forfeit their multi-billion naira assets to the Federal Government following a plea bargain with the EFCC.

    But, the case retained the same suit number, and was later transferred to Justice Obizor, where Nnamani’s trial was supposed to continue.

    Yesterday, Uzozie said the EFCC would prefer to file a fresh charge against Nnamani.

    “It is better to file a new charge rather than amend the charge before this court. The new charge will be against the first and second defendants and will have a new suit number.

    “Our position is that if we amend this charge, it will not be tidy. We’ve made a recommendation to our client. We pray that the charge be struck out to enable us file a fresh charge,” Uzozie said.

    The prosecuting counsel added that the right application to make was to ask that the entire proceedings be nullified since “there was no charge before this court to be struck out”.

    “My request is that the proceedings be set aside with liberty to the prosecution to file a new charge,” Uzozie said.

    Nnamani’s lawyer Chief Rickey Tarfa (SAN) urged the court to strike out the charge and to discharge the bench warrant issued against his client.

    “As at the time the matter was re-assigned, there was really no case that was alive,” he said.

    Ruling, Justice Obiozor expunged the entire proceedings, adding: “This charge ought not to have been re-assigned to this court.”

  • Nnamani and Enugu APC

    SIR: I have watched with keen interest, the politics of my party APC, Enugu State chapter. The truth is that the impetus of the party to grab power from the state ruling party was clandestinely marred by the governor, through meddling and compromising some of our supposed leaders.

    These known compromised party leaders are not interested in the politics of the state, because they have no elective interest nor do they still command relevance in their respective wards, not to mention the local and state governments. They serve God in the day and romance with the devil in the night for the mundane gifts offered by the devil. They end up without a defined character, but wisdom is warning men of goodwill to beware of such men. They can sell you for a little pot of porridge.

    I will illustrate with an incident that happened Saturday February 3, in Sen. Ken Nnamani’s Amechi home, in Enugu. A reconciliation meeting was conveyed by the supposed elder statesman and party leader to get all warring members for a discussion. His call was respected by notable party leaders such as former governor, Sullivan Chime, Minister for Foreign Affairs,  Geoffrey Onyeama, Chief Osita Okechukwu, Chief G.N.G Mgbazuagu, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, to name but a few.

    Shortly, before the roundup of the meeting, as some of the leaders were exchanging farewell pleasantries, a political blunder happened: Right, in the same compound was the governor with his aides. At what point did he arrive?

    Senator Nnamani’s dance with God and mammon is well known to all party faithful in the state. His assignment is to make sure that the state party is on “motion without movement “. This attitude of a supposed leader has affected the psychology of the party faithful who have watched with utter disgust the deceptive game to the detriment of the silent majority.

    He has taken enough for the owners to know his shenanigans; time to call the stray sheep to contrition and penance for his many sins to the party.

    In the day, he poses as APC (federal), in the night he is PDP (state).

    How can we trust a man who negotiated with the governor for a local government slot in his local government on the ticket of PDP?

    How can we still trust a man, who negotiated his ward for a PDP councillor, and cunningly went to court to challenge his creation?

    How can we trust a leader, that the enemy is his best buddy and political ally?

    How can you trust a leader, who has no party interest than his self-interest?

    How safe are you with this leader to share confidence

    Senator Ken Nnamani does not have the moral impetus to convene a meeting of APC of any sort or size.

    He has lost the privilege of a respected party leader. It is better if he nicely let go of APC and enjoy his unholy romance with PDP.

    A dance with a mamba is a dance of death. We have to stand against these shenanigans and get our great party on a fast track in the state.

     

    • Mmamel Joe,

    Enugu.

  • Reconcile Ajimobi and Shittu, Kalu, Nnamani, others tell Buhari

    Chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu.

    They said the rift between the duo could affect the fortunes of APC in the state.

    Led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu and others, the chieftains said the party must ensure reconciliation to promote peace and progress.

    They spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo (MBO) Dynamic Support Group Southwest Zonal Office in Ibadan.

    Others at the event were Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole; Deputy Chairman Southwest, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Postmaster General of the Federation, Bisi Adegbuyi; National Coordinator, Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group, Usman Ibrahim and South West Zonal Coordinator of the organisation, Lateef Olawumi among others.

    Leading the call for the unity of the political big wigs in the state, Nnamani noted the party must eschew the politics of bitterness and rivalry but accommodate others for progress.

    According to him: “As members of one family, we must try and eschew every form of bitterness and excessive anger because nobody does anything right in anger or bitterness.

    “The same thing if you are speaking and you speak with anger, you are likely to say things you will regret later.”

    Kalu did not hide his disappointment with the level of disagreement between the governor and minister whom he both described as “two elephants”.

    He warned that the fight which resulted in the absence of the governor, his aides and even the state party leadership will only make the “grass suffers”

    He promised to take the matter to the highest level along with Nnamani to ensure amicable resolution.

    The former governor said: “”I cannot understand why the minister is very close to me and the governor is very close to me. They are also very close to Ken Nnamani. We came here to honour both of them. I am slightly not very happy what I have seen here that the governor is not here, the party officials are not here, the commissioners are not here, and they are the main things that will make APC what it is and they are supposed to be here please, but they are not here.”

     

     

     

     

  • Houses of Assembly mere rubber stamp, says Nnamani

    A STRONG and truly independent legislature will promote delivery of democratic dividends to the citizens, former Senate President Dr. Ken Nnamani said yesterday

    Nnamani spoke at the 2017 Conference of the Commonwealth Parliament Association (CPA), Africa region in Abuja.

    The theme of the conference is: “State and Local Government Relation on Public Finance and Governance”.

    The former Senate President said many of the houses of assembly had become appendages of the state government houses, thus abdicating their responsibility as makers of laws that should bring succour and growth to the people.

    “We are not mature enough to give the people the real democratic practice. If you look at our constitution, those who did it have done a great work. It may not be perfect, but it will get better someday.

    “Democracy is based on the principles of local control, which is what we call town hall democracy.

    “In our country, there are few states that have strength. Most states see their houses of assembly as a department in their government houses.

    “In other words, the growth of democracy will be more emphasised if we have strong houses of assembly to debate issues that will better the life of Nigerians,” he said.

    Nnamani noted that many states where the governors had become reckless and drunk with power, was traceable to the absence of a strong and truly independent houses of assembly to checkmate these excesses.

    He said absence of machinery for proper checks and balances between the legislature and the executive, usually results in power-drunk syndrome, saying “this must be corrected.”

    He called for the critical appraisal of the quality of state legislators that would guarantee quality governance with accountability and transparency trappings in governance.

    Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mrs. Habiba Lawal called for a re-orientation of legislators’ priority, whose loyalty should be to the people rather than the governor.

    Lawal, who was represented by Mr. Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, office of the SGF, said negligence on the part of governments was responsible for the plethora social vices in the country.

    Also, President of CPA Dr. Acho Ihim called for synergy between the state and the local government to allow for meaningful development in the state.

    Ihim, who was represented by Imo State Commissioner for Health Mr. Edward Ihejirika,  said there would be a lot of development in many regions of the country if local governments were granted autonomy.

    In his contribution, Mr. David Briggs, chairman, Senior Secondary Schools Board, River State, called on the parliamentarians in every state to begin to speak out against bad governance at all levels.

    Briggs said when the parliamentarians neglect their functions, “the consequence was always grave and devastating both for the people and the country”.

  • Nnamani: PDP’s peaceful power handover to APC boosted democracy

    Nnamani: PDP’s peaceful power handover to APC boosted democracy

    A former Senate President Ken Nnamani yesterday said the peaceful transition of power from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 has improved the quality and rating of democracy.

    He said there is need for Nigerians to have multiple peaceful transfers of power to consolidate democracy.

    Delivering a lecture, titled: Restructuring: The Search For Political Stability and Economic Development in Nigeria, at Transformation Leadership Forum Lecture Series organised by the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), Nnamani said Nigeria is now described as a consolidating democracy.

    He said: “The peaceful transition of power from the ruling PDP to the opposition APC in 2015 has improved the quality and rating of our democracy. We are now generally described as a consolidating democracy.

    “That will be an important milestone. I’m confident that we will reach that milestone. After that, we still continue on learning to become a truly stable democracy. It will involve the institutionalisation or repeat practice of the core ideas, values and norms of democracy. This will be democracy as a value-system and as a process.”

    According to him, the absence of normative stability for democracy in Nigeria means “it becomes a matter of winner takes all”.

    In the present circumstance, the former Senate President noted that the winner wins everything and the loser loses everything.

    He said: “It is not just the winner and the closer, but their clan, ethnic groups and religious groups are involved in this zero-sum-game, this fight-to-finish. Under such a dysfunctional democracy, those who lose the political battle will be prone to challenge the legitimacy of the state. The state becomes a troubling proposition to the loser of the political battle. This is one of the immediate contexts of the agitation for restructuring.

    “Another pressing context of the clamour for restructuring is economic decline arising in part from economic mismanagement of the nation’s resources. I’m not saying mismanagement contributed to every aspect of our economic woes as a nation. If the Nigerian economy has created prosperity for everyone, we would not have been so engrossed in this fight over structure of Nigeria.

    “When nations are prosperous, there is little agitation; when nations are poor, the struggle for survival leads to violent conflicts over access to diminishing resources. The other context of the clamour for restructuring in Nigeria has been the continuing failure to abide by the rule of law and the principles of federalism in political leadership. We are lawless people and the result shows on how we manage political power.

    “Even though the constitution mandates that local government councils across the country should be governed by elected officials, but at least since 2003 we have noticed fragrant violation of this core constitutional principle. There is probably no local government in Nigeria that is governed by officials elected through free and fair elections. It took a Supreme Court decision to force us to admit that we should obey the constitution.”