Tag: Nwoko

The Anioma Youth Forum Worldwide (AYF-W) has condemned attacks on the Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, and called on the Delta state government to address issues raised by the Senator

Senator Ned Nwoko received backlash following his remarks and disclosures during a recent consultation visit to the leadership of Ndokwa Neku Union at the residence of the union’s President-General, Gen. Mike Ndubuisi (rtd), at Ezionum, Ukwuani local government area of the state.

The national publicity secretary of AYF-W, Ekwukwo Elvis, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, expressed worry over the barrage of attacks from appointees of the state government and others whom he said have capitalized on the situation to vilify Senator Nwoko.

Elvis said: “We find it disturbing that the Senator, who is merely executing his constitutional mandate of providing oversight on developmental projects within his senatorial district is being maligned and subjected to such unwarranted attacks.To us, these deliberate attacks are well orchestrated to harass, intimidate and gag him. This has become unacceptable to all concerned youths of Anioma.”

He explained that Senator Nwoko’s comments were well within the scope of his responsibilities as an elected representative of Delta North.

“His role mandates him to ensure that all developmental projects within his jurisdiction are fully serviced and completed for the benefit of the Anioma people and Anioma land,”Elvis said.

“Therefore, he has the full backing of Anioma, and any attempt to frame his legitimate concerns as being controversial is both misleading and unjust, to say the least.”

Read Also: Nwoko urges Delta to harness Ogwashi-Uku dam for water, electricity, agric

The AYF-W warned all “those recruited in the dangerous escapade” to cease all forms of harassment or intimidation aimed at the Senator.

The group urged Senator Nwoko not to be discouraged or intimidated by these attacks, adding that his relentless pursuit of justice and calls for equitable allocation of resources for vital projects in Anioma lands is a cause we wholeheartedly endorse.

The group also called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to take into account all the areas of concerns raised by Senator Nwoko with a view to addressing them, “as such is the hallmark of good leadership and governance.

A member of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, has said that Nigeria’s defence industry has the capacity to drive economic growth if properly harnessed.

Nwoko said this at the closing ceremony of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) 60th Anniversary and Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Nwoko, who was the chief launcher of a book on DICON, noted that the defence sector is a global powerhouse with many countries relying on it as a key driver of their economies.

Read Also: Defence industry can drive our economy if properly harnessed, says Nwoko

He said: ” In Nigeria, we have the resources and the potential to achieve the same, but this requires considerable investment and active participation from the private sector. We cannot leave everything to the government.”

Nwoko emphasised the importance of local production and manufacturing in the defence sector, adding that “I firmly believe that Nigeria has the capacity and financial resources to make the defence industry as profitable as our oil, gas, and banking sectors.

“To achieve this, the government must play its part by identifying and supporting specialized companies through licensing and approval, and also by promoting public awareness. With the right investments, we can create jobs, attract investors, and reduce our reliance on imports.”

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has dismissed reports claiming that he died in Switzerland.

Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said that the reports were entirely false and malicious.

”In recent weeks, I have also been subjected to unwarranted insults and accusations regarding the purchase of a car for a little content creator.

“These claims are baseless and misleading. Whether this is a misguided joke or a deliberate act of malice, it has gone too far and will not be tolerated.

Read Also: Protests: Senator Ned Nwoko defends Regina Daniels amid criticism

“I am taking immediate legal action against those spreading these falsehoods. Arrests will be made, and anyone involved should be prepared to face the consequences.

“This is not a matter of influence; it is about holding those responsible accountable for their harmful actions.

I will not tolerate any attempts to malign my character or to downplay the seriousness of this situation.

“If you are involved in these activities, expect to face legal repercussions without delay,”  Nwoko warned. (NAN)

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has advocated an end to pervasive influence of “godfatherism”, for the nation’s democracy to yield desired dividends.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, in his democracy day message, made available to newsmen.

“Godfatherism” is “a term used primarily in Nigeria, to refer to a political corruption, in which an influential individual handpicks another, often less influential candidate to attain leadership, in order to exert authority or influence”

“Our electoral process needs to be seamless and transparent, free from the pervasive influence of godfatherism and the blight of nepotism”, he said.

The lawmaker added that democracy thrives on the active participation and engagement of its citizens.

“It requires a collective commitment to uphold justice, fairness, and equality.

Read Also: Senator Nwoko seeks creation of new state in southeast region

“As we honour the legacy of those who fought for our democratic freedoms, let us also recognise our responsibility to address these systemic issues”, he said.

Nwoko added that democracy is more than just a system of governance; as it is the embodiment of collective aspirations for freedom, equality, and justice.

He therefore charged all Nigerians to confront the challenges hindering the full realisation of democracy dividends.

(NAN)

Senator Ned Nwoko has expressed that establishing a new state in the southeast would help achieve better representation in the region.

He proposed naming the new state Anioma State and emphasized the pressing need for its creation.

He said this in a post on his official X page.

He wrote: “The Need for the Creation of Anioma State to Balance Representation in the South East.

“The creation of Anioma state is both urgent and compelling. This proposal addresses the longstanding imbalance in the geopolitical distribution of states in Nigeria. The South East geopolitical zone currently has five states, unlike its counterparts, except for the North West, which has seven states. This disparity results in an imbalance of representation and resources, with the Southeast having only 15 lawmakers compared to the 18 lawmakers of other zones in the Senate. This inequity affects legislative representation and the distribution of national resources, perpetuating a longstanding injustice.

“I am presenting a bill for the creation of Anioma state to correct this historical oversight. Anioma is composed of nine local government areas, six of which are rich in oil and gas resources. The region also boasts significant human capital, making it a viable and sustainable candidate for statehood. Creating Anioma state is not just about increasing the number of states; it is about ensuring fair representation and resource allocation for the southeast.

Read Also: Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko mark 5th wedding anniversary

“The call for Anioma state has widespread support from various stakeholders. The Anioma socio-cultural group, Izu Anioma, and the Pan Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Indi Igbo, have both been vocal in their advocacy for this cause. The political class in Anioma, including traditional rulers led by the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, have also consistently supported the creation of the Anioma state. They have held numerous meetings, including discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to voice their consensus.

“The creation of Anioma state is a crucial step towards achieving justice and equity for the South East. With the majority of stakeholders in agreement, it is time to act and bring Anioma state into existence, correct the past imbalances, and ensure fair representation in national affairs.”

Sen. Ned Nwoko, has advised the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) against any measures that capable if artificially forcing the Naira to gain value against other currencies.

Nwoko, who represents Delta North, gave the advice in a statement he personally signed and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Saturday.

He advised them to concentrate on tackling the main issues responsible for the Naira depreciation, saying there was no short-cut to success.

He said the quest for economic freedom and the strength of the nation’s currency was an ongoing journey.

Nwoko also said the continuous revisit to previously implemented policies and considerations of new ones were imperative.

He also said the value of a sovereign nation’s currency was the cornerstone of respect and collaboration among nations, while reiterating that Nigeria must stimulate Naira demand.

According to him, as a nation that exports crude oil and other commodities globally, it is imperative that all transaction on these items be conducted exclusively in Naira.

“This will incentivise buyers to seek out Naira, thereby driving its appreciation due to increased demand and scarcity.

“Moreover, the foreign reserve policy warrants reassessment. The practice of maintaining reserves in foreign jurisdictions, termed “foreign reserves,” is not only objectionable but also counterproductive to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.

“Unlike other nations like the United States, Britain, France, and Japan, which hold their reserves domestically, Nigeria’s adherence to this practice raises questions about its colonial legacy.

“If our early indigenous leaders acquiesced to this approach due to colonial influence, why should we perpetuate it? The primary rationale often cited to justify foreign reserves is trade balance maintenance“, Nwoko said.

According to him, this argument lacks merit when considering the limited number of traders involved in importing goods into Nigeria, which constitutes a negligible fraction of the nation’s population.

“Therefore, the notion that foreign reserves are indispensable for trade balance equilibrium falls short upon scrutiny”, he said.

The lawmaker who is a Solicitor, Supreme Court of England and Wales, there was the need to acknowledge that the recent appreciation of the Naira was not solely attributable to the CBN’s new measures.

“Rather, it can be attributed to the decline in refined oil imports following the production and distribution of refined petroleum from the local refinery – the Dangote refinery.

“Now envisage if other heavily consumed products were locally produced instead of imported. The success would be monumental and conspicuous,” he added.

In January, in a statement, he had preferred crucial measures to be adopted by the federal government CBN to combat dollarisation and stabilise the Naira.

Read Also: I received N1bn allocation for constituency projects, says Ned Nwoko

Nwoko said that since the dissemination of that statement, various measures have been implemented to bolster the value of the Naira.

“However, the efficacy of these measures is yet to manifest fully, as the root cause of Naira devaluation remains unaddressed.

“Until we confront the underlying issues head-on, our efforts against dollarisation will be in vain,” he said.

(NAN)

The senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has revealed that he was able to attract N1 billion worth of projects for his constituents.

He made this known when he appeared on ‘Mic On podcast’, a programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television.

Nwoko’s revelation is coming amid the recent controversy of budget padding alleged by Senator Abdul Ningi regarding the 2024 budget.

Speaking on Senator Ali Ndume’s claims that the allocation of resources to the legislators often varies based on the magnitude of their constituency projects, Nwoko indicated that it’s not uncommon for some, including himself, to receive larger amounts.

Nwoko said he would have preferred a scenario where the constituency project allocation to every senator is fixed.

He said: “The way it is done now, you basically rely on your weights and contacts to see what you can get for your people.

“Well, it is just the system. Just the system. It is a system in Nigeria… like I said, I’d have preferred a situation where we all know what we are getting — you don’t need to lobby for it and it is a standard thing.

Read Also: Edo PDP chair kidnapped in Benin, whereabouts unknown

“All the 109 senators from the onset should know what is going on in their particular district.

“A better approach would have been for senatorial uniformity. So if they say that everyone should get about N1 billion, so be it. But this way, you rely on your weight and contacts to see what you can get for your people.

“This is not money for us. It is money for projects within our senatorial districts. So if you have roads, water projects, training programmes all aggregate to a certain sum.”

Asked if he received as much as N1 billion in allocation, the senator said: “Of course I did. That’s why I am who I am. But these are projects for my people.”

The senator said he does not want to know who the contractors executing the projects are, but only cares about the delivery of the projects he has been able to attract to Delta North.