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Tag: Obi

  • Tension as Obi, Umeh go head to head in Anambra Central

    Tension as Obi, Umeh go head to head in Anambra Central

    The rivalry between immediate former governor Peter Obi and his erstwhile political associate, Chief Victor Umeh, the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is playing out in the former friends’ quests to oc  cupy the Anambra Central Senatorial District’s seat, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu and Nwanosike Onu in Awka

    WILL Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) be allowed to field a fresh candidate in the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial Election? Will former Governor Peter Obi succeed in flying the PDP flag to contest against his erstwhile political associate, Chief Victor Umeh, the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the other major stakeholders like APC candidate? If he does, there are speculations that the election may turn out to be one of the most thrilling in the politics of the state, given the calibre of candidates, especially the closeness of Obi and Umeh while they dominated the politics of the state in the past decade.

    In fact, since the court ordered fresh election in Anambra Central after the disqualification of Ekwunife, there have been different shades of arguments on whether the PDP still has the right to participate in the election by fielding a fresh candidate. The controversy became even more strategic to the overall politics of the state when the party, the PDP, decided to field Mr. Peter Obi, who, until his recent defection to PDP, was the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APGA).

    As would be expected, more than other stakeholders, APGA as a party and its leadership have openly expressed displeasure over PDP’s planned participation in the election, especially its choice of Obi as the party’s candidate for Anambra Central. The party, The Nation gathered, is not taking the matter lightly and is not hiding its desire that Obi be disallowed to contest.

    Commenting on the development, the National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, told The Nation, “Whatever goes up must come down. Any day the election will take place, Peter Obi will not contest because he never participated in the process that produced candidates for the election of last year. His picture was never on the ballot paper; Obi was only a spoiler, a confusionist and a destroyer. He is only expressing his hatred of Victor Umeh. But he is not God. He is our brother.

    “He came to Anambra and did wonderfully well. If I were him, I will go to my house and sleep and remain a statesman for life,” he said.

    Umeh is equally passionate over the matter. Shortly after receiving the title of ‘Ikenga Oba’ conferred on him by the traditional ruler of Oba in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Peter Ezenwa, he said he hoped that soon, the Court of Appeal would give its final judgment on the eligibility of candidates who would participate in the rerun election.

    He added that it had been decided in a plethora of cases by Nigeria’s Supreme Court that no fresh candidate “shall participate in an election after it was cancelled and a re-run ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

    He added that he could not understand why Obi, who had severally benefitted from the rule of law, would want to arm-twist the law now.

     “INEC is still following what the law says that those who ran in the first election are the only eligible people to run again.

    “INEC wants to remind those not qualified; those who benefitted from the rule of law but want to subvert it now that they cannot do that.

    “People cannot play pranks forever. I hope that very soon, the Court of Appeal will give final verdict. Anybody who knows what the law says and wants to ambush it will soon regret it,” he said.

    The honour coming shortly after he was accused of having links with pro-Biafran groups, Umeh described the many titles coming his way from prominent traditional rulers in the state as “a loud” message to his political rivals.

    “I thank God that almost all the first class traditional rulers in the South-East have conferred titles on me. And this one is clear testimony of my testament and character.

    “There is hardly any title I have not received. If rulers continue to give me these titles, it is an appreciation of my role in Igbo land,” Umeh concluded.

    It would be recalled that recently, Tansian University at Umumya, Anambra State, conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Political Science on Umeh, who is a 1984 graduate of Estate Management from the University of Nigeria (UNN) and a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of APGA.

    Umeh, who was honoured alongside business mogul, Chief ABC Orjiakor, expressed joy that the honour associated him with the masses as well as eggheads.

    Asked why his principal and his party, APGA, are desperate to stop Obi, one of Umeh’s close associate said, “You know chief is not afraid of political battle with any rival. His courage and ability manifested when he coordinated Peter Obi’s legal cases, namely, recovering of Obi’s stolen mandate as governor of Anambra State through the courts, vitiating of the subsequent unlawful impeachment of Obi and ensuring that the then Governor Obi served his full tenure. Don’t also forget that the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu once said of Chief Umeh, ‘The might of a warrior is tested only in battle. On this historic occasion of the inauguration of Governor Peter Obi for a record second term of office, I salute your tenacity, your courage and resilience, APGA has always known what has now become widely acknowledged… kudos.”

    Chief Ifeanyi Afam, a PDP chieftain in Awka, reacting to the development however insisted that APGA is afraid of Obi and is therefore desperate to stop him. “But you know Okwute cannot be cowed. We are waiting.”

    It would be recalled that the intrigues in Anambra Central peaked on December 7, 2015, when Ekwunife lost his senate seat following the Court of Appeal’s judgement that nullified her March 28, 2015 election. INEC had barred the PDP from partaking in the fresh election, but the matter became more complex when a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to include PDP in the fresh election for Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Justice Anwuli Chikere, while delivering the judgement set aside INEC’s ‘Public Notice: INEC/SEC/314’ of 1st February, 2016 which excluded the PDP and its candidate from participating in the court-ordered fresh election for the Anambra Central Senatorial District for the National Assembly.

    The judge also upheld the affidavit of the PDP, and ordered it to substitute its candidate for the election.  The party had told the court that Ekwunife, its former candidate for the March 28, 2015 election, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the nullification of her election by an Appeal Court in Enugu which ordered a re-run.

  • ‘Obi did well in Anambra’

    The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Rev. Valerie Okeke has said Anambra people would not forget former Governor Peter Obi and what he did for the state.

    Speaking during the Easter Virgil mass at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Archbishop Valerie recalled Obi’s unmatchable achievements in education and health and prayed God to continue to provide for him. He also recalled that under him, Anambra was developing all sectors simultaneously.

    He called on Christians to emulate the faith of Abraham who obeyed God and remained steadfast until the will of God was done.

    The Archbishop urged the people to support and pray for those in government so that they would lead with the fear of God.

  • Obi bids for Senate on PDP’s ticket

    Obi bids for Senate on PDP’s ticket

    •INEC shifts poll indefinitely 

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi will contest Saturday’s Anambra Central rerun on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    This followed the Federal High Court’s ruling that the PDP was eligible to contest the election.

    Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Joe Martins Uzodike noted that PDP stakeholders had been mounting pressure on Obi to contest.

    “PDP is yet to submit its list, but everybody is urging Peter Obi to come out to save PDP in the central zone.”

    Uzodike hinted that the party had conducted its primaries and was waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the list of the contestants.

    Meanwhile, the election, scheduled for Saturday, March 5, has been postponed indefinitely.

    This, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, followed the court order received yesterday.

    He announced this yesterday at a meeting with parties at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka.

    Uzodike described the postponement as a welcomed one.

    Chairman of the state Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Sam Oraegbunam said the postponement came at the right time, adding that the parties had longed for it.

    But Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sir Norbert Obi, said the postponement would not stop his party’s victory.

    For the All Progressives Congress (APC), INEC’s decision was a right step in the right direction.

  • Obi cheers up college pupils

    Former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has lifted the spirits of pupils of Crowther Memorial College, Umuikwu Anam, in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state. On a visit to the school, Mr Obi presented the authorities with N1m cheque, a gesture which excited the pupils and the school authorities.

    The former governor did more than that. He also provided mentorship and leadership, asking the pupils to pray not just for themselves and their teachers, but also the state and the country.

    Presenting the cheque to the school after inspecting their facilities, including a computer classroom and library, Obi  said that the visit was in fulfillment of the promise to the proprietor of the school, Bishop Benry Okeke of the Anglican Diocese of Mbamili, that he would remain part of the progress of the school.

    Obi commended the bishop for the positive ways through which he touches the lives of the people in that rural community and called on men of goodwill to assist him in any way possible.

    “The last time I visited the school as governor, the building was just started. I am delighted that the school is completed. I urge Nigerians to assist you because you are indeed working for God through serving His people.

    The Bishop who described Mr. Obi as a lover of the Diocese, called on other leaders to emulate his love for education and the manner he tirelessly work for the advancement of humanity.

  • N75b: APC slams Obi’s call for truce

    The Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned a statement by former Governor Peter Obi calling for a ‘truce’ in the debate about the N75 billion he left in the state.

    The party said it was a “vainglorious attempt by an embattled gladiator to assume the role of an arbiter too soon”.

    A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, said: “The call for truce was issued by Mr.a Valentine Obienyem, who pooled the propaganda wool over the eyes of Ndi Anambra while Obi looted Anambra State blind, sharing state resources with unthinkable sections of the elite, while the state totters on the fringes of development.

    “The Obienyem, who authored the latest statement of insult, was the same person who represented Obi in a television debate where the evidence was laid bare and the confession came clear that Obi indeed lied, as we have since shouted from the rooftops. How can a party in a bad case suddenly become the judge in the11th hour.?

  • Obiano Vs. Obi: Of incumbent and incubus

    It seems like an obsession now. Hardball would never been able to fathom why the sitting governor of Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano, would resort to what is coming out as a life-long contest with his predecessor (and some say his benefactor). One had always thought that winners made jokes while losers were left to lick their wounds. But in this Obiano versus Peter Obi instance, the reverse seems perplexingly the case.

    There seems to have been no love lost between the incumbent, Obiano and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi and the animus may have begun right from the handover day as keen-eyed people noticed the eerie mirthlessness of the new ‘kid’ on that momentous day. It seemed not to matter that Gov. Obiano was being handed the biggest prize in the land almost on a platter; he was not amused. And a feud festered between the twain for 19 months.

    Last week, Gov. Obiano seemed to have moved to enact a final onslaught against the large, overhanging shadow of his predecessor. Oh yes, it must be this cloud that may have become an incubus over the incumbent. Obi left office in a blaze of glory so to speak showcasing a glittering performance and leaving a feat rare in this clime: not a dime of debt.

    This of course is a tough act to follow not to talk of surpassing in an age of official brigandage and impunity. Hardball envies not the incumbent: it is alike contesting against a deity; an annoyingly unfair contest. What’s to be done? Pull down the totem, trample it, make it ordinary, vitiate his essence and mortalise him!

    This was exactly what happened last week when Gov. Obiano moved to demystify the Obi mystique and legacy. The N75 billion claimed to have been reserved in the treasury of Anambra State for his successor and posterity must finally be debunked and Obi unmasked. It is a phantom sum, they say.

    It is mere N9 billion and not N75b says Prof. Solomon Chukwulobelu, SSG, (well, shall we thank goodness for small mercy).

    And let’s take this quote straight from the Obiano camp, dear reader, so that you might judge by yourself: “Obviously worried about the final verdict of history on his administration, Obi made frantic efforts in the final months of his tenure and invested the sum of $155 million or N26.6 billion in Eurobonds and other foreign denominated securities held with Access Bank, Fidelity Bank and Diamond Bank…” With the naira vastly depreciated now, see the wisdom in this investment today!

    What more is to be said than to admonish the incumbent to worry more about the final verdict of history on his own administration.  A governor who has no record of borrowing one kobo over eight years, yet has some surplus in the banks deserves respect and commendation and awards in today’s Nigeria, and not vilification. Hardball feels strongly about this singular principle and commends it to other governors.

    That N26.6 b in Eurobonds could have been N26.6 b in bank loans and salary arrears and unpaid pension and gratuities. This is indeed the story in most other states. Obiano must quit this mortal combat with his predecessor’s shadow and set about creating his own legacy. Time is short!

  • Obi, T.A. Orji and Igbo enweze syndrome

    The sterling examples set by former governors Peter Obi and Theodore Orji of Anambra and Abia states respectively would remain the pride of the Southeast for a long time to come. The Obi phenomenon is stuff for business school books about prudence in public office. T.A. Orji on the other hand, rescued Abia from the death-grips of a family cabal that had hijacked the state for its own.

    For instance, until TA took over effectively, Abia had become a wasted ghost land where worthy sons dared not return to. He changed all that. Obi transformed Anambra from a near-jungle to a model state. This duo that ought to be shining lights in Igbo land are being abused and disparaged daily by their successors and predecessors just to taint them and bring them down. Any wonder miscreants are taking over and not a single guiding voice in the land. N’ezia, Igbo enwe eze, what a shame.

  • ANAMBRA: OBIANO, OBI AT WAR OVER N75 BILLION

    ANAMBRA: OBIANO, OBI AT WAR OVER N75 BILLION

    •Sure I did, ex-gov insists

    The brewing animosity between Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and his benefactor, Peter Obi, blew into the open yesterday after the government publicly dismissed repeated claims by Obi that he left N75 billion in government account as untrue.

    It said that contrary to the impression created by Obi that he bequeathed a tidy purse, the Obiano administration inherited only “N9 billion cash and N26 billion near cash” as well as contract liabilities to the tune of N185.1 billion.

    But Obi, in a swift reaction yesterday, said the government action was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent facts.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Government House, Awka, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, said the clarification had become pertinent in view of the ground the rumour of the N75 billion was gaining in the social and traditional media in the country.

    “The N75 billion was not there; it was not handed over to anybody. At best it can be half truth,” he said.

    He added: “In the real sense, what the Obiano administration inherited from Obi was N9 billion cash and N26 billion near cash.

    “Based on the figures detailed above which are taken from the handover notes from the previous administration to the current administration, it is evident that the actual and voluntary cash investments made by the previous administration amounts to approximately N35.5 billion consisting of mobilisation paid on contracts for shopping malls and hotels, cost of two business parks in Onitsha, investments in Eurobonds, amongst a few others”

    “Items such as counterpart funds held jointly with domestic development finance institutions, land contributions, FGN refunds differences in bank balances and investments made directly by the federal government on behalf of the three tiers of government totaling approximately N39.5bliilon have been reclassified as “illiquid investments””FGN receivables” and “involuntary investments”

    “However, to provide a true and fair picture of the state’s net position on March 17, 2014, the investments handover notes ought to have captured current liabilities and contingent liabilities also borne by the previous administration as at the time of handover.

    “To put this context, the total portfolio of inherited projects valued at approximately N185 billion was however not captured in the breakdown of the handover notes.”

    Governor Obiano himself declared yesterday that he is going for a second term in office “and nobody can stop me.”

    The governor, on an inspection of the Nkpor section of the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway said: “I am going to stay eight years in office and nobody can stop me.”

    He asked for the refund of the N25b which he said the state government spent to rehabilitate federal roads in the state.

    N10billion was spent by the Obi administration and the remaining N15billion by his administration, Obiano stated.

    Meanwhile, Obi’s spokesman, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said the State government was off the course in denying that the last administration left behind N75billion.

    Obienyem wondered why it took government two years to come up with its position.

    He gave a breakdown of the funds purportedly left by Obi as follows: N27billion in local currency investment; N26.5 billion in foreign currency investment; N28.1 billion in Certified State/ MDS balances.

    He said: “Even in the final handover document, Obi deducted N10 billion approved federal government refund as well as the salary, pension, gratuity, money on certificates raised on contracts for the month of March, which all amounted to N5 billion before arriving at the balance of over N75 billion he bequeathed his successor.

    “As a financial expert, Obi went to his end of tenure event with Gov. Willie Obiano and said all this in the presence of all the Bank MDS in whose banks the monies were.

    “In fact, as at March 17th when he handed over, he got all the certified statements of Anambra’s accounts from the banks these monies were and handed them over to his successor.

    “If they were confused on where the monies were, why would they not call Obi who kept them to explain the whereabouts to them as much as he knew?”

    On the liabilities allegedly left by Obi, Obienyem described it as another misrepresentation of fact.

    He said it was not that only the figures they gave were incorrect Obi paid contractors owed by his predecessors and did not owe a single contractor before leaving office.

    “Are they saying he should pay for contracts awarded but not yet executed before he left office?

    “Did his successor not run his campaign on the premise of continuity before the people voted him?”, Obienyem asked.

     

  • Obi unhappy with Heartland display

    Obi unhappy with Heartland display

    Heartland goalkeeper Ebele Obi has criticized his side’s performance in the 1-0 away defeat to FC Ifeanyi Uba on Wednesday.

    The elder brother to Super Eagles central midfielder John Obi Mikel, who has also played for Enugu Rangers in his football career, believes the Naze Millionaires lacked the fight against the Anambra Warriors.

    “We must not lower our competitiveness. We lacked our usual aggression and that must not be allowed to happen again,” Obi told News24, although he conceded that the current Heartland side are still a team in the making.

    “We’ve come off a good run where we have been playing well and we’d like to have taken three points off Ifeanyi Uba. It was a slip-up and we must use it to improve in the few games remaining in the season.

    “However, there are some players who have had virtually no minutes on the pitch. Hopefully we can use them all, which means we will then be playing at our highest level.

    “Little by little we are taking the technical crew’s ideas on board but that takes time, both for the coaches and the team,” he explained.

    The experienced goalie believes the match against Giwa FC will be a good time to move forward.

    “We must use it to work hard, maintain our intensity, clear our minds after the last game and against Giwa this weekend eager and strong.

    “Our objective then will be to reach a position in the table where we will be able to fight for something,” he concluded.

  • Why we honoured Obi, by NBA branch

    Why we honoured Obi, by NBA branch

    The Nigerian Bar Association, Anaocha branch, which honoured  the former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi with the “Lifetime Achievers’ Award”, has said the award was in recognition of Obi’s achievements, especially his ability to govern the state within the law.

    Speaking at the event, which took place at the Wyte Castle Hitel, Neni, the association’s Chairman, Chief Chris Ogom Adimora said that Anambra people and Nigerians, including Anaocha Bar would continue to use Obi as an example in governance and that he would be remembered for so many firsts he achieved as the Governor of Anambra State.

    His words: “He is more remembered for his dogged fight to regain his mandate freely given him by the generality of Anambra State masses through the courts. He defied all odds and regained his mandate when he was unduly and unlawfully impeached. He also got judgement through the courts to ensure that Senator Chris Ngige’s unlawful tenure did not encroach on his mandate of eight years. “

    Further, Adimorah said Obi would be admired for leaving 75 Billion Naira in cash and investment, after he did not borrow nor left contractual obligations,  when other Governors left debts and unredeemed  bonds. He also cited what he called his frugal management of the State resources, sound education policy, inimitable road network constructed by him, and urban renewal policy as among the reasons he will remain endeared to the people.

    Others award recipients are the Chief Justice of Anambra   state, Hon. Justice Peter Umeadi; retired Federal High Court Judge, Hon.  Justice O.  J. Okeke; Senator Nathaniel Anah, SAN; and Chief Ifeanyi Obegolo.