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Tag: PRESIDENCY

One million pupils get daily meal in seven states – Presidency

The Federal Government is now serving one hot meal a day to more than one million primary school pupils across seven states in the country, under the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the Presidency has said.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

According to him, a total sum of N844, 360, 550 has been released for the commencement of the programme in Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Zamfara as at last week.

Despite the release of the funds to the states, he noted that not all of them have actually started the implementation of the programme.

He said: “In Anambra, Enugu, Osun, Ogun, and Oyo, the feeding has actually started, while it is expected to start this week in the two other states of Ebonyi and Zamfara that have been funded already.

“That means, the Buhari Presidency’s Homegrown School Feeding Programme would be feeding a total of 1, 043, 205 pupils in the seven states this week.

“Equally a total number of 11,775 cooks have been employed to prepare the meals in those states already, while local farmers in the states are also the one producing the food prepared and served.

“Of all the states, Anambra, which was the first state to receive FG funding late last year has now received three full funding tranches covering 30 school days, totaling N188, 769,000. The state has a total of 937 cooks and feeding 96,489 pupils.”

February 13, 2017
‘Biafra ‘ll work against Igbo Presidency’

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Chief Lanre Razak, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, explains why the party has not met some of its campaign promises to Nigerians. He also speaks on the Igbo’s quest for power shift in 2019 and other issues.

The APC has not met the expectations of Nigerians, why?

I want to thank Nigerians for voting the APC, with much expectation at the back of their minds. But, if you have a bad scenario and you are unable to witness a worst situation, you do not appreciate what you have. Nigeria’s economy was at the verge of total collapse when the APC came to power. Revelations have shown that the situation could have been worse than what we have now. The efforts of changing to good from the level of deterioration that we have cannot happen overnight. The party and the government of the APC are working seriously to turn the situation around. We are aware that APC have men with the pedigrees to change things, drawing from the examples of people like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other eminent personalities. Asiwaju performed wonders in Lagos. We are aware of the budgetary situation of Lagos, when he became the governor. He turned it around and Lagos has performed wonderfully well till today. Some of the men used in getting Lagos to its high position, are those supporting central government to get its task done. I want to seek the understanding of Nigerians; it is just a question of time for things to get better. Those who have waited patiently for years should be able to wait for months. Within the budget of 2017, when it becomes operational around June and July, Nigerians would be smiling that the confidence they reposed in APC is not in vain. President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for Nigerians, the leadership of APC meant well for the country. We should encourage them and give them the desired support to move the country forward.

It is said some members of the APC with outsiders are working on a third mega party…

Politics or political parties are not grave yards, where you have absolute silence. We are talking about people managing power and you know what power game is all about. The APC have an effective crisis management mechanism in position to handle any supposedly crisis people think exist in its fold. We have able hands, if any crisis arises. We have National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Tinubu and a host of other leaders, who are well schooled and grounded in party politics and crisis management. These people are working in collective arrangement to ensure the party is united. We cannot afford to work hard to win election and dismantle the structures. No general go to war, win and turn around to maltreating his soldiers, rather the solders are pampered. And definitely, there is no crisis in the APC. The party is capable of managing its affairs and I am very confident that the party is united and it is a big family. The issues whether the third mega party can emerge and replace the APC, it is easier said than done. I don’t foresee any serious group outside the APC than can form the third mega party. The people who are being mentioned as promoters of this mega party, I have not seen them doing any serious political business. Be rest assured that APC is intact and working seriously to put the country on course.

The Igbo is seeking the support of Nigerians for its Presidency in 2013, any hope for them?

The constitution of Nigeria allows that every citizen of this country can vie for any position, no matter the level. They are assured by the constitution to be there. Let get to the rivers, we will see how to cross it. Nobody has approached our leaders in the Southwest and when there is nothing on the ground, what do we discuss. When they come, we will know how to handle it. They are entitled to it, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the President of this country and was an Igbo man. We trusted him and worked for him. If are Igbo, who could sell themselves to Nigerians, that they are capable, and they in turn assure Nigerians that they will do the best for the country, the people will think of giving them support. After all, they are Nigerians; the only thing I don’t like about them is, why are we discussing Biafra? If there people within the Nigerians context cannot talk to their group, to stop the agitation for Biafra, Nigerians may not be too comfortable to trust them with power. That is my appeal to them; they should work for a united Nigeria and get what they want within the Nigerian context, rather than agitating for Biafra. The agitation for Biafra will work against their dream. Nobody should think of tearing the present political structure apart. They need to educate their people; they need to be seen as Nigerians and people who want to build a united Nigerians.

Lagos has passed death sentence for kidnappers…

It is really painful to have taken that decision; government has been driven to that point. The horror of kidnapping is better imagined than being involved. When you are kidnapped, you become bleak. You think in the next few minutes or hours you could be killed. That could affect your organs for life when you are released. You may not be the same person for the rest of your life. What the kidnappers are doing is to kill people and leave them like vegetable. I am aware of some who undergo such torture, they are no longer useful. Nigerian should realize they can make money, without destroying others. Those they kidnapped, lot of them are innocent. They kidnapped school children, teachers, is that the best way to make money? And unless there is a serious punishment that will serve as deterrent, these criminals will not stop doing what they are doing. The first assignment of any good government is the protection of lives and property, whatever action taken by government to protect the people of Lagos is welcome.

What is your assessment of the Lagos under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode?

The governor is doing lots of job and Lagosians themselves can attest to that. I can assure you that the man is performing. Is it on transportation that the governor has not touched? Look at the blue buses plying the roads, the infrastructure development in the state, the traffic management scheme, security, education and other areas public concerns, the governor has ensured that things are working. The traffic situation is completely under control; let us support his genuine and good efforts to make Lagos count among the best cities in the world.

February 13, 2017
CAN to Presidency: Update Nigerians on Buhari’s health status

The Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday advised the Presidency to update Nigerians on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health status.

CAN also advised Nigerians to pray for the President instead of dwelling on the needless rumour that he is dead.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by its Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Evangelist Kwamkur Samuel, CAN said “the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) is deeply concerned about the ongoing national conversation on the absence of the President due to ill-health.

“We wish to call on all Nigerians to join hands in prayers for the quick and full recovery of Mr. President and his safe return to Nigeria instead of dwelling on needless rumour about his health.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is human, hence subject to health challenges sometimes. CAN appreciates the anxiety of Nigerians to hear Mr. President speak, but sues for understanding as we await that. It is very clear that our leader is passing through health challenges.

“We advise the Presidency to update Nigerians on how he is fairing and the full progress of his recovery.

“We call on all Christians and indeed all God-fearing Nigerians to dedicate time of prayers for our President and the nation. We owe our leaders prayers and support at all times while shunning divisive opinions that only generate strive.

“CAN also call on Nigerians to give the Vice President, who is also the Acting President, full support and prayers to lead well.

“We acknowledge that government is a continuum, hence, we call on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to be bold in handling critical state matters and not to be distracted by those who do not wish Nigeria well.”

February 9, 2017
‘How Trump’s presidency ‘ll benefit oil market’

Nigeria may be on the verge of regaining its crude oil market share in the United States (U.S.) following President Donald Trump’s plan to build more infrastructural projects, The Nation has learnt.

Nigeria’s exports to the U.S. fell from 950,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2010 to 57,000 bpd in 2015.

Also, Angola suffered a decline in oil exports to U.S. as its exports fell from 484,000 bpd in 2009 to 124,000 bpd in 2015.

However, all that has been confined to past as Trump plans to build more infrastructure for oil and gas.

The former President, Association of International Energy Economist, Prof Adeola Akinnisiju, said if the plans materialise, it would open the door for production increase for Nigeria.

He said Nigeria, which once had the U.S. as the main customer for exports, may find new opportunities to reignite its upstream sector as past oil selling agreements between the two countries become attractive once again.

Akinnisiju said Nigeria was more likely to benefit from hypothetical unmet growing oil demand in the U.S. than Angola, adding that Angola had built stronger ties with China which is its main crude oil buyer in the recent years.

He said the past two years witnessed low oil prices for U.S. and other countries, noting that the development created room for a considerable stocking of oil.

Akinnisiju said: “For sometime now, members and non members of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have had difficult times, getting enough earnings from the sales of crude oil. The development made U.S. and other countries to stock their oil, with the hope of selling it when the price goes up. The time has come for such countries to sell their crude and mak more money from it.’’

February 9, 2017
Ndigbo chart new path to presidency

One major obstacle that has stood between Ndigbo and their age-long ambition to produce the President of Nigeria is disunity. This has been fueled by greed, selfishness and lack of leadership structure among the Igbo. But at last, there is something to cheer. The Igbo are gradually coming together as brothers, irrespective of political or religious differences. They have decided to heal old wounds, reignite the kindred spirit for which the Igbo is famous and most importantly, go for the Nigeria’s Presidency as a people.

Recent events, very much confirms this new Igbo spirit. Among them is the resolution of the leadership crisis that rocked the Igbo apex organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo. The polarization of the Ohaneze leadership structure had actually affected all genuine efforts to unite the Igbo in order to pursue any common goal, after all the Igbo will say that a man’s house cannot be on fire and he hunts for rat.

This plan to reconcile the various factions of Ohaneze was initiated and sponsored by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who had severally contested the Presidency of the country but failed due largely to lack of support and backing from his kinsmen.

Today Ohaneze if back and the Igbo are gradually coming together to build a formidable bloc that can spearhead the actualisation of the ambition that has perpetually eluded them.

Again the new resolve by Igbo political heavyweights to join the Imo Governor in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and form alliance with the North has been lauded as a bold step towards the age long dream.

In a recent crucial meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, frontline Igbo politicians after a closed door meeting, resolved to work for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection in 2019 so as to get the support of the North for the much expected Igbo Presidency in 2023.

At the meeting attended by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume, George Muoghalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, Imo Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, members of the National Working Committee of APC, as well as other prominent politicians, it was disclosed that three serving Governors in the Southeast will be joining the APC to strengthen and consolidate the new plan.

Speaking shortly after a closed door meeting, the host Governor, Rochas Okorocha said, “now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us. There is a vacuum of leadership in the Southeast APC. I am a Governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are Ministers, hence the importance of Ken Nnamani coming at this time. I declined the leadership of Ndi-Igbo in APC. With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the Southeast has been answered. Ken Nnamani is the leader of APC in the Southeast”.

He continued, “Senator Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndigbo Political direction. Those who have joined the Party or who want to join should do so to build the party and not to cause confusion. APC is the right Party for the Igbo and the only Party that can guarantee Igbo Presidency”.

Speaking further, he said, “We are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndigbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived in the Southeast. The Igbo played bad politics in 2015. Today we have lost a lot. We are not anywhere because of our bad politics”.

Governor Okorocha also disclosed that three serving Governors in the zone were in touch with him and will soon join the APC, adding that being the only APC Governor in the Southeast does not give him joy and advised that other Political leaders in the geopolitical zone should take “advantage of the moment and come into APC”.

In his speech, Nnamani said the Igbo need more of their leaders at the National leadership of the APC where decisions are made and also at the National Assembly and other strategic areas.

February 3, 2017
Presidency: Igbo canvasses support for 2023

A group, The Igbo Conscience (TIC), has urged Nigerians to support the Igbo’s quest for the presidency in 2023.

Its Protem Chairman, Monday Ubani, said the Igbo would vie for the presidency when the North exhausts its term in 2023.

Ubani said the debate on the Igbo presidency is healthy and inspiring.

He said: “We note the renewed debate for a President of Igbo extraction in Nigeria and welcome the debate as a healthy aspect of Nigerian democracy.

“We see nothing wrong in the debate especially as it aims to assuage the desires of Igbo to lead a country they have made very great contributions to develop.

“TIC commends all those who have contributed to the debate thus far and observes that there is unanimity of opinion that Igbo deserve the Nigerian presidency, especially as the presidency has gone round the respective zones in Nigeria.”

Ubani said TIC will not align itself with those who believe that Igbo should take a shot at the Presidency in 2019, stressing that such view was not strategically grounded.

He said the Igbo presidency must enjoy the overwhelming support of Nigerians across the country, stressing that it was not a project that could be achieved in isolation.

“We therefore, fully align ourselves with the widespread view that Igbo should get the presidency in 2023.

“We believe that the presidency is for every Nigerian to give and an Igbo presidency should be a broad and all-encompassing project. It must involve all sections, tribes, religions in Nigeria and not for only Igbo to realise.

“TIC therefore, calls on Igbo leaders; politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, market women and grassroots organisations to direct their actions and conducts towards creating enabling factors that will facilitate Igbo presidency in 2023.”

Ubani urged the Southeast to start organising itself into a formidable bloc, adding that it also build bridges across the Niger to make its dream a reality.

He explained that power was never given on a platter of gold, calling on well meaning Nigerians from the catchment area to develop the political will and temperament that will ensure the success of the campaign.

Ubani stressed: “We task Igbo to start organising themselves into a serious and formidable political bloc, start building critical bridges of understanding with other sections of the country and engage in strategic political alignments.

“We warn Igbo that, inasmuch as there is an understanding for power to go round, power is not given on a platter of gold. So, we must all direct our focus towards earning the trust, confidence and understanding of other Nigerians en-route 2023 because these are vital steps towards the realisation of the Igbo presidency project.”

February 3, 2017
23,000 artisans, traders get Fed Govt’s soft loans in 13 states, says Presidency

The Presidency on Monday said 23,000 persons have so far benefited from 23, 400 loans in 13 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Government’s Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), under the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs).
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, listed the States as Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Rivers and the FCT.
He said the loans ranged between N10,000, to N100,000 per applicant.
The loans, he said would be paid directly to individuals, while they are expected to belong to registered associations and/or cooperatives to ensure that they were peer-endorsed as credible, and to facilitate timely repayments.
“All beneficiaries must have BVNs and bank accounts.” the statement stated
Stressing that the Micro-credit scheme is a no-interest loan scheme, with only a one-time 5 per cent administrative fee for costs, the statement said the loan is targeted at micro-enterprises: traders, artisans, market men and women, entrepreneurs, farmers with the involvement of cooperatives and executed through the Bank of Industry, BOI.
It added “Although over 23,000 people have benefited from the loans, altogether, over 1 million people have already enrolled for the programme across the country and are expected to benefit this year.
“To facilitate the loan disbursement, four payment providers have been signed-on for the programme mostly in the urban areas. The next wave of payment providers, coming on stream by March 2017, would provide a much wider coverage in the rural areas.”
“About 8,436 market associations and cooperatives nationwide have been registered for this scheme through the web portal (www.boi.ng/market), as well as through paper application forms.”
On the progress made with the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the statement said that “actual feeding of pupils is expected to commence this week in Ogun and Oyo States, while Ebonyi State will soon follow
It also gave details of the cost of the feeding programme, stating that N70 was the cost of the one meal per pupil.
“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters and inaccurate reports in some sections of the media, there are no payment issues or any kind of food rationing taking place in states where the Homegrown School Feeding Programme has kicked off.
“While the Federal Government has paid all approved cooks based on the number of pupils allocated to each cook, it is the State that provides the number of pupils to be fed. And where those figures change, the next batch of FG payment would reflect it.
“Specifically, where the number of pupils increase, the State will communicate the increase and approve the review. The numbers of the new pupils are then physically verified, before a commensurate number of cooks are engaged, trained and then paid.
“The FG has also adopted a system where it pays the cooks a 10-day advance payment for feeding. The programme is designed to ensure that no cook feeds more than 150 pupils a day, but in some cases, the numbers are as low as 35 children per cook.
“The meal which must be sufficient and nutritious is costed around locally sourced items and approved by the State under the N70 per child provision by the Federal Government. Food quality is monitored at the school level through the head teachers, the Parent Teachers Association, PTA, and the State monitoring teams.
“11 States have so far indicated their readiness to commence the school feeding programme having met FG’s set criteria.
“The progress so far recorded with the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the N-Power Teach for unemployed graduates, the Conditional Cash Transfer for the poorest, and the GEEP underscores the Buhari Presidency’s commitment to the plight of poor Nigerians and unemployed youths in the country.
“Efforts to ramp-up all the schemes are in top gear currently”, it said.

January 31, 2017
Buhari not in London hospital, says Presidency

The Presidency yesterday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari is hale and hearty.

It declared that President Buhari is neither receiving treatment nor in an hospital in London, where he has been holidaying.

Looters are behind the death rumours, it added and denied that governors are sending a delegation to see the president.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina told CNBC Africa that speculations on the President being critically ill heightened following his vacation trip to the United Kingdom last week Thursday.

He described the rumoured hospitalisation of the President as a figment of the people’s imagination.

He said: “The President is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill.

“When he was travelling last week the statement we put out was that he was going on vacation and during the vacation he would do routine medical check-up and nothing has changed from what we pushed out last week.

“If anybody has fed something else into the rumour mill that is just what it is ‘rumour’”, Adesina said.

He also said it was at the discretion of the President to choose whether to talk to Nigerians from the UK or not.

“The fact that he is a president, he still has his rights. Compelling him to come out and talk will be infringing on his rights.

“The President will talk if he wishes to if he doesn’t wish to, nobody will compel him to talk.

“The truth is that the President is on vacation and he has given a date on which he will return to work,’’ he stated.

Presidential Political Adviser Babafemi Ojudu also yesterday accused looters and those at the receiving end of the president’s clean-up of the mess created in the past, of being behind the romour.

Ojudu, speaking on a radio programme, said: “Certainly government is not distracted about this and ordinarily we would not have responded to it but when a lot of people started calling to find out the truth, that was why we responded to it.

“I just suspected mischief makers, people who do not wish the government well. You know when you are fighting corruption, it fights back. All manner of things on the internet against the government it is not proper and it is been done everyday. They attribute fake quotations to people and I think it should be stopped.

“I think some people are bent on destroying the country. That is what I can see from this entire thing. An elderly man, the president of the country went on vacation and he announced it to the country and while on vacation he felt it is right to have a medical checkup. There is no crisis of any kind and no body is putting anybody on pressure there was no meeting of governors in Abuja, so where are they getting it from? Governors cannot meet in secret not to talk of coming to put pressure on the Vice President to resign. It is so ridiculous and unthinkable.

“A lot of people are miss-informing Nigerians. I see thing issue coming from the angle of people who are asked to answer questions as to what they have done with the nation’s resources. They are the ones who want the government to collapse so that they can be free to go and enjoy their loot. They are the ones doing this. It is not about anybody within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“If they have any evidence to show that it is people within the APC that are behind this let them come out with it. Some people are also thinking that the President and Vice President should be fighting over what? No. The two of them are responsible, patriot and they are carrying out their duties according to the constitution.

“You know those who are under going trial, you know those whose properties were seized due to corrupt practices. You know those who have been making all kinds of fake allegation against the president and members of his family. They set-up groups who are employed and paid to go on social media to be issuing falsehood and they register in all kind of names. The security agencies will go after them and bring them to trial.

“President Muhammadu Buhari on vacation has the time to rest, have his breakfast and the company of his children and grand children.”

Minister of Information Alhaji lai Mohammed denied that a delegation of governors were on the way to London to see the president.

Speaking when he received members of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative’s Sub Committee on Economic Development, Mohammed said: “I want to say categorically and emphatically that there is no iota of truth in this. Governors are not meeting here in Abuja because there is no need for it and there is no plan to send any emissary to London to see the President. Again, I want to say that the President is hale and hearty in London, where he is observing his 10-day vacation,” he said.

January 27, 2017
‘Presidency shouldn’t be reduced to tribal contest’

A human rights activist, social commentator and community leader in Anambra State, Comrade Bonny Okonkwo, in this interview with JOSEPH JIBUEZE, speaks on developments in the Southeast, agitations by the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and Igbo presidency, but he cautions that the presidency should be determined by noble considerations rather than ethnic sentiments. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the state of the Southeast in terms of development and the governors’ performance?

In terms of development, there is not much to sing about, unfortunately. If you go to Aba, for instance, the once wonderful city has now become a dumping ground, a “garbage site”. Generally speaking, if one compares the performance of the sitting governors to that of their predecessors, it may be easy to point a finger and accuse them of doing nothing. But we have to remember that their predecessors served under better economic conditions and even then did not do that much for their constituents. The present economic doldrums with the attendant recession do not make matters any better. Sadly too, there are some chronic non-performers and a lot still remains to be done in the areas of security and pension management.

How would you assess the Buhari administration so far?

As far as fighting corruption goes, there have been some positive developments. However, there are other equally serious problems assailing this country such as the status of the economy and the escalating insecurity that the government has done nothing about. It is estimated that about 180 million Nigerians are living in abject poverty and fear of being killed as there is no proper security system in place. Look at the mass killings in Kaduna and other parts of the country. The majority of Nigerians are hungry and angry. We have never had it this bad in the history of this country. The President is yet to fulfill his campaign promises. President Buhari seems to me to carry only sectional interests. Just look at all his government appointments so far and tell me if they truly encompass any Federal character.

What do you make of attacks and killing of IPOB members by security agencies?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with IPOB members celebrating Trump’s inauguration. Russians celebrated the inauguration and we did not hear of anyone getting killed. There were even massive anti-Trump protests in Washington DC; the protesters caused a lot of damage to property yet no one was reportedly killed. But in Nigeria where IPOB members had a peaceful rally they were killed in numbers. So why kill your own people? This is one of the reasons why IPOB continues to draw sympathy even from those who do not support their activities. I do not think that killing IPOB members is helping either the image of the president or that of the country as a democracy.

There have been calls for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. What is your take?

My only wish is for peace to reign in every region of this country. Proper constitutional means should be put in place where all regional problems will be properly addressed instead of allowing the issues to ignite national disaffection which is a threat to the unity of this country.

Are you in support of the agitation for Biafra?

Once a foundation is faulty, any structure built on it will collapse. Britain was given a choice to stay or leave the European Union. We can also do the same in Nigeria. Freedom, referendum, resources control and self-determination are not a crime anywhere in the world.

What is your assessment of your governor Obiano’s administration so far?

From my personal assessment, the milestones achieved by our present governor are a continuation of the success recorded by his predecessor and therefore should not be abated by some disgruntled elements. Hence, his second tenure is guaranteed because his records so far speak for themselves.

Why did you write an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari?

Yes, I wrote an open letter to His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, to draw his attention to the atrocities committed by some political job seekers who are of no consequence and only seek to score cheap popularity with the attendant self-aggrandizement.

You have always fought against injustice, which has led to your being detained severally. What drives you?

I’m a born human rights activist who stands for justice. I was born to do this and will use my last drop of blood to fight against injustice irrespective of the attendant consequences. I won cases at the lower court but one is on appeal. I am however hopeful that the burden of proof which I have reasonably discharged will not be truncated at the appellate court. The other cases are yet to be decided or concluded. I’m hopefully that I will win.

Do you see an Igbo man ever being president of Nigeria?

Nothing is cast in stone. Situations and circumstances change every day. We have more than enough capable brains in Igboland and who knows, an Igbo man may become president of this country one of these days. But we really shouldn’t reduce the country’s most important seat to a tribal contest. Now, more than ever, Nigeria needs a visionary and a mover. Whether he’s Igbo or otherwise is of secondary importance.

An oil magnate, Emeka Okwuosa, is building a mega farm which is expected to employ between 15,000 and 100,000 direct and indirect workers. As an associate of his, what does this portend for the state’s development?

Emeka Okwuosa is an Oraifite man and among very few that has not compromised their integrity in any way. Known as “Agha”, Okwuosa is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the following companies: Oilserve Limited, which has wide ranging activities in the Niger Delta, across Nigeria and other African countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Benin Republic and Togo); Frazimex Engineering Limited; Frazoil Exploration And Production (E & P) Limited; Frazpower Limited; Crown Energy Resources Ltd and Ekcel Farms Limited, which is an industrial farming establishment that is structured to farm and develop Cassava and Tomato products for both local and export purposes. The total land area to be utilised is above 2,800 hectares and the $120m project is expected to employ thousands of workers.

How has he contributed to the development of your town?

Emeka is also the founder of Sir Chukwuemeka Okwuosa Foundation. Through this foundation, Emeka has built roads in Oraifite worth above N600million, provided scholarships to the less privileged, sponsored Ocean-Anaedo Medical Missions, ODU programs and feed-the-poor programs. He built the Oraifite Town Hall in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, valued above N120million at the current exchange rate. This is just to mention a few, because Dr. Okwuosa is a man of many achievements. In the history of Oraifite, his record remains unchallenged. However, his most endearing quality is his simplicity. He is very unassuming, does not make noise about his wealth or connections and has never used his wealth to oppress anyone in our community. I’m happy to be associated with such a man. The man in simple language is a First Class gentleman.

Do you think more people should make such investments?

Yes, of course! People should emulate him and make similar domestic investments because the government cannot do everything. I am using this medium to appeal to our wealthy men and women including those that looted the treasury of this nation to invest at home so that our unemployed youth can have employment.

It is very unlike you to speak glowingly about anyone. What happened?

If you have been following my write-ups, you ought to know that I’m not a sycophant. I don’t know how to sugarcoat issues; I call a spade a spade. Emeka Okwuosa is playing a positive role in society through his efforts to alleviate poverty and also to wipe out oppression, intimidation, illegality and harassment by one lawless illiterate and his charlatans. Dr. Emeka’s actions speak for themselves and he has so far been a good role model for our young people. Nigeria needs more people like him. I appreciate him because I am yet to hear that he has used his position or wealth to intimidate or oppress anyone, or that he has defrauded any organisation or institution be it in Nigeria or beyond.

January 27, 2017
Buhari not in London hospital – Presidency

The Presidency on Thursday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is not receiving treatment in any London hospital.

It also insisted that the President is not ill and only in London on vacation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made the clarification in a live interview programme on CNBC Africa.

Speculations on the President being critically ill with an undisclosed sickness that may lead to death have heightened following his trip to the United Kingdom last Thursday.

According to Adesina, the rumoured hospitalization of the President was a figment of people’s imaginations.

He said: “The President is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill.

“When he was travelling last week the statement we put out was that he was going on vacation and during the vacation he would do routine medical check-up and nothing has changed from what we pushed out last week.

“If anybody has fed something else into the rumour mill that is just what it is rumour.”

He also said the President can use his discretion on whether to talk to Nigerians from the UK or not.

Adesina added: “The fact that he is a President, he still has his rights. Compelling him to come out and talk will be infringing on his rights.

“The President will talk if he wishes to and if he doesn’t wish to, nobody will compel him to talk.

“The truth is that the President is on vacation and he has given a date he will return to work.”

January 26, 2017