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Tag: protest

  • Abia APGA berates protest over Appeal Court’s ruling

    Abia APGA berates protest over Appeal Court’s ruling

    •‘It is a rape of democracy’

    Chairman of the Abia State All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)  Rev. Augustine Ehiemere has berated last weekend’s protest against the Appeal Court’s sack of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. He described the protest as the handiwork of the enemies of the state.

    Angry protesters from Abia South, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and others, on Saturday marched on the streets to protest the Appeal Court ruling which overturned Ikpeazu’s election and declared Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliace (APGA) winner.

    Ehiemere accused the Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) government of recruiting street urchins to foment trouble by blocking some roads “just to create a false impression that the people were unhappy with the Court of Appeal judgment.”

    He described the protest as inconsequential, saying “the protest further exposes the sponsors as the enemies of the good people of Abia.”

    He called on security agencies to take steps to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

    “The judgment has ended the era of looting and restored the people’s hope that our children will graduate and get befitting jobs rather than engage in ‘keke’ business; that our schools and hospitals would be equipped and that our public water schemes would function again,” he said.

    Ehiemere urged the people to resist being used by disgruntled elements to foment crisis in pursuant of their selfish interest.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the ruling.

    A statement by the Southeast National Vice Chairman, Austin Akobundu described the verdict as a rape, not only to democracy, but an affront to the rule of law.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the reckless display of judicial ineptitude and partiality on the Abia governorship election by a supposedly court of superior jurisdiction

    “In as much as we agree it is their jurisdiction to upturn judgments by lower courts; is it not constitutionally right and legally expedient for them to give judgments based on the rule of law, promotion and enhancement of democracy?

    “We are appalled that the Appeal Court, supposedly manned by men of high jurisprudence would wittingly decide to disenfranchise majority of Abia electorate, three councils in all, in an effort to give victory to Alex Otti and APGA, a victory they didn’t get at the election.

    “Even when the judges had the option of ordering a rerun so that Alex Otti and APGA could once more test their popularity at the polls, they chose to award undeserved victory to him.

    “PDP Southeast rejects the judgment and therefore, appeals to the learned and seasoned men at the Supreme Court to reverse it without delay. We call on Abia electorate to remain calm, resolute and prayerful until our revered Justices at the Supreme Court, which has been the last hope of the common man, consolidate what you freely expressed in April 2015.”

  • El-Zakzaky’s followers protest in Minna

    El-Zakzaky’s followers protest in Minna

    Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Niger State at the weekend protested the detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, by security agents.

    The leader (Amirul) in Minna, the Niger State capital, Mallam Ibrahim Khalid Mohammed, addressing followers at the Central Mosque, called for the release of their leader, “who is known for peace and peaceful co-existence.”

    He said the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a non-government organisation, established 37 years ago, was a peaceful group.

    He said El-Zakzaky should be released with bodies of members held by security agents.

    Mohammed described demolition of homes of their leader and followers as unconstitutional, undemocratic and a violation of their rights.

    He said they were not afraid of death because they had a right to live.

    Mohammed stressed that they would protest until their leader and bodies of their colleagues were released for burial.

  • NUPENG to protest sack in NNPC

    NUPENG to protest sack in NNPC

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to resist the move by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sack its 1,100 workers.

    Its President, Comrade Igwe Achese, who spoke  in Lagos, said it was embarrassing that the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu would sack workers at the corporation without consulting NUPENG and PENGASSAN – the two unions in the oil and gas sector.

    He said: “The unbundling of the firm into four companies and intended restructuring should not have anything to do with sack of workers. We call on the management of the NNPC to tread with caution and jettison its plans on the impending sack of 1,100 workers of the corporation.”

    He said the union cannot fold its arms and watch its members who had served for years to be thrown into the employment market because of the inconsistent policies of the government.

    He advised the Federal Government to convene a major stakeholders’meeting to x-ray the challenges facing the sector and proffer solutions, rather than chasing the shadows.

    Achese said the policy of the NNPC to engage casual workers is illegal and that it should be condemned.

    The impending retrenchment would be counter productive, he said, adding that its members would protest the action if the two oil unions were not consulted.

  • Task Force officials protest over unpaid salaries

    Task Force officials protest over unpaid salaries

    Federal Task Force (FTF) under the Presidency has protested the non-payment of its members’ three years salaries and allowances.

    During the protest tagged Black Christmas Coffin at the Kuwait Field in Egbeda, Lagos, over the weekend, the officials, in black, urged the government to consider their plight. The men were hired by the defunct Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to assist the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in protecting some infrastructure.

    Their fate became uncertain following the present administration’s scrapping of SURE-P, which was created by the Jonathan administration.

    Expressing solidarity with the 51,000 affected officials, a rights activist, Darlington Ajitemisan, put up a bizarre show when he emerged from a coffin.

    FTF National Commandant Moses Garuba said his men were recruited and trained in 2012, adding that they have yet to receive a kobo.

    “We are crying out to the world, to come to our aid. We were asked to go that we would be called back but till date, nothing has been done. We want our salaries, allowances and job continuity. We are ready to assist the Federal Government on high way traffic and emergency on waterways. I appeal with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; we are not a threat to him because we also want change,” he said.

    An officer, Edward Oriafoh, said 98 per cent of FTF officers are graduates, adding that they have the energy to serve the country.

    He said: “If one takes a look at the economy now, don’t be surprised to see a graduate working as a load carrier. It hasn’t been easy. We have to engage in menial jobs to cater for our family needs. We will have to sustain the home.”

    Another Officer, Nkem Chiekwe, said it hasn’t been easy for her, adding: “I have been recruited, trained and employed for three years but I haven’t received a kobo. I am a mother of four and it hasn’t been easy. Which child would understand that his/her parent is poor. If not for the grace of God, I don’t know where I would be. It’s not just me, many women are being humiliated. During the course of training, many lost their pregnancy. Many were thrown out of their matrimonial homes. Many lost their children.

    “A colleague of mine, during training, lost her 11 year old son and since then, she has been traumatised. There is no money to even pay her hospital bill. It has been pathetic.”

    Ajitemisan said: “The FTF officials are property of the government. They were duly employed and are being owed for three years. They shouldn’t be forced to join armed robber. This is a black Christmas for them. They are asking for their three years allowances. Will there really be change or a beginning of a revolution?”

  • Bayelsa: Youths, women protest cancellation of election results

    Bayelsa: Youths, women protest cancellation of election results

    Tension gripped Bayelsa State Wednesday after thousands of Youths barricaded major roads in Yenagoa, the state capital, to protest the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The youths who demanded the immediate sacking of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagir, also called for the urgent release of the Southern Ijaw Election results.

    The youths, who chanted songs in solidarity, said the REC erred for cancelling an election that had been conducted with results collated and pasted in various wards.

    Scores of physically-challenged persons on wheelchairs also joined the protest which was peacefully coordinated by armed riot policemen.

    On Monday while the results of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was being awaited at the State Collation Centre in Yenagoa, Kpagir announced that the election in the council which was conducted on Sunday had been cancelled.

    Election in Southern Ijaw was shifted from Saturday to Sunday because of widespread violence but Kpagir waited till Monday to announce its cancellation citing violence, hijacking of electoral materials and other irregularities.

    But the youths who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wondered why Kpagir isolated Southern Ijaw for cancellation while ignoring other areas such as Ekeremor,  Nembe, and Yenagoa that witnessed similar irregularities.

    The aggrieved protesters led by APC stalwarts and some members of the party’s state executive council carried placards with inscriptions such as,  “INEC should declare Southern Ijaw results now” ; Ijaw People reject and say no to dictatorial and draconian policies of Governor Seriake Dickson; “the INEC REC in Bayelsa should be sacked” and “Bayelsa reject the cancellation of Southern Ijaw”.

    The protesters took off in the morning from the APC state secretariat at Yenizu-egene and marched through the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road.

    They later diverted to Imgbi Road and headed for the INEC office located along Swali Road where they were received by INEC officials.

    The demonstrators who carried flags of the APC and other materials of the party sang songs of victory saying but for Kpagir’s decision, their candidate and former Governor Timipre Sylva would have won the election.

    On sighting mammoth crowd of protesters, security operatives deployed around INEC premises took their positions while an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) moved towards the crowd to stop at the entrance of the road leading to the office.

    Policemen with shields bounced out and barricaded the road while a Police officer who spoke with the aid of a sound system demanded the reasons behind the demonstration.

    The leader of the protest, Mr. Famous Daumenighe said the youths had come to deliver a message to the commission in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    He thanked Bayelsa State for joining the protest and said the action was a struggle for equity and justice.

    He said: “INEC has conducted election in Southern Ijaw and the results had been collated in all the ward levels. Even the returning officer said they were waiting for the results from Southern Ijaw.  But the REC for the reasons best known to him was in a hurry to cancel an election that had taken place.

    “If the Returning Officer had cancelled the election, there wouldn’t have been a problem.  But the REC by his action had shown that he is bias.  If southern Ijaw is to be cancelled then other councils like Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe and Yenagoa which witnessed large scale violence should also be cancelled.”

    He warned Ijaw youths from Delta and other neighboring States who were allegedly brought in as thugs to disrupt the election to stay away from the state.

    Other speakers said the protest would continue until INEC declares the Southern Ijaw results.

    But Kpagir who was represented by INEC’s Head, Operation, Mr. Victor O. thanked the APC members for conducting their action peacefully.

    Victor was flanked by other INEC officials and security operatives including observers from the African Union (AU), Christian Victor, and International Republican Institute, Mrs. Ben Udensi, said the REC was in Abuja adding that the directive to cancel the election was beyond them.

    Earlier, hundreds of women and youths from Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State Wednesday, took to the streets demanding cancellation of the election in the area.

    They said the election in the capital city was marred by irregularities and inconsistencies in the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to them INEC officials refused to listen to the complaints of voters and agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They said the overall results were not a reflection of the results announced by the Collation officer in the council.

    The State Youth Leader of the APC, Edison Sorgwe and a Chieftain of the Party, Alawei Opukeme-Jonah, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved voters , said the result announced by the INEC’s collation officer were inconsistent with the number of rejected and cancelled votes.

    They said the same cases of ballot box snatching, irregularities and violence which INEC relied upon to cancel the election in Southern Ijaw also played out in Yenagoa and should be depended on to annul the election in the capital city.

    They said over eight members of the party were nursing their wounds in various hospitals after sustaining attacks from political thugs.

    “We have lost confidence in the ability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barton Kpagih to conduct election. We are against the cancellation of Southern Ijaw Local Government election,” he said.

     

  • OOU lecturers protest unpaid salary

    OOU lecturers protest unpaid salary

    Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) teachers yesterday marched on the Itamerin-Igan Road in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

    They were protesting under-funding of the institution and non-payment of their 16-month arrears by the government.

    The lecturers decried poor funding, infrastructural decay, empty laboratories and libraries as well as increasing salary arrears owed them.

    Protesting under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), OOU Branch, the lecturers said they had wrritten to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the Governing Council and the management.

    They carried placards, some of which read: “Governor Amosun should properly fund OOU. It is a statutory responsibility”; “Funding OOU should be made a first line charge. It is the first among equals”; “Depending on IGR to fund OOU is an act of gross irresponsibility on the part of state government”; “Education is not a commercial venture, it is a social investment” and “Amosun, don’t destroy the little consolidation Saburi has achieved through TETFUND”, among others.

    ASUU Chairman Dr. Deji Agboola said the lecturers might embark on an indefinite strike since the government would not reason with them.

    Agboola said the strike would be “total, comprehensive and indefinite”.

    He said their demands included reversal of the precarious funding situation at OOU and taking over of the payment of full staff salary to free the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for academic and infrastructural development.

    The ASUU chairman also said the lecturers wanted an end to the quality decline at OOU by instituting a reliable funding structure and release of fund for Earned Academic Allowances.

    His words: “One prominent way in which the government has been cutting back on funding is the non-payment of full salary of staff and removal from subvention head.

    “We have written several letters to the council and the Visitor to this effect. Public education is a social good.

    “Government currently pays about half of the full salary of staff at OOU. To make matters worse, the so-called salaries are placed under the  subvention heading; a misleading heading which could be misinterpreted as grant meant for research and development of the university.

    “Government also pretends that it does not know that this half of full salaries of staff is the subvention sent to the university. In short, the government has failed to send the supposed subvention to the university for 16 months. What a shame,” Agboola said.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, could not be reached for comments.

    But Governor Ibikunle Amosun had said there was no magic his administration could do now about the funding challenges of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    At the stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital, in respect of the 2016 budget, Amosun said when the state’s financial fortunes improves, he would address the needs of tertiary education.

  • ‘Protest against Oshiomhole funded by PDP’

    ‘Protest against Oshiomhole funded by PDP’

    Comrade Godwin Erhahon is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview with OSAGIE OTABOR, he says the rift between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his predecessor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, will not pave the way for electoral victory for the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP) in future elections. 

    People have been protesting against the policy of Governor Oshiomhole…

    On the Land Use Charge, we noticed that some politicians particularly the PDP that has lost in this state because of their woeful performance are doing things with very satanic intentions and motives. They are the ones instigating people and our people are being misinformed. Majority of those protesting in the streets are tenants and children of the poor whose parents are staying in the exempt areas and those in the densely populated areas. On the issue of the school fees, I understand the pains most parents are going through because of the level of poverty in the country. We want to ensure there is quality education in this state. Instead of protesting, they should have look for ways to meet at a middle course. They should have seen how it would be reduced but not for the old rate to be maintained.

    Should Oshiomhole apologise to Chief Igbinedion as being proposed by protesters?

    I refused to comment on that issue. I believed that when there are issue between two prominent citizens in this state, I was supplied to play a mediating role. The issue came from the governor on the platform of my party and Chief Igbinedion against whom such statements were made is a man of high esteem. I will not want to fuel any crisis between the two of them. I believe there is room for reconciliation.

    The PDP accused Oshiomhole of being corrupt and that he has not lived up to the people’s expectation.

    When the PDP says the governor is corrupt, what the average Edo man understand by that statement is that the governor is not sharing the money as they are used to. When they say the Governor Oshiomhole not lived up to expectation, it is because the governor has not abandon the people or the projects as they did. Any such assessment by the PDP as a party to have any meaning there need to be a comparative analysis such that when PDP was seven years old in government, this is what they did. They should point any roads or schools built by the PDP. In the absence of this, the PDP can only be seen as protesting against progress. It is possible that if the PDP has done a little of what Oshiomhole is doing, they would not have been losing elections in the state. They don’t want to see anything good in what we are doing but they have been rejected. I assure you that the PDP will never take over this state again. They will only make noise before elections.

    Some women wore red to protest which signify danger. Will it affect the fortunes of your party?

    How many of the women wore red? They said red signifies danger. The danger is first on the body that worn it. If all those wearing red attire survive the danger is it those who saw it that would be affected? They are the ones who have endanger their souls be wearing a uniform that portend danger. It is from them and for them.

    Lucky Igbinedion appeared ready to oust the APC from the state, following his reply to Governor Oshiomhole….

    Lucky Igbinedion knows that is impossible. When he had some minute integrity in the state, he could not have won election without rigging. This time around that the image is totally down, there is no way he can come out to campaign. Rigging is no longer possible here because PDP has not won any election in this state. I am not taking sides in the issue of the probe threat from the Governor to Igbinedion. I don’t have the details .How prepared is your party for next year’s elections?

    The road project we suspended because of the rains are being flagged off again. We are not prepared to join the PDP on the street. The PDP are noise makers. They don’t know what to do to impress the people other than just telling lies or making wide allegations. On our part, we are serving the people. Inspite of some women protesting, don’t you see the crowd on the street when Oshiomhole went out. Did Lucky Igbinedion came out on the street for the eight years he was a governor. The people know their own and their enemies. There is no way the PDP will perform better than they did in the last election.

    Are the various protests and voices not a threat to your party’s fortune?

    They have a right to complain. We are not saying there are no pockets of opposition or political enemies because they are coming out as enemies by trying to be violent and virulent. I assure that it is aloud. We will not be happy if we don’t have people challenging us. We are interested in ruling the state not conquering opposition. From all they say good or bad, we find some useful information from what they said. They are enemies of progress. They hate development. You saw how women were shedding tears of joy when the governor visited Queen Ede reclamation work. The women said they have been salvaged. PDP was sad that the people are happy. Their regime was that of a sadist and capitalist. They don’t want anybody to be happy. PDP cannot be happy with the Second East Circular road being constructed now. When we see them crying, we will know that we are doing well. The only way to test it was for us to step out like the governor did yesterday.

    Many people are of the opinion that the Igbinedions brought Oshiomhole to power. They said the Igbinedions are capable of routing the APC from power.

    I don’t know what they meant by that. I will like to hear details of how they brought Oshiomhole to power. I can remember that in 2007, Lucky Igbinedion raised the hand of Professor Osunbor and said the AC was a like an air conditioner without a compressor. If that was a way of campaigning for the AC, I don’t know. Let them speak out that they gave Oshiomhole so so money to campaign and get power. Let them say they were able to work against the PDP then. If they brought him to power, it means they never liked PDP. What has now attracted them back to the PDP. Let them be the one to say so, people should not just assumed. They should not believe in rumor. Let those who did the bringing to power speak out.

    Are they capable of routing the APC?

    How many are they. It they go out to bring out 300 women, how will that make them win. The way they are coming out is an indication of the number of votes they will get. When Pastor Ize-Iyamu left, they said the APC has collapsed but we are still strong. we have not less than 200 members in every Ward. Those protesting now are less than five percent of voters. Our concern is that the PDP should not misled our people. They should not play on the people’s intelligence. They are using the people against what is good for the people. Some of the women protesting do not know why they are protesting. Ask them what Oshiomhole said about Chief Igbinedion, they cannot tell you other than they said the man is abusing Chief. They cannot tell you what Oshiomhole specifically said. I am careful because of what I represent in this state.

    The PDP said they can now compare Oshiomhole to Lucky in terms of failures and achievements.

    They should show Edo people what Lucky did. For the first time I was sarcastic when those women said Oshiomhole has done nothing in Benin except his hometown, Iyamho. I wondered how somebody could be blind to what is visible to the people in Benin City. Is it every governor that can be unpatriotic and irresponsible enough to abandon his home like the Igbinedion government abandon the road to Okada. Oshiomhole said Lucky awarded the Iguobazuwa-Okada contract to his younger brother, Bright  and that the contract was not performed. Till today, that road has not been done. People are dying there regularly. Students are endangered because of the bad road. Some women are now talking about the governor that took care of others and his hometown. If I were a governor, I will not abandon my village. As I take care of other places, my coming to power must be a blessing to my people. You cannot be a governor and cannot tar the road to your community. After you have left, you are now begging successive governments to do the roads.

    Why is that the APC is doing enough to inform the people about government policies?

    The state government is doing that but the PDP is playing politics of envy. We don’t want to join them in the mud. The government has come out with the details of its policies and they are on it. If the PDP as a party is shouting, we will not join issues with them. They once quarrelled that the Edo YES staff should be removed from the street because they were not working. After we stopped them to enable us screen them, they turned around to say we have sacked people unjustly. People are not fools. The PDP is a party is self contradiction. I advise the electorate not to disappoint God who gave them sights. They will be disappointing God when they say the good road they passed to protest is not good. If they go naked to protest in pretending they are blind and God said to let them go permanently naked, they will run mad. We pray it does not happen to them.

    Lucky said your party should point to one industry created in the last seven years.

    For  Lucky to say so, he should have hold a product of one of the industries he established. That is the proper way to say it. Even if it is a fruit juice bottle already processed, he will hold it and say this product is from an industry I establish while I was there and in that industry we are having 1500 staff there, Oshiomhole should show his own. Until he does that and them people will confirm. Let Lucky show the product of the industries he established.

     

  • ‘Protest against Oshiomhole funded by PDP’

    ‘Protest against Oshiomhole funded by PDP’

    Comrade Godwin Erhahon is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview with OSAGIE OTABOR, he says the rift between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his predecessor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, will not pave the way for electoral victory for the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP) in future elections. 

    People have been protesting against the policy of Governor Oshiomhole…

    On the Land Use Charge, we noticed that some politicians particularly the PDP that has lost in this state because of their woeful performance are doing things with very satanic intentions and motives. They are the ones instigating people and our people are being misinformed. Majority of those protesting in the streets are tenants and children of the poor whose parents are staying in the exempt areas and those in the densely populated areas. On the issue of the school fees, I understand the pains most parents are going through because of the level of poverty in the country. We want to ensure there is quality education in this state. Instead of protesting, they should have look for ways to meet at a middle course. They should have seen how it would be reduced but not for the old rate to be maintained.

    Should Oshiomhole apologise to Chief Igbinedion as being proposed by protesters?

    I refused to comment on that issue. I believed that when there are issue between two prominent citizens in this state, I was supplied to play a mediating role. The issue came from the governor on the platform of my party and Chief Igbinedion against whom such statements were made is a man of high esteem. I will not want to fuel any crisis between the two of them. I believe there is room for reconciliation.

    The PDP accused Oshiomhole of being corrupt and that he has not lived up to the people’s expectation.

    When the PDP says the governor is corrupt, what the average Edo man understand by that statement is that the governor is not sharing the money as they are used to. When they say the Governor Oshiomhole not lived up to expectation, it is because the governor has not abandon the people or the projects as they did. Any such assessment by the PDP as a party to have any meaning there need to be a comparative analysis such that when PDP was seven years old in government, this is what they did. They should point any roads or schools built by the PDP. In the absence of this, the PDP can only be seen as protesting against progress. It is possible that if the PDP has done a little of what Oshiomhole is doing, they would not have been losing elections in the state. They don’t want to see anything good in what we are doing but they have been rejected. I assure you that the PDP will never take over this state again. They will only make noise before elections.

    Some women wore red to protest which signify danger. Will it affect the fortunes of your party?

    How many of the women wore red? They said red signifies danger. The danger is first on the body that worn it. If all those wearing red attire survive the danger is it those who saw it that would be affected? They are the ones who have endanger their souls be wearing a uniform that portend danger. It is from them and for them.

    Lucky Igbinedion appeared ready to oust the APC from the state, following his reply to Governor Oshiomhole….

    Lucky Igbinedion knows that is impossible. When he had some minute integrity in the state, he could not have won election without rigging. This time around that the image is totally down, there is no way he can come out to campaign. Rigging is no longer possible here because PDP has not won any election in this state. I am not taking sides in the issue of the probe threat from the Governor to Igbinedion. I don’t have the details .How prepared is your party for next year’s elections?

    The road project we suspended because of the rains are being flagged off again. We are not prepared to join the PDP on the street. The PDP are noise makers. They don’t know what to do to impress the people other than just telling lies or making wide allegations. On our part, we are serving the people. Inspite of some women protesting, don’t you see the crowd on the street when Oshiomhole went out. Did Lucky Igbinedion came out on the street for the eight years he was a governor. The people know their own and their enemies. There is no way the PDP will perform better than they did in the last election.

    Are the various protests and voices not a threat to your party’s fortune?

    They have a right to complain. We are not saying there are no pockets of opposition or political enemies because they are coming out as enemies by trying to be violent and virulent. I assure that it is aloud. We will not be happy if we don’t have people challenging us. We are interested in ruling the state not conquering opposition. From all they say good or bad, we find some useful information from what they said. They are enemies of progress. They hate development. You saw how women were shedding tears of joy when the governor visited Queen Ede reclamation work. The women said they have been salvaged. PDP was sad that the people are happy. Their regime was that of a sadist and capitalist. They don’t want anybody to be happy. PDP cannot be happy with the Second East Circular road being constructed now. When we see them crying, we will know that we are doing well. The only way to test it was for us to step out like the governor did yesterday.

    Many people are of the opinion that the Igbinedions brought Oshiomhole to power. They said the Igbinedions are capable of routing the APC from power.

    I don’t know what they meant by that. I will like to hear details of how they brought Oshiomhole to power. I can remember that in 2007, Lucky Igbinedion raised the hand of Professor Osunbor and said the AC was a like an air conditioner without a compressor. If that was a way of campaigning for the AC, I don’t know. Let them speak out that they gave Oshiomhole so so money to campaign and get power. Let them say they were able to work against the PDP then. If they brought him to power, it means they never liked PDP. What has now attracted them back to the PDP. Let them be the one to say so, people should not just assumed. They should not believe in rumor. Let those who did the bringing to power speak out.

    Are they capable of routing the APC?

    How many are they. It they go out to bring out 300 women, how will that make them win. The way they are coming out is an indication of the number of votes they will get. When Pastor Ize-Iyamu left, they said the APC has collapsed but we are still strong. we have not less than 200 members in every Ward. Those protesting now are less than five percent of voters. Our concern is that the PDP should not misled our people. They should not play on the people’s intelligence. They are using the people against what is good for the people. Some of the women protesting do not know why they are protesting. Ask them what Oshiomhole said about Chief Igbinedion, they cannot tell you other than they said the man is abusing Chief. They cannot tell you what Oshiomhole specifically said. I am careful because of what I represent in this state.

    The PDP said they can now compare Oshiomhole to Lucky in terms of failures and achievements.

    They should show Edo people what Lucky did. For the first time I was sarcastic when those women said Oshiomhole has done nothing in Benin except his hometown, Iyamho. I wondered how somebody could be blind to what is visible to the people in Benin City. Is it every governor that can be unpatriotic and irresponsible enough to abandon his home like the Igbinedion government abandon the road to Okada. Oshiomhole said Lucky awarded the Iguobazuwa-Okada contract to his younger brother, Bright  and that the contract was not performed. Till today, that road has not been done. People are dying there regularly. Students are endangered because of the bad road. Some women are now talking about the governor that took care of others and his hometown. If I were a governor, I will not abandon my village. As I take care of other places, my coming to power must be a blessing to my people. You cannot be a governor and cannot tar the road to your community. After you have left, you are now begging successive governments to do the roads.

    Why is that the APC is doing enough to inform the people about government policies?

    The state government is doing that but the PDP is playing politics of envy. We don’t want to join them in the mud. The government has come out with the details of its policies and they are on it. If the PDP as a party is shouting, we will not join issues with them. They once quarrelled that the Edo YES staff should be removed from the street because they were not working. After we stopped them to enable us screen them, they turned around to say we have sacked people unjustly. People are not fools. The PDP is a party is self contradiction. I advise the electorate not to disappoint God who gave them sights. They will be disappointing God when they say the good road they passed to protest is not good. If they go naked to protest in pretending they are blind and God said to let them go permanently naked, they will run mad. We pray it does not happen to them.

    Lucky said your party should point to one industry created in the last seven years.

    For  Lucky to say so, he should have hold a product of one of the industries he established. That is the proper way to say it. Even if it is a fruit juice bottle already processed, he will hold it and say this product is from an industry I establish while I was there and in that industry we are having 1500 staff there, Oshiomhole should show his own. Until he does that and them people will confirm. Let Lucky show the product of the industries he established.

  • Police arrest four MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Police arrest four MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Four members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were in the early hours of Friday arrested by policemen attached to Ebonyi State police command.

    The members who engaged in a peaceful protest along some streets in Abakaliki including Vanco junction were seen carrying placards, flags of the group and chanting songs of solidarity.

    The development caused pandemonium within the state capital as keke operators and vehicles belonging to private individuals were diverted other adjoining streets to avoid significant disruption of economic activities in the state.

    Police spokesman in the State, ASP George Okafor confirmed the arrest of the MASSOB members.

    He threatened that the police in the state would not allow the group to gain any influence over the state as the command was prepared for any showdown with MASSOB.

    So far, relative peace has since returned to the state capital as security operatives have been positioned at different strategic points to clampdown on the activities of MASSOB in the state.

  • Kogi: Protesting women besiege INEC office

    Kogi: Protesting women besiege INEC office

    Scores of women protesting the declaration of the November 21 Kogi governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission as inconclusive yesterday laid siege at the commission’s head office in Lokoja, vowing not to vacate the place until INEC put things right.

    Decked in black apparel, the placards carrying women sat strategically at the entrance of the INEC office, while a detachment of policemen from the nearby state police headquarters kept close watch to forestall breakdown of peace, because of the already tense situation occasioned by the ‘inconclusive’ poll.

    The women many of who brought along with them garri, water and other edibles, accused INEC of plunging Kogi State into political turmoil and uncertainty, by declaring the victory of the duo of Prince Abubakar Audu and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, of the All progressives Congress (APC), inconclusive.

    One of the protesters, Mrs. Folashade Joseph said INEC created the problem and must hasten to solve it.

    Her words: “We are here to register a protest about INEC’s declaration that the election was inconclusive, and to let them know that they are the ones that have created this problem now.

    “INEC wants to deliberately set Kogi on fire, for reasons best known to them.

    “We have over 2,400 polling units in Kogi State. We do not understand why INEC will say election inconclusive; in 91 polling units that had issues according to INEC, the registered voters are only 49,000, out of the over 500,000 people that that voted in Kogi State, and out of this 49,000, only 28,000 have PVC to vote, which means the votes expected cannot be more than 28,000.

    “APC is leading with over 41,000,   which shows that the party was victorious in the election and INEC should have clearly declared the election concluded and announced APC winner.

    “INEC has treated Kogi State very unfairly and is responsible for this various factions that has come up in APC. The election they intend to conduct is a mere waste of time and resources.

    “We are going to sit out here till INEC reverses it decision by doing the right thing and announce Audu/Faleke won; they won for APC, they have a joint ticket.

    “We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians and the president who is our father, to wade in, so that the right thing can be done.”

    Mrs. Olabisi Sunshine, another of the protesters said; “We have already done election. We want INEC to release our result; Audu/Faleke mandate, the result that they have already is utright win for their APC candidacy.”