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Tag: re-elected

  • Why some Nigerians don’t want Buhari re-elected – Amaechi

    •Only court can reject APC candidates list

    The Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said yesterday that some Nigerians are opposed to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, because he will not agree to share public funds for personal use.

    But he was confident that given the President’s “impressive performance” in the last three and a half years, the majority of the electorate would vote for him next year, in order to continue with his developmental strides and empowerment of the people.

    Amaechi, who is also the Minister for Transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state and the Southsouth zone, insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not rejected the list of APC’s candidates from Rivers state for 2019 polls.

    Only the court can do that, he said while presenting a book: “The Niger Delta Paradox: Impoverished in the Midst of Abundance,” written by Monsignor John Wangbu, a Catholic Priest.

    The well-attended event, which was chaired by the immediate Rivers Chairman of APC, Chief Davies Ikanya; also had in attendance the deputy governorship candidate of APC in Rivers, Chief Victor Giadom; the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof Henry Ugboma; a member of Rivers House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor; and Prof. Walter Ihejirika of UNIPORT, among other eminent personalities.

    The transportation minister, when accosted by reporters after the book presentation to comment on the latest developments in Rivers chapter of APC and the way forward, decided to be circumspect.

    His exchange with reporters went thus:

    What is the way forward for Rivers APC?

    Amaechi: “I am not the Chairman of APC.”

    What of INEC’s rejection of the list of candidates of Rivers APC for 2019 general elections?

    “I am not INEC, but does INEC have that power? It is only the court that can say that and there is nothing like that before INEC.

    What is your reaction to the directive of APC’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that fresh congresses be conducted in Rivers State?

    “I do not know what you are taLking about. I have to see the chairman (of APC).”

    The transportation minister, during the book presentation, said that the problem of Nigeria was not leadership, but followership, stressing that Nigerians must produce what they eat.

    He stated that emphasis must be placed on accountability and consequences for actions taken/punishment for wrongdoings, in order to sanitise the system and have the hope of a better Nigeria.

    Amaechi said: “Why some persons are saying they will not vote for President Buhari next year is because the money available, instead of sharing it, we are working with it for development across Nigeria. If you see a disciplined person like President Buhari, who is saying we cannot continue like this and be sharing money, we need to support him.

    “We need to produce what we eat. Imagine Nigeria importing tomatoes and meat. Before, Nigeria was importing 500,000 eggs per day from South Africa. We are now producing our tomatoes and rice. We have reduced the importation of chicken and eggs.

    “Niger Deltans are impoverished by themselves. The Ogoni man who broke crude oil pipe, is he not aware that there will be environmental crisis? The Ikwerre man who stops the man who is producing crude oil in one of Ikwerre communities, did he remember how much it costs the Federal Government and the Nigerian nation and the loss incurred for the number of days of stoppage of oil production?

    “The private individual in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, who went to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to collect money. Did he think that the money he collected belonged to Agip? If the money belonged to Agip, he would not be given. The money he collected actually belonged to the Niger Delta. Our agitation is in private pockets.

    “Calculate how much has come to Rivers State, including my administration, and look at the volume of development that has come out of the money, and see whether we are making progress. I am not saying the Federal Government is treating us in the Niger Delta well, but the funds that we have managed to get, what have we done with them? Do not blame politicians, blame yourselves too. The problem is not leadership, but followership. We must ask the right questions. It should not be a land of anything goes.

    “A friend of mine was made the Minister for Environment and she wanted to take up the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for clean-up of the polluted Ogoni environment. She came to me and asked what she should do. In the Niger Delta, most people do not like development projects, but to share the money. I told her the first thing she would experience would be requests to share the money. I told her that if she smiled or laughed with the people, she would be in trouble. The first day she arrived, the people started demanding money, but she ignored them and she was successful.

     

     

    “The current people (in HYPREP) are having problems, because they are listening to the people. Me, I will not listen, but I will do what is in my mind. I only want to be judged by God and the society. I want to live, knowing that my conscience is clear and I have satisfied myself that I have done the right things. So that I can sleep freely. My conscience worries me a lot.”

    The transportation minister also said  that his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), initially made little efforts to fight kidnappings and killings in Rivers, when he (Wike) observed that President Buhari might declare a state of emergency in the state, in view of the criminal activities, which he said had continued till date and now taking a dangerous dimension.

    He noted that when he was Rivers governor, while people of the state would be sleeping at night, he and the then army commander in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt would be awake, driving round the state’s capital and chasing criminals in bulletproof cars

    He said his wife, Judith, was always complaining about his not sleeping in the night, but he one day decided to ask the then First Lady to join him for the night patrol and she saw criminals trying to shoot at them, she became scared and had to  return  home.

     

  • Why Buhari should be re-elected, by BOMG

    NIGERIANS have been urged to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari as he is the best candidate to take the country to greater heights.

    Buhari/Osinbajo Mandate Group (BOMG), Lagos State Chapter, made the call in Lagos at the weekend at a news conference..

    According to its coordinator, Yomi Oyedeko, an engineer, it is important to re-elect Buhari into power, as “continuity begets productivity”.

    Oyedeko said: “As a team, we are convinced about our candidates. We wish to express that we have resolved to mobilise registered voters in Lagos State and Nigeria to support the laudable aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “The administration since its assumption on May 29, 2015, has implemented many social economic and welfare programmes to the advantage and benefits of the downtrodden, one of which is social welfare and school feeding programmes. More importantly is the impact that the N10,000 trader money loans has created in the lives of the beneficiaries.

    Chairman of the Southeast Forum of the All Progressive Congress Chief Anslem Njoku said it is important for the zone to massively support Buhari, so that it would be realistic for the Southeast to attain power in 2023.

    He called on interest groups in the Southeast to give the present administration the opportunity to complete projects it began in Igboland.

    Arewa Group leader  Sheriff Abubakar Mohammed said the Arewa group is strongly behind the President.

  • Nigerians ‘ll enjoy 24-hour power supply if Buhari is re-elected, says Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said Nigerians will enjoy 24 hours electricity if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected.

    He said the Buhari administration has achieved a lot in security, road, war against corruption and so on.

    The minister, who spoke yesterday during an interactive session with the media, said the government was tackling killings associated with herdsmen,

    Commenting on why Buhari and the APC government deserved a second term, Amaechi said: “Nigerians have taught me a lesson I learnt in politics and that is why nothing bothers me again. The people praising you today, if you see them when you are out of power, you will be shocked. Those singing hallelujah and hosanna will still be the same people to shout crucify him tomorrow.

    “We have done much more than transport. In terms of corruption; this economy was a rent economy. Public money was spent anyhow and it was an economy that was not worked hard for. This is why you see politicians today very rich and one year after government, they are poor. They are like that because they don’t know how to manage the money.

    “When Buhari came, he said no and that we cannot continue to spend anyhow. Buhari has not said people should not steal; he has rather kept quiet to see who can steal because there is a consequence for stealing.

    “I don’t want to say it has stopped completely, but it has reduced. Before, there were many empty houses in Abuja. People were building and speculating that new politicians would come in and buy. But we came in, we could not buy because of the economy. So if you say Buhari has not done anything on corruption, you are being most unfair.

    “Also, the 2016 budget was six per cent capital, but we are doing 20 per cent capital now. We are doing 80 per cent recurrent and 20 per cent capital. We believe that in the next two to three years, we will get to 30 per cent capital and we will get there if we reduce the current expenditure and deal with wastages.”

    He continued: “It is also unfair if Nigerians think the Ministry of Works is not working. The road to Bonny was abandoned after Obasanjo left the government.

    “The contract sum for the road was below N39billion, but it is now N120billion. When I was governor, I wrote to the Federal Government under Jonathan that I wanted to do the road for N39billion, but they didn’t reply me.

    “My final year as governor, Energy wrote that they would take care of 50 per cent of the bill and I wrote again to the Federal Government, but they didn’t reply because I was in APC. Now that the Federal Government wants to do it, the cost is now N120billion.

    “So, Buhari government is dealing with corruption, building roads. The worst road in Nigeria used to be between Uyo and Calabar, but it has been awarded.

    “The road to Enugu too that people are complaining about, contractors are working on the road already. The work may be slow, but they are working. When we came, oil was $28 per barrel and our budget was $35 and suddenly it dropped, but the minister of Budget managed it for us to survive. Now oil is $74, but we still have not reached $110. If we get to that, things will change rapidly. Also, the Ilorin-Jebba road. Contracts for the construction of many roads have been awarded.

    “There is also an improvement in power. We have moved from 3000megawatt to 7000, but we are distributing 5000 because some of the infrastructures are not in good state. But we are fixing them.

    “The expectation is that it should be 24 hours power supply, but there will still be a gap. But if you give us a second term, that gap will be closed.”

    On insecurity, he said: “There is improvement in security. When the President promised security; he was looking at Boko Haram.  Boko Haram no longer have the power that they had then. Before we came, the situation was worse, churches were not safe, but now you can go to church freely and nearly all the security agencies that had special protection have reduced their protection gates because fears have reduced.

    “The threats, which used to envelope the North, have reduced and we are addressing the ones in Borno, unlike before where they would overrun villages and hoist their flags and say they owned the villages.

    “If you ask of our achievement, I think many people can attest to what we have done. People no longer go through rigorous searches before entering public places.”

  • Ogun: Amosun’s men re-elected ward chairmen

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday conducted its ward congresses in the 236 wards across Ogun State with majority of the wards chairmen, who were elected in 2014, unanimously returned unopposed.

    The Ward Congress Committee Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Sheriff, who coordinated the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

    In Ado – Odo – Ota Local Government Area of the state, which has 16 wards, the congress which began by 10am, finished in record time without hitches and 85 percent of the existing chairmen were re – elected.

    Same scenarios were obtained at the Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South Local Government, Ijebu – Ode Local Government, Ijebu – North Local Government and Obafemi – Owode Local Government Areas respectively, where the subsisting wards chairmen were unanimously returned unopposed.

    It was learnt that Governor Ibikunle Amosun directed that where there is consensus among party leaders about candidates seeking election into party executive offices, the affected candidates should be returned in a unanimous decision instead of resorting to time -consuming voting process.

    It was also gathered that there would be harmonization process too at the end of the day to accommodate people loyal to former governor, Aremo Segun Osoba.

    In about 48 hours to the congress, the Osoba group and that of Governor Ibikunle Amosun met in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at least three times to deliberate and strategize on how to work in unity and peace to ensure successful wards congress.

  • Fayose will go to jail after tenure – Fayemi

    • Gov borrowed N56bn in four years

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday vowed to jail Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, if reelected.

    He spoke during the declaration of intent to contest for Ekiti State governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Fayose, he stated, will be made to account for the gross mismanagement of the state’s resources and allocation in the last four years.

    Fayemi, who was governor between October 2010 and October 2014, shocked the crowd by bringing out a red card from his pocket which he symbolically showed to Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the red card is an answer to the White Paper issued against him by the Fayose regime which indicted him of financial impropriety and banned him from holding public office for ten years.

    Traffic was grounded for about four hours in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where a massive crow turned out to hear Fayemi speak on his readiness to win Ekiti for APC in the July 14 governorship poll.

    Fayemi said the state has retrogressed sharply in the last four years he left office saying his bid to run again was motivated by the need to “rescue Ekiti people from bad governance, want, hunger and poverty.”

    He lamented the suffering of teachers, state civil servants, local government workers, and pensioners who are being owed backlog of arrears of salaries, allowances and benefits.

    According to him, Fayose owes core civil servants six months, local government workers ten months, community health workers ten months; pensioners, ten months; teachers, ten months and students, bursaries of over three years.

    Fayemi said Governor Ayo Fayose has no excuse not to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners benefits having collected two tranches of bailout funds, two tranches of Paris Club refund cash and Budget Support Funds for thirteen months.

    He also disclosed that latest records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed Fayose has borrowed N56 billion since coming to power in October 2014 with nothing appreciable to show for it.

    Fayemi vowed that Fayose would be brought to justice at the end of his tenure on how he has managed all the funds received from the federal government on behalf of the state.

    The former governor was joined by his wife, Bisi; former deputy governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. Eniola Ajayi and other officials who served in his administration to the APC secretariat where he officially informed party leaders of his intent to run.

    After declaring at the secretariat, Fayemi and his train moved to the nearby Jonathan African Church Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti where he addressed another crowd waiting for him on his agenda for the state.

    He said all APC members who had joined the governorship race are eminently qualified to occupy the state’s number one seat saying anyone who emerges as the flag bearer would be supported by all.

    The minister declared that everything humanly, constitutionally and legally possible would be done to win Ekiti State for APC at the next governorship election.

    Fayemi said: “When I come before you, it is with profound need for the unfinished business, we need to complete what we started, reclaim our land and restore our land.

    “Anywhere Ekiti people go, people subject us to questions that what is wrong with you Ekiti people?

    “We thought you are educated, we thought you are exposed, how do you come up with a character like this as governor?

    “It is time to put a stop to that; it is not about title, it is about sacrifice and whatever it will take us to free Ekiti from these criminal and rapacious brigands, we will do it.

    “We are here to inform Ekiti people that we will never abandon them. We will never hesitate to leave the comfort of Abuja. It is high time to come home and help our vulnerable people.”

    He added: “We will do everything that is required to win Ekiti back. They will accuse us of using federal might.

    “Although power belongs to God and he gives it to whoever He wishes, we will use bottom power, middle power. That is why they are jittery.”

    He described the White Paper of the Fayose administration which

    indicted him of financial impropriety and recommended him for a ten-year ban from holding public office as an “ordinary tissue paper.”

    The minister said: “Every time I move around, I see the suffering and penury our people are going through. I saw their pain and pangs of not knowing where the next meal will come from.

    “That is why we must tell the man who is shouting around that he has a White Paper, we have a red card for him and his party. We will ensure that he will end up in jail.”

     

    Fayemi described Fayose as a “pathological liar” for claiming that the debt he (Fayemi) left behind was responsible for his (Fayose’s)

    inability to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners benefits as and when due.

     

    The ex-governor explained that he took a N25 billion bond from the Capital Market in December 2011 with which he executed capital projects adding that he had repaid N14.5 billion at the time he left office in October 2014.

    Dismissing the opposition’s claim that he hates workers and teachers, Fayemi stressed that workers enjoyed most during his administration when they enjoyed salary increase three times.

    Apart from this, he said workers were sponsored to local and overseas seminars, teachers got Core Subjects Allowance, Rural Teachers Allowance and no worker was sacked.

    To party members, Fayemi said: “Whoever wins the primary, we will all support him. Don’t run down any aspirant. Let us desist from hate speech because all aspirants are promoting our party.

    “Party members should not use abusive and intemperate language and I want to suggest to our party leaders to come out with a code of conduct to check this.

    “If we don’t do that, we run the risk of damaging our brand (APC). You are free to market your aspirant and leave the judgment to our delegates.

    “They (delegates) want our party back in power and we must respect their judgment. Any aspirant who does not respect the rule, I will take him as an agent who does not want the good of our party.

     

     

  • Adagunodo re-elected Osun PDP chairman

    •Faction boycotts, says congress one-sided

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State at its congress yesterday re-elected Olasoji Adagunodo as the chairman.

    Adagunodo and Dr. Bayo Faforiji were factional chairmen of PDP.

    Last Saturday, PDP organised local government and ward congresses across the state.

    While many leaders, including Senator Olu Alabi and the lawmaker representing Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke, described the exercise as successful, Dr. Bayo Faforiji, a factional chairman loyal to Senator Iyiola Omisore, said his group was not carried along.

    He said his faction did not participate in the congress because the electoral committee was “one-sided.”

    Party members and delegates, including prominent leaders yesterday thronged Osogbo City Stadium for the state congress where Adagunodo emerged as the chairman.

    In attendance were the former National Secretary, Prof. Wale Ladipo; ex-Deputy Governor and former Minister of State for Defence Erelu Olusola Obada; ex-Minister for Youth Development Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi; former National Deputy Chairman Shuaib Oyedokun and a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke.

    Others included former Secretary to the Osun State Government Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; Prince Ade Fadahunsi; ex-Chairman of the party in the state Gani Ola-Oluwa; former Speaker House of Assembly Adejare Bello; Senator Felix Ogunwale; House of Assembly members; Dipo Eluwole; a member of the House of Representatives, Albert Adeogun; Senator Olu Alabi; Nathaniel Oke SAN, among others.

    The national secretariat of the PDP sent Emmanuel Agbor to serve as the chairman, Electoral Committee of the congress.

    In his acceptance speech, the newly- elected chairman called on aggrieved members to support him in “rescuing the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    Adagunodo said: “Let me take this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to our fellow contestants, who also offered themselves for the service of our party in various positions.

    “I assure you that the fact that you lost in this election does not mean you are less competent to run the affairs of the party.

    “We shall ensure that no member suffers any form of discrimination on the basis of his or her previous affiliation during our crisis period. We shall, in word and in deed, show that truly, there are no victors and there are no vanquished.

    “PDP will by the grace of God provide the much needed rallying point for teachers, civil servants, doctors, farmers, students, pensioners and all the great people of Osun State, who have been impoverished by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in the last seven and a half years.

    “It is unimaginable that a governor who inherited an economically viable and socially stable state from the PDP on November 2010 has turned the state into the most heavily indebted state in Nigeria and one with the lowest sustainability index by 2018.

    “For members of other parties who have been indicating interest in joining the PDP, but were constrained by the crisis of the last two years, I want to tell you that the siege is now over and our doors are open for you to come and join us.”

    APC in Osun State has advised PDP to face its crisis and sort out itself.

    It said PDP should stop hallucinating on how to ‘wrest’ power from the ruling party.

    In a statement, the party through its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, said it was shameful that PDP could not conduct “an ordinary ward congress in unity,” adding that it could not stand in the way of the “progressive APC.”

    The statement reads: “In the last three years or so, PDP has embroiled in fractional leadership crisis, fighting over who should control the party, which has generated into having two secretariats up until now.

    “They are unserious and can’t rule over the good people of Osun who have been enjoying dividends of democracy over seven years now. Osun cannot afford to make a wrong decision because that will be inviting the evil that is waiting in the wings to destroy the glorious achievements that Osun has seen since 2010. The state has changed for the better.”

  • Why I’ll be re-elected in 2019, by Wike

    Why I’ll be re-elected in 2019, by Wike

    •APC: Rivers will vote out recklessness 

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has expressed optimism he will be reelected in 2019 should he choose to contest after consultation with elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the massive capital projects he has initiated across the 23 local government areas of the state will make him win with a wide margin in 2019.

    He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of not embarking on any development project in Rivers since he came on board on May 29, 2015.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, he further alleged, were working against the interest of the state.

    Wike spoke yesterday morning in almost 3-hour phone-in programme, Viewpoint on Rhythm 93.7 FM, Port Harcourt anchored by Pastor Segun Owolabi.

    But the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers, Chief Chris Finebone, countered Wike will be voted out come 2019 because of his recklessness.

    Wike said: “Seeking re-election in 2019 needs consultations. The people calling on me to run, I thank them for seeing what we have done. People are saying I have done well. People within and outside Rivers State acknowledge my impressive performance, which has attracted awards locally and internationally.

    “It is my right to contest in 2019 but I still need to consult the leadership of the party (PDP). We do our things in unique ways and everybody must be carried along.

    “This year’s council elections will help our party in 2019. There will be council elections in Rivers State in 2018, as it has already been budgeted for.

    “We will allow democracy to thrive. Unpopular candidates will not win. To win council election, the person must be popular, ready to perform and supported by the people at home.”

    On the controversial Oil Mining Lease (OML)-11 in Ogoniland, Wike urged the federal government to ensure peace in the area while focusing on clean-up of the polluted Ogoni environment as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its report of August 4, 2011.

     

  • Obiano re-elected Anambra governor

    Obiano re-elected Anambra governor

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has been reelected.

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate won in all the 21 local government councils.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer Prof. Zana Akpagu, the vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, announced the results of Saturday’s election, yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

    Thirty-six candidates contested the election

    Declaring the result in Awka Prof. Akpagu, said Obiano polled 234, 071 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr Tony Nwoye of All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 98, 752 votes.

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr Oseloka Obaze,came third with 70,293 votes.

    He said that the total valid votes cast at the poll was 422,314; total number of rejected votes, 26,457 while the total votes cast was 448,771 votes.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr Ukwachukwu Orji, commended the people of the state for exhibiting good behaviour, saying “no bloodshed was recorded”.

    “Let this election not divide the people of the state but bring you together,” he said

    Orji said Obiano would get his certificate of return from INEC on Wednesday.

    “We promised free, fair and credible poll and that is what we have fulfilled that,” he said.

    Obiano  said his victory belonged not to him or his party (APGA) but to all Anambra people.

    In his acceptance speech titled, ‘Time to Build a New World” he read from his country home in  Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government, the governor declared that “this sweet victory belongs to Ndi Anambra”.

    “It belongs to the wheelbarrow pushers and the okada riders who have clearly seen in our recent political experience, a glimmer of light in the horizon.

    “It belongs to the farmers in Ayamelum, Onono, Ogbaru, Omasi, Omor and Ufuma who have now realised that agriculture is the future of Nigeria.

    “It belongs to the teachers and civil servants who have seen that a motivated workforce is the greatest asset of any government.

    “It belongs to the illustrious sons and daughters of Anambra State who have seen the star of this great state rise in the Eastern Skies and have answered our call to  bring home their naira and dollars to put our dear state on the investment map.

    “This victory belongs to all of us. My dear people, this victory is not a winner takes it all.”

    Obiano  said “in the New Anambra of my dream, everyone is a winner.”

    He  urged other governorship candidates to join in building the new Anambra that the citizens would be proud of.

    “I say to you; my brothers, we have all fought a good fight, but Anambra State is the winner.

    “The interest of Anambra State is bigger than the private ambitions of anyone of us.

    “Our beloved state needs our talent and our time. The time to build a better place is now.

    He described the victory as “a referendum on the solid resolve of the people of Anambra to rise above average in all endeavours.

    “We have demonstrated that we are indeed capable of taking charge of our lives and making difficult decisions that will brighten the future of our children.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that we shall continue to lay the building blocks for a prosperous tomorrow for all.

    “This mandate is dear to my heart. I see it as a historic call to inspire my people to greatness. I see it as a call to deny myself sleep that my people might sleep better.

    “I will not give myself rest until our beloved state has fully assumed the status of the model state of Nigeria. This is my promise to you all.”

    He said the victory did not come by chance but the final product of the combined efforts of brilliant men and women who sacrificed their comfort to ensure that Anambra’s steady march to progress was not derailed.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for proving to the people of Anambra that under his watch, democracy would have deeper roots in Nigeria.

    “Mr President promised us a free and fair election. Today, we can all see that he has kept his promise.’’

    He thanked INEC for conducting a transparent election in Anambra, stressing that with this election, the commission had shown that it was prepared for the 2019 elections.

    Obiano commended the security operatives whose alertness ensured that the will of the people was not thwarted.

    The governor said “my team and I shall never fail you” and urged the people to prepare for the speedy transformation of Anambra into a prosperous sub-national entity in the next four years.

    “We have stepped into our finest hour. Our journey into greatness is now assured.

    “We are ready and willing to work with anyone who has something to share that will make Anambra State great.

    ‘’We are open to new ideas, new visions of society and a new hope,’’ he declared

  • Obiano ‘ll be re-elected, says Emecheta

    Obiano ‘ll be re-elected, says Emecheta

    Sir Jude Emecheta is the Chairman of ‘Governor Willie Obiano support group’ in Anambra state. In this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, he speaks on the governor’s second term ambition.

    The governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is facing many hurdles as the November 18 election draws near, especially the crisis in APGA. Why is it so?

    You are seeing hurdles, I’m not seeing any. I don’t see any APGA member against each other in this coming election in the state. I have always known that every election season, people who don’t want to contest election, but want money will always talk of frivolous black mail. If you don’t understand the system, you panic and try to give them money in order not to disrupt the system.

    Why has the national chairmanship of APGA suddenly become a hot cake?

    They want to be in a position to blackmail Obiano for money. If you don’t give me billions, I won’t give you the ticket. That is the slogan now. It has always been the Nigeria political system, that most aspirants would want to bribe the chairman for tickets.

    In the case of Obiano, APGA has concluded that he has no contestant and it happened in USA. If you are doing a good job, nobody will challenge you. Every member of APGA loves what Obiano is doing in Anambra State and will voluntarily vote for him without asking for a dime. But, they see that Dr. Victor Oye, is their stumbling block of not getting money from Obiano and that is the blackmail point.

    Even, if INEC comes to supervise the primary, the court will always tell you that the party chose who they want, but thank God, all their machinations will come to naught and I believe that the judicial system will not allow itself to be soiled.

    But, are you convinced that he has done well to deserve a second term?   Look at the issues as they are. It is not about being sycophantic. What was his vision for Anambra? Has it been tasted? I say yes and that is what the Federal government is trying to replicate at the federal level. Is he pursuing those visions? Yes.

    Agriculture remains the key to turning the economy around; it is not only exports. It is about having the raw materials available to produce those things that we import. Is he doing it? He is. He is supporting agriculture, disbursing the loans from the Federal government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the farmers with the help of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in training our youths at Mgbakwu for it. It is not about pumping money in agriculture, but building capacity for our young people.

    Those who live outside the state are clamouring to come back to join the agriculture revolution. That brings both employment and food to our people. Let me take the issue of MoU. Some people say he said he brought five billion dollar investment to Anambra. did he not?

    What I want to tackle on that issue is that I spoke with one of the technical people involved in the signing of the MoU, he told me that, when they wrote the proposal, dollar was hovering between 150 to 200 naira to a dollar and even in their proposal, they mapped out 250 naira, thinking about the depreciation. The naira could not get as bad as 250. And the time they signed the MoU with Anambra government in investment, 250 million dollars, the naira depreciated between 350 to 400 everything with a gap of a hundred naira to a dollar.

    They had to go back to the drawing board. the technical partners had gone back to their banks abroad that the naira had changed, and they had to draw another plan, and this led to giving a year gap by the foreign banks to ascertain if the naira would stabilize at a particular point. So that has held the MoU for being actualized though they had brought in the machinery into the country. He said those criticizing the MoU do not know what business is about.

    Is that the only reason why you think the people of Anambra should return him on November 18?

    Before the end of the year, the economy will stabilise, based on the forecasts of the World Bank, federal economic team and the CBN. So Willie Obiano, has done well in Anambra. The most important is that no place can develop without security and that is the biggest achievement of Obiano by chasing away criminals from Anambra.

    Another four years, Obiano will achieve the turnaround in Anambra state economically, so that generations to come will not need to go to Abuja capital in hand begging for money. Anambra state would have had a solid economic base from Agriculture, natural minerals, including mining.

    Is APGA not  afraid of the APC or the PDP or even the PPA during the election?

    We have seen them over the years. They always come with this storm. We respect APC, PDP because they have formidable forces in Anambra state, they also have the wherewithal to share as usual, but if they had done it over these years and Ndi Anambra still voted for APGA, this one will not be an exception because Obiano has improved so much on what Peter Obi left. So, APGA is not afraid or scared of anybody because they do not have anything to tell Anambra people.

    Federal government is groping today because of the mess left by the PDP and we have seen APC groping with numerous problems in their hands without knowing how to handle it. Also, our own brother in Imo state has not shown us any good example in governance. Therefore, if the people want to vote for good governance, APGA still stands the chance of nipping it on November 18.

  • Nigeria re-elected into UN Peacekeeping Committee

    Nigeria re-elected into UN Peacekeeping Committee

    Nigeria has been re-elected, for the 45th time, to chair the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, regarded as UN’s most strategic committee, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The UN Correspondent of NAN reports that Nigeria was re-elected in spite of some hesitations by some countries to let Nigeria continue to lead the most critical committee.

    Nigeria has chaired the special committee on peacekeeping operations from 1972 till date.

    Over the years, some Member States have covertly expressed their reservations over the rare honour accorded to Nigeria, especially in view of its declining participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

    The election was conducted by the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr Herve Ladsous and the Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary-General, Ms Maria Viotti.

    Nigeria was elected by acclamation.

    Others elected are: Argentina, First Vice Chair; Canada, Second Vice Chair; Japan, Third Vice Chair; Poland, Fourth Vice Chair; and Egypt, Rapporteur.

    NAN reports that Nigeria is the 14th largest troops contributing nation to UN Peacekeeping operations and eighth in Africa, according to the last data published by the UN Peacekeeping Department.

    The data showed that Nigeria contributed 2,170 peacekeeping personnel in 2016, made up of 403 policemen, 46 military experts and 1, 721 troops, out of which 232 were females.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after the election, congratulated Nigeria on its re-election as well as other members of the committee.

    “I offer best wishes to all the members of the Committee as you identify a way forward at this critical time for international peace and security.

    “Peacekeeping is a partnership in which  Member States deploy their political will, financial resources, military and police capabilities.

    “Above all, Member States put the lives of their citizens on the line to transform conflict into sustainable peace,” Guterres, represented by  Viotti, said.

    “As the nature of conflict changes and we face new challenges such as asymmetric threats, transnational crime and the expanding reach of terrorists and extremists, the structures and practices designed even 10 years ago are not always keeping pace.

    “The United Nations has to be more nimble, pragmatic and flexible in its ability to plan, launch and manage a more diverse range of operations,” the Secretary-General added.

    He urged the committee to consider carefully the recommendation of the 2015 peace and security review, echoed in Security Council resolution 2242, to surpass the current three per cent participation of women peacekeepers.

    On his part, Ladsous, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, stressed the need to adapt peacekeeping operations to the changing global context.

    After the re-election, Nigeria introduced two new paragraphs for adoption into the 2017 report.

    The first was on the impact of illicit financial flows on resource mobilization and sustainable development, with a call for a return of proceeds of such flows to their countries of origin.

    The second took note of the Donald Kaberuka report on potions for funding AU peace support operations authorized by the Security Council.

    The two texts were adopted alongside other major recommendations.

    The Special Committee was established by General Assembly resolution 2006 (XIX) of Feb. 18, 1965, to conduct a comprehensive review of all issues relating to peacekeeping.

    It is comprises 147 Member States, mostly past or current contributors to peacekeeping operations, while 14 other Member States, intergovernmental organizations and entities, including AU and Interpol are observers.