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Tag: Victor Ochei

  • Ex-Delta Speaker  Ochei endorsed  for NTF Presidency

    Ex-Delta Speaker  Ochei endorsed  for NTF Presidency

    By Daniel Oyekan

    Stakeholders in Nigerian tennis have welcomed the decision of former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, to contest for the position of President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), describing it as a “step in the right direction” for the sport’s revival.

    Ochei, who was recently nominated by the National Sports Commission (NSC) as the Sponsorship/Philanthropy representative on the board of the federation, has reportedly yielded to pressure from stakeholders and enthusiasts to run for the top seat in the forthcoming NTF elections slated for Saturday in Abuja.

    The NSC has consistently emphasized its goal of “returning Nigeria to its glorious days in global sports,” maintaining that only individuals of proven integrity and capacity would be endorsed to lead national sports federations. Officials at the Commission are said to be engaging personalities who have made visible contributions to sports growth in the country to ensure that the next phase of leadership brings sustainable impact.

    According to reports, Ochei a businessman and long-time tennis patron fits this profile perfectly. For more than half a decade, he has invested over ₦200 million in sponsoring the annual Davnotch Open Tennis Championship, one of the most consistent tournaments on the local tennis calendar.

    Speaking on the stakeholders’ choice, Caleb Tsav, one of the leading voices within the tennis community, said the group’s support for Ochei stemmed from his track record of consistent investment and genuine passion for the sport.

     “It’s time we got it right with tennis. We have resolved to follow this process from nomination to election to avoid the mistakes of the past,” Tsav said. “The question we’re asking every contestant is simple — what have you done for tennis to qualify you for leadership on the board? Ochei has answered that with his actions.”

    He further described Ochei as a “sports philanthropist with an unshakable affinity for tennis,” noting that his passion extends beyond the court.

    “He’s an Audemars Piguet Ambassador who has attended all four global tennis Grand Slams for over a decade,” Tsav added. “He’s also sponsored the Onicha-Olona Unity Cup for five years and constructed the Donald Ochei Mini-Stadium in his hometown, Onicha-Olona, in Delta State  a feat that deserves emulation.”

    Read Also: NFF  hails Tinubu’s  unflinching support for Nigerian football

    Beyond Ochei’s individual aspiration, stakeholders are also advocating for the inclusion of former Nigerian tennis icons Nduka Odizor, David Imonitie, and Sadiq Abdullahi on the federation’s board. The move, they believe, will help blend experience, vision, and technical depth in steering Nigerian tennis toward international relevance.

    For many within the sport, Ochei’s emergence offers a new sense of hope after years of stagnation. His deep involvement in both grassroots and professional tennis, stakeholders argue, positions him as a figure capable of bridging administrative experience with passion-driven sports development.

    Tsav concluded by emphasizing that leadership in sports federations must prioritize both competence and genuine commitment.

     “We must elect those who understand the game, have affinity for it, and can attract sponsorship. These are the catalysts that will take Nigerian sports back to its global prominence,” he said.

    With the NTF elections fast approaching, the spotlight now turns to Abuja, where tennis enthusiasts await a decision that could redefine the sport’s direction in Nigeria and possibly restore its long-lost glory.

  • Ochei: PDP can’t retain power in Delta

    DELTA State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Victor Ochei has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot retain power in the state.

    He spoke at Ughelli during an interactive session with the APC faithful in Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency.

    According to him, “no previous administration in the state has so depleted our commonwealth as this Okowa”s.

    Ochei said it is disheartening that the Okowa administration has inflicted unimaginable hardship on Deltans by scrapping some programmes as the Edu Marshall, Free Maternal Care,, Free Education and selling off Delta Line, the state transport company where over three thousand workers were rendered jobless.

    The aspirant urged party supporters to ensure that this form of governance boosted adding that the first step towards accompplishig the task is to choose him (Ochei) as the APC gubernatorial flagbearer in Delta State.

     

  • Delta APC elects new chairman

    Former Deputy Chairman, Delta State, All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Cyril Ogodor on Monday emerged as the state chairman of the party at a congress which  held in Asaba- the State’ s capital.

    The congress which held at the play ground of the temporary site of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, was peaceful.

    Ogodor polled 731 votes to defeat Mr. Fred Obe who polled 99 votes in the delegates’ election.

    The other positions were returned unopposed through voice affirmation.

    The congress was conducted by a five-member committee from the national secretariat of the party. Members of the committee include Eugene Odoh (chairman), John Dabwan (secretary), Jonathan Jibril, Ibrahim Nagogo and Mezia Linus (members).

    Meanwhile, the incumbent state chairman, Jones Erue retained his seat at a parallel congress conducted weekend by the Gbenga Obadara-led committee at St. Mulumba College, Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba.

    The new chairman, Mr. Ogodor extended olive branch to his opponents as well as those of the faction led by Senator Obie Omo-Agege, saying that now was the time to unite the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Leader of the party in the state, O’tega Emerhor who addressed newsmen at Monday’s exercise described it as the authentic congress, saying that the presence of party chieftains testified to it.

    Read Also: Delta APC and re-alignment of forces

    His words, “I am here, Victor Ochei, Cairo Ojougboh, Hyacinth Enuha, Pat Utomi is on his way, Dr. Leroy, we are here. The minister, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu would have been here but he travelled.

    “We cannot afford the bickering and division among ourselves. After today’s congress, we will reach out to others who feel aggrieved because we have the People Democratic Party (PDP) as a common enemy in the 2019 general election to contend with.

    “But one thing is that anything outside this exercise is null and void. You can see the democratic process as conducted by the assigned committee from Abuja and witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

  • Lagos wins 4th Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball tourney

    Lagos wins 4th Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball tourney

    • Agbesanwa hails team

    Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) Ayodele Agbesanwa expressed happiness over the Team Lagos Wheelchair Basketball victory in the finals of the 4th Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

    Speaking at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, on Saturday, after the Tope Ogunkoya led Team Lagos 39-34 points win over their Team Oyo counterparts, Agbesawa commended team’s fighting spirit in the course of the match, stating that Lagos remains one of the leading sporting states in the country.

    He revealed  Governor  Akinwunmi Amode led government plans to use sports and tourism to drive youths empowerment and job creations,  saying the Commission will continue to support all the sporting associations in the state, working closely with them in bringing  glory to the State.

    “LSSC is working gradually in bringing Lagos back the glory and to make it one of the sport leading states in the country”, he noted.

  • ‘I’m still in Delta governorship race’

    ‘I’m still in Delta governorship race’

    Former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei has denied dropping out of the governorship race.

    In a telephone interview yesterday, Ochei said he was determined to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship ticket.

    Ochei, who is on a tour of the 25 local government areas to drum up support for his ambition, said: “I am in the race. My removal as Speaker did not dampen my moral as far as the quest for the governorship ticket of my party, the PDP, is concerned. I am meeting with my supporters and political leaders across the state. I have what it takes to govern the state. I never dropped out as was being speculated when I was removed as Speaker. I am strongly running for the governorship.”

     

  • Why I resigned, by Ochei

    Why I resigned, by Ochei

    Former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Victor Ochei said he resigned to pave the way for a new leadership.

    In a letter to the Deputy Speaker, Basil Ganagana, Ochei said he hoped the new leadership would take the House to a higher level.

    He said: “I wish to thank those who made my tour of duty a pleasant affair. To you, I remain grateful for the love and camaraderie we shared.”

    Ochei prayed that God avails his successor and the House of the human sagacity in accentuating the core ideals of the legislature as a partner in governance for a better society.

    The former Speaker was sworn in on June 6, 2011.

     

  • Delta Assembly gets new Speaker

    Delta Assembly gets new Speaker

    SPEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly Victor Ochei, who resigned on Monday, has been replaced by Peter Onwusanyi (Oshimili South), who was unanimously elected.

    Onwusanyi is the former Deputy Majority Whip.

    Majority leader Monday Igbuya (Sapele) moved that Ochei’s resignation be accepted for further consideration. He was seconded by Benjamin Essien (Isoko South 1).

    The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Daniel Mayuku, opposed the manner Igbuya phrased his motion.

    He said the motion should reflect a debate for acceptance rather than a debate for further consideration.

    Johnson Erijo (Isoko South 11) moved the motion that a new Speaker be elected.

    He was supported by Sam Obi.

    Ochei was accused of high-handedness and lack of transparency, especially in the use of funds and execution of projects.

    It was learnt his woes might not be unconnected with his governorship ambition.

    The Nation gathered those who clamoured for Ochei’s removal were targeting at whittling his influence, adding the executive was uneasy with his leadership.

     

  • N35b IPP ‘fraud’: Delta Speaker exonerates self

    N35b IPP ‘fraud’: Delta Speaker exonerates self

    Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Victor Ochei has exonerated himself from the allegation of fraud rocking the state’s Independent Power Plant (IPP) project.

    About N27 billion was alleged to be missing from the money earmarked for the project and the Speaker was fingered.

    Ochei, who spoke to The Nation in Asaba yesterday, said he would be vindicated.

    Ochei explained that although he was no longer involved in the project , he was sure that the project had reached an advance stage.

    He decried the speculation that the project site was overgrown with weeds.

    According to him, the speculation was to discredit the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, whose blueprint for the development of the state had impacted positively on the people.

    He said: “I challenge members of the fourth estate of the realm to visit the project site and then come back to ask me questions.

    “This is a governor who is doing selfless services for the state.

    ”His three-point agenda and ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ policy has taken the state to the next level .

    “Yet, some disgrunted people, who are blind to what is good, are dissipating their energy on campaign of calumny against Uduaghan.”

    He said time would vindicate him in the allegation that he embezzled IPP funds.

    “People should not expect a project of such magnitude to be completed within a short time.

    “Such projects should not be politicised. It takes time, resources and energy to complete. By the time the project comes on, facts will speak for themselves.”

  • Ghana, Benin arrive as competition begins today

    By Akeem Lawal

     

    Ghana, Benin Republic Wheelchair Basketball national teams have arrived for the 3rd edition of the Sir Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship which gets underway today at the Indoor Sports hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    The teams joined eighteen others from all over the country to make twenty teams fighting for the five million naira (N5m) price money at stake.

    The president, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Bukola Olopade disclosed that Togo and two other wheelchair basketball teams from Togo and Ghana are having immigration issues at the boarder but that the federation through the National Sports Commission (NSC) are handling the matter. He assured that they will join their counterpart latest today before their first game in the afternoon. He also disclosed that the South African team are expected to arrive today for the championship.

    While speaking with SportingLife on the championship been sponsored by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, the WBFN technical director Obrien Tamuno, having assured of the readiness of the technical officials said he expects stiff competition from the participating teams noting that the championship would be used to select players for the senior national and under-23 teams, ahead of the international championship later in the year.

    He said: “We are ready and want to assure the participating teams that the officials are ready and that there will be fair officiating during the matches because we have taken them through seminars and clinics in order to be abreast of modern day rules guiding the game.”

     

  • Ex-teacher praises Delta Speaker

    Former Head Teacher of St. Thomas’ College, Kano Rev. Fr Thomas Treacy has said he foresaw great potentials in his former students, Victor Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

    The Irish priest, who made this observation during an unscheduled visit to the Speaker, said young Ochei showed great potentials in academic and leadership obligations.

    He said: “Ochei was a fine student. I knew that he was going places. I am happy that he has attained this height in the society.

    The Speaker thanked his former instructor, whom he described as a man who always stood for impacting sterling qualities into students of the institution