Urhobo News

Email your stories, press statement and photographs to henryebi@yahoo.com

September 1, 2022

Press Statement

…Charges Nigerians to Be Wary of APC’s Antics

Nigerians are scandalized over the disgraceful and hypocritical attempt by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC leaders to distance themselves from President Muhammadu Buhari over the abysmal failure of the Buhari-led administration in which they are principal actors.

In a desperate design to whitewash their battered public image, identifying with the obvious successes of the PDP and in an attempt to posture as statesmen, the APC Presidential Candidate, his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima and other APC leaders shamelessly orchestrated a photo opportunity with the distinguished and successful former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is a patriotic Nigerian leader whose PDP-led purposeful and successful government the APC leaders viciously harassed, constantly insulted, labelled, sabotaged and discredited for their selfish power-grabbing enterprise.

Nigerians have not forgotten how Asiwaju Tinubu callously vilified and pilloried Dr. Jonathan, spewed hate against his administration and reportedly funded a near riotous protest which was inflamed by concocted economic lies, propaganda and false statistics to discredit the Jonathan-led PDP administration.

Nigerians can equally recall how Sen. Shettima as governor of Borno State sabotaged and frustrated the Jonathan’s administration in its effort to curb insecurity in Borno State.

Records still have it on how the APC Vice Presidential candidate as governor of Borno State failed to act on a security report and directive to close schools in remote parts of Borno State and relocate students to the more secure capital of Maiduguri to write their GCE examinations; thus creating the opening for the cruel abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Nigerian will also note how the then Governor Shettima abdicated his duty as chief security officer and reportedly withheld vital security information in preference to non-state actors including terrorist elements, thereby frustrating the timely rescue of the abducted Chibok girls.

It can also be recalled that after the infamous abduction, the principal of the school was subsequently appointed as a commissioner in Borno State by the then Governor Shettima; a development many considered as a compensation for her alleged role in the abduction.

It is therefore ironic that these same APC leaders who also spent the last seven years insulting and harassing Dr. Jonathan now shamelessly arranged a visit and photo opportunity in an attempt to launder their image and hoodwink Nigerians from the atrocities and monumental evil they brought to our country.

It is indeed provocative that after turning our nation into a vast killing field by emboldening terrorist elements to massacre our citizens; wrecking our once robust economy, elevating corruption to an official state policy and turning our nation into the poverty capital of the world, APC leader are seeking to beguile Nigerians again.

We are aware that these APC leaders have lined up several illusory antics to mislead Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections, but they must know that Nigerians have moved on and cannot be swayed by propaganda, lies, false promises and photo ops with successful individuals.

What is expected of APC leaders at this moment is to apologize unreservedly to Dr. Jonathan, the PDP and Nigerians for the life-discounting situation they have foisted on our nation in the last seven years. After that they should quietly quit the stage, take valedictory pictures with terrorists, political thugs and election riggers since they cannot have any space among well-meaning Nigerians.

Signed:��

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

PRESIDENT BUHARI EXTOLS CHIEF EMMANUEL IWUANYANWU AT 80

President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with businessman, publisher and sports enthusiast, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu on his 80th birthday, September 4, 2022.

The President notes the contributions of the political leader to the social, economic and political development of the country, starting with a successful career in engineering that blossomed into conglomerates and daily cater for needs of Nigerians.

President Buhari applauds Chief Iwuanyanwu for his role in creating opportunities for the younger generation in entrepreneurship, sports and media, enabling many to discover their talents and pursue careers that have translated into recognitions and awards.

As the renowned businessman turns an octogenarian, the President affirms that his wisdom, particularly in advocating for a private sector driven economy, continues to pay off, while appreciating his philanthropy in education and health.

President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant Chief Iwuanyanwu longer life and good health.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 3, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

SANWO-OLU FLOATS AUTONOMOUS FINANCING CHANNEL FOR LAGOS’ TERTIARY SCHOOLS, SETS UP DEDICATED TRUST FUND

• Governor receives 322-page LASU Visitation Panel report

An autonomous funding mechanism that will keep all the three Lagos State’s tertiary institutions on the path of sustainability has just been initiated by the State Government.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, announced that the Government will be setting up Lagos State Tertiary Education Trust Fund, in a move that will creatively revolutionise the model for the funding of tertiary education in the country.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement when he received members of the Visitation Panel to the Lagos State University (LASU) led by the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Abdulrahman Bello, at the State House, Marina.

The panel, set up in November 2021, turned in a 322-page recommendations for the Governor’s implementation towards meeting the university’s contemporary needs in academic growth and physical development.

Sanwo-Olu said the need to create an independent funding channels for the State’s tertiary institutions became pertinent, given the nature of disputes characterising the national university system which had led to the perennial staff strikes and closure of campuses across the country.

Although none of the three tertiary institutions in Lagos is taking part in the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the Governor said the Fund would be a pragmatic strategy to meet the schools’ requirements.

The Governor directed the Attorney General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, and the Special Adviser on Education, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, to fashion out the statutory framework that will give legal approval to the Fund.

He said: “Now that we have three universities in Lagos, I believe there is a need for us to set up Lagos State Tertiary Education Trust Fund, which, in our view, will create a sustainable model and the funding that is required, both internally and externally, to strengthen academic research, learning and all that is necessary to keep these universities on track of their mission.

“This is an idea whose time has come at the appropriate period many schools are under closure due to industrial disputes. I am issuing the responsibility to Attorney General and Special Adviser on Education to create the legal framework for the birth of the Trust Fund. This will be another legacy initiative our Government is bringing to sustain education in our State. This will create a financial model that will ensure sustainability of these schools.”

Sanwo-Olu said the Trust Fund would create an additional funding source to the three universities, aside the monthly subventions and intervention funds from federal education agencies, including Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The Governor said the LASU Visitation Panel was set up to birth a new order of growth for the university ranked as the Second Best University in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, 2020.

After receiving the panel report, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government, in the next seven days, would constitute a committee that will dissect the recommendations. The committee, he said, is expected to come up with a White Paper that would ensure seamless implementation of the panel’s recommendations.

“It is delightful for me to know that the panel took on the responsibility graciously with all the commitment required. I thank the chairman and members for your dedication and efforts invested in this tough assignment. Today, you are turning in the report. I assure you that we will review and take all suggestions offered. Lagos will continue to be beacon of hope for the country in education,” the Governor said.

Prof. Bello said the panel, in the course of its sittings, interacted with all stakeholders of the university on the 11 terms of reference given to the panel.

The chairman said the panel received and considered 40 memoranda from ASUU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which contained 58 separate issues, adding that members also visited the three campuses of the university.

Prof. Bello said: “LASU has to be assisted and supported to maintain this status. The fine details of what would need to be done have been catalogued under each term of reference. These include issues with academic and infrastructural needs, as well as other consideration for the Government, from funding needs to amendments to the University Law to ensure good governance and peace.”

The panel, in its report, recommended the need to upgrade infrastructure in the Epe campus of LASU to meet the standards of the university.

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

01 SEPTEMBER 2022

THE BAR MUST REMAIN UNITED AND FOCUSED

Let me start by congratulating our Association for the largely successful annual conference held in Lagos. I must congratulate the immediate past leadership for the reawakening in the Bar. An especial mention must be made of the former President, Olumide Akpata, Esq, for providing courageous leadership at crucial moments. Posterity will remember the members of the Executive Committee, under his exemplary leadership, for good. The administration left an indelible mark which will be difficult to erase. The tenure was hugely successful.

I must thank the leadership of the Bar under Olumide Akpatas Esq. for the honour bestowed the foremost First female Senior Advocate in the country, Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, and my goodself, both prominent members of Egbe Amofin Odua, for naming a building each respectively after us for our modest contributions to the development of the Bar spanning several decades. We thank Olumide Akpata profusely, for this great honour and wish to also congratulate him for being able to take bold decisions for the benefit of members devoid of skewed partisanship and carrying members of the NEC with him. I enjoin the new leadership to tow this path of progress in the overall interest of the Bar.

I must also not fail, however, to condemn, in very strong terms, the growing tendencies which predispose members of our great association to act in manner considered very strange to the established tradition anchored on diffidence, respect and dignity. It is not for ordinariness that we are called learned. Our rigorous training, at various levels, culminating in the Call to join the club of eminence, the age-long reverence with which our professional forbears were treated, the enormous responsibilities imposed on us by the very circumstances of our emergence as learned gentlemen and the expectations of the generality of the people, leave us no option other than to uphold the practice of excellence.

I must appeal to all members of the Bar to embrace peace and continue to work for the progress of the association. We must avoid utterances which readily inflame passion and cause division among us. We must extend due courtesies to our members even when they are our children. Once a person is admitted to the fraternity of the learned, he becomes a colleague regardless of the age and circumstances of birth. Seniority is earned as well as respect. The tidal wave of reverence flows ceaselessly from the Bar to the Bench and the reverse course is assured once it hits the shore. No tempest should be strong enough to break this current of amity.

I have read several comments arising from the statement credited to my friend, brother and colleague, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN. I am acutely aware of the passion with which he pursues his conviction on any matter. I am sure that he will, at a reflective moment, agree with all colleagues and reasonable people that our immediate past president, though junior in age and length of membership of our great association, cannot be referred to as a boy biologically or otherwise.

As the President of our Association, he was the number one lawyer in the country without regard to the camp to which he belonged during the Bar elections, his religion, ethnicity and political affiliation. There are set rules for the executive leadership of the association. No elected member of the committee can act outside the scope permitted and envisioned. There are also established guidelines for redress in case of perceived infractions or infringement on the rights of persons or groups. The President of the Bar is primus inter pares.

May I also hasten to make some clarifications concerning our profession, not only for the benefit of our younger colleagues but, more importantly, members of the public who may be misled to imagine that the only aspect of the legal profession is litigation. This area of practice affords practitioners certain visibility especially when they are involved in election petitions and other political matters. This does not make those, who may not have enjoyed the privilege of retaining rich and politically exposed clientele, less intelligent or relevant in our profession.

There are many of our colleagues in the academia who attained prominence by the dint of seminal interventions in the areas of research. The opinions of these jurists have always had persuasive authority on the courts at various levels. Lawyers rely on these reasoned views. There are lawyers who are in the academia. Others are into the business of law publishing. Discounting their invaluable contributions while delimiting the scope of practice to litigation is, evidently, not a fair representation of what we do and who we are. We are deemed learned because we should know “something about everything, and everything about something”.

I beseech all our colleagues to shun all temptations to deepen this current misunderstanding in the interest of the association and, particularly, the people who look up to us for direction at crucial moments. My current engagement as the Governor of Ondo State has limited my participation, severely. I appeal to all senior members of the Bar to refrain from exacerbating the current situation. The Bar belongs not only to the professionals. The people of the country also lay claims to ownership deservedly. They cannot afford to have a divided and weakened Bar along ethnic or other divide.

While congratulating the immediate leadership of the Bar who to the best of their ability prosecuted our conviction with courage, I enjoin the present Executive to work, seriously, on the discontents which threaten to tear us apart. The judgement of history will be harsh on all those who engage in activities which lower rating in the estimation of reasonable and good people of our noble profession.

ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI O. AKEREDOLU, SAN

GOVERNOR, ONDO STATE

PRESIDENT, NBA, 2008-2010

LIFE BENCHER

PRESS STATEMENT

3rd September, 2022

IMA NIBORO’S ALARMING IGNORANCE OF PVC AND BVAS

Our attention was recently drawn to an article titled: “2023: DELTA APC CAMPAIGN ORG ACCUSES STATE GOVT OF COLLECTING PVC TO RIG ELECTION”, signed by Ima Niboro, Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, in which the Delta APC alleged the State Government is planning to compromise the 2023 elections in the State by illegally obtaining Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), from youths for a rural skills acquisition programme.

Again, we are constrained to deploy some very strong words to respond to this post and apologize to Deltans that in this day and age when technology has become the mainstay of our election, gothic and primordial creatures like Ima Niboro, who have completely lost touch with modern realities, will still display the idiocy and ignorance of raking up old fashioned excuses to justify the pecuniary subsidy of his verbose office.

Let us, for the benefit of educating and informing him and his hapless co-travelers in the APC, that since the last time they interacted with the civilized Community, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in the quest to improve the integrity of elections in Nigeria, has introduced what it called the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

Ima Niboro says in his childish write-up that: “There is no correlation between an applicant seeking skill acquisition and his PVC, as this only suggests that the PDP government is hellbent on rigging the forthcoming elections in the State”, and though he fails typically to explain how this will eventually translate into rigging the 2023 election, it is important however to school him properly on the new technology for the conduct of elections, which even his boss, the Deputy Senate President, was at the forefront of its adoption.

Upton Beal Sinclair, the American writer, and political activist notes succinctly, that “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it” and the great Albert Einstein, would further add that: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”. This is exactly the case with Ima Niboro.

Let us educate Ima Niboro further, with particular emphasis on his bone of contention which is the Permanent Voters Card, PVC, and how it is configured.

Discerning Nigerians who have followed the conduct of elections, especially since 2015, will confirm that in line with improvements in election conduct in the country, innovations in the Anti-Electoral Fraud Procedures (AEFP), compelled the need to embrace modern voting procedures and some of the technologies the INEC introduced in the past included Permanent Voter Card (PVC), which contains voters’ biometric information in an embedded microchip. It replaced the Temporary Voter Card that was used in the 2011 general election. It is also on record that the Commission deployed the electronic card readers with fingerprint scanners for the first time in the 2015 elections.

The card reader displayed the picture of the voter so that poll workers can visually establish the identity of the voter against the card, and allows for scanning of fingerprints to check voters’ fingerprints against the biometric information contained in the PVC.

Then came the Z-Pad, which the INEC used to conduct a few offseason elections and as at today, INEC has raised the bar higher by introducing what is referred to as Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

So, what is BVAS? How does it work? How is BVAS remarkably different from the Smart Card readers?

Quoting INEC, the BVAS captures three stages of the voting process: it acts as the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) during voter registration, it performs the voter accreditation on an election day, and also serves as INEC Results Viewing Device (IReV Device) to be used for election results upload on an election day. Incorporated into the INEC Voter Enrollment Device, the BVAS is said to combine fingerprint and facial authentication to ensure the true identity of a prospective voter.

Therefore, BVAS performs the functions of both the Smart Card Reader and Z-Pad, as it is designed to ensure fingerprint authentication during the accreditation of voters and eliminate any need for the filing of incident forms.

In other words, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) will ensure efficient human recognition through a biometric verification mechanism, using fingerprint and facial recognition of voters, which are all embedded in the microchip built into the PVC.

We have gone to great lengths to break down the way and manner the new technology that will be deployed for the 2023 election will operate. Against this backdrop therefore, how possible will it be for anybody including the APC, to even contemplate, not to talk of rigging the election, as Ima Niboro has wildly alleged?

Infact, it rankles the sensibilities of intelligent, logical Deltans that Ima Niboro, with all his exposure and experience, as former Presidential spokesperson and dismissed Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria, will descend so low as to allege such a crude, illiterate and loquacious accusation and we challenge him to please do us Deltans and Nigerians alike, a big favour, by educating us on exactly how the collection of PVC will aid and facilitate the rigging of the 2023 election. We wait to hear and we are quite sure that even he will be ashamed, of his foolish explanations, if he attempts it.

As for his allusion that: “Justification that the move is meant to collect the details of applicants falls flat on its face as there are other documents like National Identity card, Drivers Licence, International Passport that could equally serve the same purpose,” we are at a loss to fathom how a man who addresses himself as Director, Communications and Media Strategy,

Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, is totally and completely ignorant of the collective national importance, which has been given to the PVC, especially among the youth population, in recent times.

It is really not surprising that the likes of Ima Niboro, who are completely out of touch with the realities of the day, have not actually considered the fact that quite a sizable number of youths, particularly in the rural areas, may not have the need for a driver’s licence or an international passport, for obvious reasons.

He is also quite ignorant of the reality that the tedious and cumbersome nature involved in procuring the National Identity card or the International passport have even discouraged majority of urban inhabitants from those establishments, so one can only imagine how rural dwellers will feel, like fish out of water surely, in the quest to seek these documents of identification.

But the most worrisome and embarrassing oversight which Ima Niboro has exhibited, is his ignorance that INEC actually took the registration of voters exercise to the rural areas and set up offices and structures in every electoral Ward in the country, where rural youths and those of voting age actually went to register and filled in all their personal details, in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise.

And so, what other form of proper Identification would be better for a youth skills acquisition programme than the one in which every youth had the access and opportunity to be captured?

Beyond the very important fact that the PVC as a means of identification, will ensure that more rural youths will have the advantage and opportunity to participate in the skills acquisition programme, it also added further impetus, relevance, and urgency to the effort to ensure that those youths, who were hitherto reluctant or lukewarm towards the registration exercise, will now be greatly encouraged by the prospects of benefiting from what ownership of a PVC can bring and indeed by extension, be strongly motivated, to fully participate in the electoral process by voting for the party that will continue to deliver more dividends of democracy to them.

It is a crying shame that at this time when our leaders across all political divides in the country are consciously and passionately exploring avenues and initiatives to provide more operational platforms for youth engagement and empowerment and are also mobilizing youths for greater involvement and participation in the electoral process, the Media Director of a so called major political party, is raising puerile and kindergarten accusations over a programme that will be of immense benefit to our rural youths.

We are however very much aware that the APC has nothing to offer to the youths of Delta State and having been witnesses to the hugely successful results of the youth entrepreneurial and empowerment schemes like the STEP, YAGEP, and the PPSP amongst others, of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration, as well as the avalanche of published testimonies of those who have graduated from the programmes, they know that the only way to be relevant is to dredge up an obsolete media consultant, who also has nothing new to add to the old and tired allegations and negative propaganda, of a failed political party.

The incontrovertible truth remains that PDP is the only party that understands and is frontally and conscientiously addressing and proferring modern and tested solutions, to the present challenge of youth unemployment.

Of course we must add, for Ima Niboro’s information and chagrin, that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is taking this excellent model of youth engagement and empowerment, all the way to the Presidency as the next Vice President of Nigeria, where these initiatives will be replicated at the national level for the huge benefit of even more Delta and indeed Nigerian youths.

PDP is Delta and Delta is PDP.

PDP! Power to the people!!

Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza

State Publicity Secretary,

PDP, Delta State.

2023: It’ll take a miracle for Omo-Agege to win Delta guber – Aniagwu

Delta Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has said that contrary to claims in some quarters, Deputy President of the Senate and APC Governorship Candidate in the state had no hold on the state, saying it would take a miracle for him to win in the 2023 general election.

He said Omo-Agege’s woes were compounded by the massive failure of the APC at the centre to deliver on economy, security and management of the nation’s diversity.

Aniagwu stated this during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was very strong and popular in the state despite the current court tussle over the party’s guber candidacy.

He said that over the years the party had done quite well in the state having progressively won elections in all senatorial districts in the state.

According to him, the greatest disadvantage the APC has in Delta is not only the fact that Omo-Agege is not truly on ground but largely because of the very very ineffective performance of the APC at the National level.

“Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is someone i have immense respect for and he knows it because I can actually call him a senior friend because once in a while we interact.

“He has all the rights to contest but he knows that when it comes to Delta, that it will take a miracle for him running in the platform of the APC to be able to win because apart from the fact that Delta is almost synonymous with the PDP, the performance of Governor Okowa in the last seven and half years has dealt a very big blow to the APC.

“And the chances of APC in Delta has been further worsened by the abysmal performance of the APC at the National level especially in the area of the economy, education, security and their inability to manage our diversity.

“In 2019, they had federal might yet we taught them a lesson, a bitter one at that.

“In 2015, Okowa won 21 local government areas out of 25 and in 2019, inspite of their strength with Omo-Agege, Ogboru, Emerhor and all of them put together, Okowa won in 23 local government areas.

“He didn’t just win them in Delta North and Delta South, he went to their stronghold in Delta Central and won in 6 local government areas out of 8, and what that tells you is that the PDP has continued to expand and deepen its roots across the state,” Aniagwu added.

Aniagwu further remarked that the chances of the APC had been  further worsened by the very abysmal performance of the party at the national level especially in the area of the economy, education, security and their inability to manage our diversity which today is the greatest challenge in this country.

“People may talk about economy, security, education and devolution of powers, these things are very important but for me the most important thing is the management of our diversity because these other things are symptoms of the lack of management of our diversity.

“This has to a large extent weakened the trust which we had in our common heritage and that is what makes the Atiku-Okowa ticket very paramount because they will definitely unify the nation and bring it to the path of progressive growth,” he said.

On Atiku-Okowa’s inroads to Northern Nigeria, Aniagwu said that the return of Ibrahim Shekarau to the party was a good omen recalling that the former Kano State Governor had lots of influence in the state.

On David Edevbie challenging emergence of Oborevwori in court, the Delta Information Commissioner said the party does not begrudge him because it was his right to seek redress.

“When somebody feel aggrieved and decides to go to court to seek redress that is not a sharp disagreement, it is within their fundamental human rights to so do.

“One good thing about Edevbie’s case in court is that he’s not challenging the sanctity of the primary election that produced Sheriff Oborevwori as governorship candidate.

“He clearly admitted that the election was well conducted and that Oborevwori carried the day and what that tells you is that to a very large extent, the PDP in Delta was able to reason in one direction.

“He decided to raise other issues which is within his own rights as a contestant and those of us in PDP are not begrudging him for doing that.

“We believe that in the course of time he may either see reasons and decide not to proceed to the Supreme Court but even in the event that he proceeds to the Supreme Court, we will also not begrudge him because it is his right to so do.

“But at the end of the day the party will not just take part in the 2023 governorship election in Delta, but the party will work as one party to produce a Governor that will preside over the affairs of Delta under platform of the PDP.” Aniagwu stated.

PRESS RELEASE

1st September, 2022

FANI KAYODE’S TONGUE-IN-CHEEK RESPONSE TO OKOWA’S COMMENTS ON SHETTIMA AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Our attention has been drawn to a write-up by Chief Femi Fani Kayode, FFK, responding to His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice-Presidential Candidate’s comments on the unambiguous and unequivocal declaration by the All Progressives Congress APC, Vice-Presidential Candidate, that he will take over Security while Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be in charge of the Economy if they and the APC win the 2023 presidential election.

We would have restrained ourselves from joining issues with the learned FFK, especially after reading his kind but honest and very correct words about Governor Okowa viz: “…Governor Okowa, who is ordinarily a level-headed, cerebral, decent, restrained and well-exposed man and who I have always had immense respect for”… but we are constrained by his “amazement that Governor Okowa would consider Senator Shettima’s declaration to be “unconstitutional” or “absurd”.

To set the records straight, Senator Kashim Shettima, who was a panelist at the just concluded Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos, said he would personally lead the Nigerian military against criminals while his principal, Bola Tinubu, will oversee the economy.

His words: “I have been in the theatre of conflicts for 18 years, I will lead the troops, my principal is an economy wizard who has transformed Lagos into the third largest economy in Africa. He will concentrate on the economy.”

“By God’s grace, I will handle the security, and not only handle the security, but I will also lead the troops to battle across the length and breadth of this country,” he said.

There is nowhere in the above quote where Senator Shettima said or claimed that he hopes that the matter of Security will be DELEGATED to him or that he would be “assigned” the responsibility, as Junior Minister of Labour and APC Presidential spokesman Festus Keyamo posited in his own rejoinder to Governor Okowa’s comments. Infact Shettima uses the phrase “By God’s Grace”, which is definitively suggestive of the fact that the decision is already a foregone conclusion; a ‘fait accompli’ if they win the election.

What is even more worrisome is that Shettima’s declaration also deliberately and cynically implies that the discharge of this critical national responsibility will not be at the instance of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, but by Divine appointment and delegation and this is quite frightening, and a clear indication of the magnitude of impunity with which the APC Vice-Presidential Candidate will treat his principal, if they win the election. God for forbid!

For the avoidance of doubt, this is what Governor Okowa said: ”I don’t want to talk about their policies. If the Vice-President will take charge of security, is he now going to preside over security council meetings at the Federal level as the Commander-In-Chief? I don’t understand.. Because there is a Commander-In-Chief. Is there a reversal in position? I do not know. He (Shettima) can offer advise but I find it absurd how he speaks about, ‘I will take charge of this’. Perhaps they have agreed that he will be the Commander-In-Chief but I’m not in their party so I do not know…”

Section 130 (2) reads: “The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation”.

Constitutionally the Vice-President has no role in national security. He has no power at all security-wise as long as the President lives and remains in office and like Governor Okowa pointed ‘the Vice- President can at best offer advise on security-related issues’ not take over fully.

The role the Constitution designates to the Vice-President is to serve as Acting President in the event of Presidential disability or succeed to the Presidency if the office is vacated. The Vice-President has no role designated with the military, except as Acting President, and presumably in an emergency requiring an immediate decision from the Commander-In-Chief.

There is only one Commander-In-Chief. The Vice-President cannot give orders to Service Chiefs, the Vice-President has no role in the Chain of Command, unless and until he (or she) becomes President in the event of the President’s incapacity to function.

And like the Spokesman of the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Daniel Bwala rightly submits, Vice-Presidential Candidate Shettima’s comment is “a perfect picture of delusion of grandeur. Why would a civilian say he will lead the troops? If he is as passionate as he claimed, why didn’t he lead his troops as a Governor when the Chibok girls were kidnapped?

“As a sitting Governor, he ignored all security reports and the counsel against holding the 2014 May/June West African Examination Council (WAEC) at Chibok.

“And now, without crediting the statement to his principal, his statement means he is the de-facto President while Tinubu is just a placeholder. He gives an impression of insubordination and the kind of deceptive government APC intends to run if elected in 2023,” Bwala declared while speaking to a national Newspaper.

What FFK and others like Festus Keyamo who belong to his school of thought by flippantly dismissing with such pedestrian explanation and logical sophistry, Shettima’s premature arrogation of Presidential powers and authority to himself if he becomes Vice- President, is to surreptitiously set the tone and agenda for a well known Boko Haram sympathizer, if not one of it’s major sponsors, to be put in charge of our national security and by so doing take over the security apparatus and architecture of the country.

One shudders to even imagine what would happen to Nigeria with a nationally perceived Boko Haram sympathizer or even anyone closely linked or associated with insurgent and separatist tendencies and inclinations, wielding Executive and absolute power and authority over the security of the country.

And to address FFK’s precedent of Atiku Abubakar as Vice-President, taking control over the running and restoration of the economy which was assigned to him by OBJ whilst the President himself focused on foreign affairs and international relations, even the cerebral Fani Kayode, should know that the Vice- President is also the Chairman of National Economic Council and assigning him to take control of the economy is very well within his constitutional responsibilities, whether delegated to him or not.

In fact, the executive functions of the Nigerian Vice-President also includes participation in all cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership in the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and although the Vice-President may take an active role in establishing policy in the Executive Branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian Vice-President’s office depends upon the duties delegated by the President.

Senator Kashim Shettima committed an unpardonable “faux pas” by stating categorically that he will take charge of security while Tinubu takes charge of the Economy, if they win the Presidency and no amount of sweet-sounding rhetoric will wipe away the image (just like that of the man who wore sneakers with a complete suit and a bizarrely long red tie) of the kind of Government the APC is going to impose on Nigerians, if they by mistake, occupy Aso Rock.

Nigerians are wiser now and what Governor Ifeanyi Okowa did was to simply vocalize the fears and curiosity which Senator Kashim Shettima’s comments have provoked in the national polity. The fact remains that only PDP has the right attitude, the proper organizational structures, and the experience, dynamism, and wisdom to rescue Nigeria and manage the various suffocating and devastating challenges, including the security issue, which the present APC regime has imposed on Nigerians.

Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza

State Publicity Secretary,

PDP, Delta State.

PRESS STATEMENT

31st August, 2022

2023: DELTA APC PANICS OVER OBOREVWORI’S POPULARITY, IMMINENT DEFEAT

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has said that emerging indications have confirmed and exposed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State as panic-stricken.

The party in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza alluded to the rising profile and growing popularity of the 2023 governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as being responsible for the palpable overwhelming fear that has gripped the opposition APC in the State.

The statement reads: “It is the anxiety of the impending defeat that has made the APC’s gubernatorial campaign organization to become hysterical, and as usual enter into its fit of misleading publicity.

“Not surprising, however, the good people of Delta State have since come to terms with the delusion of the opposition APC, and have since resolved never to be hoodwinked by the antics it packages in capsules of deception. This is the light in which the latest prank in the cant signed by the current propaganda-in-chief, one Ima Niboro, who signs off as Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation is seen by the people.

“In the hackneyed material, with the title: “DELTA APC WELCOMES OBOREVWORI TO GUBER RACE….. SAYS HE’S THE WEAKEST LINK IN THE CONTEST AHEAD” the APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation exposed its sudden intense feeling of being full of worry and fear by the rising profile of the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and so it is scared by the inevitable defeat that awaits it in 2023. First, the landmark decision of the Court of Appeal in favour of Oborevwori has since thrown their campaign organization into overpowering fear and anxiety, so much so that the APC is now nervous and agitated.

The APC propagandist stated: “The Delta APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation has said the embattled Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, is the weakest link in the 2023 governorship election in the State, and welcomed his Monday afternoon “victory” at the Court of Appeal.” Of course, this is a shameless deception packaged to try to put fog and confuse people from seeing clearly its anxiety about the profound Appeal Court victory secured by Oborevwori.

“It is, therefore, important to state plainly that the Appeal Court held that “the decision of the Lower Court was perverse” when it failed to take into cognizance that the first respondent throughout the entirety of his lawsuit, failed to demonstrate how the PDP had violated the electoral Act or the 1999 Constitution as amended, in the governorship primary election held on May 25. The implication of this is that the Appeal Court in its wisdom understood and underscored the fact that the Electoral Law standard of correctness was observed in the conduct of the governorship primary, which Oborevwori won by a landslide. This further points to the overwhelming popularity of Sheriff Oborevwori as demonstrated by the delegates who cast their votes for him.

“It also utterly exposes APC’s sudden fear. They are jolted by the popularity of Oborevwori’s candidacy. In simple logic, a popular candidate cannot be “the weakest link” as weakness in this context can only be located in the figment of the deceptive imagination of the frightened APC.

“Again, it is the height of indecency and moral degeneration for a discredited former Presidential spokesman who left a legacy of a lackluster and demeaning outing at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), from where he was kicked out as General Manager with ignominy over allegations of malfeasance to want to cast aspersion on the laudable integrity of Oborevwori, whose tenure as Speaker has been without blemish for two consecutive tenures. Listen to the sly propagandist again: ‘“What more can you ask for when you have a Sheriff whose only claim to fame is a specious ‘street credibility’ ”.

“Here, the APC propaganda machine misfired and exposed his being a half-baked intellectual with a base understanding of the English language. The Encarta English Dictionary defines Street credibility as “Fashionable appeal: popularity and acceptance among fashionable urban people, especially the young” It is this street credibility which Oborevwori possesses that has gotten APC frightened, knowing that the youth will go for him, a credibility that the man of the Senate mace fame lacks, and has sent jitters into the party’s fold. It points to the imminence of APC’s defeat and they are in a panic.

“Incidentally, the propagandist in a fit, spoke of anomie, a word popularized by the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Is it not an open secret that in present-day Nigeria that it is the clueless, incompetent APC-led Federal Government that is associated with that word? Writing recently about APC’s atrocious misrule of Nigeria, someone out of exasperation stated: “Merely looking at the havoc these savages brought in by the APC to help it win election in 2015 have wreaked on this country, and continue to wreak, one is surprised that a lot of people still even associate with such a political party – an assemblage of vultures that has soaked this country in unprecedented carnage.” What can be more damaging about a profound sentiment expressed against the APC-led Federal Government and its adherents?

“Hear the shameless APC propagandist again: “Deltans do not want the continuation of a government that has pauperized and inflicted untold hardship on them; neither do they want a Sheriff coming to town just to ride roughshod over them: a Sheriff who foreshadows a coming lawlessness, dictatorship and lack of accountability.” This is the sentiment expressed by Nigerians across the board against the APC faithful and its Federal Government.

“Shaka Momodu put the issue so succinctly in his write-up on the Back Page of ThisDay newspaper of August 26, 2022 titled: “Buhari’s legacy and Tinubu’s albatross. He stated: “… I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone in their right senses is promoting APC to retain power? Is this what our country has become?

“On what basis is the party even presenting candidates for various positions in the forthcoming general election? Shouldn’t it rather be apologizing everyday for the escalating insecurity in the land? “

“Every right thinking Nigeria is asking the question, why are Nigerians not holding APC to account for the mess it has brought the country into with its clueless and incompetent administration? Momodu stated: “Thousands of Nigerians – poor and innocent people are in the hands of criminals in bushes with huge ransoms placed on their heads. How can anyone with a conscience associate with a party that deserves a root and branch removal from our psyche? This party needs to be denounced …Fellow Nigerians, the APC-led Federal Government is in bed with terrorists. We must shine our eyes – all the more so because the chief propagandist himself is the APC Presidential standard bearer and the majority of us have no ‘Plan B’ “

“The foregoing is the sentiment of people about the clueless, wicked, and very unprogressive APC government across the country today. Is it therefore, the party that will win the votes of Nigerians who are daily pauperized, debased, brutalized, and made to suffer untold hardship and frustration?

In Delta State, the people already know the shameful pedigree of those who unabashedly smeared the name of the State with mud when out of desperation to be in the good books of the incompetent Federal Government lowered their self-esteem and in a movie-like and commando style stalled legislative proceedings and bundled the mace, the symbol of authority during legislative proceedings out of the hallowed chamber. By their fruits, Deltans know them and have resolved not to entrust such persons with their votes when the time comes.

PDP in Delta State is holding its head high with the deep-seated and popular victory of its gubernatorial flag bearer, Sheriff Oborevwori who won the heart of delegates across the 25 local governments of the State. His popularity cuts across the three senatorial districts, whose street credibility is an uncommon major advantage.

That is what the APC candidate lacks; it has become a major source of worry for them, leading to vile propaganda and irascible use of words. It is Delta State APC’s weakest link and the Governorship campaign Organisation is jittery having visualized and seen in concrete terms its impending but sure defeat in 2023 at the polls.

Since the good people of Delta State are used to the lazy work of lies dished out by the APC propaganda outfit, we urged them to remain resolute in their continued support of PDP and its candidates for the emergence of a SMART and Stronger Delta.

PDP is Delta and Delta is PDP!

Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza,

State Publicity Secretary,

PDP, Delta State.

AHEAD 2023 ELECTIONS: GOV. OKOWA URGES SUPPORT GROUP AGAINST HATE SPEECH

Delta State Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PD), Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged youths and support groups of the party to shun hate speech and ensure their utterances were unifying and not divisive ahead of the campaigns for the 2023 general elections.

Okowa made the call at the inauguration of the state chapter of the PDP New Generation, held in Asaba.

The inauguration with the theme, “Politics beyond today, securing our future”,  featured the swearing -in of State Executives and Local Government Area Executives of the group.

The governor charged the youths to ensure that every voter in the state was mobilised for the Atiku-Okowa ticket as the only party fully prepared to reset the country and bring it back to glory.

Represented by the Senior Political Adviser, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, the governor said youth development was one of the cardinal points of his administration.

He said that “as a support group, your first duty is to strengthen the party and the campaigns of the party because it is the party that is contesting elections and it is the party that must win.

“So, you must develop your content. You need a good content to go far. I like to say that PDP in Delta State will harvest all votes available.

“Every Deltan is duty bound to harvest every vote for this ticket. We should be happy that for the first time, our leader is being elevated to the Vice President position; this is more important.

“There are several platforms in this state to create jobs for the youths, such as the Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Girl Child Empowerment, the Bureau for Job creations and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

“All these ministries put together have created over 7,000 jobs in this state. The Widows are having monthly monitary alerts in every part of the state.

“These programmes in Delta State can be replicated at the Federal level with Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa as the Vice President of our dear country,”

He remarked that his administration had ensured ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state, adding that he would bring his wealth of experience in the state to bear on the country.

“We have developed platform for peace building in this state and the result is the peace we enjoy in Delta. There is ethnic unity and all these can be replicated at the national level if we work hard enough to harvest votes for the Atiku/Okowa ticket.

“If this is achieved, our country will be unified and peaceful and only the Atiku/Okowa’s candidacy has the experience that is proper for today’s Nigeria, given mismanagement of the APC Government.

“So I urge your group to campaign with these issues and be rest assured that Delta is fully PDP. Work together with other support groups for the single goal of making PDP victorious at the centre come 2023,” Okowa stated.

Keynote Speaker and  Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, lauded the group for its efforts in creating a platform for youths and women to network and change the narrative of the country.

He regretted that for decades, the youths and women had largely been onlookers and bystanders in the political affairs of the country.

According to him, the result was that they actively ceded the playing turf to the same old guards, octogenarians and septuagenarians, who had literally lost both legs and limbs, the energy and vision to operate in the millennial age.

“As the count-down to the formal commencement of campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections continues, the formation of the PDP New Generation, is apt and timely.

“No one should tell you that you are leaders of tomorrow because your future, your tomorrow is today; your future is now.

“You have to seize the moment now by getting actively engaged in the political processes that will ultimately shape and determine your destinies,” he said.

He added that the youths were  critical resources, especially in political conscientisation and mobilsation and urged them to organise themselves as the PDP re-positions to regain power, come 2023.

“As a group, the PDP New Generation has enormous powers in its hands. You also have great tools (social media) to deploy and mobilise Nigerian youths from all political leanings and biases towards our cause.

“Fortunately, unlike other political parties, the PDP has a platform that is all-inclusive and accommodates all shades of opinion,” he noted.

He said the Atiku-Okowa policy document, “My Covenant with Nigerians”, had a robust message and agenda that resonated with Nigerians and that “it is a policy document that speaks to the issues that are most concerning to the average Nigerian.”

“Your task is to get the message in this document, using the various tools at your disposal to every potential voter out there.

“It is this continued engagement and keen interrogation of the governance process that will ensure that those we helped to positions of authority will be responsible to us and guarantee the much-desired dividends of democracy.

“If you fail or refuse to stay engaged, politicians would be inclined to continue to kick the can down the road and leave you empty and hollow until the next election circle where their promises would be regurgitated all over again,” Aniagwu stated.

Director General of the PDP New Generation, Abdullahi Mahmood expressed delight with the Delta Chapter for the successful inauguration of the group in the state.

He tasked the executives to promote and defend the party, adding that the group was committed to delivering over 5million votes to the party nationwide and tasked the state chapter to deliver not fewer than 136,000 votes to the party.

Welcoming guests earlier,  Coordinator of the group in the state, Efe Ani, said Nigeria was considered a failed nation because of the untold hardship brought upon the citizenry by the APC led Federal Government.

He said with rising insecurity and failing economy of the nation, it had become imperative for Nigerians to rise and rescue the nation.

***********

DSCTDA URGES TRADERS, RESIDENTS TO KEEP THEIR SURROUNDINGS CLEAN IN DELTA

As part of measures to enhance the well being of traders and residents in the Delta state capital territory, the Director General Of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, has urged residents and traders to ensure that their surroundings were cleaned up regularly.

Onyemaechi made this known during an inspection exercise along the Infant Jesus Road to ascertain the extent of compliance to regular clean up in the area.

She frowned at the unwholesome attitudes of some of the residents who blocked water channels with refuse and wondered why some residents and traders had disregarded the call for proper waste disposal in area.

She said indiscriminately  dumping of refuse in water channels could result in flooding pose health challenges for the residents.

She urged the residents to cooperate with the agency in its efforts to ride the capital territory of filth and to promote healthy environment.

**********

GROUP HAILS TATABUZOGWU’S DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES IN IKA

The Chairman of the Joint National Association of Person’s Living with Disabilities (JONAOPLD), Ika South Chapter, Comr. Friday Ogor, has congratulated the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Council, Hon. Sunny Tatabuzogwu, on his emergence as the overall Best Council Chairman in the South -South geographical zone of Nigeria.

Comrade Ogor stated this on behalf of the group in an interview with newsmen at Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to him, “the Ika South council chairman deserves the award, following his achievements in the locality. Tatabuzogwu has been a silent achiever.”

While describing him as the man of the people, he said ” he is a peace loving individual and a progressive.”

Comr. Ogor noted that Ika South had recorded tremendous development since Hon. Tatabuzogwu took over the mantle of leadership in the locality.

He promised that members of JONAPWD would continue to support and work with him to move Ika South forward.

The honour was bestowed on Hon. Sunny Tatabuzogwu by the Nigerian Local Government Excellence Award (LOGEXA 2022) at the National Merit Award Auditorium in Abuja recently.

***********

COUNCILLOR GIVES CASH PALLIATIVES TO CONSTITUENTS IN DELTA

The councillor representing Koko Ward 5 in the Warri North Legislative Arm, Honourable Rachel Ede, has  given out cash to some members of her constituency in Delta State.

In an interview with newsmen, the councillor said the gesture  was geared towards improving their standard of living by boosting petty trading among widows, the aged and petty traders in the area.

“My desire is to help mitigate the adverse effects of the current  challenges faced by my people due to the economic situation in the country,” she said.

She  urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the cash to justify her genuine intension.

*********

EMEMOH 11 TASKS SUBJECTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF AGBARHA WARRI KINGDOM

HRM London Aforkerhi Itu (JP), Ememoh 11, the Ovie of Agbarha Warri Kingdom, has tasked his subjects on the need to develop  the kingdom.

He stated this during the visit of the foremost Agbarha Warri socio cultural group, Agbarha Warri League to his palace.

The traditional ruler commended the founding members of the association for their vision

Ememoh 11, Grand Patron of the association,  charged members of the  association and other indigenes on the need to develop the kingdom for posterity sake and called for the holding of Agbarha Warri National Conference in every two years,  commencing from the year 2024.

The President of Agbarha Warri League, Hon Fuludu Edema ( MON ), had earlier explained that the visit was aimed at introducing the new  executive members of the association to the Warri monarch and to also hint him of the production of a calendar as their grand patron.

Apart from Fuludu Edema,  other executive members that were introduced were  Chief ( Mrs ) Tessy Amogbokpa ( Vice President), Ambrose Ologide ( Secretary General), Joseph Ugbejevun ( Assistant Secretary ) and Elder Williams Ope Jnr  ( Financial Secretary ).

Others were  Efe Oghnegweke ( PRO), Franca Onoriode ( Organising Secretary ), Augustine Efeisi ( Social / Cultural Secretary ), and Efe Ovuakporaye, among others.

*********