Urhobo News

By Friday Ewiwilem

I have just finished reading a letter purportedly written by Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark who at over 100 years, although claiming 94, should be resting and not dabbling into matters of the moment since he has had his day spanning over five decades from around 1965 to when he took on the self-appointed title of “Father of Mr. President” in 2010 to 2015. One would ordinarily have ignored the letter under reference, but for the many wild, wrong, and deliberately false claims made in it. Whoever serves as Chief Clark’s letter-writer has done grave damage to the old man as the letter has portrayed him as a rabble-rouser who will not leave the stage even when his great-grandchildren have come of age to participate in the affairs of Delta State and Nigeria. Pa Clark is old and it is possible that some undesirable elements would want to use him to score cheap political points. This is akin to the case of the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Who put Chief Clark into this misadventure?

Chief Clark made so much ado about Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice-Presidential candidate and described it as a betrayal of Southern Nigeria. Chief Clark ought to know that politics is not always one plus one equals two. The dynamics are complex and they change. When it happens, calculations and conclusions change necessarily. Okowa’s emergence as a Vice-Presidential candidate was intended to save the South and by extension Nigeria from a tyranny that was incubating which would have first destroyed the party before swallowing the Country. A vicious fellow almost dismantled the PDP so that he could suit his fancy, but other PDP leaders including Southern Governors felt that such a fellow should be stopped. They stopped him and opted for an alternative that they thought best suited Nigeria and Okowa was put on that ticket by the same Governors many of whom are from Southern Nigeria. This is the simple truth. Okowa’s emergence as a Vice-Presidential candidate is in the national interest. Chief Clark is demanding that Okowa should step down from being a Vice-Presidential candidate. In whose interest and with whose mandate is he making such a demand? When Chief Clark appeared on national television as a follow-up to his letter, he was seen only with his personal staff among them housekeepers, caregivers, drivers, gardeners, and identifiable children of relations. So, under whose authority or in whose mandate is Chief Clark acting?

Chief Clark raised many other inchoate and unrelated issues in the ill-fated letter. One must say that he has always been at loggerheads with Governments he couldn’t control. So his un-statesmanlike vituperations are not new to well-meaning Deltans. The letter talked about so many unrelated issues including that the fear of the Urhobos and Ijaws prevented Warri from being the capital of Delta State. That may be true as similar vituperations as contained in the letter may have indeed frightened other stakeholders to the point of Warri losing the opportunity of being a State capital. If Chief Clark wants to know those whose actions and speeches denied Warri the State capital he should look at the mirror.

Always looking for a platform to grandstand, today Chief Clark used the aegis of a forum to endorse a Presidential candidate of a party other than the PDP. His motive is so clear for everyone to see. Having done that, he set out to unjustly harass Governor Okowa in order to advance the Presidential candidate he has endorsed. Not that Clark’s endorsement is worth as much as Buhari’s naira.

Having clearly identified Clark’s intentions, one needs not waste time commenting on the unwarranted vituperations on many vexatious issues. Dr. Okowa will not step down. I trust he will work harder to see to the victory of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar in the Presidential election. Let me give Chief Clark a free prophecy. Atiku shall win by a landslide.

If Chief Clark has not seen the acknowledged good works of Dr. Okowa because he is holed up in Abuja, he should come to Delta on a tour. Governor Okowa has performed much more than the Governors Chief Clark is drooling over. Clark should know that Delta State’s accounts are audited annually and reports are sent to the House of Assembly, as required by law.

Chief Clark misfired and betrayed his anger over the giant strides of Governor Okowa in the education sector. Clark expressed unjustified anger at the establishment of the University of Delta, Agbor, and its multi-campus system. Clark ought to know that there are many multi-campus Universities in Nigeria and beyond and one does not see what point he was making. Maybe he should tell us why his Edwin Clark University is sited in Kiagbodo his village and not in Agbor which is an obviously better place to site a University. Clark set out to cause trouble between Owa and Agbor but as popularly said in pidgin, “dem jump am pass”.

Clark gave too much false information about DESOPADEC. He derisively questioned Ika’s inclusion as an oil-producing area. He may truly not know that Ika is oil-bearing, oil-producing and that oil from Ika is part of Nigeria’s crude that is sold by the Federal Government. Because Clark looks down on Ika people, he couldn’t ask questions about what he was told by those who put him up to this mischief. Clark’s co-travelers made Warri lose the State capital opportunity and he wants to make Delta State lose the opportunity of producing Nigeria’s Vice-President. Deltans are saying “no” as they will vote PDP all the way and Okowa will not step down because of you.

Chief, at this stage, you should learn the wisdom of silence being golden.

©

Friday Ewiwilem is a public affairs analyst, writing from Asaba.

E.K. Clark: How Not To Be An Elder Statesman*

By Fred Edoreh

As a matter of culture we respect elders, but when they sometimes misapply the honour to manipulate society to achieve self interest it becomes somewhat unbecoming.

I have read the open letter of our revered Chief E.K. Clark to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the very respectful reaction of the Delta State Government, but who does not understand that the elder statesman’s letter was clearly a political propaganda composed with untruths, half truths, inconsistencies and misinterpretation of facts to create disaffection across the state against our own Governor who is now opportune to be vying for the Vice President of the Federation?

It was not his first letter in the current political transition. Just before the primaries, he wrote one with veiled rejection and subtle threats against the rotation of the Governorship position in Delta State on the basis of Senatorial Districts.

What saddened me in that letter was the excitement with which he stated that he handed the documents to then President Olusegun Obasanjo to frame up Chief Onanefe Ibori.

He said he assembled the documents from some of the aspirants who lost out in the PDP Gubernatorial primary to succeed Ibori in the 2007 election.

One of them was the then Secretary to the State Government who was among those that rejected the principle of rotation of power across the districts of the state. He is contesting today to be the Governor of this same state. Another story.

E.K Clark revealed further  that, not pleased that Ibori was discharged by the Court of Appeal, when Goodluck Jonathan became President, he pushed that Ibori must be punished.

That led to his chase from Abuja to Oghara to Dubai and his final travail in the UK.

Sadly, his motive was neither altruistic nor to fight corruption. He said himself that his grouse was that Ibori outsmarted him and a few elders of Delta South to produce Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as the flag bearer of the PDP while they were still searching for a candidate.

It is always either they have their way or they destroy. Just the way some elders looked on at the destruction of Diepreye Alamiesegha, apparently because they did not like his appellation as Governor General of Ijaw Nation, rightly earned for his commitment to Restructuring, Resource Control and the political cum economic  emancipation of the Niger Delta.

Clark has come again with another letter, cursing, swearing and lying against Okowa with so much fallacies and inconsistencies.

First, his grouse was that  Jonathan was purportedly betrayed in 2015. He knows those that may have betrayed Jonathan. Okowa was certainly not one of them. Secondly, he knows that it was a betrayal of the nation for Jonathan to have sought to continue in the Presidency by 2015 because the action disbalanced and damaged the seeming consensus on rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South.

Fact is, after Obasanjo’s eight years, it became the turn of the North. When President Umaru Yar’Adua died after two years in office, the North was of the view that, it being their turn, they should be allowed to provide someone else to live the mandate. It was argued that that would be in violation of the constitutional provision for the the Vice President to take over from an ailing or demised President. The North agreed and, by the Doctrine of Necessity, they supported Jonathan to complete the remaining two years of Yar’Adua and the Northern first term.

Having served it out, the fair thing would have been to step aside for the North to produce the President for the second term in order to fulfill and complete their eight years in respect for the consensus, but Jonathan disregarded to exercise that fairness and insisted on continuing.

With uncommon understanding, the Northern caucus of the PDP conceded to him to continue, but with a caveat that he would do that one term of four years which he visibly agreed to.

To their chagrin, after serving the four years, Jonathan insisted on serving another four years. Seizing the mechanism of the party, he put himself up again, not minding that with Obasanjo’s eight years, his two years of completing Yar’Adua’s tenure and the four years of his own Presidency, the South had had 14 years while the North had had just two, and his insistence on continuing again from 2015 to 2019 would have meant the South having 18 years while the North was still at two years.

It does not seem right to me that our elder statesmen did not see that wrong but rather supported Jonathan in the obvious travesty.

It was for this reason that the North caucus of the PDP exited to the APC and rallied round Buhari.

Having so disregarded and destroyed the flow, I find it ironical and dishonourable that these same people are the ones talking about equity today.

Even Governor Nyesom Wike, when Rotimi Amaechi intended that, being an Ikwerre man, his successor should come from other nationalities of Rivers State, he refused and went on to take the Governorship, he being an Ikwerre man.

Talking about equity in the rotation of the Presidency, even as the arithmetic stands now,  the South has had 14  years while the North has had 10. We may need to bring out the scale and see where to make the balance.

Talking about the declaration by Southern Governors, we seem to forgot that we marched the line in 2011 and 2015 by disregarding the North.

Our action in not restraining ourselves thus constrained both the APC and the PDP to throw open their Presidential primaries for winners to emerge through open democratic politicking from which Atiku Abubakar emerged as Presidential candidate of the PDP.

Those who come to equity must do so with clean mind. It has been said that, even in the PDP, throwing the primary open was most precipitated by the refusal of Gov Wike to agree on micro zoning to the South East, knowing that in the South, the South West had had a turn with Obasanjo and the South South had also had with Jonathan.

It was for this excessive disregard for others that Governor Dave Umahi left the PDP for him. This is why I pity the likes of Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who have submitted to Wike to be led by the nose.

By the way, when Wike was shortlisted alongside Okowa and Udom Emmanual for Atiku to choose a running mate from, he did not complain. Had Atiku chosen him, we would not have heard of G-5 and all that shenanigans of a bad loser.

Back to E.K. Clark, I will not bother to react to his spurious accusations against Okowa. It is the stuck in trade of propagandists and elders who erroneously feel like oracles.

We saw how Obasanjo packed all manners of accusations against Jonathan, including that he trained snipers where Abacha trained his and listed 1000 political leaders to be assassinated. Turned out all lies.

The issue of loan is a matter of public records, not subject to suggestive conjectures, except for mischievous political objectives.

The state has repeatedly clarified that it is not taking any loan nor fresh loan; that it had intended to take N150b bridging finance, the repayment of which was to be anchored on the expected refund on 13% derivation to be paid by the Federal Government in quarterly installments over five years; that it later scaled the amount down to N100b; that even so, it was not able to secure the N100b facility in that first attempt; that it was only able to secure N30b at about October 2022; that it had to reapply to the House of Assembly to revalidate the approval with other banks which have agreed to provide the facility with an addition of N20b to be invested in Liquid Gas portfolio just as the state has 15% equity investment in the BEDC; and that so far only about N19b has been received from the FG on the 13% refund.

These are matter of records that can be obtained from the banks, the CBN or national records agencies.

However, Clark obviously confirmed the position of the state in his letter when he stated that the initial request for N100b did not pull through, allegedly because Okowa wanted the money to be domiciled in Premium Trust Bank as against the lead banks.

So, having known that that initial request did not sail through for whatever reasons, what was the sense in suggesting that the revalidation was a fresh loan when he has confirmed it was not? Mischief? Mere propaganda?

Clark has had his time in government, from 1966 when he served in the Midwest and 1975 when he was made Federal Commissioner of Finance. We would thank him for whatever development he was able or unable to attract to the Niger Delta.

The struggle for the emancipation of the region has claimed lives and careers – from Isaac Boro to Ken Saro Wiwa, Alamiesegha and Ibori.

It was for this reason we supported Jonathan for whatever worth of development he may have brought to the region, even if it is only the university he sited at his hometown, Otuoke, just as late Gov Ambrose Alli sited the Bendel State University in his hometown, Ekpoma.

Interestingly, Clark has no issues with those but he does have issues with a university in Owa Alero and the upgrade of the School of Agriculture in Asaba.

As has been said, our daddy has made his political choice and is his right. Just that he should not think he can continue to fool the children to feather his nest.

Some of us know very well that neither Bola Tinubu nor his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima, has any feelings for the Niger Delta or oil producing areas whom they see as “sons of drunken fishermen,” an allusion to our environment and occupation. Remember?

Even Clark himself once pointed out that Obasanjo has so much hatred and resentment for the Niger Delta. For them, the oil and gas deposit belongs not to the people whose environment is continuously degraded to feed the nation.

I wish that after the coups of 1966 Chief Clark had not led the opposition to a Confederation system of government which we had and by which regions would harvest and apply their resources and only pay tax to the central government.

Nigeria and the Niger Delta would have been much more competitively developed, but to secure his personal privileges in government, he betrayed our interest and voted for unitary government at the conference for confederation called by General Gowon.

Since then, it has been a long road to Timbuktu but, in the present circumstance, we know that of the lot in the Presidential ballot, Atiku is a better friend of the Niger Delta.

Rather than being completely out of power on the backdrop of Obi/Datti and Tinubu/Shettima (needless talking about Muslim/Muslim ticket, “balubabluu” and all those drolls), the region is better served with Okowa as Vice President in the Atiku/Okowa PDP Rescue Mission.

But, more than that, how can anybody even be talking about the continuation of the APC in the governance of Nigeria at this time? We must not allow our elders to manipulate us into national suicide just because they feel not well personally aggrandised.

Tinubu tasks CBN, others on scarcity of fuel, new Naira notes

PRESS STATEMENT

LET US MAKE THE BEST OF THIS MOMENT

The past few weeks have been a challenging one for Nigerians especially our SME’s, poor and vulnerable masses and those whose very survival depend on daily cash transactions. They have felt the brunt of the combined problems of scarcity of fuel and new Naira notes.

We feel the pains of our market women and artisans who have experienced low sales because customers do not have cash to make purchases. We hear the loud cries of farmers in rural areas and hinterlands who have been forced to sell their produce at much lower prices so they don’t lose out completely. We hear every Nigerian dealing with the consequences of the roll-out of the cash swap programme.

While the scarcity arising from the supply limitations of the new naira notes is still with us, we are encouraged about reports that the fuel queues across the country are easing out as a result of better supply to fuel stations. We are now confronted with how to bring quick, sustainable solution, and relief to Nigerians on the challenges still posed by the non  availability of new Naira notes,  so that social and economic activities can move on unimpeded and normalcy can immediately return to our financial services sector and overall productivity of our nation.

In seeking a quick resolution, the National Council of State met on Friday, February 10, 2022 and advised the government and Central Bank in particular, to push more new Naira notes into circulation and also allow for the old notes to remain a legal tender by ensuring supply gaps relative to infrastructural limitations are bridged by recirculating it to ameliorate the pains caused by the scarcity of new ones. We agree with the wisdom of the Council of States as a necessary starting point to begin redressing the unintended consequences of what would have otherwise been a good policy that required mainstream adoption. For the records, I and my running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and our campaign council do not have anything against the CBN Naira redesign and cashless policy in principle.  We are,however, only concerned about its disruptive implementation and the hardship it has brought on the generality of our people who currently can’t access their hard-earned money to meet obligations and the attendant consequences on the informal sector, where majority operate.

Despite the challenges and current difficulties, we are a country of resilient, bold and courageous people who don’t succumb to hard times. We have always overcome our most difficult times and come out better as a people and a nation. This time will not be different. We will make lemonade out of our current lemons.

To bring immediate relief to our people, we urge the Central Bank to consider the following:

1. Following the advice of the Council of States, the CBN should announce that the old and new Naira notes (especially the non-withdrawn notes and coins) will co-exist as legal tender for the next 12 months to follow examples of countries that have successfully implemented similar monetary policy. This will immediately remove growing tension in the country, eliminate panic reactions by the populace and allow time to scale up infrastructural gaps around alternative payment options to cash.

2. We advise the immediate suspension of associated charges on online transactions and bank transfers and payments via POS until the current crisis is fully resolved. This cost should be considered a roll-out expense by the CBN to incentivise the envisaged shift to alternative transaction channels; for both the financial services consuming public and those in charge of implementing the scale-up programme.

3. Mobilise all Money Deposit Banks, Payment platforms to show clear commitment and timelines on expanding their infrastructure and support services.

4. Bring in Fintech companies with capabilities into currency swap programme for the next 90 days to help decongest banking halls and ATM points where people line up for hours.

5. The Central Bank and other relevant MDA’s should form an Inter-Agency Action Committee for immediate oversight over the cash supply gaps from the Nigerian Security and Minting Company and deal with issues around capabilities and turn around time to meet the needs of the informal sector and unbanked people.

6. The CBN, National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information, State and Local Governments with their relevant organs in both the public and private sectors should commence a major public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to further educate and empower our people on the new naira and cashless policy for better understanding and mainstream adoption.

As leaders, our commitment to our country everyday must be on how to make life better for our people and we are called upon not to waste the opportunity the moment presents to us to ramp up capacity and capability to serve 200 million Nigerians, leaving no one behind and ultimately improve the living conditions of every single Nigerian. Our task now is to restore hope in the country by implementing these steps to energise our people that we can do big things for a better future and shared prosperity. We can build upon this citizen-focused policy challenge to offer a template on how governance should work for the people.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria. We are overcomers.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate

February 12, 2023

Delta pensioners, retirees assure Omo-Agege, APC of massive support, votes

…Omo-Agege promises to offset outstanding pension, gratuity within 6 months

Ahead of March 11, 2023 governorship election, Pensioners and Retirees in Delta State have assured the Deputy President of the Senate and the All-Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege of their total support.

The Pensioners and Retirees style itself as the Association of Contributory Retirees (ACR), with over 50,000 members across the 25 local governments of the state said that their choice of DSP Omo-Agege as their sole guber candidate is because Delta needs a man that can librate it from bad governance that has become the lot of the oil-rich state.

The group disclosed this at a town hall meeting with the APC governorship candidate at Opute Hall, Ozoro, Isoko South Local Government of the state accused the Governor of Delta State and the Peoples Democratic Party, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of wishing Pensioners and Retirees in the state death, hence he refused to pay them their gratuity and pension.

Speaking on behalf of the Pensioners and Retirees in the state, the Chairman, Chief Mrs Helen Ejieh said that because of Governor Okowa’s poor treatment of senior citizens of the state whom he wishes to die without enjoying the fruit of their labour his aspiration to become the Vice President of the country is doomed before it starts.

Chief Ejieh while assuring Senator Omo-Agege of mobilizing over 50,000 votes for him said: “we have over five thousand local government retirees. I am not talking about the state. When we talk of local government retirees, I mean those that retired from primary schools, and those that worked in the council. But as you can see here today, these are just a little percentage of those that retired from primary school. Council workers are not even here.

“As you can see, we have already started doing our work and we know by the grace of God that if it’s only the cry of senior citizens like us God will hear our cry and God will take Governor Okowa down and lift you up because we believe that it is only you who can solve our problems.”

“At a time, he deceived us that he wants to give us N10b if he borrows money. So, when he went to borrow, we calculated that N10b to end in 2016. Yet the man borrowed N150b today, and N200b tomorrow. Look at the recent one now. Just throwing Delta State money anyhow not even remembering that we are leaving. Okowa wants us dead but we don’t want to die. We are not going to die, sir.

“God has sent you to come and rescue us from this heartless government of PDP, in all our meetings, we have been preaching about you. Even when a candidate came to see us, we told him that Omo-Agege will deliver us.

“All our members have their PVC. Like I told them; at our age today if you count the number of people that will vote, I think we have a large number. Let me explain. I can vote as a retiree is it not? And so many of us here. All my children are at the age of voting, they must vote. My pain is their pain.

“Some of us here have grandchildren that are of the age of voting, they are crying. Even my own family and my husband’s family are crying. So, they will vote because of me. So, we have large numbers of people that will vote for you sir.”

Meanwhile, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege urged the Pensioners and Retirees in Delta State to do anything within their power to stay alive to enjoy their benefits, assuring them that their days of pain will soon be over.

Decrying the poor treatment meted out to our mothers, our fathers, our brothers and our sisters who gave the best years of their lives in service of Delta State either as employees of the state government, local government or teachers by the Governor Okowa-led administration promised to liquidate pension liabilities within 6-month of assumption of office.

Omo-Agege said, “I am elated and at the same time, I am sad. Elated because I finally have the opportunity to speak and interact with our retirees who have suffered so much at the hands of Okowa. I’m equally elated that you all decided to respond to this invitation. But with all humiliation when I see your faces, I am very very saddened as to why this kind of wickedness should be visited on our family members.

“I tell people that there is no homestead or household in Delta State that you will go to and you will not see one retiree. The challenges you face know no ethnicity, it knows no language, it knows no religion. You are all Deltans, you are all retirees. The most painful part of it is that you are not asking for a handout, neither are you asking for a favour, it is your right and your entitlement.

“While in service of Delta State, the state government either as a state or through the local government entered into a social contract with you that; every month while you serve, x amount of money will be deducted from your salary.

“And to even make it very sad, we received very sound and reliable information that all these payments, these deductions that they are making from you are normally paid onto a dedicated account. Dedicated in the sense that nobody should touch it, it is only the interest that is supposed to be going.

“But because of Okowa’s own political ambition, we have been reliably informed that Okowa had to deep his hands into that account and that is the money now he is using to fund a vice-presidential campaign.

“Now, we are not against Okowa having any ambition, we don’t grudge Okowa for being ambitious. But he cannot do so to the detriment of our retirees. That is what is wrong and that is what we are against.

“Now what is even more painful is this: this is Delta State, Delta State is supposed to be the richest state in the entire Niger Delta, and Delta State is one of the richest states in Nigeria. Despite all the money that Okowa has received which is over N4.5trn, Okowa has still decided to go on a borrowing spree.

“I want to assure you, we receive a lot of information that we have lost a lot of you because you can’t even afford to go to the hospital, you can’t even afford to eat and at your age moving past the productive cycle in your life nobody expects that at this age anybody will give you job, business or anything. Even if you’re doing business what kind of business can you possibly be doing at this age?

“So, we have information that we’ve lost a lot of you and some right now are sick. We are praying. My prayer for you today is this, and I pray to God every morning that he should keep all of you alive.

“God willing when I emerge as your governor, it’s not far again, it’s next month March 11th. If you all come out as my leader pointed out earlier, if all of you come out, your children come out, your grandchildren come out, it is a mission for vengeance. We have to avenge this on behalf of the people of Delta State, we have to reclaim our state back.

“And God willing I emerge the governor comes March 11, and I am sworn in as the governor come May 29 2023. I am making a commitment to you today that within six months of my inauguration, all of your outstanding pensions and gratuities, I will pay.

“But do me a favour; stay alive, stay alive for me it will be a thing of Joy for me after I emerge, as governor, after six months we will have other stakeholder meetings like this and by that time the news I want to hear is that you have been fully paid and that we have not lost anybody, and I want to see smiles in your face because that is what you are entitled to. Because it is the Bible that says; that when the righteous are in power the people will rejoice. And that is what we have in stock for the people of Delta State, that is what we have in store for the people of ACR.

“Now, this commitment I made to ACR also applies to State Retirees because you’ve suffered the same fate, the same predicament. You mean nothing to Okowa. As far as he is concerned, his ambition as the vice-presidential candidate for Atiku is more important. So, whatever promises I’ve made to these retirees here, also apply to the state retirees. So let them know. All I also ask of you is to stay alive,” Omo-Agege added

Omo-Agege to Delta Youths: You Must Decide On New Delta State Of Your Choice

…Promises to include youths in his cabinet

…We shall increase bursary, reduce school fees, he promised

Deputy President of the Senate and Delta State APC Governorship flagbearer, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has charged the youths and students of Delta State to grab the opportunity of the forthcoming election to decide on the type of Delta State they want to experience, going forward.

Omo-Agege who gave this charge in Warri yesterday, on the occasion of a Townhall meeting with representatives of Delta youths and students in Warri, reminded them of the hardship and suffering that have been visited on the state by the PDP government in the past 24 years.

The APC Guber Candidate who spoke against the backdrop of INYC’srecord which reveals that out of the total of 4 million registered in the State, the youths and students constitute a whopping 2.4 million of that number, urged them to come out and use their numerical strength to determine the type of Delta State they would want, going forward.

“Before coming here, I was informed that of the total registered voters roll in Delta State, 2.4 million are youths and students. This means that this election is your election.

“Delta State belongs to you, Nigeria belongs to you. You are to determine the kind of Nigeria you want in 2023; You are to determine the kind of Delta State you want in 2023.

“It is important because we are going to govern with you. You must have a say in how the government will be run.

“We have also decided that in a government we are going to form, we are going to bring equity in the composition of that government, either by way of the state executive council or just the government generally, a certain percentage that is commensurate with your voting capacity will be reflected”, he assured.

To ease the burden of the rising cost of education, Omo-Agege promised to increase students’ bursaries and review downward the current high fees in state government-owned tertiary institutions.

“We have also decided that we are going to increase your bursary. We are going to review your school fees downward. We are going to make education accessible and affordable to everyone”, he said.

On the choice of who to vote for in the forthcoming election, Sen. Omo-Agege urged the youths and students to remove emotions and sentiments and make well-informed decisions, adding that if they make mistakes in their decision, it will hurt Delta State and Nigeria for a long time.

“I want you people to make very informed decisions. You are our leaders of today, you are our leaders of tomorrow. Any mistake you make today will hunt Delta State and Nigeria for a very long time.

“As we speak, Okowa and Atiku are not contesting for the presidency because of the decision taken by everybody that it is the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the President.

“Now, there are two people that are running for the presidency – Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC and Peter Obi. I’m a Jagaban man, I’m a Tinubu man.

“Remove emotion and remove sentiment. You have to make an informed decision. What kind of Nigeria do you want? Is it Nigeria that will look like Lagos or a Nigeria that will look like Awka?”, he asked.

He promised to invest heavily in security architecture, adding that he is in support of community policing rather than State Police.

“When I become governor, we shall invest heavily in security architecture so that the problem of insecurity will be reduced. We will concentrate on Community policing”, said.

Omo-Agege also promised to complete the two major roads in the State, the Effurun-Orerokpe-Eku-Abraka road and the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway, adding that he will bring in Julius Berger Construction Company to ensure a standard job is done.

He also promised to address the problem with the health sector as well as undertake the massive urban renewal of Warri and its environment to bring back the old glory of the oil city.

“For the two major federal roads we have talked about, we are going to bring Julius Berger. We don’t want those mamma and papa construction companies that use wheelbarrows and shovels.

“We are going to address our hospital problem and clean up Warri. We need massive urban renewal here in Warri”, Omo-Agege said.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential campaign to unleash 1,000 lies ahead of election

….exposes 10 lies of Tinubu campaign in one week

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has exposed 10 lies told by the Bola Tinubu Presidential campaign against the PDP in one week.

Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said in a statement that Tinubu’s campaign will unleash at least 1,000 lies ahead of the Presidential election on February 25.

Shaibu said in a statement that four of such lies were busted in Sokoto where the APC claimed 11 commissioners and the deputy governor had decamped to the APC all in a bid to attract loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its rally.

Shaibu said the fake photo of the Sokoto rally that was posted by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo ; and NiDCOM boss, Abike Dabiri-Erewa on social media was part of the grand plot to deceive Nigerians ahead of the polls.

He said, “Last week, while we were at the Atiku Abubakar Presidential rally in Kano State, we received hundreds of calls after the APC Presidential council released a fake letter showing that Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Manir Dan’Iya, had resigned from PDP. Unfortunately, many credible newspapers went ahead to publish it without confirmation only for Dan’Iya to deny it.

“APC campaigners also stated that 11 commissioners had defected to the PDP. This also turned out to be false. Apparently, the plan was to get PDP supporters to come to their failed rally. This also turned out to be false.

“The Sokoto rally was poorly attended despite the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari whom Tinubu has been begging for assistance. In order to save face, Festus Keyamo, who is a senior advocate and former EFCC prosecutor, posted a photo of a crowded festival in Chicago and passed it off as the Sokoto rally. This is indeed shameful. How are the mighty fallen?

“It is also Keyamo, who boasts of being a prosecutor that has now been given the impossible task of explaining Tinubu’s drug case in the United States to Nigeria. Unfortunately for the APC, despite their many lies, the fact remains that Bola Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to US authorities from funds established to be from the proceeds of drug trafficking. It is also an undeniable fact that Tinubu was an associate of two notorious drug kingpins, Abiodun Agbele and Muiz Akande.”

Shaibu added that Femi Fani-Kayode, who runs the social media arm of the APC campaign, had also been an active propagator of fake news.

He noted that Fani-Kayode’s claim that Atiku met with serving generals in Abuja was another “tale by moonlight”.

Shaibu stated, “Atiku was in Bauchi on Wednesday, Kano on Thursday and has been in Yola since Friday. It is a common principle in logic that a person cannot be in two places at the same time. Unfortunately, the APC’s lies are bereft of any modicum of intelligence.”

He also described as nonsensical claims by Tinubu’s campaign that Atiku was behind the petrol scarcity and the dollar shortage.

“Atiku left office in 2007 which is nearly 16 years ago. How could he be behind a government policy when he lacks executive powers? Even a toddler will not tell unreasonable lies like the APC,” he added.

He described as asinine claims by APC campaign spokesman, Dele Alake, that the videos depicting Tinubu speaking gibberish were doctored.

Shaibu said, “During a town hall in Imo State last November, he described the town hall as being different from “Balabu, Blu blu, Bulaba’. Reacting to the gaffe at the time, Festus Keyamo described it as Tinubu’s ‘sense of humour’. Three months later, we are told by Mr Alake that it was a doctored video. When will these disgusting lies end?

“We, however, commend the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and other credible organisations for immediately fact-checking Alake’s claim and exposing the lies.”

Shaibu said as the elections draw closer, Tinubu and his party will continue to churn out more lies at an alarming rate which could be as high as 1,000 or 80 per day. The Nigerian media must be circumspect so as not to be deceived by these lying desperados.

“We also call on members of the public to guard their hearts jealously. In these last days, the desperate albeit failing APC and its unscrupulous candidate will try everything possible to ‘lie’ their way to victory. Nigerians must not allow themselves to be conned by these corn lovers.”

Signed:

Phrank Shaibu

Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007.

11th February, 2023.

Okowa mourns security aides killed by unknown gunmen

Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has commiserated with the Delta Police Command and families of police officers killed by unknown gunmen in Anambra State.

The officers, Inspectors Lucky Aleh; Celestine Nwadiokwu and Jude Obuh were attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House, Asaba.

They were ambushed and killed around 1.30pm yesterday Friday, Feb. 10, by unknown gunmen along Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia on official duty.

State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who briefed journalists on the sad incident said the late officers would be greatly missed for their contributions to the peace and development of Delta.

He described the unfortunate killing of the officers as barbaric and unacceptable in a country seeking to be united again for peace and development .

“We bring you the sad news of our very gallant officers who have helped us in maintaining peace in our state attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House, Asaba.

“The officers met their untimely death while they were proceeding as advanced team for the PDP National Campaign Rally in Abia, unfortunately this particular team veered off from the convoy and took another route different from where the convoy was taking.

“They were ambushed along the Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia by non-state actors who eventually killed three of them in police  uniform while the one on mufti escaped.

“We have recovered their corpse and we have also reached out to their families,”

He said some accounts of the unfortunate incident trending on social media was untrue adding that the state government delayed announcing their untimely death because efforts were being made to reach out to their families before making the announcement.

He called on security agencies in the country to fish out the killers and bring them to book so that Nigerians can once again live peacefully in any part of the country.

“What is happening in parts of this country today, particularly in the South East, is not  healthy for our development as a country because the elections are very very close.

“The security we are asking for are not just for the purpose of the elections. It is also something that everybody wants. We should be able to have security at every given time; that way, we would have development.

“We must also plead with our brothers and sisters who may have taken guns on the account of what they see as agitation to know that the best way to help our people, is to allow peace to reign. That way development will take place in the South East.

“Our people in the South East are very very industrious, they are commerce oriented and have developed love for one another over the years.

“We will plead with these our brothers to allow this kind of love that permeated the atmosphere in the time past in the South East, to continue to pervade that environment.

“That way, they are able to ensure that government will bring development to them and also able to ensure that private sector investments would thrive.

“It is unfortunate that these our gallant officers, just like many others have also lost their lives in the past, have lost their lives on account of the activities of individuals who describe themselves today as ‘unknown gunmen’.

“We are pleading with them to sheath their swords and begin to allow that love of which the people of the South East have been known for over the years. So that as a people, we will continue to coexist.

“We pray the good Lord Almighty to accept the souls of these our loved ones, three of them, that have passed on due to no fault of theirs.

“We also pray that God gives their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss; even as we seek justice on their behalf,  both as a government, as a state and as a people.

“We ask their immediate families to take heart. Only God understands situations like this and we know that God will not allow them die in vain because it was in the course of duty and service to our dear cou try.

“But even if it was not in the course of duty, nobody deserves to die the way these our brothers have been killed.

“As a government in Delta, we will be with their families in this their trying moments and we will also take steps to seek justice on their behalf by impressing it upon security agencies to take steps to unravel those who have caused  this pain that is in our heart today,” Aniagwu stated.

Delta Guber: Local Govt pensioners reject endorsement of Omo-Agege

Members of the Local Government Contributory Retirees of Delta State have disassociated themselves from the recent endorsement of the All Progressives Congress APC Governorship Candidate and the Deputy Senate President, Ovie-Omo-Agege by the Primary School Teachers Retirees under the aegis of the Association of Contributory Retirees (ACR).

Mr Daniel Onosanimoni and Engr. Godwin Ekenini, Chairman and Secretary respectively of Local Government Contributory Retirees, in a press statement said that; “We the Local Government arm of the Association of Contributory Retirees (ACR) wish to outrightly dissociate our members from the meeting between Mrs. Helen Ejieh, Chairman Contributory Retirees (Local Education Authorities/Primary Schools Retirees), her supporters/group (among the LEA/Pry. Sch. Retirees) and the Gubernatorial Candidate of the APC in Delta State, DSP Ovie Omo-Agege.

They stated that the Local Government Contributory Retirees is composed of all categories of Local Government employees who retired from the Local Government Service of Delta State and are yet to draw their Pensions, adding that as a body they were not consulted nor was a part of the meeting at Ozoro “and therefore  the Teachers group of ACR cannot speak for us nor serve as our mouth piece. Whatever resolution reached is for the Primary School Teachers and should not be misconstrued as the decision of all Local Government Retirees”.

According to them ; “We are a non-partisan body that is poised for the payment of the pensions and gratuities of our members using only known legal and constitutional channels to press home our demands and we have not resorted to party politics by endorsing any political party or any Governorship candidate for that matter.

“We completely disown the contents of the press release/publicity that followed the said meeting as we remain neutral and apolitical in our approach and agitations for the payment of our pension entitlement,” they wrote.

They added that “We do not begrudge any person or group of persons from associating or holding political opinions. But we object to the use of our umbrella Association and name in the promotion of the interests of a political party (the APC), among political parties on ground in Delta State. While we concede that no pensioner of Delta State ought to be owed pensions, having served for 35 years or attained the age of 60 years, we therefore use this medium to urge the State Government to expedite action with the Technical Committee put in place to clear the backlog of pension and gratuities owed the Local Government Retirees in the State”.

They commended the Delta State Government for a renewed commitment towards the payment of accrued rights of pensioners, especially, with the release of the 2 tranches of N2.5 billion each making a total of N5 billion lately for the payment of the accrued rights of Local Government and Primary School Teachers in the State.

“The information at our disposal from our engagement with the Bureau of Local Government Pension at various times indicate that there are not more than 8,000 retirees yet to be paid. Our figures are not near 10,000 not to talk of the 50,000 cited in the news. And that the number is decreasing on monthly basis due to the enhanced fund release by the Governor for the payment of accrued rights,” they added.

They also said that “We therefore condemn in its entirety the attempt by the Primary School Teachers Retirees arm to drag us into unwholesome politics and unnecessary heating up of the polity as we do not want to be caught in any guise, in the unfolding struggles and contests among political actors, since we are ordinary retirees supporting the government of the day to speedily pay our outstanding pensions”.

“Therefore, we once again deny and reject any attempt by Mrs. Helen Ejieh and her sympathizers to draw us into any political circus show”, they said.

Polls: Okowa wants total rejection of Muslim-Muslim ticket

Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has called for total rejection of Muslim-Muslim ticket in the forthcoming Presidential election to mitigate religious intolerance and ensure unity in the country.

He made the call at the PDP’s Presidential rally on Saturday in Umuahia, and urged the South-East people to stick with the party for Nigeria’s recovery and good governance.

Okowa charged Abia citizens to work hard for the party’s victory, pointing out that Nigerians had embraced PDP “and those in South East cannot afford to be in opposition anymore”.

“I say this with all seriousness because Atiku Abubakar will win the Presidential election and PDP will return to power at the federal level and when that happens, we want to ensure that Abia State is counted.

“We know that the South East has suffered a lot under the APC and that is why Atiku said he would unite Nigerians and ensure that every part of the country is carried along.

“We want to restore the dignity of the Igbo man and by the grace of God, when Atiku Abubakar and I become President and Vice President, we will be able to ensure that the construction of railway from Port Harcourt to Aba and Ikot-Ekpene is done.

“Atiku is a man who is fair to all and he will work for all Nigerians, including Christians and Muslims to make life better for all.

“We say no to a Muslim-Muslim ticket because that is not good enough for our country Nigeria. We can work together to make Christians and Muslims live peacefully in this country.

“Let me assure you that the Igbos will benefit from the principal positions due to each of the six geopolitical zones,” he said.

He urged to vote for PDP to “take APC out” but remarked that In taking APC out, the opposition must be united to fight the battle.

“Let me reiterate that Atiku will raise 10 million dollars to support businesses across the country; so, we must support him because he is the candidate that is best positioned to win the elections and rebuild our country,” Okowa added.

On his part, Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said that his quest for PDP to rescue and rebuild the country was not based on ethnic or religious cards but was to provide Nigerians with good governance.

He recalled that the country prospered when PDP was in charge from 1999 to 2015 and urged the people of Abia and the entire South East to join hands with the party to return Nigeria to the part of glory.

The presidential candidate expressed optimism that the people would come out to cast their votes for the PDP in the forthcoming elections, adding that “PDP is going to win and therefore it is better you are on a winning ticket than a ticket thar cannot take you anywhere.

“Do not be distracted by other political parties playing religious or ethnic card. In PDP, we have no religious or ethnic card, we play a Nigerian card, a card that will bring everybody on board and bring a sense of belonging to every part of this country.

“I appeal to you Abians to make sure you remain PDP and PDP remains Abia’s party. I have seen the number of requests you have made and they fall within our policy which we tagged ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’.

“The issue of railways and rehabilitation of federal roads is also there. Aba is the capital of South-East as far as business is concerned.

“I remembered addressing businessmen in this city in 2019 and I assured them that we will set aside funds to rehabilitate and support businesses, particularly in this part of the country,” he stated.

He promised to ensure operationalisation of the Abia dry port which he approved while in office as Vice-President and assured that PDP was prepared to give Abia people what they wanted.

“It is not an issue of ethnicity or religion, it is about good governance. You can bear us witness that when PDP was leading, Nigeria was prospering and that is the time Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa.

“We created more jobs and more prosperity for everybody in this country. We brought about peace and there was unity and there was not a question of people crying over marginalisation because we created a balanced leadership in this country, so you have no reason not to vote for PDP,” Atiku said.

National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, urged the people to vote for the PDP to rescue and rebuild the country from the ruins of the APC-led Federal Government.

He said “voting Labour Party will not help you rather it will help Bola Tinubu who will again marginalise you for another eight years and am sure that is not what you want.

“The PDP is the only alternative because it is an organic party owned by the people and not any individual.

“The APC thrives in distortion of truth, propaganda and lies and I repeat here today in Umuahia that APC has brought shame to all Nigerians.

“The APC came and made things difficult for the people; they brought hardship to Nigerians and I call on you to unite and let’s send them packing,” Ayu stated.

Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wagbara; Chairman, Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel; Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Chukwu; PDP Governorship Candidate in Abia, Chief Okey Ahiwe, among others attended the rally.

Izeze condoles Okowa over death of security aides

Member Representing Ughelli South State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Comrade Reuben Izeze has commiserated with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the gruesome murder of three of his security aides.

Izeze in a condolence message to the Governor, the Delta Police Command and members of the deceased families, the lawmaker condemned the dastard act and called on the police authorities to fish out their assailants and bring them to justice.

The Comrade lawmaker said the deceased officers particularly Inspector Jude Obuh would be greatly missed for his impressive service as the EOD officer at the 6th Assembly.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Ughelli South State Constituency, I mourn the passing of three police officers attached to the EOD Unit in Government House Asaba.

“I commiserate with our dear Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of our great party Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Commissioner of Police, and families of the deceased police officers who lost their lives in the hands of unknown gunmen at Ihiala-Orlu Road yesterday.

“It is my prayer that God will grant their souls eternal repose and give fortitude to the families and friends who mourn their demise.

“Once more my condolences to the families  and may their souls rest in peace,” Izeze prayed.

Attacks on opposition: SERAP seeks ICC probe of election-related violence

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to “promptly seek authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation into the situation in Nigeria in relation to the growing cases of pre-election violence, which if not addressed may escalate and lead to post-election violence in the country.”

The petition dated 11 February, 2023 was sent to Mr Karim Khan, QC, Prosecutor, ICC.

The organization urged Mr Khan to “urgently send the ICC legal team to Nigeria to promote free and fair elections in the country, and gather potential proof of election-related violence before, during and after the general elections.”

The petition followed reports of election-related violence in several states including Lagos, Rivers, and Kaduna states. Over 4,000 cases of violent attacks and 11,000 fatalities were reported across the country between 1 January 2022 and 3 February 2023 alone.

In the petition signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “These cases reflect the gravest election-related crimes in several states ahead of the general elections.”

SERAP said, “Based on these cases and other similar cases and trends of election violence, we believe that opening an investigation into the situation in Nigeria will be in the interests of justice.”

The petition, read in part: “SERAP urges you to seek authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation into the situation in Nigeria in relation to election-related violence that may be committed during and after the elections scheduled for February and March 2023.

“SERAP also urges you to identify the suspected perpetrators of election-related violence and those individuals who bear the greatest responsibility for encouraging or facilitating these crimes, and to ensure their effective prosecution by the ICC.”

“These are not isolated acts, but part of growing cases of election violence, thus constituting crimes against humanity.”

“Seeking authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation in relation to election-related violence that may be committed after the general elections is consistent with Article 53(1)(a) of the Rome Statute which allows investigation into ‘a crime which has been or is being committed.’”

“SERAP notes that the Prosecutor has consistently relied on the provisions of Article 15 of the Rome Statute and Regulation 49 of the ICC to investigate cases of election-related violence in other countries, including Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya.”

“The requested investigation is neither frivolous nor politically motivated. Cases of election-related violence are rarely investigated by the Nigerian authorities. Nigerian authorities are unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution.”

“As a result, suspected perpetrators and those who encourage or facilitate their crimes continue to enjoy impunity. Victims continue to be denied access to justice and effective remedies.”

“The escalating cases of election-related violence in Nigeria meet the requirements of the Rome Statute and provide reasonable basis for you to promptly commence an investigation, particularly given the gravity of these cases and the interests of victims.”

“The test of ‘reasonable basis to believe’ is the lowest evidential standard provided by the Rome Statute. Thus, the information available to the Prosecutor to make a request for investigation is not expected to be ‘comprehensive’ or ‘conclusive’.”

“It is necessary to ensure that any request for authorisation covers investigation into ongoing and continuing election-related crimes during and after the elections, especially given the volatile political environment in the country and the entrenched impunity for these crimes.”

“The incidents of election-related violence strike at the integrity of the democratic process in the country, and undermine the right of Nigerians to participate in their own government.”

“Victims have been let down when it has come to the prevention and prosecution of these offences, largely because they are regarded as an accepted concomitant of elections in the country.”

“The available information provides a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are being committed and may be committed across the country ahead of the elections.”

“Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 September 2001.”

“According to our information, opposition supporters are routinely targeted, attacked, beaten and ill-treated and subjected to other physical abuse. Violent attacks against political opponents or persons perceived to support the political opponents continue to be reported.”

“According to the Nigeria Election Violence Tracker by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and the Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), there were over 4,000 cases of violent attacks and 11,000 fatalities between 1 January 2022 and 3 February 2023 alone.”

“State governors continue to suppress campaigns by opposition parties within their states, and fail to ensure the security and public safety of opposition candidates, members and supporters.”

“These cases followed other growing reports of election-related intimidation, harassment and violence in several parts of the country including Abia, Lagos, Imo, Kaduna, Kano and Rivers states.”

“Nigeria has a long history of election-related violence. Dozens of people were killed during the 2019 general election. In 2011, hundreds of people were killed in post-election violence.”

“Under Article 15(1) of the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor may initiate investigations proprio motu on the basis of information on crimes that are within the jurisdiction of the Court.”

“In accordance with Article 15(3) of the Statute, if the Prosecutor concludes that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, he shall submit a request for authorisation for an investigation, together with any supporting material that has been collected.”

“Under Article 7(1) of the Statute, a crime against humanity involves any of the specified acts that are listed when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.”

“Similarly, pursuant to Regulation 49 of the Regulations of the Court, the Prosecutor can provide information to the Chamber on the basis of information by non-governmental organisations and the media.”

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director

12/2/2023

Lagos, Nigeria

Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org

Twitter: @SERAPNigeria

Website: www.serap-nigeria.org

For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202