Gov. Soludo sends names of 20 commissioner-nominees to Assembly
Barely 12 days after his inauguration, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State Governor, has sent the names of 20 commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.
Governor Soludo made sent the names to the lawmakers on Tuesday.
Besides the list, the House also moved to confirm 15 special advisers for the governor.
Soludo succeeded Chief Willie Obiano, the Akpokughe dike Umuleri.
The names
Speaker of the House, Mr. Uche Okafor, announced the nominations and names at Tuesday’s plenary; from a letter Governor Soludo sent, dated March 28.
The commissioner-nominees are Mr Ifeatu Chinedu, Professor Ofonze Amucheazi, Mr Ifeanyi Okoma, Ms Chiamaka Nnake, Dr Afam Obidike, Mr Patrick Aghamba, Mrs Ifeyinwa Obinabo, Dr Obinna Ugonnadi, Mr Julius Chukwuemeka and Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
Others are Mr Paul Nwosu, Dr Foster Ihejiofor, Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, Mr Felix Odimegwu, Mr Chikodi Anara, Professor Chika Ifemeje, Mr Collins Nwabunwanne, Mr Donatus Onyeji, Mr Anthony Ifeanya and Mr Paulinus Onyeaka.
At plenary, the House also read a resolution for Soludo to make the Commissioner of Police return checkpoints and patrol teams to Anambra roads.
Enugu 2023: Sen. Gil Nnaji obtain PDP Governorship Form
Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
Senator Gilbert Nnaji has obtained the PDP Governorship nomination and expression of interest form today.
In a Facebook post made on his Facebook page, titled As I obtain the PDP Governorship Forms, Nnaji said he was convinced he has all it takes to become the governor of the state.
Nnaji displaying the form
“To the glory of God and with the overwhelming support of the people across the state, I have just purchased the governorship nomination forms of my great party, PDP.
“This I did with the conviction that I have all it takes to aspire and become the governor of our dear Enugu State.
“In terms of experience in political leadership and performance records, I have no doubt that I am eminently qualified to offer myself to the people for their gracious consideration and ultimate mandate.
“Therefore my good people as I come to you once again, may I restate that the past is gone leaving us with its lessons, the present is here offering us an opportunity for a New Beginning, and then the future beckons on us with the possibilities for recovery and prosperity.
“So I passionately appeal to you as ever: assess me with an open mind and evaluate my modest accounts of stewardship, objectively. Nothing about me is hidden!
“Thank you and may God continue to bless us as we journey ahead, hand in hand” he said.
Sen. Gil Nnaji who declared his interest to run for Governor on March 13, 2022, served as a Senator of the Federal Republic between 2011 and 2019 where he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, spanning eight years. He also served as a Member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011, during which he served as Deputy Majority Leader at first term and Chairman of House Committee on Commerce, in the second session.
Born on July 18, 1966, Gilbert Nnaji hails from Umuenwene, Iji-Nike, Enugu East LGA. He was a 3-term Chairman of Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State, under both the military and the democratic regimes between 1996 and 2003.
All the delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the 20 electoral wards of Udi Local Government Area in Enugu State have reassured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that they firmly stand by him and his decisions in respect of the State House of Assembly, Federal House of Representative, Senate, Governorship and Presidential primaries as well as the general elections.
The Udi LGA delegates gave the assurance when they paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of the delegates, chairman of Udi LGA, Philip Okoh, said they were unanimously in agreement to support Governor Ugwuanyi in recognition of his sterling leadership qualities and commitment to peace and good governance, stressing that they are poised “to make sure that the man who remembered us in hardship we won’t forget him when he needs us”.
Okoh told the governor, who is the leader of PDP in the state and South East zone, that “everyone (delegate) among us came in agreement to support you.”
The Federal Government has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting another round of EndSARS protest and peddling lies about the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, that though there is nothing wrong in having a viable opposition, the PDP went too far in seeking the country’s destruction through its utterances and actions.
In its reaction to the weekend national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abuja, at the weekend, where a new National Working Committee of the party was elected, a day after, the PDP, in a statement by the its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, the party said it was “appalling to see APC leaders come out one after the other at their national jamboree to spew out lies and false performance claims on the economy, infrastructure and security even in the face of biting economic hardship, high cost of living, excruciating fuel emergency, lingering crisis in the education sector and escalated insecurity that was happening real time and simultaneously when the ridiculous claims of achievements were being made.”
But, the Federal Government accused the PDP of advocating the destruction of Nigeria by threatening to unleash another round of EndSARS on the country and deliberately misinforming Nigerians on the APC government.
“…As you know, the folks on the other side have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of our Administration and spread misinformation. Yes, it is very cold out there for the hungry and desperate opposition, but every indication is that they don’t even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.
“How else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSARS that pushed Nigerian to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation’s state of affairs?
“There is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of a determined, viable and relentless opposition. But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn’t have our way. Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action. If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?
“In their most recent act of desperation, they sought to erase seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari Administration. In the most egregious show of shamelessness and a blatant refusal to be remorseful, they even had the audacity to express righteous indignation that the damage they inflicted on the country in their 16 years of misrule has not been totally undone in just seven years. In other words, those who brought the country to its knees are now accusing those working hard to repair things of non-performance. They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as rescuers. Caveat Emptor; buyers beware! Nigerians beware!” government said.
The minister dismissed the opposition party’s claim that the PDP government handed over $550 billion economy, with single digit inflation and a much reduced debt profile.
“Ask them what infrastructure did they leave behind? Ask them how many motorable roads did they leave behind? They frittered away our gains from oil sales. How many times, on paper, did they launch the second Niger Bridge? How many times did they launch reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on paper?
“We are not saying that opposition should not critique. What we are saying is that they should not promote anarchy because we didn’t do that in our time. They wrecked the the economy and we are rebuilding it. They wrecked the country’s infrastructure and we are rebuilding them?…When PDP left, 21 states could not pay the salary of their staff. They should stop re-writing history while we are alive..”
Asked if he was satisfied that the APC government has ameliorated the sufferings of Nigerians, in light of the present economic situation in the country, Mohammed replied: “I’m very proud of this administration’s efforts to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians. Before we came, there was nothing like the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
“They gloat that Nigerians are suffering under our watch. But we say that while they laid the ground work for today’s suffering with their mismanagement of national resources at a time of plenty, we have introduced unprecedented measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, especially the very vulnerable. Our NSIP is the biggest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The N-Power benefits one million people; the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), has benefitted four million people; the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) is providing quality meals daily to 10 million primary school pupils, in addition to empowering over 100,000 cooks and the same number of small holder farmers in the local areas where the schools are located; the Household Uplifting Programme (HUP), which has the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) as its flagship intervention, provides N5,000 monthly grants to almost 2 million eligible households across the country, in addition addition to the 1 million Urban Poor who are benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfers, under the directive of Mr. President to further expand the programme due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
On the double digit inflation raving the economy, the minister noted that, “ inflation is a global issue. On petrol scarcity: if only they did the needful (in overhauling infrastructure), we would have been benefitting from increase in crude oil prices today.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it will approach the Court of Appeal to contest the verdict of the Abuja Federal High Court quashing the 16 counts bordering on corruption and money laundering to the tune of N715million levelled against the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN) and three Others.
This was revealed in an official statement signed by the commission on Monday night.
The PUNCH earlier reported that in a ruling delivered on Monday, March 28, Justice Inyang Ekwo had upheld a no-case submission by the defendants.
The Judge held that it was unnecessary to ask the defendants to enter their defence, describing the evidence presented by the prosecution witnesses as “tainted”.
He also stated that the fact that the prosecution did not honour the Attorney General’s request for information regarding the case file, already discredited the charge.
However, the commission says the trial judge erred in dismissing the testimonies of all twelve prosecution witnesses and has thus resolved to file a notice of appeal at the appellate court – to set aside Justice Ekwo’s ruling.
The EFCC, in the disputed case, had alleged that the ex-minister used two companies: Samtee Essentials Limited, and Pasco Investment Limited – to perpetrate fraud while he was serving as the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and during his stint as a supervisory minister under the Ministry of Labour.
Turaki presided over the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015 and served as the Supervising Minister of Labour from 2014 to 2015 in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The PDP South-East has directed that the existing zoning patterns in states and constituencies of the zone must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency of the zone.
Briefing newsmen after the Zonal Executive Committee, ZEC, meeting of the PDP, held in Enugu, and attended by the leader of the party in the South East and Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Abia State counterpart, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Sam Anyanwu, members of the State and National Assemblies, members of PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, Board of Trustees, BOT members, among others, the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa disclosed that it was unanimously agreed that the PDP should zone the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Southern part of the country ahead of the party’s primaries.
Odefa added that the PDP South-East stands with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum “that the Office of the Presidency should be zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria”.
On the issue of zoning at the state and constituency levels in the zone, the PDP National Vice Chairman stated: “We said where there are zoning patterns, they must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency”.
Chief Odefa added: “We also went ahead to make interventions for our members who are holding political and elective positions in Anambra State who didn’t defect to other political parties in the time of the election but stood by the party (PDP) in times of bad weather, that they should be given support to return to their various offices”.
He, therefore, revealed that the zonal leadership of the party will make a presentation to the National Working Committee for assistance in that regard.
Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, has declared intention to contest the 2023 presidential election, saying he is the best man to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike, who stated this when he visited his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, at the Government House in Makurdi, yesterday, said he was making his intention to contest for presidency known for the first time in Benue.
“To remove APC from power, I’m the person who can tell them enough is enough. We must take this power and I’m ready to take it for PDP. God is with us that’s why APC keeps failing everyday,” he said.
The presidential aspirant, who urged stakeholders to give him their mandates and not to sell their votes, assured he has the capacity to, “face this evil government.”
He queried those founding fathers who ran away from the party and still want to be recognised, saying, “by the time you ran away, you sold your share as a founding father so you can no longer retain your position of founding fathers.
“I stood for this party. I work for this party since 1998. I have nowhere to run to and that’s why anything that happens to this party I take personally. I have never relented.
“In 2015, those who ran away made us loose election. Today, they are crying but some of us stood and said PDP will not die.
“Some people want to use Nigeria to buy back their personal business. They talk about private sector. Mention the private business that survive. Is it banks that your father had? Everybody is an employer of labour. Even in my house, I have 50 people who feast from me.
“They should stop deceiving us. I have performed as a governor and carry my shoulders high anywhere. I have the capacity to face this evil government. Just give me the mandate. I will speak the truth to power and nothing but the truth. I have the capacity to move this country forward,” he said.
Wike promised that if elected, security would be his topmost priority.
Opinion: 2023- All eyes on Ugwuanyi to anoint successor
By Chukwudi Nweje
Politics is in the air. The gladiators and power brokers are already in the field. With the next general elections fast approaching, they are deploying and inventing all manner of strategies to secure expected political mileage.
As it appears, in 2023, Nigerians are going to witness the mother of all elections. The gloves of many politicians are already off. For the majority of the players, the end justifies the means.
In Enugu, the Coal City state, the atmosphere ahead of next year’s general elections is not different. The political temperature of the state is rising by the day. It is more so in view of the anxiety over who the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would nominate as a successor.
So, barely a year to the conduct of the general elections, political actors across the divide are already warming up to slug it out even though leaders of Enugu appear to have agreed that the governorship position will be zoned to Enugu East Senatorial District. This development is in line with the existing zoning arrangement that was introduced in 1999, when Senator Chimaroke Nnamani stepped in as governor.
Following the tradition when the Fourth Republic started, every Enugu State governor usually determined his successor. And from all indications and knowing the political sagacity of the governor, there is no iota of doubt that he also would definitely determine who would take over the mantle of leadership of the state on May 29, next year.
But despite the fact that everyone knows that Governor Ugwuanyi would soon anoint his successor, many would agree that in Enugu today, all politicians including the major power brokers are wallowing in confusion. Why? None has been able to interprete the body language of the governor with regards to his choice for successor. Despite the effort by many of the gladiators to push Governor Ugwuanyi to make a commitment, he has remained mute on the issue of succession.
Perhaps the only clue to his mindset is that from his few utterances, he has made it clear that his administration would not truncate the concept of zoning which has led to the peaceful transition of power in the state.
The governor has not hidden his disposition to handover power to a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) from the Enugu East Senatorial zone. The Fourth Republic started with Governors Chimaroke Nnamani(Enugu East) to Sullivan Chime(Enugu West) and now Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi(Enugu North).
Following the tradition, the expectation of the majority in Enugu is that power is going to Enugu East this time. So far, only the former Deputy Senate president, Prof Ike Ekweremadu is the only aspirant outside Enugu East that has declared his interest for the Lion Building. He and his supporters are kicking against zoning in the Coal City state to secure his ambition to rule the state.
But followers of the politics of Enugu State believe that power will berth in Enugu East in 2023 and Governor Ugwuanyi will be the ultimate decider of his successor. So, all eyes are on the governor who, many believe, is a master in the game of politics. The question on the lips of many is: “ who will Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi anoint in 2023?
Surprisingly, last week, some politicians flew a familiar kite that the governor has endorsed Peter Mbah, one of the leading Enugu guber aspirants as a successor. The story had it that there was jubilation in Enugu by Mbah’s supporters on hearing the news which circulated when the governor was in Abia State for the PDP governors meeting.
But for many critical observers, the intention was to arouse the anger of the Enugu Governor and put Mbah in a disadvantaged position and as well portray him as a desperate politician who is in a haste to take over power. The whole idea in the estimation of observers is to weave a narrative that a man who is genuinely interested in presenting himself in the service of the people would not be so desperate to announce himself as the governor designate without proper recognition by the man currently at the helm of affairs in the state.
But one of Mbah’s supporters and former member of the House of Representatives, USA Igwesi dismissed the story of endorsement saying it is the handwork of detractors who want to set him up with the governor.
The former majority leader said Mbah beleives so much in the main political structure in Enugu State headed by Governor Ugwuanyi. He said that anyone familiar with Mbah would attest that he is a perfect gentleman who is not desperate for anything in life.
Igwesi said for instance that Mbah has no signboard of his governorship ambition anywhere in the state.
“Peter Mbah is an easy going person whose passion is to do good to the society. He is not the type of person that would like to have any problems with the governor and he knows very well that Governor Ugwuanyi has the ultimate power to anoint his successor?
But why is Peter Mbah a factor? He is a Nigerian professional and businessman with over 28 years experience. He has a long track record of entrepreneurship, characterized by iconoclasm, which has driven him to continually question the status quo in every industry he has found himself.
Mr. Mbah’s experience cuts across various sectors and activities including, Import trade, oil and gas sales and distribution and maritime logistics. He also has his footprints on the sands of public service, having served as the Chief of Staff to the Enugu State Governor and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development of the Enugu State Government.
His Quest for continuous growth and empowerment has seen him through the completion of a Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School, after which he bagged an MBA from IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain. He holds an LL.B in Law from the University of East London, and an LLM in Maritime Law from the University of Lagos. He is also a Fellow of the Certified Institute of Public Administration and Management (CIPM).
As diverse as Mr. Mbah’s career has been, its consistent underpinning factor has been his passion for excellence, integrity, corporate governance and the perpetual search for knowledge.
Enugu 2023 Guber Race: Profile of Likely Candidates-Final List
As the race to the Lion Building of Enugu State come 2023 commences, The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine x-rays the profile of the final list of likely contenders from all senatorial zones of Enugu State, having published three previous lists from Enugu East Senatorial Zone alone.
1. Sen. Ike Ekweremadu
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PhD, CFR, Former Deputy President of the Senate, was born on May 12, 1962, into the family of HRH Igwe Matthias and Madam Esther Ekweremadu. He is from Amachara Mpu, Aninri Local government area of Enugu state.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu attended Community Primary School, Mpu, St. Dominic’s Secondary School, Ugiri Mbano, and later, Boys Secondary School, Umueze, Awkunanaw, where he finished his secondary school education in 1980.
He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degree in Law from the University of Nigeria, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He also holds Doctor of Philosophy degree in Law from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. Senator Ike Ekweremadu has attended courses on Leadership and Negotiations at Oxford University, U.K and Harvard University, U.S.A.
Ike Ekweremadu, also called Ikeoha Ndigbo, at the age of 10 was the President of his age grade. He later became Town Union President of his community, a position he occupied for so many years at the pleasure and insistence of the community.
In 1996, he was the secretary of the movement for the creation of Aninri LGA.
He was elected as the Executive Chairman of Aninri Local Government Council in 1997 and won the Award of the Best Council Chairman in 1997. Ekweremadu was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu state in 1999, making him the first Nigerian to hold such position in any state of the federation and served in that capacity till 2001. He was later appointed as Secretary to Enugu State Government in 2001 and served till 2002.
On April 12, 2003, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate. In 2005, he lost the contest for the Senate Presidency to Senator Ken Nnamani
In 2007, he became the Deputy President of the Nigeria Senate, a position he held for three consecutive terms (2007-2019). Having served as a First Deputy Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, he was also unanimously elected as Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament when it was Nigeria’s turn to occupy the office in 2011.
Presently, Ekweremadu is the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace and a member of the International 7-Member Task force on Coronavirus, set up by the Global Council on Tolerance and Peace. He also chairs the Senate committee on Environment.
Ekweremadu runs a Foundation, Ikeoha foundation, which has supported over 10,000 women to learn how to read and write, providing scholarship and bursary to over 12,000 Students.
Ekweremadu, who has declared to run for Governor of Enugu State, is married to Lady Dr. Nwanneka Ekweremadu, a marriage blessed with children.
Ike Ekweremadu
2. Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor
Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor, a TV personality, Media Entrepreneur, Brand Management expert and an income generation strategist, hails from Amoli in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Tor read Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. She is the CEO of Accolade Media Co. which was the Event Consultant and Manager for the Enugu State Fiesta by Enugu State Government. Her company, in collaboration with Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, successfully managed the Kogi State carnival 2013 and successfully managed and concluded the Trade Union Triennial Delegate Conference that played host to over 1,000 delegates and dignitaries at NAF Conference Centre & Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja.
Ginika Tor ventured into politics in 2018 as a member of the of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. Mrs. Tor contested for the House of Representatives seat and later emerged as the Deputy Governorship Candidate, Enugu State, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress. She sits on the boards of many companies and is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Chieftaincy title of AdadiOraNma 1 of Amoli.
Hon. Ginika Tor is presently the Honourable Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission, Representing Enugu State, as appointed by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor is a wife and mother of four lovely children.
Ginika Tor
3. Prof. Bart Nnaji
Professor Bart O. Nnaji is Chairman/CEO, Geometric Power Limited, the first indigenous private sector power company in Nigeria.
He was the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh, and spearheaded the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Center of excellence for E-Design and Robotics. He was Professor of Engineering and Director of Automation and Robotics at the University of Massachusetts, USA.
He served Nigeria as Minister of Power; Minister of Science and Technology; Special Adviser to the President on Power; and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power.
He has also served as General Chairman of many International conferences including the World Conference on Robotics Research (1991).
His national awards include Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) by Nigeria’s President; and Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM) (Nigeria’s highest intellectual merit award); U.S. Secretary of State’s Distinguished Public Service Award; Distinguished Scientist Award by World Bank-IMF Africa Group; Baker Distinguished Research Award (highest research award by the International Institute of Industrial Engineers IIE), amongst others.
He has been awarded honorary Doctorates in Engineering, Science & Technology from 5 universities.
Prof. Bart Nnaji
4. Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga
Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga is a Legal Practitioner and Historian. Born on 15th January 1961, in Plateau state, he is a native of Agbani, in Nkanu West Local government, Enugu state.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in History in 1985 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Nwoga enrolled in the University of Ibandan to study Law and acquired his LL.B (Hons.) in 1989. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, where he also acquired the BL. He holds a Masters degree in Law, LL.M, from the University of Lagos. He specializes in Labor Law, Corporate Law and Criminal Law.
In 1993, Nwoga joined the Federal Ministry of Justice as a Senior State Counsel. He was elevated and posted to the Federal Ministry of Defense as an Assistant Legal Adviser. Nwoga worked under the Federal Ministry of Communication and also shared his wealth of knowledge in History as a Deputy Legal Adviser with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Abuja. After the establishment of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, he was Head, Monitoring Centre of NAPTIP.
Nwoga spent a few years in the Ministry and was later recruited by the Nigerian Communications Commission where he served as the Head, Licensing documentation Registry (NCC), Abuja.
Between 2005 and 2006, he was appointed a Special Adviser on Legal Matters to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State. He subsequently was appointed the Attorney General of Enugu State from January to May 2007.
Ifeanyi Nwoga is a member of the Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He finds delight in soccer and playing table tennis. He is a devout Christian and is happily married. The family of over 25years is blessed with four children.
Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga
5. Barr. George Ogara
Barr. George Tabugbo Ogara was born at Nsukka on the 10th April, 1974 to Late Chief Simeon Ogara and Mrs Euphamia Ovute Ogara, both from Unadu community in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
George had his elementary school at Ireti primary school, Lagos, and his secondary school at Ovoko Boys Secondary School, in Igboeze South LGA.
He studied Law in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State where he graduated with a second class honours degree and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where he graduated with a second class upper division grade and was subsequently called to the Nigerian bar in September 1999.
Ogara founded Law Edge (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a partnership that thrives and flourishes till now. George’s practice areas cut across Maritime Claims, Oil and Gas, Environmental Litigation, Community Rights and general claims. He is a household name in environmental litigation in the Niger Delta.
In 2011, he made his debut in politics when he vied to represent his Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives under PDP.
Until February 2019 when the Court of Appeal of Nigeria decided otherwise, George Ogara was the Enugu State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 electioneering period.
George is happily married with children.
Barr. George Ogara
6. Sen. Gilbert Nnaji
Senator (Prince) Gilbert Emeka Nnaji is reputed for his profound passion for community development, philanthropy, human capacity building and legacy projects.
He served as a Senator of the Federal Republic between 2011 and 2019 where he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, spanning eight years. He also served as a Member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011, during which he served as Deputy Majority Leader at first term and Chairman of House Committee on Commerce, in the second session.
Born on July 18, 1966, Gilbert Nnaji hails from Umuenwene, Iji-Nike, Enugu East LGA. He was a 3-term Chairman of Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State, under both the military and the democratic regimes between 1996 and 2003.
Also added to his numerous landmark investments in human capital development in the Enugu East Senatorial District and even beyond, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji facilitated the government’s provision of classroom blocks and several other facilities including, hospitals, rural electrification, roads, water projects, etc.
Senator (Prince) Gilbert Emeka Nnaji is reputed for his profound passion for community development, philanthropy, human capacity building and legacy projects. In appreciation of his tremendous contribution to the development of education, selfless service to humanity and competitive public service credentials, the Godfrey Okoye University in 2015, presented Senator Nnaji with the prestigious Honourary Doctorate Degree in Political Science.
Gil Nnaji is the Chief Executive Officer of Dun-Gee Hotels Limited, Senator (Prince) Gilbert Nnaji is presently in the hospitality business.
A Christian and married with children, he has a bachelor degree in Banking and Finance from University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Sen. Gil Nnaji has formally declared his interest to run for Governor.
Sen. Gilbert Nnaji
7. Prof. Jehu Nnaji
Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nnaji of Amurri kingdom in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State.
Jehu attended his primary and secondary schools in Aba, Abia State, and Universities at University of Benin, Benin City, where he obtained Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Master’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing Option – MBA), from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD in Comparative Constitutional Law and Integration Processes from University of Naples II, Italy, among other numerous honors.
Onyekwere is a Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Netherlands (2007-date), in collaboration with the International Bar Association, London, UK. He is a Professor and Consultant in Civil and Criminal Matters at the Italian Ministry of Justice and at the High Courts of Naples and Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE), Italy.
Nnaji is a Professor and Conference Convenor/Chair of International Political Science Association (IPSA), Montreal, Canada, a Professor and Scientific Member of Group of Researchers in International Law. He is equally, the Professor and President, Globe Visions Network-A Migration and Integration Organization, not to mention that he is a Visiting Scholar at the School of Law, University of Kansas, USA., a Professor and Research Scholar at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), London (2010-2012) and a Professor of International Law, Politics and Integration, University of Naples II, Italy (2009), and countless other places.
Jehu has earned several honourable awards and is a member of numerous notable professional international organisations.
On the flip side, Professor Nnaji has had a fair participation in the sports and entertainment industries, as he has actively featured in soaps in the 90s. Prof. Jehu was a boxing trainer to Bash Ali – a former African Heavyweight boxing champion and saw to his victory over his Cameroonian counterpart in a fight that took place at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium Lagos in 1995, and more.
He was a Senatorial Candidate of Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the 2019 General Elections. Prof. Jehu is always easily defined by his strong and refined willingness to work so hard to cause a positive change everywhere he finds himself. He’s a son his people called Nwa eji eme-onu.
Prof. Jehu Onyekwere
8. Pst. Donatus Ozoemena
Pastor Donatus Madubuike Obi Ozoemena was a governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections under the platform of United Democratic Party, UDP.
He hails from Onoli in Awgu local government area and is a United States Based Pastor under God’s Anointed Live Ministries. He has continued to organize football competitions among youths of Awgu local government.
At the end of the 2019 elections, he filed a case at the election tribunal against Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi but later withdrew the petition and went ahead to congratulate and pledge support to the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Ozoemena has declared to run for Governor of Enugu State in 2023 under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
In a bid to save the All Progressives Congress from collapse at the national convention, which holds on Saturday, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, held a series of meetings with governors, party leaders and APC members in the National Assembly.
The PUNCH learnt that some governors and chairmanship aspirants of the APC were still against the imposition of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by the President as of Thursday night.
As of press time, some of the APC chieftains at the Presidential Villa were a former interim Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande; national leader, Bola Tinubu; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbomnaya Onu; Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Aliyu Wamako.
Others are governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; and Aminu Masari of Katsina State; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Chairman, Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Mai Mala Buni; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The President is expected to meet all the 23 APC governors jointly today (Friday).
It was gathered that chairmanship aspirants held long meetings in Abuja over the President’s demand and were expected to issue a joint statement.
One of the aspirants said, “We met with the President on Wednesday night and he made it clear that he wanted all those vying for offices to emerge through consensus. In essence, he wants the entire convention to be a mere formality for affirmation. He wants Senator Adamu as the next chairman.
“The President also promised to return the money spent to procure the N20m form. So, we are currently holding meetings and we will issue a joint statement.
“Sincerely, none of us is happy about this. If they knew this was what they were going to do from the start, they should have said so. At least we wouldn’t have wasted money on adverts, mobilisation, logistics and transporting supporters to Abuja from our states. This is disappointing for a party that calls itself progressive.”
A deputy national chairmanship aspirant, Sunny Moniedafe, said he would not be stepping down, adding that everything would be settled on the field of contest.
Moniedafe said, “I have spent over N300m over the last 20 months. I visited Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Borno states several times. It is not just about buying form. How can the APC stand before the world and canvass votes from Christians when all top positions for the North are being given to Muslims? Muslim chairman, Muslim deputy national chairman (North), Muslim organising secretary and I hear the vice-chairman, North-East zone, will go to a Muslim too.
“I’m not playing religious politics, but Nigeria is a diverse country. Let us take all these into consideration. I don’t agree with what they are doing and I hope they have a rethink. I am an Urhobo man but from the North.”
Confirming Buhari’s position on Adamu, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, who is a member of the APC caretaker committee, said in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday that the President had asked the 23 APC governors to ensure that Adamu emerges the chairman at Saturday’s convention.
“At the moment, we are looking at Senator Abdullahi Adamu based on the suggestion by the President for whatever reasons. But I believe that this is a democratic system. If the other contestants do not key in or buy this idea, it is their legitimate right to contest, but we hope that this matter will be resolved within hours or the next few days,” Bello stated.
Also speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said the President remained the leader of the party and had the right to insist on his preferred candidate.
Lalong added that it was not a case of imposition but consensus.
When reminded of the fact that those who choose to step down must indicate by writing, Lalong said there was ample time to get all the aspirants to do so.
However, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, said he was not aware of Buhari’s endorsement of any candidate.
Fayemi, while speaking at an event organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development, on Thursday, said Buhari had the right to anoint a candidate, but added that there was no guarantee that his candidate would win.
Responding to a question, he said, “As to your question on whether the President has anointed anyone, I have no knowledge of that, but the President is well within his rights to have a preferred candidate. But in our party, let him come and campaign for that candidate at the Eagle’s Square on Saturday.
“If his candidate wins, fine; if his candidate loses, well, he is going to have to live with that.”
However, a source in the Presidency said Buhari had adopted the micro-zoning formula presented by the governors and it would therefore be wrong to say the President was imposing people on the party.
The source said allegations that the President was imposing aspirants was nothing but blackmail.
He stated, “The issue of Mr President trying to impose persons against the wishes of party leaders, especially governors, does not arise. It is pure blackmail by those who have lost out.
“The man has been transparent enough to tell stakeholders his desire for the party to have its chairman and the governors themselves wanted to know if he had a preferred choice, which he told them at the meeting on Wednesday.”
The Presidency official further stated that Buhari also had his preferred aspirants for the national secretary and national deputy chairman of the APC, but decided to respect the micro-zoning the governors had endorsed.
The rebuttal comes amid claims by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State that some forces outside the South-West were trying to impose aspirants on the party.
The Presidency official stated, “Even where he preferred certain persons, he could not force them on the people if the positions they are seeking are not zoned to their states.
“For instance, he wanted his long time ally and friend, Ahmed Farouk, as the deputy national chairman (North). But Farouk could not make it because he is from the North-West, while the position was zoned to North-East. That is why you can see Muhammed Kyari as the new person.
“In the same vein, he would have loved Ife Oyedele as national secretary, but the slot does not belong to Ondo; it goes to the Oyo/Osun axis according to the briefing he got from the governors. So, do you now expect the President to force people on others? It is not possible.”
Meanwhile, Buhari met with federal lawmakers, who are members of the APC, at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
While addressing the legislators, the President urged party leaders and stakeholders to stick to the zoning arrangement released three weeks ago by the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee.
This is as he urged them to avoid distractions and to channel their energies into improving the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming elections.
The President reminded members of the proximity of the election dates set by the Independent Electoral Commission, advising that positions should be harmonised with a bigger picture of winning elections and providing good governance.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Avoid distractions, keep your eyes on the ball, President Buhari tells APC leaders, members’.
Buhari told the lawmakers that a zoning template was produced and adopted by the party after wide consultation in order to ensure that the leadership was reflective of the diversity in unity, while representing various dynamic interests.
He stated, “It is imperative that we adhere to that template. The time available to us is limited and I, therefore, enjoin you to collaborate with the various stakeholders within and outside your respective states and zones to agree to work together and harmoniously in electing into the allotted positions appropriately as stipulated in the provided template.
“This will not only produce a smooth process and limit friction, but will enhance the image of the party positively and strengthen our overall position of dominance in the political space.”
Buhari also emphasised that as the national convention draws closer, members could not afford to do anything that would jeopardise the chances of the party in the 2023 general elections.
He added, “A critical segment of our national democratic process is the National Assembly. Being representatives of our people from all over the country, the National Assembly, especially the 9th Assembly, has exhibited a commitment to a peaceful democratic process in its conduct and utmost maturity in its relationship with other arms of government. I commend the leadership for this success.
“Distinguished senators and honourable members, we have an obligation to conduct the upcoming convention in a manner that not only fortifies the unity of our party, but also improves the prospects of our electoral fortunes in the 2023 general elections. You have an important role to play in ensuring that this happens.”
But the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, lamented the neglect of the National Assembly.
A top source at the meeting told The PUNCH that Gbajabiamila wondered why the National Assembly was only being consulted two days to the convention when everything had been concluded.
“Gbajabiamila lamented the relegation of the National Assembly in party affairs. The governors have already drawn up unity lists; the President has also picked his own candidate. So, he said it was wrong to put the National Assembly last when all had been finalised,” a lawmaker who attended the meeting said.
In a related development, it was learnt that the President met with APC stalwart and presidential hopeful, Tinubu; and a former Chairman of the party, Akande, as part of efforts to ensure that the convention goes smoothly.
Akande was said to have kicked against the plan of the governors to impose his estranged ex-deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, on the party.
“Buhari is trying to get the support of all the key stakeholders in the APC. The matter is that most people do not want Senator Adamu. Now, he is seeking the help of Tinubu and others. But Bisi Akande is against Omisore. He will present his demands to Buhari,” a party chieftain said.
Also on Thursday, the party barred political appointees from voting at its convention holding on Saturday.
The APC made this known in a statement titled, ‘Attention to political office holders who were elected as delegates’.
It read, “The National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC has declared that all political appointees, who were elected as delegates to the national convention slated for 26/3/2022, shall not vote in view of the controversy surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.APC convention: Buhari battles last-minute crisis, summons govs, chairmanship aspirants’ fail to agree
“However, political appointees can still attend as observers.”
Enugu 2023: Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa consults Enugu North zone Monarchs
By Obinna Asogwa.
Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, ex-Federal Permanent Secretary and one of the frontline contenders in the 2023 governorship race of Enugu State, has intensified his all inclusive consultations and engagements with political stakeholders and traditional rulers across the state to garner support in furtherance of his ambition to win the 2023 governorship election in Enugu state.
On 22 December, 2022, he had consultation with the traditional rulers of one hundred and twenty (120) autonomous communities in Enugu East senatorial zone which was hosted in the Palace of HRH, Igwe Julius Nnaji, the Paramount Royal father of ancient Nike Kingdom, east of Enugu metropolis. On hand to recieve Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa on the occasion were the traditional rulers from several autonomous communities in the zone. Sir Ohaa interacted with them, told them he had come to inform and consult with them on his decision to contest the 2023 Enugu guber election and to seek their prayers and blessings. He gave insight into his public service career and explained why he wants to run for the Office of the governor of the state in 2023.
He emphasized that when he decided to commence his consultation visits, he resolved that he must start it, first, by visiting the royal fathers in his senatorial zone to ask for their blessing and prayer. The traditional rulers, several of whom have had contacts with Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa at different levels in the course of his public service career expressed support for his ambition, pouring prayers in torrents for God to fulfil his heart’s desires. The traditional rulers who spoke, drawing from their knowledge of Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, said he has paid his dues in demonstrating competence and character in fighting alongside other worthy sons of the state for the betterment of the lots of our people.
Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa’s train of engagements and consultations moved on to Enugu North senatorial District a couple of days ago where he parleyed with the traditional rulers of Igbo-Etiti Council Area on 10 March, 2022. The next day, Friday, March 11, 2022, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa visited 4 Council Areas of Nsukka, Igboeze North, Igboeze South and Udenu, and finally, on 17 March, 2022, he was at Ojor community, the Igala speaking Community in Uzouwani Council Area in the palace of HRH, Igwe Emeka Umunna, the chairman of Uzouwani Traditional Rulers Council, where he met with all the traditional rulers in Uzouwani Council Area.
In the course of this interactive visits in Enugu North senatorial District, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa met with about 142 traditional rulers in Nsukka cultural zone, the most populous geopolitical zone in Enugu state. In the 6 Council areas of Enugu North senatorial District that he visited, he met with the royal fathers in either their Council headquarters or in the palace of the Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council. He reminded the royal fathers that although they are insulated from partisan politics, they, all the same, enjoy the respect and reverence of their people and wield immense political influence. He underscored the fact that his decision to parley with them is to underline the significance of the royal fathers as critical stakeholders in the state’s democratic process, and further, to demonstrate the high esteem in which he holds them.
Peter Mbah Media Organization debunks rumor of endorsement by Governor Ugwuanyi
Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
The media organization of one of Enugu State’s Guber hopeful, Dr. Barr. Peter Mbah, has debunked the news of the purported endorsement of Peter Mbah’s candidature by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, which has been making rounds since yesterday evening on social media.
In a statement signed by the Media Office, Peter Mbah Organization, circulated on social media and sighted by our correspondent, the office described the fake news as a product of the destructively fertile imaginations of those who are intimidated by the impressive and rising profile of Hon. Barr. Peter Mbah.
The statement titled The Fake News on Hon. Peter Mbah reads “Our attention has been drawn to a fake news circulating on social media wherein our dear Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was said to have endorsed Hon. Peter Mbah as the governorship candidate of our great party, the PDP. The write-up is the product of the destructively fertile imaginations of those who are intimidated by the impressive and rising profile of Hon. Barr. Peter Mbah.
“Initial enquiries indicated that our dear Governor was away from the State on official engagement at the time of the said celebration in Government House. This fabrication was obviously done to impose the desperation of this clique on the Governor, a man not known to harbour any desperation for any issue in his years of politics and in government.
“The good people of Enugu State are advised to disregard this desperate antics of mischief makers whose ploy is to provoke the resentment of our party leaders against Hon. Peter Mbah.”
A social commentator who sent in a message to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity described the now debunked news as the handiwork of those who feel threatened by the silent but powerful moves of Barr. Peter Mbah to clinch the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming primaries. He advice Mbah to stay focused and count it as one of the prices to be paid in the race for the coveted seat of the Governor of Enugu State.
Peter Mbah is a Lawyer and hails from Owo in Nkanu East local council of Enugu State. He is the CEO of Pinnacle Oil. He was formerly Chief of Staff to Senator Chimaroke Nnamani when Nnamani was governor of Enugu State. He later became Commissioner for Finance.
