The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • The murder of Dora Akunyili’s husband

     

    THERE was anger in Anambra State and the entire country on Wednesday over the gruesome murder by suspected hoodlums of Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of the late former minister of Information and director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Dora Akunyili.

     

    Dr Akunyili was reportedly shot dead on Tuesday evening alongside seven others at Nkpor in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    A bystander close to where the incident happened, said, “The killers attacked him (Akunyili) when they spotted a policeman in his car. Maybe they felt threatened when they sighted his police orderly. So, they killed him, the orderly and his driver. They took him to be a politician.

     

    The witness said as they were shooting Akunyili and others, they were shouting, “No “election” in Anambra in November.

     

    The state Police Command confirmed the murder of Dr Akunyili, in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu.

     

    Tochukwu said Chike was killed at Afor Nkpor in the Idemili North Local Government Area.

     

    The police statement read in part, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Tony Olofu, has observed with grave concern the series of security breaches that have taken place within the state, and has therefore ordered tactical commanders of the Command to immediately put an end to the madness.

     

    “He gave this order when he led senior police officers from the command on an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scenes.”

     

    Some of those killed were headless, says ex-gov

    Meanwhile, a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, expressed shock at the death of Akunyili.

     

    Obi, who spoke to journalists at Akunyili’s Agulu home town in a joint press conference with the monarch of the town, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor, said, “I was lucky to get the first flight, and I landed in Owerri and moved straight to Iyienu Hospital in Onitsha, where his (Akunyili’s) son and I identified him in the mortuary.

     

    “He was not the only victim; there was his driver and police security aide. About nine people in all were involved in the shooting on Tuesday, and some of them were headless, and it is now a problem identifying them.”

     

    Obi said the killing of Akunyili was rude shock to him and members of Agulu community.

     

    Fish out Akunyili’s killers, Ohanaeze tells police, others

    Also shocked was the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, which condemned the gruesome murder of Dr Akunyili.

     

    It asked security agencies to fish out the murderers of Akunyili and others who have been gruesomely murdered in the South-East in recently.

     

    Ohanaeze spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, told one of our correspondents in telephone interview that it was sacrilegious to shed blood in Igboland, especially one who had committed no offence.

     

    Perpetrators’ll face God, man’s judgment, says Buhari

    Reacting to the death of the widower to former NAFDAC DG, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), expressed “deep sadness” over his (Akunyili) murder.

     

    This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘President Buhari mourns Dr Chike Akunyili’.

     

    The statement read in part, “The President shares the pain of the offspring of Prof. and Dr Akunyili, their families and friends, whose lives will never remain the same after the inhuman and reprehensible act that happened in Anambra State.”

     

    He enjoined security agencies and leaders of thought to “work harder” to bring an end to the violence being unleashed on innocent Nigerians; assuring the grieving families, who lost their loved ones in the incident, that the perpetrators of the heinous act will face both the judgment of man, and that of God.

     

    Confront Anambra’s worsening insecurity, Uba urges Obiano

    Speaking on the tragedy, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November poll in the state, Dr Andy Uba, asked the state Governor, Willy Obiano, to “shake off his lethargy and frontally confront the worsening insecurity in the state.

     

    A statement by his director of Media and Publicity, Afam Uba, read, “Obiano is not only fiddling, while Anambra is burning, but is clearly absent from duty.

     

    “Only two days ago, we had cause to cry out over the spate of violence unleashed on our dear state, but little did we know that the situation would degenerate into the current state of anomie that we live in.”

     

    Count us out of Akunyili’s death, says IPOB

    Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra has denied any involvement in the killing.

     

    The Media and Publicity Secretary of the secessionist group, Emma Powerful, said in a statement, “We wish to dissociate ourselves from the senseless killing of innocent citizens in Anambra State.

     

     

    DSS denies killing Akunyili’s widower Chike

    “We have no hands in the political killings going on in Biafra land. We have several times raised the alarm that some cruel politicians are hiding under the cloak of the situation in Biafra land to eliminate their political enemies and blame it on IPOB.

     

    “This is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State now and it has been perfected by Nigeria DSS. Security agents are doing this to paint IPOB black in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people.”

     

    We didn’t kill Dora Akunyili’s widower – DSS

    Reacting, the Department of State Services denied killing Dr Akunyili.

     

    The secret police in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday said there was no basis for the service to have killed the Chike.

     

    The statement was titled, ‘DSS denies allegation of killing Dr. Chike Akunyil’.

     

    Afunanya, however, said the service would collaborate with other security agencies to bring to book perpetrators of the crime.

     

    It read, “The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to an allegation that its operatives killed Dr. Chike Akunyili.

     

    “Also, the Service was alerted to a social media video claiming that the “Nigerian DSS” murdered security escorts at Nkpor, Anambra State on 28th September, 2021.

     

    “The Service hereby denies these allegations and wishes to clearly state that they are spurious and illogical. There was no basis for the DSS to kill the medical doctor and/or fellow law enforcement agents. The Service cherishes life and believes in the rule of law.”

     

    Obiano places N20m bounty on Akunyili widower, other’s killers

    In another development, Governor Willie Obiano has placed N20m bounty on the killers of Dr Akunyili and others.

     

    Obiano announced this in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state.

     

    He said the bounty was part of the state government’s seriousness on the matter.

     

    He said, “To reinforce our commitment and seriousness on this issue, I, on behalf of the state government, wish to announce a N20m reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our state. The people behind this must be unmasked and brought to book.”

     

    Akunyili’s community declares three-day mourning

    Meanwhile, the Agulu community in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State has declared three-day mourning in the area over the killing of their son (Akunyili) by gunmen.

     

    The caretaker President General of the community, Onyebuchi Okpala, disclosed this to our correspondent

     

    He said, “Two days ago, one  Azubuike Anikwata from ifiteani village, Agulu, who returned from Turkey and was building an industry in the community, was killed by gunmen. Another attack at Nkpor junction claimed the life of our son, Dr Chike Akunyili.

     

    “On this note, we, the people of Agulu in general, have commenced three days mourning from 29th of September. All political activities in the community are hereby suspended during the mourning period.”

     

    Bring Akunyili’s killers to book, Ekwunife tasks IGP

    Speaking on the development, the representative of the late Dr Akunyili in the Senate, Uche Ekwunife, (Anambra Central), has asked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali-Baba, to uncover the killers of the lecturer and bring them to justice.

     

    “The Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies should investigate what is happening in the South-East because lives are being lost daily due to gunmen attacks,” she said.

     

    Insecurity in S’East needs collective response – Rep

    Also, the lawmaker representing Nnewi North-South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in Anambra State in the House of Representatives, Chris Azubogu, said the murder of Dr. Akunyili, called for urgent action by all stakeholders.

     

    Speaking to The PUNCH on Wednesday, Azubogu said the security crisis especially in the South-East now calls for collective response by all leaders across party lines.

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Oil price hits $80 per barrel

     

    Nigeria’s economy is in a dire strait as oil price hit $80.20 yesterday amid growing demand fuelled by a return to opening of economies around the world.

     

    However, the development has put Nigeria at crossroads. While the country makes more revenue from oil sales, the gains appear to be filtered away through fuel subsides as the country through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC) imports 100 per cent of petrol consumed locally at 56 million litres daily

     

     

    According to data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the corporation incurred N756.99 billion petrol subsidy cost from January to July this year, a figure that may likely hit N1 trillion by December if oil price continues to rally.

     

    The surge may not be unconnected with Hurricane Ida’s landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane. As a result of the hurricane, 96 per cent of crude oil production and 94 per cent of natural gas production in the U.S. federally administered areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) were shut in.

     

    According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, at least nine refineries shut down or reduced production, leading to reduced forecast for crude oil production and refinery runs in September Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).

     

     

     

    The GOM accouns for 15 per cent of U.S. crude oil production. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that global oil demand will move to 108 million barrels per day(bpd), up from where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    The Federal Government had in March 2020 removed petrol subsidy after reducing the pump price of the product to N125 per litre from N145 following the sharp drop in crude oil prices.

    The landing cost of petrol imported into the country increased to a new high of N249.42 per litre on July 30 from N240.17 per litre as of June 25.

     

    Data from the corporation showed that it incurred N25.37billion subsidy in January, N60.40billion in February, N111.97bn in March, and N126.30bn in April an d N114.34bn in May.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Constitution Amendment: Pentecostal Fellowship warns against Islamisation of Nigeria

     

    Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, yesterday, warned the National Assembly against what it called “the islamisation of Nigeria through the backdoor.”

     

    The PFN chairman, Enugu State Chapter, Bishop Giddy Madu who gave this warning in a statement issued to pressmen in Enugu, said the PFN was aware of a move to smuggle in some amendments into the constitution.

     

    The PFN said: “The attention of Nigerians is called to the dangerous proposals in the Senate and House of Representatives to alter sections 262(1) and 277(1) which provide respectively that, ‘The Sharia Court of Appeal shall, in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic personal law.”

     

    It said this was an amendment to the existing provision that: “The Sharia Court of Appeal of a state shall, in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by the law of the state, exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic personal law which the court is competent to decide in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.”

     

    According to the Christian group, “The above provisions only permit Islamic Personal Law in civil proceedings. This is clearly defined in Sections 262(1) and (2) and 277(1) and (2). All references under these provisions are to ‘Islamic personal law.

     

     

    “The proposed amendments elevate Islamic law to the status of ‘a general law. Once the word ‘personal’ is removed from Sections 262 and 277 of the Constitution, it opens the door for ‘the wholesale’ importation of Sharia Law, including Sharia Criminal Law into the FCT or any part of the federation.

     

    “The proposed amendment will give the Sharia Court of Appeal unlimited jurisdiction to entertain all kinds of matters, both civil and criminal, using Islamic Law. It will interfere with the jurisdictions of both the Federal High Court and the State High Courts.”

     

    PFN said the secularity of the Nigerian State as enshrined in the Constitution was sacrosanct and should not be tampered with.

     

    “We vehemently reject the proposed amendment of Sections 266 and 267 of the Constitution, which spelt out the secularity of the nation and freedom of worship. It will lead to a situation where non-Muslims would be tried for Sharia offences.

     

    “Such an amendment will make for an unhealthy breach of the human rights of the people, as the freedom of association of non-Muslims cannot be guaranteed under such circumstances.

     

    “The PFN Enugu State is, therefore, calling on the National Assembly to reject in its entirety the proposed amendment of the sections above to avoid plunging Nigeria into an avoidable crisis.”

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • We reject Anarchy and lawlessness in Igboland

    Continuous violence and wanton killings in the Southeast have been described by Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a systematic destruction of the geo-political zone.

     

     

    In a strong-worded statement on the security situation in the five states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia and Imo, Ohanaeze called on the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to facilitate an end to the carnage.

     

    Policemen are randomly attacked and killed at check points and in attacks on their stations, civilians are attacked and killed in broad daylight by rampaging gunmen in the states.

     

    The IPOB randomly calls sit-at-home which halts businesses. The organisation has already called for another sit-at-home on October 1.

     

    Ohanaeze also faulted Southeast governors for failing to put the former regional security organisation Ebube Agu into operation months after it was given birth to.

     

    In the statement, signed by its President-General Prof. George Obiozor, Ohanaeze said: “Our youths, particularly the leaders of IPOB, should take notice of the danger violence has posed in Igbo land. Ndigbo must avoid being a race that has voluntarily chosen to perish in violence and insecurity, and we must stop threatening ourselves and there must be a stop to violence and violent rhetoric. Something other than the initial objectives of IPOB is taking place and it is dangerous.

     

    “Today, what we are seeing in Igbo land is not liberation but Igbo destruction and devastation. It is a national tragedy for Igbos. The liberty and freedom of Ndigbo are threatened internally and externally. I call on IPOB leaders to reassert the authority and control of the organisation.

     

    Read Also: We’ve not declared no election in Anambra – IPOB

    “To our son, Nnamdi Kanu himself, what good is it to have the greatest dream in the world, if others reap the benefit and glory. In history, there is only a thin line between a hero and a villain. The greatest tragedy for any leader in history is to end up from a hero to a villain. Ndigbo must think again about which way forward. Our Anger and disgust must be directed at leaders and fellow citizens, who do not want Ndigbo to become emancipated like themselves as Nigerian citizens.

     

    “What Ndigbo want, is that we should become a light unto the world, like all good people in the world ought to be. That was precisely part of my critical message to His Excellency President Mohammed Buhari during his official visit to Imo state. For Ndigbo, the President and the Federal Government, there must be evidence of an increasing sense of belonging, equity, and justice for Ndigbo. Consequently, we thank Mr. President for his appointment to our Distinguished Son Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and our Daughter as Chairman and member of the NNPC board respectively.”

     

    He added: “For Ndigbo, the demand is simple, that the Nigerian Federation should be sustained and have a sense of stability; it must be a union of equals and the composite units must have the ability to survive without begging the centre.

     

    “We must tell ourselves the truth or keep deceiving ourselves by ignoring the calls for decentralisation and devolution of power in Nigeria. Ironically, in history, in societies where truth comes last, tragedy comes first. We must learn the lessons of history, particularly our own Nigerian history on how the story began. Nigeria must avoid being a failed state.

     

    “To the Southeast governor’s delay in launching Ebube Agu security outfit is an embarrassment. I strongly appeal to the governors without further hesitation to consolidate and launch Ebubeagu security architecture, in the South-East. The security situation in the South-East makes this call urgent and imperative. Our people must have a security networking agency that is under their control and capable of identifying both internal and external security threats in Igbo land.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Northern Governor’s Forum oppose 2023 powershit to the South

     

    The Northern States Governors’ Forum on Monday opposed the call by its Southern counterpart that the Presidency should move to the South in 2023.

     

    The northern governors, who stated this at their meeting in Kaduna,  said the call by the Southern Governors’ Forum was against the constitution of the country.

     

    But groups including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere and the Delta State Government said the northern governors’ position was against the unity of the country.

     

    The southern governors at their recent meeting in Enugu reiterated their demand that the Presidency should shift to the South in 2023.

     

    On Monday, the northern governors said although some of them had endorsed the Southern governors’ call for power shift to the South, the regional governors collectively condemned such a call.

    They said the statement by their Southern counterparts contradicted the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

     

    They  added that the elected President must meet the requirements which include getting “the majority votes, scoring at least 25  per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of the states of the federation; in case of a runoff, a simple majority win.”

     

    These were contained in a communiqué issued  after an emergency meeting of the regional governors and the chairmen of Northern Council of Chiefs  held in Kaduna on Monday.

     

    Northern govs await S’Court judgment on VAT

    The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who read out the communiqué on behalf of his colleagues, also said the issue of the  collection of Value added Tax by states was before the court.

     

    He said it would amount to subjuduice to take a decision on the matter.

     

    Lalong insisted that it was the view of his colleagues that until  there is pronouncement by the Supreme Court on the substantive matter between Rivers and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, “the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors’ Forum would respect this.”

     

    The 11-point-communique read, “The forum observed that some northern  governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three geopolitical zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation.

     

    “Notwithstanding their comments, the forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors’ Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.

     

    “The statement is quite contradictory to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in two thirds of states of the federation. In the case of a runoff, a  simple majority win.

     

    “The Northern State Governors’ Forum considered the ongoing national debate on the collection of Value Added Tax. As responsible leaders while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub-judice, we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations:

     

    “The judgment of the Federal high Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inlands Revenue Service.

     

    “Rivers and Lagos state governments have enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors’ Forum has expressed support for this course of action;

     

    “VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax. If every state enacts its own VAT law, multiple taxation will result in increase in  prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer;

     

    “Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its “overall effect”.  The reason Lagos accounts for our 50 per cent VAT collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT

     

    “Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub-judice and Northern Governors’ Forum would respect this.”

     

    The governors also lauded the current onslaught by the military on bandits and insurgents in the some part of the north.

     

    Besides, the forum   decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some judicial officers in releasing  and granting bail to arrested criminals.  “This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, there the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanism amongst States was identified as a panacea,” Lalong added.

     

    Meanwhile, stakeholders in the South, including  have taken on northern governors over  opposition to power shift to the South.

     

    On its part, the Delta State Government said  it  aligned with the decision of Southern Governors’ Forum.

     

    The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday in Asaba, said, “The Delta State Government has already aligned with the decision of southern governors, so it does not matter whether the northern governors are opposing it. We were there when the decision was taken and that is final as far  as Delta is concerned”

     

    Northern govs exercising their right of free speech – Akeredolu’s aide

    When contacted, his Ondo State counterpart,  Mr Donald Ojogo, said, “They (northern governors) have expressed and indeed exercised their rights under the freedom of expression. No one can stop them from expressing themselves.”

     

    Northern govs working towards Nigeria’s break-up – Ohanaeze

    But the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization,  Ohanaeze Ndigbo, described the position of the northern governors as unfortunate.

     

    It  said the North  benefited from the Nigerian union more than it contributed to it.

     

    Spokesman  for  the Igbo apex body, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, warned the northern leaders to have a rethink if they wanted the Nigerian union to continue.

     

    Ogbonnia said, “If there is any group of people that benefits from the corporate existence of Nigeria, it is the North. This is because what northerners bring to the table is far  less than what they take from the table. So instead of looking for a way for Nigeria to remain united, develop and grow, they are looking at the way Nigeria will break up. It is simply inconceivable that the North that benefits the most from this country would like the country to break up.

     

    “I have often said that if they are talking of constitutionality, as a matter of fact there is no place it is written in the constitution, but there is a gentleman agreement about power rotation between the north and south.

     

    “The resolution was reached at the NUC (National Universities Commission) Event Centre at Abuja, and that was when Abdulsalami Abubakar was the Head of State and Commander in-Chief. It was agreed that power would shift from North to the South and that was why all the parties concentrated on  the South and it was zoned to the South-West in 1999.

     

    “After Obasanjo it went to  Yar’Adua from North, to Jonathan from South and returned to North, Buhari. So now after Buhari,  it is supposed to come down South. That is gentleman agreement. It is unconscionable for the North to begin to talk about the power remaining in the North now.

     

    “So it is unfortunate that they will be trying to go contrary to the views expressed and demand by the southern governors. As far as I am concerned, the position of the Southern Governors is the Ohanaeze’s stand. Ohanaeze stands with the southern governors that power should come down to the South.”

     

    Ogbonnia, however stated, “I don’t want to believe that the northerners are happy with what is happening in the country today.  Only a person who is happy with what is happening will be talking about efforts that will bring about crisis and disunity. What is happening in Nigeria today is a result of injustice and inequity. Instead of trying to ameliorate the situation and bring about the desired the change based on equity , fair play and somebody will be very busy orchestrating more injustice.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Zoning controversy: PDP tearing apart

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faces a stormy week over zoning of party offices.

     

    Two key meetings on the vexed issue — the final session of the National Zoning Committee headed by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the party’s governors’ meeting on the report of the Ugwuanyi panel – will hold this week.

     

     

    The Ugwuanyi panel’s meeting last week ended in a deadlock.

     

    Members were divided over the proposal by leaders of the party in the North who proposed adoption of the 2017 formula.

     

    The 2017 formula zones the party chairman to the South, which inevitably leaves the presidential zoning to the North.

     

    Southerners at the meeting said Governor Ugwuanyi ended the meeting and rescheduled it for Wednesday as the groups – the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ promoted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and ‘Move Around Group’ championed by former President of the Senate Anyim Pius Anyim – battled to carry the day.

     

    Read Also; 2023: The zoning controversy

    The Makinde-led group was okay with zoning of the chairmanship slot to the South while the one propelled by Anyim wanted the chairmanship slot pushed to the North, sources at the meeting told our correspondent.

     

    Another former Senate President Iyorcha Ayu, at the Enugu meeting, warned that any decision on zoning may not be binding, unless the positions of the governors are known.

     

    “The need for consensus on zoning is important because decisions to be taken at this week’s meetings will be taken to the National Executive Committee (NEC), the last to be held between October 31 Convention”, a party leader said at the weekend.

     

    He added: “If it is not resolved and we go for convention in this manner, the convention will be a convention of crisis. If we don’t agree as stakeholders, the date set for the convention may not be certain.”

     

    The source also predicted a rancorous PDP governors’ meeting, saying that the Forum is already divided.

     

    He said the Southern PDP governors, with the exception of Makinde, are not likely to shift ground on the resolution of the Southern Governors that the South should produce President Buhari’s successor in 2023.

     

    At the weekend, prominent PDP chieftains from the North were lobbying their Southern counterparts to prevail on the Southern PDP governors to shift ground.

     

    The source added: “There is a major difficulty. The North wants to contest for president. But key leaders in the South, particularly the governors, insist that by 2023, the North would have done eight years in Aso Villa.

     

    “The PDP leaders in the South are saying that after eight years, how do we give our future to the North since the next president, if he also comes from the North, will spend eight years?

     

    At the Enugu meeting, PDP leaders from the North were quoted as saying Yar’Adua was the last PDP president from the North. But, the PDP leaders from the South said the leadership of Nigeria is not about PDP or APC; that Buhari had taken the place of the North. They maintained that any political party that produces the president means that a zone has produced a president; it means that zone has taken its place.

     

    It was learnt that due to flight problems, some chieftains could not make the meeting.

     

    Among chieftains who could not attend the meeting were former Senate President David Mark, Mrs. Jumoke  Akinjide and Senator Hosea Agboola.

  • Wike attributes Nigeria’s suffering and failure to leadership incompetence

     

     

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed regrets that 61 years after independence, Nigeria is still grappling with leadership challenge.

     

    He pointed out that because of such leadership failure, Nigeria is now at a point in its history needing God more than ever.

     

     

    He made the assertion at the interdenominational church service organised in commemoration of the 61st independence anniversary of Nigeria at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

     

    The governor stated that there was hardly anything for Nigerians to celebrate because its leadership continues to entrench hatred, mediocrity, promote ethnicity and religion.

     

    “This is the time that Nigeria needs God more. The country is gone. Insecurity everywhere. Everyone needs to say God, we need You because man’s leadership has failed this country.”

     

     

     

    The governor noted that, perhaps, the only thing Nigerians could boast of celebrating is the existence of the name, Nigeria.

     

    “At 61 years, Nigeria is full of enmity, full of divisions, hatred, ethnicity. A country that cannot put themselves together. Everybody has responsibility; so, ask yourself questions, have I done my own part?”

     

    Governor Wike also observed the sorry state of Nigeria and said at 61, it was far removed from being a country that could compete favourably with prosperous countries of the world, given its abundant resources.

     

    The governor bemoaned what has become of the nation’s legislature that continues to approve anything for the presidency not minding the consequences.

     

    He also decried how the nation’s judiciary has succumbed to intimidation because its judges had abandoned their responsibilities out of fear.

     

    The governor wondered what fate Nigerians would have under such seeming tyrannical atmosphere.

     

    “We cannot do the right things. Other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent, we are talking about how we will rig the election in 2023.

     

    “Simple thing… transmit election results electronically to show transparency; that, really, that the person you’re declaring won the election but, we are afraid.

     

    “Where is the legislature. A legislature that cannot think, a legislature of anything they (Presidency) bring is right, a legislature that cannot say Nigeria has nothing to regret from conducting free and fair election. A legislature that you’ll close your eyes, anything they bring about borrowing, you say borrow. A legislature that cannot say this money we are borrowing, where is it, where are you applying it? You have no confidence to ask questions.

     

    “The courts have been intimidated. The judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. You’re seeing something that is wrong but because you will be summoned in the night, you abandoned your responsibility.”

     

    Governor Wike also blamed the woes the country has suffered on all Nigerians who have refused to do the right things but rather allowed the wrong things to be perpetrated in all facets of the society. He noted how ascendancy to leadership was no longer by merit but by ethnic affinity and religious consideration, even when such person did not have the capacity required to function in such office.

     

    He berated the church leadership over the inordinate dressing of a young man that he saw in the church. He attribute such sight to lack of discipline enforced in the church.

     

    In his sermon, Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo, noted that only foolish people despise God and attribute their successes in life to their personal efforts and ingenuity .

     

    He said such foolish people abound in Nigeria because they have hearts of corruption, treat humanity with disdain and delight in doing abominable things and divert public funds for personal use.

     

    He said it was baffling that despite having leadership over the country, there was unabated spree of killings, a seemingly thriving kidnapping business with some officers of the nation’s military killed without drastic measures taken to return Nigeria to the path of sanity.

     

    Bishop Ihunwo, while charging the church to rise to speak courageously against the wickedness in the land, declared the judgment of God upon sponsors of such killings and kidnapping that have put Nigeria in a pitiable state, that its people cannot celebrate the independence of the country at 61 years.

     

    Special prayers were said for God’s favour and grace upon Nigeria and its leaders, Rivers State Executive Council, judiciary and the legislature, Governor Wike and his family as well as the church and its leaders.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • PDP National Convention – Zoning Committee Meeting Ends In a Stalemate

    PDP National Convention – Zoning Committee Meeting Ends In a Stalemate

    The meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Convention Committee on Zoning in Enugu on Thursday ended in a stalemate as stakeholders could not reach a definite decision on where the next national chairman of the party should emerge from, Daily Independent gathered.

    Following the development, the committee adjourned till next week Thursday in order to allow it to consult with other relevant stakeholders in the party, especially the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting held at the Government House, Enugu, chairman of the committee and governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said that “we had a fruitful meeting and we adjourned to conclude next week”.

    There was a sharp division among members of the committee headed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on which zone should produce the next national chairman of the party which is currently occupied by the Southern part of the country.

    While some members of the committee wanted the South to retain it with the hope that doing so will pave way for the

    presidential candidate of the party to come from the North, others canvassed that the North should produce the next national chairman in the spirit of the four-year rotational agreement in the party.

    Daily Independent gathered that two groups emerged from within and outside the zoning committee with both disagreeing on where the next national chairman should come from.

    The first group, the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’, wanted all the party offices retained in the geographical side to which they presently are.

    However, the second group, the ‘Move Around Group’, wanted all the positions presently in the South to be transferred to the North while the ones in the North should move southward. By the calculation of the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’, the chairmanship of the party will be retained in the South while the national secretary will move to the North.

    However, the ‘Move Around Group’ wanted the next chairman of PDP to emerge from the North while the South produces the secretary. Also while the ‘Move Around Group’ believed that zoning the chairman’s position to the North will make the presidential ticket to be automatically zoned to the South, they continued to insist that the issue at hand now is party position and when the party gets to the point where it has to nominate the presidential flagbearer, the matter will be resolved.

    However, the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ believed that the zoning committee should also adopt the position of the Bala Mohammed Committee which reviewed the performance of the party in the 2019 general election. It wanted the presidential ticket of the party thrown open for aspirants from all the six zones.

    Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim led the ‘Move Around Group’ with the support of some elements in the South-South and SouthEast zones. The ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ is led by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and has the buy-in of key leaders of the party across South-West and the three zones in the North.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Ugwuanyi clarified that the committee has no mandate to zone political offices such as president or vice president. The governor explained that “our committee is strictly limited to the PDP national executive offices to be contested at the 2021 PDP National Convention scheduled for the end of October 2021”, stressing: “We have no mandate to zone political offices such as president or vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that the PDP remains the most credible platform to deliver good and accountable governance to Nigeria, adding that the work of the committee will contribute immensely “in this deliberate search for national officers of our party that will help PDP achieve the lofty ideals and goals of our founding fathers”.

    He, therefore, encouraged members of the committee to be frank, open and constructive in their proposals and debates, and also exhibit consistency with the enormity of their mandate.

    “The membership and leadership of this committee have been carefully selected as it is composed of very experienced, competent and eminent Nigerians who are desirous of repositioning the PDP to play its role not just as the main opposition political party in Nigeria but to build a party that offers alternative policy proposals and hope to Nigerians that there is still light at the end of the tunnel”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said.

    Members of the committee present at the meeting included the governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who is the Deputy Chairman; the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, who serves as secretary; former Presidents of the Senate, Senators Iyorchia Ayu and Anyim Pius Anyim; and former governors of Niger, Ekiti, Sokoto, Jigawa and Adamawa states, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida, Ayodele Fayose, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and Boni Haruna, respectively.

    They also included Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Rt. Hon. Sunday K. E Okoye, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief (Dr.) Ali Odefa, Amb. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, Chief Osita Chidoka, Chidi Lloyd, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Senator Emmanuel Nwaka, Engr. Donatus Udeh, among others.

    Meanwhile, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention slated for October 30, 6000 delegates will converge in Abuja to elect new National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party.

    This is even as Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Darius Ishaku of Taraba have emerged as chairmen of sub-committees. These developments emerged on Thursday during the inauguration of the party’s 15 sub-convention committees.

    Disclosing this after the inauguration, the Chairman of the National Convention organising committee and Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, also said that the leadership tussle in the party has largely been addressed.

    He said: “We are expecting over 6,000 delegates by our new constitution and we are fully prepared for that. We’re expecting everybody in every ward that is a delegate to attend the convention.

    “We are moving on. I am the chairman of the convention committee and you can see that we are doing our work.

    Everybody is happy and participating. I don’t see any crisis in this party.”

    On which provision of the party’s constitution is likely to be amended, Fintiri stressed the importance of allowing the committee to complete its job, saying, “I don’t want to preempt anybody’s job. The work is segmented into sub-committees. The constitution committee is working, and I will wait for the report to be submitted before I make any comment on it,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Governor Wike has emerged as the Chairman of Special Duties Sub-Committee; Governor Emmanuel, Chairman of Constitutional Amendment and Governor Darius, Chairman of Contact and Mobilisation.

    Other appointments as announced by Senator Duoye Diri include Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Solomon Arase as chairmen of zoning, screening, screening appeal, accreditation and security committees.

    Others are Ahmadu Fintiri (electoral), Godwin Obaseki (publicity), Bala Mohammed (venue), Mariya Waziri (welfare and entertainment), Ibrahim Dankwambo (transportation), Biodun Olujimi (protocol), Nuhu (medical) and Ibrahim Tsauri (secretariat).

  • Breaking: We have no mandate to zone president, vice president positions – PDP Zoning Committee 

    Breaking: We have no mandate to zone president, vice president positions – PDP Zoning Committee 

    …Adjourns till next week for conclusion of work

    The meeting of the Zoning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for National Offices of the Party ahead of the October 30-31 National Convention ended in Enugu, on Thursday, with the members of the committee adjourning till next week for conclusion of their work.

    Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting held at the Government House, Enugu, the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said that “we had a fruitful meeting and we adjourned to conclude next week”.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Ugwuanyi clarified that the committee has no mandate to zone political offices such as President or Vice President of Nigeria.

    The governor explained that “our Committee is strictly limited to the PDP National Executive Offices to be contested at the 2021 PDP National Convention scheduled for the end of October, 2021”, stressing: “We have no mandate to zone political offices such as President or Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that the PDP remains the most credible platform to deliver good and accountable governance to Nigeria, adding that the work of the committee will contribute immensely “in this deliberate search for National Officers of our Party that will help PDP achieve the lofty ideals and goals of our founding fathers”.

    He therefore encouraged members of the committee to be frank, open and constructive in their proposals and debates, and also exhibit consistency with the enormity of their mandate.

    “The membership and leadership of this committee have been carefully selected as it is composed of very experienced, competent and eminent Nigerians who are desirous of repositioning the PDP to play its role not just as the main opposition political party in Nigeria but to build a party that offers alternative policy proposals and hope to Nigerians that there is still light at the end of the tunnel”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said.

    Members of the committee present at the meeting include the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom who is the Deputy Chairman, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed who serves as Secretary, former Presidents of the Senate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and former Governors of Niger, Ekiti, Sokoto, Jigawa and Adamawa states, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida, Ayodele Fayose, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and Boni Haruna, respectively.

    They also include Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Rt. Hon. Sunday K. E Okoye, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief (Dr.) Ali Odefa, Amb. Mrs. Dr. Kema Chikwe, Chief Osita Chidoka, Barr. Chidi Lloyd, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Senator Emmanuel Nwaka, Engr. Donatus Udeh, among others.

    #EnuguStateIsInTheHandsOfGod

    #amokelouis

  • Anambra Elections: Ubah shuts down Nnewi, Nnobi, and Alor as he begins sensitization tour

    Anambra Elections: Ubah shuts down Nnewi, Nnobi, and Alor as he begins sensitization tour

    Nnewi, Nnobi and Alor Communities of Anambra State were brought to a stand still on Tuesday following the sensitization tour by the Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the state’s forthcoming governorship election, Senator Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and his running mate Dr. Okey Ezeh.

    During the event which kicked off from Senator Ubah’s hometown Nnewi, students, youths and the elderly, as usual, trooped out en masse to show Solidarity to their brother. Traders of Nnewi Main Market also suspended their businesses and flooded the roads within the market to show their unending love for the YPP Candidate who has shown uncommon commitment to support businesses within the state. The students and traders also made joyful chants in support of Senator Ubah and echoed their beliefs in his visions.

    In Nnobi and Alor, residents including youths, traders, masquerades and elders also suspended their day’s activities to welcome Senator Ubah who moved through their streets and roads in company of some of his supporters and party officials.

    Speaking briefly after the tour, Senator Ubah said that it is part of activities organized in preparation of his Ward to Ward campaign which will kick off soon. He also appreciated ndị Nnewi, Nnobi and Alor for their relentless love and support, and reassured them that if elected, his administration will implement policies that will better various sectors of the economy. He further disclosed that the tour will continue on Wednesday and urged ndị Anambra to secure their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote for YPP on November 6.

    Other highlights of the event include distribution of fliers and other materials to sensitize prospective voters on the need for them to massively vote for YPP on election day.

  • PRESS RELEASE: 2023 PRESIDENCY: CONCERNED IGBO STAKEHOLDERS FORUM CONDEMNS NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM’S POSITION

    PRESS RELEASE

    2023 PRESIDENCY: CONCERNED IGBO STAKEHOLDERS FORUM CONDEMNS NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM’S POSITION

    The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum (CISF) has condemned a comment made by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, which suggested that the North was ready to hold power beyond 2023.

    The leader of the Concerned Igbos Stakeholders Forum, Mr. Chukwuma Okenwa, in a statement released in Enugu, described such comments as very disappointing and an aspersion to the intelligence and patience of southerners.

    According to him, such comments are capable of exacerbating the already fragile peace of the country. Thus, further fueling secessionist movements in the country.

    He said that Hameed Ahmed-Baba had insinuated in a recent media report that the North has what it takes to hold power beyond 2023 and should not cede political power to the South. In a quote, “We must lead Nigeria the way we have always led Nigeria, not because we are better than anybody else but because we have the majority of the votes,” is what he said.

    Mr. Okenwa said in the spirit of equity and fairness that a president from southern extraction, specifically the southeast, should be a non-negotiable agenda. According to him, Southern Nigeria is more united than ever; and will vehemently resist any attempt to impose a Northern President on Nigerians come 2023.

  • 2021 PDP National Convention: NEC to decide zoning formulae after Ugwuanyi’s zoning committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation~Kola Ologbondiyan

    2021 PDP National Convention: NEC to decide zoning formulae after Ugwuanyi’s zoning committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation~Kola Ologbondiyan

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it cannot decide where to zone its 2023 presidential ticket as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) offices until some issues are resolved, PREMIUM TIMES reports, as Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State chair convention planning and zoning committees respectively.

    After its 93rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting attended by governors, lawmakers, former ministers and other leaders on Thursday, in Abuja, the party also said it has approved the two new committees in preparation for its forthcoming national convention.

    PREMIUM TIMES sighted at least eight out of the 13 governors elected on PDP platform, as well as its two-term Vice-President and 2019 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, attended the meeting which was presided over by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi.

    The embattled National Chairman, Uche Secondus, was conspicuously absent.

    At a press conference held after the long closed-door meeting, the PDP spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan told journalists that the NEC approved the composition of the National Convention Organising Committee and a Zoning Committee to arrive at a favourable zoning formulae for National Working Committee (NWC) offices.

    “The new committees will be chaired by the Governors of Adamawa and Enugu states, Ahmadu Fintiri, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively, while Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, and the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, will deputise the duo.

    “The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was appointed as the secretary of the convention organising committee while the Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Mahdi Aliyu, will serve as the secretary of the zoning committee.

    “NEC approved the composition of the National Convention Organising Committee as well as the Zoning Committee to zone the National Working Committee offices.

    “NEC approved Ahmadu Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa State as Chairman 2021 National Convention Committee. Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, as the deputy chairman of the committee while Engineer Seyi Makinde is to serve as the committee secretary.

    “On Zoning Committee, NEC approved Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State as chairman, Dr Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State is the deputy chairman while Barrister Madi Aliyu Muhammed, the deputy governor of Zamfara State, is secretary of the Zoning Committee,” Ologbondiyan said.

    He said NEC can only decide its zoning formulae after the committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation.

    Ologbondiyan did not disclose the names of the other members of the committees and the duration they are to serve but assured journalists that they will be named before the convention.

    With the fate of its national chairman Uche Secondus uncertain, the main opposition party has since fixed its national convention for 30 and 31 October.

    Ologbondiyan said the party will not change the date as it continues to work to resolve all pending issues among members.

    The PDP held its elective convention in December 2017 when the current Secondus-led NWC was elected.

    The leadership crisis rocking the party forced the party to move the coming convention to October.