The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • 2023 Election : APC declares it’s readiness to win future elections, vows to take over Delta State in forth coming election

     

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta has declared its readiness to win future elections in the state, beginning with the March 6  local government elections.

     

    The party said it was poised more than ever before to sack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Government House, Asaba in the 2023 general election.

     

    Chairman of the caretaker committee of the party, Jones Ode Erue, made the declaration while inaugurating the state Non-Working Committee, State Working Committee (SWC) and the 25 local government caretaker committees in Asaba.

     

    Erue said the APC in Delta State is now more united, adding that with the successful inauguration of the party organs, APC has reconciled all aggrieved members to work in one accord.

     

    He said there were no more factions or tendencies that hitherto pursued narrow and selfish interests in past, which had accounted for the party’s poor electoral fortunes.

     

    “We are all united now to take over the governance of Delta State from the PDP, led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa,” he said.

     

    The chairman tasked the caretaker committees for the 25 local governments to take the message of total reconciliation to the grassroots to have a more harmonious and cohesive platform to defeat the PDP.

     

    He, however, admitted that reconciliation was not a tea party, and charged party faithful to reach compromises and be ready to shift ground in the interest of APC in Delta State.

     

    Erue urged the local government executives to go back to their various localities and inaugurate caretaker committees for the different wards.

     

    He tasked the grassroots leaders  to ensure the membership strength of the party is increased by over 100 percent in the forthcoming national revali dation exercise.

     

    Source:www.sunnewsonlin.com

  • 2023 Presidency : Upcoming Political Party by Nigerian activists in a bid to replace PDP, APC

     

     

    The 2023 general elections are only two years away but intrigues by actors in the political space have undoubtedly started.

     

    Prior to the 2014 merger of three opposition political parties, the then ruling People’s Democratic Party had made good use of the divide and rule tactics to run over the opposition especially during presidential elections.

     

    Recall that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change, as well as a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance had merged to form the All Progressives Congress to enable them to defeat the then ruling PDP.

     

    The National Secretary, Project Nigeria, Mr Olawale Okunniyi, who was part of the moves to initiate a coming together of opposition political parties back in 2007, said, “It was late Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the leader of the Nigeria Unite for Democracy, and chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties in 2007, who proposed an alliance of opposition political parties against one-party rule in Nigeria. This later gave birth to the Mega Party Movement under the leadership of late Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Olu Falae, respectively.”

     

    He recalled that the realignments gave rise to the Congress for Progressive Change, led by the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the Social Democratic Party and the Action Congress of Nigeria, among others.

     

    Okunniyi, however, expressed sadness that the experiment collapsed a few months to the 2011 elections.

     

    He said, “Faced with the reality that you cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect to get a different result, opposition leaders received wise counsel and decided to do what many considered the impossible prior to that time-they dissolved their various platforms to birth Nigeria’s first truly national opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.

     

    “The then new party received a boost from five sitting governors of the then ruling party Peoples Democratic Party who moved in with their party structure in states hitherto considered the PDP strongholds.”

     

    Interestingly, the supremacy battle within the PDP over the issue of zoning back then strengthened the APC. This resulted in the PDP’s first taste of defeat in 2015, a failure the party has been unable to recover from till this day.

     

    But five years into the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, now, some Nigerians have described both the PDP and the APC as two sides of the same coin.

     

    Another group of Nigerians, who tried but failed to come together to form a third force to challenge the dominance of the two political parties in 2019, has renewed their bid to create another broad-based platform which they believe will succeed this time.

     

    Politicians like a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; former National Chairman of the National Conscience Party, Yunusa Tanko; academics including Professors Pat Utomi and Kingsley Moghalu; Mrs Remi Sonaya; Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, and a host of others, who came together to form the National Consultative Front, have indicated interest in floating an alternative platform ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

     

    Speaking on the new project, Okunniyi, who is one of the prominent promoters of the new group, explained, “We are still consulting and mobilising Nigerians towards this latest move towards rescuing Nigeria from the misgovernance we have been exposed to since 2015.

     

    “It was not as if the PDP was any better, it is just that the current APC regime is progressively worse, Nigerians have never had it this bad.

     

    “The truth is that both the PDP and the APC are two sides of the same coin, they have both failed Nigerians. We are launching a Mega Political Movement in January and have a full inauguration party in June.”

     

    However, a legal practitioner and a chieftain of the APC in Gombe State, Abdullahi Jalo, expressed the opinion that under the APC, Nigerians had seen what good governance and accountability could deliver to a nation.

     

    He said, “I was a member of the PDP but I am now a full member of the APC because of the type of leadership President Muhammadu Buhari has provided since taking office in 2015.

     

    “Nigerians now understand the true meaning of progressive politics. The policies and programmes of our president are non-discriminatory. All he is interested in when a project is proposed is whether it will be to the benefit of a majority of Nigerians; he doesn’t care whether the benefiting state is a PDP or an APC-controlled state. This attitude explains why unlike previous leaders, he doesn’t care who started a project; as long as Nigerians will benefit, he goes ahead to complete it. Is it his achievement in the railway sector you want to talk about or the repayment of money spent by states to rehabilitate federal roads? Nobody is saying there are no challenges, there are but genuine efforts to surmount these challenges are on.

     

    “Without doubt, the APC will remain the party to beat in the next election.”

     

    The National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, disagreed with this position.

     

    He said, “Most Nigerians are today regretting the decision to vote in the APC in 2015. Walk on the streets in any state in Nigeria and speak to the people. Will people in the President’s home state of Katsina, or the people of Borno, Zamfara, Yobe states, or in fact, anywhere in Nigeria today sincerely tell you that their lives have improved for the better since the APC came on board? The answer is definitely no.

     

    “How much was the Naira exchanged for the dollar in 2015? How much is it today? How much was a bag of rice then? How much is it today? Most Nigerians today cannot travel home because roads are no longer safe due to banditry, kidnapping and robbery. Nigerians can’t wait to vote the APC out in 2023.”

     

    A chieftain of the Enugu State chapter of the APC, Osita Okechukwu, on his part, said, “The Nigerian political system has always favoured a strong two-party system. Other smaller parties can exist on the sidelines but we have had a situation where two strong political tendencies exist just like in the United States where our system of democracy was copied from. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

     

    A former Secretary of the Bauchi State chapter of the defunct ACN, Abdullahi Dauda, who has been a long-time opposition figure before the merger which gave rise to the APC, however, expressed doubts about the possibility of Nigerians taking a risk with a new political platform.

     

    He ruled out this possibility as regards to the 2023 presidential race.

     

    He wondered if Nigerians would be willing to once again risk going for a little-known marriage of strange bedfellows in the name of a political party like they did in 2015.

     

    “I think for many of us the maxim ‘the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know’  holds true.  The APC and the PDP may be two sides of the same coin but Nigerians have now tasted the two and are likely to make better informed choices in 2023. I honestly don’t see any serious threat to their dominance of the political scene yet.”

     

    Dauda further explained that the situation in 2015 was remarkably different from what is on the ground today.

     

    According to him, one factor stood out in 2015; there was a general consensus especially in the North, that the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, breached the zoning arrangement which had been in place since 1999.

     

    He noted that the deteriorating security situation as well as what many considered unprecedented corruption among the ruling elite at the time made matters worse for the then ruling PDP.

     

    There are also those within the new political movement who are optimistic that the brains behind the #Endsars movement could spring a surprise by bringing in their energy to join the experience being paraded by some of the promoters of the Mega Political Movement, to drive the process.

     

    Those in this school of thought pointed out that the youth had tasted the power of unity and focus and could deploy the same with likeminded people to wrest political power from the dominant political parties.

     

    However, another school of thought expressed the view that the problem would always come from the clash of interests among those who felt they could do a better job given the chance.

     

    Recall that prior to the 2019 general elections, several youth groups came together in an attempt to throw up a consensus candidate but their efforts failed largely because personal ambitions failed to yield the floor to reason.

     

    The Executive Director,  Civil Societies Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Awual Musa, is of the view that what is currently in high demand is attitudinal change among Nigerians.

     

    “We must change the way we do things; our value systems must change if we are to get things right be it politically or in any other sector.”

     

    Events of coming months will indicate if the fresh attempt to provide an alternative to the dominance of the APC and PDP will gain traction ahead of 2023.

     

    Source : www.punchng.com

  • INEC : Electronic voting system more credible than manual

     

    NIGERIA’S election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently reiterated its plan to fully migrate from manual to electronic voting system beginning with Anambra State Governorship election holding in 2021.

    Addressing reporters last month on the sideline of the 2021 budget defence at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose reappointment as INEC Chairman has just been confirmed by the Senate, said: “It is difficult to give you an idea of cost or when the process would be concluded, but we are determined that we are going to deploy electronic voting machines, electronic balloting machines very soon in our elections. Possibly beginning with the Anambra governorship election next year.”

     

    Yakubu had equally disclosed in September that in line with INEC’s commitment to fully replace manual voting with automated voting method, 40 manufacturers of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from different parts of the globe were invited to practically demonstrate the viability of the voting machines.

     

    According to him, “For some time now, the commission has been working on the deployment of technology in voting during elections to replace the current manual system which is tedious and requires enormous logistics to deliver huge quantities of printed materials and a large number of ad hoc staff to administer the process.

     

    “To this end, the commission developed the specifications of the functions required of the machine. After extensive discussion and review, the commission took the decision to invite original manufacturers of Electronic Voting Machines around the world for a virtual or practical demonstration of the machines.”

     

    Basically, there are two ways electronic voting can be used for the conduct of elections. The first is the use of electronic voting machines which are usually located at the polling stations and supervised by officials of the electoral body. In this case, the voters are still expected to be physically present at the polling units to cast their votes with the voting machines provided. The second is the remote electronic voting where voters can submit their votes electronically via the internet to the electoral body from the comfort of their homes or any location. INEC appears to have settled for the use of electronic machines. Some countries use the remote voting pattern while some apply both in their adoption of the electronic voting model.

     

    Electronic voting is often seen as a tool for making the electoral process more efficient and increasing trust in the conduct and management of elections. It is in the view of many that the full adoption of electronic voting system would go a long way in enhancing the transparency and credibility of our elections thereby deepening the country’s democracy. There is also the thinking that electronic balloting would greatly help to prevent and mitigate violence that more often than not stems from electoral malfeasance and manipulations perpetrated during manual voting.

     

    As has been rightly noted by political observers, building a thriving democracy is dependent on getting the electoral process right. It has been argued that Nigeria’s politics suffers deeply because the electoral process has, in most cases, been marred by massive irregularities, such that wrong persons find their ways into elective offices.

     

    Peter Wolf, an author who works for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), opined that properly implemented electronic solutions can increase the security of the ballot, speed up the processing of results and make voting easier. In one of his papers published by the International IDEA, Wolf whose work focuses on the application of digital technologies in elections, emerging challenges and the sustainable and trusted implementation of ICTs in electoral processes, identified some of the benefits associated with electronic voting as follows: Faster vote count and tabulation; More accurate results as human error is excluded; Efficient handling of complicated electoral systems formulae that require laborious counting procedures; Increased convenience for voters; Prevention of fraud in polling stations and during the transmission and tabulation of results by reducing human intervention; Potential long-term cost savings through savings in poll worker time, and reduced costs for the production and distribution of ballot papers.

     

    Notwithstanding the fact that electronic voting has some downsides and challenges as well, many consider it achievable and therefore think INEC should not relent in its determination to push through. The merits, it is believed, obviously outweigh the demerits.

     

    Countries with huge populations and intricate political systems, like Brazil and India, migrated to electronic voting technology many years ago. Brazil partly used electronic voting for the first time in 1996 and adopted it 100 percent nationwide since 2000. India began the introduction of electronic voting machines in 1998 and since 2004 they have been used in the nationwide parliamentary polls. The upshot of the adoption of electronic voting in Brazil and India is said to have been very positive thus far.

     

    According to Giuseppe Janino, the Secretary of Technology and Information in the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court, “Brazil has about 150 million voters. In the 2018 presidential election, we announced the winner only two hours and 16 minutes after the polls were closed. By that time, we had already counted 96.7 percent of all votes, cast all over the country.”

     

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been vociferous in the call for the full adoption of electronic voting system in Nigeria and Africa in general. At different occasions he has hammered on the need for countries on the African Continent to migrate from manual voting to electronic method of balloting. The ex-President believes strongly that the only way to get credible elections in Nigeria and the rest of Africa is by fully  embracing electronic voting.

     

    Source : www.thenationonlineng.net

  • FG directs State Government to domesticate disabilities Act

    PRESIDENT Muhmmadu Buhari has directed state governments to domesticate the Disability Act to make the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities perform its responsibility.

     

    The President spoke on Thursday when he hosted members of the newly established commission, led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, at the State House in Abuja.

     

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said President Buhari praised some governors for enacting laws on disability and enjoined those who have not, to do the needful.

     

    The President expressed joy that the commission was in place, as it was among vital issues he spoke about during his electioneering campaigns.

     

    “In December 2014, during my campaign for the President of this country under our great party, I met with the Community of Persons with Special Needs who showed unalloyed loyalty and support for our party and my candidature in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

     

    “I recall that the most pressing and priority request from the community was the passage of the Disability Bill and the subsequent presidential assent, which I promised them I would do. I am happy to have fulfilled that  promise.

    “I thank the governors of Plateau, Lagos and Nasarawa states for enacting disability laws and establishing Disability Rights Commissions in their states. I am calling on governors of Yobe, Kano and Kogi states, to implement their laws while those states that are yet to do so should take necessary action to enable the Federal Government efforts have the desired impact at the subnational levels,” President Buhari said.

     

    Source : www.thenationonlineng.net

  • US : Joe Biden certification by the United States Congress

     

    After the chaotic scenes in the US Capitol Washington where supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building in anger over his election defeat. The United States Congress has affirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump on Thursday.

     

    The counting of Vermont’s three electoral votes put Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency.

    The certification comes after Pro-Trump rioters invaded the US Capitol on Wednesday.

    Congress rejected challenges to Biden’s win in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Efforts were made to challenge the counts in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, but after the mob violence, Senate Republicans dropped objections to Biden’s wins there, eliminating any need for debate.

     

    “The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January 2021 and shall be entered together with the list of the votes on the journals of the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Vice President Mike Pence said following the count of all the Electoral College votes.

     

    The news source reports that the disgraceful riot at the US Capitol had sent lawmakers scrambling for safety, but members of Congress returned undeterred to fulfill their duty in certifying Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win.

     

    Some of the lawmakers, who earlier supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, made a U-turn after the “shameful” incident that led to the death of one woman.

     

    After the affirmation of Biden’s 306-232 victory over Trump, the president immediately released a statement pledging an “orderly transition“.

     

     

     

    “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” he said.

     

    Biden had called the violence an “insurrection“, saying, “Our democracy’s under unprecedented assault. This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end now.”

     

    Historians said it was the first time that the Capitol had been taken over since 1814 when the British burned it during the War of 1812.

     

    For more than two centuries, the joint session of Congress has been a quiet, ceremonial event that formally certifies the election winner.

     

    Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, closely aligned with Trump throughout his presidency, had tried to prevent the challenges. He noted that the election results were not even close, and that dozens of courts had thrown out lawsuits alleging irregularities.

     

    “If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a d eath spiral,” McConnell said.

     

    Source : www.punchng.com

  • Sir Nwabueze Nnamani Marks First Independence Day In Office

    Sir Nwabueze Nnamani Marks First Independence Day In Office

    On the 2nd day of March 2020 at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, the torch of Restoration and Transformation Agenda of Sir Hon. Nwabueze Nnamani (Ikeoha) was lit. Having been called to duty of social contract through the ballot by the overwhelming majority of Ndi Nkanu-West, Ikeoha was sworn in together with sixteen (16) other Local Government Chairmen by His Excellency Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu. Among other charges given to them by Governor Ugwuanyi are stimulation of the grassroot economy, partnership in delivering democratic dividends, good governance and overall service delivery.

    Apparently aware of how the system works, blended with his undying passion for excellence as a result-oriented personality, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani resumed work in less than 24hrs of being sworn in as the Council Chairman, went ahead to announce critical appointments of his Executives for a smooth take off of his administration. Hitting the ground running at the very blast of the whistle, he has since recorded novel initiatives and commendable progress at regular intervals.

    HEALTH

    Following the lead of the governor of Enugu State, Ikeoha attacked the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus head-on as the outbreak struck in about a month into his administration. Not given to excuses as a trained professional, Chief Nnamani mobilized the health department in adopting all proactive measures to combat the spread, while propagating every preventive and precautionary measures against the killer virus. The Umueze Health Centre and other Health Centres across the local government were given priority attention for adequate service delivery. Chief Nwabueze Nnamani has maintained an Executive Policy of logistics support for the National Programme on Immunization, NPI and indeed the entire health sector of the local government. It is no gainsaying that Nkanu-West LGC shares in the joy, together with our dear governor, for the national commendation of Enugu State government’s distinctive efforts in the eradication of polio.

    AGRICULTURE

    Hitherto abandoned local government tractors are now a source of revenue generation for the Council. Thanks to the genuine efforts of Ikeoha to revive and sustain the agricultural sector. The near a decade abandoned tractors with rusts and stolen parts, have been brought back to life for the council’s use on our local government farms, for hire by Nkanu-West farmers at reduced price and for the general public (farmers) at prevailing market rate. More so, the moribund fish pond belonging to the local government council is also receiving attention and will soon be completely revived. Determined to have a viable local government, Chief Nnamani has identified for harnessing, the natural abundance of palm trees within the council premises and the four Development Centres into revenue generating unit. Today the finance department records revenue accruable from tractor hire and sale of palm oil. This sector definitely is one that his administration will seek to explore further for the overall betterment of Nkanu-West LGA. The area of solid mineral resources is one that past Council Chairmen have dreaded to thread on. Ikeoha invited the stakeholders overseeing this field and had a fruitful discussion with them. Today, Nkanu-West generates revenue from this sector, thanks to the peace moves of Sir Nwabueze Nnamani.

    TRANSPORT

    Oriemba market, the epicentre of Akpugo and the hub of transport activities had been a perennial nightmare of gridlock, occasioned by non-availability of a regular motor park. Transportation activities of motor vehicles and popular okada riders, together with the unorganized trading activities on the single carriage way before now made it very difficult for other road users to ply freely, especially during weekends and yuletide. Sir Nwabueze Nnamani identified this problem and quickly rallied the transport stakeholders. Today, not only has he commissioned a park in use by transporters, the local government now generates revenue through it. The gridlock has since disappeared, and sanity returned to the entire Oriemba market.

    In Agbani, the popular Enugu road section, beginning from across the railway, transporters and business owners who hitherto park their vehicles along the road or encourage big trailers and other vehicles to do so, which impedes smooth road use have been tamed. Nkanu-West LGC now has a Task Force in place to enforce discipline, while making the road free for all users.

    SECURITY

    The administration of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani has ushered in adequate security, peace and progress in Nkanu-West LGA. Following the footsteps of Governor Ugwuanyi, Chief Nnamani has maintained regular consultative engagements with security stakeholders across board in the local government. The synergy between the various security organs, through the leadership of Nigeria Police and the pivotal supports of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani have yielded huge gains in the last couple of months.

    The apprehension of an alleged killer gang rampaging the local government by the Nigeria Police within a very short while after the gang came into the area is a true testimony to this fact. The morale of the Community Neighbourhood Watch and the Central Neighbourhood Watch Security outfits are high because they receive their monthly stipends as and when due, together with other technical and logistic supports from time to time by the local government. The Forest Guards are also not left out.

    LANDS AND HOUSING

    The perennial encroachment on government lands within Nkanu-West LGA is now a thing of the past. The administration of Chief Nnamani has secured the survey plan of all local government landed properties. Trespasses on Agbani City Layout, the four Development Centres making up the local government area, the Ozalla motor park, the proposed Mini Stadium etc are now secured by the administration of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani.

    INFRASTRUCTURE

    Not a few will agree that Chief Nwabueze Nnamani does know his onions as an astute administrator of repute. The conception and construction of a befitting gigantic solar powered monument at Agbani Police Station roundabout is a joy to every Nkanu-West citizen.

    Within the Council headquarters, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani constructed and furnished to taste an Ultramodern Conference Hall fit for purpose.

    The Magistrate Courts 1 and 2 at Agbani were in complete dilapidation before the emergence of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani as the Council Chairman. Ikeoha has moved swiftly to arrest the degenerating situation as his administration has since commenced extensive renovation works on the twin adjoining structure housing the Magistrate Courts.

    The dilapidated Council Pavilion is currently undergoing far reaching repairs and renovation work.

    Through a novel initiative in stimulating and reflating the local economy and small scale enterprise, especially in times like this, Chief Nnamani has attracted renowned investors to partner his administration in a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The transparency of the Restoration and Transformation Agenda has won over the confidence of the investors who have swung into action after completing the necessary paper work. Nkanu-West LGA, the capital of Nkanu Land, strategically located, and with sufficient endowment will witness a boom in economic resurgence and activities, enterprises, employments and revenue generation as it seeks to compete formally with major modern markets located within Enugu metropolis.

    The Ozalla Modern Motor Park with lodging/accommodation provision, bank, 24hrs power supply, security and steady water will dwarf the popular 9th mile and Obollo Afor. The Ultramodern Building Material market ongoing in Agbani has been receiving tremendous interest from the public. In less than two (2) months of commencement, over five hundred (500) interest expression forms were sold.  Agbani Ultramodern Motor Park and stalls is receiving an encouraging interest from business owners and transportation companies as it seeks to ease the already congested Eke Agbani market while improving on the structural plan’s easement. It is instructive to note that the PPP arrangement is on Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT). Modern facilities such as steady power supply, borehole for steady water supply, perimeter fencing, 24hrs security, banks, modern toilet facilities, good drainage system and concrete/asphalt floors will be found in all the above-mentioned business places under construction.

    Mirroring some of these facilities, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani observed that there exists no toilet facility at Eke Agbani and he quickly moved in and constructed six (6) rooms convenience, three (3) for each gender. This commendable move has helped in no small measures to curb the spread of vector diseases, especially in this era of Covid-19 pandemic.

    TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY BASED GOVERNMENT

    The administration of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani has captured its trademark engagements this time with the traditional rulers and community based government. The Royal Fathers have continued to interact closely with Chief Nnamani on how to improve the lives of ndi Nkanu-West. The Presidents General of the 42 autonomous communities in Nkanu-West have also been meeting at intervals with the Council boss. It is on record that both the traditional rulers and Presidents General have identified unpassable roads, at least a culvert each, pivotal intra and inter community link roads needing attention and the Council will soon swing into action by the end of the rainy season. The local government is currently fixing a broken mini bridge at Amuri community.

    EXECUTIVE-LEGISLATIVE ROMANCE

    The immutable synergy between the Executive and the Legislative arms of Nkanu-West local government is heartwarming. It is on record that Chief Nwabueze Nnamani proclaimed the truce immediately on resumption of office and in less than a forthnight, the Legislative arm was inaugurated and became functional. The yearly budget estimates, the Achilles heels of some past Council Chairmen, was passed into law on record time.

    A TRUE PARTY MAN

    Chief Hon Nwabueze Nnamani is a true party man (PDP). He has carried all organs of the party along while maintaining a good relationship with them all. The party manifesto is not lost in his Restoration and Transformation Agenda.

    STAKEHOLDERS FORUM

    Chief Nwabueze Nnamani continues to involve Nkanu-West stakeholders forum in his plans, programmes, welfare and policy formulation. He rallied the entire stakeholders in a unique bipartisan approach during the local government palliative programme in the heat of Covid-19 pandemic and they contributed financially to procure food items which was shared to citizens of Nkanu-West who occupy the least position on the food chain of the society, including the PLWDs (Persons Living With Disabilities).

    Interestingly, Chief Nnamani also reconvened the stakeholders forum so as to give account of the sharing formula adopted and all expenses made – a true and transparent leadership quality. He has continued to engage the stakeholders at regular intervals in charting the way forward for the overall betterment of all Nkanu-West citizens.

    RELATIONSHIP WITH RELIGIOUS BODY

    The Nwabueze Nnamani administration is enjoying a good relationship with the Church, and rich spiritual supports from the clergy and the congregation. Recently, he appeared as a special guest in so many Church programmes. On Sunday, 13th September, 2020, at Central Methodist Church, Zik Avenue, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani was conferred with an Exemplary Leadership Award together with H.E, Sullivan I. Chime, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Chief Festus Oshaba (Ferotex) and others, by no less a person than the Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, His Grace, the Most Rev. (Barr) C.N. Edeh on the occasion of the Church’s 20th Anniversary Celebration/Award. Chief Nwabueze Nnamani enjoys a good relationship with all religious bodies within and beyond Nkanu-West LGA.

    WITH WORKERS

    Chief Nwabueze Nnamani maintains a smooth, cordial working relationship with the staff of the local government council. The salary and other welfare packages of staff are top priority on his To-Do-List. Nnamani understands the positive impacts of leading by example. His punctuality and regular attendance to work speaks volume of his passion to work ethics. Ikeoha’s open door policy to all and sundry is unprecedented.

    ICT EMPOWERMENT

    In pursuit of gains, employment, empowerment and societal emancipation accruable from technology, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani has fully operationalized Nkanu-West ICT Centre for the betterment of its staff and citizens. The Council is currently embarking of Free ICT Empowerment Training for her citizens. This ICT Empowerment programme seek to empower eighty (80) substantive trainees in the first batch.

    Chief Nwabueze is exploring avenues to resettle some outstanding participants after the training. Staff of the local government are not left out, as this will optimize their performance. This unique opportunity is open to all citizens of Nkanu-West LG of all age, and it is FREE. Training manuals, writing materials, identification, steady power supply has been provided for the empowerment training.

    EDUCATION

    The intervention of Chief Nwabueze Nnamani in Community Primary School, Attakwu has saved the structure from total collapse. The school building received extensive renovation work and it is now ready for use by pupils upon resumption. Other Primary and Secondary Schools in the local government are also receiving needed attention in preparation for the resumption after prolonged vacation due to Covid-19.

    YOUTH FRIENDLINESS AND MENTORSHIP

    At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Government imposed a lockdown of movement locally and internationally. The Nkanu Youth Voluteers swung into action, manning various borders for considerable hours everyday across the local government area. This is a testament to the sense of belonging and mentorship that the youth enjoy under Chief Nwabueze Nnamani.

    It is on record that over 90% of his appointments were allocated to the youth constituency. Infact, one of the aides to Chief Nwabueze Nnamani is less than twenty-five (25) years of age. This is a cardinal policy Chief Nwabueze seeks to sustain, borrowing a leaf from our dear Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who believes that the ultimate calling of a leader is to nurture other leaders, not followers.

    As the vehicle of Restoration and Transformation Agenda of Sir Nwabueze Nnamani continues to crisscross Nkanu-West landscape, let us all be enjoined to partner this Peace Ambassador to leave enduring legacies and footprints that has positive impacts on the lives of the common man even as we pray for Gov. Ugwuanyi and all leaders across board.

    Nkanu-West is in good hands

  • Nigerian President of Igbo Extraction: Should the Igbo Negotiate Power with the North? – By Prince Ejeh Josh

    Nigerian President of Igbo Extraction: Should the Igbo Negotiate Power with the North? – By Prince Ejeh Josh

    Understandably, with the spate of appointments and elections of the Igbos to strategic positions and offices such as Minister of Justice in Canada, Judges in the United States, Chief Economic and Digital Financial advisors in Rwanda, Parliamentarian in the United Kingdom, and other developed climes to help in sustaining and repositioning their economies through their long history of ingenuity and established pattern of imagination, having a Nigerian president of Igbo descent would not only be beneficial to the Igbo people, it would also  be to the benefit of all Nigerians—the North, the East, the South, the West and the Middle-belt.

    However, the determining factors by which the pendulum swings are often inconsiderate of the implication of what a wrong choice would do to the general public, the economy and the progress of the country. Power acquisition in Nigeria is usually determined by primordial and parochial interests of the few, packaged and floated on the aura of ethnic representation. In this regard, what and who define the national interest of Nigeria for the time being echo from the North. Hence, northern agenda is fronted as the collective interest of the people of Nigeria since they have the bargaining power and possess the political will to dictate the direction of the country.

    Viewed from the above perspective; therefore, to clinch the seat of Nigeria’s President, the South East zone needs the North more than it needs any other geopolitical zones. The Igboman must be willing and ready to negotiate power and reach compromise with the core north. They are not just the power brokers; they equally have in their possession the power bloc, centre structure and formidable voting strength to prosecute any electoral race. But the Igbo nation must first come together, put its house in order and flag the common interest of the zone.

    It is important to sound this note of warning: blackmailing a section or sections of the country in order to cajole them into conceding the top seat to the South East would only serve to reinforce the existing mutual suspicion and distrust between the Igbo ethnic group and other ethnic groups in the country. Thus, the assertion recently attributed to the former Governor of Enugu State and former People’s Democratic Party, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, that the “Igbo elite” would join Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’s led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to demand for secession if the Igbo were not considered for the seat of the Nigeria president in 2023 general elections was not in the best interest of the Igboman. It, in fact, added more salt to injury. Power is not given on a platter of gold. It is taken. It is fetched not by playing victim but by valour. It is time to manage our relationship with the North to get their support.

    The Igbo people are in dire need of the position of president of Nigeria. There are far-reaching consequences for this. Federal presence in Igboland will remove the hostile political policies working against the South East zone. These policies are directly and indirectly inhibiting the realisation of the full economic development of the geopolitical area. Having a south easterner at the top will activate the actualization of the Igboman’s ingenuity and will serve as a catalyst for industrial revolution extending far beyond the shore of the east. This is what the Igbo must sell to woo more voters. They must play by the rule: playing the fool game to get what they want, and strike with brazen ruthlessness after capturing power.

    It is no longer news that different ethnic groups have started beaming their searchlight for candidates they could present and position to take over the mantle of leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29 2023, after the president would have constitutionally served out his second term and last tenure; however, the unanswered question many are asking is: What is the fate of the Igbo nation in this political conurbation called Nigeria?

    In a loose sense, the South East is relatively lacking in voting strength with little or no power bloc that would enable it to navigate negotiation from a vantage position. This is apparently driven by widespread political apathy and mutual suspicion entrenched over the years by political stakeholders in the zone to achieve their selfish ends. Today, all factors duly considered, the East lacks a political structure and depends on external influence for political decision. This could, perhaps, have accounted for the outburst of the Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi, a south Southerner Ubima, Ikwerre man; that the Igbo people had nothing to offer and nothing to bring into the negotiating table for the 2023 presidency. Isn’t this harsh? However, is it true? Questions for the Igbo to answer in all sincerity.

    Whether the present political configuration has greatly worked against the Igbo nation has never been in doubt. Over the past 54 years, the Igbo nation has remained an undying prey in the country. Perhaps, this is plagued by internal dissension and disunity among the Igbo elite on the one hand, and between the elite—ruling class—and the disenchanted masses—deliberately impoverished downtrodden—on the other hand. It is a protracted struggle working against their collective interest. In fact, this had accounted for the IPOB agitation which the elite are now planning to infiltrate.

    In addition, Igbo’s greatest disservice to the eastern zone is their inability to think beyond immediate material gains and “stomach infrastructure”. Every indigenous political party of the Igbo extraction is not fronted to achieve the greater goals of the Igbo nation. Instead, it’s aimed at satisfying individual’s political gain. For example, APGA was once seen as an Igbo political party meant to fly beyond the South East. It later turned out to be a tool for selfish end. Between 2014 and 2015, APGA stakeholders became more of PDP party loyalists than they were to APGA. The same applied to the PPA which had ferociously won two states of Abia and Imo states. It also turned out that it was intended for that immediate purpose before it was discarded with mindless abandon.

    For record purpose, the Action Congress (AC) which later changed its name to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) started with one state. The Jagaban, Chief Bola Tinubu, had a vision and mission beyond Lagos state, South West zone to the entire Nigeria. He kept the struggle and hope alive against all odds. He weathered the storms and swam against the tide. He did not do this alone. He worked with other progressives who could see and think beyond their stomachs. It even extended its tentacle and influence to the South East where it produced a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Interestingly, the ACN won and established its influence in many states. The story was the same with Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The pioneers of the party were seen as unserious. But they were undeterred and unfettered in their struggle to capture the apex political seat in Nigeria. With their rigorous consultations, negotiations and convictions, the party merged with other political parties. They won. It took the country by surprise. That spirit is what is lacking in the South East.

    In a recent post I made titled, “2023 Presidential Election: The Igbos and the Politics of Self-defeatism”, my readers were sharply divided on some salient points they felt I left unaddressed. They, however, unanimously agreed on the self-inflicted misfortune incurred upon themselves by the Igbo nation. I’ll take out time to address some points raised by commentators as reactions to that work.

    Many were of the opinion that immediately before the 30 months Nigeria Civil War; the Igboman literally occupied major sectors of the political system. They had argued fervently that the outcome of the Civil War where vanquishers and the defeated emerged accounted for the alienation and consequent passiveness of the Igbo people from the Nigerian affairs.

    This is not entirely true. The Civil War could have played a pivotal role, but the acephalous and crude republican nature of the Igbo could better describe the reason for this self-alienation. Nigeria belongs to all. It’s a shared heritage and pride for every Nigerian. It’s never a property for any isolated section of the ethnic groups that made up the country.

    For political historians and sociologists, and indeed, those that have been following the political development of Nigeria, it’s well-settled that the surge in political re-orientation that birthed a form of renaissance in the East was occasioned by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and his disciples. This gave the Igbo Nation the much needed ground to leverage on the opportunity presented to thrive. Azikiwe’s “My Oddessy” and Okechukwu Ikejiani’s “The Unrepentant Nationalist” are quite insightful for readers. Available records of the political reawakening in the old Eastern Region pioneered by Zik show a radical paradigm shift in political behaviour. Sadly, this formative development ended with the outbreak of the Civil War. The Igbo lost power and had to recoil to its old shell of political desuetude.

    Culture, it is understood, is dynamic. It grows with the people and adjusts to the demands of time. A culture that persists in rigidity would soon find its way to extinction. The Igbo Nation must adjust to a more favourable political climate and culture borrowed from those working efficiently. What happens when there is a culture lag? The result is a point called “melting pot”. The Igbo must shed that aspect of its political culture holding them back from fully exploiting their destiny and capability. Their pattern of political behaviour must be receptive and adapt with the reality of Nigeria. Until then, electing a south easterner as president will continue to be a far cry.

    In a recent development, the Igbo Nation appears livid, bickering over the need for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. While it’s not out of place to ask for the slot, it’s not enough to make a noise or grouch about the treatment of the Igbo in Nigeria. At the risk of repetition; power is never given. It is taken. Politics, as its definition entails, is the struggle for power. The Igbo nation must not only go for the power, they must also clear every hurdle standing as impediment to their mission. They must strike hard at any force against their interest. Fetching power in a country of disequilibria political equation entails a collective ruthlessness. This is why the East needs to negotiate and reach a compromise with other zones, especially the North. The South East must stop crying and put up armour of readiness to strike politically.

    In this regard, they must not wait to get to the bridge before planning how to cross the river. Gone were the days of the biblical allusions of the Israelites at River Nile unprepared for their journey. If the Igboman is waiting on God to break their “Wall of Jericho” by making a noise, then, a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will remain a sort of dream triggered by malaria. I quite agree with Engr. Arthur Eze when he submitted that it’s only God that could make Igboman a president. The implication is that the Igboman may never become a president if he fails to work for it. It hurts but that’s the bitter truth.

    I recently read a column by Nnaji Jekwu Onovo in the Sun newspaper with the title: Ndigbo and Subsisting Crisis of Confidence. I agree with most of his submission. “In Igboland, there is always the crisis of confidence, as they never trust constituted authorities in their ethnic block (sic). The crisis of confidence and disunity is visible in almost all sectors and affairs of Ndigbo…Bitterness and humiliation pervade Igbo society, provoking strong nationalist reactions, yet Igbo nationalism has assumed different forms,” Onovo frustratingly noted.

    Such frustration represents the psychological state of mind of every progressive Igboman. It is high time leaders assumed responsible characters and imbibe the spirit of honesty in their representation of the people. Likewise, it’s also time Igbo people started respecting their leaders and allow them to speak for the collective interests of the zone. Leaders and statesmen must learn to forgive. They must learn to champion the interests of the east divesting themselves of personal aggrandizement. The people of the East must come together and work together.

    The North, West and South have had their leaders always at the forefront fighting for the interests of their entire zones. They put aside their internal fracas whenever their collective interest is at stake. They go for it, fight for it and get it home for their people. Perhaps, we have people that could be considered as national leaders and who must assume that position and speak for the interests and well-being of the south East. The list is inexhaustible but some names will be given below. Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Sir Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, Sir Ken Nnamani, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Abaribe Enyinaya, Chief Chekwas Okoli, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Prof. Obiora Ike, Senator Pius Anyim, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, and a host of others. These people may represent a voice of reasoning for the Igbo Nation. They have the will, wit and gut to champion the cause of the Igbo Nation before the country. In subsequent articles, their pedigrees would be evaluated.

    The Igbo nation also has ably qualified and competent men and women who have distinguished themselves over the years and would perform better as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Many of them have a national appeal and have unassailable track records in governance. This list, too, is inexhaustible. Any of these candidates can be positioned for the top job. Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Peter Obi, Barrister Geoffrey Onyeama, Engr. David Umahi, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, Mr. Sullivan Chime, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Mr. Ogbonna Onu, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. These candidates have their objective assessments on ground, and they have performed exceptionally well.

    Now, the ball is on the court of the Igbo leaders. They must not wait for 2023 before working for their destiny. The game has already begun, and the South East should define their path. They must come together, push together, swim together and fight together. Let the political consultation, lobbying, persuasion and tour begin!

    Prince Ejeh Josh, B.Sc, Political Science, LLB, Law, M.Sc, International Relations and Strategic Studies