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Tag: Mbah

  • Remember the poor, weak and disadvantaged, Mbah, PDP guber candidate, urges Christians at Christmas

    Remember the poor, weak and disadvantaged, Mbah, PDP guber candidate, urges Christians at Christmas

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has urged Christians to remember the poor, weak and disadvantaged as they celebrate the Christmas, saying that giving and caring for others are the most important essence of the yuletide

    In a statement personally signed by him and issued by his media office on Saturday, Dr. Mbah congratulated Christians, Enugu citizens at home and in the diaspora, and Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration.

    The governorship hopeful said he was full of joy to identify and celebrate with Christians, especially Enugu citizens living across the globe, adding that the message of Jesus’ birth reminds us of the importance of the season and what is expected of us to do to our family, neighbours, friends, foes and humanity in general.

    While wishing them happy celebrations, Dr. Mbah noted that Jesus’ injunction key to us is to share love with one another, be compassionate in our everyday activity, extend helping hands to the less privileged in the society, imbibe the spirit of love, unity, solidarity and peace.

    “As we celebrate this season, let us be reminded that we have been called to be bearers and doers of the message of Christ Jesus in our society. It is the message of renewed hope in humanity. It is the message of love for one another. It is the message of giving and caring for the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the sick, the elderly, the less-privileged, amongst us, and chiefly respect for everyone. People should see the Christ in us through our relationship with them. We should be able to reach out to them, and be a reason for their celebration,” the governorship hopeful added.

    Mbah, who expressed optimism that 2023 will be a glorious year of hope and progress, called on the people of the state to join hands with him, keep their solidarity and support coming and join him on the journey of driving the state to greatness, transformation, exponential economic development, industrial revolution, new dawn of massive investments and job creation, and “a state which we will continue to proudly call our own”.

    He further appealed to the people not to lose hope and faith in the nation as his blueprint, which he tagged Manifesto, Statement of Purpose and Social Contract with Ndi Enugu, has already worked out strategies on how to insulate the state from existential threats facing the country, address socio-economic hardships including poverty, unemployment and insecurity, while enthroning social equity, justice and inclusiveness.

    While commending the government of Enugu State under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for its giant strides in infrastructure, peace and security, workers’ welfare, Mbah also saluted the sacrifices made by illustrious sons and daughters of the state in areas of investment, exploits in education, science and technology, promising that his administration, if elected in the forthcoming election, will continue to forge more robust alliances with them to make the state a hub for economic activities and tourism through enabling environment for investment and business partnership.

    “Once more, as we celebrate Christmas and inch towards the new year, I want to enjoin us to be tolerant, continue to live in peace, eschew all forms of violence, be your neighbour’s keepers, and keep your support for us coming. We appreciate the overwhelming support we have been receiving from you.

    “Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Congratulations,” the statement further reads.

    Dan Nwomeh

    Head, Peter Mbah Media Office

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Enugu PDP standard-bearer, Mbah, prioritizes judicial reform, autonomy

    Enugu PDP standard-bearer, Mbah, prioritizes judicial reform, autonomy

    The Enugu State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Peter Mbah, has committed to full autonomy of the Enugu State Judiciary as part of his administration’s institutional reforms if elected.

    Mbah also pledged to ensure law review, digitalisation of courts and case manage management, and access to justice by the vulnerable members of the society through efficient legal aid regime, and uplift the correctional facilities to make them true correctional centres.

    The PDP gubernatorial candidate stated this in Enugu, Tuesday, at the opening of the 2022 Law Week of the Enugu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) themed “The Role of Lawyers in Transitional Democracy”.

    “I consider myself first and foremost a lawyer. So, after all the elections, after we must have won and done what we promised to do, I will still ultimately and essentially remain a lawyer.

    “So, as part of our strategies to actualise our vision for Enugu State, we propose transparent and inclusive governance, which will see us strengthening our institutions and those institutions include the judiciary, the public service, and, of course, the security agencies.

    “Under the judiciary, we intend to review our laws so that the laws of Enugu State will be in line with the requirements of modern times. We are going to constitute a high-powered committee that will review our laws to make sure that they are in tune modern realities, dynamics and global standards.

    “Strengthening the judiciary also means that we will ensure full financial autonomy for the judiciary in line with the amendments to the 1999 Constitution. So, we will work with the Chief Judge of Enugu State and the Ministry of Finance to put in place mechanisms that will ensure full financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    “If you also look at our programmes in our manifesto towards strengthening our institutions, we propose to digitise our court and case management process.

    “Access to justice is also an area we are equally very interested in. Our proposed legal aid regime and procedure will ensure that the vulnerable in our society have access to justice. We intend to review the process of remanding the accused in correctional facilities. We must also make sure that our system ensures that the correctional facilities are truly correctional centres rather than a place for terrorising the vulnerable in our society”, Mbah stated.

    Dr. Peter Mbah also reiterated his determination to deploy disruptive innovation and creative alternative financing models to actualise his economic blueprint for transforming Enugu State from a public sector driven economy to a private sector-driven economy and grow the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the present $4.4 billion to $30 billion in eight years, which he described as modest.

    “I am going to also take this opportunity to paraphrase Lyndon Johnson and say to us that yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is indeed ours to win or lose. I want to tell you that tomorrow is right here with us and we can stretch our hands and grab that tomorrow”, he concluded as he reassured of his determination to replicate his private sector feats in the socioeconomic transformation of the state.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • [OPINION] 2023: The Calculus of Dr. Peter Mbah’s disruptive innovation and the imperative of accelerating economic growth in a changing and challenging time

    [OPINION] 2023: The Calculus of Dr. Peter Mbah’s disruptive innovation and the imperative of accelerating economic growth in a changing and challenging time

    By Christian Enebe

     

    Dr. Peter Mbah, the Enugu State PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general election, is without an iota of doubt a visionary, keen on revolutionizing the state.

    His ideas, which are considered novel and unprecedented, have been hailed as both ingenious and ambitious. The ideas which are condensed into a phenomenal and historic manifesto, have not only raised the hope for realizing the new Enugu that he has envisioned but have also triggered a consciousness of creative thoughts likely to lead to the birth of more ideas in the future that will complement the culture of innovation as a basis to grow the economy and drive development, which he is bringing on board.

    Going by his manifesto, his primary goal is to deliver quality, people – focused governance by making Enugu State the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living. His key objectives are to make Enugu State one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which he plans to move from $4.4B to $30B and achieve a zero percent poverty headcount index in 4 to 8 years when elected the Governor of Enugu State.

    Dr. Mbah believes in innovation and sees it as a critical tool for change. This explains why innovation is the major thrust of his well thought – out blueprint. His disruptive innovation, which appears to be the central idea of his transformative agenda and the fulcrum around which others revolve, has been described by analysts as a masterstroke. According to Dr. Mbah, disruptive innovation is an aggressive approach which can enable one do things in a completely different way as to alter the status quo. He maintains that innovation has the tendency to alter approaches, processes and systems with possibilities of prompting modified and accelerated outcomes.

    Dr. Mbah believes that innovation can serve as a launch pad that can lift off a business and set it in motion for a quantum leap. He also believes that innovation can trigger an exponential growth by altering established conventions and age-long traditions that tend to keep a business or organization going round a circle. He credits his outstanding success in the private sector to the quatum leap his signature investment, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. experienced as a result of applying disruptive innovation.

    He was quoted as saying: “Pinnacle commenced operations in 2008 and we started off in a one-bedroom studio apartment somewhere on Ahmed Onibudo Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. I started it off with about two other guys – one was my secretary and the other was my dispatch man.”

    This was clearly a humble beginning. From his success story, it is clear that Mbah knew that he didn’t have a chance in the highly competitive oil and gas business except he interferes with the system and disrupts the statusquo using technology and innovation. That was where his disruptive innovation began. He stated, ”we were in a space that companies had already taken their positions and had captured their various sizes. So, we knew that growing incrementally was not the option. We knew we needed to come up with a disruptive idea that would help us displace some of the dominant players and take that dominant position that we had envisioned.” Apparently, Mbah’s driving force was to meet up with the speed of the industry leaders at the time and he found the leverage he needed in innovation.

    Today, available indices indicate that Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. is a success story. As a matter of fact, the company is believed to occupy a leadership position in the petroleum downstream sector based on volume and market share where it is commanding 23 per cent of the market (share) as against 5 percent controlled by its closest competitor. This open – secret of the company’s success story is attributable to disruptive innovation.

    It is generally agreeable that without innovation, we would all be stuck in the same place or spot. Hence, William Brody, a Scientist, posed a question. He asked: What is the calculus of innovation? According to him, “the calculus of innovation is really quite simple: Knowledge drives innovation, innovation drives productivity, productivity drives economic growth.“ Correspondingly, innovation is also described as a powerful way of securing competitive advantage and a more secure way to defending strategic position and success.

    Dr. Peter Mbah’s disruptive innovation has proven to be an effective business and wealth creation model. The model which was launched towards securing an improved business outcome in his private business, is currently being adapted to accelerate economic growth in Enugu state.

    I subscribe to the view that innovations are oftentimes inspired through internal desires to succeed financially. There cannot be a better time to deploy innovation than the changing and challenging times that we find ourselves. We are at a time when governments at all levels are at a dilemma arising from the damaging impact of COVID -19, the negative effect of Russia/Ukraine war and other globalized and localized challenges which have led to unstable and fluctuating oil prices, high energy cost, instability of exchange rates, high cost of borrowing, rising inflation, high and rising cost of living, poor living conditions of citizens, high and rising unemployment, salaries being either owed or not paid as and when due etc.

    These concerns leave our world both at the global and local levels without an option than to discover and engage competent leaders with powerful ideas that can defy the present day hostile circumstances and chart a course of progress for the struggling world. There is increasing need for government at all levels to be innovative enough to disrupt the status quo and set progress in motion in order to salvage our world and halt further slipping to a bottomless economic chasm. This should guide the thoughts of today’s voters and influencers who should act wisely and timely to help in salvaging the challenged world. Innovators like Dr. Peter Mbah should be given a chance to inspire a new order and chart the course to the Enugu of our dreams.

    As a matter of fact, those who will take over leadership at this time, must be seen to be not only qualified but competent and savvy in dealing with matters of economy. They must be people who have the brain power to salvage the situation. Peter Mbah’s disruptive innovation comes handy at this time to help in accelerating the economic dynamics of the state. There is no gainsaying the fact that Enugu state needs his wealth of knowledge to build on the gains of the past, create and manage wealth, maximize the economic potentials of the state and turn things around in a manner that will launch the state to the top as one of the first three states in the country. This is not only desirable but attainable.

    Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited’s offshore subsea petroleum products terminal at the Lekky Free Trade Zone, Lagos which represents specifically the essence and practicability of Dr. Peter Mbah’s disruptive innovation mantra which has been widely acknowledged and commended.

    The journey of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited to the zenith of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum subsector aptly fits into Steven Jeffes view that: “Innovation is the unrelenting drive to break the status quo and develop anew where few have dared to go.“

    Dr. Peter Mbah’s innovative power and ingenuity can be traced not just to a natural endowment, intellectual prowess and creative ability that are obviously inherent in him but essentially to his training which by all measurements is qualitative with a significant bias on innovation. His brilliant training, further accentuated by a rich entrepreneurial experience, has fully prepared and equiped him to incubate ideas and drive an innovation – based growth.

    In addition to holding a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of East London, he holds a Master of Law (LLM) Degree in Maritime and Commercial law, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and also a Graduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation which he acquired from the Oxford University, United Kingdom. He also participated in a number of executive certificate programmes, notably in Harvard Business School and Stanford University in the USA.

    More so, he acquired sufficient digital competences needed by a present day leader. As a result, he demonstrates adequate knowledge and confidence in the critical use of information and communication technology which is a major tool in comprehending and applying digital technology. The understanding of high level computer knowledge is without doubt a sinequanon for appreciating and applying digital technology and innovations in necessary contexts.

    Apparently, his wealth of digital competences is the reason he discusses state of the arts and complex technologies with ease. He has shown demonstrable ability to access and utilize digital media and ICT. It takes such level of development to understand and critically evaluate different aspects of complex subjects, strategies and contents that are ICT based or those that are of influenced contexts.

    Suffice it to say that the man, Dr. Peter Mbah, is an embodiment of ideas. He has both the competence and character to provide the needed leadership. He has been described as a pundit who through rare sagacity, has launched himself into the Nigerian political space and as one who has endeared himself to the people of his state with his powerful ideas and style of politics which is totally devoid of bickering and rancour. Hence, his emergence as the PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general election and front-runner candidate for the number one job in the state, has resonated with the people of the state and warmly welcomed by all.

    Peaceful by nature, tactful in style, Dr. Peter Mbah, is the man of the moment. All eyes are on this maestro who is expected to build on the legacies of peace and progress of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration to enact a revolutionary change in the socio-economic cum political dynamics of Enugu State.

    He has proven to be a skilled and experienced business and political leader who is out to make a mark and not just a regular politician seeking relevance or a position for survival. He is recognized as one with extraordinary wisdom and knack for great works. His accomplishments are numerous, impressive, and exceeds what could be associated to a fluke or an ordinary man trying his luck or struggling to survive. He is driven purely by a passion to make impact and rewrite history.

    Owing to his great wisdom, his wealth of knowledge and appeal to people, he ends up holding his audience spellbound whenever he is speaking. Everyone listening to him comes to that point where he wonders what manner of man he is. It beats everyone’s imagination how intelligently he responds to every question posed, how he addresses knotty issues and proffers solutions that are both appropriate and generally acceptable.

    Those who do not know him are wondering who he is and what to expect from him but those who know him are eagerly looking forward to a replication of the turn-around he made at Pinnacle Oil in Enugu state when he takes over and pilots the affairs as Governor of the state.

    In the opinion of Vanessa Obioha of Thisdaylive, “Mbah’s story is an affirmation that no matter one’s existential realities or limitations, one can accelerate to stardom and have a handshake with the sky.” This is a view that derives from the trajectory of Mbah’s life and his rise from a humble beginning to becoming not just a key player but essentially, one of the most dominant players in the oil industry in Nigeria within 50 years of age. As a direct consequence of his rare achievements, NewsWatch magazine in a special publication of July 3, 2006, described Mbah as “a man ahead of his time.”

    The times we are demands leaders with Peter Mbah’s experiential knowledge and competence to take over the management of our resources and provide leadership that will impact positively on the society. In his own words, “the demands of our time require a good head; someone whose experience in both public and private life, as well as whose commitment to the general good, cannot be questioned.”

    Barr. Peter Mbah doubtless inspires hope. This is a man that has demonstrated extraordinary competence not only in managing resources but in creating wealth. He is doubtless the right candidate with the capacity to change things for the better and move Enugu State yet to greater heights. The future we desire is wrapped up in his timely candidacy. We must not miss this opportunity.

    According to the sage, Chinua Achebe, “you cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Who ever planted an Iroko tree – the greatest in the forest? You may collect all the Iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. it will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there…so it is with greatness in men.” Barr. Peter Mbah is God’s gift to Ndi Enugu with proven capacity for extraordinary achievements. He is an outstanding man; greatness personified. Besides, he is a man cut out for the unusual, one who is prepared to run the race of life with determination and vigour. Taking Enugu State to an enviable level is the heartbeat of this great man with whom God has blessed the state.

    In his remarkable manifesto, he stated: “my life experiences are the wings that propel me to serve Ndi Enugu, my people, so that together, we may create wealth and prosperity for all.”

  • Enugu PDP guber candidate, Mbah, commences townhall meetings, as Aninri charges him to deploy Pinnacle’s strategy to transform state

    At interactive town hall meetings held on Tuesday in Aninri North and Aninri West Development Centres in Aninri local government area of Enugu State, the people of the area, made up of different communities, have appealed to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, to extend the skills and initiatives he used in building the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd from scratch to the topmost global player in the downstream sector of the Nigerian economy to develop Enugu State when he wins the March 2023 governorship election.

    The people who described the town hall meetings as the first of its kind since the creation of the state, expressed confidence that the ruling party’s governorship flagbearer will spur economic transformation in the state, expressing confidence that the communities that constitute Aninri council area will benefit immensely from Mbah’s programmes having gone through his robust, people-oriented manifesto.

    The town hall meeting, kicked off today at the two development centres, following the unveiling of the PDP Campaign Council in the state by the campaign director general of the party, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, was meant to serve as a platform where community leaders, professional bodies, women organizations, youth organizations, religious bodies, civil society organizations, non-governmental bodies, members of the press, members of the business community, including traders, farmers, artisans, would have the opportunity to present their needs to the gubernatorial candidate and what they should expect on his assumption of office in 2023.

    Members of the various communities who took turns to address Mbah on pertinent issues confronting them, said they believed in the industrialist’s sincerity purpose to work and deliver a better Enugu State to the people.

    Speaking at the interactive sessions, which drew the presence of large numbers of the grassroots’ dwellers, the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Benneth Ajah assured his people that Mbah was prepared to work for them having left his comfort zone at Pinnacle to change the narrative in the state.

    Underscoring how the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer was able to transform the downstream sector through his radical innovative drive, the council boss urged him to do the same thing in the state as the citizens were eagerly waiting to vote for him.

    A House of Assembly member representing Aninri State Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Okwu, while assessing the state of development in the area, commended the PDP for providing the platform for the giant strides and development the people had witnessed over the past years, saying new roads and other infrastructures were made possible through the efforts of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and the state government.

    He, however, called on Mbah to look at the state of the feeder roads, healthcare system and education in the area, stressing that they needed to be upgraded.

    Describing Nenwe and Oduma communities as housing influential leaders in the state, Okwu said the only language know to them is, PDP.

    On his part, the PDP candidate for Enugu West senatorial zone, Engr. Osita Ngwu stated that Mbah had presented the best and only acceptable manifesto in the state whose message they had already taken down to the people at the grassroots. He further appreciated the governorship hopeful for finding it worthy to commence his town hall meetings in the zone.

    In their separate speeches, Engr. Magnus Edeh, the PDP candidate for House of Assembly in the council area, Hon. Okezie Nwanjoku, Mrs. Ann Dolly, Dr. Theodore Odih, Mr Godwin Anyim, Mr. Basil Orji, who spoke for the youths, Igwe Daniel Njoku, Mrs. Angelina Nweze, Comr. Oluchukwu Uchenna, Hon. Chukwu Nonye Okereke, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Hon. Osondu Eze, who spoke for the Presidents General in Nenwe, Chief Ben Alukwu, among others, extolled Mbah’s initiative on the gathering, saying it had afforded them the opportunity to interact and bare their minds on the pressing needs in their communities.

    According to them, Mbah, who had started the journey on a good note, will earn their votes and their continued support after the election.

    They further called on him to help the communities with accessible water, good healthcare system, youth employment, feeder roads, women empowerment, subsidy in their agriculture, and enhance their schools.

    The people who said they were mostly into agriculture, urged the business mogul to provide the enabling environment and facilities such rice mills, storage equipment, to enable them produce in large quantities.

    Addressing the issues raised by the communities, Mbah expressed satisfaction at their level of active responses to the meeting, insisting that his plan to give the people a new lease of life through new infrastructures, empowerment, youth and women engagements, construction of new and upgrading of existing hospitals with adequate staffing will be hastened by his administration.

    According to him, the town hall meetings became imperative because his government would like to hit the ground running immediately he assumes office, disclosing that despite the manifesto which he had earlier presented, he would want the people to take ownership of the project by being part of the government.

    Assessing the value of agriculture in the area, Mbah said although the level of production was sub-optimal, his administration would make agriculture in Aninri the state’s crude oil, contributing 40% of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    “In Aninri, we have crude oil in agriculture because you have arable land. Agriculture contributes 40% of our GDP. So, we don’t want to call it agriculture alone but agro-allied industry. It’s no longer going to be subsistence production. We are going to commercial production because will add value to the process.

    “We will have agro-allied processing industry that will produce at optimal level. We are going to create a value chain that will scale up our production. We want to make many of our people wealthy from agriculture,” he said.

    Mbah further added that he would construct more roads, spanning 10,000 kilometers in the state if elected in the state, while declaring that investment and development would not be possible without good roads first in place. He promised that his administration’s plan in the transportation sector will go beyond roads to light rail transportation system across the state which will make movements of goods and persons easier than the existing state of affairs.

    Reiterating that his plans for the state are ambitious, the Pinnacle boss further said new schools with adequately trained teachers will be recruited to give their children the best education, adding that vocational and skills acquisition centres where youths and school children will be engaged will be established.

    He promised to partner community leaders, women and youth groups to make sure that all their concerns were addressed with prompt attention, urging them to vote for the PDP as it’s only the party that can make the state a preferred destination for investors, exponentially grow the economy, make Enugu the ICT hub of the Southeast, provide the encouraging environment for “Made in Enugu” products, and turn the state to the food basket of the region with the capacity to feed itself and become a net exporter of agricultural produce through technology.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Youths from Igbo-Eze South, Nike communities throw weight behind Ugwuanyi, Mbah, PDP

    Youths from Igbo-Eze South, Nike communities throw weight behind Ugwuanyi, Mbah, PDP

    As endorsements of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State’s bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continue to gather momentum, youths of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state, under the umbrella of Great-16, have thrown their weight behind the governor and the PDP.

    The Great-16 comprising youths from the 16 electoral wards in Igbo-Eze South LGA also threw their weight behind the governorship candidate of the PDP in Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the PDP candidate for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, the party’s candidate for Igbo-Eze South Constituency, Hon. Vitus Okechi, and all other candidates of the party.

    Similarly, the elated people of Nachi community in Udi LGA, Enugu West Senatorial District, during their ‘Thank-you’ and solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the weekend, equally declared their support for the PDP and its candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    They pledged to deliver all the candidates of the PDP at the polls, including galvanising and mobilising their friends and in-laws from Enugu North Senatorial District to vote for Gov. Ugwuanyi to represent the district at the Senate.

    Also on a ‘Thank-you’ and solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the weekend were the people of Mbulujodo Nike Autonomous Community led by their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Gabriel N. Okoh and the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji.

    They equally declared their unflinching support for the governor and pledged to vote overwhelmingly for all the candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming elections in the state including the party’s governorship candidate, Barr. Mbah, who hails from Owo, a neighbouring community in Nkanu East LGA.

    Led by the leader of Great-I6, Hon. Chimezie Darlington Mama, on a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, the Igbo-Eze South youths said they are “people in charge of local government, wards, and down to the polling units.”

    Disclosing that the Great-16 is an extension of Enugu State Youth Parliament, Igbo-Eze South LGA Chapter, Hon. Mama added that “it has been long we have been existing, we have been operating and we have been delivering at the grassroots.”

    The group’s leader commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for accommodating and empowering the youth in his administration, stressing that the feat is unprecedented in the annals of Enugu State.

    Hon. Mama also applauded the governor for the peace and good governance his administration has entrenched in the state as well as his humble disposition. He said: “We have tried to learn that from you (Ugwuanyi) but it seems very difficult.”

    Corroborating Mama’s remarks, Ikenna Ugwuanyi emphasised the vital role of the youth in the forthcoming elections and assured Gov. Ugwuanyi that they have already compiled facts and figures of his administration’s remarkable achievements and deployed other genuine strategies that would “attract young persons to vote for you and the PDP.”

    Expressing profound gratitude to Gov. Ugwunayi for the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, another speaker, Hon. Valentine Udoka Eze, pointed out that Igbo-Eze South LGA as one of the host communities of the medical university stands to benefit immensely from the milestone achievement.

    “Your Excellency, you have done noble in terms of education, infrastructure, peace and security, among others. The best graduating students are from Enugu State in both JAMB and WAEC, among other feats. It is courtesy of what you have done in the education sector. So we are thankful to you for that. The Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, is in the land of Nsukka among many other achievements. So, we say thank you very much, Your Excellency,” he added.

    Presenting the address by the people of Nachi community, the President General of Nachi Development Union (NDU), Dr. Chukwuma Ogugua Orji, explained that they came to thank Gov. Ugwuanyi for giving them a sense of belonging after decades of neglect by previous administrations.

    Thanking Gov. Ugwuanyi for appointing their illustrious son, Engr. Kene Eze, as the Transition Committee Chairman of Udi LGA, which he served out meritoriously, Dr. Orji told the governor that “you broke that yoke of abusive neglect of Nachi community” by that singular act for “it is a known fact that since the return of democracy in 1999, no son or daughter of Nachi had occupied any elective or appointive position in Enugu State.”

    The Nachi people went further to appreciate the governor for the selection and subsequent recognition of their Traditional Ruler, HRH Igwe Cosmas Chizoba Ezeumeh, stating that “this also wouldn’t have been possible without your kind considerations.”

    Also lauding Gov. Ugwuanyi for Enugu’s enviable status as one of the peaceful and safest states in the country, the people of Nachi pledged their unalloyed solidarity, support and loyalty to the governor and his exemplary leadership, stressing: “We pledge to continually pray for you and support your leadership; we shall equally transfer same support to all the PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections in the state.”

    Also lending their voices, the Chairman of Udi LGA, Hon. Philip Okoh and the former Transition Committee Chairman of the council, Engr. Eze paid glowing tribute to Gov. Ugwuanyi for being a role model for others to emulate and reassured him of the determination and resolve of the people of Nachi to vote massively for the PDP in 2023, stressing that the community has been delivering the PDP 100 percent since 1999.

    On their part, the people of Mbulujodo Nike Autonomous Community expressed sincere gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for the appointment of their illustrious son, Engr. Nnaji as a member of his cabinet since the inception of his administration in 2015, the election and subsequent recognition of HRH Igwe Okoh as the traditional ruler of the community as well as the leadership role the governor played in the emergence of Barr. Mbah as the PDP governorship candidate in the state.

    They said that their people are delighted at the choice of Barr. Mbah because of his sound track record in both private and public dealings as well as the inherent benefits attached to the brotherhood they share with his community as neighbours.

    Reiterating their support for Gov. Ugwuanyi, Barr. Mbah and all other candidates of the PDP, the people maintained that “Mbulujodo is PDP, we will vote for the PDP all the way.”

    (Vanguard)

  • 2023: INEC clears Edeoga, Mbah, Sanwo-Olu, Emenike, 833 others for gov race

    2023: INEC clears Edeoga, Mbah, Sanwo-Olu, Emenike, 833 others for gov race

    THERE were surprises here and there, on Tuesday, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cleared 837 governorship, and 10,240 House of Assembly candidates for the March 11, 2023 governorship and state assembly polls.

    The lists of the candidates are expected to be pasted on notice boards of the INEC in the 36 states of the country. While some states have pasted the names of the cleared candidates, some were yet to do so as of press time.

    In Abia, the battle for the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship ticket between High Chief Ikechi Emenike and Uche Ogah was settled in favour of Emenike, who was listed.

    In Enugu, the confusion over who is the authentic governorship candidate of the Labour Party between Capt Evarest Nnaji and Mr. Chijioke Edeoga was also cleared with the listing of Edeoga.

    In Rivers State, amid contentions and litigations, two 2023 former aspirants of the APC, Senator Magnus Abe and former Reps member, Dr Dawari George, who quit to secure governorship tickets under alternative platforms were cleared to run.

    For the Kano State Governorship race, the name of LP Candidate, Bashir Ishaq Bashir was missing from the list.

    Bashir’s name was substituted with another name, Abdullahi Mohammed Raji.

    The list pasted by Kano INEC also put to an end the controversy surrounding identity of the genuine candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state with Muhammad Abacha’s name missing while Sadiq Wali made the final list.

    Among those cleared for the governorship election in Lagos is Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC; Abdulazeez Olajide Adediran of the PDP; and Mr Funso Doherty of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

    Edeoga makes INEC list in Enugu

    Although, Mr. Chijioke Edeoga of the LP was listed among the 34 governorship candidates that will contest the 2023 poll, he, however has some hurdles to cross, as the Federal High Court in Abuja will on Wednesday October 5, continue hearing on the matter instituted by Nnaji challenging his exclusion from the repeat primary election that produced Edeoga as candidate.

    In the list pasted at the INEC state headquarters in Enugu, on Tuesday evening, Edeoga’s name appeared as candidate for the LP with his running mate, Dr. John Nwokeabia.

    Other candidates in the list included the candidate of the PDP, Peter Mbah and running mate, Ifeanyi Ossai; the APC candidate, Uche Nnaji and his running mate Tagbo Ogara, among others.

    Oborevwori, Omo-Agege, Gbagi, others make INEC Governorship list in Delta

    In Delta, the INEC published the name of the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori as governorship candidate of the PDP and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.

    The final list of candidates pasted at its headquarter in Asaba, has Mr Monday Onyeme as Oborevwori’s running mate and Friday Osanebi as running mate to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Also cleared for the governorship are former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party, SDP; Chief Agbi Goodnews Goodman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP; Mr Ogba Emmanuel Samuel of African Democratic Party, ADP; Mr Ekure Efeoghene Shedrack of the ADC; Mr Gwede Jerkins Giane of Action Alliance, AA; and Mr America Emmanuel of National Rescue Movement, NRM.

    Others include: Great Ogboru of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA; Onokiti Helen of Accord Party; Edijala Immanuel of People’s Redemption Party, PRP; Okoh Emmanuel of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP; Eke Kenny Ekene of Allied People’s Movement, APM; Umudjane Sylvester of Boot Party, BT; Cosmas Anabel of Action People’s Party, APP; and Sunny Ofehe of Young Progressive Party, YPP.

    Emenike, Ikonne, Ibe, Otti, 32 others listed in Abia

    The governorship candidate of the ruling PDP in Abia State, Professor Uche Ikonne; and his running mate, Okey Igwe were among those who made the final list of candidates for the 2023 governorship poll in Abia.

    Other candidates who made the 36- man list included the APGA Governorship flag bearer, Professor Greg Ibe; his running mate, Mr. Obinna Ichita; the LP governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti; and his running mate, Emetu Lekwachi.

    On the list also were the APC, governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike and his running mate, Gloria Akara; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the ADC; and his running mate, Ngozi Nwasimuo; Chima Nwafor of the YPP; and his running mate, Chima Anyaso.

    Despite litigations, Abe, George make Rivers 17 candidates’ list

    Amid litigation, Senator Magnus Abe and former Reps member, Dr Dawari George, who quit the APC to secure governorship tickets under alternative platforms, were listed.

    Abe secured the governorship ticket of the SDP while George got that of the AA ticket. Both are facing litigations from aggrieved party members seeking to be transfered the tickets.

    The list also had top contenders, Siminalayi Fubara, candidate of the PDP; Cole Tonye Patrick (APC), and Dumo Lulu-Briggs (Accord) intact with former Rivers Deputy Speaker and lawyer, Leyii Kwanee, who has hardly been heard in the Rivers guber 2023 aspiration space listed as candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Other listed governorship contenders include Beatrice Itubo, current Rivers Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who will run as candidate of the Labour Party. Ex-militant leader, Jackrich Sobomabo Handerson remains candidate of the NRM and serial contender, Fingesi Victor Tamie, candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP.

    Also listed were Beke Ugochukwu Prince, APGA, Whyte Faye-Ofori Churchill, APM, Gborogbosi Leesi Gabriel, APP, Ibraye Tonte, ADC, Dada Obele Joseph Ngechu, AAC, Wenike Briggs Danagogo Taribo, YPP, Iyagba Tekena, BP, and Agwor Samuel Ndubuisi of the NNPP.

    Kano LP’s Bashir missing; Abacha’s son out

    In Kano, the Kano State LP Governorship candidate, Bashir Ishaq Bashir was missing from the list.

    Bashir’s name was substituted with another name, Abdullahi Mohammed Raji.

    The list has also put to an end the controversy surrounding the authentic candidate of the PDP in the state with Muhammad Abacha’s name missing while Sadiq Wali was listed.

    Recall that the former Head State, late General Sani Abacha’s son, Mohammed Abacha had claimed he was the genuine governorship candidate of the party.

    In the early hours of Tuesday, there were speculations Bashir Ishaq Bashir was planning to defect to the APC.

    In a swift reaction, he debunked the speculation describing it as false, baseless and without any iota of credibility.

    Bashir said he has no plans to defect from the party to the APC noting that one doesn’t leave certainty for uncertainty.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the widespread rumour going round that I’m defecting to APC, with two serial known transactional lightweight politicians. This statement is necessitated by the number of calls, text messages and visitations I received this morning on the growing speculations and rumours being shared across social media platforms in the state to the effect that I will be pitching a tent with APC.

    “This information is false, baseless and without any iota of credibility. One doesn’t leave certainty for uncertainty,” he said.

    Despite doubt, PDP, APC, LP candidates make gov list in Plateau

    All 18 registered political parties in Plateau State are standing for the governorship election according to the list of candidates published by the INEC.

    Among those on the list are Nentawe Yilwatda of the APC and his running mate, Pam Botmang as well as Patrick Dakum of the Labour Party and his running mate, Edward Pwajok.

    Their names being recognised by the electoral body has in the interim rested the speculations that they may not be part of the process as aggrieved party members are contesting their candidature in court.

    Again, the candidate of the PDP, Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate, Josephine Piyo also made the list reinvigorating the hope of supporters who were being fed with contrary opinions.

    According to the list, 36 names comprising candidates and their running mates in A, AA, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, BP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, PRP, SDP, YPP and ZLP were cleared for the polls

    Ogun PDP, LP candidates missing on INEC list

    In Ogun State, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Adekunle Akinlade were not listed.

    The commission also left out the names of the governorship candidate of Labour Party, Kehinde Shogunle and his running mate, Dr. Aishat Lawal Keshiro.

    INEC released names of 13 political parties and their candidates in the final list pasted at the commission’s office in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

    The commission cited “court order” as a reason for omitting the names of PDP candidates on the list.

    A Federal High court sitting in Abeokuta had nullified all the primary elections conducted by the PDP in the state.

    Three members of the party: Taiwo Olabode Idris, Kehinde Akala and Alhaji Ayinde Monsuri had dragged the party, Adebutu and INEC to court challenging the authenticity of the delegates’ lists used for the conduct of the primaries.

    The presiding judge, Justice O.O Oguntoyinbo in his judgement had ordered the party to conduct fresh primaries within the next 14 days.

    The court also barred INEC from recognising Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

    The plaintiffs contended that the persons on delegates’ list used by the electoral panel for the primaries were not democratically elected at the ward, local government and state congresses, hence the panel “cannot unilaterally or arbitrarily impose” the list on the party for the primaries.

    About four suits had been filed against Adebutu.

    Two of the suits were filed by former aspirants – Segun Showunmi and Jimi Lawal, while three PDP members – Taiwo Olabode Idris, Kehinde Akala and Alhaji Ayinde Monsuri, also filed another suit challenging the delegates’ list used in the conduct of the party primaries.

    The fourth suit against the PDP candidate was filed by the ruling APC.

    The ruling party had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, seeking the disqualification of Adebutu and his running mate, Adekunle Akinlade, over alleged breach of the electoral act.

    Other parties that have their candidates listed for the 2023 governorship race include ADC, SDP, NNPP, NPM, PRP, ADP, APC among others.

    (Vanguard)