THE IGBO

RIVER RERUN;NYSC Pulls Out Of  Saturday Rerun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday announced that the rerun elections into the House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats for Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State will hold on Saturday.



But, State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Omotayo Adewoye said the youths would not be available for the exercise.

Adewoye said: “I am just one month old in this state. When I received the letter calling for 300 interested youth corps members to come up for training to participate in the conduct of the elections in Etche, being quiet aware of the Memorandum of Understanding between INEC and NYSC, and knowing that I was not a signatory to the agreement, I had the course to approach my national headquarters in Abuja.

“While I did that, I contacted the field officer in Etche where the election is going to hold to get members ready for the training which started on Monday to equip them fir the exercise.

“However, I am standing here today(yesterday), to inform you that NYSC will not take part in the exercise because of the obvious reason of violence in the last elections in the state in which we lost one of our youths.

“I have duly contacted my headquarters and I have been asked to stay action in the matter.”
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikiowak, announced this in a stakeholders meeting organised by the police for security chiefs, politicians and candidates in the elections in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.
Ikiowak said the poll would hold in over 200 voting units across eight registration areas. Election for the House of Representatives will hold in 147 units.The election in the House of Assembly will hold in 74 units in Etche constituency two.

INEC said the exercise would be held in areas where access to the polling units were blocked by suspected thugs during the December 11 rerun.
He noted that card readers would not be used in the exercise.
“The election is very important to INEC, the state and indigenes of the local government for them to have credible
representation in the House of Representatives and the State Assembly.
“The election is going to be held for three major reasons,- areas where INEC staff and materials were not able to access at the last exercise due to blockade mounted by political thugs, hence election was not held there.

“Again, where election materials got to but for certain obvious reasons of violence and disruption, results were not collated and results not declared at the appropriate venue and finally where elections were held but were rejected and cancelled by the Electoral Officer at the ward level because of certain malpractices,” he said.
Sensitive materials are expected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) today.
The REC appealed to politicians and their supporters to stay clear of the collation centres .

The Acting Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner (Operations), Ahmed Magaji, said adequate security would be provided for free, fair and credible polls.
Magaji pledged the neutrality of the Police.
Politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) traded blames on the cause of election violence.

APC candidate for the House of Representatives Ogbonnaya Wuke and his colleague for the House of Assembly, Golden Chioma, accused the PDP of holding meetings with political thugs to disrupt the process.
The PDP House of Representatives candidate, Chief Jerome Eke, appealed to the police to allow a level-playing field at the polls.

The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Uba has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, DAILY POST reports.



Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who made the announcement explained that Andy Uba was exploiting section 68(1)(G) which has been validly tested in the Supreme Court, adding that he has already enrolled his membership with APC in his ward.

Through Order 43, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio informed the Senate that Andy Uba should be made to surrender his mandate.

He explained that the mandate belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hence could not continue to sit as Senator on the platform of his new party, stressing that if he fails to give up the seat, they would go to court.

“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the mandate belongs to the PDP, and by virtue of what has happened, he has to surrender his seat, else we will go to court to contend for it,” he said.

The Minority Leader advised the Senate President to remove him as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee to save the Senate of any confusion.

DAILY POST reports that Public Accounts Committee is the only Committee in the Senate and House of Representatives that reflects in the constitution and is always headed by the opposition.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has registered over one million new members in south east states, it was revealed at the weekend.

The south east zone of the party has also requested for extension of the time allotted for the on-going continuous registration exercise of the party.
It also requested for more materials from the national leadership of the party.
A communiqué by the national vice chairman south east zone of the APC, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, at the end of a one day meeting of the party’s stakeholders in the zone in Enugu, stated that the exercise had recorded a huge turnout  in the zone.




Eneukwu stressed the meeting re-confirmed the ongoing registration exercise was very much on-track.
He commended state chairmen of the party in all the South east states for a job well done.
”The meeting re-confirmed that the ongoing continuous registration exercise in APC South east, which recorded a huge turnout, is very peaceful

“The state chairmen of the South east states were also commended for a job well done at their states. Over one million members have been registered so far.

“The zone requested from the national leadership for the provision of more materials and extension of the time allotted for the exercise.
“The South East APC is united and heartily welcomes all the prominent Igbo politicians who recently joined the
party.
“The South East zonal stakeholders pass a vote of confidence on the national, zonal, states, local governments, wards leadership of the party as constituted before the 2015 general election,” the communiqué stated.
It maintained the APC was favored to win in Anambra state given the quality of the governorship aspirants in the state.

The meeting, it further stressed, ratified the zonal disciplinary committee for the zone with Hon. Uche Onyeagocha as chairman and Barrister Mrs Ngozi Udodi as secretary.
It also ratified the fund raising and finance with Chief Gbazuagu N. Gbazuagu as chairman and Amara Iwuanyanwu as secretary.

The meeting was chaired by Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha and attended by  Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, among others.

The Imo Sstate governor, Rochas Okorocha, has explained why he recently nominated former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, as national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South-East zone.



This is even as his choice of Nnamani has sharply divided members of the party along various interests.

The governor was speaking yesterday during the meeting of the South-East zonal leaders of the APC held at the Nike Lake Hotel in Enugu.

He said his decision to nominate Nnamani to lead the party in the zone during a recent meeting in Owerri, the Imo state capital, was simply to ensure that the South-East APC has an arrow-head leader who is a capable and well respected figure across the country.

He challenged the leaders and members of the party in the South-East to “sit down” and plan properly so that the APC will win the governorship election coming up soon in Anambra state.

Governor Okorocha however, urged South -East governors who wish to join the party, to declare their interest now before it was too late for them to do so.

According to him, “The APC is a party with lots of promise. The South-West and South-South have better political fortunes today in APC.

“The South-South, for instance, hold the position of national chairman. The South-East has only Minister of Labour and Employment [Dr Chris Nigige], Minister of Science and Technology [Dr Ogbonnaya Onu] and the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Geofrey Onyeama].

“When l met with President Muhammadu Buhari over this matter, he said when he started out his presidential quest, he had picked Chuba Okadigbo (in 2003) and Edwin Umezoke (in 2007) as a way of reaching out to the South-East but it didn’t work. In APC South-East, we have to organize ourselves. The leaders should not be concerned with who sits on the high table. We should come together to move the APC in the South-East forward.

“In fact, being a governor has deprived me of leadership opportunity in APC. Because of the need to have capable leaders in the party, that was why l advised that Ogbonnaya Onu and Chris Ngige should not be made ministers so that they can be the leaders of the party in the zone. I started this political journey with Jim Nwbodo in my house in Owerri long before now.

“And when the issue of leadership came, l said we have to look for a capable person among us to lead this party in the south-east. I felt we needed somebody at this time, a central voice who will be speaking for us. That was why l had to nominate Chief Ken Nnamani, a former Senate President and who is credible to lead the party in the zone.”

Dr. Obiora Okonkwo contested the last PDP primary for Anambra Senatorial seat. He has been in courts seeking to prove that he won the exercise. In this interview, the politician spoke on last week’s Supreme Court ruling that threw out the suit by Senator Uche Ekwunife. Ekwunife had earlier challenged the Appeal Court judgment that nullified her election.  He also shared his thoughts on other issues including the APC government, survival of PDP and the next Anambra governorship poll.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court threw out Hon. Uche Ekwunife’s case on account of lack of jurisdiction. What is the implication?
When we heard Uche Ekwunife had applied for joinder, we allowed her to come and defend herself.  She came up with a result sheet, which obviously in the new electoral law is the most determinant factor. She came out with the result sheet that purportedly gave her victory. In the same result sheet also, we have been able to prove that even the Returning Officer she claimed had gone to the field to conduct the election, had disclaimed even being nominated to do that job, and that the signature purportedly contained in that result sheet was not his. They were forged.
The panel members also in that affidavit had claimed that they never appointed that individual to do the job and that the only person appointed to do the job was the Returning Officer that returned with my result sheet, which was declared authentic for the victory.
This matter has been there before the election. She has been to the Appeal Court, and the Supreme Court because of the other technicalities that are contained in the judiciary process. They are okay. You have to allow people to explore all legal options open to them.  Other issues are interlocutory matters where people will want to use some delay tactics, so we are back to where we were. But we are hopeful that something positive will come out of it. But, basically, having gone through the Appeal Court and other interlocutory issues, we are back to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court was about to determine this matter before Justice Abang was transferred out of Abuja last year.  Now, the matter remains in his court and the new judge taking over has fixed the matter for February 23, 2017. The electoral law and the constitution have made it very clear that it is the party that wins, not the individual.  In this case, the court has said Uche did not win the primary election, so the court has actually joined verdict to our own claim. We are only waiting for any other court to authenticate it, that this is ours. We were not party to post election matter between her and other contestants.
So, as soon as that is done, we have to demand to go and occupy the seat that belongs to PDP in Anambra Central. I am the only candidate who can step into that seat without any election. Therefore, we are declaring for the benefit of those who may not know that the seat is not vacant. It belongs to the original winner of that primary who ought to have been the candidate for the senatorial election. The Appeal Court that nullified Uche Ekwunife election did not nullify the PDP victory; it nullified Uche Ekwunife’s candidacy because she could not prove that she was nominated.

But former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi is also in court seeking to be the candidate of PDP. Isn’t that a sign that PDP is singing discordant tunes?
As far as I am concerned, there is no case in court with the name Peter Obi as claiming any candidacy because you can only claim candidacy if you were part of the primary process. Out of the other aspirants in PDP who were there before the primaries and who went to court after the primaries, I am the only person who has a substantive suit. I am the only man standing. The reason is because I have all that it takes to prove that I actually won the primaries of PDP. So, I am not aware of any case because Peter Obi has no locus to institute a case.  However, I am aware that PDP had gone to court and has said to INEC: if indeed there would be any re-run (which is fair enough), PDP ought to have a candidate.    PDP has sworn an affidavit to support that case.

What if the court rules that you go through election, would that be acceptable to you?
We will not preempt what the court will rule but it will not be justified with the reality on ground.  We should expect that if the court authenticates our candidacy, then the only thing left in law is to say ‘go and take over the seat,’ because part of the consequential orders we are demanding is to order INEC to issue us the certificate.

There are insinuations that the plots of some political personalities in the state are to ensure that no one occupies the seat till 2019, what do you make of such rumour?
It is not out of place for people to plot such, but the important thing for me is that someone who does not win the election will not occupy that seat. And if it pleases God at His own right time, the rightful occupant of that seat (which is obviously no other person but me) will take over the seat. So, we are also watching. There is a high interest in Anambra Central.  I can tell you it is the most hotly contested senatorial seat in the entire country.

Have politicians in the district realized that the state is losing a lot over this unnecessary dispute?
You are absolutely right. They are losing. But if you look at the flipside, it is a lot better to fight in court than to fight with guns and knives. Since the election took place, no one has heard that anybody has been killed. Strangely enough, majority of those in this electoral battle are friends; they attend personal functions and visit one another’s homes; they drink from the same bottle of champagne and share glasses and hug themselves. It is healthier that way than becoming brutal and killing innocent people because of politics. That is one phenomenon in Anambra which other states envy. But I wish that by the time we finish this struggle, most people will just sit back, and then count their losses. Probably, that will help them and other people who are coming into Nigeria to know that it is not the best way to play politics.


It appears PDP in Anambra is almost gone, if by tomorrow there is an election, do you see yourself winning on that platform?
If it becomes the very last option, I have no fear. I know that all the contestants are afraid, that is why they are just clamouring that PDP must not have a candidate. They are not talking about the candidate that has been disqualified; they are not talking about the individual that may be aspiring to be a candidate, they are saying so because they know the likely candidate that should be for the election. And that person is me. That is why they are afraid. I don’t have a problem winning the election.
I don’t think we would get to that, though, because this matter is clear. We have to follow our matter to conclusive end.  You can’t conduct an election in a place that is not vacant. The decision of the Appeal Court for rerun is based on the information before it.

How do you feel about prominent PDP members in the South-East leaving in droves for the ruling party?
It is normal. While some people are leaving, some are coming in. There is nothing to be worried about. I have seen people leave. Maybe at this point those people in their calculations think their political aspirations or ambitions are better achieved in their new party. This is what is happening for now. Let’s see how things turn out in the future. My prediction is that there will be a lot of movements and counter movements in the Nigerian political landscape in the coming months and years. That is why I am not worried.
Some people recommend that the South-East should have good presence in both APC and PDP. Do you share that kind of argument?
Well, for the benefits that those schools of thoughts believe will accrue from such arrangement, why not? It is a simple thing that you should not put all your eggs in one basket. I don’t think that should be the issue. My own concern is wherever anybody is moving to; you should play the right politics and know that you must not be motivated by your own individual ambition. It must be a place you are going to exercise proper representation and do service to mankind. But if it is just politics, for your stomach, that is where I have a problem.
I really think that PDP is facing its own challenges. I think there are challenges in other parties. If the current leaders of the party have thought it wise to make a presentation of how they think this party can be revived, they are taking the right steps in the right direction. I will not simply discard the effort until I see the implementation and the outcome. It is not in my nature to undermine people’s effort especially when I know that the leaders are working hard to make things happen. But I know in the coming years there would be more people from PDP moving to APC and there might be more people moving from APC to PDP. That movement will continue. There might be a possibility of even PDP going into marriage with another party. There might be a change of name of a party. PDP might even evolve into a new party with a new image just like APC.  I really think that we all have to wait and see.
The Nigerian democratic system will continue to evolve until that time when we get the right political parties with clear vision and philosophies that will get people who will stick to it because of its belief. As long as we politicians see political parties as platforms, as vehicles to get to their destinations, this movement will continue. I am not really worried about that.

Anambra will be holding governorship election soon, we have not heard you comment or criticize the incumbent administration in the state, is it an indication that the governor is doing well and deserves another term?
I didn’t say so. When we have a government that is in place at this time in our nation, if we can’t do much, we can give the person a chance and time to observe what he is doing and the result those things are yielding. Criticism is not always the best solution.  I say my mind, but I don’t engage in baseless and empty criticisms. When it comes to second term, you know it is determined by a whole lot of factors, that all aggregate to how good you are. It is never easy for a governor to come back. There is no doubt that this second term is going to be a tough challenge for the incumbent governor. There are a whole lot of interests.
Weighing how easy or how successful his bid for second term will be, I will want to wait and see how the other parties will manage their own internal affairs, the process they will adopt in bringing out their candidates. It is until then that you will be able to judge. The process might start well and ends badly. That will make party members to protest, and such protest could make it very easy for the governor.   It might be a bit early to comment on how that will turn out, but I really think that just like in many other cases, his chances of coming back will not only depend on how well he has done or how bad he has done, but also on how the challengers emerge and who emerges from other platforms.
Away from Anambra, is the Buhari administration meeting your expectations?
It is obvious that there are still things to be done. I have seen a whole lot of efforts. I will not be revealing anything from the sky because the administration itself, on many occasions, has made it clear that its own expectations are not being met.  What they expected was not what they met, so that is affecting what they had planned to do. It is a common knowledge that a lot of things are not the way they should be.  I would rather say that there are challenges this administration is having and that is affecting the expectations.  We are not where we are supposed to be, that’s an obvious fact and I am not seeing a difference either.

So it is good that Labour and civil societies protested?
I don’t think protest is the answer. As pressure groups, I would rather, in my opinion, they engage constructively with the government to ensure that there are no actions taken that would add to the injury.
Our situation is quite delicate; any action that is not in the right direction would complicate the situation. I don’t think it is the best approach. I would always recommend a peaceful approach to demands and constructive engagements with the government from all the quarters that have issues.
This government, I want to believe, is ready to listen to people who have issues but jumping to the street, and in some cases, taking laws into their hands, creates avenues and opportunities for people with other intentions to hijack and compromise the genuine reasons for such demonstrations.
My advice is to engage government constructively at the end of the day. No matter how long they strike or no matter how tough a demonstration is, I have always known that problems are better addressed around the table.  So, why not take advantage of that from the beginning and save all these energies?

AHEAD of the 2019 presidential election, former Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme has urged Igbos in the country to strive for the presidency. Ekwueme stated this in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, when he attended the child dedication of the family of Chief and Lolo Chukwuemeka Egwuonwu (KSM) Ochubaradikeohia II of Awa who dedicated their daughter, Favour Chimamanda, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Calabar. Ekwueme, who spoke with newsmen after the child dedication said,






 “I was vice president up till December 1983 and by the old National Party of Nigeria, NPN, order, and I would have contested for the number one position in 1987, but the military intervened in 1983 and the civilian regime was cut short. “I tried again in 1998 and (Olusegun) Obasanjo was released from prison, and he came and won, supported by his colleagues in the military. I tried again in 2003 and the same thing happened. I pray that the other people (Igbos) can take it up from there and make progress.”

 On the health issue of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekweme asked Nigerians to pray for Buhari and for peace in the country. “We have conflicting reports about the President’s health. The Minister of Information says he is hale and hearty, but his wife says we should pray for him. So, if he is hale and hearty I don’t why she said we should pray for him. Whatever it is, we ask God to look after him. We want Nigeria to be at peace and to make progress and see how we can get out of our present difficulties. “We really need prayers. We are in great difficulty. People are suffering. There is hunger in the land and it is not very encouraging. So, we need God’s intervention to help usget out of it,” Ekweme said. President of Ohanaeze in Anambra, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, speaking on the Igbos presidency said, “An Igbo presidency is overdue but as far as I am concerned, it is not something that is coming out now. Our national President, Chief Nnia Nwodo is going to make the stand of Ohaneze known as regards the presidency.

Igbo presidency is long overdue whether it is 2019 or 2023, our own national President will make our stand known. “Agitation for Biafra is a way of expressing justice, fairness and equity which is lacking. If there is justice, fairness and equity, the whole world can be one country. It is because of injustice people say we can be on our own. As far as I am concerned, immediately after the war, the Gowon administration said three Rs and we believe in three Rs, reconciliation and reconciliation, reconstruction and none of them has taken place. It looks like to us, the war has not ended.”

 On the continued detention of Nnandi Kanu, he said: “We are all human beings and we are not ready to shed any blood, it is not necessary and we have advised our own youths and our own son whether IPOB or MASSOB, what they are saying we are part of how to address the injustice but for violence we are not part of it. We advised the federal government that you do not use a sledge to kill a millipede. It is not when you child demands school fees and you kill him because he demanded school fees. Our youths are demanding justice, equity and fairness and they should not be killed. “You and I here cannot release Kanu, the courts have said release Kanu but the powers that be is beyond and me and we. Have been saying leave this young man, give him to us and we will manage them.

A former national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and later the Anambra State chairman of PDP, who recently qualified as a medical doctor, Nwoye is one of those who have set their sights on the governorship ticket of the APC. He spoke to Vanguard on his quest among other issues.





SOME people are clamouring for the change of the APC executive in the state. Do you support it?

Why are we changing them? I don’t support changing anybody. Yes, we were PDP yesterday, but we have left the party and we have come into APC with all our PDP supporters. This was the party I was the state chairman, the House of Representatives candidate twice and Senatorial candidate. So I won’t criticise unduly. But the truth of the matter is that we entered APC and met the structure on ground. My position is that those officers have been there and should not be changed. Let us allow them to finish their tenure. When their tenure elapses, most of them may even return. So we should support them. I will personally resist any move to change them. If I were to be selfish I would clamour for their change so that I will put my people who came with me from PDP.


National leadership

But these are people who have been labouring to keep the party together. We should go to primaries with that executive.

There is also the fear that the influx of PDP members will create problem in APC. What is your take on this?

It will not because the PDP problem was self induced. The problem was caused by PDP national leadership. The then PDP federal government did not want PDP to win election in Anambra because they were supporting APGA to please the then governor, Peter Obi. So they used few Anambra people to create problem in PDP. This time around, I believe that the more the merrier. Let more PDP people move into APC. I believe the APC primary will be free and fair and whoever wins will enjoy the support of others. So I don’t see what happened in PDP happening in APC. APC is a disciplined and focused party and it will not allow any crisis to come in.


Your name has been mentioned as one of those to contest for the governorship. Can you confirm that?
Yes, I am running. I have not declared yet, but I will do that in due course. I have consulted widely but I need to consult more with stakeholders and youths (you know I was one time national president of NANS) and religious leaders. As long as there is life I will contest. I won’t contest based on zoning. I will contest because I want to bring change. I want to put food on the tables of the oppressed people of this state whose local government funds are being deducted with impunity by APGA -led government.


Whipping up the propaganda

 It did not start today. It started since 2005 with impunity, without caring for the welfare of the people. That is why there is so much hunger in all nooks and crannies of the state where the people don’t enjoy over 90 per cent of their local government allocation. In fairness, it did not start with Obiano. In fact that is going to form the crux of our campaign because we want to change that bad system. Our campaign will be a mass movement. The APGA people have been whipping up the propaganda that APC is not for Igbo people and when we get to the field, we will tell our people that it is about the individual. Let them stop using APGA. They have used APGA enough to rob Igbo. If APGA is truly an Igbo party, why is it that up till now, it is only in Anambra State? Why is it that in the House of Representatives there are only two APGA members and out of 109 senators, none is an APGA senator? Why is it that since the time of Ojukwu who is the symbol of APGA, they could not win one single state outside Anambra? They have been using it to hold our people down; to siphon our money and we must stop it.


Considering the fact that the incumbent governor is from your local government, how do you rate your chances?



Power belongs to God. When I ran for 2011 election, I won massively here. They did not allow me to enter. The same forces said Tony Nwoye should not be sworn in at the House of Representatives and I said no problem. In 2013, I ran for governor and won the PDP ticket, the same forces used Jonathan, the former president, to support APGA. Jonathan did not know Obiano, but he was trying to please Peter Obi. A lot of things happened. They kept me in court and used the then INEC chairman to ensure that I did not campaign because they said I did not pay my tax on time. Less than 11 days to the election, they said I should campaign and it was so late. The aim was to make my supporters to support the APGA candidate, knowing that I am from the same local government with Obiano who later became governor. God gave him power because He is the only one that gives power. Obiano is my brother and ordinarily I am not supposed to challenge him because we come from the same clan, but he has failed our people. This is a man who has not put a project of N10,000 in my town, apart from the so-called N20 million he gave to every town. And in my town, we are supposed to have benefited from projects worth N350 million because we have calculated what should be our share from the local government allocation since he was sworn in as governor.

Local government allocation

We are not even talking of allocation from the Federation Account. So how can we not challenge him? To go to the House of Representatives, they nearly killed me at the collation centre. They stopped results from my town from being added. He brought a candidate from Anambra West and out of 10 electoral wards, I won him in eight. They did everything to stop me and I went to court and the court gave me victory and that is why I am still here. Despite the fact that they added all the results they wrote in Aguleri, today I am in the House of Reps to the glory of God. If God says he will continue to be governor, he will be. But if he is doing well, why should Chinedu Idigo from the same Aguleri, his town, who was chairman of his inauguration committee, be running for governor under PDP? We have waited for him to come and execute projects in my town, but he has failed to do so. The only tarred road here is the one done by former governor Peter Obi because he signed an undertaking with us that we would support him if he did the road. But my own brother is the governor and he has not done a single project in my town.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has berated the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state for organizing another stakeholders meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, a day after the town hall meeting held in Government House.

Governor Wike expressed his displeasure while receiving leaders of the APC from Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local government area led by Chief Ofili Enebeli, who were defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.


The Governor said the meeting which was organized by the leaders of the APC in the state was ill-conceived and aimed at further straining the peace in the state.

He also said he felt a level of satisfaction seeing former Governor Rotimi Amaechi return to Government House after allegedly leaving it in shambles.

Governor Nyesom Wike said he would not be deterred from his promise to continue to develop Rivers State.

“Since the Acting President began his tour of the Niger-Delta, this is the first time he will be sleeping in a state. This is the first time he will be passing a night outside his region. What does that tell you. It means Rivers state is safe.

“But you know Satan will never sleep. Lucifer will always stay awake. Anywhere Satan sees light, he will always want to turn it into darkness.

“You are all aware that the Acting President came and held a stakeholders meeting with all of us irrespective of affiliations. Even the Minister of Transportation was there. But as you know, chameleon will always be a chameleon.

“Just because the Acting President decided to stay in Rivers state Lucifer went on rampage. I had no problem with the fact that Prof. Osinbajo wanted to hold a meeting with his party member. They are all members of APC but I was surprised that a meeting they tagged APC stakeholders meeting turned out to be something else.

“They left what they gathered for and started making demands for the people of Rivers state. Who sent them?

“If I were them, they should go for psychiatric test. I have never been treated by a psychiatrist. I don’t even have one as my Doctor but when your personal Doctor is a psychiatrist, then you should know there is a problem.

“I don’t want to talk about what his boys (Dakuku Peterside and Magnus Abe) were saying but I was happy for one thing. I was happy that the Minister of Transportation could not believe his eyes when he came into Government House. It was like a paradise. When he came to the Presidential lodge, he couldn’t believe it.

“Remember this was a man who said over his dead body will I become a Governor but he entered my car, my 7 BMW series with the acting president.

Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Felix Obuah assured the new defectors of equal rights in the party.

Uche Ekwunife Is Frustrated, Angry Over Supreme Court Judgment – Umeh
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has insisted that he won the March 28, 2015 Anambra Central Senatorial election.






The party chieftain noted that the then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, only used security agents to rig the election in her favour.

Umeh made the claim while responding to Ekwunife’s statement that he cannot win any election in Anambra State.

Ekwunife had while speaking with newsmen after last Friday’s Supreme Court judgement that dashed her hope of returning to the Senate and brightened Umeh’s chances of going to the Red Chamber, said the APGA candidate would never be a Senator.

But in his reaction Umeh said: “Well, she is my younger sister. And I can’t join issues with somebody who has lost. You can say that she is frustrated and angry.

“But I will use this opportunity to plead with her to exercise restraints. She doesn’t need to speak recklessly because she lost an obvious battle. When she went to the House of Representatives, I was the one that helped her to get there through APGA. I was a good man then. And now that she has tried to bite the finger that fed her and she got burnt what do you expect me to tell her. She should respect the constitution.

“And the Justices have told her that National Assembly election matters end in the Court of Appeal. As to whether I can win an election or not, it’s a joke. I defeated her in that election. She used the police, the army and the connivance of some people to rig the election. She never won it. The results from the field were clear that she didn’t win the election. From the first victory they gave her that she scored 101, 000, at the tribunal it turned down to 93,000 votes. And my own was 86,000 votes. Is that something that will make somebody to be that audacious to tell you that I will never win an election when I polled 86, 000 valid votes compared to her 93,000 rigged votes? I can understand she is bitter and I forgive her.”

The APGA chieftain added: “I want to advise her not to attack the judiciary because she lost. If she failed today, she should take it calmly and wait for another time. This is not a do-or-die-battle. If I had lost today, I would have worked away from this court. I won’t go to ECOWAS Court. You understand. I exhausted the judicial processes. I don’t do protest. I have never used violence throughout my political life. What I have done is to use the machinery of justice. What the constitution says or the law says – those are the things I do.”

Members of the Itsekiri political class from different parties led by Warri billionaire, Ayiri Emami, on Saturday, paid a solidarity visit to former Delta State Governor, James Ibori in his country home, Oghara.



IGBO KWENU !!!

Mr Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, Ortom, on Saturday escaped death in motor accident allegedly caused by one Mrs Abigail Ochai, who slept off while driving and rammed her car ran into the CPS' car.


The accident severely damaged the front side of the official Toyota car, close to the driver's spot with the CPS and his wife however unhurt at the time of the incidence which left many amazed at the miraculous and narrow escape of the family. Below is a post Akase published on his Facebook page, narrating the event leading to the accident:

"I woke up this morning with two write-ups on my mind. The first was to announce and invite my friends to our thanksgiving mass coming up on Sunday, the 19th of this month in Agbeede, Konshisha local government area (see attached picture of invitation card).

The other article on my mind was about today's International Day of Women and Girls in Science. I equally cherished the 2nd article and wanted to use it to tell our young sisters to embrace the study of science as the future of our state and country.

 I planned to also tell our dear young sisters what their Governor, Samuel Ortom is doing to secure their future through education.
After meeting with His Excellency, the Governor (as we do every morning), the Special Adviser, Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua and I met to strengthen our preparations for Monday's Stakeholders' Forum which is to be hosted by the Governor.

After our meeting on the coming stakeholders' forum, my wife Jessica joined me in continuation of our little plans for the February 19 thanksgiving mass. It was while we briefly stopped near Doo Palace to give a friend the invitation card to our event that a Toyota camry coming from the opposite direction which had left its lane rammed into our car (see attached picture).

But God intervened and no one was hurt!
The woman (driving), Mrs Ochai whose car hit ours said she had dozed off. I told myself that this could happen to anyone. So everyday must be a day of thanksgiving to God.

His works are awesome.
Thanks to all who have either sent messages here or privately. We appreciate. You can agree with me that we have one more reason to thank God on February 17.


IGBO KWENU !!!

Today, there is a general feeling among us (the Igbos,) especially within the ranks of the young up-and-coming generation, that as a people, we are deliberately sidelined particularly in the sphere of political leadership of Nigeria.

President of Nigeria No Igbo person has so far been deemed suitable to be put at the helm of affairs, at the apex management position of Nigeria since independence in 1960. Late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s pioneer titular head-of-state, took a shot at the office of the executive president of Nigeria in 1979 and 1983. Inspite of his nationally acknowledged role as the foremost crusader for Nigeria’s independence, he scored abysmal results in both elections.

Today, it’s over 57 years since independence yet we, Igbos, are yet to have one of our own take charge of the affairs the country as executive president.

Follow me as I take you down memory lane to refresh your mind on the ways Igbos have supported Nigeria’s growth and development so that you can see why we deserve Nigeria’s presidency in 2019.

Our role in Nigeria has been consistent in the pursuit national unity and inter-ethnic co-operation. Under the leadership of late Owelle of Onitsha, we (the Igbos) played the role bridge builders in the fledgling Nigerian nation. In 1957, when the British colonial government intense pressure from Southern politicians for Nigeria’s independence, attempted to uncouple the union between the North and South forged through late Lord Lugard’s amalgamation of 1914, with an offer of independence to the Northern, the Western, and the Eastern regions separately, provided any two of the three regions accepted the offer.

The Northern region took the position that they were not intellectually ready for such a high level of political independence. The Western region promptly declared their readiness to accept the offer. It was we, Igbos, that held the balance in such a serious issue that could make or break Nigeria. We took the stand that although the Eastern region was ready to assume the responsibilities of regional independence, its attainment without the North will lead to the balkanization of the Nigerian Dream, and break our collective aspirations as Nigerians. We chose to rather let the advancement of our political interests and obvious economic gains be delayed than risk the break-up of Nigeria.

On the Socio-economic front, we have played, and are still playing a leading role in the promotion of national integration. Today, there are several millions of Igbo people living, working, and helping to significantly develop parts of Nigeria outside Igboland. Igbos are present in all communities in Nigeria even the ones in remote villages. For Igbos, everywhere is home.

Indeed, a few years ago, incumbent Kaduna state governor – Mallam Nasir El-rufai – was quoted as saying that Igbo investment in indiogenous property development in Abuja, accounted for 70% of the existing structures. Clearly, we, Igbos, put our money where our heart is (i.e Nigeria’s centre of unity – Abuja.)

It is clear that all along, since British colonial government put together this vast country , the evident role of Igbo people in political history of Nigeria has been that of bridge builder and nation builder But there exists a cruel irony that a people who have done so much to keep Nigeria alive as one nation are being systematically denied their rightful “Federal Character” turn at producing a president for this country.

To rectify this totally unfair anomaly, we should promote everyday the reasons why Igbos deserve Nigeria’s presidency in 2019. By the time President Muhammadu Buhari completes his tenure, Igboland will be the only region in Nigeria that has not produce an executive president of Nigeria. Igbo presidency in Nigeria is not a favour waiting to be granted but a logical and legitimate right of our people. We have abundance of capable heads that can lead Nigeria to success anytime



IGBO KWENU !!!

The leadership of the Independent Democrats Party (IDP) has declared its readiness to challenge the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano in the forthcoming governorship election in the state and possibly take over the Awka Government House.

Mazi Omife. I. Omife who is the Chairman of the party in the state, , while making this disclosure at the party’s  secretariat in Awka during an enlarged meeting of the party executives in the 326 wards, also said three prominent politicians have indicated interest to fly the party’s flag during the polls.




Omife also disclosed that arrangements have been concluded for the state congress of the party to hold at ward, local government and state levels before the end of next month.

The IDP,  whose membership is drawn mostly from former and some serving town union president generals, according to the chairman, has also perfected its grassroots mobilisation to enlighten the Anambra State electorate on the party’s manifesto and its vision to liberate the people of the state from “years of socio economic bondage and exploitation by the so called big parties and unconscionable politicians.”

Also, Anambra State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Paul Asika, has said the party would accommodate other parties in its government if voted into power during the forthcoming elections in the state.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after its meeting in Awka, Asika said the party would offer members of other political parties the opportunity to be part of government to make their contributions towards the progress of the state.

“ADC will accommodate all political parties in the state if it wins the election. This is what the ruling party in the state is not doing. It is not accommodating other political parties and that is not healthy for our political development.”

The chairman disclosed that some notable politicians were already discussing with the party to contest on its platform, adding that Chief Godwin Ezeemo and Chief Ifeanyi Ubah topped the list of those who had commenced useful discussions with them.

Meanwhile, one of the aspirants in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and National Auditor of the party, Chief George Moghalu has urged politicians and people of the state to shun religious politics.

Encouraging his people to also shun denominational politics and sentiments, Moghalu asked Anambra people to go about the forthcoming governorship election based on good and qualitative governance.

Moghalu, who spoke to newsmen in his Nnewi country home at the weekend stated that such politics was mundane, as the 21st Century politics has gone beyond any kind of sentiments, hence, the state must play the politics of the moment being the light of the nation. Reacting to the insinuation by one of the aspirants in the election that he (Moghalu) was not a member of the Catholic Church and hence, should not be allowed to be governor of the state, the APC chieftain described the sentiments as unfortunate and unnecessary.

“I’m a Catholic by birth. I wedded in the Catholic and I’m a husband of one wife. But these sentiments are unnecessary. There’s no market called catholic market. The pentecostal, the Anglican, the Catholic, the atheist, we all go to the same market.

Omife also disclosed that arrangements have been concluded for the state congress of the party to hold at ward, local government and state levels before the end of March this year.

The ID Party whose membership is drawn mostly from former and some serving town union president generals according to the chairman has also perfected its grassroots mobilisation to enlighten the Anambra State electorate on the party’s manifesto and its vision to liberate the people of the state from “years of socio economic bondage and exploitation by the so called big parties and unconscionable politicians.”

He said the congress would be attended by national officers of the party as well as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and representatives of labour in the state to ensure strict adherence to party guidelines.

Omife who is a former president general in Anambra State also said the door of the party is still open for other credible politicians in the state. He assured that the party would give all prospective candidates, a level playing field in the final choice for the state’s flag bearer. 

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife challenging the refusal of the Court of Appeal to set aside its earlier judgement of December 7, 2015.

The court had sacked her as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter.


The Apex Court also ordered a re-run poll but disqualified the appellant and the PDP from participating.




In the lead judgement read by Justice Amina Augie, the Supreme Court ruled that it lacked powers to deliberate on matters that concerns National Assembly elections, citing Section 246, Subsection 3 of the Nigeria’s Constitution, which maintains that all issues arising from National Assembly election petition tribunal ends in the Court of Appeal.

he All Progressives Grand Alliance has accused the All Progressives Congress, of buying up voters cards with the intention of rigging the forth-coming governorship poll.

By Paul Ihechi Alagba

The trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and three other Biafran activists who are being held by the Nigeria government on charges of alleged treasonable felon, took a new twist today January 12, 2017 following the cancellation of the controversial secret trial by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria's capital.

  The judge presiding over the case, Ms Binta Fatima Nyako made the ruling before the commencement of proceedings for the day. The judge stated that her ruling is based on the strong opposition of the defendants (Nnamdi Kanu and co) against the move by the federal government for a secret trial during the previous court sittings.



Immediately after the judge's pronouncement, the defense counsel to the Nnamdi Kanu , Hon Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor unequivocally urged the court to  strike off the charges against his client and order for his release from detention.

   "He is only exercising his right to self determination, and has even started his agitation even before the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria," Hon Ejiofor told the honorable court, maintaining that Nnamdi Kanu poses no threat to Nigeria's seat of power.
In furtherance of his case, Barrister Ejiofor drew the attention of the court to a new bail application filed on behalf of the defendants, which is subject to the fact that the charges and accusations levelled against them "lacks merit and basic proof to substantiate their continued illegal detention."

 The prosecuting counsel representing the Nigerian government, Hon S.I Labaran immediately objected against the bail application of the defendants, noting that the 1st defendant (Nnamdi Kanu) possesses dual citizenship and may flee the country on his release.

However, the judge, Ms Nyako rebuked the objection of the counsel to the federal government, noting that his evidence is only based on assumption and is not enough to warrant the continued detention of the defendants. Barrister request and assured that some changes will be made on the next court sitting.

The case was however adjourned to February 10, 2017, for a ruling on the bail application and release of the defendants.



IGBO KWENU !!!

The Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chidi Nwosu, alongside almost all his executive members, yesterday officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

L-R; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff

He said the step was necessary because his former party was comatose with several unsolvable conflicts of interest.

Nwosu declared his membership for the APC during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the state secretariat of his new party in Umuahia, Abia State capital.

He said he had completed his registration process from the ward to the state level, adding that he was prompted to join the APC as a result of division in the PDP.

Nwosu said with the current efforts of the APC-led federal government in ensuring the growth and development of the country, he had no choice than to declare for the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has challenged members of the APC and those wishing to join the party in the South East, to work together and win various positions.

 “Those who want to join me to APC you are welcome; those who don’t want to still remain my friends. My commitment is to God, the people and to democracy,” he said.




IGBO KWENU !!!

By Carl Umegboro

FORMER governor of Abia State and founder of the Peoples Progressives Alliance (PPA), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, recently joined the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC). He anchored his decision on the collective interest of the South-East geo-political zone vis-à-vis the gross sidelining it has experienced under the Nigerian project.

Kalu apparently believes that since elections are over, astute leaders ought to sacrificially do realignments towards actualizing some set goals. Indisputably, all the political parties in the country are so far identical in terms of manifestoes and ideologies, and therefore, defections are mostly myths.

 Nothing apparently changes as the parties have similar modus operandi. Nonetheless, a political leader at any given time, as the baton is presently held by President Muhammadu Buhari, determines the direction of the society. If the leader sees the nation as no-man’s land, government will be encircled by political contractors.

Thus, democracy as a game triumphs on political calculations and schemings. Apart from the deceased former Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, who explicitly espoused the political arithmetic formula, a former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, embraced the philosophy and it worked excellently for him.

 As the governor under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Obi saw things beyond party identity. He penetrated and maintained an outstanding relationship with the then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Certainly, Obi understood clearly that the purpose of political delineation is merely for the contest, and therefore did not take it to the extreme after elections. Despite his natural low voice, he maneuvered his way powerfully, winning the heart of the president even though from an opposition political party.

 He could have been endorsed as best-man if Jonathan and Patience were to renew marital vows while in office, amidst PDP governors, ministers, even though he was from the opposition.

What is the use of shouting, racketeering or yelling like motor-park touts when these may not make one’s voice heard, as seen among some governors in the name of opposition? What can make a difference are well thought out calculations and diplomacy.

Obi utilized his relationship and communication skills, knowing that as a state governor, he could not operate meaningfully in isolation from the central government.

Obi, albeit APGA leader then, prioritized the mandate entrusted in him by Anambra people, and blithely played party politics, thus, getting the president and all the support he needed to deliver, and indeed conquered.

Certainly, by his closeness to Jonathan, one or two of his recommendations must have been considered even as a member of an opposition party. That’s leadership par excellence; reigning in the camp of the opposition.

Weighing the reasons adduced by Orji Kalu for his defection, his move to the ruling party was largely a desideratum as it affords him enormous opportunities to relate closely with the present leadership towards a paradigm shift from the marginalization which has become synonymous wiath the South-East geo-political zone over the years.

Good political know-how awesomely supports dynamism, flexibility and adjustments at critical times for achieving uncommon goals. Politics is more a game for dribblers than conservatives. Opposition, as allowed in a democracy, ought to be centered on issues and policies instead of over-enthroning partisanship at the expense of governance and service delivery.

 To endlessly bark and roar along political lines when governance should be a priority is the height of naivety. It is indicative of vacuity of ideas and diversionary tactics.

Without a doubt, opposition is an essential element of democracy but that should be left to the political parties. In fact, once inauguration takes place after elections, any elected office-holder that obstinately plays partisan politics is an amateur.

 An oath of office signals the mantle of leadership of a state or country, and not of a political party. Any leader elected in error without a concrete blueprint will end up with endless commotion for cover-ups. Constructive opposition connotes proffering practicable solutions to problems and not being alarmists.

As Kalu integrates with the ruling party now as one of its chieftains from the South-East, his voice will no longer be heard from outside but as one engaged in a family deliberation.

 His opinions, at least on the marginalization of the zone as well as ideas on how to move sports in the country to another level, will count. No one can query Kalu’s remarkable exploits in sports, which led to the revival of the State’s football team. Thus, he has something good to contribute.

Above all, for the South-East to receive exceptional attention, political arithmetic is inevitable. Democracy allows the majority to have their way while the minorities have their say. People of the South-East geo-political zone cannot be comfortable to have just their say in the Nigerian project. They need to have their way as a major ethnic nationality.


IGBO KWENU !!!

Succour has finally come the way of ailing actor, Prince James Uche. Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu personally donated the sum of N3million to him and approved a N10million donation from the state government to the Nollywood icon. The governor's wife also donated N1million to him. Big thanks to them



IGBO KWENU !!!