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Group Kicks Against Re-Appointment Of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo As Chairman House Committee On NDDC

July 2, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the aegis of Ilaje Parapo Forum, IPF, has kicked against any move to reappoint Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, representing Akoko North West and Akoko North East of Ondo State as the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC, noting that the lawmaker failed woefully in the last four years.

The Group’s statement was signed by its Chairman, Funsho Ajimuda and Bode Orofin, Secretary of the Group as speculation remains rife that Ojo is lobbying intensely and might use his influence to get back to the Chairman House Committee on NDDC’s seat after allegedly defrauding the peace loving inhabitants of Niger Delta Region of Ondo state in the Ninth Assembly.

The Group, in the statement, stressed that it recalled the Lawmaker in the 9th Assembly, but he allegedly conspired with the Interim Management Committee of the Commission, IMC, of the NDDC between 2019 and 2022 to deny the people of Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency in Ondo State their right place in the Commission within time frame mentioned above.

The statement by the Group also added that It regretted the anticipated development of the Niger Delta region has continued to elude the region largely because of corruptions and self aggrandizement of politicians thus leaving the region in a State of perpetual environmental degradations, human and socio-economic squalor.

It also emphasized that the House Committee on NDDC in the 9th Assembly under the chairmanship of Ojo create unprecedented calamities in the Commission for the people of the oil producing Area of the state in terms of projects allocation, empowerment programs, training, Scholarship and employment of new staff into the Commission.

“As part of his constitutional duties to oversight all projects in the region, Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo did not visit the oil producing Areas of ILAJE and ESE-ODO for his four years reign as NDDC Committee Chairman and he never consulted stakeholders in the oil producing communities before imputing Ondo State projects in the NDDC budget. Additionally, he diverted NDDC projects and programmes to the Akoko Area of Ondo State at the expense of the suffering oil producing areas in the state.

“In the recent appointment made for junior and senior officers in the Commission, out of 56 officers, Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo used his position to employ 45 from Akoko, his federal consrituency that does not have a single drop of oil but gave only 11 to the applicants from the oil producing areas.

“Privilege information before us reveals that Hon. Tunji Ojo has been bragging to people that he doled out money to the emergence of Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives and that the Speaker is under compulsion to consider him for any position of his choice in the 10th Assembly.

“We therefore call on the House of Representatives leadership not to yield to pressure to retain/ reappoint Hon. Tunji Ojo as the Chairman House Committee on NDDC, rather for fairness and justice, we advocate for true representation by the lawmaker from the mandate areas of Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, who is raised amidst the pains and suffering incurred through oil exploration.

“Bearing in mind that NDDC is an institution established to cater for environmental degradation occasioned by oil exploration in the Environmental Management Plans (EMP), as an important aspect and response to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as best practices across the world”, the statement reads.

Edo Police Command Probes Death Of 400 Level UNIBEN Student, Arrests Two Suspects

Ayodele Oni

July 2, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Police Command has arrested two students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in connection with the drowning of their colleague, 23-year-old, Francis Aniude.

Aniude, a final year student of the Department of Chemistry, reportedly drowned at Ekosodin River, where he went to swim with the suspects.

Those arrested are Samson Kennedy, a 200 level student of Biochemistry and Wilfred Emmanuel, a 500-level student of Optometry.

The duo, who were neighbours with Aniude, reportedly invited him to the Ekosodin River for sightseeing on the 29th of June,2023, where he was allegedly drowned by the duo, who ran back to the school campus to raise the alarm after the incident.

A student of the Department of Chemistry who claimed to be an eye witness, explained that “Francis was drowned in the Ekosodin River, located in an off-campus community near the school, and was declared missing.

“His body was recovered by local divers in the community on Saturday, July 1. The discovery of blood on his lips and peeled skin around his neck region raised suspicion amongst family members and relatives who are demanding for an autopsy.”

Confirming the report, the Spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspects were arrested to help the Police in investigating the circumstances behind the death.

“The case has been reported at the Ugbowo Police Station. Eventually, the Divisional Police Officer and his men led a team of local divers to the scene of the incident, luckily enough, they were able to recover the body.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.

“Two persons were arrested, the reason being that they went together to go and swim in that river when the ugly incident occurred.

“Arresting them is very very important so that we can know what made them leave their hostel and go to that river at that point of time and what happened right there in the river.”

IGP To Appreciate Excellence; Reintroduces Rewards For Officers

Ayodele Oni

July 2, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

In an effort to sanitize the Police Force and boost morale of officers, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun, has resuscitated the Awards and Commendation system for the Force.

Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that the policy will be implemented under the guidance of the IGP to enhance motivation and encouragement among Police Officers.

Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, stated that “This renewed commendation system represents a significant advancement from the past, as it now covers all officers involved in every major case, moving away from solely focusing on arresting officers or commanders.

“The new system is in line with the provisions of Section 92 of the Police Act 2020, and Order 68 of the Force Orders and Instructions, and will be a milestone in recognizing the collective efforts of all officers in upholding law and order in the nation.

“Traditionally, the Nigeria Police Force has a history of conferring commendations and rewards to specific officers who have displayed exemplary performances in critical operations.

“With the new system, commendations and awards will now be bestowed upon all officers who played a crucial role in resolving major cases, promoting a sense of camaraderie, unity, and teamwork within the force.

“This development emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in achieving the force’s objectives.

“Furthermore, the introduction of this new commendation and award system also marks a commitment to shelve unnecessary special promotions, which have hitherto been ridiculous in the NPF.

“The new Awards and Commendation system will provide a fair platform for officers to be recognized and rewarded for their exceptional dedication and performance without relying solely on special promotions.

“The IGP envisions a renewed sense of pride and dedication among police officers as they know their hard work and dedication will be acknowledged and celebrated appropriately.

“In furtherance of this policy, the IGP has set machineries in motion to annually organize the Nigeria Police Awards Night, where outstanding police personnel, in all sectors, and certain individuals, who have contributed to a successful policing system in Nigeria would be honoured and celebrated.

“The 2023 Nigeria Police Awards Night will be unveiled and announced as and when due.

“Conclusively, the Inspector-General of Police recognizes the need to revamp the commendation and award system within the Nigeria Police Force.

“The new Awards and Commendation system will foster a culture of appreciation, teamwork, and professional growth. By acknowledging the contributions of all officers involved in major cases, we aim to create a more cohesive and motivated Police Force, committed to upholding the principles and tenets of the Police Act 2020, the Force Orders and Instructions, and serving the Nigerian people with excellence and renewed vigour.”

Revealed: Bill Seeking Establishment Of Federal College Of Education In Ekiti Sited Location At Omuo

Ayodele Oni

July 2, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

As controversy rages over the siting of the newly approved Federal College of Education in Ekiti state, a former Aide to Governor Lalong of Plateau State, and an indigene of Ekiti has clarified that the location of the institution was clearly spelt out in the bill establishing it.

Dr Adegboyega Bamisile, a stalwart of All Progressives Congress, (APC) said the Ilawe community that is laying claim to it is taking advantage of the exit of Senator Biodun Olujinmi from the red chamber.

According to him, in May 2021, a bill seeking the establishment of two Federal Colleges of Education in Ekiti and Borno States respectively underwent a public hearing at the Senate.

“The bills are the “Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Education Gwoza, Borno State and for other Matters Connected Therewith (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021) [SB: 350],” sponsored by Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), and the “Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Education Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State and for other Matters Connected Therewith (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021),” sponsored by Distinguished Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South).

“Upon approval, the proposed Federal Colleges of Education will be located in Gworza, Borno South Senatorial district in Borno State, and Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti South Senatorial district in Ekiti State.

“Specifically, the Bill for the establishment of the Federal College of Education Omuo Ekiti was sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, now former Senator Biodun Olujimi, and passed by both chambers of the 9th National Assembly.

“The public hearing was conducted by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, chaired by Senator Babba Kaita.”

Dr. Adegboyega highlighted that Omuo kingdom, comprising over 12 communities in Ekiti East with no Federal or State presence, deserves the College.

He mentioned that a bill establishing the College of Education had been passed, awaiting the President’s assent, before the alleged alteration and relocation of the school were brought to light.

Furthermore, he stressed that the passage of the (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021), sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), resulted from a painstaking legislative process with the support of traditional rulers, dignitaries, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ekiti South.

Therefore, any attempts to relocate the College should be vehemently opposed.

Dr. Adegboyega expressed his bewilderment that someone or a group of people who did not initiate the request would seek to take advantage of the absence of the bill’s sponsor in the upcoming 10th assembly to alter what was clearly not theirs.

He called on President Ahmed Tinubu to rectify this alleged injustice and, if the insinuation about the relocation is found to be true, return the institution to Omuo Ekiti for the sake of fairness and justice.

How Gunmen Killed RCCG Pastor Inside Church, Abduct Seven Worshippers

The Source

July 2, 2023

By Gideon Njoku

A night vigil organised by a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, turned into a nightmare when gunmen invaded the Church, killed the officiating Priest, and abducted seven worshippers.

Members of the RGCC Parish, Abule-Ori, Obafemi, Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, were observing their monthly night vigil when the gunmen struck and disrupted the Service.

Blood-thirsty, they immediately shot and killed the Pastor who was conducting the night vigil Service. And, as pandemonium ensued, and worshippers ran helter-skelter, the gunmen abducted seven of them.

A save-our-soul call to the personnel of the Ogun State So-Safe Corp brought some consolation. In a swift response, they went after the gunmen, and in the ensuing shoot-out, the seven abductees were rescued. As an icing on the cake, one of the abductors was killed. The others escaped with gun shot injuries.

The incident which took place midnight Saturday, was confirmed to news reporters by Mr Soji Ganzallo, the Commander of the So-Safe Corp.

In a statement signed by Moruf Yusuf, Director of Information, So-Safe Corp, on behalf of Ganzallo, the Corp explained that: “The Owode-Egba Zonal Command of the Corp, under Jimoh Omoniyi, received a distress call that some members of the RCCG, Desires of Nations Parish, under Ogun Province 22, Abule Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, were attacked during a vigil. That seven members of the Church were abducted, and the Pastor killed.

“Officers of the Corp were charged to go after the suspects and rescue the victims unhurt, and the officers swung into action immediately.”

The statement confirmed that the seven victims were rescued unhurt, and one of the murderous criminals shot dead during an exchange of gunfire.

Security Agents, he disclosed, are on the trail of the other members of the gang who, he said, escaped with injuries.

At the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Leadership of the RCCG or that of the State Police Command. The name of the killed Pastor has not been made public.

Ploy To Compromise Integrity, Independence of Senate, Behind Gang Up Against Tambuwal’s Quest For Minority Leadership – GNC

Tosin Olatokunbo

July 2, 2023

The Generation Next Collective, GNC, a coalition of pragmatic youth and women groups, with core interest in development strategies and democratic accountability, has said that the orchestrated ploy by elements it described as external forces to hijack the minority leadership of the senate, is a danger to the integrity of legislative independence that ensures democratic checks and balances.

GNC made this submission in a joint statement by its co – conveners, Barrister Ruth Edehemon and Malam Rufai Abdulahi, PhD, in Abuja, on Sunday, July 2, 2023.

It said that a Legislature without a vibrant, experienced, knowledgeable and independent-minded opposition, would remain a liability to the nation and the people, who are the live-wire of participatory democracy.

The GNC said that that’s why it’s concerned about the coordinated attack on the character and person of Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past governor of Sokoto state, who it said ticks the objective leadership boxes, given his outstanding legislative and administrative leadership experience, capacity and capabilities.

The former Speaker, Tambuwal, who is a frontline contestant for the office of the senate minority leader, the coalition added, has the required firmness, reach, emotional intelligence and maturity to provide an effective opposition leadership that would add value to the Legislature.

It noted that the role of Minority or opposition Leadership in a parliament is too critical to the integrity of the legislature, democratic practice and accountability, to be allowed to be pocketed by external interests that’s most likely motivated by extraneous factors, hinged on possible personal vendetta or ideals that do not put to account the overall interest of the people.

Emphasising the importance of Minority Leader’s responsibilities, it said that besides being the official spokesperson of opposition parties in particular and the people in general, the Minority Leader, “Develops the minority party’s legislative positions, directs negotiations with the majority party, coordinates the minority party’s strategy on the senate floor and also leads the minority party in floor debates, for the good of the people and progress of the nation.”

Such critical roles, in the estimation of GNC, “Should not be allowed to be manipulated by divisive interests, or unwittingly handed to a proxy puppeteer, obsessed with power and control, masquerading as exclusive oxygen of party survival or cohesion and defender of democracy.

“These same forces have already taken over the Minority Leadership of the House of Representatives, and have vowed to replicate their authoritarianism in the selection process in the senate.

Speaking on the current controversy surrounding the selection of the Senate Minority Leadership, the statement said further: “The institution of the Legislature in Nigeria has suffered bruises of negative public perception and mistrust in the immediate past administration, on account of how it handled some of its constitutional responsibilities, in a manner that made it appear like a rubberstamp to many.

“It should be noted that more than ever before, there is palpable apprehension among the people, over the quality of service delivery the 10th senate would offer to the people.

“But the unnecessary intrigues, bitter conspiracies and campaign of calumny surrounding the senate minority leadership selection process, is rather unfortunate, and a sad pointer that the will, voice and interest of the people and development of our democracy, stand the threat of being mortgaged, in order to feed the ego of some individuals in cohort with the ruling party who ought to be put on its toes by the opposition, in fidelity to democratic norms.

“An ideal Legislature requires an objective, conscientious and sensitive majority party leadership and also a robust, responsible and responsive minority leadership to nurture a healthy democracy that would ensure policy initiatives that’ll prioritise the interest of the people and equitable distribution of the commonwealth of the nation.

“Senator Tambuwal, either in his past public office positions as a Speaker, eight years as Governor of Sokoto state, Chairman, People’s Democratic Party (PDP’s) Governors’ Forum, or Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the last general elections, has been unblemished, humble and patriotic,

“Tambuwal remains one of the best ambassadors of the PDP. He is known to be a level headed team player, who will rally the opposition parties to give a resounding voice of reason on behalf of the Nigerian people, for good governance and peace of the nation, devoid of rancour, pettiness or divisiveness. Such an individual imbued with this unique personality of calming candour, should be projected by all well-meaning party men and women, rather than dragged on the mud of internal party politics and rivalry.

The ruling party and the external forces sweating to stop Tambuwal should stop fretting about his emergence, but rather prepare to give the Nigerian people the kind of responsible leadership they deserve. “

“Edo No Be Lagos, Tinubu Cannot Control Us”: Oshiomhole Mocks Edo People

The Source

July 2, 2023

Oshiomhole and Bola Tinubu and Godwin Obaseki

By Gideon Njoku

“…my people, those who say Edo no be Lagos, Tinubu cannot control us, please tell them Tinubu is now Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces”

A former two-time Governor of Edo State, and now, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has mocked the people of Edo State who mocked now President Bola Tinubu during the 2020 Governorship election in Edo State which sacked the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the State.

At the Governorship election, Oshiomhole’s candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, was defeated by incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Oshiomhole and Obaseki were friends and political allies. As Governor, under the All Progressives Congress, APC, Obaseki was Oshiomhole’s Chief of Staff and right hand man. At the end of his tenure, he installed Obaseki as his successor in 2016. But as has become the norm in Nigeria between outgone Governors and their immediate successors who they installed, Oshiomhole and Obaseki fell so badly apart that they became very bitter political enemies.

At the time, with the influence of Tinubu, Oshiomhole had become the National Chairman of the APC. At the end of Obaseki’s first term in office, Oshiomhole saw to it that the Governor was denied a second term in office. He was disqualified from the contest.

Frustrated and stranded, Obaseki sought refuge under the Peoples Democratic Party which quickly gave him the Governorship ticket to contest. Oshiomhole gave the APC ticket to Ize-Iyamu, ironically, the PDP Governorship candidate who Obaseki defeated in the contest for his first term as a Governor. Iyamu was Oshiomhole’s ally who he had, at the time, ditched for Obaseki.

During the campaign for Obaseki’s second term, now under the PDP, Oshiomhole campaigned fiercely against him. He brought in Tinubu from Lagos to help with his larger than life clout and influence which he uses to install Lagos State Governors.

Tinubu, on arrival, directed Edo people to vote for Iyamu against Obaseki. Angered by Tinubu’s directives, the people told him that his political influence in Lagos did not extend to Edo. “Edo no be Lagos. Tinubu xannot control us”, they told him, especially, in reference to the denial by Tinubu, of a second term ticket for Akinwumi Ambode, as Lagos State Governor.

“Edo no be Lagos” became the sing-song for the campaign and Obaseki won in a landslide.

Over the weekend, Oshiomhole, whose political clout had been reduced to zero, especially after he was sacked as the APC National Chairman, partly because of the Obaseki issue, and more especially, after his candidate lost to Obaseki, but was revived by his victory at the 2023 Senatorial election, had a good laugh at those who mocked Tinubu with “Edo no be Lagos.”

At a post inaugural/victory party hosted in his honour by his friends over the weekend, Oshiomhole thanked his Senatorial District for voting Tinubu as President, and him as their Senator.

He said: “During the campaign, I told you if you want to give me one vote, give it to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I am very proud to say, and to repeat today, here and now, that in each of these six Local Government Areas, every ward, Bola Tinubu won, every ward, Adams Oshiomhole won.

“I will proudly carry the result and I will say: ‘Mr President, this is my certificate of the people of Edo North that voted for you.”

And in a mockery of those who told Tinubu that “Edo no be Lagos”, Oshiomhole said: “Tinubu said those who say Edo no be Lagos will be alive when he becomes President. He will not only make Edo be like Lagos, but better than Lagos.

“So, my people, those who say Edo no be Lagos, Tinubu cannot control us, please, tell them Tinubu is now Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

Presidency: “My Regrets Over Tinubu” – Akpabio

The Source

July 2, 2023

By Gideon Njoku

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stopped short of publicly apologising to President Bola Tinubu, for daring to contest the Presidential seat with him.

Akpabio, Minister for Niger Delta under President Muhammadu Buhari, resigned from his Ministerial position to contest for the office of the President.

He was one of those who paid the whopping sum of N100million to purchase the form to participate in the Presidential Primaries.

Not a few people were surprised that Akpabio quit as a Minister because they knew he was going nowhere. They knew he had no delegates, and they knew he did not possess the clout to defeat then aspirant Tinubu, or even former Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. They knew that, like a number of them then, he was going to be an also-ran.

It was no surprise, therefore, that he chickened out at the venue of the Primaries, and stood down for Tinubu. Others who stood down for Tinubu included the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, etc.

But Akpabio got lucky. Inexplicably, he got the chance to take the Senatorial ticket for his District from the man who contested for it at the Primaries and won it, while Akpabio was contesting for the Presidential seat – retired Inspector General of Police, DIG Udom Ekpundom.

Akpabio went on to win at the Senatorial Election, and suddenly, his star shone brighter than even he thought it could shine.

Both President Tinubu and his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, settled for him to occupy the third most important office in the Country – the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Over the weekend in Lagos, perhaps, still obviously overwhelmed by what destiny thrust in his hands, he said he regretted that he contested for the office of the President with Tinubu. He put it down to ignorance. He said he didn’t know that Tinubu had done so much in Lagos, as Governor, otherwise, he would not have contested against him. He, also, said he didn’t know at the time that Tinubu had good plans for Nigeria, otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared contest with him. He said what Tinubu has done within one month of his Presidency compels him, Akpabio, to regret ever contesting against him.

Akpabio: “With what the President has done in Lagos, we are assured that Nigeria is in safe hands.

“We didn’t know this was the plan you had for the country; we wouldn’t have contested with you at the Party Primaries.

“These few decisions you have taken have served as a catalyst for the Country’s development.”

Akpabio was a two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom under the Peoples Democratic Party. He also won an election to the Senate under the PDP and was the Minority Leader of the Senate. It was on that position, that he inexplicably dumped the Party for the APC.

Under APC in 2019, he failed in his re-election bid to the Senate, but was rewarded with a Ministerial post.

In 2023, he quit from the office to contest in the Primaries against Tinubu. He failed, but made a miraculous return to the Senate, and is now the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly.

Re-What’s Uzodimma Always Looking For At The Villa?

The Source

July 2, 2023

By Oguwike Nwachuku

Exactly a week today, June 25, 2023 to be precise, I read on the Political Notes column of the Cicero Section of THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER an article entitled – What’s Uzodimma Always Looking for at the Villa? The piece did not have a face to it, so to say. It was by-lineless.

When I drew the attention of the Editor to the nauseating piece which exuded suspicious innuendos with the medium giving vent to such disparaging work in cahoot with a faceless author, he corroborated my earlier curiosity about a hatchet job in the offing.

The confirmation by the Editor that pieces published on the Political Notes are exposed without the author in tow really unsettled my mind. Reason you shall know shortly.

Last year, August 7, 2022 to be precise, THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER on the same Political Notes of the Cicero Section published a similar piece as it did on June 25, 2023, with the caption: “Why is Uzodimma Always in Aso Rock?”

Reading through the 2022 work in comparison with the 2023 article, what the hatchet jobber simply did was to joggle the headline of the most recent piece, using Villa instead of Aso Rock, replacing former President Muhammadu Buhari with President Bola Tinubu, among others, just to pass the same disparaging message against an innocent governor doing his job of governance and sincere service to humanity to the best of his ability.

Truth is that I am yet to come to terms how such scandalously and mischievously orchestrated write-up escaped the eagle eyes of the gate keepers of the medium such that it has not only become an annual ritual, but has a permanent space on their Political Notes.

While one voice counseled that I should not reply to a faceless work, the second advised me to use my response to educate the timid author who may be either ignorant of the nuances of governance or on a deliberate voyage of mischief to disparage the person of Governor Uzodimma.

In fact, the Editor’s response did reinforce my thought-line as I considered the second option to reply the ghost author with all his/her mischievous trappings.

Today in Imo State, it is no longer in doubt that Governor Hope Uzodimma, CON,GSSRS, has done the people proud and has earned their trust after spending three and half years in office as the Chief Executive.

It is also not a matter of conjecture that what Governor Uzodimma has been able to achieve so far in Imo State with regard to infrastructural development in particular and good governance in general, despite the debilitating impact of insecurity, will speak volume for him come November 11, 2023 when the governorship election he is one of the contestants will hold.

What is in doubt, really, is whether the pretenders who have put themselves up for the governorship election Governor Uzodimma is standing in as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and who the ghost authors in consonance with the Editors of this medium are supporting, are prepared to face the good people of Imo State based on track record of verifiable achievement.

Now to the faceless author of the malicious and naughty article, you may not be aware, Governor Uzodimma is, unarguably, the most sought after governor in Nigeria today. You won’t be hung if you term him Nigeria’s most powerful governor.

His strategic governance prowess, sincere and dispassionate approach to state, national and international matters, easy-going miem that oils human relationship and attracts people to him, et al, are as infectious as his looks – a very handsome man specially created by God and called Hope by his parents to bring hope to the hopeless, including the ghost writer(s).

It is important that those who do not understand the nuances of governance ask pertinent questions. If Governor Uzodimma was the only Chief Executive of the State who attended the decoration of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, what does that tell you? Again, what constitutes an offence in that?

As the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, the Governor-General of All Progressives Congress (South East), do you still need a prophet to help you understand that Governor Uzodimma’s hands should be full always?

I am not sure Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who in the imagination of the author as the closest to Mr. President, was in itself in good faith. Or is the writer insinuating that Sanwo-Olu is complaining of not having access to the Villa or having problems frequenting the Villa or what?

If the ignorance and mischief of the author of that piece is not legendry, he/she would have known that the Villa is not a place you just visit at will without proper clearance and invitation ab initio. I also think the Editors ought to know a bit of the rules.

During President Bola Tinubu’s electioneering, he told everyone with ear to hear to ignore Governor Uzodimma at their own peril. Then again, has Mr. President complained to you, ghost writer, that he is tired of receiving Governor Uzodimma at the Villa or any other governor or visitor for that matter?

Yours sincerely has an idea why the faceless author is trying to malign Governor Uzodimma. He /she is simply being recruited by agents of the pretending governorship candidates of the opposition political parties in Imo State for the November 11, 2023 election who are looking for campaign materials, having not got one yet. But they have failed and will continue to fail.

It is unimaginable that in this age of hi-technology, information and communications gadgets, those who are lining up to displace Governor Uzodimma from his position come November are characters who think that good governance can only come to the State when the Chief Executive comes to sit down with them at Eke Onunwa or Relief Market or any of the Nkwobi joints in Owerri. What a shame to those who think that way and those they use to propagate the backward idea!

Perhaps, they should be reminded that there are some Imo citizens who think Governor Uzodimma should visit Villa as often as possible because whenever he does, good tidings follow.

Just a few of the things that his visit to Villa brought to Imo State and your heart will be satiated – the former Federal Medical Centre, Owerri (now the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri), the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri (now, Federal University of Education, Owerri), the Oguta-Urashi Lake dredging up to the Atlantic Ocean, the Owerri-Okigwe road, the Owerri-Orlu road, the Owerri-Mbaise-Obowo-Umuahia road, among others. The list is too long.

The government of Governor Uzodimma is impacting the people of Imo State so positively that no amount of propaganda, blackmail, slander, mischief-making and outright falsehood can stop the ship of State from anchoring successfully to its destination. Of course November serves as another litmus test.

The people are already convinced that Governor Uzodimma is making a change and they are resolved to be part of that change. And like Seyi Wright said in his book – Choose to make a Difference – “once you begin to feel the conviction to make a change, you may be challenged and ridiculed by others who prefer the comfort zone.”

No doubt, that is the cross Governor Uzodimma is carrying to reposition Imo State that was messed up big time prior to his coming in 2020.

That said, I like to remind the ghost writer of what Jeffrey J. Fox said in one of his bestselling books – How to Get to the Top: Business Lessons Learned at the Dinner Table. Fox wrote: “It is okay if good people don’t care about the cares, concerns, and causes of others. But it is not okay to intentionally or unintentionally be ignorant or dismissive or judgmental about matters of importance to others.”

The question we should be asking ourselves is what we stand to gain by living in a fictional cage. Anyone who read the article in question will, like yours sincerely, find it difficult to believe that the ghost writer and his/her backers were not mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, materially and even financially compromised to discredit Governor Uzodimma.

Nwachuku is the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Governor Uzodimma

Exclusive! Tinubu, APC Cede Anambra’s Ministerial Slot to Former Cross River Health Commissioner

The Source

July 2, 2023

By Akinjide Aina, Abuja

Except Southeast political leaders immediately intervene after reading this story, Anambra will be represented in the yet-to-be-constituted President Bola Tinubu’s Cabinet by a Cross Riverian.

Highly placed party and Aso Rock sources have informed this magazine that Cross River state’s former Commissioner for Health, who is the current National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Betta Edu has been handed Anambra’s Ministerial slot.

Dr Edu and her benefactor, former Governor Ben Ayade are reportedly in a fierce contest for Cross River’s slot.

The former Commissioner is insisting that she deserves to represent Cross River in the Federal Cabinet, having delivered the Central Senatorial Zone of the State to the APC during the Presidential and Senatorial elections whereas her former boss, Ayade, not only lost his Senatorial zone, Cross River North, to Peter Obi’s Labour Party, but also lost his Senatorial election to the PDP candidate, Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom.

“However, to solve the Edu- Ayade debacle, the APC National leadership, and the Presidency have decided to leverage on Edu’s faint Anambra bloodline to cede the State’s slot to her”, an APC source privy to the arrangement told the magazine.

Dr Edu’s father is Igbo from Anambra state while her mother is from Yala in Northern Cross River. The APC National Women Leader is married to a man from Ibalebo in Abi Local Government Area in Central Cross River.

However, Dr Edu whose Igbo name is Chimaobi, has consistently done everything within her powers to conceal her Igbo connection.

She neither speaks Igbo, nor identifies with the Igbo Community in Cross River.

Dr.Edu often describes herself as a Yala woman who became an Abi woman by marriage.

And indeed, she represented Abi Local Government in the Ayade Cabinet as Commissioner.

When the APC zoned the position of National Woman Leader to the South-south geopolitical zone, Dr. Edu, noted for her oratory skill and flawless use of the English language, contested for it and won, beating her rival, another Cross Riverian from the same Central Senatorial District as herself, Barrister (Mrs) Mary Ekpere.

One of the youngest Commissioners in the Ayade cabinet, Dr. Edu, was a student union leader at the University of Calabar where she studied Medicine.

Before she was appointed Health Commissioner in 2019, Edu was the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), and Special Technical Adviser to the Governor on Cross River State Privatization Council.

Apart from her Medical degree from the University of Calabar, Dr. Edu holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and a Master of Science Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.

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