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Why FG Must Postpone National Population Census – Gov Ortom

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

As Nigerians are preparing for head count by the National Population Commission, (NPC) Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has seen reason why the exercise should not hold as scheduled.

The Governor has asked the federal government to  suspend the exercise until all Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), are returned to their ancestral homes.

Governor Ortom made the call on Thursday, when he received a delegation from the Middle Belt Forum led by its President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, at Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

The governor pointed out that close to two million indigenes of Benue State were in the IDP camps and would not be counted because they need to be in their localities before they can participate in the exercise.

Governor Ortom stated that what the federal government must do before carrying out the census was to ensure adequate security for the IDPs in Benue and elsewhere in the country to go back to their homes to be counted.

“This is because I understand from the National Population Commission that those to be counted must be counted in their localities.

“There was so much injustice, bias and tribalism going on in the country that both the leaders and the people were expected to correct it before the country could move forward.”

He particularly decried the sustained attacks on Benue communities by herdsmen over the years in which more than six thousand people have died and property worth billions of naira destroyed with the federal government doing little to help.

“In Benue State alone, we have lost over six thousand people. In the last few days alone, over 131 persons were killed, and we are still counting because others are in the hospital.

“Benue people will remain law abiding citizens because they believe in Nigeria and have worked for the unity of the country.”

The President Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, in his earlier remarks, also corroborated what the Governor Ortom said and urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed national population and housing census because he believed that the exercise “was coming with a hidden agenda.”

Dr Pogu also frowned at the level at which Fulani herdsmen had been killing people of the Middle Belt in connivance with other Fulani socio-cultural groups like Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, openly claiming responsibility without being arrested.

He said what had made the activities of the Fulani in the communities within the Middle Belt more frightening was that after killing and displacing the villagers, “the Fulani came and renamed those villages.”

Ebonyi: How INEC Stole My Mandate For Umahi- LP Candidate

By
James Orji
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Linus Okoroe, the Labour Party, LP, Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of stealing his mandate for the governor of the state, Dave Umahi.

In his swift response to Okorie, the governor said he will sue the LP candidate to court to prove his allegation of mandate theft, adding that Okorie is trying to influence a matter that’s already before the state’s election tribunal.

The electoral umpire declared Umahi winner of the February 25 Senatorial election.

But the LP candidate said during a media chat with journalists in Abakaliki, the state’s capital that he’s the true winner of the election, that INEC robbed him  by declaring Umahi winner, adding that the governor was not even qualified to contest the election having failed to win the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries conducted by INEC.

Okorie said he’s  “the presumed winner of the Ebonyi south senatorial zone election, conducted on 25th February 2023, irrespective of the fact that the Independent National electoral commission, INEC, announced APC candidate, David Umahi as a winner.

“I still don’t accept to the extent that I’m in Election Petition Tribunal to retrieve that mandate. I consider that mandate as a stolen mandate and I’m very dedicated to retrieving it in the Court.

“An election was held on 25th of February, 2023, where Governor David Umahi is a candidate for APC and I was candidate for Labour Party, LP, and there were other candidates. His supporters including the Local Government Chairman of Onicha LGA made thugs to be known as APC members and supporters to destroy votes in polling Units within my community and my wards, and that’s the areas of my strength; where ordinarily, I’m expected to harvest the maximum number of votes, just like Umahi did in Umunaga ward, and other wards in Uburu community.

“They shot people, they burnt BVAS, they burnt ballot papers, they destroyed results in many of my ten (10) polling Units. When you put all these places including the one that happened in Isu community in Ugbogologo ward, we have over ten thousand (10,000) votes that was destroyed.
“If you go to Ivo LGA, in Ngwugwu ward, in the ward collations and after tabulating the results by whatever they have done, Labour Party, LP, which is my Party scored 551votes, while APC scored 290 votes, but instead of entering 551votea that my Party scored, they decided to enter 290 votes to be same with that of APC that scored 290 votes. Taking away 261 votes, that is stealing of votes. The BVAS is there to confirm it.
“In all of these irregularities that happened, the total results announced by INEC said he (Umahi) won me by the margin of 2882 votes. Meanwhile, we have over ten thousand votes mostly in my areas of strength, my stronghold that were destroyed by APC members.
“The law says that where the margin of lead between the 1st candidate and the 2nd candidate, is not more than the total number of the places where election didn’t hold or cancelled, that you shall not return a winner, in other words, 2882 votes compared to ten thousand (10,000) votes, nobody should be declared winner but should be declared inconclusive.
“I did a petition when I found out that they (INEC) wants to declare him (Umahi), I quoted section 24(3) of the electoral acts, which prohibits the Returning Officer from announcing that results but because of the pressure mounted on him (Returning Officer) he declared that results. Is that not stealing?”
“That INEC stole my election and that Governor David Umahi of APC, are the recipients of a stolen property. And so, INEC stole my election, then Governor David Umahi received the stolen mandate. That’s my stolen mandate. He (Umahi) is holding unto a stolen mandate” Okorie said.
Governor Umahi, the magazine recalled, had shown interest in the APC presidential primary election, but made a U-turn later to contest for senate.
This led to a serious contest among members of his party who dragged him to court, which later declared him the APC candidate for the Senatorial district.

2023 Budget: FG Offers N360bn Bonds To Investors

By
James Orji
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

As part of its plan to raise N11 trillion to fund the 2023 Budget, the federal government has announced the auction of N360 billion worth of domestic bonds to investors.

This was made known on Wednesday by the Debt Management Office, DMO, which also gave maturity date for potential investors to recoup their investments.

The Office stated that the Federal Government plans to raise new borrowings of N9.32 billion comprising N7.4 trillion from domestic sources and N1.8 trillion from foreign sources.

According to the offer circular released yesterday the DMO, said it will auction N360 billion worth of FGN bonds adding that the auction will open on April 17 and settlement will hold on April 19 2023.

The bonds to be auctioned are: 13.98 percent  FGN FEB 2028 (10-Yr Re-opening)-N90 billion; 12.50 percent FGN APR 2032 (10-Yr Re-opening)-N90 billion; 13.00 percent  FGN JAN 2042 (20-Yr Re-opening)-N90 billion; and 12.98 percent FGN MAR 2050 (30-Yr Re-opening)-N90 billion.

The debt office had last month announced that its N360 billion bonds offered to investors were oversubscribed to the tune of 125 percent, raising the total sum to over N800 billion.

Kwara State To End Open Defecation

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman led Kwara State Government has stated its determination to bring an end to open defecation.

To this end, it has opened windows for dialogue, collaboration and support with all partners.

This was made known when the Clean Nigeria Campaign team from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, paid an advocacy visit to the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Risikatullahi Abdulmaliq-Bashir.

The Commissioner said the launching of the Clean Nigeria Campaign was not a rush, stressing that it requires all hands to be on deck to strengthen all the enablements and further empower the campaign on open defecation.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Assistant Press Secretary, Adewoye Oluwatosin, the Commissioner said, “Kwara is moving and we are running a race, as the number one marathon in Nigeria and we will not disappoint you definitely.”

Speaking during the visit, the National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria Campaign and leader of the team, Mrs. Opara Chizoma, represented by the Deputy National Coordinator, Mr. Musa Lawal, applauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts and support to drive the campaign to end open defecation in the State.

“You will recall that the Clean Nigeria Campaign was launched in 2019 by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GCON). This was in response to Nigeria’s unfortunate position as the second country with the highest number of people practicing open defecation globally, estimated at 48 million person according to 2021, WASH NORM Report, while access to sanitation in Kwara State was 31% and 50% of her population still practice open defecation”, the Coordinator noted.

The campaign, according to her, is aimed at mobilizing high-level political support, resources, and the entire populace toward building a new culture of good sanitation practices in Nigeria.

She however solicited the Kwara state government’s support to hasten the policy implementation in our communities which had already commenced in Moro Local Government Area.

Chizoma said that the primary aim of eliminating open defecation is to reduce WASH-associated diseases and burdens in order to ensure dignified lives for the people of Moro and the generality of Kwarans.

She urged citizens of the state to contribute their quotas and support to ensure that Kwara State becomes open-defecation-free by the year 2025.

The General Manager, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Olorunfemi Oladipo, said the construction of five simple smart toilets in markets, motorparks and other public places is ongoing and being implemented across the five districts of Moro Local Government Area.

In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Yahaya Mohammed, encouraged everyone to take the campaign to the rural areas to eradicate open defecation in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Abubakar Ayinla, assured that all public toilets in government hospitals would be in good shape.

LASG Condemns Movie, ‘Gangs Of Lagos’, Says “It Is Mockery Of Our Heritage”

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Government has criticized Jide Osiberu’s new movie, ‘Gangs of Lagos’, saying it is a mockery of the State’s heritage a d what it stands for.

LASG also expressed its displeasure with the promoters and producers of the movie over what it described as “cultural misrepresentation” as well as portraying the culture of the state in a derogatory manner.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the Ministry, being the regulatory body and custodian of the culture of Lagos State, viewed the film/series as a mockery of the Heritage of Lagos.

It would be recalled that a few days ago, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, the Apesinọla Ẹyọ Ọba Alakẹtẹ Pupa Ọkalaba Ẹkun, a cultural group, had condemned the film, calling for its immediate withdrawal.

He had stated that the film depicts ethnic profiling, sacrilegious and outrageous trash.

Akinbile-Yusuf expressed disappointment with the promoters of the film, Jade Osiberu and Kemi Akindoju, for portraying the Eyo Masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia.

Instructively, the Eyo Festival is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs and eminent Lagos Indigenes while the Eyo Masquerade is used as a symbol of honour for such personalities and remarkable historical events.

According to Akinbile-Yussuf, “We are of the opinion that the production of the film ‘The Gang of Lagos’ is very unprofessional and misleading while its content is derogatory of our culture, with the intention to desecrate the revered heritage of the people of Lagos.

“It is an unjust profiling of a people and culture as being barbaric and nefarious. It depicts a gang of murderers rampaging across the State”.

The State Government maintained that “the Adamu Orisha, popularly known as the Eyo Festival, is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs and eminent Lagosians.

Akinbile-Yussuf, stressed that “the Eyo Masquerade is equally used as a symbol of honour for remarkable historical events.

“It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of the ancestors of Lagosians.”

In an earlier reaction via a statement, Shodipe-Dosunmu, described the film as a reckless, disgusting distortion of the sacred illustration of Lagos culture.

According to him, “There is a film presently being promoted by one Jade Osiberu and another character called Kemi Akindoju. The so called movie is an ugly, hate filled mockery of the Lagosian heritage.

“In their reckless, disgusting distortion of the sacred illustration of the Lagosian culture the film makers reduced the Eyo masquerade into a gun toting killing machine, clothing their misfit actors in the full regalia of the Eyo and with the Aga depicting some Conclaves.

“This is a total abomination. It is not only a distortion of our culture, it is a dark insidious profiling of our people as criminals and murderers rampaging across Lagos.

“The Adamu Orisha is a treasured cleansing ritual, a sacred rite performed on the passage of an Oba or for their coronation.

“It is also used to honor distinguished Lagosians as their final rite of transition.

“Since Ejilu and Malakin, the brothers of Olori Olugbani first initiated the Eyo rite in celebration of Oba Ado Keme, the Adamu Orisha has become a sacred ancestral heritage celebrated with awe and deserving adoration.

“It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purificational ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of our ancestors.

“To use the sacred Adamu Orisha Masquerade as an object of terror and loose criminality is to savage and despoil the Lagosian tradition.

“It is vile, evil, perverse; an utterly sadistic mangling of who we are as peace loving, accommodating and enlightened people.

“We demand an immediate withdrawal of this sacrilegious and outrageous trash.

“We demand that the National Film and Video Censors Board and all appropriate authorities to ban this blatant mockery disguising as cinematography and impose the most punitive sanctions on the sponsors of this venomous ethnic profiling.

“We also appeal to the Lagos State Government, the Oba of Lagos Alayeluwa Oba Rilwan Akinolu, all the custodians of our tradition including the Alaworo of Adamu Orisha and Akinsiku Chief Ademola Dosunmu to rouse up in protective defense of our tradition against the ravages of these agents of condemnable pollution of all that we cherish in this sacred soil of Oba Ado Keme.

“Ethnic profiling is recognized as a crime against humanity by the International Court of Justice.

“This provision can also be invoked against these sacrilegious hate baiters.”

EKSG Partners US Agric Dept On $22 Million Cocoa Ecosystem Project

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Biodun Oyebanji

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government has announced its partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the Traceability and Resilience in Agriculture and Cocoa Ecosystem (TRACE) project.

Special adviser, media, to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, in a statement on Thursday, explained that the Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has been awarded funding under the USDA’s Food for Progress programme to implement the project and strengthen the cocoa value chain in Nigeria.

he project will be implemented in collaboration with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), C-Lever, and Econometrica.

It stated that a delegation of the Ekiti State Government, led by the Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, his counterpart; on Investment, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Tayo Adeola; and senior officials of Ministry Agriculture/Forestry Commission recently met with the TRACE delegates, led by the Deputy Chief of Party, Mr. Wale Awoyemi, and the CRIN team, led by Dr. Moses Ogunlade.

The meeting was held to discuss baseline studies on cocoa production in the state.

It added that Ekiti State Government team reiterated its commitment to provide enabling environment and policy support for the successful implementation of the TRACE project.

The state has a reliable database of farmers and access to land in the cocoa-producing belt that is suitable for production.

LWR’s partnership with the Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will deliver sustainable programmes that will expand the state’s access to competitive markets for cocoa trade, potentially earn revenue, and move smallholder farmers out of chronic vulnerability and poverty.

The TRACE project is a significant step towards improving traceability and resilience in agriculture and the cocoa ecosystem in Nigeria.

According to the statement, Ekiti State Government looks forward to a successful collaboration with the USDA, LWR, CRIN, IITA, C-Lever, and Econometrica to achieve the set goals of the project.

The project, which is worth approximately $22 million, covering six states of Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Cross River, Abia and Akwa Ibom states and will be implemented over the next five years.

Obasanjo Leads WAEF Pre-election Mission To Sierra Leone

By
The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo

The West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF) has deployed a pre-election fact-finding mission to Sierra Leone, ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for June, 2023.

The WAEF team which is led by former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also has former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President of The Gambia Fatoumata Tambajang as members, would be interfacing with major political leaders and other key stakeholders in Sierra Leone as a means of deepening the confidence and trust of the citizens in the electoral process.

The two-day mission in support of inclusive and peaceful general elections is billed to begin on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Members of the Missions would hold consultations with the country’s political actors and stakeholders, including the civil society and the Diplomatic Corps, the Electoral Management Bodies and Agencies in a bid to ascertain the level of preparedness towards conducting free, fair and credible elections.

A statement from the  Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, hosts of WAEF, stressed that the Mission to Sierra Leone is in line with the Forum’s objective of promoting preventive diplomacy as a means of reducing electoral-related tension and violence in Africa.

WAEF was founded in 2020 to promote peace, democracy and good governance, had carried out preventive diplomacy missions to many countries including Gambia and Nigeria. Beyond its engagements in Sierra Leone, WAEF is scheduled to carry out a similar mission to Liberia, two nations that hold general elections in 2023.

Soon after Nigeria’s February 25, 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, WAEF deployed a team of former Presidents to hold consultations with some of the presidential candidates and other key stakeholders, taking to them the message of peace in order to ensure that there was no post-election violence in the country.

Sierra Leone’s  2023 elections will be the country’s sixth democratic election and the fifth since the end of the civil war in 2002.

Wealth Dickson Ominabo
Communications Officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation
12/4/2023

“Why Wike Needs Pity And Prayers – Momodu; Says  Nobody Will Ever Trust Him;  Not In Obi, Atiku’s Class”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

“How Wike Wasted Billions of Rivers State money on a fruitless venture. Sometimes, when God has been kind to a man, he begins to see himself as God” –  Momodu on Wike

Chief Dele Momodu,  accomplished Journalist, celebrated Publisher of Ovation International,  Politician, a two-time Presidential Aspirant, and  Director of Strategic Communications, Peoples Democratic Party’s Campaign Council, has asked for prayers for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement in response to Wike’s many fights with many people, including Momodu who he chided for not getting a single vote during the PDP Presidential Primary, Momodu said Wike will know what he did to himself after May 29, 2023. That is the day Wike’s tenure as a Governor will end.

Momodu: “He said I did not win any vote, but we both lost, yet, he wasted billions of State money pursuing a dream he couldn’t achieve.

“Wike will know life better after May 29, 2023, no matter what position he occupies thereafter. No one will trust him.”

Momodu chided Wike for terminating the political career of three of his Governor friends. Along with  Governors Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, and Seye Makinde, Wike formed the G5 which he headed. They fought both the Party and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar over the loss of the Vice Presidential ticket by Wike even though on the surface, they claimed they wanted the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, now barred by a Court from parading himself as Governor, out for equity and fairness in the Party. They wanted, they said, a Chairman from the South because it was unfair, according to them, for both the Presidential Candidate and the National Chairman to come from the same Region – Northern Nigeria.

In the General Elections, Ortom, Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi, lost their Senatorial bid. The situation of Ortom and Ikpeazu is even worse. They were not able to produce their successors. Only Ugwuanyi did, even though the outcome is in dispute.

Momodu, also mocked Wike over Peter Obi. He said  that even though Wike “stylistically” pushed the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, out of the PDP, he is not in Obi’s class. He said Obi is more relevant, politically, than Wike, while Atiku remains a global statesman and businessman.

Following is Momodu’s post on Wike shared to Reporters  in Abuja on Wednesday.

“As his big brother who loves him so much, I will continue to offer him prayers so that God can deliver him fully from this demon of anger.

“Wike truly deserves our pity and prayers. He is a hard working man who suffers from several afflictions like many mortals, the chief of which is rabid anger.

“He is a control freak who expects everyone to bow and tremble before him no matter your age or influence in society. Sometimes, when God has been so kind to a man, he may begin to see himself as God.

“Wike is gloating that Atiku lost the election, the process of which is still ongoing. But Wike lost his own election since last year, and  he is yet to recover.

“Wike is happy that Dr Iyorchia Ayu is no longer our National Chairman.  Oh, but despite his attacks against the gentleman,  Wike’s power and wealth couldn’t remove him.

“Only cowards mock the “dead” in battle. Like a suicide bomber, Wike terminated the dream of three of his Governor-friends  in his war of attrition.

“So, what exactly did he gain? He said I did not win any votes, but both of us lost, yet he wasted billions of State resources om pursuing a dream he couldn’t achieve.

“I remain a Journalist without borders, while he continues to oppress his hapless and seemingly helpless victims in Rivers State. Even the Peter Obi that he stylistically  intimidated out of PDP is far more relevant today.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remains a global statesman in politics and in business. And he still can’t do with the ARISE NEWS that he pretends to hate so much. What is there to gloat about.

“The outgoing Governor will know life better after May 29, 2023. No matter what position he occupies thereafter, no one will ever trust him.

“He will be viewed with suspicion and derision. He may become the first Governor Emeritus to live in the Government House with the new Governor, or move the Governor into his own guest chalet for the sole purpose of signing documents.

“It is the way the cookie crumbles. What a sad end  to a brilliant career!! Very unfortunate.”

APC Set To Release Zoning Formula For Senate Presidency After Ramadan

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Ajibola Bashiru, Senate Spokesperson for  has disclosed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, may likely release the Zoning Formula for the Senate Presidency after the Muslim fasting, Ramadan.

Senator Basiru made this known on Wednesday when he appeared on Sunrise Daily, a telecast on Channels Television.

Party chieftains in the South-South and South-East had called for the zoning of the Senate President to their region.

Not less than Eight Senators have shown interest in becoming the Senate President. They include: Senators Jibrin Barau (Kano Central), Sani Musa (Niger East), Orji Kalu (Abia North), and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom North-West ).

Others are Senators Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North), Abdul’Aziz Yari (Zamfara West), and Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), amongst others.

There have been a lot of permutations on where the Senate Presidency would be zoned to.

Reacting, Senator Basiru said, “I believe that our party will ultimately take a decision on the zoning, possibly after Ramadan and certainly before June when the next Assembly will be convoked.”

He noted that beyond tribe and religion, there were other parameters that should be considered in the choice of the National Assembly leadership such as ranking, competence, capacity, and zonal contribution to the victory of Bola Tinubu in the February 25 Presidential poll, amongst others.

He said, “It will be in the best interest of our party to zone the offices so that we can narrow the number of contestants because when you have eight persons from a single political party contesting, it creates a problem for us to have a cohesive force going into the election.”

Basiru also added that the APC National Working Committee and the party’s National Executive Committee had not taken any decision yet on which of the six geopolitical zones will produce the next Senate President.

He said, “I’m not aware that the NWC of our party has taken a position on the issue of zoning and where the zoning will be done.

“I’m not aware that the NEC of our party has taken any decision but party leaders will be making a lot of permutations to ensure a seamless relationship between the executive and the legislative arms.”

However, while not a few people think the office should go to the South-east, others insist that Presidential-elect, Bola Tinubu, performed badly in the South-east during the Presidential election. Many are, however, agreed that the office should not go to a Muslim, considering the fact that both the President-elect and the Vice President-elect are Muslims.

“I Will Run For Second Term” – Uzodinma; Formally Declares Interest; Anyanwu Picks PDP Ticket

By
The Source
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0
Hope Uzodimma and Imo APC Chieftains

By Charles Igbo

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, will be on the ballot on 11th November, 2023, for his second term in office.

The Governor, who not a few Imo people have commended for his infrastructural development in the State, especially, roads, formally declared his interest to run for a second term on Wednesday, 12th April, 2023.

Coincidentally, it was the same day Samuel Anyanwu, popular as SamDaddy, running as a sole aspirant, picked the Governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Anyanwu, still the incumbent  National Secretary of the PDP, became a sole Candidate when a former Governor of the State, removed from office by the Supreme Court, and on whom the Party revolved around, Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, inexplicably withdrew from the Governorship race. Ihedioha was conspicuously absent at the Primary Election where Anyanwu won.

For the APC, the hearts of the Party’s faithful were filled with joy when  Uzodinma formally informed the Leaders that he had accepted to run for a second term in office.

Recall that earlier in the year at a stakeholders meeting held in Owerri and chaired by erudite banker and technocrat, Dr. Pascal Dozie, Leaders from Imo State beckoned on Governor Uzodimma to go for a second term based on what they said were verifiable achievements in his first term.

Addressing the APC members comprising  the State Working Committee, Local Government and Ward Representatives at the party Headquarters on Okigwe road, Owerri, the Governor congratulated the members for their unity of purpose and commitment and enjoined them to put hands together and make the Party very strong.

He told them that all their past mistakes have been forgiven even as he reminded them that “loyalty is key to the Party,”  and “that is Politics.”

Governor Uzodimma told the excited Party members that Nigerians have taken a decision in favour of APC, hence the reason they voted to elect a President of APC extraction in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He, however, asked Imo politicians to put first the interest of Igbo people and that of Imo State in all they are doing and more importantly, that they should take a cue from the 3R Government of his administration.

“A Government that is helping Imo people  where the people are seen, saying and experiencing what Government is doing.

“This, by the grace of God, is a guarantee for APC to victory all the way.”

He challenged Imo citizens to go and convince others, irrespective of political inclination, that “the primary purpose of Government is to make sure that the welfare and security of our people is guaranteed.”

He called for unity of purpose and enjoined all on the need to work together as brothers and sisters.

The Governor bemoaned the situation where people who want to lead could go so low as to kill their fellow citizens, destroy private and public property to capture power and advised those doing so to sheathe their sword “because of what posterity and the future holds for us.”

Governor Uzodimma reminded all that APC in Imo State has kept its doors open for good spirited Imolites with genuine agenda to join, noting that “APC as a Party represents the true democracy.”

He did not mince words to remind his members that some of them made the mistake during the presidential election of voting based on sentiments that has led them to nowhere, reiterating that all their past mistakes are forgiven.

He then congratulated all for a rethink on a united APC and urged everybody to be careful this time.

The Governor reminded the State Working Committee and other members on the need to raise strongly-worded congratulatory message to the President-elect and his deputy for their resilience, focused nature and positive determination that helped them to emerge and win the election.

The Governor recalled how the security situation his administration met on assumption of office affected the efforts of government, but thanked God that despite all odds, he was able to surmount the situation and moved on.

He said now that the situation is normalizing, “things will be getting better and committed members will benefit more.”

He cautioned those who are using their offices to defraud Government to desist “because soon the long arms of the Party and that of the law will be after them.”

The Governor reminded the leadership of the APC at the Ward and Local Government levels that they are ambassadors of the Party and should work hard to market the Party positively by doing the right things always.

He thanked the National leadership of the Party for the confidence they reposed on him and the State Working Committee in Imo State and assured them they will not be disappointed.

The Governor said: “Ideas rule the world.This is the time for APC to reign and it is progressing with such ideas as the ones that protect the interest of Nigerian citizens as encapsulated in the social intervention programmes of the Federal Government.”

He noted that by the time he leaves office there will be no difference in infrastructural development whether in Orlu, Owerri or Okigwe zones and that the road infrastructure he is providing is meant to boost the economy of the people.

“I am going to be a successful former Governor,” he declared amid thunderous applause.

Addressing the crowd of APC members earlier, the National Vice Chairman South East Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu thanked them for their commitment and total support to the Party, noting that “the National Body has unanimously agreed that Governor Hope Uzodimma is the only Imo APC Gubernatorial Candidate for the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State.”

He enjoined them to continue to support APC in order to finish what the Party has started.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of APC in Imo State, Dr. MacDonlad Ebere said members had gathered to thank the Governor and appreciate him for making their Party strong and popular.

He noted that “under the leadership of the Governor APC now enjoys and experiences a peaceful, secured and level playing ground.”

He thanked the Stakeholders for their support and leadership qualities and also congratulated the Party for winning the Presidential election of February 25, 2023 and House of Assembly on March 18, 2023.

Adding their voices to the eulogies in thanking the Governor for accepting to run for a second term, leaders after leaders who spoke in behalf of their people reminded him that they are with him all the way.

Among those who spoke included former Governor of Imo State,  Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and Elder Statesman, Dr. EJK Onyewuchi (Okigwe zone), Chief Jerry Chukwueke, retired General Chikwe and Chief Malcolm Nlemigbo (Owerri zone) and Chief Barr. Rex Anunobi (Orlu zone).

They were in agreement that “one good term deserves another,” and then thanked Governor Uzodimma for his superlative performance so far.

They all committed to mobilizing Imo people from the three zones to ensure overwhelming support and peaceful reelection of the Governor in November.

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