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Attack On Atiku, Okowa: “Wike On His Own” – Ikpeazu

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The Source
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Okezie Ikpeazu

By Charles Igbo

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has drawn a borderline between his support for Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, and any fight against Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively.

Ikpeazu is one of the Governor – allies of Wike who have since the Presidential Primary of the Party where Atiku beat Wike, and the loss of the Vice Presidential slot by the Rivers State Governor, waged a war against the leadership of the PDP, and distanced themselves from the Party’s activities, including the Presidential Campaigns.

Led by Wike, the four Governors, Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), are demanding that the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, must step down for a Southerner because both he and Atiku come from the same Northern region.

But not a few people see Wike’s leadership of the team, and his open romance with the All Progressives Congress, APC, as selfish. They ask: If Atiku had chosen Wike as his running mate, would Wike have led a group to fight the Party over Ayu?

Would he have been, almost, categorical in his hints that Atiku would lose the 2023 Presidential election?

However, Ikpeazu has distanced himself from any fight against the aspirations of Atiku and Okowa.

Answering a question during an interview session, Ikpeazu said much as he aligns with Wike in the fight for fairness and equity in the PDP, he would not join him in any fight that would jeopardize the chances of Atiku and Okowa at the Presidential polls.

Ikpeazu: “I am a Party man. I am not going anywhere. I will remain in the PDP. But it is good that I am in a place where I can ask those questions about what my people will naturally confront me with.

“I am not going to support Wike to battle Atiku or Okowa. But I will support Wike in principle to demand the inclusiveness of the South-east, the South-south and the South-west.”

For record purposes, the National Secretary of the Party, Samuel Anyanwu, is from the South-east, while the Vice Presidential candidate is from the Igbo- speaking area of the South-south.

Ikpeazu, serving out his two term tenure as Abia State Governor, is running for a Senatorial seat under the PDP. His main challenger is the former Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who suddenly decamped from the PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to enable him contest for the seat against Ikpeazu.

Abaribe had earlier stepped down from the Governorship race, under the PDP, when he got no support from Governor Ikpeazu.

Obi Crowned ‘President of the People’ In Benue; Enlivens Flood Victims

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The Source
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Peter Obi visits Benue Flood Victims

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election has been crowned the President of the People by some agonizing Nigerians who are victims of the ravaging flood in some states of the Federation.

Obi clearly brightened the mood of the victims in Benue State on Thursday as he arrived in a canoe paddled by the jubilant youths to identify and sympathize with them. As they sighted him in the canoe the people forgot their pains and shouted ‘Obikererenke’, Obi’s popular campaign song, declaring him: ‘President of the People’ ‘Our President is here’ ‘You are our President’, ‘You will get all our votes’

The LP candidate who was moved to tears at the condition he found the people, sympathized with them and promised to assist in alleviating their excruciating hardship.

Recall that Obi had, during the week, suspended National Campaign to enable him visit and sympathize with those Nigerians going through intense pains as a result of the  natural mishap.

Obi had also called on his colleague-Presidential Candidates of the other parties to do same by suspending their campaigns for the national emergency.

He continues the visit to other flood areas in the country.

Anambra: Gunmen Who Attacked Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s Convoy Arrested; 15 Shops, Vehicles, Set Ablaze In New Attack

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The Source
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Ifeanyi Ubah attack

By Charles Igbo

Professor Charles Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, revealed on Friday, October 21, 2022, that the murderous gunmen who attacked the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, have been arrested.

Soludo announced this heart-warming news just when the Amorka Community in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State came under attack by rampaging gunmen  Thursday night. In the attack which sent the villagers, passersby and motorists running for their dear lives, 15 shops were completely razed down, and a number of Vehicles set ablaze.

No reason has been adduced for the tragic attack.

Ubah miraculously escaped death about a month ago, thanks to God and his bullet-proof SUV, when gunmen ambushed, and swooped on his convoy  as he was passing Enugwu Ukwu Community. He was a target for assassination.

In the attack,  Ubah lost six people who included four security personnel attached to him, and two of his personal aides.

But speaking on Friday at Enugwu Ukwu, the same Community where Ubah’s convoy was attacked, Soludo, who attended a funeral ceremony, revealed that some of the murderous gunmen have been arrested while security agents are on the trail of those  still at large.

Soludo: “Three weeks ago, it was in this same Community that some elements chose to attack Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. I want to tell you that we have arrested a number of those involved in that attack. We are still on the trail of the remaining people.

“We will not let people like that define who we are. This is Anambra State, and we are peaceful people. We must embrace peace, even in the coming election. Anambra is peaceful. Anambra is safe.

“We have chased away bad elements in the State. The pockets of crime you hear are just a small number of tye bad elements left. They will not disappear in one night. Even in civilized places, there are still few bad element.”

The attack on Senator Ubah shook the South-east to its foundation, almost, confirming that nobody is safe.

PDP Rally In Edo: Govt Alleges Plan To Cause Chaos

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Government has warned trouble makers to desist from plans to disrupt the Presidential campaign rally of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), scheduled to hold in the state, on Saturday.

A statement in Benin by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, said that the Government will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any individual involved in the nefarious act.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Col David Imuse, Rtd, had earlier alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki was planning to coerce civil servants to attend the PDP Presidential Campaign rally.

According to the APC chairman, the plot by  Governor Obaseki to hide under the Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC vs Musa cannot hold water because it did not anyway set aside or nullify rules 030422 and 030423 of the Public Service.

“The extant rules ban civil servants, whether on duty or leave of absence from offering himself/herself or nominating anyone else as a candidate for any elective public office, indicate publicly his/her support of or opposition to any party, candidate or policy and engage in canvassing in support of political candidates.

“Accordingly, in the overall best interest of neutrality, harmony, integrity and development of Edo Civil Service, all civil servants are strongly advised to reject and resist every attempt to drag them into partisan politics and endeavor to completely insulate themselves.”

But, Ogie noted that the Government will ensure that the thugs are not only apprehended, but tried and prosecuted in accordance with the State’s criminal conspiracy and public disturbance law.

“These individuals are hereby warned that the government will bring the full weight of the law upon any individual involved in this reprehensible act.

“We will ensure that they are not only apprehended, but tried and prosecuted in accordance with the state’s criminal conspiracy and public disturbance law.”

The scribe added that the unscrupulous individuals were intimidated by what he described as the momentum of the large and organic following that the PDP enjoys in the state, disclosing that the plot to cause chaos and discredit the rally was hatched at a meeting.

“These mischief makers plan to plant dissidents who will hold insignia and emblems of other political parties and make chants during the PDP campaign rally with the intent to create a false impression of crisis and disrupt the rally.

“The government is fully aware of this reckless plan which will clearly put the lives and property of Edo people in danger.”

Two factions of the PDP are laying claim to control of the machinery of the party in the state.

NDDC Appointment: Group Urges President Buhari To Comply With NDDC Act

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to judiciously comply with the Act that brought into existence the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

PANDEF said that the procedure in the appointment of a substantive Board and Management of the NDDC should be followed to the letter, stressing that there was nothing to celebrate in the sack of the Commission ’s Interim Administrator, Effiong Akwa.

President Buhari had, on Thursday, announced the removal of Akwa and  replaced him with the most senior Director in the Commission, Engr. Emmanuel Audu Ohwavborua, an Urhobo man from Delta State.

Ken Robinson, PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary said that appointment of a substantive Administrator for the NDDC is long overdue.

In a Statement by Robinson on behalf of PANDEF, he said, “We received the news of the sack of the Interim Administrator, and that is the third or fourth interim administrator for the NDDC in the last three years, since 2019.

“And so there is nothing one should be excited about, apart from saying that giving the inconsistencies of the government that they will follow this through and the NDDC will have a substantive board and management in the shortest possible time.”

The statement expressed worry about why the Federal Government is about to constitute a Board for the interventionist agency in the twilight of its administration.

“Why is it that about seven months to the end of the administration, you are appointing Management and Governing Council for a statutory Council? It means that the new administration will inherit whoever is appointed and obviously would be based on the recommendation of people in the corridors of power and may not follow merit.

“But whatever it is, they have promised to do what is right. They have said they are going to send nominees for the board and management to the National Assembly. We hope that would be done as quickly as possible, and that the Niger Delta people will have a board of the NDDC that is what it should be.”

The PANDEF said the Federal Government should strictly follow the guidelines of the NDDC Act in the appointment of the chairman of the new board.

“And that is one of the challenges that we have heard in terms of governance. Lack of adherence to the rule of law.

“The Act establishing the NDDC is explicit in terms of chairmanship of the board. That it rotates alphabetically. The last Chairman of the board of the NDDC was Edoma Egba, from Cross River State.

“So, if we follow that order, the next Chairman of the board of the NDDC should come from Delta State. Anything otherwise is a breach of the Act establishing the commission,” the statement stated.

India 2022: Nigeria Makes History, Defeats USA, Zooms Into Semi Final

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nigeria Flamingoes at Indian U17 World Cup

By Akinwale Kasali

After a pulsating 90 minutes of encounter with football powerhouse, the United States of America, the Nigeria Under-17 Female National Team, the Flamingoes, made history, by booking a place in the Semi finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India.

With the match deadlocked at 1-1, penalty was needed to separate the two footballing nation with the African powerhouse coming out victorious 4-3.

The Americans dominated the entire duration of the match as the Flamingoes were forced to defend all through the match having just a shot on goal throughout the duration of the match.

Nigeria took the lead in the 26th minutes courtesy of Omamuzo Edafe from the penalty spot after the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, spotted a foul on Amina Bello to award Nigeria the spot kick.

Before the half time break, USA equalized through Amalla Villarreal in the 43rd minutes.

In the second half, the Americans didn’t rest on their oars mounting pressure on the Nigerians but failed to convert their chances.

On several occasions, Flamingoes goalkeeper, Faith Omilana was called into action and she was equal to the task.

As the match was drawing to a close, Coach Bankole Olowookere replaced Goalkeeper Faith Omilana with Chikamso Jiwuaku who made two saves to give the Flamingoes victory and advance into the semi final stage.

Coach Olowookere stuck with the team that played Chile in the last group match,  with Faith Omilana in goal, Miracle Comfort Folorunsho, Tunmininu Adeshina, Shakirat Oyinlola and Miracle Usani in the defense,

Taiwo Afolabi, Blessing Emmanuel, Bisola Mosaku and Omamuzo Edafe in the midfield.

While Opeyemi Ajakaye and Amina Bello led the attack.

In an interview with FIFA TV after the match, Coach Olowookere said that the world should be prepared for more upsets as his team advances into the next stage.

The Flamingoes will face the winner in third Quarter Finals match between Tanzania and Colombia.

Former Senate President, David Mark‘s 51-Year Old Son Dies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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David Martk and His Son Tunde

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Senate President, David Mark, is bereaved. He has just lost his Son, Tunde Mark.

The Late Son of the Benue-born politician died in the early hours of Friday in London, the United Kingdom.

The 51-year old, died of Cancer. His body is expected to be flown to Nigeria in the coming days.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the former longest serving Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said Tunde was born on October 13, 1971, and attended Yaba Military School where he obtained his first school leaving certificate.

He later proceeded to Bradfield College, Berkshire, UK, for his Secondary school education.

Tunde, who was a Biochemist, obtained B.Sc degree from Kings College, London. He also studied immunology alongside biochemistry and later Biological Sciences in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Irabor Urges Military Personnels To Appreciate, Their Wives For Holding Forth In Their Absence

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Victoria Irabor

By Akinwale Kasali

Wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Barr. Victoria Irabor, has urged Military Personnel to always cherish their Wives, appreciate and  shower them with love as they continue to hold forth for them when they are away in the line of duty.

The President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, DEPOWA, made this call at the launching  of Arc. Abimbola Ogunbiyi’s Book, ‘The Military Wife: Quiet, Confident and Strong’ held at the at Abalti Barracks, Lagos.

Irabor said that the launch of the Book is apt as it is a unique opportunity for wives of Military Men to tell their stories of how they have been holding forth and keeping their homes despite their husband’s absence.

She lauded the author for having a thoughtful drive to open up on the challenges wives of Military men face as they remain resolute in keeping their homes and standing firm, despite the uncertainty about the future of their husbands’ the next minute.

Chairman of the occasion, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Abiodun Role, lauded the author for the feat, stressing that he used the forum to extol and celebrate all Military Men’s wives for standing firm and being the backbone of their husbands.

“All the feat I achieved during my service year in the Military is through the help and prayers of my wife. Our wives are our bedrock, they are simply amazing.

“I was erroneously arrested in 1995 for a Coup and I was detained for Seven months. My Wife never doubted my integrity. I was later exonerated and a Senior Colleague of mine told me that truly I married my wife, because she stood firm and kept on saying she trusted me that I can never plan a Coup.

“The prayers of our wives have sustained us to this present level. What Mrs Abimbola Ogunbiyi has done is that she has given voice, light and print to what our wives stand for”.

The 237 Page Book with 10 Chapters and Two Forewords written by Rear Admiral Itunu and Victoria Irabor was reviewed by Kunle Kasumu of Channels Book Club.

Presenting the Book was Chief Kunle Uthman, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Governorship Candidate in Lagos State for the 2023 Election.

Dignitaries at the Book Launch include; Mrs Alero Azazi, wife of former National Security Adviser, Patrick Owoeye Azazi; HRH Oba Abdulwahab Ogunbiyi, the Eleku of Odo Eku, Pastor Femi Atoyebi, among other top Military functionaries.

NDDC Plum Job: Ondo Loses To Delta

By
Ayodele Oni
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Emmanuel Audu Ohwavborua

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State has lost out in the quest to get the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) plum job as an acting Managing Director has been appointed for the Commission.

He is Engr. Emmanuel Audu Ohwavborua, an Urhobo, from Delta State.

This came hours after the Commission’s Sole Administrator, Mr Effiong Okon Akwa, was relieved of his appointment.

Ondo State has pushed forward the name of Gbenga Edema, a lawyer for appointment as NDDC helmsman.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Patricia Deworitshe, Akwa’s disengagement was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akwa was NDDC’s Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration until his appointment as the Interim Administrator in December 2020.

His appointment was meant to last the period of forensic audit of the Commission.

The President received the final report of the forensic audit in September 2021, and there have been agitations that a board be constituted for the NDDC.

The statement further said: “President Buhari has also approved the constitution of a new Management Team and Governing Board of the NDDC in line with Section 5(2) of the NDDC Act 2020.

“The names of the nominees for the new Management Team and Governing Board are to be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval”

Delta: Okowa’s Man Declared Gov Candidate, Ibori Loses

By
James Orji
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Sherrif Oberevwori is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Delta state, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The judgment has ruled out his rival David Edevbie from contesting the 2023 governorship under the PDP flag, and a devastating blow to his political godfather, James Ibori, a former governor of the state who is in a tussle with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over the control of the soul of the party in the state.

Okowa, the PDP vice presidential candidate for next year’s election is the prime backer of Oberevwori, who is the current Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Delivering judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Amina Augie, upheld the decision of the Abuja court of appeal which had earlier declared the Speaker as the authentic governorship candidate of the party in the oil-producing state.

Recall that during the PDP primary in May, Oborevwori polled 590 votes to beat David Edevbie, the commissioner for finance during the James Ibori administration, who polled 113 votes.

Meanwhile, the magazine learned that jubilation broke out from the Governor Okowa camp of the PDP in the state as soon as the apex court delivered the judgment.

“We can now concentrate on working to ensure that the Atiku/ Okowa ticket wins the presidential election next year, as the major distraction has already been settled by the highest court in the land,” an associate of the governor said on Friday.

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