INEC Releases Names Of Candidates For Ekiti Gov Poll

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March 15, 2022

By Gideon Njoku

The urbane Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, March 14, 2022, took on Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State.

Obaseki painted Wike in unflattering colours, and used a few choice words to describe him.

For instance, he called Wike a bully, but quickly reminded him that Edo State does not tolerate bullies, and has the capacity to tame such characters.

Obaseki: “In Edo, we don’t accept political bullies and overlords and, historically, we have demonstrated our capacity to unshackle ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders”

Wike had, in his usual blunt manner, publicly threatened Obaseki’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu. He accused Shaibu of ungratefulness for, according to him, threatening the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on national television. Wike chided Shaibu for daring to say that there is an alternative to PDP.

Shaibu had complained that those of them who, with Obaseki, joined the PDP after they were, literally, kicked out of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and denied a second, have not been fully accommodated by the PDP.

However, Wike chided Shaibu, reminded him of how they knelt down begging to be accommodated by the PDP. He wondered who gave him the guts to threaten the PDP, yabbed him for wearing khaki, and asked: “Who is his father?. He, also, threatened serious disciplinary action against the Deputy Governor, and disclosed that he had petitioned the National Chairman of the Party against Shaibu.

But Obaseki, stopping short of calling Wike an Emperor, said if anybody is a threat to the PDP, it is Wike. He gave instances, and reminded him that he, Wike, does not own the PDP, nor is the Party Wike’s property.

He revealed Wike’s Presidential ambition, and told him that the way to go about it was not to bully people and destroy the PDP. “You cannot procure Edo”, Obaseki told Wike.

He accused Wike of destroying the PDP in Cross River State, which almost confirms the speculation, months back, that the State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, defected from the PDP to the APC because of Wike’s alleged bullying.

Following is the full text of Obaseki’s response to Wike.

“The recent personal attacks by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike, against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is, to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.

“If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.

“My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo. If Governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?

“His Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader who is able to show empathy and consideration.

“The concerns expressed by my deputy governor bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State which since the September 19th 2020 elections, has been able to register over 500,000 members; and till date, these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years.

“Also, the leaders, executives and members who came with me into the party have still not been accepted, integrated or harmonized into the party.

“More worrisome is the fact that old members of Edo PDP, who are open to inclusion and supportive of building a large party are being vilified and ostracized by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the destabilization of the party in Edo State.

“It is necessary to recall at this point that a political solution gave rise to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih first as Acting and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South South, of our party, when Chief Emma Ogidi resigned that position to allow Chief Orbih to ascend.

“It is therefore curious why this type of political solution is no longer tenable to resolve the political impasse in Edo State PDP.

“We can categorically state that in the comments of the deputy governor, he at no point threatened the party as Governor Wike has alleged. Rather, it is Governor Wike, who has at different times, threatened the PDP. Some of these instances include:

“1. On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike threatened the party that there would be grave consequences if it moved the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run up to the 2019 presidential election.

“2. On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike also threatened to cause trouble for the party over the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

“Undoubtedly, Governor Wike has contributed to the advancement of the party, just like others, since 1999.

“No one is against his desire to run for president, however, his ambition should not be embarked on in such a way that it would cause disruption at different levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as different chapters of the party across the country.

“It clearly amounts to delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him.

“We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few.

“While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding. Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition.

“What Nigeria needs now are strong democratic institutions and not strong men; that is why we will join the great leaders of our party across the country to build PDP into a strong, large and indomitable party that will win next year’s presidential election.

“Governor Wike and his collaborators headed by Chief Dan Orbih in Edo State will not succeed in destabilizing the PDP in Edo State as they did other states like Cross River just to secure delegates to actualize his alleged personal ambition to run for presidency in 2023.

“In Edo, we don’t accept political bullies and overlords and historically, we have demonstrated our capacity to unshackle ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders.

“I appeal to all well-meaning leaders of our great party to call Governor Wike to order, to desist from his current unguarded and disruptive tendencies. From all indications today, PDP is set to take over the leadership of Nigeria provided we can rein in the self interest of a few leaders to put the task of rescuing Nigeria above their personal ambitions.”

APC; CNPP Commends INEC For Foiling Coup Against Buni

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March 15, 2022

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) “to end the confusion in the party and be an example of due process and high regard for laws of the land in effecting leadership change at all levels of the party.”

Speaking in its reaction to the current APC leadership uncertainties, the CNPP commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “for standing up to its constitutionally guaranteed regulatory and enforcement roles while dealing with the APC national leadership change.”

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP noted that the leadership crisis “simply resulted from the arbitrary removal of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as the National Chairman of the national chairman of the APC’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) based on the reported directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The CNPP therefore warned that “if APC is not adequately checked by both INEC and the judiciary, the party will definitely derail the country’s democracy through its many procedural pitfalls in the operations and administration of the party.

“The arbitrary and obviously unconstitutional move to remove Governor Mai Mala Buni as the National Chairman of the APC’s CECPC is capable of leading to a major crisis in the party, which can jeopardize the country’s democracy in view of the timetable released by INEC for the 2023 general elections.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to learn to jettison any advice urging him to interfere with his party’s internal democracy without recourse to the rule of law.

“As a ruling party, APC ought to be a good example in internal party democracy in Nigeria for other political parties to emolate. But, in this matter, the reverse is the case.

“Therefore, the CNPP in strong terms condemns the reported initial directive of President Buhari to sack Governor Buni as chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee.

“The reported initial presidential order was undemocratic, an attack on internal party democracy in APC, and capable causing unprecedented party crisis in the country’s history, with costly consequences on smooth general elections in 2023”, the CNPP observed.

While commending INEC’s position as contained in its letter turning down an invitation to the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee where a new leadership of the APC was to be ratified, the CNPP said “the commission was in order to have drawn the attention of the CECPC that the letter of invitation was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, Buni and Dr John Akpanudoedehe, respectively.

“We also agree with the commission that the invitation was ran fowl of the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018) and that of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires ‘at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of merger and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective office.

“With this move by INEC, the CNPP is further convinced that the leadership of INEC can be trusted to conduct free and fair elections in Osun and Ekiti States as well as the general elections in 2023.

“INEC literally foiled the coup against Governor Buni’s leadership resulting in the inevitable u-turn by the presidency and this must be highly commended by lovers of democracy all over the world”, CNPP concluded.

Wike Threatens Obaseki: I Will Smoke You Out; I Will Make You Lose Weight

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March 14, 2022

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has threatened to deal with his Edo State counterpart, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“I will smoke you out. I will make you lose weight”, Wike threatened Obaseki.

Wike said these at the commissioning of a community secondary school, Omuanwa, in Ikwerre LGA. He was responding to his being categorised as a bully by Obaseki. Obasaki, stung by Wike’s open threat against his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, called Wike a bully, and told him Edo State, historically, does not tolerate bullies.

But responding, Wike, not one to take prisoners belliwed:

“Obaseki said I’m a bully, but he came to beg a bully for ticket. A bully was his campaign DG, and a bully bullied him into Edo state Government House.

“It didn’t end there, he still came back with his wife to thank the bully after the election.

“I slept in Edo State for three days just to deliver Obaseki, but today, I’m a bully.

“If you check the DNA of Obaseki, what you’ll see is betrayal, serial betrayal and ungratefulness.

“He said I threatened PDP, assuming without conceding that I threatened PDP, I have every right to do so. I have invested in the party. Rivers State has invested in the party.

“Rivers State is one of the few states that has voted PDP since 1999, we have invested in the party.

“You’re a tenant in PDP, I have more stake in PDP than you.

“You said I’m causing crisis in Edo state, I have capacity, that is why I’m causing crisis. I challenge you to come and cause crisis in Rivers state, then you’ll know who is who.

“Obaseki, I know your cohorts, I will smoke all of you out.

“Obaseki, I challenge you to defect back to the APC, we’ll shave your head

“I know those using you, if I decide to run for President, I will win all of you.

“Obaseki, melembe melembe.

“The game has started, I will make you lose weight”

Wike, also, apologised profusely to Obaseki’s former boss and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole. He said he now believed Oshiomhole’s warning that Obaseki is ” a serial betrayer and an ungrateful person.”

ASUU Extends Strike By 2 Weeks

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March 14, 2022

By Uche Mbah

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), after a closed door meeting Sunday, has, reportedly, extended its ongoing strike action by another two months, meaning that students may stay home longer than anticipated.

This magazine gathered that the Union was piqued by the Federal Government’s claim that the University -produced payment portal failed integrity test.

ASUU had, as part of its demands, insisted that the Government’s payment portal is cumbersome snd ineffective, and demanded Government use the one approved by them.

According to ASUU sources, the strike extension was to provide enough time for amicable settlements to avert further strikes.

Abba Kyari’s Wife Collapses In Court

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March 14, 2022

By Uche Mbah

Mrs Ramotu Abba Kyari, wife of embattled, suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, who is facing drug trafficking charges in an Abuja High Court, slumped and fainted Monday when her husband’s bail application was deferred by Justice Emeka Nwite, the Presiding Judge.

Apart from money

laundering, Abba Kyari is standing trial for drug related offences.

The court was expected to rule on his bail application as applied by his counsels. But the Court Monday deferred the ruling on the bail application for Kyari and six others.

When it became obvious that he will not be immediately granted bail, his wife collapsed as he was being taken away from the court by operatives of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agents.

Details later…

PDP Control: Wike, Obaseki Go To War

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March 14, 2022

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Governors Nyesom Wike and Godwin Obaseki were once strong political allies until recently when they were set apart due to next year’s presidential election.

Obaseki, The Source magazine recalled, rode on the support of Wike to contest under the PDP in the governorship election in 2020 after he was forced out of his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC by his former benefactor and former chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

In fact, Governor Obaseki had to visit Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, at a point to enlist his support before he finally dumped the APC.

Obaseki later won the election.

But the centre can no longer hold for the former allies who appear to have gone their separate ways due to 2023 presidential politicking in the party.

The magazine learnt that trouble started after Wike unsuccessfully tried to seize the party structure in Edo state from Obaseki, who last week said no one would push him out of the PDP.

The Edo governor had at a meeting of PDP stakeholders in the state accused some party leaders of treating him and his supporters as strangers in the party.

But the real problem came to light after the Rivers helmsman accused Edo state Deputy Governor Phillips Shuaibu of threatening the PDP last Saturday.

Shuaibu, while speaking at the same fora warned that he would bless his supporters out of the PDP, thus upsetting Wike who called him all manner of names, including that he dressed inappropriately by wearing ‘Kharki’ as the deputy governor.

Wike dragged Shuaibu so much so that he also described him as an ingrate, for daring to threaten the PDP which gave him and his principal, Obaseki the chance to contest the governorship election under its platform.

The Edo helmsman has now fired back in what watchers of politics in the country described as an equal measure of Wike’s diatribe against Shuaibu, accusing his counterpart in Rivers of desperation to clinch PDP presidential ticket for next year’s election.

They, however, warned that the dog fight may further polarised the PDP and further weakens it as it plans to take over power next year.

Obaseki said in a statement he personally signed that Wike had become blinded by his presidential ambition that he doesn’t care if the party is destroyed.

Speaking at an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers state last weekend, Wike described Shuaibu as indisciplined, calling on Iyiorcha Ayu, the national Chairman of the PDP to discipline him for his action.

Reacting in the state, Obaseki said Wike was being driven by the inordinate ambition of emerging president next year.

The Edo governor said Wike’s outbursts against his deputy was unnecessary.

According to Obaseki, “the recent personal attacks by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike, against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is, to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for,” the statement reads.

Obaseki said “his Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Sen. Dr Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader who is able to show empathy and consideration.

“It is necessary to recall at this point that a political solution gave rise to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih first as Acting and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South-South, of our party, when Chief Emma Odidi resigned that position to allow Chief Orbih to ascend,” Obaseki said.

“It is, therefore, curious why this type of political solution is no longer tenable to resolve the political impasse in Edo State PDP,” the governor said, adding that Wike rather than Shuaibu should be sanctioned for issuing threats to the party.
He voted some instances. According to Obaseki “on September 16, 2018, Governor Wike threatened the party that there would be grave consequences if it moved the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run-up to the 2019 presidential election.

“On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike also threatened to cause trouble for the party over the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Obaseki sccused Wike of becoming too desperate over his presidential ambition, warning that Edo will not be allowed to become his conquered territory.

“It clearly amounts to the delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him.

“We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions, and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few,” Obaseki said.

“Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition.

“We will join the great leaders of our party across the country to build PDP into a strong, large, and indomitable party that will win next year’s presidential election.

“We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions, and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few,” the Edo governor said .

Former Senate President Laments N2.5trn Petrol Subsidy

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James Orji

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March 14, 2022

By James Orji

Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President has bemoaned the recent petrol scarcity in the country blaming insincerity on the part of the federal government for the problem.

Saraki said the whopping N2.5 trillion earmarked for fuel subsidy in this year’s budget is over-bloated, amidst effort on the part of the government to make petrol available across the country.

Due to the unavailability of the product, the price rose to as high as N300 per litre from N165 per litre much to the criticism of many Nigerians on the failure of the authority to arrest the problem.

The senator spoke following President Muhammadu Buhari request to the National Assembly to amend the 2022 Budget to accommodate the amount.

But the former Senate President said the country may be subsidizing petrol for neighbouring countries who he said are the major beneficiary, noting that fuel consumption in the country should not be more than 35 million litres daily rather than the 70 million claimed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

He said the fuel subsidy regime is riddled with financial racket calling on the Buhari’s administration to arrest the situation.

Recall that NNPC managing Director, Mele Kyari had in May 2021 steered controversy after he claimed that the country consumed over 100 million litres per day in June of that year.

Kyari had told the House of representative Committee on Finance that Nigeria “consumed up to 103 million litres per day, I don’t know. Actually, I flagged this when I saw the figure. It is actually from me in a public fora three days ago and I still remember, I said that, we see evacuation of 103 million litres.

“Evacuation is not consumption, but it is very very abnormal. Even the average for that month comes back to 62. So, I found it very very strange that, we can have that high number and we are investigating it. And I am sure we are going to get to the bottom of it.

“We looked at the capacities of all the depots in the country to see is it really practical? We have depots that have no capacity to do this and we see these high numbers.

“I have taken this. I can say it openly here, I have taken this matter to all the agencies of government, like the EFCC and ICPC so that, they can follow up on it. So, we looked at it as an abnormal practice that has happened”.

According to Saraki, “we cannot be consuming more than 30 million to 40 million litres and it is obvious there is racketeering in the oil sector. Some people are benefitting and there is no way we are consuming 70 million litres. We are in a problem because a few people are benefiting but the politicians are fixated on the 2023 elections.

“We must look at what Nigerians are going through and change the way subsidy is being managed; not subsidise other countries.

“The Federal Government is not being fair to the masses and the smuggling of fuel must stop while the true situation of things must be uncovered. It is not about the individual but the federal government must be held accountable. We must subsidise the actual consumption in the country”.

Obiano Wants Anambra Airport Named After Him; First Rain Devastates Structures

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March 14, 2022

By Charles Igbo

In an unprecedented decision, out-going Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, and his State Executive Council Members, approved that the Anambra International Passenger/ Cargo Airport be named after him.

The decision was taken at one of its final Executive Council meetings where he reminded them that he remains in charge until the midnight of March 15, 2022.

The process which led to the decision to rename the Airport waa like a comic relief, short of calling it childish.

In a viral video on WhatsApp, an Exco member, who wore a white suit, stood up, microphone in hand, and reminded the Governor and members that they had started discussions on the renaming of the Airport after Obiano, but did not quite conclude. As he went round and round in what would pass as psycophancy at its worst, Governor Obiano cut him short, and took over the job of an umpire in an issue he was central to.

In a magisterial voice, he called for an on-the-spot vote – for, and/or against the re-naming the Airport after him. “Those who are in favour (of re-naming the Airport after him), indicate by raising up your hands”, he bellowed. The majority, of course, raised their hands. And even though the outcome was obvious, he asked those against to do the same. About two people, who appeared not very sure of themselves, did. The majority carried the vote.

The Airport, newly built, commissioned and operational, is a legacy project of the Obiano Government who insists he borrowed no kobo from anywhere to build.

Even then, the integrity of some of the structures has come into question. The very first rain in the State, devastated a number of the structures. Roofs were blown away amongst some other noticeable shabby jobs.

Not a few people have raised an uproar over the suggestion/decision that the Airport be re-named after Obiano. They ask if he built it with his personal money, and remind him it is, at once, inappropriate and untidy for him to even think of re-naming the Airport after himself.

They have warned the incoming Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, who Obiano brags is his “project from beginning to end”, not to dare agree to re-naming the Airport after Obiano.

The International Airport is located at Obiano’s Community, Aguleri.

2023: Chidoka Demands Third Party Performance, Integrity Test On INEC’s Technology Systems

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March 14, 2022