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Imo’s Hate-Filled Politics: Philip Ejiogu Breaks The Jinx

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The Source
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Comfort Obi

By Comfort Obi

If you have been following the bitter, hate-filled politics in Imo State, then you would appreciate how huge the simple, short, speech made by  Honourable Philip Ejiogu,  Member, representing Owerri North State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly is.

It rubbished the norm, and broke the jinx. There are reasons Ejiogu is a breath of fresh air.

Politics in Imo State is filled with lies. Brazen lies. It is filled with fabrications. Eye popping fabrications. It is filled with bitterness. Suffocating bitterness. It is filled with hatred. Murderous hatred. And, it is filled with childish utterances and reasoning some of which would make a two-year old baby blush in embarrassment.

Of course, politics is made up of all those ingredients, and shsmelessness and disloyalty, but that of Imo State has boiled over,  especially, since the months  leading to the 2019 Governorship election. It is  smells to high heavens.

The aspirants, then, in 2019,  fabricated all kinds of stories against one another.  They told all kinds of dishonorable lies.

One of them, publicly, told an audience that one of his main opponents had a full blown HIV/AIDS. Not that it matters as such. The once dreaded disease is no longer  killing anybody, now, except careless ones who wouldn’t take their medication, and/or eat healthy. But it was a lie from the pit of hell.  And, coming from one at that level, it stank. And the utterances and mischief of these politicians still stink.

If anybody thought the  season of shamelessness and indecency would be over after the elections, that was quickly perished. It has, instead, worsened, especially, since January 2020, when the Supreme Court removed the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as Governor, barely seven months in office, and installed Senator Hope Uzodinma as his replacement. Since then Imo State and its people have not had a breathing space. Every aspect of life is polluted and corrupted.

It has been one lie after the other. One fabrication after the other. One incitement after  the other. One embarrassing story after the other. And for all that, blood has been flowing, as bullets rain. It is so bad that  Imo State has been shamed, and stripped naked before other States – by its own indigenes. It has been stripped of all dignity. Shame reigns. And, some Imo people are happy. They celebrate the State’s nakedness, planned and executed by them.

They are happy to run down their State. They are happy to put other States before their State. Or, didn’t you hear of “Anambra is not Imo?” Yet, let’s face it, politically, that expression should be the other way round. What happened in Anambra State, politically,  cannot happen in Imo.

Some examples:

As a Governor, Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, was kidnapped by a business man/ politician. He was put, in a most humiliating manner, in a hotel toilet, some allege, and forced to read his resignation letter from office.  In the company of a colleague-Governor of his, at the time, I watched, in  embarrassment, the video where Dr Ngige, voice shaky,   fear written all over his face,  read his resignation letter. Before then, he had been taken to a scary shrine in Okija where he was forced to swear to an oath of allegiance to his then political godfathers.

Would something this degrading happen in Imo? Who “born” that godfather? Stories were told how his convoy were ran out of the road once in a  while by the long convoys of godfathers. Would that happen in Imo?

It was in Anambra State that  the Government House was razed down by political thugs, sent by godfathers. Who could have tried  that in Imo?

Even then, Ngige did not last in office. Three years into his tenure, the Courts declared Ngige an illegal Governor, and sacked him in favour of Peter Obi. So, Imo set no precedence in that area. Before the sacking of a Governor in Imo State, it had happened in Anambra – not once, but twice. Senator Andy Uba, as an elected Governor, lasted for only two weeks, shorter than Ihedioha. He holds the record for the shortest serving Governor in Nigeria.

And, I go back a little.

Before Ngige, Anambra had a Governor called Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju. In the only one  term Anambra political godfathers allowed him to serve, it was hell on earth for him. He was effectively rendered ineffective as a Governor. For two years and counting, schools in Anambra were closed down because the godfathers ran the show.

Like Ngige’s, the godfathers were, also, in the habit of running Mbadinuju’s convoy  out of the road. Obi suffered same fate. The difference: Obi did not allow them run him out of the road. He respected their indecent, showy, lifestyle. Once he heared their ear-splitting siren, and see their long convoy, he would gently ask his convoy to make way. As a Governor, Obi never had a convoy of more than three cars.  Which godfather in Imo would have  dared do that to Rochas Okorocha, or Emeka Ihedioha while they were in office? Or, dare do that, now, to Governor Uzodinma’s convoy.  Again, I ask, “Who born that godfather?” And, Anambra has just set a record in a new show of shame.

The “slapping” incident in Anambra State on the day Professor Charles Soludo was sworn- in as a Governor remains unprecedented. Would any of Imo’s former First Ladies – Professor Udenwa, Barrister Ohakim, Nneoma Okorocha, Lady Ihedioha – dare, publicly, at a high profile ceremony, or anywhere, for that matter,  confront, for example, a Dr Kema Chikwe, a Senator Chris Anyanwu, or a Professor Viola Onwuliri – like Mrs Obiano did to Iyom Bianca Odimegwu -Ojukwu?

Never! Imo has always had polished, serious-minded First Ladies.

Yet, some Imo people would condescendingly say: “Anambra is not Imo.” On what grounds?

Sure, I agree, Anambra has been lucky with a couple of their Governors, beginning with Ngige, Peter Obi, Obiano (sure, he built an International Airport without borrowing a kobo, he said), and now, Soludo. But Imo has not done badly as such.

Forget about Okorocha’s famed and pathological “grab-grab” habit, he had great ideas. But he destroyed them by very shabby finishing and deliveries. He opened up Owerri, the Capital City. Until him, Owerri looked like a neglected Local Government Headquarters. But again, he destroyed it by shabby jobs, and cheap deliveries. And, Ihedioha?

For the about seven months Ihedioha was in office, the impact of his Government was positively felt. When Soludo, then a Governor-elect, inaugurated members of his Transitional Committee, it became a peg to “yab” Imo by Imo people. Of course, Uzodinma had none because of the circumstances of his mandate, but Ihedioha assembled a solid Transitional Committee, made up of Technocrats and high flying professionals from different fields. Stripped of malicious propaganda and deadly obstacles, Uzodinma has not done badly either.

So, you then wonder why Imolites carry themselves low? You wonder why they present themselves and their State as second class.

Here’s the answer.

Politics of bitterness. Politics of hatred. It  has blinded them  to a frightening point.

Some Imolites  so hate their State, and have a low opinion of it that when anything negative happens in Anambra State, especially, the neighboring communities to Imo, they would  pass it on to Imo. And, for their bitterness and lies and hatred for one another, Politicians of Imo State origin are ranked the worst in the country. The  choice, negative labels Imolites tag on them sealed that, and have stripped them of respect.

No Politician in Imo State has been spared. They have all been tarred. From Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha, Ihedioha, Uzodinma, Araraume, etc. they have all be tarred. Murderers. 419ners. Fraudulent. Thieves. Looters. Sponsors of killings in the State and beyond. Adulterers. Killers of their own people.

This other day when the by-election for the Ngor Okpala State Constituency was held, both the APC and the PDP, accused each other’s leadership of carrying guns around. Not Uzodinma, not Ihedioha was spared from this baseless, reckless allegation. Both were alleged of leading their supporters and security operatives, as in war, going from one community to the other, from one polling booth to the other, carrying guns.

A couple of months ago when a couple of Traditional Rulers were kidnapped, and cruelly killed, the atrocity was quickly placed at the feet of Uzodinma and Okorocha. Supporters and associates of both men accused each other of being responsible for the killings, without evidence. The Government was on National Television firing the allegations, just like Okorocha did. Okorocha pointedly accused the Governor of the atrocity. How can a Governor order the killings of his own innocent subjects? For the records, it is different from asking for help to rid his State of confirmed criminal elements. Every Governor does that. No Governor wants his State run by criminals. Why is that of Imo State different? Is it a crime to ask for help against confirmed criminals?

How will other people respect Imo when our Leaders, without exception,  have  been painted and presented in terrible colors?

Any good done is turned upside down and inside out. The insecurity in the State is, behind closed doors, celebrated to high heavens – directly and indirectly. Why?  In Imo, they are paranoid in the name of playing politics.

When Ihedioha attended the funeral rites of the elder brother of Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, he was quickly dubbed a Muslim. He was said to have converted to the Islamic religion. How childish and low can a people be? Before Ihedioha,  Uzodinma had suffered the same fate.

When Abba Kyari, the pioneer Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari died, the lie from the pit of hell was that Uzodinma, “a Fulani stooge”, has renamed Imo State University after the late Chief of Staff, for helping him to the Governorship seat of Imo. Then followed another lie of Uzodinma appointing five Emirs in the State. Then  followed the lie of Uzodinma building schools and settlements for the Almajiris, and then donating farmlands in Imo for RUGA. Ridiculously, it is a couple of those guys used to make the false allegations against Uzodinma, that have turned 360 degrees, and are making same allegations now against Ihedioha. Why can’t Imolites see through these lies?

One can go on and on.

When Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and a couple of other PDP members attended Imo Stakeholders meeting held by Uzodinma to find a solution to Imo’s problems, especially, insecurity, they were vilified and called saboteurs. In same way, when some House of Assembly members attended the funeral ceremony of Uche Nwosu’s mother, they were punished by the House leadership under the cover of frivolous excuses. And then, of course, anything, everything done by Government, no matter how good is twisted and criticized.

None could have been as terrible as that of the Christmas of 2021 when Uzodinma asked those in the Diaspora who wanted to come home to do so, as the State was secure. It was quickly interpreted that he was asking them to come home so as to be slaughtered. Who says things like that? Only in Imo State, a State full of bitterness and hatred.

In Imo State, it is a crime  for an APC member to praise, for example, any good done by the immediate past Ihedioha Government. Just as it is a crime for any opposition member to appreciate anything good done by the Uzodinma Government( including roads), or sympathise with the Government during tragedies. Which is why, instead of collectively condemning the insecurity in the State, it is treated as if it is an APC/Uzodinma affair. It is, almost celebrated as a referendum on the Uzodinma Government. Why?

It is  based on these verifiable facts that I am so proud of my representative in the Imo House of Assembly, Honourable Philip Ejiogu.

Ejiogu is of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He is one of those strong characters who refused to jump ship when Ihedioha was removed from office as Governor. At some point, he was punished and suspended from the Assembly. A young man with pedigree, that did not shake him. He stuck to his beliefs. And this other day, his strong character, his admirable principles of politics without bitterness shone like diamonds. He stuck to the truth, and confirmed what a good and sensitive representative of his Owerri North State Constituency, he is.

Governor Uzodinma had gone to Honourable Ejiogu’s Constituency to Commission, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Acharaubo Farm Estate (Settlement). It is a huge project, a baby of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Located at Emekuku, it would offer employment opportunities to hundreds of the Indigenes, aside from opening up the community.

Acharaubo has been moribund for about 30 years. But luck shone on it with the Uzodinma administration. When it was chosen as one of the pilot schemes to be revived and developed, some people went on their usual  propaganda.

They said Uzodinma has donated it for RUGA. Brainwashed, and not knowing exactly what to believe, some natives went on protest, carrying placards, saying they would never allow it.

Now, they have seen the outcome. They now know the truth. They now know those who didn’t want their community to be developed, or their children given employment opportunities at Acharaubo.

Given the politics of bitterness in Imo State, Honourable Ejiogu was not supposed to be at the commissioning ceremony.  But he rose above bitter and petty politics. He rose above selfish and deceitful politics. His father, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu, an accomplished elder statesman, and Chairman, Imo PDP Elders’ Forum was also there. They were there because one of the main concerns of a representative is to attract and support  good projects  to his people, to his Constituency. Honourable Ejiogu saw this, grabbed the opportunity with two hands, and supported it. He did not bad-mouth it. In appreciation, he made a short speech which was heart-warming, but surprising given the State of politics in Imo State.

He praised Governor Uzodinma. He poured encomium on him for attracting such a project to Imo State, and especially, to his constituency. He called him a Governor with capacity for attracting projects to Imo, especially, from the Presidency.

Ejiogu: “I’m pushed to thank you immensely for this wonderful project His Excellency.

“His Excellency, since I was born into this community,  Acharaubo has been a farmland that has been deserted for years, and I have always wished, and part of my campaign promises to our people was to find a way to revive this place. And today, His Excellency,  your Government has brought revival to this farm.

“Our Governor has shown capacity in his various ways of attracting projects to Imo State, especially from the Presidency.

“I am aware that NALDA is not operating in the 36 States of Nigeria, and just now,  you have made this State to become one of the Pilot States of this project.

“Imo State is one of the States out of the 36 states, and I am happy that out of the 36 States, Imo State was chosen and not just that, my Community was chosen. His Excellency I must commend you for this”

In response, the Governor was not less effusive with his  praise for Honourable Ejiogu,  for his courage, for his open mindedness,  for supporting  the development of his Constituency. He also recognized his pedigree, appreciating his father, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu, for being present. That’s how it should be.

I have since heard of negative murmuring against  Honourable Ejiogu. They should be ignored. He did right. Commend when the Government has done right. And condemn when it has done wrong. That is the only way criticisms would be believable. When it is always “gbam, gbam”, condemn, condemn, it becomes boring, it becomes  unbelievable. The tendency is to dismiss them as “nonsense, the usual.”

I recommend to all Imo politicians, and those they hired as Media Aides to  write for them, Ejiogu’s maturity, his openness, his courage, and honesty, his non-bitterness. When the chips are down, the State belongs to all Imolites. It is not an exclusive, or property, of a few Politicians.

Finally, let me put on record, how proud I am that Honourable Ejiogu is my representative.

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com.  Email: [email protected], [email protected]

INEC Calls For Media Partnership, As 2023 Polls Draw Closer

By
Akinwale Kasali
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INEC Media Partinership Meeting

By Akinwale Kasali

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced its preparedness for the 2023 General election with a call on the Media, stakeholders and political parties to partner the Commission in sensitizing the electorate as the election draws closer.

At a stakeholders and media parley held at Archbishop Vining Memorial Hall, Ikeja, Lagos, the newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, had his first appearance to familiarize with stakeholders, where he said the Commission is working tirelessly in its effort to conduct a free, fair and credible election in continuation of its drive to become one of the best Election Management Bodies, EMBs, that meets the aspiration of Nigerians.

Agbaje added that the Commission has signed the electoral act 2022 as amended, and also released the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the 2023 general election, urging the media to help in sensitizing the electorate on the need to register and get their Permanent Voters Card and exercise their franchise as the continuous voters registration exercise is still ongoing.

Speaking further, he said the Commission has continued the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, exercise through its online platforms on https://cvr.inecnigeria.org or https://cvr.Inec.gov.ng on 28th June, 2021, as well as the physical registration otherwise known as in person registration on 26th July, 2021 in all the States and Local Government Area Offices of the Commission across the country and ended on 21st September, 2021.

He also urged party leaders and the media to assist the Commission in educating the voters in the state to take advantage and make very good use of the opportunity provided by the new polling units and to let the public know how to properly utilise the new polling units by transferring their voting locations to the ones nearest to them in the ongoing continuous voter registration at the State office, or any of the  Commission’s offices in the 20 Local Government Areas.

Agbaje added that apart from providing platforms for the dissemination of information to the public, the media have the responsibility to ensure that their platforms are not used for the dissemination of fake news, as well as ensuring equal opportunities for all political parties and candidates by not giving room to sensational communication from any quarters.

He added that prior to the expansion of Voters Access to Polling Units across the Federation by the Commission in June,  last year, Lagos State  had 8,464 Polling Units, which has increased to 13,325 after the exercise as a result of the conversion of 4,861 Voting Points to Polling Units located closer to some voters who used to trek long distances to cast their votes during elections in the past.

PDP Warns INEC Not to Attend, Monitor, APC National Convention; Says It’s Illegal

By
The Source
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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been warned that it would be breaching the law which set it up, as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic, if it goes ahead to monitor the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, scheduled for March 26, 2022.

In a statement issued on Thursday, March 24, 2022, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said its warming became necessary because the APC has since become defunct.

Said the PDP, “The APC, having been defunct on December 8, 2020, when it dissolved its National, States as well as Local Government structures ceases, in the eyes of the law, to be a political party, and, as such cannot be subject of INEC’s regulations with particular reference to its supposed National Convention.”

It said the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, was set up to conduct the Party’s Convention in 2020, but that it went outside that to conduct Congresses to produce officers in various states.

Following is the full text of the release which said APC’s scheduled March 26 National Convention is “empty, and a meaningless jamboree.”

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to attend, monitor or supervise the Saturday, March 26, 2022 jamboree being organized by the defunct All Progressives Congress (APC) in the name of a National Convention.

“The PDP forewarns that INEC would be going outside its statutory mandate under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as emended) and the Electoral Act 2022 by attending or monitoring the purported APC National Convention.

“INEC, being a government agency set up by law, that also draws from the budgetary allocation of the country with respect to superintending over electoral processes and management of political parties, can only superintend over and monitor bodies over which it has mandate to supervise. This presupposes that any such body must be legally operating as a political party under INEC rules and guidelines.

“The APC, having been defunct on December 8, 2020 when it dissolved its National, States as well as Local Government structures ceases, in the eyes of the law, to be a political party and as such cannot be subject of INEC’s regulations with particular reference to its supposed National Convention.

“For emphasis, the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) was established for the singular purpose of organizing the APC National Convention in 2020. The Committee violated the Constitution and the Electoral Act by engaging in party administration, conducting congresses to produce officers at the various state Chapters as well as delegates for APC National Convention.

“In any event, the CECPC by its composition with a state governor, H.E Mai Mala Buni as Chairman is illegal and unconstitutional by reason of Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution which bars a sitting governor from holding “any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever”.

“Article 14 (i) of the APC Constitution, clearly states that the Chairman of the APC “shall be the “Chief Executive…” of the party.

“In going beyond its mandate, the CECPC acted ultra vires and all administrative acts purportedly done or deemed to have been done by this Committee are null and void and void ab-initio.

“To this effect, delegates to the APC purported National Convention produced by congresses conducted by the CECPC are at best handicapped delegates with leprous fingers who cannot deliver any vote to produce a valid and legal political leadership for the APC. INEC should therefore not waste public resources to monitor a jamboree that would be of no legal or electoral effect under our laws.

“If the APC had listened to one its members, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who had cautioned that the “competence of Governor  Mai Mala Buni to organise the congresses has been called to question by the Supreme Court”, it would not have been in this quagmire.

“Our Party for the umpteenth time cautions Nigerians who intend to participate in the electoral process under the APC to be guided as they are on a voyage that leads to nowhere.”

Lagos 2023: Jandor Declares For Governorship; Explains Why He Left APC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Jandor Declares

By Akinwale Kasali

Lead Visioneer of Lagos To Lagos Movement, Abdul-Aziz Olajide Adeniran, popularly known as Jandor has officially declared his aspiration to run for the Lagos State Governorship position under opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The former All Progressives Congress, APC, stalwart said he decided to seek the Executive Position to demystify the APC and bring an end to godfatherism and impunity going on in the State under the ruling APC.

The 44-Year Old Mushin, Lagos State born politician added that it was time for the PDP to take over the affairs of the State from those that have hijacked it for their personal and selfish interest, milking the resources of the State.

“I took the decision to rescue Lagos State from certain individuals who believe they can dictate the affairs and political sphere in the State. Bola Ahmed Tinubu saw himself as a god.

“In APC, nobody can have a structure other than the structure that is built and controlled by Tinubu. This was the cause of our disagreement. I said this cannot be, I decided to start the Lagos to Lagos Movement, Ibile Eko, Eko United and Team Jandor, which didn’t augur well with him. I frowned at an individual dictating the pace and what should be, which angered Tinubu.

“He wanted to tame me which I refused and stood my ground. They said I wanted to hijack the party that we should leave the party for them. And I thought that instead of forming a new Party, we decided to pitch our tent with the PDP to take the State back from those who are bent to ruining the State for their selfish interest”.

Jandor added that this was the sin he committed against Tinubu and the APC which is unpardonable to them.

He, however, appealed to the PDP to unite and form a formidable force that will wrestle power from the ruling APC, stressing that though there are other credible candidates like him in the PDP, but the unity of Party at this critical period is germane.

“There are rumours being peddled by mischief makers that I and my people that defected to the PDP enmasse are bent on hijacking the party. It is false and plot to disunite the Party.

“We are here to make sure that Lagosians enjoy the dividend of democracy. We are bent on making rescuing the State from the PDP bondage. We are not here to take all position in the party. If I emerge as the Party Candidate, I won’t produce the Deputy Governor and there over 20 Ministeries and hundreds of parastatals in the State it can’t be my people that will be there. The Party needs to unite and don’t allow mischief makers to sow seed of discord among us”.

He promised that if he becomes the Governor of Lagos State, there will be Free Education and Free School Uniforms for Primary School Pupils; putting a stop to the No Bed clamour in State Hospitals that has led to the untimely death of Nigerians, making the people enjoy the dividend of democracy, prioritizing the wellbeing and welfare of the people.

Bishop Funsho Awe on his part said that the APC has hijacked Lagos State and put it into slavery, with Lagosians under the grip and ruler ship, urging the electorates to vote the APC out in 2023, as it is time for Lagos State to be controlled by Lagosians and not people from other States.

“Our destiny is in our hands, with our PVCs let us vote the APC out and bring on board the PDP”.

In the same vein, Mazi Nnaji, representing the Igbo Community in the State said that the South East are ready to back Jandor as his ideologies is in tandem with what progressives should encourage, stressing that the impunity of APC government is nothing to write home about.

Nnaji said Jandor is the New Face of Lagos and the Igbo Community is ready to back him to become the next Governor of the State.

2023 Presidency: 177 Anambra Autonomous Communities Adopt, Endorse Peter Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

History was made in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, when 177 Autonomous Communities in Anambra State, adopted and endorsed Peter Obi, as their Presidential candidate in 2023.

The Autonomous Communities were represented by their Royal Fathers.

Obi, a former two-time Governor of Anambra State, former Chairman, Fidelity Bank, former Chairman, Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, had invited them to formally brief them on his aspiration against 2023. He sought for their blessings.

He told them why he is seeking for their blessings. As he spoke, he was greeted with shouts of “okwuteee, okwuteee!”, meaning: the rock, the rock.

He said: “I am not contesting because I want political appointment, but to serve this country and unite Nigeria. I am the only person that can unite Nigeria.

“The State of our country today is deplorable.  The level of insecurity is, indeed, unfortunate, and Nigeria has fallen to the lowest ebb in the committee of nations, and, I am the only one that can restore security in Nigeria.

“As President, I want security of lives and property in Borno State, in Minna and Niger State, as I want it to be in Onitsha and in Kano and in Ekiti States.

“My interest in the Presidency of Nigeria is to restore security and revamp our educational sector and also revive the health sector, and I have seriously studied our country and I have come to discover that all that we need is to ensure security so that foreign and local investments would thrive in all parts of the country.

“I have come to serve Nigeria, and I have what it takes to restore the dignity of our country and to unite the country because if there  is no unity in Nigeria, we cannot move ahead.

“You all know me very well. I do not need any further introduction. You all know what I did as the Governor of Anambra State and Anambra is like Nigeria, and anybody who is able to manage Anambra State can manage Nigeria. I am calling you for your support and, I have confidence in you all that you will support me.”

Senator Uche Ekwunife, who was present, had earlier said: “When you go to the North, they say they are waiting for Igbo, and the person they want is Peter Obi. You go to the West, they say they are waiting for Ndigbo, and they are waiting  for Peter Obi, and you go to South-south, and they say they are waiting for Peter Obi.

“This is a good product, and a good product does not need so much stress to sell through, and that is Peter Obi and, we, in Igboland, have no choice but to support our brother because he is the next President of Nigeria.

The Igwe of Okija, Emma Nnabuife, who represented  the Chairman of the Anambra Traditional Council, Obi of Onitsha, said: The entire Monarchs have said that Peter Obi is our man for Presidency.

“We need no other person but him, and the Igbos have endorsed Mr Peter Obi as our candidate, and it is the turn of Ndigbo.”

Other Igbo sons who have declared interest too, are former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief Sam Ohuabunwa, both, like Obi, under the PDP, and Ebonyi State embattled Governor, Dave Umahi.

Breaking: Peter Obi Declares For Presidency; Informs Anambra Royal Fathers

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The Source
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Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

Former two-term Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has formally declared his ambition to run for the office  of the President in 2023.

Keeping to the saying that “charity begins at home”, Obi formally informed the Royal Fathers of Anambra State, Thursday, March 24, 2022, of his ambition.

Addressing them, Obi thanked them for their roles in their various communities, and said he thought it expedient to, first, tell them, as his Royal Fathers, of his ambition to aspire to the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.

He sought for their blessings.

As soon as he said that, shouts of “okwuteeee, okwuteeee” (the rock, the rock) rent the air in jubilation.

Obi was the Vice Presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, in 2019, under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

By declaring his interest, Obi has succumbed to the intense pressure on him, from different quarters, to throw in the hat into the ring.

…Details, later.

Strengthen Democratic Institutions – Jonathan, Obasanjo, Other West African Leaders

By
The Source
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African Past Presidents

Former West African leaders under the auspices of West African Elders Forum (WAEF) have called on political leaders in Africa to  address security challenges in their countries  and strengthen democratic institutions to enhance good governance and economic development in the sub-region.

The leaders who spoke at a strategy meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday stated that for democracy  to endure  it must yield basic public goods to its citizens.

Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and  convener  of the forum, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his opening speech expressed concern over the recurring military intervention in West Africa, adding that the forum is poised to actively engage key stakeholders to stem the tide of regression of democracy in the sub-region.

He said: “The sustainability of democracy in West Africa is key to resolving many of our challenges. I therefore appeal to all our leaders across our nations to make democracy work for the interest of all citizens.

“This is why we need to continually advocate for the strengthening of our democratic institutions. Strong institutions are the pillars for the sustenance of our democracy and the development of our nations.

Dr. Jonathan also clarified that the forum was set up to complement the efforts of Governments and international organizations in the bid to promote peace and good governance in the sub-region.

He said further: “As stakeholders we must therefore help in this regard and fashion out the best approach towards the strengthening of our political systems.

“Let me re-emphasize the point that is often made that for democracy to endure, it must yield basic public goods to its citizens. These include economic development, good social services, freedom, justice, peace and security.

“This underscores the place of good governance in our discourse of democracy. Democracy loses its meaning if it does not guarantee the economic status and social security of the citizens.

“Today, we must interrogate some fundamental issues such as recurring military intervention, democracy and good governance, peace and security, economic development as well as human trafficking in our sub-region.

Former President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who joined virtually  in his intervention called for a proactive strategy to forestall political crises in the region, adding that early warning signs should be leveraged to prevent degeneration of tenuous situations.

His words :  “I believe that we need a proactive strategy and a reactive strategy . When we open our eyes we can see what is going on in most cases. We know what the end will be and we fold our hands until the inevitable happens, then we start shedding crocodile tears.”

He added that elected leaders should not manipulate the system to go beyond their constitutional term limits to avoid plunging their nations into avoidable crises.

Former President of  Sierra Leon Ernest Bai Koroma  in his remarks noted that the region  was “experiencing reversal in gains made over the decades , stressing that the forum should come up with proposals that would address our situation. “

Similarly, former Prime Minister of Senegal, Aminata Toure in her address stressed the need to focus on prevention of election-related violence, and charged the forum to set up a task force that would follow up on elections to prevent electoral violence.

“Most of the time we have a standoff between the government and the opposition and the civil society is not really equipped enough to handle these issues. Let’s build a network of conflict prevention. We need  a network of people that can alert  and signal on potential issues and talk about our problems before our problems deteriorate.“

Former Prime Minister Burkina Faso Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo called on  ECOWAS  to be more visible in the management of political  crises, stating that such a disposition would improve the credibility of ECOWAS.

Ebele’s Diary and Other Unforgettable First Ladies

By
The Source
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0
Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

I thought there was a mistake. The headline said Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain and wife of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, slapped the outgoing First Lady of Anambra State, Ebele Obiano. In my head, however, the news read differently. This was not the sort of thing you would associate with Bianca, a former ambassador and beauty queen.

In spite of what I was reading as the news broke, I told myself that the reality was the other way round: Ebele Obiano must have slapped Bianca Ojukwu. If you know Ebele, you will know why in spite of the news, it is easy to be mistaken about what really happened at the swearing-in of Charles Soludo as governor of Anambra State last week.

Willie Obiano may have been governor for eight years, Ebele ruled. She called the shots in respect of appointments, especially those related to internally generated revenue. Onitsha Market, a state cash cow, for example, reported to her through her protégée/manager. Members of the state universal basic education board took their brief from her, too. And inside Government House, her office was so strategically located, you could not mistake that it was the altar at this official shrine.

She was also a major political force whose influence people vying for political positions coveted. Her displeasure was avoided at all costs. She had weight and she knew how to flaunt it.

During the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship primaries last year, for example, Ebele told her husband – the governor – that she had a different candidate. She reportedly told him that Soludo was a risk; they would be unable to control him if he took power.

But the governor wanted Soludo. His wife, on the other hand, made it clear that her preferred candidate was Chukwuma Ume Umeorji, currently representing Aguata federal constituency at the National Assembly. It took the combined intervention of some traditional rulers, along with members of the clergy, to appease Ebele and save the family divided against itself on the eve of an important election.

Ebere Obiano
Ebere Obiano

It would appear that as part of the “terms of settlement”, the governor would later announce that whereas he had no desire to continue in active politics after leaving office, he would secure a senatorial seat for his wife, Ebele, for her labours.

Such is the strength of Ebele’s clout and the fear of her majesty that you can imagine my confusion at the breaking of the news that she was at the receiving end of Bianca’s ambassadorial slap. It turned out that that was indeed the case, and to make matters worse, Ebele was alone in her moment of distress.

She was painfully ignored by her husband at the crime scene and left to be set upon by an ecstatic public that seemed so pleased by the incident it was prepared to forgive the indiscretion of an ambassador who ignored the provisions of the Geneva convention, supposedly in self defence. All is fair in love and war, I guess.

But this may well be an incident that Anambrarians, even the whole world, will look back on with deep regret. Had Ebele been permitted to take the dignified exit that she had hoped for and for which she had made elaborate preparations including a dance rehearsal the night before only matched by her extraordinary butterfly-sleeves pink dress on the D-Day, she might have considered sharing her First Lady diary with us.

The diary of her last days in office was nothing, if not extraordinary, worthier in my view than the famous memoirs of Harriette Wilson, the concubine of the Duke of Wellington who, in defiance of the threat of the Duke to publish and be damned, still went ahead to leak her salacious notes to a blackmailer.

I’m told, for example, that two weeks before the handover, the governor had taken journalists in the state on a final tour of his legacy projects. Later when they returned for lunch in the Government House, Obiano hosted them alone; Ebele was not available. As they finished and were departing, however, she returned.

The governor quickly recalled as many journalists as he could find and asked them to take their seats again. As they were wondering why, he announced that he recalled them to pay their respects to Her Excellency, the First Lady. Now that they had paid their courtesies and she had bestowed her benevolent smile on them, they could depart in peace.

People familiar with Anambra protocol in the last eight years said preferments have been amended to ensure that at all public functions, Ebele was duly acknowledged and applauded before the deputy governor. And, in fact, even on the handover day, Ebele’s diary would show that she was her own woman. She chose her own time to arrive at the venue which, by the way, was inside Government House. She arrived, not before the event started, but in line with her disdain for all deputies, including deputy governors, she came in after the new deputy governor had been sworn in.

Ebele has amassed such a rich collection of experiences in the last eight years, the world, especially the office of first ladyship, would be the poorer for the recent public humiliation which I strongly suspect might force her into her shell. Who wouldn’t want to find out what exactly was her beef with Bianca, for example?

I’m told that she was unhappy that Bianca took the Ojukwu political talisman too far. That just because she’s Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca regarded herself as the goddess of APGA, the sun around which everything revolved.

The cold war continued for years. When Bianca made a bid for the Senate in 2019, however, Ebele thought that was the moment to settle the matter of supremacy once and for all. She opposed Bianca’s candidacy and instead, backed E.N. Ukachukwu, the perennial aspirant for Anambra governorship and veteran Abuja politician.

Of course, Bianca “lost” the APGA party primaries to Ebele’s candidate, but another party, the YPP, exploited the divided house and won the bigger electoral war for Anambra South senatorial district. In the end, both Bianca and Ebele lost. That defeat widened the gap and festered the wound. By handover day, matters had reached boiling point.

Ebele is unforgettable. How can anyone forget her pair of crystal-studded Gucci glasses estimated by some to be worth only $2,755 or the equivalent at current prices, of three years’ minimum wage in the country? I think, if she had been treated nicely, she might even have decided to leave the exotic “bones” behind in the state museum. But sadly, that chance has been missed.

And also gone with the Gucci glasses is the inside story of the designer Covid-19 vaccine which Ebele travelled thousands of miles to Houston to receive at a time folks in her home state were wondering when the first jabs would arrive and if they would be alive to be vaccinated.

I’m sure that entries from Ebele’s 2014 diary would also have included the now leaked encounter in Poland where it took Nigeria’s former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to save Ebele from what might have degenerated into a brawl, on foreign soil, with a Federal lawmaker, Uche Ekwunife. Mrs. Jonathan’s prompt and decisive intervention at that moment of great peril, it would seem, was one of the reasons insiders will forever remember the erstwhile First Lady as “Mama Peace”.

Ebele has given her side of the handover-day story; she explained that on that fateful day, she went over to admire the gloss on Bianca’s lips and to greet her only to be molested and struck in the face by the latter. I honestly think Bianca’s act of aggression constitutes a contravention of the Geneva convention. It was unprovoked (just like Putin’s war in Ukraine), and should be condemned in its entirety. Her supporters, whether they are oligarchs or puny-garchs, should also have their assets frozen as a deterrent.

Yet, Ebele is in good company of a long list of forebears who, though in a higher league, would have been proud of her performance. Former Kenyan First Lady, Lucy Kibaki, once slapped a government official during an Independence Day ceremony for mistakenly introducing her in the name of a woman widely believed to be President MwaiKibaki’s second wife. That was apart from besieging a newspaper house, slapping a cameraman and seizing a reporter’s notebook on charges that the newspaper had been unfair in its reporting.

Simone Gbagbo, wife of former Côte d’Ivoire Président Laurent Gbagbo, seemed to share Lucy’s aggressive genes; while Patience Jonathan was perhaps a softer, more dramatic and hilarious version of Lucy and Simone.

Grace Mugabe (fondly called Gucci Grace) had a cerebral approach. She pulled the strings behind the scenes and like the breeze, you knew she was there but you couldn’t hold her. She topped off her performance by procuring a postgraduate degree which became a subject of litigation only after her husband’s death. Her fury only came to the fore after her bereavement. Understandably.

Let no one diminish Ebele’s record. She will be greatly missed. In my humble view, our misery can only be assuaged if she could find it in her heart to let bygones be bygones, followed by the publication of her much-expected Government House diary.

It would be a bestseller, the envy of her cohorts, her ultimate revenge against Bianca, and for good measure, the launchpad for her senatorial ambition.

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief ofLEADERSHIP

Indigenes Want VC Position At UNILORIN For Keep

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Indiginization war ravaging the country’s Ivory Towers is spreading to the University of Ilorin as a Group has embarked on campaigns to stop the appointment of a non Indigene as Vice Chancellor.

Just as the row over invasion of Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile Ife by sponsored Traditionalists over the appointment of a non- indigene as VC settles, the Ilorin Group has vowed that  “We won’t allow a non-indigene to succeed the indigene.”

The Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressive Union (IEDPU) said there are plans by ‘fifth columnists,’ to scuttle the chances of indigenes of Ilorin emerging as the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

IEDPU in a press statement by its National President, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, titled ‘Return of the Fifth Columnist,’ accused those he called enemies of the emirates of launching ceaseless attack on the personality of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali.

This, according to him, was in order to jeopardise the chances of the emergence of another Ilorin indigene to succeed the incumbent administrator.

The IEDPU warned those allegedly behind the plot not to take meekness of the union as weakness simply because Islam teaches and preaches tolerance.

It further warned that the sentiments against Ilorin indigenes and what Ilorin represents, as regards the university, should be stopped forthwith, warning that the hatred being exhibited can only drawback the entire system.

According to IEDPU, five vice chancellors had administered the university who were non indigenes of Ilorin, but got hugely supported and wondered why the hostility to Ilorin indigenes whenever they are in-charge instead of reciprocity.

“Our action is not a ploy to shield Prof. Ambali, but we cannot tolerate any person or group of people bent on rubbishing the feats attained by the university and Ambali in particular who happened to hail from the emirate.”

It said the people of Ilorin and the emirate had played significant roles before and after the establishment of the university by supporting the institution, noting that the vast amount of land donated by Ilorin made the university permanent site the biggest landmass possess by any university in Nigeria.

“At inception, pioneer staff of the university were imported as it were. Almost all academic and non academic staff including even cleaners were brought from states outside the then Kwara as if there were no one worthy enough within the state to be employed.

“The department of Arabic and Islamic studies which would have been the department to reflect the cultural attachment of our people was changed to that of religion because of the sentiment of a negligible few.

“In 1997, Prof Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem was appointed the VC and was welcomed to the office, by a 21 ft python sat majestically on his seat just as he was about to commence his administration. The snake, preserved for posterity, is still in a laboratory of the university.

“They were hostile against Professor Oba all through his tenure and at national assignment and tormented professor Is-haq Oloyede because of his perceived link with Ilorin community and their paranoid for Islam. Were they on sabbatical when Prof Ambali was the VC?

“The reason for all these attacks is crystal clear, bring down the outgoing VC from Ilorin and another Ilorin VC will not emerge.”

On the protracted ASUU crisis that had plagued the university, IEDPU noted that the issue which culminated in the emergence of two factions, should have been resolved before now and advised the National Executive Council of ASUU to organise a free, fair and credible election to bring peace and unfettered operation to the chapter.

Professors in race for the VC post are Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Management Services), Prof. Adebayo Yusuf AbdulKareem, former Deputy Vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Bayo Lawal, Dean of Arts, Prof. Ahmad AbdulSalam, former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Sulieman Age AbdulKareem and one time Dean, Business and Social Sciences, Prof. Hassan Ajisafe Soliu.

Among the aspirants, three are from Ilorin while Prof Lawal and Prof Age Abdulkareem hail from Offa and Oro respectively.

APC Chair: Buhari, Govs Pick Adamu, Senators Kick

By
James Orji
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0

By James Orji

President Muhammadu Buhari has pressed home his support for Senator Abdullahi Adamu as his preferred candidate for the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC barely 72 hours after report claimed that the president has withdrawn his backing for the former governor of Adamawa state.

The party has fixed March 27 for its national convention where a new chairman and other officials are expected to be elected to lead the party.

Adamu had said last week that he was sure of emerging APC chairman amidst reports that he has the support of the president. But the tide started turning earlier this week after senators elected on the platform of the party expressed their reservation about his candidacy.

Some APC governors were also said to have dropped their support for him, the The Source (Magazine) learnt on the basis that he was not a founding member of the party. The senator was a member of the PDP before he crossed to the ruling APC ahead the 2015 general election.

But the initial doubts as to whether the president is backing Adamu, a former governor of Adamawa state seemed to have vanished on Wednesday after Buhari met all the APC governors in the state house Abuja where the matter was finally resolved in Adamu’s favour. Baring any last minute change of arrangement, Adamu is sure to emerge the new chairman of the party, closes sources informed the magazine.

Even though some National Assembly members are believed to be supporting another candidate, the magazine learnt that the president has directed Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the party to ensure that Adamu’s candidacy has their buy in before Saturday when the election will hold.

Abdullahi Adamu
Adamu Gets Buhari’s Nod To Become APC Chair

“The party is working on a consensus candidate according to the request of Mr President. We want a situation where the party will be united after the convention. So, the governors and the party are working with the senators and house of Representatives members to ensure that a candidate who can win the next election for the party, as President Buhari has said, emerged as chairman,” one governor said on Thursday.

A pointer that the contending parties have reached an agreement over Adamu emerged on Thursday after the governors said they have no objection to Buhari resolve to the mergence of the former governor.

The governors made their position known on the matter after a meeting with President Buhari in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The president had also met with other chairmanship aspirants where he told them to drop their ambition, sources privy to the meetings said.

As part of the agreement, the president has directed that all the aspirants who bought the form to contest the chairmanship election be refunded their money.

Aspirants who purchased the form include a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura; Senator Sani Musa (Niger) a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume (Benue);  Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Turaki Ilorin, Saliu Mustapha and Saidu Etsu .

Speaking with journalists after the meeting between the Progressives Governors and the president, Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said a truce has been reached for the emergence of Adamu.

Bagudu said the governors have no other than to support the chairmanship candidate being backed by President Buhari, but added that none of the aspirants will be forced to drop their ambition.

“Today, we all briefed Mr President on the issue of distributing political party offices to the respective zones and our support for Mr President’s endorsement of the candidate for the national chairman of the party and the various geo-political zones took turns to brief Mr President, on what they have been doing to generate consensus in their respective zones amongst the National Working Committee (NWC) and zonal party positions that have been either allocated to the zones or which the zones are entitled to,” Bagudu, who is also the chairman of PGF said.

He said further that, “Most of the zones have been allocated NWC positions that are fewer than the number of states, but, however, there are zonal executive committees from which the zones are working to produce a consensus list.

“So, this afternoon, the respective zones; Governor Abubakar Bello briefed on behalf of the North Central; Governor Babagana Zulum on behalf of the North East; Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State on behalf of North West;  Governor Dave Umahi on behalf of South East; and Governor Kayode Fayemi briefed the President on behalf of the South West. I further mentioned the position of the South South to Mr President, as I had on paper.”

“As I remarked when I met Your Excellencies on February 22nd, our aim must be to hand over to an APC government at the centre and the great majority of states.  We must not, by default allow the PDP to get its dirty hands on government again and return us to the Stone Age.

“As I said at that meeting, our party chose its leadership by consensus.  I again plead that we choose our next leadership by consensus. This is consistent with the spirit of democracy, the party’s constitution and the Nigerian constitution.

“With the convention only two days away, I implore you to come together and sort out all the remaining party positions so that within the next 24 hours we can arrive at a Unity List, which we can take to the convention,” Bagudu said.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the president has also endorse former Senate President Ken Nnamani as the Deputy National Chairman.

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