Opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its Presidential primaries for December 10, to be held in Lagos. This is even as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and one of the leading presidential aspirants has accepted Lagos as the venue for the primaries. Atiku said in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja today said that he is confident that Lagos has all it takes to ensure that the event is successful. He looked at the be memorable the cosmopolitan nature of the Lagos and the famed easy going nature of its residents, pointing out that the city of Lagos is like a home to him. According to Atiku, he spent several years of his public service career there. “I’m not any less Lagosian than anyone is. I have a house in Lagos and a part of my large family lives in Lagos. I visit Lagos regularly so I’m not a stranger to the cosmopolitan city and what it represents as the melting pot of Nigeria,” Atiku said.
President of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Nigeria’s Petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has confessed that with the fall in crude oil prices across the globe, competition by countries to gain markets is becoming tough. Diezani, who spoke to newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, said that this is a very challenging time for OPEC and for the global crude oil wells as a whole. “Quite clearly, there has been a battle of wills between certain OPEC countries, the big players and certain non-OPEC countries who are big players in the world crude oil production markets at this time. “So it is a challenging time to take over as OPEC President at this time and our prayer of course is that we will be able to stabilise the crude oil prices per barrel over this period because it is critical as many countries both OPEC and non-OPEC countries are suffering immensely. Even as we speak, Venezuela has gone into austerity measures and is measuring food because they were completely dependent on oil. Angola, Algeria Iran are all under duress as is Nigeria because it has affected our budgetary benchmark. “And even non-OPEC countries like Russia who will not cut production are already seeing a drop in the value of their rubuck. So it is quite impactful on OPEC prices and what OPEC does in the global oil market. And so we will be watching very closely as president of OPEC at this time at what point we have to call OPEC Extra Ordinary meeting and reconvene to see whether other strategies can be put into play.” The OPEC President spoke on the effect of the fall in prices on Nigeria’s economy, saying that Nigeria has to be much more competitive this time and going into the future. “We cannot continue to do business as usual. We must ensure that we have the right enabling parameters and indicies in this country to attract the right end user markets; end user demand for our products because there are so many other countries that would be competing for those end user markers. “So we will have to sit down and reformulate our entire approach over the next month or so. In fact, we need to do that immediately to ensure that we are in fact at the cutting edge of competitiveness. “We need to make ourselves competitive in the market and we are able to garner and take those end user markets.” Diezani confessed that she would not have been elected OPEC’s President if President Goodluck Jonathan had not had the courage to appoint a woman into the portfolio of Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which made her to head the country’s delegation to OPEC. “It happened about three and half years ago when I went into OPEC that was completely male dominated and mostly Arab dominated as well. “But I have found that they have come to respect me and Nigeria’s voice over the last three years in OPEC is very highly. The position of presidency some years ago was administratively made rotational but OPEC ensures that it must still elect, therefore, it states very clearly that ‘we have elected’ Diezani Alison-Madueke or whoever happens to be the President for that year into the position of the Presidency of OPEC.” She said that OPEC reserves the right to reject any Minister, head of delegation or person put forward by their country whom OPEC feels is not of the right capabilities and experience and level to sit as OPEC President. This is because, she said, OPEC’s presidency is highly influential and is a high ranked position to that of the secretary General. The Nigeria petroleum helms woman said that It is the OPEC President that sits as Chairman of all OPEC conferences at all times during that year, adding that it is the OPEC President that calls for extraordinary meetings of OPEC which will possibly happen in the next quarter of next year if the downward trend in crude prices continue amongst other things.
Nigeri’s opposition All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has fingered Governor Ayodele Fayose of the state in the Monday jail break during which many inmates of the prison escaped after some gunmen attacked the prison. The party said that the conflicting reports by the governor and his media aide, Lere Olayinka showed that the governor had a hand in it. In a statement today by the state publicity secretary Taiwo Olatubosun, the APC said that while the governor blamed the prison officials for complicity, Olayinka accused APC of masterminding the crime to free Niyi Adedipe, who was in prison custody over alleged complicity in the murder of drivers’ union boss, Omolafe Aderiye. It said that the latest report of the sighting of four of the escaped prisoners in the Government House confirmed the earlier suspicion that the Monday incident was an orchestrated plan to free criminals friendly with the government to unleash them on the opponents as suspicion of alleged killer squad in Ekiti State grew. “If the jail break was an attempt by APC to free Adedipe, why did Adedipe report himself to the police and subsequently surrendered himself to the prisons authorities without being declared wanted? “If the jail break is to kill Niyi Adedipe as alleged by Lere Olayinka, Why was he not killed? “Today, Ekiti people have information that four of the escapees, including a notorious criminal and serial rapist that participated in attacking Fayose’s opponents during his first stint, are being lodged in the chalets behind the Presidential Lodge in the Government House.” The party said that the unfolding drama confirmed APC’s outcry that a killer squad is being raised for attacks on opponents. APC added: “We have raised issues on the reasons why Fayose specifically demanded the police authorities in Abuja to post back to Ekiti State some of the police officers that worked with him during his first stint. These officers formed the core of the killler squad that were indicted by the SSS panel set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo. It is the same officers that are back today in Ekiti State after a special request that they be reposted to Ekiti State. “We are not surprised that the local content of this crime ring is being re-activated by releasing them from jail for maximum results and we are calling the attention of Nigerians and lovers of peace and security around the world that the merchants of death are back in Ekiti State to terrorise the people of Ekiti State. “We can now see why security vote for security agents’ to fight crimes has been reduced while personal security vote for the governor has doubled.” The party called on the security agents to comb the Presidential lodge of the Government House to re-arrest the escapees quartered there.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the emerging campaing period for the 2015 general elections has been a big challenge to him. “It has been a challenging period for me. I have been accused of so many things. I have been a victim of internet terrorism. What bothers me most is when people resort to violence to achieve their ambition. “I want to appeal to political aspirants to ensure that there is no violence. Somebody must not die for you to get to any position.” Governor Uduaghan, who spoke today when he received the Delta State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Gideon Oyibo, and his executive on a courtesy visit, advised political office seekers to pursue their ambitions peacefully and avoid desperation and acts capable of triggering crisis. “You must not destroy lives, cars or properties because of political position. “Remember it is only God that gives position and what he has ordain will surely come to pass.” He said that aspirants if what political office seekers is the desire to serve the people, they don’t need to embark on do-or-die politicking. “Aspirants should not see their ambition as a do-or-die affair. There is too much desperation among the political class today and most of them don’t care what happens to their political opponents or the people around them as long as they achieve their ambition.” The governor commended members of CAN for their credible performance during the last local government election in the state. He said that they added credibility to the electoral process and urged them to play similar roles in future elections. He asked them to continue to pray for the nation to overcome the Boko Haram scourge, assuring that President Goodluck Jonathan is handling the insurgency with the seriousness it deserved. Rev. Oyibo decried the attitude of political aspirants who are desperate for positions and use violence as a means to achieve their aims. He advised them to follow the stipulated rules and guidelines. Meanwhile, an ultra-modern executive chambers inside the New Government House, built and furnished by the Uduaghan administration, was on Wednesday dedicated. The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the South South, Bishop God-Do-Well Avwomakpa, led a team of men of God, including Rev. Oyibo, to perform the dedication ceremony. Uduaghan; his wife, Roli; the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN); commissioners; and top government functionaries witnessed the ceremony. On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 4:20 PM, AREH SUNDAY
The tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba has only just begun, but it may have already offered a glimpse of the way and manner the police force would obstruct the functioning of democracy. Has anyone ventured to the official website of the police to see how politically partisan the law-enforcement agency has become? I was a frightening seeing them post the Declaration photos of President Goodluck Jonathan on their official website, against the fact that they did not do this for any other aspirant. Why would anyone then post this one? They didn’t post Atiku Abubakar’s methodical declaration which targeted the youth and first-time voters. Neither did the police find interesting, General Buhari’s crowd of Northern masses, nor did they find, worthy of their website, pictures of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s red-cap revolution. They equally did not find worthy of their website, the publisher and presidential aspirant, Sam Nda-Isaiah’s, which was tailored along the classical American presidential declarations. Someone joked about the fact of the green-white uniforms worn by almost everyone at the Jonathan Declaration, arguing that it was to underscore the transformation of the country to one that resembles North Korea, where citizens wear the same uniform to state events. Beyond this, if anyone still retained doubts about the openly partisan transformation of the police, then the recent incident of the seizure of the parliament and the tear-gassing of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his fellow APC members should close all the arguments in favour of this being a non-partisan police. The Police website has been fielding selected videos and quotes from just anyone who attacks the parliament. Femi Aribisala’s diatribe against the Speaker and the House he leads, in his Tuesday Column in the Vanguard newspaper titled: “ Tambuwal and his Shameful Law-breaker Supporters” has since found a prominent place on this website. Did the Police commission this write-up? They have also posted a series of video clips, some of them from the sordid mess they created in the parliament and others from TV commentators attacking the House, a clear indication that they either sponsored those attacks or in the minimum, such derogation of popular sovereignty meets their own taste. A clip of this incident showing clearly identifiable legislators posted on this site asked a question: “who are these law-breakers battering/climbing the gate of the National Assembly, Abuja on 20-11-2014?” Another one tagged: “NASS Video (part 3), quotes a lawyer, George Eke from a Channels Television discussion as saying“ Police is a constituted authority, they should also be respected.” Another one from the same lawyer, “NASS Video (part 4) says:“ that place is not the Speaker’s house, it is the National Assembly.” Yet another police post asks the question: “ Lawmakers or Law-breakers? Judge for yourselves Nigerians after watching this video.” After failing to respect the sanctity of the parliament, which is an important pillar of democracy and tear-gassing its members and leadership, the not-so muscular police Inspector-General, appeared before the House Committee wielding the full powers of his office. He called the Speaker “A certain Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal”, and told the Committee that for him, Tambuwal, as said by Chief Edwin Clark was no longer Speaker and would therefore not honour him by calling him with the title. Seeing it on television itself is a sorry and sobering spectacle. By denying the Speakership of Tambuwal in a legalistic and a mean-spirited manner, IG Abba appears to have made a choice of obeying the man who appointed him rather than the constitution which he swore to uphold. His claim that the House Members attacked and harassed the police, leading to the explosion of tear-gas by itself was an afterthought that could not have fooled anyone. Mr. Abba, in his actions so far appears to have forgotten that the position of the IG of police is a slippery post; a harsh and unforgiving post where officers with equally good records as his perish. Many had indeed reached the top through the dint of hard work only to follow greedy and unscrupulous leaders like zombies and end up being taken off its lofty pedestal in a disgraceful and humiliating manner. The parliament, in terms of the philosophy of popular representation is an awesome pillar of democracy, standing tall above the two other arms of government, i.e. the Executive and the Judiciary. The legislature represents the nearest approximation to general will. The parliament is the manifestation of the contract between the citizen and the state. The contempt the police shows for Mr. Tambuwal and the legislature is an attack on the sovereignty of the people of Nigeria. There can’t be democracy without an elected parliament acting as the true representative of the people. Parliament is a sine-qua-non for democracy and development. In the light of the above, it is clear that the police attack on the legislature is a threat to the engagement between the two branches of the government involved in this open brawl. The responsibility for finding a way out lies with the President who appoints (and directs the actions of) the IG but the Police boss himself needs to take actions to show that he measures up to the position. He must conduct himself in a way to prove to critics that he has grown beyond what most people know to be, the gunman behind Mrs. Abacha. The police as a public institution must not allow its platforms to be used for anti-democratic purpose
French legislators have today, voted 339 to 151 in favour of symbolic motion to recognise Palestine as a state. Similar resolutions had already been approved by British lawmakers on October 13 and Spanish lawmakers on November 18. Sweden also voted to recognise Palestine as a state on October 30. The French National Assembly’s vote today is likely to raise domestic political pressure on the French government to be more active on the issue. There has already been an Israeli counter-strike to this. While the vote is non-binding, Paris has in the past already made known that it plans to recognise a Palestinian nation “when the time comes,” arguing that a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict logically implies recognition of Palestine. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about the motion, he said it would be a ‘grave mistake. Subdued anger is likely to be their response. The text introduced by the ruling Socialists “invites the French government to use the recognition of the state of Palestine as an instrument to gain a definitive resolution of the conflict.” Fabuis’ statement Last week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the lawmakers the UN Security Council is working on a resolution to relaunch and conclude peace talks. A deadline of two years is the one most often mentioned and the French government can agree with this figure. Fabius said, France is prepared to host international talks to drive the peace bid forward. “An international conference could be organised. France is prepared to take the initiative on this. And in these talks, recognition [of the Palestinian state] would be an instrument… for the definitive resolution of the conflict,” he said
Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed sadness over the death of the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, which occurred Saturday, November 29, at the Muelmed Med-Clinic, Pretoria, South Africa.
Ashiru held sway as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2013. During this period, he deployed economic diplomacy as a way and means of lending support to the administration’s Transformation Agenda.
Under him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertook the compilation and publication of the ministry’s maiden annual report, amongst other milestones.
A statement by the ministry on Monday said: “The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Danjuma N. Sheni, and the entire officers and staff of the ministry extend their heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of Ashiru as well as pray that God Almighty grant him eternal rest.”
Ashiru was born on August 27, 1948 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. He began his diplomatic career in June, 1972. [myad]
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation has announced the loss of N21.7 Billion to bank frauds in 2013 financial year with a total of 3,756 fraud cases.
The corporation in its 2013 Annual Report and Statement of account for the banking sector said that the reported cases of 3,756 for 2013, represents an increase of 11.12 per cent over the 3,380 fraud incident which the sector recorded in 2012.
The report, which was released today, was jointly signed by the NDIC Board Chairman, Dr. Hassan Adamu and the Managing Director, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim.
The report said that while the frequency of fraud cases rose by 11.12 per cent within the period under review, the sector recorded a 20.8 per cent increase in monetary value from N18.05bn in 2012 to N21.79bn.
In terms of actual loss from these fraud cases, the report said the sum of N5.75bn may not be recovered, adding that this is N1.24bn or 27.4 per cent higher than the N4.51bn recorded in 2012.
“A total of 275 responses were received from 21 commercial banks, one non interest bank and two merchant banks during the year under review.
“Out of the 272 responses received, 3,756 fraud cases were reported in 2013 as against N21.79bn reported in 2012, showing an increase of 11.12 per cent.
“There was also a 20.8 per cent increase in the amount involved as N18.05bn as reported in 2012 as against N21.79bn reported in 2013.
“Also, the expected/actual loss increased by N1.24bn or 27.4 per cent from N4.52bn in 2012 to N5.76bn in 2013.”
The report added, “The highest expected/actual loss of N2.5bn occurred in the first quarter ended March 2013, which represented 47.4 per cent of the total industry expected/actual loss.”
Giving a quarterly breakdown of the amount involved, the report stated that N7.80bn fraud was recorded in the first quarter while the second, third and fourth quarters had N4.85bn, N3.84bn and N5.28bn respectively.
In terms of number of fraud incidence, the report explained that 983 cases were recorded in the first quarter while the second, third and fourth quarter each had 768, 1,067 and 938 cases respectively.
For the proportion of losses, the report said that N2.51bn is expected to be lost in the first quarter, while the sum of N1.16bn, N906m and N1.18bn was lost in the second, third and fourth quarters respectively. [myad]
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has accused the Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba of displaying what he called ‘brutish power.’
“The recent choice of a new leader for the guard was clearly no accident, and this hitherto unknown enforcer, one Suleiman Abba, has wasted no time in inaugurating a season of brutish power.
Soyinka who spoke to newsmen in Lagos today also blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for allowing what he called a reign of impunity, the latest being police siege on the National Assembly.
Soyinka said the latest action of the Inspector General of Police, against members of the House of Representatives was an “unambiguous” declaration of war against the people.
He said that the battle line had been drawn and Nigerians must decide whether to submit or resist to the current democratic dispensation.
“I shall not insist that the biblical figure of Nebuchadnezzar is uniquely apt for the pivotal figure of the ‘democratic’ history in the making at this moment,” said Mr. Soyinka. “For one thing, Nebu was a nation builder and a warrior. One could argue even more convincingly for the figure of Balthazar, his successor, or indeed Emperor Nero as reference point – you all remember him – the emperor who took to fiddling while Rome was burning.
“However you should easily recall why I opted for King Nebu – the figure that currently sits on the top of our political pile himself evoked it, albeit in a context that virtuously disclaimed any similarities, even tendencies. Perhaps he meant it at the time when he claimed: ‘I am no Nebuchadnezzar.’ Perhaps not. One judges leaders on acts however, not pronouncements, which are often as reliable as electoral promises.”
Soyinka said that it is left for Nigerians to decide to revert to the ‘Abacharian status of glorified slaves,” adding: “the praetorian guards have been let loose – to teach the rabble their place.”
The Noble Laureate said that President Jonathan had continued to surprise Nigerians in ways “few could have conjectured.
“Peaking at his own personalised example where he set the law of arithmetic on its head – I refer to the split in the Governors’ Forum, and his ‘formal’ recognition of the minority will in a straightforward, peer election – democracy has been rendered meaningless where it should be most fervently exemplified.
“Nothing is more unworthy of leadership than to degrade a system by which one attains fulfilment, and this is what the nation has witnessed time and time again in various parts of the nation, the recent affront against the legislative chamber being only the most blatant and unconscionable…
“It is a warning. His choices for the occupancy of crucial public positions – such as the protective arm of the nation – constitutes an even more immediate and constant public alert. The signals are ominous – for and beyond 2015.” [myad]
The November 29th 2014 primaries for the House of Assembly aspirants under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State are now eye openers to the politicians and observers of the new political game in the state. A few hours to the primaries, the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi suddenly announced that the primaries, scheduled to hold across the country on 29th had been cancelled. This was even as the Acting State chairman of the party, Chief Onwe Joseph Onwe announced on the federal government owned Unity FM, that the primaries would hold and urged members to participate in the exercise. The governor used the monthly clean-up exercise in the state as an excuse for suspending the exercise. The governor threatened that any person or persons caught outside before 10.00 am would be dealt with. At about 85 people, most of them suspected to have gone out to participate in the PDP primaries were so arrested. At 10.00am, the Ebonyi PDP supporters, moved en mass to the party secretariat, located along the Abakaliki/ Enugu expressway, only to find the place barricaded. Imported thugs were fully on guard. The party supporters were however redirected to another venue: Pinnacle Hotels, a few poles from the PDP secretariat where the five-man team sent by the National Working Committee (NWC) were seated with the materials for the election. The team was led by Senator Ben Collin Ndu as Chairman, Hajia Yela, member, Rt. Hon. Simon Dogari, San Mohammed Aminu, Alh. Aliyu Bindawa, member/secretary. The sight of the panel was greeted with jubilation by those who had waited to have the election conducted even as those who were believed to have preferred to have it cancelled on the account that they would lose should they go ahead with the primaries had frustration written all over their faces. The people in this camp rather staged a boycott of the exercise which they saw as more honourable than to participate in the election and fail. The turnout at the venue was unprecedented in the history of political gathering in the state. Thousands of party men and women participated in the exercise. Elections were conducted across the state without hitches as was attested to by the observers and news newsmen who monitored the exercise. Surprisingly, the governor, Chief Elechi is said to be agitating that the peacefully conducted November 1st and 8th congresses which gave rise to the last Saturday’s exercise should be set aside. This brings to clear question as to where the governor wants to lead the state to. It is unfortunate that simply because Ebonyi people no longer want to be led by the nose, the governor is becoming jittery. It was also out of the governor’s high handedness that wife of a governorship aspirant, Senator Ofia Nwali and 27 other council officers were sacked because they said no to imposition of candidates by the governor. Already, new Coordinators have been appointed and sworn in by the governor without having them screened by the state house of assembly. The governor is now charging at those he considered political enemies, including the elected Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, whose sin is that he insisted that the governor should duly account for the N16.5 billion Bond he borrowed from the Nigerian Stock Exchange before seeking for another N15 billion Bond at the twilight of his administration. The governor now prefers to recognise Mr. Blaise Orji as the Speaker of the Assembly The Ebonyi people are by the day becoming more disappointed with these turn of events, more so as even executive council members are being forced to sign documents for the purpose of giving teeth to impunity, a development that is worsened by many unfinished projects. Indeed, one is at a loss as to how the Ofurekpe water scheme embarked upon by the Governor Elechi-led administration at its inception in 2007 rose from the estimated cost of one billion naira to N7.8b. Agreed that there could be cases of variations, but how could it be that even with such differentials, there is no hope of getting water from the scheme till the end of this administration as nothing again is being done on the project to justify such expenditure? The Governor had on the floor of the 24-member Ebonyi State House of Assembly, apologized for his failed promise that our people would drink water from the scheme last year. Is he taking his people for a ride? There is a multi-million naira rice parboiling machine meant for the none-functional billion naira rice mills that is still missing without any admissible account. And for what reason was the Abakaliki/Enugu expressway, which the federal government project, be awarded to the renowned SETRACO construction firm? Now the project has been abandoned. Is he anybody playing games? There is also the NIGERCEM at Nkalagu, the foremost cement manufacturing firm in the south East geo-political zone of Nigeria which was operational during the previous administration Dr. Sam Ominyin Egwu but which went moribund shortly after Chief Elechi took over as the governor of the state. Those who laboured to rehabilitate the firm have been frustrated and traditional rulers who welcomed them have been dethroned by the incumbent administration. What could have been the reasons for all these other than economic and political interests of the government whose allies and siblings are believed to be the Directors and benefactors of the death of the NIGERCEM? Also, there is the case of M & J Construction firm that had handled about half of the contracts awarded to local contractors since the inception of this administration. A revelation of those who own the company would explain why shoddy jobs are being celebrated and earned certificates of completion and the poor tax payers’ money released to them. Worst still is the demand of N15 billion from the Nigerian Stock Exchange by the Elechi-led administration which has thrown the state into financial confusion. [myad]
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Issues Thrown Up By The Conduct Of Ebonyi PDP Primaries, By Maxwell Eze
The November 29th 2014 primaries for the House of Assembly aspirants under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State are now eye openers to the politicians and observers of the new political game in the state.
A few hours to the primaries, the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi suddenly announced that the primaries, scheduled to hold across the country on 29th had been cancelled.
This was even as the Acting State chairman of the party, Chief Onwe Joseph Onwe announced on the federal government owned Unity FM, that the primaries would hold and urged members to participate in the exercise.
The governor used the monthly clean-up exercise in the state as an excuse for suspending the exercise. The governor threatened that any person or persons caught outside before 10.00 am would be dealt with. At about 85 people, most of them suspected to have gone out to participate in the PDP primaries were so arrested.
At 10.00am, the Ebonyi PDP supporters, moved en mass to the party secretariat, located along the Abakaliki/ Enugu expressway, only to find the place barricaded. Imported thugs were fully on guard.
The party supporters were however redirected to another venue: Pinnacle Hotels, a few poles from the PDP secretariat where the five-man team sent by the National Working Committee (NWC) were seated with the materials for the election.
The team was led by Senator Ben Collin Ndu as Chairman, Hajia Yela, member, Rt. Hon. Simon Dogari, San Mohammed Aminu, Alh. Aliyu Bindawa, member/secretary.
The sight of the panel was greeted with jubilation by those who had waited to have the election conducted even as those who were believed to have preferred to have it cancelled on the account that they would lose should they go ahead with the primaries had frustration written all over their faces.
The people in this camp rather staged a boycott of the exercise which they saw as more honourable than to participate in the election and fail.
The turnout at the venue was unprecedented in the history of political gathering in the state. Thousands of party men and women participated in the exercise.
Elections were conducted across the state without hitches as was attested to by the observers and news newsmen who monitored the
exercise.
Surprisingly, the governor, Chief Elechi is said to be agitating that the peacefully conducted November 1st and 8th congresses which gave rise to the last Saturday’s exercise should be set aside. This brings to clear question as to where the governor wants to lead the state to.
It is unfortunate that simply because Ebonyi people no longer want to be led by the nose, the governor is becoming jittery.
It was also out of the governor’s high handedness that wife of a governorship aspirant, Senator Ofia Nwali and 27 other council officers were sacked because they said no to imposition of candidates by the governor.
Already, new Coordinators have been appointed and sworn in by the governor without having them screened by the state house of assembly.
The governor is now charging at those he considered political enemies, including the elected Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma
Nwazunku, whose sin is that he insisted that the governor should duly account for the N16.5 billion Bond he borrowed from the Nigerian Stock Exchange before seeking for another N15 billion Bond at the twilight of his administration.
The governor now prefers to recognise Mr. Blaise Orji as the Speaker of the Assembly
The Ebonyi people are by the day becoming more disappointed with these turn of events, more so as even executive council members are being forced to sign documents for the purpose of giving teeth to impunity, a development that is worsened by many unfinished projects.
Indeed, one is at a loss as to how the Ofurekpe water scheme embarked upon by the Governor Elechi-led administration at its inception in 2007 rose from the estimated cost of one billion naira to N7.8b. Agreed that there could be cases of variations, but how could it be that even with such differentials, there is no hope of getting water from the scheme till the end of this administration as nothing again is being done on the project to justify such expenditure? The Governor had on the floor of the 24-member Ebonyi State House of Assembly, apologized for his failed promise that our people would drink water from the scheme last year. Is he
taking his people for a ride?
There is a multi-million naira rice parboiling machine meant for the none-functional billion naira rice mills that is still missing without any admissible account.
And for what reason was the Abakaliki/Enugu expressway, which the federal government project, be awarded to the renowned SETRACO construction firm?
Now the project has been abandoned. Is he anybody playing games?
There is also the NIGERCEM at Nkalagu, the foremost cement manufacturing firm in the south East geo-political zone of Nigeria which was operational during the previous administration Dr. Sam Ominyin Egwu but which went moribund shortly after Chief Elechi took over as the governor of the state. Those who laboured to rehabilitate the firm have been frustrated and traditional rulers who welcomed them have been dethroned by the incumbent administration. What could have been the reasons for all these other than economic and political interests of the government whose allies and siblings are believed to be the
Directors and benefactors of the death of the NIGERCEM?
Also, there is the case of M & J Construction firm that had handled about half of the contracts awarded to local contractors since the inception of this administration. A revelation of those who own the company would explain why shoddy jobs are being celebrated and earned certificates of completion and the poor tax payers’ money released to them.
Worst still is the demand of N15 billion from the Nigerian Stock Exchange by the Elechi-led administration which has thrown the state into financial confusion. [myad]