We’re Determined To Ensure Safer, Healthier Global Climate, Buhari Tells World Energy Forum

June 17, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated Nigeria’s commitment for a safer and healthier global climate, listing the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to include elimination of kerosene lighting by 2030, increase in use of buses for public transport and reduction in burning of crop residues.

In a virtual meeting of the World Energy Forum, hosted by President Joe Biden of the United States, on Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change (MEF), President Buhari said that an updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change had been submitted to replace the interim contribution of May 27, 2021.

“Our updated NDC includes the waste sector which is expected to contribute to the reduction of Nigeria’s Greenhouse Gas emissions. This development raised an additional two per cent to the Nationally Determined Contribution from 45 per cent to 47 per cent conditionally and 20 per cent unconditionally below business-as-usual.

“Other action plans that are inherent in our NDC include; elimination of kerosene lighting by 2030, increase in the use of bus rapid transit as a means of transportation for the general public, 50 per cent reduction in the fraction of crop residues burnt by 2030 and implementation of forest programmes.

“Initiatives to deliver 20 per cent Green House Gas emission reductions and enhanced removals equivalent to approximately 74.2 Metric tons of Carbon Dioxide by 2030, and Ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase out Hydro-fluoro-carbon emissions,’’ the President said.

President Buhari, at the Forum today, June 1, said that Nigeria is developing National Frameworks for Article 6 and for carbon pricing, adding, “we have finalized the Sectoral Action Plan for the implementation of the revised NDC in the key priority sectors, namely Energy, Oil & Gas, Agriculture & Land use, Power, Transport and Water and Waste.”

On the Global Methane Pledge, the President told the world leaders that Nigeria joined the Global Methane Alliance in 2019 with commitment to methane reduction targets of at least 45 per cent by 2025 and a 60-75 per cent reduction by 2030.

“Nigeria’s 2019 National Plan to Reduce has started through the required voluntary actions, with an initial focus on elimination of Short-Lived Pollutants methane in the Oil and Gas sector.

“Our plan aims to improve air quality and reduce Nigeria’s contribution to climate change through 22 specific mitigation measures in 8 source sectors (transportation, cooking and lighting in households, industry, waste, oil and gas, agriculture, power and Hydro-Fluoro-Carbon), as well as adoption and ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol aimed at phasing out Hydro- fluoro-carbon emissions.

“The full implementation of these measures would be effective in reducing Short-Lived Pollutants, with an 83 per cent reduction in black carbon emissions by 2030 compared to a business-as-usual scenario, and 61 per cent reduction in methane emissions.

“These measures are also effective in reducing other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, and also reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions.”

The President said that implementation of the measures could reduce exposure to air pollution across Nigeria by 22 per cent in 2030, while reducing Nigeria’s contribution to climate change.

“My administration approved Nigeria’s Sustainable Energy for All Action Agenda in 2016, which has a target of almost tripling generation capacity in the next decade, to reach a total of 30 Gigawatt by 2030.

“Of this, 30 per cent will be generated from renewable resources, with almost half of this provided by medium and large hydro. The Clean Energy Transport Scheme in major Nigerian cities involves the introduction of compressed natural gas for buses in public transport.

“Nigeria is aware that its heavy dependence on fossil fuel makes the country especially vulnerable in a world that has a target to reduce or even eliminate fossil fuel as a key driver of the global economy.”

The President noted that a number of countries are already setting bans on the sale of oil consuming Internal Combustion Engine vehicles, saying: “however, Nigeria is also aware that short term response to transition from fossil fuel to clean energy may jeopardize our economic growth. As a result, we intend to use the Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy as our transition process.”

President Buhari explained that the Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy provides Nigeria the pathway to carefully assess the opportunities that might arise in terms of a cleaner, more dynamic, and more sustainable growth model.

“It will also provide the options for the country to implement a less carbon-intensive model of economic development in the face of decreasing global reliance on fossil fuel energy.“

9, 227 Oyo Teachers In Celebration Mood Over Their Promotions

Editorial staff

June 17, 2022

No fewer than 9, 227 primary school Teachers in Oyo State have cause to celebrate as the State Government has handed them letters of promotion from Grade level 13 to 15.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OSUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, who distributed the promotion letters to the teachers today, June 17, said that the pending promotion letters are in fulfillment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s promises to teachers in the State.

Dr. Adeniran said that the category of teachers who received their letters of promotion were placed on a six years waiting period by the previous administrations, adding that this policy had affected the morale of teachers in Public Primary Schools, because their counterparts in the Secondary Schools were not affected by the policy.

“I am pleased to be here this morning at the official presentation of Promotion letters to our teachers from the grade level 13 to 15. You are all aware that a similar programme was held in October, 2021 for teachers and non-teaching staff.”

Dr. Adeniran appreciated Governor Makinde for his love for teachers, which was demonstrated by the approval granted, that six years waiting period be reverted with immediate effect.

“This by implication means that all teachers affected are going to enjoy their promotions with a month’s arrears and this takes financial effect from the month of June, 2022”, he said.

Dr. Adeniran added that teachers that have retired from service, in the course of processing the approval for the lifting of the six year waiting period will also enjoy the promotion due to them, simply by applying for the re-computation of their gratuity and pension in line with the Pension Act.

“The present administration has positively impacted the lives of both public and Civil Servants because of its people oriented policies. In view of this, I want to admonish all our teachers to ensure that, to whom much is given, much is expected.”

He called for the support of teachers, adding that the State Government, under Governor Makinde’s leadership has left no stone unturned to better the lot of teachers in the State.

“This administration will request your support to enjoy continuity of prompt payment of salaries and promotion as and when due, as well as, a conducive working milieu.”

He acknowledged the support of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT) and Association of Primary School Head-teachers of Nigeria, (AOPSHON) Oyo State Branch to the success of this exercise.

“In all, a total number of Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-seven (9,227) letters of promotion were produced for teachers on GL. 13-15.

“This has taken care of those that will benefit from two promotions. Once again, I wish to admonish all teachers to be patient and appreciative of the present administration’s various kind gestures, geared towards ameliorating their sufferings, improving their career progression and their well-being, all of which are unprecedented. These gestures can only be reciprocated by being more committed to their duties at all times, with a view to ensuring improved learning outcomes in our schools.”

Speaking earlier, the NUT Chairman, Raji Oladimeji assured the State Government that the gesture of the state governor would never be forgotten, adding that this would further encourage teachers in Primary schools to deliver good, qualitative and efficient education to the pupils across the state.

The event was attended by Principal officers of NUT, AOPSHON, Directors at OYOSUBEB, among others.

UNICEF, Katsina State Partner On Cash Transfer To Over 20,000 Out-Of-School children

Editorial staff

June 17, 2022

The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Katsina State Government have partnered to launch a cash transfer programme that will provide learning opportunities for over 20,000 out-of-school children in the state and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of beneficiaries and their households.

The cash transfer programme will provide access to learning for the beneficiaries and help reduce the number of 536,132 children currently out of school in Katsina State.

Launching the scheme today, June 16 in Mani town, Katsina State, the State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, said that the partnership has yielded many positive results, not just in the education sector, but in other sectors of the state.

“We are grateful to UNICEF and the Educate A Child (EAC) project for the funds. The Programme Implementation Unit for the cash transfer programme will monitor the programme closely and ensure that the beneficiaries make judicious use of the resources.”

It was disclosed that through the cash transfer programme, a total of ₦332,832,000 will be disbursed to 20,802 out-of-school children (OOSC) and Almajiris in Kafur, Mani and Safana LGAs of Katsina State.

Information had it that the funds will be disbursed through 10,557 female parents/caregivers to increase school enrolment and attendance rates for boys and girls.

It was confirmed that each female parent/caregiver will receive N8,000 per tranche twice in 2022, amounting to N16,000.per beneficiary.

The cash transfer programme will also ensure that beneficiaries are enrolled and retained in any form of organized school, including Integrated Qur’anic Schools (IQS) and provided with literacy and numeracy skills linked to employability and livelihood schemes.

The cash transfer programme is being delivered together with the birth registration programme which has so far seen registration of 20,400 children. Social workers will be equipped with required skills to track and reunify children living on the street or similar situations with their families, thereby ensuring family-based care for children.

Already, 50 Mallams of Tsangaya schools in three LGAs have been trained on safeguarding and keeping children safe from violence and abuse in their facilities.

Speaking at the event today, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins said: “we are thankful to our partners, the Educate A Child Project, for funds for the cash transfer programme in Katsina State.

“The take-off of the cash transfer programme provides the opportunity to take children off the streets back to the classrooms where every school age child should be.

“We urge the government to continue to build on these interventions to ensure that every school age child is in school and learning.

“UNICEF is excited that with this launch, we’ll be addressing the important issues of not just access to education, but quality of learning as we focus on literacy and numeracy skills to build the foundation for employability and livelihood skills.”

Jamiyyar Matan Arewa Association Honours Osinbajo

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2022

The Jamiyyar Matan Arewa Association has conferred on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo an award of Icon of Hope Humanitarian. The insignia of the award was handed to him today, June 17 during a visit by members of the Association to Professor Osinbajo at the Presidential villa, Abuja.

Photo by Tolani Alli.

Hypocrisy Of Rich Countries On Climate Policies, By Prof Yemi Osinbajo

Editorial staff

June 17, 2022

Africa needs more energy. Total electricity use for more than a billion people, covering all 48 sub-Saharan African countries except South Africa, is less than that used by Spain (home to just 47m). The dearth of power hurts livelihoods and destroys the dreams of hundreds of millions of young people.

We must close the global energy inequality gap. Africans need more than just lights at home. We want abundant energy at scale so as to create industrial and commercial jobs. To participate fully in the global economy, we will need reliable low-cost power for facilities such as data centres and, eventually, for millions of electric vehicles.

If our continent’s unmet energy needs are already huge, future demand will be even greater as populations expand, urbanisation accelerates and more people move into the middle class. By 2050, Nigeria will surpass America in population with over 400m people on current forecasts, with the vast majority of citizens in cities. Lagos’s population alone will surpass 30m people.

The Nigerian government remains committed to universal energy access, and all Nigerians deserve to enjoy the benefits of modern energy that are taken for granted in the rich world. We should aim to generate a national average power output of at least 1,000 kilowatt-hours per person which, combined with population growth, means that by 2050 we will need to generate 15 times more electricity than we do today. That ambitious goal will require vast resources.

President Muhammadu Buhari has also pledged that Nigeria will reach net-zero emissions by 2060. We are currently implementing power sector initiatives and reforms focused at expanding our grid, increasing generation capacity, and deploying renewable energy to rural and underserved populations. We aim to end wasteful gas flaring by 2030, instead leveraging this domestic resource for our own economic growth. Reaching both our development and climate ambitions, however, will require far more external support and the same policy flexibility that rich nations claim for themselves in the energy transition. We cannot achieve our goals otherwise.

Despite the tremendous energy gaps, global policies are increasingly constraining Africa’s energy technology choices. Rich countries, especially in Europe, have repeatedly called for African states to use only renewable power sources. This is partly because of a naive belief in leapfrogging, the assumption that, like skipping landlines for mobile phones, Africa can ‘leap’ to new energy technologies. The renewables-only mantra is also driven by unjustified fears of the continent’s future emissions. Yet under no plausible scenario is Africa a threat to global climate targets. Such demands extend even to cooking, where some funders will not support any gas projects although they bring immediate and substantial benefits. The vast majority of Africans still use charcoal or wood to cook, leading to deforestation, early death from indoor air pollution and avoidable carbon emissions.

Instead of viewing Africa’s emergence as a threat to be blocked, the continent should be seen as a tremendous opportunity. The challenge for the continent is to transition to net-zero emissions while at the same time building sustainable power systems to drive development and economic opportunity. The EU’s recent decision to label natural gas and nuclear power as green investments recognises a critical truth: different countries will follow different paths in the energy transition. If this is true for Europe, it’s even more true for diverse African nations.

A promising step was announced last year in Scotland at COP26, the annual UN climate talks, when South Africa received an $8.5bn package to accelerate its energy transition. It is high time to extend that kind of support to the rest of the continent. Nigeria has four times South Africa’s population and yet uses just one-eighth as much electricity. COP27 will be held in Egypt in November. Now is the ideal time to reset global policy so as to bolster Africa’s plans for producing clean energy. Wealthy countries have contributed the most to climate change, and they cannot demand more stringent actions than they will commit to themselves.

First, developed nations should commit to funding in full Africa’s energy transition. This is both a moral imperative and an environmental necessity. We estimate that Nigeria requires $400bn of new investment above business-as-usual spending to meet its net-zero pledge. A green energy package, akin to South Africa’s, should offer at least $10bn per year over the next two decades. Investments would cover not only new renewable generation projects, but also transmission infrastructure, smart grids, data management systems, storage capacity, electric vehicles, clean cooking, and the costs of integrating new distributed energy systems.

Second, there must be a hiatus on blanket bans for fossil-fuel financing in developing countries. Coal investment is already dead in most of Africa and any future oil investment will come from private sources. But financing rules on natural gas will greatly affect our development and our energy transition to net zero. Though solar will provide most of our power in the future, we still need natural gas for baseload power and balance. We insist that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) be included as a clean cooking alternative to save the lives of our women and girls and to protect our own natural environment. Europe says it needs a decade more of gas investment to meet its 2050 climate targets. Africa—with our greater challenges—should have at least two more decades in order to meet our climate targets.

The world cannot tackle collective challenges if poor nations are treated as second class, or their aspirations are ignored. After enduring colonialism, decades of unfair economic practices and covid-19 vaccine apartheid, we cannot accept regressive climate policy as another injustice. Tackling the dual crises of poverty and climate change can only succeed if all countries play their fair part–and all of humanity is lifted up together.

Yemi Osinbajo is the vice-president of Nigeria.

Source: The Article was first published by the Economist-UK

Will Tinubu Back Or Abandon Restructuring? By Fredrick Nwabufo

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2022

Restructuring. This has been the governing subject since 2015. It became very tendentious with the secessionist agitations and the killings by gangs of criminals across the country. The APC government was accused of coming to power on the pinions of lofty ideals and precepts, including restructuring, but abandoned them as soon as it got the prize. But will restructuring be or not be – under a new administration in 2023?

There are variants of restructuring – according to whoever is arguing. But the nucleus of the argument on restructuring is devolution of more power to states. The south-west where Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, comes from has been the fiercest proponent of the restructuring of Nigeria according to regions and of a return of Nigeria to the 1963 constitution. Under the 1963 constitution, also called the Republican constitution, the old regions existed as semi-autonomous orbiting entities with a surfeit of power to decide their future as regards education, healthcare, basic facilities, customs, identity, etc.

The south-west’s pursuit, which became more trenchant under the Buhari administration, is the absolute restructuring of Nigeria. In September, 2017, leaders of the region converged on Ibadan, Oyo state where they made a bold and incisive declaration – ‘’the Ibadan declaration’’. They demanded the immediate restructuring of Nigeria.

The south-west leaders declared that the Yoruba no longer wanted to be governed under the 1999 constitution. In a 16-point communiqué signed by the chairman of the summit, Afe Babalola (SAN), and read by the late Yinka Odumakin, the leaders demanded regional governance, according to them, to enable the Yoruba to decide their own future.

Will restructuring still be or not be if Tinubu becomes president? Will the same decades-long demand by the south-west persist? Or will Tinubu bell the cat?

Tinubu gave an interesting perspective on restructuring and the national divergences in a treatise entitled: ‘’A new Nigeria or a better one: The fitting tools of a great repair’’, which he delivered at the annual dinner of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association in Lagos in September, 2017. Please permit me to quote Jagaban copiously here — as a record of history.

On the agitations for secession, he said: ‘’Let us be frank. Many who cry separation do so because their personal ambitions will be better served by such a thing. They believe they will have greater chance at political power under a different arrangement. Yet the cry for separation has gained traction among average people; this is due to the chronic failure of government to meet basic aspirations. If over the years, government had delivered on the promise of growth, prosperity, and justice, those calling for such extreme remedies would be but a small fringe of little consequence. Our task is not to condemn but to listen and understand. I care not at all for this proposed solution. But I dare not discount the concerns and problems that have led many people into advocating such a thing.’’

On the existential question of national cohesion, Tinubu said: “We all lined up to call ourselves Nigerian without gathering to discuss what it meant. Thus, we inhabit a nation that has not sufficiently defined its governance. We may be defined by political borders and boundaries but we have not glued ourselves to collective purpose and vision. Too many of us are born in Nigeria but not of it.”

And on reworking the system to reflect true federalism, the APC presidential candidate said: ‘’We cannot become a better Nigeria with an undue concentration of power at the federal level. Many of the 68 items on the Exclusive Federal List should be transferred to the Residual List. This would be in harmony with the 1963 Constitution, again an instance of reaching back to revive something old yet more likely to give us a better Nigeria. That prior constitution granted vast powers to the regions enabling them to carry out their immense responsibilities as they saw fit. By virtue of the clear fact that regional governments were closer to the people, they had a better feel for the material and intangible priorities of their populations. We must return to this ideal. Some items which should left for the states to handle such as police, prisons, stamp duties, regulation of tourist traffic, registration of business names, incorporation of companies, traffic on federal truck roads passing through states, trade, commerce and census are now on the Exclusive List for the federal government.’’

Throughout the treatise, Tinubu maintained his accustomed patriotic zeal, reemphasising the fundamentality of retooling Nigeria to make it better rather than discarding the entire establishment along with its merits.

But the gnawing question is, will Tinubu stick to his guns if he becomes president and initiate the process (with the national assembly) that will effectively make Nigeria a working federation based on the views he espoused, considering the fact that restructuring or whatever concomitant variant does not sit well with the north?

Or will this noble but polarising pursuit be buried awaiting exhumation after eight years?

By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo aka Mr OneNigeria is a writer and journalist.

I Regard Okowa, My Running Mate, As President In-Waiting – Atiku

Greenbarge Reporters

June 17, 2022

Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that he had been making it clear all along that whoever was going to be his running mate ahead of next year’s election should have the quality of succeeding him as President at a drop of hat.

He said that during his wide consultations with stakeholders, he had continued to make it clear that “my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.
“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”
Full text of Atiku’s speech on the choice of the current Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 Presidential election, is reproduced here:

Let me begin by, once more, commending our great Party for organizing and concluding, arguably, the best and rancour-free Convention, which produced me as our flag-bearer for the next year’s Presidential Election.
Once more, I commend my fellow aspirants in that contest. I thank them for their sportsmanship. They put up spirited fights because they cared for our country. I have personally gone around to thank them and to seek their cooperation for the struggle ahead.
Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for. The task of winning the coming elections will be a tough one and we must not take anything for granted.
With the convention behind us, we have arrived at the stage for me to pick a Running Mate because this is a joint ticket. I am very happy to announce today that I have reached a decision on that.
In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our Governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.
In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.
In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.
The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.
My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.
As you know, the APC government went to sleep as huge swathes of our country’s territory fell into the deadly hands of gangs of criminals, including those masquerading as freedom fighters or pastoralists, while our farmers and genuine pastoralists are unable to go about their businesses. The costs in precious human lives and properties have been enormous. My running mate must also not only symbolize the imperative of reuniting our country but also be able to work with me to achieve that objective. This is because a united Nigeria is a potentially stronger, more prosperous, and more secure country able to lead Africa and give hope to the Black race.
In addition, my Running Mate has to be someone who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government.
In the United States of America from where we borrowed key aspects of our current Presidential system, a running mate is used to balance the ticket, complement the candidate and, after victory, assist the President with governance. Sometimes a candidate is chosen who generates a buzz and adds huge excitement to the campaign.
But today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately. My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less. That is why I promised the Governors of our party that my running mate will come from among them. Our current challenges call for a government that is highly focused and disciplined.
I have sought for the support, guidance, and counsel of the PDP in selecting a befitting Running Mate who meets all or most of the qualities enumerated above. The wisemen and sages of the Party, put together by our NWC, have gone fishing and brought home an enviable group of awesome politicians that surpasses these qualities. Every one of the recommended persons is a fit and proper individual to hold this office. While this makes me marvel at the bundle of talents that abound in our Party, it also compounded my task of choosing a single person from among them.
Let me therefore pay tribute to my Party and, most especially, to all those that made the shortlist that must now be narrowed down to a single person. They are all dedicated party-men suitable for this task. I wish all the recommended persons could be announced today as my Running Mates. Unfortunately, only one MUST be chosen.
It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions would remain a part of my everyday life.
Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my Running Mate.
Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my Running Mate possesses all those identified qualities. He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving State Governor who has demonstrated, in his State and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.
I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energized ticket and campaign, but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government, come 2023. I am pleased, therefore, to announce here my choice of Running Mate who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the Presidential election but also in the governorship and legislative elections. And he will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both Legislative and Executive experiences. Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
You know him to be a fighter; you know him to care about winning; you know him to care about good governance; and you know him to care about our people. Now, my dear friends, let’s do the disciplined hard work necessary to win this election. Let’s go. Thank you very much.

I Wanted Person, Like Gov Okowa, That Can Stand By Me To Govern – Atiku

Editorial staff

June 16, 2022

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that he decided to choose Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate because he is sure that he will stand by him in all conditions to rule Nigeria if he is elected next years.

Atiku, who spoke today, June 16 as he unveiled Governor Okowa as his running mate ahead of 2023 election, said that all along, he was searching for a running mate, and that he made sure that the person “must be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.”

He described Governor Okowa, who is spending his second term as governor of Delta State, as someone who is unassuming.

According to Atiku, he chose Okowa against two other persons who the PDP presented to him: Governors of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, because he believed that he (Okowa) understood the great suffering that Nigerians are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering, understood the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide young Nigerians with jobs, hope and a pathway to good living.

He acknowledged that Okowa has been widely credited to have invested heavily in the education sector, saying: “the person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.”

Atiku said that his running mate “must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared (away) already will not return to invest in our economy.

“Let me say that the person I have chosen as my running mate possesses those identified qualities, he personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country, but also the future that our young people yearn for and also deserve.

“He is a serving governor, who has demonstrated that governance is about service to the people. I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energized campaign, but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government come 2023.

“He will be by my side as I work hard everyday to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both legislative and executive experience.”

Peter Obi Cannot Win Election To Be President Of Nigeria Because He’s Stingy – Mbaka

Editorial staff

June 16, 2022

Priest and founder of Adoration Ministry of the Enugu Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has made it clear that former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi is too stingy to win election to become the President of Nigeria as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

Father Mbaka’s preaching which was released by the BBC Igbo, implied that Peter Obi has been busy spreading poverty while stashing billions of his money in foreign land.

He warned those supporting Obi to stop wasting their money as the man is not prepared to be president going by his pretentious life style.

He lamented that Obi is not concerned about the plight of the people around him, declaring that he’s under a curse and only an apology can undo the curse.

“A stingy man, that cannot give people his money, with this hunger ravaging the land, and you are saying he is the one you want. Do you want to die of hunger? Are you people insane? Where is the Holy Spirit?

“It is now that Atiku is seriously contesting for President; now that he is contesting without Peter Obi; it is now that he is serious? We want somebody that is serious. Unless Peter comes here to kneel, if he becomes President, he will close down this ministry. What we are doing is spiritual.”

Mbaka who once delivered scathing attacks on Obi in the run up to the 2019 presidential election, when Obi was Atiku’s running mate, further declared, “Listen, a good old man is better than a young wicked man; Peter Obi is going nowhere as far as God lives. If Igbos want a representative, it is not someone like Peter Obi.

“I should not have talked but I saw my video going around everywhere as if Fr. Mbaka wholeheartedly came out and apologized. No, I didn’t apologize wholeheartedly, it was out of duress. I had to obey my Bishop, in obedience I had to, it is not of my volition. I did it because I am a Catholic Priest, my Bishop said, do it, my own is ‘Yes my Lord’.

“I did not say he is a bad man; I said he is a stingy man. A hungry man wants someone that is generous; the man has so much money, but he is ‘I, me, myself’. But that money will not be useful to him. I am very happy now that I have spoken out. That apology is a poisonous curse against Peter Obi,” he added.

Warning Obi, he said, “If he is wise, he should have come here after that apology to say he is sorry but he waited. Anybody supporting him is wasting his money, he is going nowhere.

“He is my friend. When he was chased out of Government House, he knew the role I played to bring him back, but how did he pay me back? Night meetings we attended to bring him back, ask him, ask Eselu Uga, ask Archbishop Anikwenwa, they know where and how we did it and he was brought back,” he pointed out.

He challenged people to, “Ask Peter since then what he used to reward Adoration. If you like Peter Obi, tell him to come and ask for forgiveness. Let him come and redo what he did. There is an altar of God he blasphemed; he defiled an altar of God, the Holy Spirit.

“I called Atiku after that apology, he was in Dubai, I told him that there is a revelation on your presidential election; that you are going to be the President of Nigeria on one condition, that Peter Obi is not going to be your running mate. Peter Obi has incurred a curse to himself, which means that he is carrying a curse; if you want to be President, change him.

“Atiku responded that I cannot, Peter must be my running mate, we must win. You saw what happened. Atiku is still alive. That is why I said it is now that Atiku is preparing to be President.

“Just like Jonathan, I called him, God has shown that you are going to win this election but on one condition; Jega should be changed. If you change Jega you will win Buhari, but if you don’t, Buhari will win you. Goodluck told me, ‘Fr. I will not remove Jega, we will still win’. He held on to Jega and failed.”

The latest attack which video is making the rounds will bring back fresh memory of the pre-2019 presidential election episode, when Obi refused to make donations to the Adoration Ministry despite repeated entreaties and pleas from Mbaka, forcing the fearless yet controversial priest to declare his endorsement for Buhari/Osinabjo ticket.

He later declared Atiku/Obi will be defeated, which put him into troubled waters with the Catholic authority.

Obi is in far away Egypt in a trip he said he embarked on to understudy Egyptian electricity sector.

But he has come under heavy criticisms for it with emerging news that he lied about the purpose of the trip to score cheap political game.

Emergence Of Gov Okowa As PDP Presidential Running Mate Good For Igbos – Delta SSG

Editorial staff

June 16, 2022

Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), Patrick Ukah has said that the emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of next year’s election is good for Igbo-speaking Nigerians from the Southeast region.

Patrick Ukah, who spoke during an Arise TV interview today, June 16, said that it would be a win for the Southeast if Okowa eventually emerges as Vice President because he (Okowa) hails from the Igbo-speaking part of Delta.

According to him, Gov Okowa will be a very strong representation of the Southeast in Atiku’s presidency in the event that they win the February 25 presidential election.

“I don’t want to believe that is going to be an issue. Before I came into government, I was the Secretary-General of Oganihu-Anioma, the professional arm of the Igbo-speaking Deltans.

“Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s father was a front-liner in the Anioma movement and Anioma is the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State and that is where Okowa is from.

“So, if anybody makes a statement and now said that Okowa is not part of them, that would be very injurious body polity because I believe that we are all one. If Okowa is from one part that makes up Delta State and the Igbo-speaking part that is Anioma, which is an Igbo-speaking part of Nigeria, an average Igbo man should be happy to see Okowa Vice Presidency and I believe that that is not going to be an issue because over the years.

“Even when we operated with people like Ogbonnaya Onu and the others, we have always argued that this language of Bendel-Igbo and Anambra-Igbo would not be good for us because we are looking for the number and we represent that number across the Niger.

“The majority of those who live in the capital territory are all from across the Niger and we have lived as brothers and sisters and we all mingle, they build houses here and we stay together.”

Atiku haad, earlier today, June 16, announced Okowa as his running mate at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.

In his speech, the PDP presidential candidate said that making a choice among the three potential running mates, shortlisted by the party’s leadership was a tough decision for him.

The PDP was reported to have earlier shortlisted Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, and Governor Okowa of Delta State for screening as Atiku’s running mate.

Atiku said: “It is a difficult decision that I was called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions would remain a part of my everyday life.

“Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my running mate.

“Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my running mate possesses all those identified qualities.

“He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve.

“He is a serving state governor who has demonstrated, in his state and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.”

1...497498499...2,493 Page 498 of 2,493