South-South zone pulls out of Assemblies of God Church

The South-South zone of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, has pulled out of the church alleging marginalisation, gross injustice in ministers’ remuneration; unhealthy rivalry among ministers, inefficiency and escalating administrative and financial malfeasance.

Church gathering

The zonal chairman, Central Working Committee, South-South General Council, Assemblies of God, Evang. Nsikak Akpan, said that his zone decided to break away from the general council administration as a means of entrenching some degree of self-governance on all the zones under the general council administration of the church.

Akpan stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday at a press conference, attended by other executive members of the church including executive members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom.

According to Akpan, the general council had grown too big, which bred inefficiency and became too expensive to run. He added that the trend led to unhealthy rivalry, resulting in a supremacy battle between the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Rev. Prof Paul Emeka and the executive committee members under Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor.

He noted that there was no end in sight to the unhealthy rivalry and the inefficiency as the two clerics had been enmeshed in a fierce legal tussle, a development, he said had painted the church in a bad light.

“The South-South zone of the Assemblies of God has called for the decentralisation of the general council administration to end marginalisation and gross injustice in ministers’ remuneration; unhealthy rivalry among ministers; inefficiency and escalating administrative and financial malfeasance.

“The only panacea to the growing crisis enveloping the Assemblies of God in Nigeria, leading to the birth of two general councils, which often result in fresh crises in the church across the nation, is to decentralise and reorganise the General Council into six or 12 autonomous general councils with little economic and administrative power at the centre,” he said.

South-South zone pulls out of Assemblies of God Church

Group faults appointment of new INEC boss

CONCERNERD political leaders and professionals from the six states of the South-South geo-political region have faulted the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Professor Mahmud Yakubu as new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying “the appointment is biased and an act of nepotism.”

Professor Mahmood Yakubu – INEC Chairman

Speaking under the aegis of the Voice of the South-South (VSS), the group said though the President had the prerogative power to appoint a chairman for the commission, it however, maintained that the choice of Yakubu was “a deliberate show of bias, moral corruption and nepotism against the existing geo-political zones.

In a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa State chairman of the association, Barr. Alex Dumbo, VSS stated that the past administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan conducted free, air and credible elections due to their considerations for other regions and zero tolerance to nepotism, adding: “But the action of President Muhammadu Buhari shows a profound case of nepotism and moral corruption.”

“While Obasanjo appointed INEC boss from the South-East, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed from the North. Both are away from their kinsmen to avoid bias in the electoral processes. Jonathan’s unbiased appointment into INEC and the outcome brought President Buhari into office. But we are more concerned about the conspiracy of silence among the scores of public critics and commentators during the Jonathan administration.

“We have observed that the appointment of the new INEC Chairman, who is another of President Buhari’s kinsmen, is a deliberate show of intent to rig and manipulate the coming December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State and other elections in states of the South-South, “ the group alleged.

“As we have pointed out before now, the ongoing anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari has become a mere charade targeted at manipulation of situations and Institutions in the quest to occupy some regions and geo-political zones, including the South-South and the South-East. Corruption is not only about money, some moral acts that are against a people are also corruption,” Dumbo submitted.

Meanwhile former militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Phase 3 in Edo State, yesterday called on President Buhari and Coordinator of the programme to address alleged lop-sidedness in allocation of slots to beneficiaries, an action they said, was unfair to them and their followers.

At a press briefing by the group in Benin City, led by its spokesperson, Abiodun Edah, the ex-militiants also commended the President for appointing Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd) to oversee the programme in the South/South geo-political region, saying his emergence would help fast-track development occasioned by the hitches in offsetting the outstanding allowances of the erstwhile warlords.

Edah, who was flanked by Samson Funpuwei and Edwin Ojijor, said several attempts to get the former coordinator of the programme, Kingsley Kuku address the ‘abnormality’ were unsuccessful owing to what they termed bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“We want to use this opportunity to commend President Buhari for the speedy appointment of Boroh knowing very well that PMB abhors oppression, marginalisation and corruption. We have strong confidence that under his administration, the marginalization, especially in Edo Phase 3, would be corrected.

“The slots so far made available for the third phase of the programme should be shared equitably devoid of any political colouration. The amnesty programme of the Federal Government is the blood testimony of the Niger Delta struggle,” Edah said.

Group faults appointment of new INEC boss

Buhari has performed excellently, say South-South leaders

….Warn political detractors

….Mourn death of Col. Sam Inokoba

South –South politicians, under the aegis of the Politicians and Political Office Holders in the South-South (PPOHSS) have expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for placing Nigeria on the world map for good, saying he is running a transparent, accountable government and has performed excellently to the envy of his foes.”

General Buhari

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the National Chairman of PPOHSS, Chief Julius Ikuru, the leaders also eulogized the national chairman of the All Progressives Party (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun for being above board in the discharge of his duties.

They not only praised Oyegun for elevating politics beyond the mundane levels of wrangling, greed and selfishness but commended him for his commitment to principles in the practice of politics, the rule of law and the best democratic tradition of fairness and justice.

The leaders dismissed the allegation of forgery, describing a self-acclaimed APC House of Representatives Candidate, Chief Christopher Anirah and his backers in Delta State as unscrupulous politicians.

“The allegation of forgery is wide off the mark and misconceived. It is also extremely contradictory in a number of areas, thus exposing the high level of ignorance and wickedness of Anirah and his PDP sponsors.

The leaders also lauded the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase for not yielding to calculated lies.

They appealed to journalists to protect Oyegun from undue harassment by self-seeking elements whose stock in trade is to hide under the banner of the media to bring down their imaginary or perceived opponents.

“Leaders at whatever level must demonstrate a certain degree of decency and exemplary conduct. Desperate politicians, those without ideas and popular goodwill are running away from real issues and resorting to character assassination and personal abuse.

The leaders advised APC members in Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State to show Anirah the way out of the party.

The leaders who also affirmed their total support to Oyegun on his quest to develop the party in the zone, urged him to keep up the good works, irrespective of the antics of some detractors who peddle false stories about the party. ”

“We have a national chairman with a listening ear. We have a chairman that is committed to the development of the party. We have a chairman that is providing responsible, accountable and transparent leadership to the people. The avenue of peaceful dialogue is still available to members.

“APC is on a mission to change this country. Oyegun is administering the party, with the fear of God and for the good of the people. He believes in merit” the statement said.

The leaders also expressed their condolences to the people of Bayelsa on the death of the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Col. Sam Inokoba

“Bayelsa has today lost one of its most motivating leaders. Col. Sam Inokoba was not merely a political leader but a role model and an ideal politician.

“Everything about him was positive. He thought well, he had positive ideas. His contribution as a politician was unparalleled. He has left a void for all of us” the leaders who described the late politician as the people’s chairman said.

In another development, Niger Delta Leaders on Wednesday praised Chief Timipre Sylva, describing him as an astute administrator, a prudent manager of resources and a distinguished politician,

“We have examined all the governorship aspirants in Bayelsa State and it is clear to us that Chief Timipre Sylva is the best. He represents a Bayelsa State that is dedicated to serving the best interests of the people; a Bayelsa State which offers hope to the people; a Bayelsa State where things work. Others aspirants in the APC represent narrow, sectional and divisive tendencies which can threaten the unity, peace and progress of the state” the leaders said after a meeting in Abuja.

Stressing that Sylva is the best governorship aspirant in the state, in terms of performance and commitment to the enlargement and deepening of democracy, the leaders said “he has all it takes to lead the state to success.”

Speaking glowingly on Sylva’s achievements in the state, spokesperson of Niger Delta People Forum (NDPF), Mrs. Ibifuro Thompson Tatua said the leaders praised him for his patriotic and courageous service as well as acknowledged his capacity to undergo painful but often necessary reforms.

“We have observed his leadership style at close range and he really excels. He is in the governorship race to bring peace and development to the state. He will restore the confidence of the people in government. He will also reinvent and locate Bayelsa State on the path of sustained growth”

“The leaders who predicted APC electoral landslide in the December 5, 2015 governorship vote urged APC delegates in the state to make Sylva the party’s touch bearer.

“The next governor must be a person of proven integrity, experience and compassion for the well-being of the people. Sylva is a man of wisdom, dedication and integrity.

“Huge numbers of Bayelsans are living in poverty. Sylva will focus on the real issues facing the people. He will give power back to the poor”

The leaders also commiserated with the family, government and people of Bayelsa State on the death of the immediate Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba, describing him as an “an extraordinary man and a change agent.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba.

Recalling his life as that of service, compassion and excellence, the leaders said “We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and the good people of Bayelsa State.”

Buhari has performed excellently, say South-South leaders

2014: South-South Will Vote Massively for Buhari - APC Assures

*condemns attacks on the family of Governor Amaechi *Non Indigenes to Punish PDP 

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has been told not to bother about the South-South as the region will vote massively for him and all the other candidates of the party in the forthcoming general elections. Rivers APC gave the assurance in a statement in which it congratulated Buhari on his successful South-South Rally held in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

Buhari

“There is nothing to compare between General Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan when it comes to caring for the welfare of the people of the South-South.  While President Jonathan has confessed that he deliberately refused to develop Rivers State and the entire of South-South, General Buhari built one of the refineries in South-South and constructed the only road that links Bayelsa with Rivers State. This shows that if he is given another opportunity, he will develop the South-South more than President Jonathan, who has refused to develop the region and therefore does not deserve the people’s vote. The people of the South-South will indeed vote massively for General Buhari and other APC candidates for the various elections on March 28 and April 11,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in the statement.

He commended General Buhari for promising to fight corruption frontally upon assuming office as Nigeria’s next president. “The party agrees with Buhari that if we don’t fight corruption, corruption will kill us as a nation. We are privileged to have Buhari as our presidential candidate; he is the bullet we have to fight corruption and by 29^th, March, 2015 when General Buhari would have being announced as the President elect of Nigeria, corruption will be reduced by 80 percent,” Ikanya stated.

The Rivers APC Chairman dismissed President Jonathan as an unmitigated failure, saying: “His clueless administration has run our economy aground. Our naira is so devalued and the economy in such shambles that allowing Jonathan to stay in office a day longer will spell doomed for our beleaguered country.”

Ikanya noted that under the watch of President Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to bomb, maim, kill and destroy anything that is APC. According to him, “Over 40 of our members have been killed. Our secretariats are bombed and destroyed. Our lives are on the line just because of election. Dame Judith Amaechi, the wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Director General of the APC Campaign Organisation, was attacked few days ago while campaigning, by the PDP hoodlums. Chidi Adi Amaechi, the younger brother of Governor Amaechi, a student of Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, was attacked brutally and his life is on the line just because of election. Our campaign Directors, Ade Sam Wobo and Emmanuel Chinda, were all attacked and only escaped death by the grace of God. Is that the type of leadership that we want for South-South and Nigeria as a whole? PDP hates our region and we will surely punish them with our votes and with the eradication of cloned cards through the use of Smart Card Reader by INEC, PDP will surely be buried come March, 28^th, 2015 to save our nation from the hands of vicious and clueless leadership.”

In another development, in an interactive town hall session with the non indigenes in Rivers State, General Buhari was assured that with the threat by Chief Wike to send us out from Rivers State and close down our business outfits and stop all the good things, Gov Amaechi has done to us, voting for PDP in the South-South means voting and preparing our coffins for our burial as a group.

This is the time to thank and appreciate Governor Amaechi for indentifying with our aspirations and well-being by appointing one of us, Barr Chuma Chinye into the State Executive Council as the Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Ade Adeogun as the Executive Chairman of Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority, David Iyofor as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Chief Eze C Eze and our other members into some sensitive positions in the State. Offering of scholarships to our children and ensuring that our children pay thesame fees with indigenes in all the schools in the State. It will be act of wickedness if we fail to vote for APC and with Dr Dakuku Peterside who have assured us that he will improve on most of the things Governor Amaechi has done for us as our flag-bearer, beating PDP with a visionless leader like Chief Wike is not a big task to us; the non indigenes assured General Buhari and Governor Amaechi.

2014: South-South Will Vote Massively for Buhari - APC Assures

S’South accuse northern elite of using Boko Haram against Jonathan

The South-South Consolidated Forum has accused northern elite of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgency to truncate the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Jonathan

The forum added that the renewed insurgence in some northern states was the handiwork of overzealous politicians from the region.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, and made available to our correspondent in Calabar, Cross River State, the President of the SSCF, Chief Dick Harry, said that the Boko Haram insurgency was a result of clandestine design by the North to rubbish Jonathan’s administration.

The group alleged that the religious aspect to the bombings in some northern states were mere colouration, accusing desperate politicians of being responsible.

The statement read, “On the issue of the ongoing faceless insurgence called Boko Haram, it is not out of place to say that the insurgents are being sponsored by some highly placed desperate ambitious politicians from the north who felt that the presidency is their birth-right.

“They do this just to discredit the efforts of the Federal Government. Unfortunately to them their evil plans have failed and will continue to fail. The Northern Leaders and Elders Forum need to tell the world the truth and rise to the occasion to put an end to this National genocide against the innocent Nigerian citizens.”

The group reaffirmed their support for the 50 per cent derivation proposed by the one of their representatives in the just concluded National Conference, by former governor of Bayelsa State, Deprieye Alamieyeseigha.

“In fact, if justice means anything to the people of Nigeria, we do not believe that a request for 50 per cent Oil Derivation is too much to be given to the Oil Producing South-South,” the group said.

The forum urged President Jonathan to remain focused and steadfast in his quest to transform Nigeria, calling for support from Nigerians.

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S’South accuse northern elite of using Boko Haram against Jonathan

Wike, govs can’t compromise us - PDP

The National Integration Committee, South-South zone, set up by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to reconcile aggrieved members of the party has said it would not allow any minister or governor from the zone to compromise it.

Nyesom Wike

The committee was reacting to allegations levelled against it by some aggrieved members of the party from Rivers State that the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had compromised its members.

The aggrieved members were allegedly beaten and refused entrance to the venue of the meeting of the committee in Abuja on Thursday.

Some of them were also allegedly locked up in a room inside the Legacy House where members of the committee met, and prevented from presenting their petitions.

But the committee, which ended its sitting in Abuja on Friday after listening to petitions from Cross River State, gave an assurance that its recommendations would promote internal democracy in the party.

The committee, which began sitting on Wednesday, received party delegates from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Cross River states who filed petitions before it.

There was no petition or representative from Bayelsa State, the home-state of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Iya Abubakar, who briefed journalists at the end of the three-day session, said the committee had “very useful, peaceful and productive interactions” with the persons and groups who appeared before it.

He said, “There is no way we can be compromised by the governors or any minister. Nobody can compromise me and my committee members.

“Those who accused us of being compromised should provide evidence. The politics of soiled names and integrity is on. Those who were not able to enter this place are the ones making the allegations.

“Nobody in this country can compromise us in this committee. You will definitely see a change in this party soon.”

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Wike, govs can’t compromise us - PDP

President Jonathan second term is not negotiable - South South group

The clamour for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term in office continued yesterday as some South-south chiefs, elders and leaders yesterday voiced their support for him in the forthcoming general election, saying  2015 is not negotiable.

President Jonathan

This was as the Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, declared that if the South-south could support former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was removed by Muhammadu Buhari in a coup for two terms, there was no reason why the North should not support Jonathan for two terms.

The South-south leaders, elders and chiefs mandated its Board of Trustees (BoT) headed by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, to drive the process of mobilising support for the president in collaboration with the executive committee of the South-south community.

Speaking at the 2014 induction/inauguration of BoT of the South-south elders, chiefs and leaders, the coordinator of the group and chairman planning committee, Chief Bello Premier, called for the integration of South-south community in Abuja into the mainstream of social political dynamics of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to accord it appropriate recognition as is the case of other regional group.

Clark, who is the grand patron of the South-south group, said in Nigeria, no community was superior to the other, adding that Abuja, which was developed by the South-south money does not belong to anybody.

Clark faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he said was one of the richest men in Nigeria today but only had N20, 000 in his account when he was released from Yola prison to contest the 1999 presidential election.

He added that the former president was only busy pretending to be innocent today.

“I think one of the problems facing us in this country is the issue of settler and indigene. In this country nobody is superior to the other. Abuja does not belong to anybody, it belong to all of us. The money used to develop Abuja came from South-south. Because we are Nigerian, we accepted. Nobody owns it more than the other. Anybody is entitled to contest for any election in Abuja. Nobody owns this place.

“The problem with the militants started in 1998. Somebody invited the South-south youths to Abuja and they saw bridges built on land whereas in their waters there are no bridges. They went back and started the militancy.

“Don’t exclude us from the scheme things, Nigeria belong to all of us, don’t practice double standard. In 1983, we voted en mass for Shagari and he stayed for eight years, it was Buhari who removed him. In 1999 they said because of what they did to Abiola, they said they should compensate the South-west and Obasanjo was brought out from Yola prison and he was only having N20,000 in his account and today he is one of the richest man in Nigeria. And today he is claiming to be innocent.

“We cannot continue to feed this country and we are not ruling the country.  When Obasanjo wanted Yar’Adua to become the president, he blackmail everybody.

“How many of the northerners came to me to say that Jonathan should step down and allow the North to finish their four year term and I told them you are not well.

“People think that we from the South-south are second class citizens and we say no. When we reply critics, they say we are enemies of Jonathan.”

Speaking on the issue of security, former Assitant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Felix Oguado, called on the northern elders to copy from South-south elders, how they were able to convince the militants in the Niger Delta to drop their arms.

“If the elders in the Niger Delta can go to the creek and speak to the militant and they drop their arms, why can’t the elders of the North do same. We should stop blaming the government and do something. It is not the best to apportion blame on the government each time something happened. People talk of sharing the cake, but they never talk of how the cake is baked.

“Our foremost challenge now is Boko Haram. Nigeria is difficult country to govern. No matter who rule there will always be criticism. Like the president said you cannot dialogue with faceless people. The militant were brought to Abuja and they met with President Yar’Adua,” he said.

He, however, appealed to those who kidnapped President Jonathan foster’s father to release him. (0)

President Jonathan second term is not negotiable - South South group