Dickson wins re-election as Bayelsa governor

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday won a second term after a tension-soaked election.

The election came to a conclusion following the declaration of results of Saturday’s supplementary election results in the troublesome Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and 101 polling units across six local government areas.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson

Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with 134,998 votes to beat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, who polled 86,852 votes.

Dickson won in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area with  23,081 votes. Sylva scored 10,216 votes.

The returning officer announced the cancellation of  39,679 votes in Southern Ijaw for over voting, ballot box snatching, non-use of card readers and other irregularities.

Declaring the results, the Returning Officer and Vice -Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zena Akpagu, said Dickson was returned having satisfied the requirements of the law and scoring the highest votes cast.

Amid tight security, Akpagu declared the winner of the election at the state collation centre inside the multipurpose hall of the Yenagoa Local Government Area secretariat.

Hundreds of armed security operatives surrounded the venue and its environs with head of security agencies, such as the police, army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, monitoring the proceedings.

The governor extended his initially lead of 33,150 votes to 48,146 to retain his position after the epic electoral battle.

The breakdown of the results showed that Dickson won in seven of the eight local government areas. Sylva won in only his Brass Local Government Area.

In Yenagoa Local Government Area, Dickson won the supplementary election with 839 votes as against Sylva’s 448 votes.

The consolidated results for the Council showed that PDP and Dickson polled 25,097 to defeat APC and its candidate who scored 15,011.

In Brass,  the APC candidate widened his lead in the six polling units where the rerun election was held. Sylva polled 1,679 to extend his previous lead from 21,755 to 23,434 votes. Dickson got five votes to have a consolidated total of 6517 votes.

The agent of the APC from Brass, Mr. Denis Otiotio, staged a walkout from the collation centre, claiming that he was not given an equal opportunity by the Returning Officer to address issues raised by the PDP agent.

In Ogbia, Dickson extended his lead in the 27 polling units where the rerun poll was held.  He polled 1290 votes to lead from 13051 to 14341 votes.  Sylva added only 139 votes to get 9249.

Also, the PDP and Dickson won in Ekeremor, the local government area of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, amidst protests by the APC.

Dickson extended his lead from 14,602 votes to 17,297 after securing 2,695 in the 32 polling units where the supplementary election was held in the area.

Sylva got 257 votes poll to increase his consolidated votes in the area to 8,178.

There were, however, controversies in Ekeremor, following the cancellation of 17 units by the local government collation officer.

The officer said the units were annulled for overvoting, disagreements on electoral procedures and diversion of electoral materials.

He said the cancellation affected over 6,600 votes, adding that of 9157 registered voters, only 3,018 were accredited for the poll.

But the cancellation sparked a row between the agent of the APC, Mr. Denis Otiotio, and his PDP counterpart  Mr. Fred Agbedi.

Otiotio said the APC won by landslide in all the units cancelled, insisting that the ad-hoc employees of INEC were deliberately recruited with a mandate to work against the interest of the APC.

He said the ward collation officers were given too much discretionary powers and wondered why 6,600 votes would be cancelled in an election that had 9157 registered voters.

He said: “Everywhere APC won, the collation officer looked for a flimsy excuse to cancel it. The process must be free, fair and the procedure must be seen to be so. We submitted petitions but the electoral officers refused to collect them.”

Otiotio urged the Returning Officer to suspend the collation and devote some time to peruse the petitions byAPC, a request that was turned down by the returning officer.

He said APC had petitions against the conduct of elections in Ogbia, Nembe and Ogbia, insisting that the petitions must be looked into by the Returning Officer.

But Agbedi said the 257 votes scored by the APC in Ekeremor should be cancelled, describing them as stolen votes.

Agbedi, who is a member of the House of Representatives, accused the APC of engaging in actions that led to the cancellation.

However, in Nembe, Sylva won the supplementary election after scoring 1,400 votes but still trailed behind Dickson in the consolidated votes. Sylva had 8,374 overall votes, Dickson got 11,927 votes after securing 1,163 in the rerun election to win the council area.

The announcement of Nembe results also ended in protest following the cancellation of 883 votes.

Otiotio said the cancellation was done without following the process laid down by INEC, wondering why a local government collation officer annulled a result that had been collated and brought to the INEC office in Yenagoa.

He said: “l vehemently object to that procedure. When votes had been collated and brought to the INEC office, any party that has problem with it goes to the tribunal.”

Dickson wins re-election as Bayelsa governor

Governors have no right to reduce N18,000 mininum wage

ABUJA — THE Federal Government said, yesterday, that the governors have no legitimate right to reduce the national minimum wage from the present N18, 000 because it was a product of agreement.

President Buhari

This came on the heels of the rejection by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, of the recent proposal to remove fuel subsidy in 2016, the increment in the electricity tariff and the proposed re-introduction of toll gates on the federal roads.

Warning against any plan to reduce the minimum wage at the meeting with the leadership of NLC, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said the governors were only playing politics with the issue of minimum wage.

Ngige said instead of contemplating to reduce the minimum wage, the government would want workers to be paid higher when the economy improves.

The minister, however, blamed the organised labour for allegedly heating up the system by joining issues with the governors in talking about reduction or increment in minimum wage.

According to him, “when the NLC joined the governors in talking about minimum wage, with the governors saying we can’t pay N18,000 minimum wage and NLC says it is time for us to ask for increase, we now know that these are talks that are heating up the system.

“The NLC knows better that the governors are playing politics. This is one matter that you cannot play politics with because it is a matter of rule of law. The law in place now is the Minimum Wage Act enacted by the National Assembly and the National Assembly derived their power from the Exclusive List of the constitution which gives them power to make laws on labour related matters including minimum wage.

“So, anybody who wants to talk about minimum wage should go to the National Assembly or ask the President to send an executive bill which can be discussed and it will be a tripatite discussion, involving public hearing.

“Please let a sleeping dog lie, because this country is going through a very difficult time now and requires your prayers and support. Nobody can reduce wages now. If anything, if you have more money, you pay higher.

 

On corruption, unemployment

“The third thing which is also one of the pillars of government is the fight against corruption. Corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the Nigerian system that if you are not corrupt, you look abnormal.

“The labour laws need some tinkering because some of them are very old. Even the penalty that are prescribed in them are very old. You see some laws which says that if people abuse expatriate quota, they pay a fine of N2000. It doesn’t make sense.

“As a ministry, we will look at all these laws and with the Attorney General of the Federation, we will make sure that we fast track some of these laws so that the necessary penalties that are commensurate with labour offences committed are meted out to the offending parties. We will be needing your input.

“We want to reinvigorate our laws and give the Nigerian workers a decent work environment as prescribed by the ILO conventions.”

He emphasised the commitment of government to employment generation, adding that the government was aware that unemployment is the easiest gateway to instability and insecurity.

He said that the government, in a bid to show the seriousness of empowering the youths, has budgeted N500 billion to address the issue of unemployment, and poverty alleviation.

 

NLC kicks against removal of fuel subsidy

Speaking at the occasion, the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of NLC, said the national interest had always been the driving force of the congress.

Comrade Wabba stressed the need for the government to respect collective bargaining process and commended the intervention of the minister on the issue of outsourcing of jobs and casualisation.

He stated that Nigerian workers should not be treated like slaves in their country.

At the emergency Central Working Committee meeting at the Labour House, the organised labour said the recent proposed removal oil subsidy was an attempt to punish the masses and that the labour would resist it.

He expressed the fears that the pump price of petroleum product could be increased by 2016 instead of being reduced because of the fall in the international market, adding that he would mobilise the workers to resist any increase.

Wabba also advised the government to put the refineries in place instead of refining the product outside the country.

 

On electricity tariff

He said labour opposes the recent plan to increase electricity tariff, adding that the issue of other charges outside the consumption charges was abnormal.

He said the removal of fixed charges on electricity tariff was long over due as according to him, the masses were paying for services that were not provided.

“We want pre-paid metre and not this estimation bill. People should pay for what they consumed,” he said, adding that the process of privatisation had not delivered any result, “all of us had been deceived.”

NLC also backed the planned strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, over the removal of staff of universities staff schools from the government pay roll.

He said, SSANU as an affiliate of NLC, has the right to make demands and that the position of SSANU was the position of NLC.

Governors have no right to reduce N18,000 mininum wage

2016: The Man Who Would Be Edo State Governor - Reuben Abati

By Reuben Abati

One of the finest persons I have been privileged to know is Odia Ofeimun: the man has a clean heart, he is completely incapable of malice, and in the face of all odds, he has a sunny view of life, add to that his incandescent mind, his absolute brilliance from which has poured forth a prodigious volume of poetry collections, books, essays, years of journalism practice and a reputation as a public intellectual of the very first rank. Odia as I call him, although he is more popularly known as Baba among the younger generation of writers, is also an incurable idealist, very stubborn to a fault with his idealism and this is where we oftentimes differ.

Dr Reuben Abati

He has been insisting to my hearing for more than a decade that one of his ambitions is to become the Governor of Edo State and knowing Odia’s frame of mind and constitution, I always laughed this off as a big joke, urging him to face reality and not behave like the Hornbill which incidentally is the name of the publishing house that he runs. When Odia is hooked on an idea, it is difficult to separate him from that idea, more so as he has the mental capacity to develop any subject at all into a grand, compelling narrative. And that is what he seems to have done with his obsession with being the Governor of his home state.

He took the bull by the horns last week, when he fired off a blistering essay titled “To be Governor of Edo State” (Premium Times, Nov. 22). The essay was well circulated in the media and particularly online but I don’t think anybody in Edo State is aware that one of their best gifts to Nigeria in the cultural sector is also eyeing Government House. I’ll be surprised if Governor Oshiomhole is aware of Odia’s declaration; well perhaps he needs not be informed, but now that he knows, he is likely to show interest in this special aspirant. The next Gubernatorial election in Edo State holds in 2016, and already the jostle and the hustle is on, with close to ten persons already seeking the APC nomination and the PDP also strategizing. Out of all the aspirants that may emerge, Odia Ofeimun is likely to be the most enlightened, honest and cultured, and the most articulate but it is also for these same reasons that he may not be Governor of Edo State.

Odia lives in Lagos, and goes home occasionally, when his busy schedule permits. I doubt if he knows the Senatorial Districts in Edo State or the number of wards and polling units. He has never had any cause to visit any traditional ruler, except may be the Odionwele of his Iruekpen village, and he has certainly not bothered to distribute bags of rice across the clans in the state as a way of knocking on the voters’ doors. Odia’s qualifications: he is a poet, political scientist and author; he was Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Private Secretary, he has been Secretary General and President of the Association of Nigerian Authors and he is intellectually, a genius.

But his Gubernatorial ambition reminds me of those guys who sit in far away America, or the United Kingdom, claiming to know how democracy works, and what is best for the entire world, who suddenly return home, paste posters all over the town and hope to become a Governor just because they have faith that the electorate will appreciate their quality and look for the best man for the job. Knowing Odia Ofeimun, he may not even be planning to print any posters. He doesn’t even belong to any political party; I will be surprised if he has a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC); he has no Godfather, he does not belong to any grassroots political association. But he wants to be Governor in 2016, less than one year away, by writing beautiful essays on the internet!

Sorry, Odia, that is not how this thing is done. The Odia I know may argue brilliantly that he actually intends to demonstrate that his approach can win the people to his side and take him straight to the Edo State Government House in 2016. Let him start then, by translating his statement of interest from English into Edo languages and have it distributed across the state. Be warned: The piece is so high-minded, so stratospheric that even the people will be confused, whether they read it in English or his own native Ishan. He says: “I am determined to prove that within the particularity of one nationality, Edo, and the fold of a multinational state, Nigeria, it is possible to achieve high feats of modernity, cultural civility, and technological proficiency comparable to that of any other country in the world. And this, within forty months, Not two terms of office.” How does this guarantee the mass following and support that will offer the said forty months to start with? Odia’s programme is made up of “seven platforms.” He is promising free education, and that is understandable, he being a disciple of the great Awo. He is also promising to “re-plan and rebuild every village, town and city”; build a super dome underground railway station, value-added agriculture, free health care, eliminate waste, and “turn Edo State into a proper House of Culture”. I am actually doing an English to English translation, breaking down Odia’s manifesto for the benefit of his would-be voters who may not understand his poetically elevated English.

But what is he proposing in real terms? He says: “My fortune is that I have spent the last forty years of my life interacting with the best minds in this country.” You see, my fear is that when eventually Odia begins his campaigns he is likely to mount the rostrum to tell Edo people about Obafemi Awolowo and Wole Soyinka, one Friedrich Nietzsche and such other figures as Ogun, the god of iron. Tell me, how does that bring hope to the man in Agenebode or Ikpoba Hill? Aspirant Odia also tells the people of Edo State: “Living always as an ordinary Nigerian, going by public transportation as a matter of choice and as a matter of never dodging the pains faced by my fellow countrymen and women, I have more than forty books to show where I stand in the confrontation with the poverty, corruption, insecurity and other hazards of our time.” If Odia had shown me this piece, I would have deleted this part of it. Going by public transportation! How would this endear him to the average voter? And forty books: seriously? Odia is so committed to a life of the intellect; he is likely to end up reading poems and stories to voters! And does he plan to campaign with public transportation to show that he can confront poverty?

He goes further to declare that his election will not be a “cash and carry affair”. He expects the people of Edo State, three million and more, to contribute “one thousand, two thousand, and five thousand Naira, and even more, to my campaign funds”. Ehn hen? Is Odia planning a religious crusade where he will make the lame walk, and the blind to see, because if that is what he has in mind, he can be sure he’d get a lot of donations. But if his ambition is to be Governor, he shouldn’t expect the electorate to pick up his bills. He says he is counting on “their faith and trust”. This is what our dear brother intends to tell the members of the Edo State National Union of Road Transport Workers, traditional rulers and chiefs, spiritual leaders, polling agents, the large army of thugs, the scarlet ladies, the pooling booth enforcers, for whom every election is boom time, and who have been looking forward to the “stomach infrastructure” of Edo 2016. Faith and Trust! Sorry, Nigerians have lost faith in politicians and they do not trust anyone looking for votes.

The problem with Odia’s Gubernatorial ambition is not one of qualification- he is eminently qualified- but his honesty. He has no money to spend and he is telling the voters that he expects them to fund his campaign. He is not the type of politician who wants to “carry people along”. Speak as much grammar as you wish, in Nigeria, people expect to be “carried along”, whether you are an aspirant or a political office holder – they expect to be bribed. Odia is a straight, open book; the mind of a typical Nigerian politician is full of alleys and multiple by-pass.

I have been in meetings with politicians where it would be so obvious that everyone is lying, and that they are all aware that they are lying to each other, and this lying session can continue for hours on end, with everyone pretending to be doing something productive. If you are a tyro and you make the mistake of cutting through the bubble, you won’t be invited to the next meeting for sure! Nigerian politicians have their own way of arriving at convenient truths without ever saying the truth. I guess they rely on body language. Odia cannot survive such meetings: he will always defend his viewpoint and is capable of making a fool look like one. And if he becomes Governor, he will be worse than those ones referred to in political circles as “Araldite or Super Glue” , because he will refuse to divert state resources into people’s pockets. His Accountant General should of course, be prepared to receive regular lectures on Public Finance, delivered with the same felicity with which Odia pronounces on every subject, including polygamy.

Odia has not set up any campaign office. He has no campaign organization either. You and I are probably among the few who have heard of his ambition because we have read his beautiful literary composition on the subject. In some other societies, he would have been a perfect candidate – afterall, there have been reports of disc jockeys and writers becoming Presidents elsewhere. One professional comedian just won the Presidential election in another country. Odia’s approach may be so far ahead of our society, but still, let us not discourage him; let the people judge –which is the essence of democracy and let those who appreciate his quality and commitment take note and help turn his dream into something achievable. He offers a fresh and desirable possibility that is not seen today in Nigerian politics, and as is increasingly the trend in many parts of the world, we probably need non-establishment figures, with a good heart, like him, to help stop the extending frontiers of disillusionment in our land.

2016: The Man Who Would Be Edo State Governor - Reuben Abati

Wike restores Omehia as ex-gov

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, formally recognised Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.

Nyesom Wike

It will be recalled that Omehia, who was inaugurated as the governor of the state on May 29, 2007, was replaced by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on October 25, 2007 through a verdict of the Supreme Court.

Omehia was not recognised as a former governor of the state by the immediate past administration.

Wike, in recognising Omehia as a former governor of the state, also personally returned Omehia’s official portrait to where the photographs of other past chief executives of the state were placed at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The Rivers governor also said he had formally restored the benefits and the entitlements of Omehia as a former governor.

Speaking on the development, Wike explained that the decision was taken because Omehia worked as governor of the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, adding that he took the decisions on behalf of the state.

Wike said, “I hereby put back his official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to the benefits of all former governors.”

The governor maintained that the era of politics of bitterness in Rivers State was over and added that it was not right to personalise governance as was allegedly done by the immediate past administration.

Responding, a thrilled Omehia described the day as the most historic day of his political career.

Omehia described the restoration of his rights as a former governor of the state as an indication that his political dark days were over.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Rivers State Housing Commissioner, Mr. Emma Okah, and the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Chinwe Aguma, were among top government officials that witnessed the event.

Speaking on the restoration of Omehia’s status as an ex-governor, a former Commissioner for Information during the Omehia administration, Mr. Emma Okah, described the action of the governor as a welcome development.

Okah stated that the recognition of Omehia as a former chief executive of the state was politically expedient and a display of the spirit of politics without bitterness by Wike.

“Morally speaking, it would have been difficult to explain the vacuum in governance without a reference to Sir Celestine Omehia as the governor of Rivers State from May 29, 2007 to October 25, 2007.

“The state is in a mood of reconciliation. The truth is that before the election in 2007, the people saw Omehia, loved him and voted for him.

“We commend the state governor for taking a bold step to reinstate Omehia’s status as a former governor of the state. The implication is that Sir Omehia will be given the special privilege, including benefits accorded other former governors,” Okah added.

Wike restores Omehia as ex-gov

Akwa Ibom State Has No Legitimate Governor, What Buhari Needs To Do Urgently, By Inibehe Effiong

On Friday May 29, 2015, Nigeria recorded another historic milestone in her march towards democratic consolidation and political maturity following the successful and momentous transition from a democratically elected dispensation to another democratically elected dispensation both at the Federal and State levels’, except in the few States that elections did not take place.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

As the entire country is currently engulfed in flames of joy and rejuvenation of hope for a better nation birthed by the inauguration of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President and Commander- in -Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and new State Governors, Akwa Ibom State stands out as a State without a legitimate transition of government.

Mr. Udom Emmanuel, a stooge of former governor Godswill Akpabio that was mischievously and violently foisted on the people of the State in what was clearly a state sponsored terror against innocent and powerless electorates of Akwa Ibom State during the massively rigged, internationally and locally condemned and bloody April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election in the State has subscribed to the oath of office of governor which he was never elected into by the people of the State.

Admittedly, rigging was not limited to Akwa Ibom State during the last general elections. However, the point has to be made that in the case of Akwa Ibom State, what took place was not an ordinary rigging but state sponsored terror perpetuated by former governor Godswill Akpabio in connivance with the highly compromised Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Mr. Austin Okojie and the overtly partisan State Police Commissioner, Mr. Gabriel Achong.

Determined to exercise my franchise and to have a first hand experience of the elections, I travelled all the way from Lagos State to Akwa Ibom State during the April 11 gubernatorial elections in the hope that our people will be allowed to freely vote for whoever they choose to govern them. Therefore, the opinion expressed here should be viewed as a testimony of someone who was actively involved in the electioneering process.

Like never before, thugs, touts and criminals armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons in military and police uniforms went about from one polling booth to the other shooting, molesting, intimidating and killing voters and carting away election materials without any modicum of resistance. This terror was not isolated but replicated in most parts of the State.

How does one explain the fact that as at 10pm on the day of the election when collation of results should have been ongoing as expected, the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State situated along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo was locked, inaccessible and deserted? The video evidencing this is available on YouTube for all to see.

How does one explain the fact that Austin Okojie, the REC for Akwa Ibom State could not declare results for the House of Assembly elections in the State several days after the election? What excuse can be offered for the non issuance of certificates of return to the supposed winners of the House of Assembly elections until 25 days after the polls when Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that certificates of return shall be issued within 7 days of polls?

Apparently, after declaring shambolic figures to please his benefactor; Godswill Akpabio, the REC was unable to reconcile and allocate figures for the House of Assembly elections which were held the same day with the governorship election. This resulted in a stalemate.

Is there any morally sensible or legally tenable explanation for the very huge disparity between the total number of persons accredited and the so called votes declared by the INEC for the gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State?

Official documents obtained from the INEC headquarters in Abuja shows that only 437, 128 persons were accredited by Card Readers to vote during the April 11 governorship elections in Akwa Ibom State and Guideline issued by INEC in Abuja and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu on 2nd April, 2015 stated that only Cards Readers would be used for 2015 governorship elections in the country and that elections should be rescheduled in places where the Card Readers failed. There was no single case of rescheduled election in Akwa Ibom State, which implies that the Card Readers worked perfectly.

Is there any morally sensible or legally tenable explanation for the very huge disparity between the total number of persons accredited and the so called votes declared by the INEC for the gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State and where on earth did the corrupt REC get the voodoo 996, 128 votes that he arbitrarily allocated to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Udom Emmanuel who is now parading himself as the new governor of Akwa Ibom State?

Why should the REC, who ordinarily should be an unbiased umpire, refuse to comply with the valid orders of the Governorship Election Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State directing INEC to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Obong Umana Okon Umana who had filed petition challenging the outcome of the election, access to all materials used the election for inspection and forensic analysis? Is Austin Okojie above the laws of this country?

How come that the State Police Command led by Gabriel Achong and the REC, Austin Okojie have been allowing the duo of Mr. Uwemedimoh Nwoko, immediate past Attorney General and Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem Esq., the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties in the State to continually enter the INEC headquarters with retinue of thugs to disrupt the inspection of election materials as ordered by the Tribunal?

Nigerians deserve to know why the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega has maintained stoic silence on Akwa Ibom State election debacle. How come that despite these serial and documented infractions by the REC there has been no acknowledgement or disciplinary actions by the INEC Chairman?

Given this state of affairs, is it right to accept and address Udom Emmanuel as the “elected governor” of Akwa Ibom State? Are we to accord respect to an office that is being occupied illegitimately by a product of impunity, criminality and gross electoral malfeasance? Even if we are to address Udom Emmanuel as a “governor” for the sake of officialdom and legalism, will it be wrong to equally refer to him as an impostor?

No nation has ever prospered through impunity, lawlessness and corruption. Nigeria has been through the precipice of leadership failure, bad governance and political shenanigans as exemplified by the Jonathan’s regime which has now come to an inglorious end.

The only way those of us, especially from the so-called minority regions, who risked our lives and rejected ethnically and religiously contrived idiosyncrasies which were skewed towards undermining the electoral credentials of President Buhari will be vindicated is if our new president actually does things differently. The whole idea of change presupposes that things will be done differently.

Therefore, it is my humble, strong and considered view that Akwa Ibom State offers President Buhari an opportunity to make a decisive statement; that the days of lawlessness and impunity are over. President Buhari needs to muster the political will to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of Austin Okojie, the Akwa Ibom REC who believes that he is above the laws of this country. Also, characters like Gabriel Achong should be shown the way out of the Police Force if the current administration’s reform agenda must succeed.

The fact that someone like Achong, who I have had a personal and terrifying encounter with, rose through the ranks to become a Police Commissioner is a testament to the level of decay in the Police Force.

Apart from holding Akpabio accountable for the hundreds of billions of naira that accrued to Akwa Ibom State from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015 which he dissipated thoughtlessly, we also expect Buhari to use Akpabio to set an example that it is a crime to use violence to rig elections. The blood of innocent Nigerians wasted under Akpabio through politically motivated assassinations must be probed into and we deserve to know who murdered those persons.

As at today, there is no legitimate governor in Akwa Ibom State, the impostor that is presently occupying the governor’s office will not stay long. We rest our hope for justice on the Judiciary. Sooner than later, a fresh election that will truly reflect the wishes of Akwa Ibom people will be held under the leadership of President Buhari.

Inibehe Effiong is the Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD).

Email: inibehe.effiong@gmail.com

Akwa Ibom State Has No Legitimate Governor, What Buhari Needs To Do Urgently, By Inibehe Effiong

I’m happy to remarry again, says Oshiomhole

It was glitz and glamour as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, exchanged marital vows with his heartthrob, former Miss Iara Fortes, from Cape Verde.

Oshiomhole and Wife

The Governor and his bride had signed the dotted lines at a private marriage registry attended only by family members and a few friends at his Iyamho residence after which top dignitaries in the country, were led by the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to the wedding reception held at the People’s White Hall in the Governor’s country home.

Among a list of who-is-who in the country who also graced the ceremony were President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, his wife Aisha, Vice President Elect, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Speaker of the House of Reps, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Cross Rivers State Governor, Liyel Imoke, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, Peter Obi, former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Godwin, Alike Dangote, Captain Hosa Okunbor, Femi Otedola, Chief Tom Ikimi, Gen. Charles Airiavbere, Engr.Chris Ogiemwonyi, Saraki, Minority Whip of the House of Reps, Samson Osagie, Pally Iriase and many other members of the National Assembly.

Others are National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Rauf Arigbesola, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, representative of Crown Prince of Benin, Jim Ovia, President of a faction of the NLC, Ayuba Wahab, Gen Tunde Ogbeha, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, former Governor of Edo State, Prof Osarhiemen Osunbor, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Governor-elect of Kaduna State, Mallam el Rufai, Gov Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Chris Ngige,Kenneth Imuasuagbo among others.

See more photos here

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, former Governors Kayode Fayemi, Oserheimen Osunbor, Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Osaigbovo Ogbemudia,Otunba Niyi Adebayo were also in attendance.

Top military brass including Brigadier-General MJ Abel, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Auchi were also in attendance. The Director-General of the State Security was represented by Engr Joseph oworuya, while Mr Bello Bakori, Director, SSS Edo State was also at the ceremony.

Members of the Edo state Executive Council were led by the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, Chief Judge of Edo state, elected members of the State and National Assemblies and many others.

Parents of the bride, Mr and Mrs Fortes flew in from their home in the Netherlands to attend the ceremony while the Governor’s mother, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole was also in attendance.

The Governor’s children Steve, Adams, Jane and two of his grandchildren also on hand to show love and support for their father and his wife.

The Governor’s marriage is coming about five years after the painful death of his first wife, Clara Oshiomhole, following a protracted battle with cancer.

The delectable Iara, a lawyer by profession and top model, is from the Cape Verde Islands.

The chairman of the ceremony, General Yakubu Gowon said the Governor’s wife completes and complements him and he admonished the couple to show true love and have patience in their dealings with one another.

Fielding question form newsmen, Oshiomhole who noted that both PDP and APC leaders attended the wedding, said it shows that despite political differences, Nigerians remains one.

He described his wife as very “ understanding, caring and a loving lady and also expressed joy with his family for the support given to him to remarry.

“This is something that one is happy about. I am also happy that I have friends across all political divide. The occasion reminds me that across all divides, we have friends and well-wishers.”

Describing his wife, Oshiomhole said: “She is very humble, she appreciates the nature of my job and life that I return home late, some times 3am. She understands my weaknesses, she is more or less the mother of the house, the one that has accepted to be the mother of my children.

“I am happy that all my children are at home with her and accept her as their mother even though she is not old enough to be their mother. She has accepted to fill that gap” he said.

Nigerian incoming First Lady, Aisha Buhari made an interesting comment. She described Oshiomhole’s wife as beautiful and turning to her she said “but for you to marry a Nigerian, you need to cook Edi-Kaikon, Egusi, and other Nigerian delicacies. God bless the marriage and we know as First-lady you have a big task and God will guide and protect the family”.

 

I’m happy to remarry again, says Oshiomhole

State lawmakers now governors stooges - David Mark

Senate President, David Mark, on Monday, reviewed the activities of the parliament at the state levels in the last 16 years of Nigeria’s democratic experience and lamented that members of the legislature at that tier of government have reduced themselves to stooges of their governors.

Senate President, David Mark

Mark stated this  at the opening of a week-long induction programme organised for newly elected state lawmakers by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, in Abuja.

He noted with concern that the general impression of Nigerians was that the state legislatures have remained an appendage of the  governor offices.

He lamented a situation whereby the State Assemblies could not have the political courage to muster enough votes for their financial autonomy when the first constitutional amendment was done, was a sad development.

He said, “As law-makers, you must avoid holding your sessions in the Council Chambers of the Government Houses.

“It is ignoble to use the Mace outside the Chamber or borrow Local Government Legislative Council Mace to conduct your affairs or resort to self help by using your Mace to perpetuate violence.

“You must conduct your sittings in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the extant rules of the House. As State legislators you must restrain yourselves from the excessive use of the constitutional provision that empowers you to impeach either your speakers, executive governors or their deputies.

He argued that impeaching a public elected official remained a very serious legislative process that must not be abused or taken for a joke.

Mark said, “Impeachment is not designed for a few days exercise. Where it has become the last resort, it must be painstakingly conducted within the hallowed chamber of the parliament in accordance to the extant rules of the House and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The senate president  canvassed for a synergy between State Assemblies and the National Assembly, adding that a strong partnership was also required between the executive and the legislature in order to achieve Nigeria’s developmental goals, increase transparency, accountability and curb corruption.

He also said there was the need for a collaboration between the executive and the state legislatures on matters of public good.

State lawmakers now governors stooges - David Mark

Pro-Jonathan Reps pull out of plots to remove Tambuwal

Still licking the wounds of their mass failure at the primaries of their various political parties, some members of the House of Representatives are currently demoralised, The PUNCH has learnt.

Senate

Investigations by The PUNCH on Monday revealed that the hardest hit group were the Peoples Democratic Party members known to have openly canvassed for support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the House.

It was gathered that because of the loss they suffered at the primaries, many of the Pro-Jonathan lawmakers had backed out of the plot by the PDP and the Presidency to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.

The PUNCH learnt that tension was high as the lawmakers got set to reconvene on Tuesday (today) after the primaries.

It was gathered that, at least, five PDP lawmakers, who wanted to be governor, lost out at the primaries, which also foreclosed their chances of returning to the House in 2015.

Across all the political parties, more than 150 out of 360 members, failed to scale through the primaries.

One angry PDP member said, “Morale is very low and for many of us PDP members, we are not happy.

“A lot of things went the wrong way due to the manipulation of all the congresses where the party, using the governors, schemed many members out of the primaries.”

It was learnt that, some members, who “stuck out their necks” for Jonathan during turbulent times, claimed they did so hoping that it would secure them a return ticket.

One member recalled that when the All Progressives Congress used its members in the House to “orchestrate all sorts of shenanigans” against Jonathan, his supporters in the House did everything to defend him.

“However, there has been no favour done to us; we lost out.

“Some members were not even allowed to contest the primaries because they were told pointedly not to waste their time,” another lawmaker stated.

One vocal supporter of Jonathan in the House is Mr. Bitrus Kaze, a PDP lawmaker from Plateau State.

He will not be at the House next year, as he was edged out of the primaries.

Kaze confirmed that pro-Jonathan legislators were demoralised because the PDP and the Presidency reportedly did not “reciprocate” the sacrifice they made for the President over time.

He spoke further, “Let me tell you the truth; members are demoralised. Pro-Jonathan members are not happy; there is nothing to reciprocate their gesture and support for the President.

“The congresses leading to the primaries were flawed; there were so many complaints in nearly every state.

“As a result, some members did not even contest; it was that bad.”

It will be recalled that in January, Kaze coordinated a group in the House, National Unity Group, to confront the APC lawmakers over the latter’s threat to stall (filibuster) the passage of the 2014 budget.

The NUG, a coalition of members across party lines, had the PDP, the Accord Party, Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance lawmakers in its fold.

The group helped to neutralise the threat of the APC members.

Kaze, who confirmed that many members were embittered, advised the PDP and the Presidency to drop its bid to remove Tambuwal, for now or make comments that could further annoy the members.

He argued that such a plan would not fly with the current mood in the House.

“This is not the time to come and talk about removing the Speaker.

“People are angry here; so they should forget that one for now,” Kaze added.

Asked whether the anger could stall the passage of the 2015 budget as a way of getting at Jonathan, Kaze replied that nothing of such would happen.

He explained that the budget was for the entire country and not Jonathan’s property.

“The budget is a separate issue; it is for the running of the whole country. Nobody will say stop the budget because of Jonathan,” he added.

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Pro-Jonathan Reps pull out of plots to remove Tambuwal

Primaries: Angry PDP govs summon emergency meeting

Governors elected on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party are meeting in Abuja on Tuesday (today) to deliberate on the primaries conducted by the party across the country.

The Chairman of the forum, who is also the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has already sent a notice of the meeting to his colleagues.

The notice showed that the only agenda of the meeting was the outcome of the primaries.

The notice says, “Notice is hereby given that the PDP governors’ forum will meet in Abuja on Tuesday. Agenda is primaries and matters arising therefrom. Attendance is important.”

Our correspondent learnt that some of the governors were angry that the national leadership of the party and President Goodluck Jonathan reneged on the agreement they had with them that each governor would be allowed to produce his successor.

Apart from this, it was also said that the agreement included that the party would give interested second term governors tickets to contest for the senatorial slots in their respective states.

This, it was learnt, was part of the issues raised and agreed to before the governors endorsed the President for a second term.

The endorsement made the President to be the sole presidential candidate of the party during its presidential primary which was held in Abuja on December 10.

Among the governors said to have been betrayed by the President and the party were Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), and Sullivan Chime(Enugu).

While Sullivan was only denied the party’s senatorial ticket, Uduaghan and Elechi were apart from this, equally denied the opportunity of having hands in the election of the party’s governorship candidates in their states.

A source close to the forum said that “the governors are angry that the President and the party reneged on a simple agreement.

“The fear is that if the President could do this even when he has not been elected, what is the assurance that he would not renege on other promises if he’s elected in 2015?

“The anger of the governors is visible and we have to see what we could do to make sure that some of them do not engage in anti-party activities in 2015.”

Meanwhile, a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, has described the Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo presidential ticket as the most credible, workable and formidable.

He stated this in Abuja on Sunday while responding to commendations and messages of solidarity by political leaders, groups and organisations over the conduct of 2014 PDP national convention where President Jonathan and his deputy, Sambo emerged as the party’s presidential candidate and running mate, respectively.

He said that the convention was successful because of the sacrifice, commitment and support of all delegates, members and supporters of the party who came to Abuja from across the country to cast their votes for the President to continue with his transformation agenda.

Mohammed, who was Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, said, “President Goodluck Jonathan has always communicated his message of peace, unity and stability as a necessary foundation for the rapid and complete transformation of our dear country.

“This is a statesman’s message. We are delighted that Nigerians who desire peace have made up their minds to vote for him in 2015 because he is a man of peace.”

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Primaries: Angry PDP govs summon emergency meeting

APC gov aspirant arrested over PDP agent’s killing

AN electoral agent of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was allegedly shot dead at Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos, yesterday, during the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The deceased, identified as Sikiru Ogboye, was allegedly shot dead at Oriledu, Ibeju Lekki, by suspected thugs while he was monitoring the PVC distribution. Vanguard learnt that the incident was reported at Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, following which the culprits were reportedly arrested.

A chieftain of PDP in the state, Chief Bode Oyedele, condemned the killing and blamed the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the incident.

It was learned that a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC, (name withheld) was being questioned by the police in connection with the killing.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, confirmed last night that the APC governorship aspirant was being questioned over the incident, saying a pump action gun was found in his car. He said: “It is true; I warned earlier that anybody, no matter how lowly or highly placed, found with illegally acquired weapon must answer for it. The man needs to tell us what he was doing with a pump action found in his car and if his explanations are not satisfactory, we’ll take him to court.”

Reacting to the development, Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation said in a statement: “An electoral agent of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State has been shot dead, Sunday afternoon, while monitoring the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC). Mr. Sikiru Ogboye, a PDP Agent, was shot dead, allegedly on the orders of a chieftain of the All People’s Congress (APC) by suspected thugs, while he monitored the PVC Distribution exercise.

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APC gov aspirant arrested over PDP agent’s killing

Gaidam blames Boko Haram for not achieving 100 percent in Yobe

YOBE State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said he would have achieved all he set out to achieve when he was sworn in as governor if not for the eruption of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam

The governor however said that he had been able to record a 90 per cent achievement, despite the insurgency.

Gaidam gave an account of his stewardship at the gathering of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday, where he was announced as the sole governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 election.

He lamented that insurgency had taken over the state since 2011 thus inflicting on the state enormous losses of lives and property, citing instances of about 215 government school buildings destroyed by the insurgency.

Gaidam said, “This unfortunate event has slowed down the execution of our policies and programmes. The resources we commit to support the prosecution of the war against the insurgents have affected the execution of our capital projects.

“Some of the areas of support to security agencies include provision of over 300 Hilux vehicles, payment of over N250m monthly as allowances alone, fuelling and repairs of security vehicles, assistance to the families of security personnel killed in action, and the payment of medical bills of those of them who sustain various degrees of injury in the fight with insurgents.”

Gaidam blames Boko Haram for not achieving 100 percent in Yobe