Headline

Fear of Armageddon in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa Elections

Published

6 months ago

November 11, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

And finally, the much awaited day for the off cycle election involving Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states has arrived. But as expected, palpable fears abound as candidates and their parties have engaged one another in a battle of wits, fisticuffs and large scale attacks that have left many dead, and a lot more heavily injured. And with INEC announcing the areas where violence are recorded will have their votes cancelled may likely mean that votes may be cancelled in many places. The case of Ayingba in Kogi State may readily come to mind.

However, while many of the Nigerian states hold their governorship elections in February or March or every four years (same time when presidential elections are held) depending on the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a few states have resorted to off cycle periods owing to election rescheduling or upturn of electoral victory by the courts.

According to history, the off cycle elections originated when in 2006, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi then of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was sworn in as governor after contesting the result of the 2003 Anambra election that favoured Chris Ngige, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since then, the governorship election in Anambra State takes its cue four from 2006. The next governor will be sworn in in 2026 after the elections might have held in 2025.

Similar incidences have also resulted to the off cycle election involvement of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

Report by TheCable shows as follows:

“After PDP’s Timipre Sylva was declared governor of Bayelsa in 2007, Ebitimi Amgbare of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was dissatisfied and challenged the election result before the tribunal. However, the ACN candidate lost his case. Amgbare went ahead to petition the court of appeal, which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a fresh poll in the state in 2008. Again, Sylva won and was elected governor, disrupting the state’s election calendar.

“Kogi followed a similar route. In 2007, Ibrahim Idris of the PDP was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election. Abubakar Audu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Idris’ main opponent, petitioned the state election tribunal to challenge the victory, claiming his name had been improperly left off the list of candidates meant to run for office. He took the case all the way to the appeal court. The election was nullified, leading to the conduct of a fresh election. Idris won re-election as Kogi governor on March 29, 2008.

“Imo, on the other hand, is the most recent addition to the collective. In 2019, the legal tussle between Hope Uzodinma of the APC and PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha moved from the election tribunal to the supreme court. Uzodinma contested Ihedioha’s victory and was later inaugurated as governor on January 14, 2020.”

By the above, it becomes crystal clear that the only times elections have been in all the states of the nation simultaneously were in 1999 and 2003. Ever since, a good number of states have joined in the off cycle arrangement. They are Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra, Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

But the major issues of the day remain the volatile nature of elections in the aforementioned states billed for election on November 11, 2023. Nigerians fear that things might just go haywire again considering the affairs in the last days leading to the election day

In Kogi State, cleared governorship candidates to run for today’s election include Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party; All Progressives Congress candidate, Ododo Usman; Muritala Ajaka of Social Democratic Party; Leke Abejide, African Democratic Congress; Olayinka Braimoh, Action Alliance and Okeme Adejoh of the Labour Party.

However, among these contestants and their parties, violence has continued to play a major role both during their primary elections and campaignings. The spate of accusations and counter-accusations had rent the air, causing untold apprehension among the residents. Many parties, especially the SDP and the PDP have Pointed accusing fingers at Governor Yayaha Bello as the brain behind politically motivated violence in the state. The governor has however, denied the allegations. Even before voting on election day, reports have made the rounds about pre-thumb printed ballot papers declaring the APC candidate winner. The INEC is however, still investigating the matter.

The Punch recalls that “in November 2019, when the result of the governorship poll was declared, a PDP woman leader of the Wada/Aro campaign council, Ochadamu Ward, Acheju Abuh, was burnt alive in her home by some suspected political thugs. Since then, nothing has been said about the issue, and no one has been brought to book. The November 2019 governorship election in Kogi State was an exercise that many discerning persons would wish to forget quickly due to the preponderance of violence before and on election day.

“On June 3, 2023, it was reported that the motorcade of the SDP governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, was attacked by gunmen, and many believed that the incident was not unconnected with today’s governorship election. A month later, arsonists burnt down the state SDP campaign office in Lokoja, the state capital.

“It was reported that the convoy of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, was attacked, allegedly by the supporters of the SDP, even as some aides of the governor were said to have been injured. A member of the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, when she was a candidate for the SDP, had raised the alarm over violent attacks aimed at her and her supporters. Similarly, when she contested on the platform of the PDP in the 2023 general election for a senatorial seat in her constituency, she decried the prevalence of violence.”

Also, in Imo State, violence has continued to rear its ugly head with the Hope Uzodimma-led state government pointing accusing fingers at the opposition and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

However, the opposition onbthe other hand, has blamed the governor of masterminding state-sponsored attacks at the opposition. The security challenges have instilled more fear in the residents, creating an atmosphere of possibility of viter apathy.

The state Chairman of the Labour Party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, earlier cried out that the state secretariat of the party was attacked by police and thugs allegedly on the directives of the state government. For instance, on September 23, 2023, the LP condemned the killing of security agents in Imo State by gunmen and the subsequent burning of houses and businesses in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area by soldiers.

Similarly, a video on the internet, showed military mobilization to the state. One would think that war was erupting. It has also been reported that there was tension over the killing of 14 youths reportedly returning from a wedding to their community in the Otulu community, Oru East Local Council of the state, from Awo-Omamma in the neighbouring Oru West council area by members of Ebube Agu security operatives, who opened fire on them on July 18, 2022.

On April 21, 2023, gunmen killed five policemen at the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. Also killed were a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu, from the Amankwo Okpala community.

On November 7, 2023, the Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress ordered a shutdown of electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State following the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, allegedly by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

Bayelsa State is not left out in the avalanche of electoral violence. From Nembe to Brass to Ekeremor, and Ijaw areas of the state, violent politics has remained the order of the day.

On Friday, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party was manhandled by alleged APC thugs at Twon Brass jetty in Brass local government area over meddling with election materials.

The incident happened when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were offloading the election materials, it was gathered.

The incident was in the aftermath of misunderstanding between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts over where the election materials should be kept. It goes to say the suspicious inclinations the parties exhibit among one another.

Recall that during the 2023 election, INEC moved voting in 141 polling units in Bayelsa State to Sunday after the voting process was interrupted by thugs.

Also on August 15, 2023, thugs invaded, killed, and maimed innocent citizens in Bayelsa State communities, particularly Opu-Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area. On September 18, 2023, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Timipre Sylva, and incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in a war of words over allegations of spying and violence ahead of today’s polls.

Even less than 24 hours to the election, it was reported that a boat conveying INEC officials and materials capsized and one official kidnapped. The Commission also lost election materials to the incident. Responders have alleged that the act was masterminded though the entity involved is still unknown.

INEC said: “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in southern Ijaw LGA capsized,” the statement read.

The abducted official was taken at Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State while waiting to board a boat.

Without an iota of doubt, today’s electoral victory may likely go to the candidate and party that perpetrates the highest level of violence and manipulation as Nigerians believe that INEC, the electoral umpire, has lost all credibility, and is practically irredeemable.

However, it is believed and hoped that the feared Armageddon will not take place for the peace of safety of Nigerians, especially of Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo extracts.

Headline

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Prioritize Existing Unfinished Projects, Peter Obi Tells FG

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has advised the federal government to prioritize existing unfinished projects spread across the country instead of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

Obi, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stated that the project was a misplaced priority given the numerous unfinished roads throughout the country.

The former governor of Anambra State mentioned that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Works is insufficient for significant progress on the country’s various unfinished roads, much less their completion.

Obi therefore, advised that the government prioritize the existing infrastructural projects in the country before embarking on any new and colossal projects like the Lagos-Calabar super highway project.

“The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion.

So, why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years?

“To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.

“Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects. We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” Obi said.

Back in March, the Federal Government began constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Recall that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier described the project as a fraud.

“Umahi had announced that Hitech would fully fund the project, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then said that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit,” Atiku said.

Headline

2027 Presidential Race: Opposition Parties Under Attack

Published

6 days ago

April 21, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While it is still a whole three years before the next general election in 2027, The Boss has learnt that opposition parties in the countries are being muffled to pave the way for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to, and retain power.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the Labour Party (LP), and down to the New Nigerian Peoples Paty (NNPP), crises have engulfed the rank and files, in what a source told this paper was the attempt and making of the ruling party, APC, to decimate, destabilize and make redundant the machineries of the opposition parties.

It is believed that by 2027, the apparatuses holding together the various opposition parties would have weakened irredeemably to the extent the country would seemingly nosedive into the inglorious one party state that every civil right advocate and democrats abhor.

It is alleged that all the crises in all the opposition parties are being engineered by the President Bola Tinubu-led ruling APC, with the hope of getting the fibres of their system weakened, thereby luring the members of the crisis-ridden parties into the APC.

Slightly one year after the last presidential election, the two major opposition platforms, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, have separately been embroiled in a crisis of confidence which has diminished their capacity to provide viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The crises in both opposition parties got to a head. The Labour Party led by its national chairman Julius Abure held its much-opposed national convention which was boycotted by its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; its only governor, Alex Otti of Abia State; federal and state lawmakers elected on its platform, and the organised Labour.

In the Labour Labour, members have been embroiled in endless battle of supremacy with a faction led by Mr. Apapa steadily contesting the leadership of Julius Abure.

Consequently, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, reverence as a leader in the fold, noting that whatever the party faces presently, that Nigeria’s problems are far bigger than the crises in his party.

The LP has been embroiled in crises — ranging from allegations of misappropriation of funds, and leadership tussle, to calls for the resignation of the party’s national chairman.

TheCable reported that “On March 27, the LP conducted a national convention in Anambra state where Julius Abure was re-elected as its national chairman.

Obi did not attend the convention, fuelling speculations that he may be mulling over ditching the LP for another platform.

Speaking during an appearance on HaveYourSay247, an interactive online session hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo over the weekend, Obi said he is confident that the crises rocking the LP will soon be resolved amicably.

“Whatever is happening in the Labour Party is so minute compared to what is happening in the country,” Obi said.

“So, for me, it is something we will resolve amicably, and it is not anything to worry about. Let us worry about the country.

“Let us worry about how the average Nigerian would be able to have a means of livelihood to be able to eat, that should be our worry.”

Obi said he has no interest in being the party’s leader but only to make sure things are done properly.

“I don’t see what I do in politics as being the leader of any place or not. My position is that just like I always say, I am not desperate to be president of Nigeria, I am desperate to see Nigeria work because I know it can work,” he added.

“We have a more desperate situation. Parties are just a means to be able to contest elections. What is important is that being a leader of a party does not reduce the price of food.

In the PDP, the shenanigans of former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has practically kept the party in constant crisis with many observers concluding that the now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is working for the APC, and is just a mole in the PDP. Wike has denied the allegation, however,

But news filtered in last week as that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NEC meeting on Thursday was not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

While political stakeholders concluded that the outcome of the Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan; every page of what finally transpired at the meeting pointed to the fact.

The much touted removal of the party chairman, who is believed to be a crony of the Abuja minister, Damagum, retained his seat, with his executives.

“It is very clear to everyone that a lot of money politics is being played to cajole many loyal members of the party, forcing them into frustration, and eventually it of the party. The option afterwards, will be the APC. This, will for all intent and purpose actualize the intended one party state as an APC agenda.

The Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP is not faring better either. The only governor under their ticket, Abba Kabir Yusuf, just had the confidence of their party on him withdrawn. He was fighting for his political life until suddenly it was announced the the APC in Kano has collapsed its structure into the NNPP.

“This is just another APC strategy to actualize their hidden intentions. Time will reveal the very sinister agenda they harboring,” an analyst said.

Much as 2027 is still three years away, but intrigues are in play to render Nigeria a one party state, and perpetuate the APC in power. The three other opposition parties are basically under attack to bring to pass this unpopular agenda.

Headline

Akwa Ibom Government, Governor Umo Eno Receive Top Honors at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos

Published

6 days ago

April 21, 2024

Admin

The Akwa Ibom State Government and Governor Pastor Umo Eno were recognized with Travellers Awards at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos for their sustained enhancement of infrastructure, support for local talent, and dedication to investment in the tourism sector. The ceremony took place at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.

While Akwa Ibom won the Most Active Tourism State of the Year, Governor Eno was adjudged the most Tourism-Friendly Governor of the Year at the event that had Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade John in attendance.

According to Amb. Ikechi Uko, Founder/Publisher of ATQ Magazine, the organizers of the event which is in its tenth edition, Akwa Ibom State won the top prize “in recognition of its valiant and resourceful efforts to drive and sustain domestic tourism by promoting the industry.

‘In 2023, Akwa Ibom was one of the states that hosted World Tourism Day (WTD ) events. The state also organized the famous Christmas Unplugged, which featured music, food, and cultures from all 31 LGAs as well as ensured friendly policies.”

While hoping that the Travellers Awards would spur Akwa Ibom to do more to dominate the domestic tourism industry, the organizers hoped that the state would gradually evolve into one of Nigeria’s top international tourism destinations.

That was not all, the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria for demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in the travel and tourism industry, while other Akwa Ibom indigenes and entity were also celebrated: Mrs. Ime Udo, Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor( Tourism) won Tourism Promoter of the Year, Favour Udo won Tourism Photographer of the Year, Loretta Effiong and Prince Uduak Sunday (Qua Tours) were listed among the Tourism Personalities of the Year and Ibom Air won Airline of the Year International.

In his remarks, Sir Charles Udoh, who represented the Governor at the event, thanked the organizers for the awards and noted that Akwa Ibom is certainly enjoying the golden era when it comes to tourism development. He stated that Governor Umo Eno is very keen on making Akwa Ibom a leading tourism destination with his programmes and policies.

He revealed that with the new Victor Attah International Airport nearing completion, the purchase of a ferry for the Oron-Calabar route, new developments along its coastline and the restoration work that will be done at all its major tourism sites, Akwa Ibom is well on the way to becoming the number one destination for all domestic and foreign tourists.

In her speech, Tourism Minister, Mrs. Ade John hailed the organizers for hosting the Expo, where practitioners were lectured by top experts while also rewarding those who have excelled in the past year.

She affirmed that her ministry is open to partnership with public and private sector operators, adding that tourism development can only be successful through collaborative efforts.

The event, which attracted leading and budding tourism professionals, also featured interactive and entertainment sessions.

Apart from Sir Charles Udoh and Mrs. Ime Udo, the Akwa Ibom State delegation, also included: Mr. Michael Effiong James, Senior Special Assistant (Lagos Liaison) to Governor, Mrs. Eme Bassey, Special Assistant to Governor (Lagos Liaison) and Akparawa John Offiong, Deputy Director ( Culture) Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

More photos below: