Dr Adah Edache Obekpa and Renaissance Network Africa (RNA) have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) over alleged suppression of their contributions to the introduction of electronic voting (E-voting) in Nigeria.
Dr Obekpa, a US-based medical professional, and RNA, an organisation working for the unification of Africa and its Diaspora through trade, tourism, and innovative endeavours, claim to have proposed the E-voting system to INEC in 2010 and presented the “Renaissance I-voting Proposal for INEC” to Prof Mahmud Jega on behalf of INEC in October 2010.
“Our clients, Dr. Adah Edache Obekpa and Renaissance Network Africa (RNA), firmly believe in the rights of creators to benefit from and be recognised for their innovative contributions,” a statement issued on Sunday, April 2, 2023 by the innovator’s lawyers, Jonathan Akeme, said.
They view INEC’s actions in circumventing their pioneering I-voting proposal as a violation of these fundamental rights.
“Our legal action seeks to protect not only our clients’ interests but also to uphold the principles of transparency, justice, and fair recognition for inventors and innovators.
“It is our belief that these values must be honoured and defended in this matter,” he ended.
The proposal, prepared by Layer3, was given comprehensive media coverage with a special news briefing on the subject matter hosted by Dr Obekpa at the Unity Hall of Reiz Continental Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja, on October 23, 2010.
According to Dr Obekpa and RNA, the I-voting proposal for INEC is the same in contents, features, design, and operation as the Biometric Verification System (BIVAS) tech device and INEC online result viewing portal (IReV).
They allege that the failure of the BIVAS and IReV, as well as the lack of complete transparency in the just-concluded 2023 general elections, is a result of INEC’s refusal to adopt salient security features contained in the I-voting proposal submitted to the commission.
The Legal Director of Bola Tinubu-Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Babatunde Ogala has disclosed that the camp of the President-elect officially received the notices of the petitions filed at the election tribunal by the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
We reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) said they are planning to respond to the petitions.
We learnt that the APC has up till take 21 days to respond.
“Yes, we received copies of both Atiku and Obi’s petition yesterday ,” Ogala told Punch.
Meanwhile, the APC legal adviser, Ahmad El-Marzuq, also told the press that the ruling party had been served.
“Of course, we have received the copies of the petition and we are planning to respond. We are on top of the situation,” he said.
The Labour Party Legal Team for the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Commission has written the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
This was contained in two letters signed by the lead counsel to the team, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, and obtained by News Band on Friday.
In the first letter, the legal counsel demanded the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of election material including accreditation reports of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The demanded materials include the following:
EC8C series;
EC40G series;
ECSE;
EC8B series;
EC4OG series;
EC4011 series;
Numbers of collected PVCs where elections did not hold (sic) or were cancelled;
BVAS Accreditation Reports for the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory;
Electoral Operations Copies (ten copies) of all result forms;
National Electronic Registers of Election Results.
The team also demanded BVAS Accreditation Reports of Rivers State, Benue State, Akwa Ibom State, Kaduna State, Bayelsa State and Adamawa State.
In the second letter, the team demanded Polling Unit (PU) results for 16 states of the federation.
It could be recalled that the Court of Appeal, by an Order made on March 2, 2023, with reference number CA/PE/02M/2023, tagged “Mr. Peter Gregory Obi V INEC & Ors”, granted the Applicants leave to apply and receive from INEC the Certified True Copies of the materials used in the Presidential Election of the 25th February, 2023.
Flowing from the above-referenced suit, the legal counsel applied for the Certified True Copies of Forms EC8A (polling unit results) of the following States:
i. Rivers State
ii. Benue State
iii. Gombe State
iv. Akwa Ibom State
v. Plateau State
vi. Kaduna State
vii. Bayelsa Slate
viii. Cross River State
ix. Tanabe Slate
x. Lagos State
xi. Ogun Slate
xii. Imo State
xiii. Bauchi State
xiv. Borno State
xv. Adamawa State, and,
xvi. Ekiti State.
Mr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, versus Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Mr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, with Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
The lead counsel, Dr. Uzoukwu, SAN, said that the team will be at the various INEC offices in the aforementioned States from 14th March, 2023, to commence the inspection of documents and receive the Certified True Copies of the said forms.
Recall that Peter Obi and his Labour Party had challenged the presidential election result as announced by the INEC which saw Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the winner and the president-elect.
It is my duty as an ideologue under the tutelage of Dr. Bekolari Ransome Kuti and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, both of blessed memory, to bring to light the devilish implications of the General Bola Ahmed Tinubu led military Coup Det’at that was orchestrated and executed by the Chairman of the Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu against democracy.
It is important to say that, this is not about ethnicity or primordial sentiments. Not at all. It is about the operation of the true definition of democracy, by Abraham Lincoln; “democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
The end result of any government that falls short of this definition is anarchy.
I have asked myself what will the likes of Dr. Bekolari Ransome Kuti and Chief Gani Fawehinmi do in this scenario? My simple answer to this question is that, they will both roll up their sleeves and fight for the defence of democracy; “it does not matter whose ox is gored.”
It is in this spirit I am calling on all lovers of true democracy to join hands to do the needful; resist and foil this coup det’at against democracy.
We must save our hard won democracy that we fought for, during the draconian and oppressive military era.
Did the declaration of Tinubu by INEC, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election meet the minimum standard requirements of a free and fair election? Is this not a coup det’at against democracy?
Also, what are the implications, if we allow the Tinubu led coup det’at to succeed?
To answer the first question, it was a coup det’at led by General Bola Ahmed Tinubu and executed by INEC against the mandate of the people.
Also, it is a complete violation of the new electoral law as passed by the National Assembly and assented to, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the new electoral law, Paragraph 38 of INEC Manual 2022 in pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and section 149 of of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that: “On completion of all the Polling Unit voting and results procedures, the Presiding Officer shall:
(i) Electronically transmit or transfer the result of the Polling Unit, direct to the collation system as prescribed by the Commission.
(ii) Use the BVAS to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as prescribed by the Commission.
(iii) Take the BVAS and the original copy of each of the forms in tamper evident envelope to the Registration Area/Ward Collation Officer, in the company of Security Agents.
In other words, it states clearly that, “every result must be transmitted through the BVA’s to the cloud for the whole world to see and, monitor the counting of the votes. In addition, the provision of the constitution gives no exception to this rule.
It is very saddening to say that INEC broke its own law by shutting down the portal for 12 hours on the day of election, and directed its electoral officers to bring the results to the Collation Centre for uploading as this would most definitely, give room for falsification and manipulation of election results. This is the height of illegality; and good government cannot be built on illegality.
Also, why were the BVA’S for the Senatorial and House of Representatives elections working at the polling units, whereas, that of the presidential election was not working at the polling unit? Is this not a sinister move by INEC to subvert the mandate of the people?
What a shenanigan and moribund of democracy!
Prejudice apart and without mincing words, this is a coup det’at and a complete rape of our democracy?
What are the implications of allowing a government built on illegality to stand?
One: Such government will not be answerable to the people, because, it is not the peoples mandate. It will never be a responsible government, because it was superimposed on the people, against their will.
Tinubu had said it in time past, that, “there is no democracy in Nigeria but civilian government.”
Did he not also say it in one of his video clips trending on social media that, “you grab, snatch power at all cost and if possible, run away with it?”
Nothing wrong using legal means to stop Tinubu’s inauguration, says…
Is Tinubu not the defacto governor of Lagos state? Did he not turn Lagos state to a one party state?
Will Tinubu not use the federal might to dislodge and silent all oppositions; many will not have a choice but to become his slaves
The story of Mr. Moshood Salvador, the state party chairman of the main opposition party, PDP in Lagos state is still very fresh in our memories. Tinubu planted fifth columnists in the party structure of PDP in Lagos state and, at the party congress, there was a motivated and sponsored fracas by fifth columnists that led to the death of one or two of the party members that were against the leadership of Mr. Moshood Salvador. Did Mr. Moshood Salvador not end up being framed as the killer and that he spent months in prison before he was given conditions, to either resign as party chairman of PDP to join ACN or, spend the rest of his life in prison? Yes, Mr. Moshood Salvador resigned as the state chairman of PDP and joined many slaves of Tinubu in Lagos state.
Lagos is now a one party state.
Suffice it to say, Tinubu controls the judiciary in Lagos state and to the extent that he has used Lagos state money to commercialize judiciary from the state to federal level. Do not forget Ayo Salami, the former President of the Court of Appeal under former President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan.
In the legal battle of Mr. Kayode Fayemi to reclaim his mandate as the Governor of Ekiti state, was Ayo Salami not indicted for collecting bribe from Tinubu? Was he not booted out of the judiciary by former President Goodluck Jonathan government because of the scandal?
Did Tinubu not send Lukmon Ajose, former Chairman of Lagos Island local government to eight years in prison for daring to confront him over allegations bordering on his bad leadership in Lagos state?
Did he not fire Comrade Ayodele Akele for leading the Civil Servants in Lagos state to ask for better welfare of service? Did Chief Gani Fawehinmi at his sick bed not beg Tinubu to pay him his retirement benefits before he passed away? It was very sad that Comrade Lukmon Akele passed away in United States without getting his retirement benefits.
Yes, any opposition will be ruthlessly dealt with by General Bola Ahmed Tinubu because, he was not elected by the people; and he will not be answerable to the people. It is going to be impunity of the highest order.
Yes, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a would be emperor and every true democrat in Nigeria must rise up to resist the inauguration of Tinubu as the President of Nigeria. It is a total aberration of democracy because, he did not win the presidential election.
Yes, every true democrat must rise up to declare as null and void and unconstitutional, the election of Tinubu as President as declared by his co-traveller, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
Three: It will bring great reproach to our country in the comity of nations. Many democratically advanced countries will see us as a joke and they will also lose confidence in our political stability.
This will further puncture our bilateral and multilateral relationships with foreign investors.
It is only a peoples government that will truly, bring about a conducive environment for foreign investors.
Yes, we must do everything humanly possible and within the extant law to prevent the installation of Tinubu as President of Nigeria, because, his election was rigged by the so called Buhari’s cabal. He did not win the election.
This election is based on illegality and must not stand.
Before the election, the country was already sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The agitation for a sovereign nation by the Igbos, because of the lopsided sharing of power and resource control were very intense and one was expecting that the election of an Igbo President will assuage the people of the Eastern region and restore their confidence and hope as true citizens of Nigeria.
One of the reasons many voted for Peter Obi for President was to pacify the aggrieved Igbos and make them have a sense of belonging. Now that their son won the election based on the results collated by the Labour Party Situation Room as received from their polling agents from the various polling units across the country; all lovers of democracy must rise up to resist and save our democracy.
In the final analysis, Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not sign a social contract with the electorates in Nigeria through a free and fair election and he cannot be installed as president.
SAY NO TO BOLA AHMED TINUBU AS PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA ON MAY 29TH, 2023.
Popular Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, has lost his 16-year-old first son, Kambilichukwu Edochie to the cold hands of death on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the Kambilichukwu collapsed while playing football with his peers on Wednesday.
A family source, according to Daily Trust, confirmed the sad news. “It is true, his son is dead.”
“After his exam in school, he joined his mates to play football and he developed a seizure and was rushed to the Mother and Child Hospital. All efforts by the doctors to resuscitate him proved abortive.”
Kambilichukwu’s death is coming barley two months after his father; Yul celebrated his 16th birthday with his wife, Mary Edochie.
Yul had on January 4 celebrated his (son) birthday via his verified Instagram handle, saying, “A very happy 16th birthday to my first son, Kambilinachukwu Leo Yul-Edochie. May God lead and protect you always. With many more happy years. Daddy loves you.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has made the list of Nigerians to be banned from getting United States of America Visa following his infamous role in the just concluded general elections.
The list which was exclusively obtained by Our Reporter has Governor Nysom Wike of Rivers State and his ally, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, boldly captured on it over their criminal involvement during the elections.
Also on the long list is the spokesman of the president-elect, Bayo Onanuga, Femi-Kayode, MC Oluomo, chairman of Lagos State Motor Park management who during the governorship election threatened the Igbo ethnic group in Lagos if they will not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The list will be submitted to the White House, US Congress, and State Department on Monday, April 3, 2023 for immediate action.
The Visa ban will also include their wives, children, and relatives.
Vice-chancellor Nigeria Maritime University
Bauchi: Professor Abdulkarim Mohammed
Vice-chancellor Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State
Bayelsa: Professor Lilian Salami Vice-chancellor University of Benin.
Benue: Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta
Vice-chancellor Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State,
Borno: Professor Jude Rabo Vice-chancellor Federal University Wukari
Cross River: Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh Vice-chancellor Federal University of Petroleum Resources
Effurun
Delta: Professor Owuneri Abraham Georgewill Vice-chancellor University of Porth Harcourt
Ebonyi: Professor Charles Arinze Igwe Vice-chancellor University of Nigeria Nsukka
Edo: Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo Vice-chancellor University of Uyo Akwa Ibom
Ekiti: Professor Akeem Lasisi Vice-chancellor Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun
Gombe: Professor Maimuna Waziri Vice-chancellor Federal University, Gashua
Jigawa: Professor Arma-Ya’u Hamisu Bichi Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State
Kaduna: Professor Saleh Ado Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria
Kano: Professor Sulieman Bilbis Othman Danfodio University Sokoto State
Katsina: Professor Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau Vice-chancellor Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State,
Kebbi: Professor Usman Saidu
Kogi: Professor Wahab Egbenwole Vice-chancellor University of Ilorin
Kwara: Professor Paul Annune Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (formerly Federal University of
Agriculture) Lagos: Professor Adenike Oladiji Vice-chancellor Federal University of Technology Akure
Nasarawa: Professor Ishaya Tanko Vice-chancellor University of Jos
Niger: Professor Clement Allawa Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration University of Abuja
Ogun: Professor Kayode Adebowale Vice-chancellor University of Ibadan
Ondo: Professor Abayomi Fashina Vice-chancellor Federal University Oye-Ekiti
Osun: Professor Tolulope Ogunsola Vice-Chancellor University of Lagos
Oyo: Professor Olusola Kehinde Vice-chancellor Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
Plateau: Professor Shehu Abdulrahman Federal University, Lafia
Rivers: Professor Williams Addias Vice-chancellor Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State
Sokoto: Professor Muhammadu Kabir Bala Vice-chancellor Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Taraba: Professor Mohammad Ahmad Abdullaziz Vice-chancellor Abubakar Tafawabalewa University
Bauchi (ATBU), Yobe: Professor Umaru Pate Vice-chancellor Federal University Kashere Gombe State
Zamfara: Professor Kashim Shehu
FCT: Professor Olayemi Akinwumi Vice-chancellor Federal University Lokoja
OTHER KEY ELECTION RIGGING ENABLERS
Governor Of Rivers State: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
Governor Of Imo State: Senator Hope Uzodinma
Governor of Kogi State: Yahaya Bello
INEC ICT Director: Engr. Paul Omokore
Olufemi Odunbiyi (former Commissioner of Science and Technology in Lagos State and APC chieftain)
Lagos State Parks Management Committee Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, (aka MC Oluomo)
Former Governor of Ekiti State: Ayo Fayose
Former Aviation Minister: Femi Fani Kayode
President-elect, Bola Tinubu Spokesperson: Bayo Onanuga
APC Campaign Council Spokesman: Festus Keyamo
Dr. Nnaemeka Ogbene, INEC Returning Officer, Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State
Lagos State Commissioner of Police: Idowu Omohunwa
River State Commissioner of Police: Okon Effiong Okon
Enugu State Commissioner of Police: Ahmed Ammani
Delta State Commissioner of Police: Ari Muhammed Ali
Anambra State Commissioner of Police: Echeng Echeng
Imo State Commissioner of Police: Rabiu Hussani
Kogi State Commissioner of Police: Chuka Egbuka
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police: Maiyaki Muhammed Baba
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police: Yekini Ayoku
Kano State Commissioner of Police: Abubakar Lawal
Borno State Commissioner of Police: Abdu Umar
The problem with our current political class is greed and abnormal appetite for consumption and perhaps building an unsustainable consumption pattern.
I still blame our political leaders . Good Governance would have brought genuine people on the same political page to pursue ideological politics.
The northern and south western political leaders are using the advantages of civil war that ended in 1970 to exploit and enslave the victims of that war and sadly the entire Nigerian masses ended up being the victims. The wicked political elites have continued to use unitary constitution in the name of federal constitution to retain political power at the centre ,thereby frustrating innovation and creativity that would have enhance a productive system.
The political ,business and religious elites have amassed so much wealth for the generations of their children and grand children, hence the widening income inequalities that have threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria.
Everything is wrong with Nigeria system.The system is designed and structured to keep the working class in perpetual slavery and that is why the four refineries in Nigeria are not working. Dangote Refinery is funded by Government mercenaries and the operations will soon start with monopolistic power . These people are satanic !
GGM is supporting Peter Obi not because he is a saint but because he is better than other career politicians.Peter Obi messages have connected and resonated with millions of Nigerians that about 30 million voters who were never interested in the Nigeria electoral process all moved out on the street on 25th February,2023 to vote for Peter Obi and Daitti Ahmed . Obidient Movement took the Nigeria political class like a storm and like rampaging soldiers bulldozed the entire criminal political structures in Nigeria . Labour party without any elected officer in Nigeria won the presidential election but INEC awarded Peter Obi 12 states including FCT. Though ,INEC declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu – President Elect , certainly the people’s mandate will surely be restored.
We have learnt an obvious lesson : that the leader of GGM – Chinedu Asuzu or any chosen candidate can win the Governor of Anambra State or any chosen state : for the power of the people is the greatest. They have been deceiving and dividing us with money , ethnicity and religion . Now ,we are wise ,we will choose our Leaders goingforward!
The awareness has been created and people eyes have been opened to know that political power belongs to the people .
Good Governance Ministry is here to organize the people to pursue ideological politics . The Nigerian politicians could disappoint the people but GGM will always be there for the ordinary people.
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, approved the Federal Government’s request to borrow $973,474,971.38 from China Development Bank.
This is coming on the heels of China-Exim Bank’s decline of an earlier agreement to grant Nigeria a loan of $22,798,446,773 earlier approved by the National Assembly.
Chairman of House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, moved a motion for the legislative chamber to amend its resolution granting approval to the failed commercial deal.
The motion was titled ‘Rescission of the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan.’
Moving the motion, Fulata said, “The House notes that the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 5, 2020, and June 2, 2020, respectively.
“The House recalls that the National Assembly approved the sum of $22,798,446,773 only under the 2016–2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan.
The House is aware of the communications from the Federal Ministry of Finance requesting approval of modifications to the financing proposal for the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Kaduna–Kano segment) occasioned by the COVID–19 pandemic, whereof China Exim Bank withdrew its support to finance the project.”
He added, “The House is also aware that to secure funds for the project, the contractor (CCECC Nigeria Limited), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, engaged China Development Bank as the new financier in the sum of $973,474,971.38 only.”
Fulata, in the circumstance, prayed the House to “rescind its decision on the financier and harmonised terms and approve the change of financier from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank.”
The lawmakers unanimously granted the prayer.
The House also approved the conditions provided in the harmonised term sheet: Segment– Kaduna–Zaria–Kano; financier – China Development Bank; type of loan–commercial loan; maturity–15 years; currency–Euro; interest rate–2.7% + 6 months Euribor; commitment fee –0.4%; and upfront fee– 0.5%.
Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Nicholas Ossai, who commented after Fulata moved the motion, stated that the Executive arm of government failed to present details of Nigeria’s commercial agreements with other countries to the National Assembly.
Ossai added, “Secondly, we are now changing from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank, it then means an addition of another agreement. And if we are going to pass this resolution, it then means that members of this honourable House will not see those agreements.
It is incumbent and important for the Minister of Finance (Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed), when you are coming (to the National Assembly) on these issues to come with the agreements as agreed with the China Development Bank, so that members can be guided when approving such conditions for this loan.
“Mr Speaker, I believe that this motion should be stepped down while we ask the relevant authorities to forward all the agreements as agreed with China Development Bank.”
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the session, however, argued that the substantive committees, especially Committee on Transport, had gone through the details.
Ossai, however, insisted that it was an external loan with an international commercial agreement, which should fall under the jurisdiction of his committee.
“I have also written to the Chairman (of the Committee on) Aids and Loans on this matter. I have also written to the Minister of Finance on this matter,” he stated.
While Gbajabiamila asked Chairmen of the Committees on Transport as well as Aids and Loans to see him immediately after the session, he went ahead to put the motion to voice vote and it was unanimously adopted.
The House has kept mum on the alleged abandonment of an investigation of commercial agreements and external borrowings by the Federal Government, which the Ossai-led committee carrying out the probe had said contained “dangerous” clauses.
The committee has yet to lay its report on the botched probe which began in 2020.
The immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on June 16, 2021, thanked President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for stopping an investigation.
While answering questions on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, Amaechi had alleged that the probe prevented China from granting more loans to Nigeria.
Amaechi said, “We are having a problem with the Ibadan-Kano because of the reaction of the committee of the National Assembly. The Chinese are asking how do they know that Nigeria wants to pay back when a committee of the National Assembly is questioning us (FG) about the terms of agreement. There is an impact. We have not gotten the loan from that time. We were supposed to get the loan within the period that happened but from that period till now, we have not gotten any loan.
“So, Ibadan-Kano, I will hang it in the National Assembly. But I must be grateful to both the Senate President and the Speaker for intervening. They intervened to stop the young man (Ossai), the honourable member who actually chaired the committee, and that helped a bit. Like I said, I’m grateful to the Speaker and I’m grateful to the Senate President because when I complained, they listened to the complaint and stopped the committee.”
Meanwhile, the House, also on Tuesday, approved the request to extend the implementation of the capital component of the 2022 Appropriation Act from March 31 to June 30, 2023.
The Executive had requested extension of the lifespan of the Federal Government budget from December 31 to March 31, which the National Assembly approved in December 2022.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has assured that his administration will be handing over a State that is stronger and better in every respect to the next administration and that will remain at his duty post performing his functions until his last day in office.
The Governor made this known today while receiving in audience the South East Inspection Monitoring Team from the National Economic Council.
Governor Ikpeazu stated that every available sociopolitical and socio economic indices make it clear that the requisite foundations have been laid for the next administration to build on.
According to the Governor, “from sociopolitical stability to socioeconomic development, peace and security and infrastructural renewal, Abia is way better than it was when we came on board”.
Continuing, the Governor added that, “apart from what is physically verifiable, we will bequeath to our successor a 30 year development plan for the State put in place together with international development partners, a comprehensive Masterplan for Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia put in place with the UN HABITAT as well as an Industrial Policy done together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). These will assist the next administration a great deal. These things were not there when we came on board”.
The Governor thanked the Team for coming to the State to see for themselves the extent of the efforts of his administration in the provision of Basic and Social Infrastructure for the people of Abia State. He used the opportunity to inform the people of Abia State that he will do everything possible to complete the multi Specialist Hospital inside the premises of the old Aba General Hospital, assuring you all the medical equipment for the hospital are already on ground while the massive hospital building is 95% completed.
Speaking earlier, the Team Lead and Deputy Director, Special Duties of the National Economic Council, Mrs Dorothy Uwaoma told the Governor that the team was in the State pursuant to the resolution of the National Economic Council to move round the states in the country and get first hand information on the projects and policies put in place across the states and to institute a peer review mechanism where states can learn from each other.
She expressed satisfaction with what they saw during the tour and was particularly delighted with the Mother and Child Hospital at Umuahia as well as the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company Aba.
She added that from their records, Abia State is the first State in Nigeria to introduce Medical Laboratory Services in Primary Health Care Centers with the pilot scheme at Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North LGA.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Team, Mr Jonah Okeme told the Governor that there was clear improvement in the area of infrastructure from what they saw when they came last in 2020 and commended the Governor and the people of the State.
Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu and Permanent Secretary/Executive Secretary of the Abia State Planning Commission, Dr Mrs Nnenna Chikezie were part of the ceremony which took place at the Governor’s Lodge Aba.
The Labour party, LP has reviewed the initial gubernatorial form fee which was N25 million naira to N15Million naira after they received some serious backlash from GGM and other Obidient groups . Note that Good Governance Ministry has written Labour party Secretariat demanding for downward review of Gubernatorial nomination fee for imo state from N25M to below N5M .
GGM advised Labour party to urgently commence nationwide reform within the Party to ensure that internal democracy is allowed to succeed . In response to call from Obidient groups including GGM ,Labour party responded swiftly through Kenneth Okonkwo
“After due consultation with all the relevant stakeholders in the Party, and taking into consideration the overwhelming interest of Nigerians in our Party,and the necessity to birth a new Nigeria, and in view of the prevailing high cost of things in Nigeria,which the incompetent APC ruling party has foisted on all Nigerians, the Labour Party, as a listening Party, has taken note of the suggestions of Nigerians that a party of the working class Nigerians should settle for a nomination fee of not more than N15m for the post of a Governor . In line with our avowed disposition to carry Nigerians along in what we do, the Party has decided to review the cost of nomination forms downwards for all positions taking into consideration the suggested amount of N15m for the post of Governor. We must move together to salvage our country from incompetent and dishonest leadership of the old order”
However ,it is the opinion of GGM that if Labour party is attractive ,ordinary Nigerians will fund the party. Nomination fee should not be a major source of revenue for the party . Those coming to be elected should be seen as the servant of the people , therefore ,we are not looking for moneybags.
Labour party should reduce operational cost in line with prevailing economic realities.
