The Labour Party, LP, Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has promised to end insecurity, hunger and revive the economy if Nigerians elect him into office in the 2023 presidential election.
Obi, who gave the promise in Lokoja on Tuesday during his campaign rally, expressed optimism that a functional steel project would bring about employment of millions of unemployed youths and check crime and economic prosperity.
He therefore promised that he will esuscitate the moribound Ajaokuta Steel project as a vehicle for job creation.
Obi promised that his administration would secure the country from criminals, and unite its citizens with a view to returning it to one family as it was known, years back.
According to Obi, a Labour Party Government will ensure that the rule of law and human rights are rooted firmly, a development where nobody will be oppressed.
The LP candidate promised that his Government would synergise with state governments to clear arrears of their minimum wage and other emoluments to boost their morale and increase productivity.
Obi described Kogi State as a geo-political entity that could feed itself, process its agricultural produce for export, reduce poverty to the barest minimum and propel the state to a level of prosperity.
He reiterated his commitment to change Nigeria from consumption to production nation, if voted into power.
In his remarks, Obi’s running Mate, Sen. Ahmed Datti, urged the electorate to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVC and vote for the Labour Party, assuring them “it is only the party that can change the narrative of poverty, hunger, poverty among others negative developments in the country.
Keep our words, hold us responsible for our action, if voted into power next year and fail.
We will move the country out of poverty to wealth, stop the killing and start the healing, Nigerians should trust us with their votes, ” he said.
National Chairman of the party, Barr. Julius Abure, also advised electorates to vote for the party, assuring them that” LP is what Nigeria needs to solve her numerous social, economic and political problems.”
The rally was attended by party members and supporters from the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has inaugurated the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Committee.
He performed the function at the Government House, Awka. Barrister Uju Ifejika is the Chairperson, while the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources is the Secretary. Vice Chairman of the Committee is Engr. Ikechukwu G. Okafor.
Other members include the Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Patricia Igwebike, Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, Prof K.K. Nwozor and Dr. Chris Ofokansi.
Others are Chief Tony Okwesa, Engr. Jideofor Chukwuemeka Etele, Barr. Anthony Ifeanya, Engr. Somtochukwu Mezie Okoye, Dr. Boniface Emengini, Emmanuel Nwabia,Mr. Francis Abuah Nwabueze and Barr. Anthony C. Madichie.
While pointing out that Anambra has joined other states as an oil and gas producing state, Governor Soludo stressed the necessity of having a formal committee because, according to him, ‘to exploit oil and gas, one has to pass through the land.’
Speaking further, Governor Soludo said, “land in Anambra is a very scarce commodity, as such, special care should be given, to ensure that the right things are done.”
“With the hostile environment we have, our own land is prone to erosion, flooding and degradation.
“Our landmass is shrinking. Anambra is the headquarters of gully erosion in the country for the remaining part of our land to be damaged by exploitation of land and mass.
“I am trying to situate the importance of this committee. Anambra is unique in the sense that we have no offshore. Everything is onshore, on the land people use for farming,” Governor Soludo said.
“It’s a blessing that we have this huge resource domiciled in Anambra. 35.5 million cubic feet of gas which is about 18% of proven gas in Nigeria.
“I don’t know of any other state that has a higher percentage. And so we can really say that Anambra is the gas capital of Nigeria.
“It’s supposed to be a huge blessing but there’s a threat as earlier enumerated.
“With a huge investment in the oil sector, we need to be guided because we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes of the past.
“Being a late comer is a blessing in disguise because we wouldn’t want to repeat the same mistakes of the past in Anambra,” Governor Soludo noted.
“In this context, we decided to have a team of experts, those who know about oil and gas. I know little about oil and gas.
“The experts are here and I must thank all the members of this committee for accepting to serve Anambra.
“You are all very distinguished professionals in your various fields.
“Yours is to help us navigate through the uncharted waters in the state.
“Societies that have abundant resources end up being poor.
“Both the state, oil companies and communities are supposed to contribute,” the Governor stressed.
He continued; “you need to advise us as a government on major policies on exploitation and take inventory of what we have. What are the best ways to engage?
“We hope to engage the federal government and oil operators very actively on this, help us screen and promote investment opportunities in these sectors.
“We need to have responsible investors in place. We are not going to wait until the damage is done.
“On our part as the state government in next year’s budget, we have set aside 5% for investment purposes. The oil companies have to do theirs.
“If anything, host communities need to become models.
“We need your advice and guidance. How do we get this thing in a sustainable and profitable manner.”
Governor Soludo added; “the gas we have is quite a huge chunk.
“There should be no limit to the scope of your thinking and steps to be taken.
“The Chairperson is one that doesn’t take a no for an answer. I’m quite excited to have her on this team.
“We can only develop Anambra because we have the human resources and capital to take the state to the next level.
“If everybody can contribute a little bit of their time, resources and talent, we can make it anything we want to be.
“These are people paying to serve! God didn’t make a mistake to make you an ‘onye Anambra’.
“On the last day, God will ask how you made this state better,” Soludo concluded.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr. Anthony Ifeanya disclosed that Anambra has 13 blocks/concessions within its blocks namely; OPL 228, OPL 280, OPL 901 to 907, OPL 914, OPL 915 & 916 (Operated by Orient Oil Resources), and OPL 91.
He noted that activities in the OPL have not helped because it is believed that Anambra basin is mostly gas and since there’s no gas infrastructure in the SouthEast, the urge to explore and exploit the gas resources isn’t there.
“Global warming and climate volatility are now existential threats to humanity and the environment. The world needs to accelerate efforts to achieve net-zero and mitigate global warming effects in Africa’s climate because people and agriculture will suffer in the coming years,” he said.
While stating that oil remains the main driver for Nigeria’s development, Commissioner Ifeanya maintained that the Anambra basin holds an estimated gas reserve of over 30TCF and 1.3 billion barrels.
In a vote of thanks, Chairman of the committee, Barr. Uju Ifejika, expressed happiness about the rare privilege of being called to serve the people, more importantly, in a field where she has invested 36 years of her life.
“Within that period, I did a lot of things with my team. We have the upstream, downstream and midstream.
“In terms of knowledge base, we can come up with something collectively.
“Before we do anything, we will have to meet after this Inauguration and for the records, I am a workaholic,” she pointed out.
“The first thing is to convert OML and OPL. We have to get that done, if not, we will lose it.
“We will have workshops, engage oil companies, communities so they tell us what project they want.
“There will be a board from the Communities and we have to do it correctly.
“Looking at the gas we have, we need gas gathering infrastructure and do an appraisal to actually know what we have which shall be done by a reputable international and research evaluation company.
“With the current transition from fossil oil to green energy, nobody will look at you.
“Fossil fuel will still remain relevant but we need to start somewhere,” she said.
“The basic things we will look at is the ease of doing these things.
“If you make the investor feel comfortable, he will come in and bring other investors. The Government must help us.
“It must be a seamless and continuous process if we want to go into it.
“We need the Governor to give us the needed support in certain approvals to make the job easier for the committee and enable us leave a legacy the people will be proud of,” she pleaded.
Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Former Special Adviser on Political Matters, Barr. Ifeatu Obiokoye, among others, also attended the event.
Mr Rufai Oseni, an Arise TV presenter, has advised Nigerians not to bank too much hope for revolutionary change on whoever emerges winner at the forthcoming 2023 Presidential Election.
Oseni hinged his pessimism on the lacklustre manifestos being reeled out by top gladiators for the election which, according to him, only sounded theoretical but lacking in pragmatic resolution strategies on how to solve the myriads of problems bedevilling the country.
His conclusion, therefore, is that it will take a miracle for anyone among them presently angling to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, to be equipped with the capacity to turn the tide positively for the country.
The Arise TV Anchor spoke while featuring on “Boiling Point Arena”, an online platform of distinguished intellectuals and technocrats, initiated by a seasoned media Professional and an avid advocate of good governance and development, Mr Ayo Arowojolu.
Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria 2023 Presidential Election: Challenges, Reality and Myth”, he identified the greatest challenge ahead of the 2023 presidential election as identity politics.
He stated that ”identity politics is the major challenge facing the 2023 presidential election. The problems confronting the country are beyond tribe, ethnicity and religion. To salvage the country, we should begin to look at real issues of poverty and unemployment.”
To him, the media has a great role to play to assist the political class to focus attention on the real issues by deliberately shifting attention from selling sensationalism to promoting substance.
Rufai Oseni said “the political class is the same regardless of party. They are striving to manipulate the thought process of the electorate.”
He lamented the poor attitude of Nigerians in not interrogating the manifestos of the parties and urged the media to step up the game.
I am not in support of any political party but only crave for good governance. My disposition to raising issues with the candidates is the same. Unfortunately, none of the political parties has a manifesto that indicated how the problems bedevilling Nigeria can be solved.”
Responding to one of the questions he was asked, he commended President, Muhammadu Buhari, for signing the electoral law, which would strengthen the success of the 2023 elections.
He also responded to a question on the fear of the election not holding. He said: ”Elections will hold. I can assure you that President Buhari will do everything necessary to see to the success of the elections. INEC is also ready to deliver to us a credible election. However, we should be wary of saboteurs.”
The broadcaster said that politicians were deliberately gaming the voters to create voters’ apathy, adding that meanwhile, the political class has weaponised poverty to the extent that Nigerians have become gullible and lacking clear thinking abilities.
According to him, ”the voters are ready. The politicians are gaming the voters to dribble the system to voters’ apathy in order to gain an advantage but the voters should be wiser this time round.”
He attributed the challenges of the nation to the gullibility of the citizens who have been weaponised by poverty, thereby affecting their decision process.
He lamented that the intellectuals who should provide direction have become liabilities to the country.
Taking a swipe at the academics who falsified results in the process of conducting elections, Rufai lamented: “How will a Professor change results because of money? One of such was incarcerated recently and that is the type of liability our intellectuals have become.
My greatest fear about salvaging the country is the intellectual class.“
Asked to speak about the courage of his convictions and whether he would be ready to be part of the government to contribute his quota, he said he had intentionally chosen his path to be different from the majority.
He said he was not afraid of being a lone ranger and that he was determined to stand tall against harassment and intimidation stressing that he was equally not ready to switch game and become the mouthpiece of anyone.
His words: “I have rejected opportunities in the past and I will reject them again and again. My passion is to deepen the course of public participation in the governance of the nation. I desire to be a vanguard in public discourse and it is not part of my passion to be a mouthpiece.”
He tasked Nigerians not to stop talking, adding that “Whoever emerges as the President, we must keep engaging the government in constructive criticism and in analysing issues empirically.”
Rufai Oseni recommended a tripodal approach to take Nigeria out of the woods.
According to him, ”the short-term approach is for platforms like Boiling Point to continually engage the people towards stimulating a conscience breaking. The medium approach is for families to develop the right attitude and finally, the long term is for the nation to be intentional with national reorientation agenda.”
A Public Relations icon, Mr Eddy Ademosu and an erudite academic and Senior lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Dr Oluwatosin Oyetayo, moderated the programme.
The Initiator and Convener of Boiling Point Arena, Ayo Arowojolu disclosed that the monthly interview programme is in furtherance of good governance and targeted at restoring the lost glory of Nigeria as the Giant of Africa.
According to Arowojolu, “the Boiling Point platform is made up of over 200 personalities drawn from among professors, Judges, royal fathers, security experts, media professionals and entrepreneurs.”
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has said that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, is not an indigene of Lagos State.
George spoke on Tuesday morning on Arise TV’s Morning Show, where he discussed the candidacy of Tinubu as well as the internal crisis within the PDP.
According to him, the APC candidate has yet to prove his Lagos roots beyond a reasonable doubt, having failed to produce any evidence to support his claim.
He said, “Tinubu is not from Lagos State. You can quote me. If he says he grew up in Isale-Eko, which school did you attend? I grew up on Evans Street in Lagos. 35 Evans Street was my grandfather’s house. I went to the community school. I played football at the local stadium at Isale-Eko. That’s how people knew me.
Asked if the opposition party would be able to resolve its internal crisis before heading to next year’s polls, George said the reconciliation would only happen if the party’s hierarchy “gives unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”
He further stated that since the formation of the party almost 25 years ago, the North-Central, which currently holds the position of the national chairman, had predominantly occupied the position of the party’s leadership.
He added, “It is not a solution that cannot be handled. All we are saying is give what belongs to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give us what belongs to us. Turn by Turn Nigeria Limited. Take for example, what I am angry about is this, the first chairman was late Papa Solomon from North-Central. The second chairman, North-Central. The third chairman, Audu Ogbe, North-Central. The fourth chairman, my oga, Dr Amadu Ali, North-Central; Baraje, from Kwara, was also North-Central. Now you have Ayu, also North-Central.
The South-West has never enjoyed this position since the party started almost 25 years ago. What is our crime? If you are telling us you want to rule this country, you have to weave all the tribes and all the people together. That is the major problem, and unless that is resolved, I will not vote for our own candidate.”
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress and the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu has declared that his party is not worried about the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election as he is no match for their candidate, Bola Tinubu.
Mr. Okechukwu who was a guest at Arise TV breakfast program, stated that the only fear in APC is the threat being posed by the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi who he said that his popularity is soaring higher by the day.
Mr. Okechukwu said, “Atiku is not a match for our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he cannot eat his cake and have it”
“Our only worry as a party is Mr. Peter Obi and not Atiku”.
“In 2014, Atiku led his compatriots and walked out of the PDP at the eagle’s square, Abuja, when he and his friends insisted that it was the turn of the north to rule”.
Okechukwu also stated that when Atiku contested the PDP primary in 2018, there was general agreement that power should remain to the north, no aspirant from the south contested and he won the ticket, he queries why Atiku would want to continue as a northerner after Buhari’s eight years as President
Former deputy leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of communication, Biafra Defacto Customary Government, Uche-Mefor has revealed how Simon Ekpa and his legions of terrorists fueling insecurity in the Southeast region can be stopped.
Uche-Mefor, deputy leader of IPOB
Former deputy leader of IPOB, Uche-Mefor
Speaking exclusively with our Reporter ,Mefor said there is no difference between Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa. According to him, Kanu recruited Ekpa to change the narrative after he was re-arrested in 2021 but the Ebonyi born terrorist haven seen the lucrative business in the criminality of IPOB decided to have his own franchise.
He said, “First, Simon Ekpa and IPONK-IPOB are the same. Nnamdi Kanu recruited Ekpa to change the narrative. But Ekpa abandoned the narrative he came to change and started destabilising his master Nnamdi Kanu the supreme liar. He saw the lucrative business in the criminality of IPONK-IPOB and effectively opted for his own franchise. Supporters of Simon are also supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, the supreme liar. IPONK-IPOB is essentially divided into two factions but with central leadership led by Nnamdi Kanu, the Supreme liar.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have done anything so that lessons in treachery can be learnt by IPONK-IPOB—– Let them reap the fruit of treachery, anarchy, blackmail so that they may know that there is a supreme being in control of the universe and in charge of the events in the affairs of men.
He also blamed the political, community and religious leaders for their inaction in the face of this bloodbath
“We hold responsible the political, community and religious leaders for their inaction in the face of this breakdown of law and order in Biafraland, and especially in Igbo Biafran territory. Their complicit silence in not calling these perpetrators by their names speaks volumes.
Speaking further, he said the Nigerian government knows what to do to stop Simon Ekpa and his legions of killers but the powers that be choose to look the other side because of selfish political reasons.
“The Nigerian government knows what to do to bring the ring leaders of these terror and carnage against Igboland and Igbo sons and daughters to justice but they are obviously enjoying it for their selfish political reasons. So many embassies from all the continents of the world are in Nigeria. The Finnish embassy is in Nigeria if they want to call Ekpa to order, the Nigerian Embassy in Finnish can do that. The same applies to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and the countries of the European Union where fundraising are being conducted from to sponsor these violence against Igboland and her people. All these are at the diplomatic level. Nigeria can summon the ambassadors of these countries in Nigeria and press it upon their governments that if the don’t stop their citizens from sponsoring violence against the civilian population, that they would close their embassies and vice versa, and severe diplomatic ties, if only they are serious.
“The same goes to those who are raising funds to sponsor ESN-UNKNOWN GUNMEN in killing of Igbo sons and daughters. But, even if the federal government of Nigeria cannot do it, what prevents the governors from the affected States from petitioning the countries where this violence is being sponsored from, through the foreign embassies in Nigeria and the Nigerian Ambassadors in those countries?
“On the whole, I would not talk if not that these criminally minded gangs are intent and determined to inflict maximum damages on Igboland and Igbo sons and daughters. If IPONK-IPOB wants armed struggle/guerrilla warfare, let them afocus on military targets and not soft spots like the civilian population in Biafraland. Let it be military target against military target.
“ESN-unknown-gunmen-IPONK-IPOB must stop their cowardly acts of slaughtering Igbo Biafran sons and daughters because that is criminality and not freedom fighting. Engaging in these systematic human rights violations against our people is unacceptable, and we shall never keep quiet over it. With this criminality, they have dented the Biafra Restoration Struggle beyond recognition and in bad light. Anything outside human rights compliant Biafra is criminality.”
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, will on Tuesday, December 13, inaugurate the members of the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Committee.
The inauguration will take place at 12pm in the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Conference Room.
The 16-member Committee is under the distinguished chairmanship of Barrister (Mrs.) Uju Ifejika, OFR, CEO of Britania-U Nigeria Limited.
The terms of reference for the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Committee are as follows: To develop and sustain an oil and gas blueprint for Anambra State; promote and sustain a good rapport between the State Government and all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government concerning the Oil and Gas sector”; provide regular updates to the Government on international and local research outcomes as well as emerging local and international trends in the oil and gas sector or business and especially as they may affect or impact the State and its energy; and create measures and policies to ensure the smooth operation of the upstream (exploration and production), midstream and downstream oil and gas business in the State.
Other terms of reference include: Take inventory of all acreages (open and allocated) in the State and investigate why they aren’t active; register and keep records of existing oil and gas sector enterprises and proposed investor in the Oil and Gas sector in Anambra State; provide support and act as intermediary between Oil and Gas enterprise and their resident communities across the State; work closely with Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) to identify specific Oil and Gas projects and invite interested investors and/or partners for participation in such project; and advise the State Government on policy matters designed to promote and enhance the development of the Oil and Gas sector.
The Oil and Gas Development Committee is also expected to: Facilitate activities of the Orient Petroleum Resources and other companies in setting up refineries in Anambra State; ensure that owners of oil fields in Anambra State are very active; take steps and ensure that Anambra State becomes a member of NDDC; advise on the modalities of setting up an equitable and sustainable Host Community Development Trust Fund as encapsulated in the PIA 2021; advise Anambra State government on how to adequately deploy the proceeds of 13% derivation fund; Advise government on how to manage Energy Transition and Green Energy; distribution of Petroleum Products; environmental impacts of Upstream, Downstream and Midstream; minimize the methane emissions from Organic Waste; determine the effective way of monitoring hydrocarbon accounting in Lease Automatic Custody Transfer (LACT) operations; and finally Undertake other functions as directed by Mr. Governor.
With Barrister Uju Ifejika as Chair and the Permanent Secretary of Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources as Secretary, other members of the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Committee include: Engr. Ikechukwu G. Okafor (Vice-Chairman); Barr. (Mrs.) Patricia Igwebike (Commissioner for Transport); Sir Paul Nwosu (Commissioner for Information); Mrs. Nkechi Obi (MON); Prof K.K. Nwozor; Dr. Chris Ofokansi; Chief Tony Okwesa; Engr. Jideofor Chukwuemeka Etele; Barr. Anthony i. Ifeanya; Engr. Somtochukwu Mezie Okoye; Dr. Boniface Emengini; Emmanuel Nwabia; Mr. Francis Abuah Nwabueze; and Barr. Anthony C. Madichie.
Biafra Defacto Customary Government, has condemned in strong terms, the senseless killings of innocent civilians by the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and Fulani herdsmen.
The Customary Government in a statement by its communication Director, Uche-Mefor condemned the act of Kidnappings for ransom, burning of democratic institution (INEC) and targeted assassinations in the former Eastern Nigeria.
Mefor while noting that such acts constitute crimes against humanity, urged the people to embrace the democratic process and participate in politics in order to take political control of the region.
The statement reads, “The Biafra De Facto Customary Government Parliament, hereby, assert her moral authority, and condemns in strongest terms the criminality, the horror and terror unleashed on Biafra-land and her people (and especially on the Igbo speaking part) by the Fulani caliphate government of Nigeria in concert with the self-serving, and self-appointed rogue elements who pretend to be fighting for freedom but in reality, working for the enemies to criminalize the Biafra Restoration Struggle.
“Specifically, the Parliament condemns the following:
“Kidnappings for ransom, targeted assassinations of Biafrans, and senseless murders/slaughtering of Igbo Biafran sons and daughters.
“Violent armed attacks on civilians, the systematic degrading and destruction of democratic institutions such as the electoral offices and mass murder of the vulnerable population in Biafraland.
“The sundry cases of human rights abuse, including violations of the right to life, freedom to be free from torture, freedom of movement and expression, and association/ peaceful assembly.
“Economic sabotage using and the armed enforcement of the self-destructive sit-at-home leading to anarchy, lawlessness, and chaos – manifesting as physical intimidation, stoppage of vehicular movement, extortion, harassment and prevention of ordinary people from engaging in their day-to-day economic
activities
“The Biafra Parliament condemns murderous Fulani herdsmen terrorizing our people and strongly urges governors to urgently enforce open grazing laws in line with international standards.
“The Biafra Parliament notes with grave concern that these atrocities constitute crimes against humanity, which commission the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) the need to be absorbed in the
situation; and, subsequently, hold these perpetrators criminally liable.
“The Biafra Parliament boldly states that the perpetrators of the atrocities, as mentioned earlier, who are non-state actors from within, are now competing with the murderous Nigerian caliphate security forces on who can outwit and/or out-perform each other in slaughtering and massacring Biafrans.
“The Biafra Parliament urges all Biafrans to embrace the democratic process and play the Biafra territorial politics to take political control of Biafraland, the unrivalled pathway to Biafra Restoration.
“The cornerstone of the Biafra Restoration Struggle is the international human rights law. As such, any conduct outside imbibing human rights ethos in the piloting of Biafra affairs is criminality.
“Biafra remains our heritage, to which we pay our allegiance and renew our strength and commitment.”
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has told those who said that Nigeria is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket not to also justify and embrace the efforts at retaining the presidency in the North.
Governor Wike spoke on Sunday at the special dedication service for the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 General Election Campaigns Rallies, which held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt .
Governor Wike maintained that those involved in such double-speak and trying to hoodwink some gullible few, know that they are insulting the sensibility of well meaning Nigerians who want a united country that advances national cohesion.
You play on people’s intelligence; you say Nigeria is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket, I agree. But, Nigeria is ripe for presidency to remain in one zone? I mean, just look at the insult. You blow hot and cold.”
Governor Wike urged those people who delightfully condemn the Muslim-Muslim ticket as wrong, should also know that Nigerians are also saying it is wrong to retain the presidency in the North after President Muhammadu Buhari.
Most of you just sit there, you don’t ask yourselves questions. Somebody continues to sell this kind of cheap ideas. You don’t ask the person, I agree with what you are saying but look at what we are saying here.”
He further added, “Your party wants the presidency to go to the same zone where president Muhammadu Buhari is coming from. Who is cheating who?”
The Rivers State governor also spoke reminding the church of the need for it to participate in the voting process. However, he said, it should not get involved to the extent of serving as cannon fodder against any political party or political actor.
Governor Wike pleaded with the church to be careful and resist those politicians who come to mobilise them as if there is a religious war to wage.
“It is not now that politics have come, you want to come and tell the church a different story for your own personal interest. We have to be careful so that the church is not destroyed. Because, all of us, for example, we are Anglicans, I will not allow anybody, for his selfish interest to destroy the church of Nigeria. I will not allow that.”
Meanwhile, governor Wike has warned that his administration will not allow those who in the past instigated wanton destruction of lives and property in the State under the guise of politics to repeat same.
Governor Wike appealed to members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the State to resist deliberate attempt by some disgruntled and inconsequential politicians to provoke them ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He described as ludicrous and cheap blackmail the allegation by Abiye Sekibo and some of his associates that the State government recently resent thugs to attack them.
“Some people are saying we sent thugs to attack them. You see, when people see failure, they will begin to plan excuses. These are people all of us know our background and how we have won election in our various local government. I remember one of them during the last election could not even go to his local government. He ran down to Port Harcourt and stayed with me. Instead of you to tell your principal, this will be difficult for me, you are giving excuses.”
The governor who emphatically declared that he has never engaged in any acts of political violence in all his political career, advised those who might be planning to plunge the State into chaos to have a rethink.
Anybody who knows me knows, that I have never been violent. If I am violent, I won’t go to court. But we know those who planted killings in this State when they were Secretary to Government. We know them, but that killing will not happen again in the State. We will not give you the opportunity to try it again.”
Governor Wike explained that the reason Sekibo and his associates were begrudging him is simply because he did not support their ambition to emerge to get the PDP governorship ticket.
On the issue of Executive Order 21 and 22, the governor advised politicians in the State to approach the court rather take the laws into their hands.
He insisted that until the court declares otherwise, the government will ensure full implementation of the orders.
“The Federal Government has come up with so many Executive Orders, we didn’t kill anybody, but we went to court to challenge such others. The Federal Government has done a lot of things that Rivers state had challenged in court, and by the grace of God, we won.
“If there is anything any government has done which you feel you are not comfortable with ,you have to go to court and challenge it, and not just to come out to shout they don’t want you to campaign. Why will anybody not like you to campaign.”
Governor Wike declared that there was nothing wrong with the PDP dragging other political parties to court over their failure to comply with Independent National Electoral Commission electoral guidelines. According to him, litigations are part of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“When I know you have made mistake not to run an election, I should leave you? All we are saying is INEC comply with the law .You made us to comply with the law. Why are these people not complying with the law. Why should you allow us to pass through the process we passed through and you did not allow these other people to pass through that process. We said look, this is what the law says. INEC is like you are being partial . It is like you are applying this law differently to different persons.”
In his sermon, the cathedral archdeacon of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Venerable Obinna Ochulor spoke on the topic; “God our refuge” and exhorted the congregation to acknowledge the infallibility of God always.
He pointed to how people often rush to the altar of God to make vows when they are either experiencing critical situation but would refuse to return to fulfil them when they have triumphed.
While vows are important to be fulfilled, he admonished the congregation and particularly the PDP family to trust in God as their defence and shield so that they can enjoy his protection against all shades of evil.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said he did not understand the Boko Haram phenomenon, lamenting that despite the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the insurgency had not been eliminated.
The former vice president stated this on Sunday during the People’s Town Hall 2023 series aired on Channels TV which was monitored by The PUNCH.
Atiku, who featured with his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, responded to questions on insecurity and was asked about his position on Boko Haram.
He said, “I still cannot understand why we should have Boko Haram. You see, I served in Borno State when it was in the North-East, and as a Customs officer and I was patrolling the entire North-East, so I am very conversant with the vegetation and with the border areas. I still cannot find a place in the Borno areas where anybody can hide and cannot be seen. I cannot understand honestly, the Boko Haram phenomenon.
“Sometimes when returning from Europe, 30 feet above, I could see a man walking in Borno State, so where is the place to hide? To the extent that they say there is a place called Sambisa forest. I have been there. I didn’t see a forest. It is just shrubs here and there.
“So we have deployed the Nigerian military which used to be one of the best in the world. They have fought, you know, a number of the international arena and they have excelled and here we have deployed them with their might and everything and we just could not eliminate Boko Haram. So I am puzzled. So maybe when I get there, I will understand, but honestly, I cannot understand the Boko Haram phenomenon.
“Everything is there. Politics is there, business is there, security, everything. Of course, the solution is leadership, strong leadership to deal with all these interest groups within the military and outside the military.”
When asked about his position on militancy if it arose again in the PDP administration, Okowa said with appropriate leadership, there would not be a recurrence of such in the South-South.
He said, “I believe that once you provide the needed governance, it is unlikely that militancy will return. You first need to ask what led to that. People felt ignored. People felt excluded from governors, they were not seeing the infrastructure. Their children didn’t find the space to get properly educated, to get access to justice.”
Atiku also disclosed his plan to remove subsidy and negotiate with relevant stakeholders to provide palliatives for citizens.
He said, “I have already announced that we are going to remove subsidy and then of course negotiate with all stakeholders on how we can establish palliatives for removing subsidies.
“Whether we decide to remove subsidy or not, based on the Petroleum Industry Act, by June next year, subsidy will have to stop and that is the law that has been passed by the National Assembly. But as far back as last election season, I announced that I was going to remove subsidy.
When I was the Vice President, we were to remove subsidy in four stages. As the Chairman of the Economic Council, I supervised and implemented Phase One and Phase Two. By the time we got to Phase Three, it was suspended. If we had gone with that programme, by the time we left office, there wouldn’t have been any more subsidies for any government to inherit.”
On his part, Okowa said subsidy removal would provide funds for the education and health sectors.
Education is suffering, health service is suffering. These two areas are very critical to the larger majority of Nigerians who are in the poverty area.
“And it is important that we begin to free funds to address issues of education and to address issues of health so that we can provide help to a large majority of our people and provide education for our children and ensure that we’re able to develop every Nigerian to such an extent that they can freely compete for themselves and be able to take care of themselves,” he said.
In his response to the question on how he would tackle the shortage of foreign exchange, Atiku said, “I would direct the Central Bank to stop multiple exchanges so that we close the gap.
“And then of course, secondly, how do we also encourage foreign investors to bring in forex from abroad? I think is very key as far as that challenge is concerned. So basically if you can do that, you will then make it available for as much as possible.
“For most of the industries or factories first of all we will ensure that there is only one exchange rate, not multiple exchange rates as we currently have because the multiple exchange rate regime is corrupted and the people who desire the foreign exchange so I think this is a very serious issue. It is not a question of what role I can bring it but it is a mechanism by the central bank.”
Regarding the moribund refineries in the country, Atiku explained that they should be privatised.
He said, “For the four refineries that don’t work, please, let’s give them to the private sector. I mean, in every great nation in this country, you find that the private sector is the driver of the economy. They provide the jobs, they provide the prosperity, and they do everything. Why should we be different?”
On the country’s healthcare system, Okowa called for the support of the private sector in the development of tertiary health institutions while the government focus on primary healthcare.
He said, “We are encouraging the private sector to develop tertiary health institutions, while we encourage the sub-national governments to ensure that the primary healthcare development service is at its best. Because when you can ensure that you provide basic health services through the primary healthcare centres across the nation, you find that your people are going to progress.
