NGF crisis: Amaechi’s camp may go to court •Why he can’t seek second term - Gov Obi

• Written by  Taiwo Adisa, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Bolaji Ogundele and Isaac Shobayo
• Monday, 27 May 2013 00:20
• INDICATIONS emerged on Sunday night that state governors in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman may be heading for the court to stop Governor Jonah Jang from parading himself as the chairman of the forum.
  
  A source close to the group told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Sunday night that the step was one of the several options already mapped out to resolve the crisis rocking the forum.
  
  He said the group had started assembling legal luminaries to study the unfolding development and take necessary legal actions.
  
  Findings also revealed that the group had secured the video clip of the election, to the point of declaration of the final results, in which Governor Amaechi scored 19 votes to beat Governor Jang, who had 16 votes.
  
  “I can tell you on a good authority that Governor Amaechi’s group will be heading to court anytime from now, to put end to this rubbish. They are bad losers. Were they sleeping when the election was being conducted? They were part of the entire process,” the source added.
  
  As of press time, the group loyal to Governor Jang were said to be strategising after visits to the vice president, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, among others.
  
  However, both Jang and Amaechi continued to lay claims to victory of the chairmanship of the forum, on Sunday.
  
  Jang attributed his emergence as the chairman of the forum to the will of God and linked the crisis to the antics of governors strategising for 2015 presidential election.
  
  The Plateau State governor, at an interdenominational service to mark May 29th Democracy Day at Faithway Chapel, Jos, said he never planned to be chairman of the forum, but was called upon to lead by his colleagues.
  
  “Prior to Friday’s election, I was never interested or at any point muted the idea to contest for the chairman of the forum. But when I woke up that morning, I prayed concerning the election that the will of God be done. I never bid for it and the position of the chairman was zone to the North. Whatever man planned, God always have his way. God has ordained that Plateau will have this position,” he said.
  
  Governor Jang, who tried to explain how he became a contender for the position, said it was after the two contestants, Governors Ibrahim Sherma and Isa Yuguda, withdrew their interest that the northern governors unanimously conceded the position to him.
  
  He implored  Nigerians not to be disappointed with the outcome of the election, adding that the forum would, once again, become strong and virile.
  
  Speaking to newsmen on arrival from Abuja, the governor promised to do his best to reposition the forum and implored Governor Amaechi to cooperate with him in the task ahead.
  
  “I had worked with Governor Amaechi in the past successfully.  As far as I am concerned, I have been given an assignment and by the grace of God, I will do my best to unite the forum and to make sure that it gives the right leadership to the people of Nigeria. We have worked with Governor Amaechi successfully and he should also work with us,” he said.
  
  But, at another interdenominational church service at Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, Amaechi said he contested and won the NGF election held on Friday.
  
  According to him, “let me say to you, I am the chairman of NGF. That we are not talking is because we have decided not to talk. They voted, we voted and we won. If they had won, I would have congratulated them,” he said.
  
  Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, however, said the constiution of NGF has no provision for re-election.
  
  Governor Obi, on Sunday, said the NGF had earlier adopted the constitution of Governors’ Forum of the United States of America, which had no provision for re-election of the chairman after a two-year term in office.
  
  The governor stated that the amended constitution of the NGF, which Governor Amaechi relied upon to run in the controversial election, was doctored, adding that the amendment was never ratified.
  
  He said Amaechi’s re-election would not stand, because he was not elected by consensus.
  
  “Four out of the five governors in the South-East say Governor Jang is their choice; five out of the six governors in the South-South recognised Jang as their chairman; in the North, it is the same thing, so what are we talking about?
  
  “This is a body of equal partners, a voluntary group and there has never been a time we had election. It had always been by consensus.  They doctored the constitution which was never even ratified,” he said.
  
  Governor Obi also spoke about the process leading to his emergence as vice chairman of the forum in 2009.
  
  “First, let me say that in the history of our forum, we have never had chairmanship election. In Ilorin, we were about seven governors, later on, Oshiomhole came by the time Amaechi was selected.
  
  “Let me tell you what happened, we just arrived there and they said that we need to have a new leadership. Everybody was like, it was going to be me, because I was the deputy, based on the constitution.
  
  “The then governor of Bayelsa, (Timipre) Sylva said Amaechi, then the PDP governors said Amaechi. Nothing else, nobody said raise your hand. It was just like that. It has always been through consensus, when we agree, we agree. Initially, what worked against me was that they argued that I’m a non-PDP governor. In fact, I  have letters, documents to back what I am saying,” he said.
  
  He added that “let me tell you the background so that you will understand very well. When we were having a little bit of problem with (Bukola) Saraki and governors wanted to remove him, we decided that we must formalise everything concerning the forum.
  
  “That is the American constitution and that was what we adopted.  Based on this, on the day we agreed to this, I was elected the vice chairman under Saraki. That was in 2009. It was by consensus, the governors said let Peter Obi be the vice chairman. That was how I became the vice chairman.”
  
  Obi said the re-election of a sitting chairman of the forum had no place in the body’s constitution, adding that a chairman could only serve for a single, non-renewable term.
  
  Shedding light on the crisis which had engulfed the forum and which had seen to its factionalisation with Governors Amaechi and Jang leading different groups, Obi said the constitution of the American Governors’ Forum,  which the NGF modelled after,  prescribed only a single two-year term for a sitting chairman with no proviso for re-election.
  
  He claimed that Amaechi’s re-election would not stand because he was not the consensus choice of the body.
  
  When asked whether the constitution was amended at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), he said: “Let me tell you, all those things were not approved by anybody. They doctored it. I am one man who attends every meeting, I can’t remember ever sitting down and adopting the constitution you are talking about.”
  
  On what happened on Friday at the Rivers Lodge, he said: “As far as I am concerned, in Kwara, a particular governor said they should not conduct election  in  Kwara because we do not have quorum. He was told that quorum is 12. And even in this constitution they are quoting now, our quorum remains 12. If quorum is 12 and 12 don’t want you, that means you should even not contest.
  
  Meanwhile, the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called for reconciliation in the aftermath of the recently concluded NGF election, in order not to lose sight of the peer review for development, which motivated the forum’s emergence in the first place.
  
  Speaking to airport correspondents at the weekend, on his return from Abuja where the election was held, Governor Ahmed called on his colleague governors to shun divisive political tendencies and bury the hatchet, while focusing on using the NGF as a platform for driving impactive development for the benefit of the people.
  
  “If there are issues as regards the election of the forum’s chairman, we should use the same platform to resolve them rather than fanning the embers of discord in the media. Our choking security challenges should not be compounded with political conundrum,” the governor said.
  

Why Governor Obi will never Respond to Victor Umeh- aide

Why Governor Obi will never Respond to Victor Umeh- aide

 The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi, Mr. Valentine Obienyem  has described as a piece of blackmail, the statement credited to Chief Victor Umeh accusing his boss of trying to destroy the judiciary.

Obienyem who spoke with newsmen at the outing service by the family of Prof. Chinua Achebe at St. Philip's Anglican Church, Ogidi yesterday resisted all attempts by journalists to speak directly to his boss on the reason that only an idle mind would have time to respond to what he called  "lies, unguarded uttrances and distortions coming from the mouth of  Chief Victor Umeh." in his words: " Gentlemen, in Nigeria today, Chief Victor Umeh's name has become a byword for garrulity. Since he has no job and depends on political hatchet job for survival for which we know who is calling the  tunes he plays  today, we understand that people like him thrive in confusion and that explains what he does today."

Obienyem wondered why whenever chief Umeh   has case in court,  he tries to blackmail the judiciary for reasons only  himself knows. "Much as we are not disturbed by his penchant for blackmail, he should desist from bringing Gov. Peter Obi into that to make his rantings attract the attention they do not deserve, much as one does not know what will happen in court today, but while has it become a culture for Umeh to commend the judiciary whenever judgement or ruling favoured him; condemn her with blackmail when against him; and frighten them through blackmail when judgement or ruling is pending," Obienyem said.

On the contentious subject matter, the accusation of his boss of trying to pervert justice,  Obienyem said he was aware of the meeting at which they decided to put the falsehood in the papers to frighten the judge.  His words: "As a matter of fact, I received text message yesterday from somebody who told me of efforts to get the blackmail published in newspapers at heavy monetary consideration and how many editors turned it down as infantile typical of Umeh."

Contending  that Gov. Obi is busy repairing Anambra beyond compare, Obienyem  said he did not have enough  time to attend to numerous state and national matters he was saddled with to have time  for the likes of Umeh and would  not reply to his rantings for all the teas in China.

"Is it because of politics that somebody like Victor, who was only but a Personal Assistant/driver to Chief Okonkwor (Ofiadulu), should  speak disrespectfully about everybody, including his Governor?  His case has become that of a child uttering forbidden words against the elder under the guise of wisdom", Obienyem submitted.

Factional chairman, Okwu, rejects INEC’s verdict on APGA leadership crisis

Published: May 10,2013

Party leadership holds convenes emergency meeting on Monday.
Maxi Okwu, who was elected the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, last month, has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s recognition of Victor Umeh as the substantive national chairman of the party.
This is contained in a statement he personally signed on Friday.
The Commission had, in a letter dated May 8 and signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, said it will relate with Mr. Umeh as the national chairman of the party based on the stay of one of the reliefs of the Enugu State High Court of February 8 by the Court of Appeal.
Mr. Umeh had been removed from the position by the Enugu High Court, prompting some senior members of the party, including Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, to name Mr. Okwu as its acting national chairman.
A national convention of the party held in Awka, the capital of Anambra State and monitored by INEC on April 8, elected Mr. Okwu as a substantive national chairman even though Mr. Umeh appealed the judgement that sacked him.
However, INEC based its latest action on a relief granted by the Enugu State High Court presided over by Innocent Umezulike, the state Chief Judge, but which Mr. Okwu denounced.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by letter dated 8th May 2013, and signed by its Secretary Alhaji A. Kaugama says that based on the stay of one of the reliefs of the Enugu state High Court judgment of 8th February 2013 by the Court of Appeal, it shall relate with Victor Umeh as National Chairman of APGA,” Mr. Okwu said.
“We do not accept the Commissions’ posture for so many reasons. We will therefore work assiduously to see that this position is reversed as soon as possible.”
The embattled APGA boss said that the NWC will give a detailed response on INEC’s action after its meeting on Monday. He also said that 21 out of the 26 NWC members Mr. Umeh headed belong to his own NWC.
According to him, “It may be useful to mention that in this NWC, twenty one of then served in Victor Umeh’s twenty-six member NWC.

Okorocha dumps APGA, formally joins APC

The nation’s political landscape was redefined, yesterday, after Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State defected from the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to the yet unregistered All Progressive Congress, APC.
The defection during a public rally at the Heroes Square, Owerri was witnessed by eight governors from opposition political parties.
Okorocha indicated that as many as 12 governors possibly from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had given indication to boost the ranks of the opposition governors to 23 from 11.
The move was immediately flayed by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. According to Imo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, this was another indication of Governor Okorocha’s determination to hang on to power in any shape.
National chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh shied away from commenting on the matter as he didn’t respond to a text message sent to him on the issue.
Okorocha’s defection was witnessed by governors from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa and Borno states.
Flanked by his wife, Nkechi and the visiting governors, an elated Okorocha explained that the merger of some political parties was being engineered by those he called “a crop of seasoned, patriotic politicians who want to rescue the nation from the quagmire inflicted on it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”
Okorocha gave assurance that Ndigbo have embraced APC because of what he termed their sad experience in the hands of the PDP at the federal and state levels, pointing out that the party has been consigned to the dustbin of history in Imo State.
He advised Imo people to sustain their spirit of democracy and good governance through the rejection of the PDP and all that the party stands for in all future electoral exercises.
“I must commend all the governors that have chosen to come under the APC umbrella, especially as this is a sure way of ending bad administration in this God blessed country”, Okorocha said.
Lamenting the fate of the country in the last 12 years under different PDP federal administrations, Okorocha who derided the party as “people deceiving people”, said: “this ugly trend has pauperized Nigerians through poverty of vision and project implementation. Never again will Nigeria represent a nation in bondage.”
In his speech, Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, of Lagos State, commended Okorocha for his spirit of patriotism in joining the APC family, adding that the coalition marked the beginning of a veritable change for positive transformation and reformation in the country.
Fashola, Ajimobi laud Okorocha
Fashola said: “We in APC are committed to a change for the betterment of our dear nation and our people. The coming of APC is neither borne out of selfishness nor greed but a positive step to liberate our people from a state of hopelessness”.
Adding an element of humour into the event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, announced that Okorocha had been conferred with the title of “Girigi of Oyo State”.
Ajimobi said: “Those who have accepted to join and identify with APC would enjoy everlasting divine blessing, while those still procrastinating on when and how to do so, would have their blessings deferred”.
He commended Governor Okorocha for “his landmark achievements that have ultimately brought smiles on the faces of Imo people,” stressing that Imo people should continue to support him.
Meanwhile, the state capital, Owerri virtually stood still yesterday as schools, markets and a good number of business centres were closed for most of the day on account of the defection.
Responding to the defection, the PDP spokesman, Chief Amajirionwu said:
“What he did is one of those unserious things that are always associated with him.
“In the history of Nigeria, the South East was never known to play opposition politics. What is counted today as APC is a Yoruba party and if you come to the political history of this country we in the South East have always played along the national tendency, not playing along sectional issues. I want to assure you that in Imo State not even a ward, not to talk of a local government would go the way of APC.
“Rochas is on his own and that is his nature which we have been saying to everybody. Rochas is not dependable, look at the party that sponsored him, look at how he has dumped and disgraced APGA. APGA is not even backing him on what he is doing and this is APGA that sponsored him to where he is now. And that is a lesson for those now with him because he would also one day dump them and move on.”

Ngige declares governorship ambition in Anambra

Former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday, declared his intention to run for the 2014 governorship election in the state.
Senator Ngige made the declaration in Awka on the occasion of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), and Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
Speaking on the occasion, convener of the meeting and coordinator of Rainbow Coalition, Chief Ben Oranusi, explained that after due investigations and understanding of the personalities aspiring for the 2014 gubernatorial election, they found that Ngige was the person good enough and better experienced to take up the task of piloting the affairs of Anambra State.
Oranusi said: “We are urging him to come and contest this election and continue from where he stopped. We have been holding this meeting for months now and now is the time to call him up and say ‘go for us and become our governor again.’”
Former lawmaker in the House of representatives for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief Ralph Okeke, later moved a motion for Senator Ngige to contest 2014 gubernatorial election.
The motion was seconded by Ezike Nwosu, an APGA member from Ezinifite Aguata in Anambra South and supported by Chidi Abasilim of Idemili South and Paul Obianaso who do not belong to any political party.
Speaking on the occasion, Ngige said: “While I was there as governor, I worked with about N80 billion as total budget and executed about N69 billion and if we go by this data and figure, you will discover that the four budget which I prosecuted I had about N150 billion, including the Internally Generated Revenue.
“Yet we delivered services and built roads and lifted the embargo on employments and promotion which the then governor placed while in office.
“But when you compare my administration with that of the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi, you will see the difference.
“He had received N1.2 trillion in total as allocation from Federal Account and about N800 billion as local government allocation which makes it up to roughly N2 trillion in the last seven years, yet we have nothing to show for it.
“I wish to ask, what do we have in Anambra State in terms of infrastructure to show for the N2 trillion received by the governor?
“Even if you allow for inflation by doubling the N150 billion to N300 billion, does the situation in Anambra State justify the huge resources that has come into the state since then?”

Large number of Nigerian citizens in various prisons in South Africa

Posted on May 7 2013 - 5:33pm

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock over the large number of Nigerian citizens in various prisons in South Africa, reports the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
Jonathan told the Nigerian community in South Africa on Monday in Cape Town, South Africa that the high number of Nigerians in South African prisons did not speak well about Nigeria.
“I was told that more than 250,000 Nigerians are living in South Africa and that more than 400 are in prison serving various jail terms.

“This is a bad example of what Nigerians in the Diaspora should be; there are some countries like Malawi and Uganda that no Nigerian is in prison.
“Most Nigerians are doing very well abroad in various professional callings.
“There are Nigerians living in South Africa making good name for us but a few of you are doing things in different ways.
“There is need for these few Nigerians to be good ambassadors of Nigeria so that people will not see Nigeria and Nigerians as corrupt and criminal-minded people and nation,” Jonathan said.

He said that issue of corruption, security and crime were important to him and his administration.
“From my experience as deputy governor up till the time I was elected as the vice president I know those who talk more about corruption are the most corrupt.
“Peoples’ perception about corruption in Nigeria was over amplified than the corruption that happens in the country.
“The perception index is very high, we are not saying there’s no corruption in the country, all of us must work hard to fight corruption,” Jonathan said.
He said that the problem of insecurity in some parts of the country was being addressed by government.
“The issue of insecurity, threat to peace and stability in some parts of the country is being addressed; threat to peace and stability in the country must be stopped,” Jonathan said.
The president said he was totally committed to what was right for the country at all times.
“I promise Nigerians that issue of power will be solved as soon as the privatisation of power sector is completed.
“Power is key to the transformation agenda of this government; in no distant future the type of transformation in the telecommunication sector will be experienced in the power sector.
“We as government are doing everything to build a Nigeria of our dreams. Our airports are being renovated and modernisation and expansion of our railway transport system is ongoing.
“All what we request from all Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora is support and understanding.”
Jonathan assured that insecurity and molestation of Nigerians by various South African authorities would be discussed with President Jacob Zuma during the state visit.
The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, commended the president for conducting what was considered the most credible election in the history of Nigeria.
“It will never be out of fashion to say congratulations to you for the election of May 2011 that brought you to office.
“We congratulate you not because you won but because you made Nigerians all over the world proud by staging what has been dubbed as the freest and fairest election.”
Anyene said the action changed the tide in the way politicians came to power in Nigeria.
“We salute the courage and wisdom with which your administration is dealing with the delicate and monstrous security challenges we are faced with at the moment in our country.”
He urged the president to continue to explore every avenue to achieve peace in Nigeria.
“We must achieve a Nigeria that is safe and secure, where all ethnic groups can live peacefully side by side with one another.
“Peace and unity is a necessary pre-condition for the development of any country.”
He said that insecurity was preventing Nigeria from becoming a destination for foreign direct investment.
Anyene said the visit of the president to South Africa would help to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and their peoples.
He said, however, that Nigeria and South Africa should find a better way of translating government-to-government talk into person-to-person relationship between the citizens of the two countries and organs of state.
“Nigeria still receive inhuman, disrespectful and degrading treatment that suggest negative social profiling in this country within the South Africa Police Service as well other government departments, especially the Home Affairs,” Anyene said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan will attend the World Economic Forum on Africa on Wednesday, before leaving South Africa on Thursday for Namibia.

The APGA war

Not long after its inception, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) got into a crises that is threatening to end its existence. Already, the party is divided into two factions, one led by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and the other led by the party’s embattled Chairman, Victor Umeh. CHINELO OBOGO writes.
Okorie vs Umeh
APGA has experienced various crises since its inception in June 25, 2002, resulting in a prolonged court battle between the founder, Chekwas Okorie and the incumbent embattled National Chairman of the party, Victor Umeh. The litany of court cases started when the party, supported by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State expelled Okorie on grounds of financial misappropriation and anti party activities. Okorie went to court to challenge his expulsion and for many years, the country witnessed one of the fiercest and prolonged court battles in the history of political parties in Nigeria. From the High Court to the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court, the case dragged on until the Supreme Court declared Umeh the authentic chairman of the party and maintained that Okorie remained expelled. That battle came to an end when Okorie handed over the documents of the registration of the party to Umeh.
The crises continues
When political observers thought peace had returned to APGA which is presently controlling two states in the South east, the party started experiencing a fresh round of crises. This time it is between Governor Obi and Umeh. Initially, there were indications that all was not well with the duo. But when asked by newsmen, they kept insisting that all was well and in fact, that the relationship between both of them was rosy.
Things however came to a head when Umeh started complaining about the refusal of the governor to conduct local government elections. According to him, “The wrong thing I did was to tell the governor to conduct Local Government elections so that our party people would be empowered at the grassroots. I fell out with him in March 2010 shortly after he was sworn in and he sent people to tell me that he wanted to put caretaker committees in the local governments. I said no, that it was a breach of an agreement between me and him and Ojukwu. That if we campaign for him and he wins the election,  he will conduct local government election immediately so that APGA people will get involved in governance so that the party will settle down at the grassroots. As soon as he won that election, he wanted to change it, I disagreed with him. We had that problem for two months until Ojukwu resolved it and he agreed there will be local government election.”
Besides the issue of the Local Government elections, Umeh also complained that the governor was not releasing sufficient funds for the smooth running of the party and said that because of that, a lot of party members were not empowered. But the Special Adviser on Parks and Markets, Sylvester Nwobu-Alor refuted this. He told Daily Sun that the governor cannot conduct local government elections because  the case brought up by the local government chairmen against the state government is still pending in court. On the issue of the non funding of the party, Nwobu-Alor said it was unfair for Umeh to accuse the governor of not funding the party as the governor gives the party N20 million every month to ensure the party activities are run smoothly.
At this point, it became obvious that the party was no longer cohesive and Umeh who used to have a rosy relationship with Governor Obi, found a new ally in Okorocha of Imo State. He was seen at every function organized by the government of Imo State and did not spare any moment in singing Okorocha’s praises. Thus, with Umeh and Okorocha on one side, and Governor Obi on the other, the tussle for the control of the party became even more intense.  After the passing away of the party leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, his widow, Bianca Ojukwu pitched her tent with Obi and did not spare any moment in telling Umeh to submit to the authority of Obi. During a stakeholders meeting of party members at the late Ojukwu’s Enugu residence, Bianca was reported to have told Umeh not to scatter the party or else he would be made ‘a general without an army.”
Okorocha’s angle
No sooner than Umeh and Okorocha became buddies that things started falling apart. Okorocha, to the consternation of other party members, publicly declared support for the merger of opposition political parties which would emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC). Already, there are speculations that he may soon be expelled from the party for anti party activities. In his reaction, Nwobu-Alor  who is also an uncle to Obi told Daily Sun that Governor Okorocha can leave if he wants, and maintained that his departure would not affect the fortunes of the party.
The party on its own declared its stance in a statement, signed by Former Minister for Health and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dr Tim Menakaya. He said, “The party’s attention had been drawn to a press conference by a group of Governors, including Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State after meeting in Lagos endorsing a ‘merger of some opposition parties in Nigeria’ While we are not against the establishment of a mega opposition party, we believe that the issue of merger of political parties is a very serious matter that needs adequate consultations before a Governor participates and makes public statement. We wish to state after due consultations with most party members, including Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and other party stakeholders, that the party wish to state that we were never invited, consulted or informed about any political parties merger.”
As the crises in the party further deepened, Umeh’s faction appointed the late Ojukwu’s son, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu jnr as a member of the Board of Trustees. Ojukwu later told newsmen that the cause of the crises in the party was because Governor Obi wanted to impose a candidate on the party.  This revelation further laid credence to the speculations that Umeh was in support of Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil who has publicly declared his intention to run for the governorship election in Anambra State, while Obi is rumored to favour someone else. This conflict of interest, according to insiders is the underlying reason Umeh and Obi have been engaged in a battle to control the party and by extension, the South east.
The crises came to a crescendo when the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu ousted Umeh as the National Chairman . The party, led by Obi went ahead and conducted a convention where Maxi Okwu was elected Chairman. However, Umeh filed a suit asking for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal which was granted. This victory may give Umeh a further grip of the party with the support of people like Senator Annie Okonkwo, Ifeanyi Uba and a few other state chairmen in the South East.
But Obi seems to have a stronger hold in the party as those who support him include Ambassador Frank Nchita Ogbuewu, the 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Ebonyi State, Former Minister of Culture and Tourism and 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Abia State,  Chief Reagam Ufomba  and  2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Enugu State,  Obiora Obiegue. The support of these people further strengthens Obi’s grip of the party since according to APGA”s constitution, the governorship candidate and governor in each state should be regarded as the leader of the party in the state.
Other APGA political office holders  who are on his side are Senator Chris Anyanwu, representing Imo Central, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Eddie Mbadiwe- APGA Leader, House of Representatives (Imo State),  Chris Azubogu , Emeke Nwogbo and  Victor Ogene, members of the House of Representatives, Chief Chris Uche, Deputy National Chairman, South-east, Odi Nwosu, Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Prof. Dora Akunyili , 2011 APGA Senatorial Candidate, Anambra State, and Former Minister of Information and Communications,  Menakaya and Chuma Nzeribe, Former House of Representatives member.
With the saying that ‘when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers’, political observers are pessimistic about the survival of the party as many believe that the squabbles may affect the party’s fortunes.

Achebe: Nigerians to hold memorial service in London, May 18

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

LAGOS — NIGERIANS in the United Kingdom, will hold a memorial service and cultural reception for late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe on May 18 in London as part of global farewell activities for the literary legend.
Professor Achebe’s body will arrive Abuja May 12, sparking off a series of festivities that will continue until his final interment in Ogidi, Anambra State on May 23.
The programme is being organised by the United Kingdom chapter of Nigerians in the Diaspora in conjunction with his family, the High Commission and the wider literary world. The activities will kick off with a memorial service at All Saints Cathedral, New Cross, London, which will be presided over by the Bishop of Southwark.

Late Prof Chinua Achebe

Ubaka Alex Achebe, a family spokesman, said: “Apart from the Bishop of Southwark, the Bishops of Woolwich and London will also be there. There will be several cannons and vicars coming too, so we are expecting about a dozen clergymen.
“After the service, guests will be treated to an evening of African culture, literature at the nearby Millwall Football Club’s reception hall. There will be cultural troupes from all over Nigeria performing as well as those from Ghana, Kenya, the Caribbean and Congo, and a re-enactment of Things Fall Apart.”
Dignitaries expected include former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku; Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, Chi Onwurah, MP; Chuka Umunna, MP, and the Mayor of Enfield, Kate Anolue.
Also expected are the embassies representatives of Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Côte d’Ivoire. The Anambra Women Group has offered to take care of catering for the day and treat guests to the best of Nigerian cuisine.
Dan Otuonye, the chairman of the Organising Committee said: “We will print T-shirts, women’s head ties and men’s caps, which will be made available on the day. Igbo Youth Organisation will also entertain guests to the best of our culture.”
Organisers have been split into cultural, security, publicity, catering and organising committees to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. Several Nigerian authors and poets will also be expected to read from their books, while academics who worked with Professor Achebe will read out eulogies.
Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of the publicity committee, said: “Achebe was a global icon who cared passionately about humanity and we want this event to reflect his life.
“There will be cultural troupes there to showcase how Achebe brought the attention of the world to the fact that we Africans actually have a culture. there to highlight the fact that he was a genuine global icon.”

Anambra state 2014 Governorship contestants: This is not an exhaustive list:
1. Uche Ekwunife
2. Cheif Joe Ikebudu
3. Chief Emma Nweke
4. Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige
5. Senetor Annie Okonkwo
6. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene,
7. Mr. Mike Udah,
8. Dr. Alex Obiogbolu,
9. Princess Stella Oduah,
10.Chief Paul Odenigbo,
11.Patrick Obianwu,
12. Nnamdi Egweogwu,
13. Chief Chike Obidigbo,
14.Chief Goddy Ibekwe,
15. Chief Willy Obiano,
16. Chief Dubem Obaze,
17. Mr. Oseloka Obaze,
18. Dr. Obinna Uzo
19. Andy Ubah
20. Chief George Muoghalu
21. Proff charles Soludo
22. Mr. Ifeany Ubah
Out of all the political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only three actually have strong followership in the state. They are APGA, the ruling party in the state, PDP and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The consensus here is that the chances of any of the major political parties emerging the winner in the election would depend on the credibility of its candidate as well as its ability to conduct free and fair primaries.
These considerations notwithstanding, political watchers, however, believe that APGA has brighter chances of retaining the governorship seat. The achievements of Governor Obi administration in the state have endeared the party to majority of the citizens

Martin OGBOOGU
Political Analyst

Boko Haram: Give amnesty to MASSOB too – Seigha

BY DAPO AKINREFON

MR. Manijar Seigha is chairman, Niger Delta Nationalities in Lagos State. In this interview, Seigha states that the proposed amnesty package for Boko Haram members is in order. He also argues that President Goodluck Jonathan has not lost grip in tackling insecurity challenges facing the country. Excerpts:
Considering the state of insecurity in the country do you think the president has lost grip?
President Jonathan has not lost grip of the situation in any way. However, the President’s greatest challenge is his political opponents, his enemies and a huge population of ignoramuses not Boko Haram. This is because Boko Haram‘s continuous existence is dependent on the above.
Jonathan’s next challenge (if not a problem) is the body language of the judiciary and the attitude of the legislature. It is clear to all discerning minds that the judiciary and the legislature are not in a hurry to support Mr. President in the fight against insecurity.  If they were, new, effective, and unambiguous laws would have been enacted.  In the light of the above, I think Jonathan is being pushed to step on banana peels.
Therefore the solution to Boko Haram is a collective deal, the three arms of the Federal Government, the Northern Governors, Northern leaders of thought, and Islamic clerics  in the north must sit together for a collective solution so that Jonathan as a person will not be held for the fallout. At the formation level, it was mainly an organization whose ideology was the hatred of western education.

Mr Seigha

Today the ideology is in the least a sextuplet if not a seven dimensional octopus. Boko Haram has moved from the ideology of the hatred of western education which by the death of their leader necessitated the attack on security personnels and formations, but thereafter to local ethnic cleansing between the majority Kanuri and the minority Biu tribe in Borno state, then to religious cleansing in other northern states. The other level is using it as a weapon of warning for those perceived to be preparing to rig the 2015 election. It is also seen as a regional army in the waiting.
The latest is the use of it as an instrument of blackmail to persuade the Federal Government to give in to an abnormality and be blinded from rectitude. This includes the demand for amnesty for Boko Haram, meaning the genuine purpose of Boko Haram has been displaced. I therefore sympathize with the initial ideology of the hatred of western education rather than the hijackers demanding to Islamatise the whole nation.
Should amnesty be given to the Boko Haram insurgents?
The call for amnesty in favour of Boko Haram is the handiwork of the hijackers on the one hand and sympathizers of Boko Haram on the other hand. Firstly, it is another avenue to grab more oil money to the north.
Secondly, it is the replica of rotational presidency where the north says it is her turn to produce the next president of Nigeria. Like the former, the north seems to be saying it is their turn to grab the amnesty, since the Niger Delta got it first.
Sometimes, experts believe the acquisition of the 3 E’s that is education, exposure, and experience is all that is needed to proffer the right and sound judgement on critical issues. In any case if I may ask, can’t the northern Governors grant Boko Haram the said amnesty? After all, it is the northern economy that is suffering. Note also that the amnesty granted to Niger delta militants was because their activities affected the heart of the national economy directly not a regional economy.
Jonathan can just go ahead and deliver amnesty to Boko Haram. What will be a challenge, not a problem is when it will be delivered to MASSOB and OPC too? Just give it to them without rancour since we are about practising rotational amnesty.
But during the President’s visit to Borno State, he referred to members of the sect as ghost…
There is no doubt that a number of those taking on the President for referring to Boko Haram as ghosts understand him. However, a large number of ignorants, whose trade in stock and daily source of joy is the ability to challenge Mr. President on any issue, are at it again.
Those whose intent is to intimidate President Jonathan out of office using any terrorist means might be making a slippery and catastrophic mistake, because we know their target. Capture the natural resources of the Niger Delta (crude oil) and appropriate it without question on how, where and when. This will be resisted.
Should Jonathan contest the 2015 presidential election given the tension in the land?
The answer is yes. Constitutionally, it is his right as a bonafide citizen of Nigeria. Rotationally, it is the right of the Niger Delta to consolidate its turn. The point needs to be made very clearly that Obasanjo representing the South West got his two terms in office. Musa Yar’Adua would have gotten his two terms in office if he did not die.
So what is the offence of the Niger Delta zone in this rotational formula? Indeed Nigerians owe this zone for obvious reasons. It is not about Jonathan, but the Niger Delta, The goose that lays the golden egg. A Niger Deltan is already in office, I think it is in the interest of all Nigerians that that Niger Delta is allowed to complete its tenure. A word is enough for all Nigerians.

Nigeria: APC Manifesto - Jonathan, Obasanjo to Face Probe - Immunity for President, Governors to Go By Festus Owete,

Photo: Vanguard

ACN Lagos Campaign

After weeks of intense debates, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have finally adopted a manifesto, in which it enunciated plans to tackle corruption in Nigeria.
The parties had, in February, announced their plan to merge into one party to be known as All Progressives Congress, APC.
Consequently, the parties went into series of meetings during which it agreed on the constitution, manifesto, logo, motto and slogan.
Some of the documents are to be submitted alongside the application for registration to the Independent National Electoral Commission at the end of the national conventions of the parties, where the merger is to be approved by members.
According to the manifesto, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the association spells out an ambitious action plan to aggressively tackle corruption, which a source said generated hot argument before it was finally adopted last week.
Some members of the association reportedly canvassed the need to include specific details, which will endear it to Nigerians above the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which it believes has not done well in that regard since assuming power at the federal level about 13 years ago.
The APC specifically declared in the 29-page document that if it comes to power in 2015, it would not only renegotiate oil deals, but would also remove the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 40% of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, and query the utilisation of the over N50 trillion oil revenue it claimed accrued to the Federation Account in the last 13 years PDP has been in power.
During the period, the PDP produced three Presidents, namely Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), Umaru Yar'Adua (2007-2010) and incumbent Goodluck Jonathan (2010 till date).
The 20-member APC Manifesto (Logo, Slogan and Motto) Committee was headed by Audu Ogbeh, a former National Chairman of the PDP.
"We shall negotiate oil deals, unveil the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 49% of the Nigeria Liquefied, NLNG, query the over N50 trillion Oil Revenue which accrued to the Federation Account between 2000 and 2013 and recover billions of US Dollars which Ministries, Departments and Agencies, failed to remit to the Federation Account," the association declared on Section 1 Page 5 of the adopted manifesto.
The APC also declared that it would not only strengthen and make independent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies by repealing the laws which inhibit their independent, it would also review public service rules and financial regulations which currently permit outrageous impropriety in public finances.
It also promised to push for the removal of the immunity clause in the constitution which shields the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors from prosecution while in office.
"APC in Government shall muster the political will to wage strident war against corruption; otherwise our post-oil-economy will be disastrous," the manifesto stated.
"It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programs will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue.
"We shall plug all leakages which accelerate monumental corruption, recover looted funds, cap and trim unwarranted allowances to public office holders."
With a view to sanitising the electoral process if it comes to power, the APC also adopted for its manifesto some recommendations of the defunct Electoral Reform Committee, otherwise known as Uwais Panel, set up by late President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Among the recommendations listed on Page 6 under the same section, are that it will "make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of the National and State Electoral Commissions public" and that the "Burden of Proof shall rest on the Electoral Commissioners." It did not expatiate on the recommendations.
On power, APC said in Section 4 Page 8 of the document that it will pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in the four to eight years of its administration.
It added, "The party will also work assiduously at making available power from renewable energy sources such as coal solar, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, whenever these prove viable."
The APC also said in Section 23 Page 25 of the manifesto that, upon its assumption of office, it will begin wide consultations to amend the Constitution with a view to decentralizing the police command and expand local content.
It also promised to establish a well-trained, adequately equipped and goals-driven Serious Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide.
On politics and governance enunciated in Section 24 Page 26 of the document, APC promised among other things, to initiate action to amend the constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit; remove immunity from prosecution for elected public officers in criminal cases; ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act so that government held data set can be requested and used by the media and public at large and then publish at large, and then on regular basis; and restructure government for a leaner, more efficient and less expensive public service.
"APC believes that our politics is broke. Our nation urgently needs fundamental political reform and improvement in governance to make it more transparent and accountable," the manifesto stressed.
On the social scene, APC also said it would not only invest in massive human capital that would encourage the youth, it promised to "assist Nollywood to fully develop into world-class industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course.

Nigeria: ACN Holds Last Convention, Adopts APC As New Party

Photo: Vanguard

ACN Lagos Campaign

Lagos — APPROXIMATELY 4671 delegates of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Thursday in Lagos unanimously adopted the All Progressive Congress, APC, as its new political party.
Also, the party ratified the expulsion of some members approval of merger with other political parties and groups, approval of new name All Progressive Congress with acronym APC and approvals of new Constitution, manifesto, flag, logo and slogan.
There's urgent need for change - Akande
In his opening address, National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande said "this convention is a special one. The urgent need for change as the country desires to rescue our country compelled us to provide an alternative leadership for Nigeria. We must not entertain any fear or surrender to blackmail. We must be mindful that merger is new in Nigeria.
A storm is brewing - Tinubu
Lending his voice, national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu urged Nigerians to be part of history just as he predicted that a political storm is brewing in the country.
No ulterior motive to merger- Buhari
For ACN and CPC, it was not an alien issue, it was a continuation of what we started in 2011. Time was against us and all I can say is that the rest is history. This time around, we started early to build on the foundation we have laid in 2010. I assure you that all those who are consistent, that are concerned with this system of solidifying democracy should know that the only solution is this merger.

Govt can’t meet 10% of police requirements – Obi

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state yesterday expressed concern over the poor funding of the Nigeria Police Force, saying government “cannot even meet up 10 percent of the capital requirements of the police.”

Speaking to state House correspondents after a meeting of Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform, he said the meeting discussed ways of raising additional funds for the police to perform its duties diligently.

He said: “The issue is that the police are underfunded, grossly, and this committee is trying to help them to raise money. There can never be a situation where a country cannot even foot up to ten percent of the capital requirements of the Police.

“Security is the most important issue, for us today. You can’t talk about anything without security, and if that is the most important issue, you should fund it at least reasonably.”

He said state governments would continue to partner with the federal government to enhance the performance of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also speaking, Minister of Affairs, Mr. Caleb Olubolade, said N20 billion had been earmarked in this year’s budget for the Police transformation programme.

He said the priority of the ministry was to ensure the smooth take-up of the Police University in Wudil, Kano state, to facilitate the training of the police personnel across the country.

“So, our priority is to commence the degree-awarding institution in Kano, to start training officers who are more versatile, young blood, who can inject professionalism into the Police,” he said.

Supreme Courts okays Uwazuruike for treason trial

From IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja
The Supreme Court has recommended leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, for treason trial. Uwazuruike, alongside six other members of MASSOB, had been pressing appeals to extricate themselves from pending treasonable felony trial, but lost at the final adjudication point yesterday.
The treason charge against them was initiated by the Federal Government in 2005. A five-man panel of the Supreme Court unanimous agreed, in their judgment that the appeal by Uwazurike and others was unmeritorious and designed to defeat the course of justice. The apex court, however, ordered that their trial should be promptly commenced and be conducted with dispatch.
Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in the lead judgment, observed that the appeal, filed by Festus Keyamo for the MASSOB members, amounted to “a waste of precious judicial time since all the information imaginable that the appellants would need for their appeal has been available to them before they appealed to the Court of Appeal.” Other MASSOB members affected in the trial include Ambrose Anyaso, Augustine Ihuoma, Chibuike Nwosu, Kelechi Ubabuike, Chimankpa Okorocha and Benedict Alakwem.
The seven MASSOB appellants were first arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 8, 2005 on a four-count charge of conspiracy, treason, belonging to a militant group, MASSOB Army, and belonging to an unlawful society, MASSOB. They pleaded not guilty and applied that they be granted bail. Not satisfied, they approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The appellate court gave its judgment on May 15, 2008 granting only their prayer for bail.
They headed for the apex court, complaining, among others, that the charges against them were improper because there was no proof of evidence accompanying the charge. Justice Rhodes-Vivour, in his lead judgment, described the suit as frivolous. He held that the accused persons were provided with more information in relation to the charge, more than what they were entitled to under Section 33(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court Act.
He declared: “Though the appellants are not entitled to know the nature of evidence against them, the learned trial judge ordered the nature of evidence (information) served on the appellants, and this was done before their appeal in the Court of Appeal. “The argument that the charge should be dismissed because it was not accompanied by proof of evidence is a mere technicality designed to defeat the course of justice.
“In the light of the fact that the proof of evidence has been filed and is available to the appellants, trial should proceed with dispatch. The result is that the two issues urged in this appeal, on behalf of the appellants, fail and the appeal must fail as there is no merit.”

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Okorocha injured in auto crash

From GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yesterday sustained head injury when his car was involved in a ghastly accident on Orlu-Owerri road. Consequently, he has been taken to London, en route Port Harcourt, for further medical attention. While on his way to Orlu for project inspection, the governor’s official car had a head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz car, when the yet-to-be identified driver rammed into his convoy after losing control of his car.
The governor had sustained head injury, as he allegedly hit his head on the windscreen. He was first rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he received initial treatment. Okorocha’s personal physician, Dr. Sylvester Igwe, had stated that the governor had laceration on his scalp, and was stable, adding that what he needed was further medical examination.
Last night, the governor was taken to Port Harcourt International Airport, from where he was taken to London. Earlier, Imo State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had broken the news about the accident, saying that nobody died in the crash. “The governor’s official car had a head-on collision with a driver, but he escaped with minor injuries and his condition is stable now,” the commissioner said.
Okorocha, who was bandaged on the head, had stated that although he was stable and string, he would seek further medical attention, due to the level of impact of the accident on him. Also, speaking on the accident, the Imo State Commissioner of Police Mohammed Katsina, said he had dispatched the police investigation team to ascertain the cause of the accident and would give further information on the matter as soon as investigation was concluded.
Meanwhile, when our reporter visited the scene of the accident, the vehicles had been removed, while a few sympathisers were seen discussing the accident.

Governor Peter Obi flags of construction.

We Have Enough Money to Finance our Contracts to Completion –Obi 

Uploaded by Martin Ogboogu

Even while many contracts are going on in Anambra State in all the sectors as the State has never witnessed in the past, Gov. Peter Obi goes on flagging more contracts. In the last one week, he flagged of four roads, some in the most difficult areas of the State that many minds are agitated. Fully aware of this, he assured the people of Anambra State that his Government thrives on planning and that the money for all the contracts being awarded had already been saved. He made this remarks during the flag-off of Iyiowa-Odekwe Road at Okpoko.

Amidst applause from the populace and placards acknowledging Obi as the first Governor to visit the area and to do road work in the place, Obi assured them that the work would be completed within the life span of his Government. He also cautioned them against recklessness and in discriminate dumping of refuse into culverts.

The Governor who recalled many roads and projects his Government has executed in the area, including the on-going Atani-Ogwuikpele-Ochuche road, the on-going Atani-Ozubulu road, with three bridges; the transformers, the many schools renovated, electrification of some towns, among others, called on them to continue to support the Government through fulfilling their civic responsibilities.

In his remarks earlier, the State Commissioner for Works, Arc Callistus Ilozumba said that the contractor handling the project – IDR – had been tested and assured that he would deliver quality job according to specifications. He called on the people of the area to take ownership of the project by cooperating with the contactor and reporting any shoddiness to the Ministry.

He restated the determination of his administration to build a State everybody will be proud of and expressed satisfaction that conducive business environment has been created that is attracting investors from far and near.

Anambra 2014: PDP Guber Primaries Now For May 2013

Senator Andy Ubah at Ihiala recently

*galvanizes to upstage crises-ridden APGA
*begins ward sensitization tour
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has fixed its 2014 Anambra state governorship primaries for May next year.
Consequently the party yesterday kick-started its ward and grassroots sensitization tour in the state geared towards upstaging the ruling All progressives Grand Aliance (APGA).
Addressing the mammoth crowd that turned out at the maiden leg of the tour at Oye-Ukpo, headquarters of the council of Dunukofia LGA yesterday, the state chairman of the party, Prince Ken Emeakayi told the members to work hard to ensure a smooth sail back to the Awka Govt House, come 2014.
Smarting from its peaceful midterm congresses which had been acknowledged by the party headquarters as outstanding, Emeakayi noted it’s their mandate to take back the state via the people’s power, and return to their winning ways, through what he tagged “operation deliver your polling booth”.
He lamented that the state’s growth and development has stunted in the last seven years of APGA leadership in the state. The party’s governorship primaries, according to him has been fixed for next six or seven months, that is May or June next year.
Emeakayi reminded the party faithful that they were all the potential delegates to the primary to elect the governorship candidate. They were therefore urged to desist from political prostitution where they canvass for attention of the aspirants, instead of concentrating on their mobilization for the aspirants to be attracted to their industry. He wondered how they expected someone who could not recognize them when in need of their services and assistance would be expected to recognize them when he eventually wins.
The chairman praised the roles of Dr Alex Ekwueme and Prince Arthur Eze in seeing to the restoration of the peace through his executive of the party in the state.
A chieftain, Dr Ramas told the members to remain united, charging them to use the former crisis as a tool with which God cemented the party further. He insisted the need for a far reaching change in the state, pointing out there was yawning gap in youth empowerment and job creation presently.
Prince Eze in his goodwill message presented by Chief Vincent Ilogha, the Ogne of Ukpo, charged the executive not to betray the implicit confidence reposed in them by the members to give a transparent and purposeful leadership.
The Vice Chairman(Central), Amechi Onowu described the commencement of the tours as the beginning of the party’s journey towards recovery of their mandate to return to the Government House and leadership in the state’s legislature.

Who Is Apga Chairman, Maxi Okwu Or Victor Umeh?

Who Is Apga Chairman, Maxi Okwu Or Victor Umeh?

17 Apr 2013

After a long drawn bitter struggle for the soul of the All Progressives Grand Alliance between Chiefs Chekwas Okorie and Victor Umeh, which had split the party’s rank and file down the line and which ended as Okorie finally accepted his faith, surrendered the party’s registration certificate and formed his own party, I had thought the South-east-based party had seen its worst. I was wrong; we were all wrong, because I know I was n’t alone in that thought.

Now, another leadership struggle is on and the too warring chairmen are proxies of the two governors produced by the party who are fighting a supremacy battle for the control of APGA machinery.

Umeh, who was on February 10 restrained from parading himself as APGA chairman by a state High Court in Enugu presided over by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Innocent Umezuluike, was on Monday reinstated by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu pending the determination of his appeal against the lower court. Meanwhile, shortly before the court ruling, Maxi Okwu was elected the party’s chairman at a national convention held at the Women Development Centre, Akwa, Anambra State attended by some leaders of the party including, and expectedly, its Deputy National Leader, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Now, Umeh claims he is APGA chairman, just like Okwu, who even had to abandon his own party CPP to hop on APGA.

Okwu says Umeh’s reinstatement is a hoax, Umeh says Okwu’s election at a convention in Akwa is a nullity. Only the court can help resolve the matter. But what has inflamed the APGA leadership crisis is the emergence of the opposition merger All Progressives Congress.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha who has some hold on Umeh believes in the merger and insists APGA is part of it. But Governor Obi who ostensibly has brought up the Okwu’s chairmanship is opposed to the merger, being an ally of President Jonathan, and says APGA is not for APC.

Obi condemns killing of Nwike, Anambra’s ex-deputy governor

From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday condemned in strong words, the killing of the former deputy governor of the state, Dr. Chudi Nwike, describing it as not only pathetic but crude and inhuman. Dr. Nwike who until his death was the national vice chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), South-East, was killed in Delta State by those suspected to be kidnappers who abducted him from Anambra and demanded N30 million ransom.
Describing his death as a great loss to Anambra State and Nigeria, Obi said, “by this death, the state had lost another experienced voice in terms of advice about governance.” Wondering why some people could still take other’s life without compunction, the governor said that such acts were vestiges of barbarism the country was trying to wipe out.
He however, stated that such callousness strengthens his resolve to continue to fight crime of whatever shade in the state and further described the perpetrators of the dastardly act as barbarians. Obi assured Nwike’s family that Anambra State Government sharedå in their sorrows and prayed to God “to strengthen them in this trying period.”

Anambra Elections: The past, present and future

By Chioma Gabriel
As the clock ticks for the exit of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state from office, the issues in the politics of Anambra state of South-East Nigeria are becoming more intriguing by the day. Since  the dawn  of democracy in 1999 , the case of Anambra state has remained confounding.
For one thing, it is the only state that has paraded five governors under controversial circumstances in the dispensation of 1999-2007. The chronicle of its governors ranged from Chinweoke Mbadinuju who became governor from 1999-2003. He was of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Dr Chris Ngige became the governor of the state from 2003 to 2006 on the same platform of PDP but he was removed in March 2006 when the Court of Appeal in Enugu asserted that his election victory in 2003 was rigged.

Ezeife, Etiaba, Mbadinuju, Ngige, Uba and Obi

He was succeeded by Peter Obi of All Progressive Grand Alliance,APGA, who in turn was ousted by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly on November 2, 2006 and was replaced by Virginia Etiaba his Deputy at that time. However, the circumstances became more confounding and on February 9, 2007 Mrs. Etiaba handed power back to Obi after the Court of Appeal had nullified Obi’s removal.
The governorship election of April 14 2007 where Andy Uba, the candidate of the ruling PDP was announced the governor was declared illegal on June 14, 2007 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria which replaced him with his predecessor Peter Obi, citing  illegality in Andy Uba’s election on April 14, 2007
Indeed, the political history of the state has been checkered since 2003 when Dr Chris Ngige became governor. The  issue he had with his political godfather, Chris Uba held the state hostage for months and brought about a lot of carnage and destruction.
In the Ngige era, the destiny of the entire State was reduced to a personal quarrel between two individuals until the two men at the centre of the crisis were persuaded to sheathe their swords
What made the Ngige and Uba problem more bizzare was that their struggle was over the actualisation of an agreement they both swore to before the Okija shrine. But as fate would have it, Dr Chris Ngige was removed from office on March 17, 2006, barely a year to the next election.
The situation was so bad that a presidential committee was set to resolve the issue after which Dr Chris Ngige and his estranged political sponsor, Mr. Chris Uba pledged to forget their differences in the interest of the State .Dr Ngige then pledged to make more sacrifices to engender peace while Uba said that Anambra would never be turned to a war theatre again.
Peter Obi made a triumphant entry into the scheme of things after the court ruling on the issues surrounding the election that produced Ngige  as governor .
He held sway in the state as Governor from March 17 2006 till November 3 2006 but the bickering between him and the PDP- dominated House of Assembly eventually saw him removed from office.
A vacuum was created as to who would become the governor between Mike Balonwu of the House of Assembly and Dame Virgy Etiaba, the then Deputy Governor.
The line eventually fell for Dame Virgy Etiaba in pleasant places as the controversy was resolved following her official recognition by the Federal Government. Many thought Etiaba would reject the offer but she made a volte face and took an oath of office as the governor of the state on November3 2006.
However, her tenure as Governor was short lived. On February 9, 2007, she was ousted from that position after a court nullified Peter Obi’s removal. But before then, her party APGA had fielded her as governorship candidate for 2007 guber elections because Peter Obi’s case was still undecided.
But  Obi was to get a supreme court ruling  which extended his tenure till 2010.
He contested and won a second term in office which was again plagued by petitions and court actions. But like a cat with nine lives, he scaled through. Presently, it is only days for him to conclude his second term having made history as the only governor from the state to serve a second term in office.
As the date for the next guber election in Anambra progresses, there has been a litany of problems and political bickering involving almost all the major political parties in the state especially APGA and PDP.
At present, so many of the issues are still unresolved and as the 2014 gubernatorial election approaches, the problems seem to be  gathering momentum.

Anambra condemns demolition of govt property in Onitsha

Anambra condemns demolition of govt property in Onitsha

By Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka 

ANAMBRA State government has condemned the demolition of the state veterinary quarters and other structures located at the GRA, Onitsha, by some indigenes laying claim to the land.
The affected areas are along Plot 14, Ring Road, Bent Lane behind judges’ quarters, Regina Nwankwu Avenue, Park Road and Enugu Road, all in GRA, Onitsha.
The Ekwerekwu family of Onitsha had on April 5 allegedly called for the demolition of structures on the affected plots, insisting that they were out to reclaim their land, which also housed the Police Barracks at Enugu Road, Onitsha.
The Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Okoli Akirika, who went on inspection at Onitsha yesterday to ascertain the extent of damage as a result of the demolition, said even if the lease of the affected areas had expired, there are proper ways of doing things.
He argued that the government is not against any person espousing any possessor’s right, but certain things should be done within the ambits of the law.
“This is government property anchored and situated on legality and we expect that whoever wants to espouse any right should do so within the ambit and procedure as prescribed by the law.
“We are open to complaints and petitions which could be legitimately lodged at the ministry so that we look at it for determination on its merit. If there will then be need to release property back to the owner, re-acquire the property or pay compensation, government shall do that.”
The commissioner stressed that the Governor Peter Obi-led administration is anchored on decency, legality, responsibility and responsiveness.
Although Akirika refused to ascertain the monetary value of the property damaged and when government acquired the land, he stressed that “this is something that involves landed property and is essentially been governed by documents.”
Reacting however, one of the lawyers to the original owners of the land, Mr. Azubuike Anyakwo, who came to the demolition site, told the commissioner that the action was carried out on the order of a court.

Nigeria: Anambra - Why We Can't Hold LG Elections Now - SSG

By Clifford Ndujihe, 14 April 2013

Anambra State is one of the 17 states that do not have democracy at the local council level. The Nigerian Governors' Forum, recently, advised such states to shape up and conduct council polls. In this interview, Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Oseloka Obaze, who is from Anambra North and considered to be eyeing the governorship seat, says the state cannot hold council polls now because of an avalanche of pending litigation. He also speaks on the need for Anambra North to produce the next governor among others.
On the Governors Forum charge to Anambra and 16 other states to conduct council polls.

We have spoken about this severally. We are constrained in holding the election because there are several cases before the law court and being a law-abiding government that believes in due process and the rule of law, we will not be in contempt of court to proceed to hold an election when those cases are not resolved.
I have said it often time that if those who are in court withdraw the cases from the state and the Attorney General of the state confirms that those cases have been successfully withdrawn then there is nothing that will disturb the conduct of the election, the governor will proceed to call for an election and Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) will proceed to conduct the election. So there is no problem there. The fact is that you cannot put the cart before the horse in this case.
On clamour by Anambra North to produce the next governor.

It is not a clamour rather it is a clarion call to discuss what has been the entrenched equilibrium and lack of equity in the way the state has run since 1991. Since 1991, the leadership of Anambra State, the governorship has been dominated by the South and Central senatorial zones and the Northern senatorial zone has so far not held any governorship position and it is believed that this the time we allow somebody from the North to emerge and take that position.
It is not zoned by any means but it is at least a shared view by well-meaning Anambrarians, some of them from the South, some of them from the Central, a view shared by the leadership of Anambra in the person of Governor Peter Obi and a view shared by the people of the North which is comprised of the people of Omambala, Oyi, Onitsha and Ogbaru and the discussion is still ongoing and I think it is a vibrant discussion.
What we said is that charity begins at home because it will be an anomaly for Igbo who continue to canvass for an Igbo Presidency, seeking equity and equilibrium to turn around at home and marginalise their kit and kin or refuse to grant the same benefit of being able to run for the governorship.
So that is the reality. But mind you, nobody has said that only the people from Anambra North senatorial district should run to the exclusion of the people of the South and Central. I have not heard that. All they are saying is that we must reach a meeting of the minds which say yes for a change. We want somebody from Anambra North to emerge. At the end of the day it is the electorate of Anambra that will vote. It is not something you can impose on anybody.
On speculations that he or his brother has Governor Peter Obi's backing to become the next governor of the state.
In politics, people can speculate what they want. I am from the North and my brother is from the North. But I cannot compete against my brother neither would he compete against me. But I think that even His Excellency, Governor Obi has said that he does not know who will succeed him and that it is only God that knows who the next successor is and I think at this point, it will be presumptuous for anybody to think that they know who is going to succeed Peter Obi, that is something that is left to the Anambra electorate and free and fair elections.
We saw what happened in Edo and Ondo states. If we have free and fair election, the right person will emerge and Anambra electorate will vote with their conscience that is the way I see it. Based on speculation, it is a democracy and people are free to speculate what they want. I know that neither I nor my brother has declared that we are running for any office.
On job creation efforts of the state government.
Unemployment is a global problem, it is not peculiar to Nigeria, it is also not peculiar to Anambra State but it is a challenge we face. What we are trying to do as you have observed, is that we have not employed in the state government for a while; we are going to open that up in months ahead.
Hopefully, we are starting with 3000 people perhaps in the educational sector. Generally, unemployment is addressed when you create wealth, build industries which allows people to be employed, and people who are employed earn income and invest it, they generate more wealth and then cut down the level of unemployment.
It's simple. We need to hasten whatever we are doing to allow more foreign and domestic investors to come into Anambra State, establish their businesses and employ more people. But we also have to understand that we face a unique challenge. We have a large labour force of largely unskilled labour.
Our people who are on the street hawking materials are not employable unless you are going to employ them as truck pushers. You cannot employ them as vigilante because they lack basic requirement to that. For the youth, those have already missed boat will have to find a way to accommodate.
The most important thing is to keep the younger ones in school where they are educated sufficiently to continue to the higher institutions or even if they don't go the higher institutions, they can go to the vocational schools where they come out as skilled labour. We have experienced a diminution of artisans, people who perform the highly needed menial jobs, lay ties, carpentry.

APGA: Umeh's Faction Restates Stand against Political Parties’ Merger

APGA: Umeh's Faction Restates Stand against Political Parties’ Merger

16 Apr 2013

• INEC must investigate Obi, says Ezugwu

By Segun Awofadeji in   Bauchi

The Victor Umeh-led All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reiterated its stand that it will not merge with any political party in the country ahead of the 2015 general election.

The party  National Secretary, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi told journalists in Bauchi at the weekend that the party would not lose its identity to merge with any political party, adding that it will field a presidential candidate for the 2015 elections.

“On the issue of merger, we have been saying it times without number that APGA has not joined merger with any political party. APGA will field a presidential candidate in the 2015 general election, APGA is not in All Progressive Congress (APC)” Shinkafi stated.
Shinkafi, who was in Bauchi to condole the family of the state APGA chairman, Alhaji Danjuma Musa, said however that Governor Rochas Okorochas of Imo State had in his individual capacity joined the merger bandwagon.

He added, “So what we are trying to tell you is that we are not part of the merger, we will retain our identity as APGA, but we will hold talks with any progressively-minded political party to go into alliance.”
He further explained that APGA as a political party in line with the Electoral Act as amended would not lose or surrender its identity to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to go into merger with three other political parties.

Shinkafi, who also said APGA would deal decisively with any erring member of the party especially those that opted for the merger, stressed that punishments relating to such offences being committed by members were clearly spelt out in the constitution of the party.
“So nobody is above the law, nobody is above the constitution of the party and the party has supremacy over any individual or a governor, even (PDP) is bigger than Jonathan, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is bigger than Tinubu, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is bigger than Buhari,” he said.

Shinkafi decried a situation whereby governors of the PDP are ganging against the National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, and are even calling for his removal.
He recalled that the recent Court of Appeal judgment that upheld the Victor Umeh-led national leadership of APGA was a clear manifestation that the party was supreme over its members.

Shinkafi similarly expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, tried to sell APGA to the PDP, describing him as insincere person who has one leg each in both APGA and the PDP.
The APGA scribe further alleged that the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan by the party in the 2011 elections without any monetary condition or otherwise had fetched personal benefits to Obi and his tribe.

“After the election was fought and won, Jonathan gave three ambassadorial nominees to APGA, one Special Adviser, 28 other political appointments, all these were carried away by Obi, all those positions were given to Igbos, none was given to Hausa, South-south, South-west, nobody from these parts of the country was appointed a cleaner,” he said.
He opined that if Jonathan wanted to relate with APGA, let him relate with the party not an individual as Obi is saying bye-bye to his tenure which expires on March 17, 2014.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of APGA and the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu, has called on the INEC to as a matter of urgency investigate the Obi-led national convention of the party conducted last Monday.
Ezugwu made the call in Enugu yesterday while describing the convention as an eyesore, adding that he was still confused at the role INEC played in monitoring the proceedings at an unholy time of 1a.m.

“We are calling on INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to investigate the fraudulent conduct of the convention purported by Obi and also the authorisation of the INEC personnel that monitored the proceedings of the 1 a.m. to 7a.m. during last Monday’s convention
“How did INEC itself got entangled in this because I doubt if Jega himself was given adequate notice of information to be part of such a deal to monitor a convention at that unholy time or is INEC no longer a public institution?” he asked.

Ezugwu also wondered why Obi should applaud the illegal convention and while his cohorts should discredit the Court of Appeal ruling where three judges gave a ruling for stay of execution and ordering the reinstatement of the national chairman and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
“I do not see any reason why Obi should support such an illegal convention by applauding it and his aide, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Joemartins Uzodike, disregarding the Monday Appeal Court judgment by describing it as "judgment in futility."

He also called on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the 24 impostors claiming to be state party chairmen of APGA that signed the notice of the congresses and convention, citing a similar case which is now pending in court where Sadiq Massala claimed he had the mandate of 20  NWC members to remove Chief Victor Umeh from office but INEC later discovered the 11 of the so-called signatories were impostors.

He asked Obi and his lieutenants to desist from destroying the party which they all laboured to build.
“Obi and his cohorts must refrain from destroying APGA and disobeying court judgments since he himself was a beneficiary of the same court judgments,” he said.