Lot Of Anticipation As The Supreme Court Rules On The Chijiuba/Tinubu Case

 

Democracy Watch Nigeria has said that the Judgement of the high court between Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Bola Ahmed Tinubu who won the presidential primary election of the APC will shake the political fabric of Nigeria.

The Convener of Democracy Watch Nigeria, Dr Nwambu Gabriel, stated this on Friday in Abuja while addressing the media o the road to the 2023 general Election.

Dr Nwambu said it would determine whether the nation is indeed compliant with Electoral Act 2022 or whether it is lip service.

An excerpt is the full text of the press briefing

It is 78 days to the general elections as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of voting materials across the country. Ironically, the offices and facilities of INEC have frequently and systematically been attacked in what seems to us as coordinated and simultaneous attacks across Nigeria especially in the southern part of the country. The attacks in Imo state is making it the seventh attack in four months. They were coordinated attacks in INEC offices in Ogun and Osun states respectively. Democracy Watch Nigeria has noted with dismay that these attacks are coming after INEC had met with the nation’s security chiefs and several reassurances by the Inspector General of Police which is the lead agency for international security that security has been beefed up to protect INEC installations and facilities nationwide. It is worthy of note that INEC is not a security agency and no successful election can take place without adequate protections of lives and property of citizens. For an effective election process, citizens need proper reassurance of their safety otherwise this would impaire negatively on the turnout of registered voters on elections. In these attacks, Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), electricity generating sets, and election materials, infrastructure, etc. were burnt and destroyed.

The electoral management body has assured every registered voter that they may not be disenfranchised. Consequently, the commission has commenced the reprinting of all burnt PVCs across the country. This is coming when issues about the funding of INEC’s budget had long been concluded for the 2023 General Elections for a country that is in a dare need of funds to finance it’s budget. The funds for the replacement of PVCs and other facilities would have been saved if not for these consistent and incessant attacks.

The Independent National Electoral Commission is working relentlessly well to comply with the Election Time Table and to ensure a transparent, peaceful, free, fair and credible elections come February 2023 amidst intimidation, threat to life, including various cases in court to compel the chairman and other national commissioners to resign, or to prevent the commission from deploying the BVAS technology. We are aware that several attempts has been made by just a very few desperate politicians to infiltrate the voters register of INEC, and hack into the website to manipulate elections in their favour. In all these, INEC has remained resolute and steadfast in ensuring the conduct of the general elections synonymous to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By this medium, we, the members of Democracy Watch Nigeria hereby pass a vote of confidence on Prof. Mamood Yakubu, the National Commissioners and the management of the commission on their insistence on doing the right thing, complying significantly with the relevant laws and the Electoral Act 2022.

We hereby call on all registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs, civil servants, traders, market women, students, youths, women and every eligible person who has registered to go to INEC offices from 12th of December 2022 to 22nd January,2023 to collect their permanent voters’ cards as their votes must surely count in the general elections.

THE JUDICIARY.

There have been an increased number of cases bothering on the candidature of various political parties on different positions. The Independent National Electoral Commission has 600 cases bothering on same issue. The Adamawa APC is facing serious litigation on the authentic Governorship candidate of the party.

The Abia state APC is also not left out. It is having its own share of litigation between Dr. Uche Ogah and Chief Ikechi Emenike on who is the authentic Governorship candidate.

The APGA in Abia state is having its own tussle. In a case filed by Chief Chikwe Udensi challenging the APGA governorship primary that produced Prof. Greg, Justice Binta Nyako nullified the primary and ordered for a fresh primary within 14 days.

In Akwa Ibom state, the PDP is at the Appeal Court now on who the authentic Governorship candidate is. The APC is also in the Appeal Court. While the Governorship candidate of the YPP, Senator Bassey Albert has been jailed for 42 years for an offence he allegedly committed between 2010 and 2014 while serving as commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom state.

In the same vein there is a case that would be decided on Monday, 12th December, 2022 by a high court in Abuja between Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Bola Ahmed Tinubu who won the presidential primary election of the APC. This Judgement on Monday will shake the political fabric of our nation. It would determine whether the nation is indeed compliant to our beloved Electoral Act 2022 or whether it is lip service. Nigerians and the international community are watching and waiting for this Judgement. This would definitely make or erode the public perception on the belief that the Judiciary is really the hope of the common man.

Hon. Nwajiuba posited his stand on 3 germane issues:

1. That the Primary and Secondary School Certificates of the candidate was not submitted to INEC sequel to fundamental requirements of law.

2. That the candidate had in the past deposed to an affidavit that he attended certain secondary schools.

3. That the provision of section 90(3) of the Electoral Act which bothers on the disclosure of sources of funds in excess of 50 million naira has been breached by the candidate, as the candidate has failed to furnish same to INEC. This is sequel to the purchase of expression of interest and nomination forms at the cost of 100 million naira.

Hon. Nwajiuba argued that other political parties might as well take advantage of this lacuna thereby destroying the chances of the APC. He went further to Section 84(13) of the 2022 Electoral Act which states that where a political party fails to comply with the provision of this act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for the election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.

The above, no doubt, are earth shattering issues for which the Judiciary should brace up to the challenge of doing justice to ensure transparency and the dominance and supremacy of the rule of law preparatory to the 2023 general elections.

Thank you.

Signed:

Dr Nwambu Gabriel.

Convener

Alhaji Babananga Nengari.

Secretary.

How CP Babaji Sunday Led The Illegal Violation Of Rights Of Aminu & Mrs Kazeem

 

The FCT Commissioner, CP Babaji Sunday has been fingered in the abduction and violation of rights of Aminu and Mrs Kazeem

An investigation by our reporters shows that the former aide to Aisha Buhari was illegally detained by the CP in connivance with DCP Ahmed Musa; ACP Usman Shugaba; CSP Yahaya Njayo; DSP Festus Josiah; DSP Abdulsalam Zakari and ASP Haliru Tahar.

Further investigation shows that the involved Police Officers have been looking for ways to release Aminu and Mrs Kazeem silently without attracting the attention of the public.

Aminu and Mrs Kazeem were in the Villa when an argument arose between her and the First Lady that resulted in the detention of Aminu and Mrs Kazeem.

FG Halts Plan To Acquire N5Bn Office Building For NAICOM

 

…..Finance Minister orders immediate recall of transferred Director of Finance and Admin

…..Sets up a probe panel to look into the process of acquisition

The Federal Government has waded into the leadership crisis rocking the National Insurance Commission.

The Network gathered that the leadership of NAICOM is sharply divided over the move by the Commissioner, Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, to acquire a property in the Gudu District at a whooping N5billion for the Commission.

An investigation conducted by the Network revealed that the six directors of the Commission, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Oba Oluniyi, and the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Abubakar Sanu, all opposed the decision of the Commissioner to acquire the property.

It was gathered that the internal process for the hurried acquisition of the property ran into a hitch when the Deputy Commission, Finance and Administration, and the Director, of Finance, advised against the acquisition of the property.

A source who confided in our correspondent said the directors and the Deputy Commissioner advised against the planned acquisition arguing that there was no cash backing for such a venture.

The top management of NAICOM was concerned that pulling out N5 billion to acquire a property at a time of grinding paucity of funds would throw the Commission and staff into crisis over welfare issues.

On Monday, the Chairman of the Governing Board led other members to inspect the building and discovered to their chagrin that the purported building was a massive carcass.

It was learnt that the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Abubakar Sani, advised against the acquisition of the building on the ground that it would require another N5 billion to complete the carcass.

The Commissioner reacted by posting the Director of Finance and Administration to Lagos. It was further gathered that he initiated a process to change the signatories to the Dollar Account of the Commission to ensure that the building was acquired without hitches.

However, as the disenchantment within the Commission increased amidst heightening tension among top officials of the Commission, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zaina Ahmed decided to intervene in the NAICOM leadership crisis.

The Network gathered that the Minister set up a Committee headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry to look into the brewing leadership crisis threatening the Commission.

As a first step to douse the escalating tension, the Minister was said to have directed the immediate recall of the transferred Director of Finance, from Lagos to Abuja.

The Minister also directed suspension of the process of acquisition of the property. Lastly, she set up a committee to look into the process of its acquisition.

An investigation by the Network revealed that the Committee held its first meeting on Tuesday where five directors supported the position of the Chairman of the Governing Board, Abubakar Sani that there was no cash backing for the project.

The directors also declared that they did not know about the purchase as they were not informed.

Already, the workers union has written the management of NAICOM to stop processing the acquisition of the property.

The union wrote to stop the acquisition or else the place is shut down.

But the management of NAICOM in an unsigned statement on Wednesday said that a request for the acquiring of an uncompleted property was presented to the Federal Executive Council by the minister which was granted.

The Commission had before the FEC approval, obtained a certificate of “No Objection” from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) following the valuation of the property by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The statement added that the management also obtained no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) after the property was evaluated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The statement added that due diligence was conducted on the property and all approvals were secured by the Commission.

“That the management of the Commission through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented to the Federal Executive Council presided over by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR an Unfinished property for approval to be acquired as NAICOM Academy and office accommodation following the approval by the immediate past Governing Board of the Commission.

“All documents relating to the property clearly state that the property was unfinished.

“The Commission had before the FEC approval, obtained a (certificate of) “No Objection” from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) following the valuation of the property by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

“Adequate due diligence was conducted on the property for acquisition and all relevant approvals were secured by the Commission.

“Provision was made in the 2022 approved annual budget of the Commission to acquire the building for the Commission.

“The building is to serve the dual purpose of housing the newly established NAICOM Academy which is an initiative of the present leadership of the Commission to address the knowledge gap in the insurance sector regulation and supervision not only in Nigeria but across Africa and beyond and also serve as the new head office of the Commission.

“To address the problem of low insurance penetration, entrench the culture of insurance in every part of the country and enhance the effectiveness of its surveillance in all the geopolitical zones of the country, the expansion of the Commission’s infrastructural facilities is inevitable thus the Commission requires a befitting Office accommodation to curtail any future office space crises.” The statement read in part.

Coalition Calls For Recall Of Senate Chief Whip

The Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria has called for the recall of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, an erstwhile governor of Abia State.

According to Dr. Nwakor Chibuzor who spoke on behalf of the coalition, he said that the good people of Abia North do not deserve Orji Uzor Kalu.

“By this utterance of Orji Kalu, the people of Abia North who are 100% Christians should immediately commence a recall of Orji Kalu from the Senate as it is evident that he is not representing Abia North, Dr. Chibuzor said,

An excerpt is the full text of the press briefing:

Good morning gentlemen of the fourth realm and welcome to this press briefing.

No doubt the issue of choosing a running mate by the two main political parties (that is, the APC and the PDP) has dominated the media space and national discussion especially as the electoral management body (INEC) has issued 17th June 2022 as the deadline for the submission of names for the Vice Presidential Candidates for all political parties. The fundamental issue is the combination in terms of the Muslim/Christian ticket or the Muslim/Muslim ticket. In other words, a Muslim from the North, and a Christian from the South or vice-vasa. This balance essential is to ensure that equitable representation of both Muslims and Christians alike in the nation's highest executive arm of government. Moreover, the 1999 construction of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended provides for the Federal Character in other to ensure equity, balance, and fair representation across the nation.

You would all agree with me that the Nigerian state has never been this polarized, aligned and divided along religious and tribal sentiments and affiliations. Hence both the AREWA and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned against the looming jeopardy that would associate the Muslim/Muslim ticket by the APC in the country if Bola Tinubu make the mistake of fielding the Muslim/Muslim ticket.

Now, the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, an erstwhile governor of Abia State, who has been charged and convicted by the court for 7.6 Billion Naira fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet at it again. Mr. Orji Uzor, a supposed Christian, emphatically stated his unalloyed support for a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. He further emphasized that his own interest is for the APC to win the election. In other words, for the Chief Whip, equity does not matter, fair representation for Christians and Muslims alike doesn't matter, the provision of Federal Character as entrenched in the Nigerian constitution does not matter, for him, it is all about winning the and election. Recall also that the same Orji Uzor Kalu had previously declared his unalloyed support for the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. He even stated that he prefers to be a cleaner in the Aso Rock Villa provided that Ahmed Lawan wins as President of the federal republic of Nigeria. What a multi-faceth character! This is absurd and gross irresponsibility of the highest order. No Christian has sold out to this level in Nigerian history. How did the people of Abia North Senatorial District deteriorate to this level? It is unfortunate because the good people of Abia North do not deserve this satanic incarnate. A Lucifer personified and the antichrist of our time. By this utterance of Orji Kalu, the people of Abia North who are 100% Christians should immediately commence a recall of Orji Kalu from the Senate as it is evident that he is not representing Abia North. People like Orji Uzor should not be found in public service as his interest is personal and selfish. For oscillating like a pendulum, from Ahmed Lawan to Tinubu, and to the Muslim/Muslim ticket, Uzor Kalu has demonstrated inconsistency and no recourse whatsoever to the people of Abia North he claims to be representing, therefore he should be treated as his I'll conduct depicts. Orji Uzor Kalu is an anti-Christian, anti-Igbo and anti Abia North.

Thank you.

 

Rivers 2023: PDP Governorship Primaries Under Threat

 

…….Court Grants Order Compelling PPD, INEC To Show Why Primaries Should Hold In Rivers Without Dagogo

The Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo has ordered the  Peoples’ Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to show reasons why the party’s gubernatorial primaries should hold in Rivers State without the plaintiff, Hon Farah Dagogo.

The Plaintiff/Applicant, Farah Dagogo the Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency of Rivers State under the PDP.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the PDP and INEC to show cause on Tuesday,  May,2022 why Dagogo’s application seeking injunctive orders against the PDP and INEC in respect of the PDP gubernatorial primary election for Rivers State should not be granted.

Dagogo had filed a suit on March 12, challenging his prevention from the screening exercise of his party (PDP) for the oncoming gubernatorial primary election for Rivers State having submitted all the required documents.

The presiding judge in the sitting of the court on Monday granted the order for INEC and PDP to show cause why the primaries should not be stopped.

Dagogo went to court  to seek an order of the High Court to restrain INEC, (2nd Defendant) or any of its officers or agents from monitoring the conduct of the PDP (1st Defendant) primary election for the gubernatorial position for Rivers State scheduled for 26th May 2022.

He asked the Court not allow INEC to send any of its representatives on the scheduled fixed without his name on the list of contestants for the forthcoming primary election pending the hearing and determination of the substantive action.

Dagogo, is appealing to the court to compel INEC and PDP, to include his name as one of the aspirants in the forthcoming gubernatorial primary election.

The aspirant is seeking "an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant either by itself or any of its officers or agents from monitoring the conduct of 1st Defendant’s primary election for the gubernatorial position for Rivers State on 26th May 2022 or any other date fixed, without the name of the Plaintiff on the list of contestants for the said primary election pending the hearing and determination of the substantive action."

The Network gathered that the aspirant was duly nominated by not less than 45 persons from at least two-third of the Local Government Areas within Rivers State, who are registered voters in their respective Local Government Areas and registered members of PDP.

According to Dagogo, he completed and submitted the said nomination form to the the PDP,  and accompanied them with all the relevant documents, including copies of his PDP membership card, voter’s card and sworn declarations made before a Commissioner of oaths at the High Court.

He stated that he satisfied and abided by the guidelines, all laws, rules or regulations made by PDP relating to the conduct of primary elections.

He stated that his Primary Form was issued to him by the PDP as proof that he had met all the requirements required of him as an aspirant by the National headquarters of the party.

He said that he presented himself to the Screening committee for gubernatorial aspirants in Rivers State, on the 28th and 29th of April, 2022, at the PDP Zonal Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He disclosed that while he was waiting to receive his interim clearance papers, some individuals in mufti who claimed to be Rivers state Government House security agents led by the Camp Commandant, DSP Efeture Irikefe removed him from the sitting arrangement with the active connivance of the membership of the Screening Committee, who had ensured that he was the last person to be screened.

However, Dagogo narrated that he was whisked away to Operation Sting Police Unit/formation and later at State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (State CIID) both in Port Harcourt. 

According him,  the State CIID, quickly made an attempt to arraign him on trumped up charges at the Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt on 29th April, 2022 which proved abortive.

“There was an attempt to arraign Plaintiff/Applicant on trumped up charges at the Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt on 29th April, 2022 which proved abortive. 

"Following the deterioration of the Plaintiff/Applicant’s health in custody the Plaintiff/Applicant is now receiving medical attention at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and he as remanded in hospital care since 4th May 2022, still under the detention of the security agents.

"From inquiry and investigation, Plaintiff/Applicant was being prevented from physically participating in the PDP Primary, and as a result he caused  his Solicitors wrote to the PDP Screening Committee in charge of the exercise on 29th April, 2022 narrating his travails and requesting that he should be obliged with a virtual meeting or for the appeals committee to come to the State CIID, Port Harcourt where he was being detained at the time to meet him since he had earlier submitted all his necessary documents to the 1st Defendant. 

"None of the complaints of the Plaintiff/Applicant were treated and the 1st Defendant’s agents at Port Harcourt has completely ignored the Plaintiff/Applicant which led Plaintiff/Applicant to write again, through his solicitor’s (in line with the PDP Guidelines) to write an appeal to the PDP Gubernatorial Screening Appeal Panel, Abuja in a letter dated 30th April, 2022.

"Again, despite the appeal made to the said Appeal Panel, it did not treat the appeal and or deal with the grievances of the Plaintiff/Applicant or granted his request. 

"By the constitution and guidelines of the 1st Defendant, an aspirant to the position of the gubernatorial office of a state must go through the screening process before he/she will be eligible to participate in the 1st Defendant’s primary election to elect the party’s gubernatorial flag bearer/candidate of the state, (Rivers State herein) for the general election,” the sworn  affidavit deposed in support of the motion of interlocutory injunction before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2022  read in part.

Unmasking The Lies Against Oborevwori; Go For Sheriff

By Livingstone Edesiri

The hazy confusion is clearing; the obscuring agent of deliberate and depraved lies concocted to obfuscate the truth about the persona of the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, and PDP governorship aspirant Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, seeking to fly the ticket of his party in the 2023 governorship battle for the Unity House, Asaba, is now transparent and able to be seen clearly.

The serial blackmailers have called the gentleman names; terrible and disgusting names, and disseminated falsehood in extremely sentimental speech and writing; in order to give him the proverbial bad name and hang him. But try as they could, the spins from the publicity mills of the detractors, some of whom are even aspirants, have failed to meet their expectations.

The observing loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, are not convinced and so have continued to rebuff such inglorious false disseminations, holding intact their support for Oborievwori, proving that they are SHERIFFIED and are resolute about it.

The lies against Sheriff came in various forms: In one, he was labeled as having not gone to school and so not properly educated. In another form, he is said to have been a street man and Motor Park person. The truth, however, is that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori has a rich and excellent profile.

Born on the 19th of June 1963 to the family of Chief Samuel Oborevwori of Osubi in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, he started and completed his basic education at Alegbo Primary School, Effurun in 1977 and later attended Oghareki Grammar School, Oghareki for his secondary education. He was then admitted into Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, where he obtained a B.Sc. Honours degree in Political Science.

He topped this later also with a Master's degree, still in Political Science from our own Delta State University, Abraka. Put in proper perspective, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is not only a politician in practice, he is also a certified Political Scientist, which is the academic component of the fine art of politics.

In his quest for more knowledge, experience, capacity building, and self-development, Oborevwori has attended various courses and obtained certificates from various institutions, as well as membership in reputable organizations. They include:

• Certificate in Top Executive Leadership Programme, Manchester Business School, UK;

• Certificate in Legislative Framework for Budget Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA;

• Certificate in Legislative Management and Leadership, International Law, Institute, Washington DC, USA;

• Certificate in Leading Inclusive Development, London School of Economics Political Science, UK;

• Certificate in Advanced Leadership Programme, University of Cambridge, UK; among others.

He is also a recognized member and fellow of leading highbrow and top-notch institutes and establishments including;

• Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered);

• Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC).

As the political scientist that he is, it was not a surprise that he necessarily had to venture into politics, to practice what he had learnt in the classrooms on the political terrain. And the experience culminated in his possessing a rich and enviable resume having held offices as follows:

· Councilor/Supervisory Councilor for Works in 1996, under the old Okpe Local Government Area, which included the present Udu and Uvwie Local Government Areas.

· Special Assistant on Youth Development to Governor James Ibori (2003 – 2006).

· Special Adviser on Land Security to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (2007 to 2010)

· State Coordinator for the Amnesty Programme (2009 – 2010)

· Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor (2012 – 2014)

· Member, representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly (2015 – 2019)

* Speaker, 6th Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly (2017-2019)

* Re-elected as Speaker in the 7th Assembly in 2019, thereby becoming the first Deltan to serve as Speaker from one Assembly to another Assembly, as well as the longest-serving Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

* Treasurer, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (2018 – 2020), and

* Deputy Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (2020 to date).

It is important to let his traducers and cynics know and understand that the above offices held by Sheriff Oborevwori, underscore his sterling reputation as a very solid and responsible personality; a man of ability, capacity, and capability, imbued with features that distinguish him as a leader and politician of worth; a grass rooted politician, who has interacted and continues to interact with the hoi polloi, the wealthy, educated and cultivated elite.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is a complete homegrown politician, just like some of our well-respected leaders before him, who is intelligent, astute, very stable, firmly focused, yet humble, warm and accommodating detribalized Deltan, who can relate and interact freely and comfortably with people and is always interested in their welfare. He does not need to rely on a packaged profile, like some aspirants, for as the popular Latin saying goes: “Res Ipsa Loquitur” (the thing speaks for itself). He is a man of the people.

It is, therefore, given that a man with this rich pedigree, should not sit back when the opportunity for higher service beckons. It is similarly significant to point out that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has proven himself to be a man and politician of value, a man with a high sense of valour and value for the human person, no matter their level and status. It is the reason he is at home with his peers and colleagues, the downtrodden, exploited and helpless, the rich and well off, the wealthy and affluent, and the less privileged, indigent and disadvantaged.

This mix has actually put him in the straitjacket to throw his hat into the political ring once again for the higher office of the governor of Delta State and the realization that Sheriff Oborevwori has remained determined and focused on his mission to get to the Unity House of Delta’s Government House, Asaba by seeking to fly the PDP flag in the 2023 governorship elections, despite the tantrums, abuses and degrading tirades thrown at him to intimidate, frustrate and make him back out of the mission and vision he set for himself, speak volumes of him as a dogged and rugged politician that can never be moved by such irrelevances. It is the stuff that pacesetters are made of.

It thus cannot be faulted that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori represents the Continuity and Consolidation that is necessary for our times. He is a familiar face with a fresh vision; a bridge between the old and the new. Hence, his mission and quest to occupy Delta’s Unity House, Asaba come 2023, is to extend the frontiers of human capital development, Agricultural expansion, job creation, Health reforms, infrastructure renewal, and indeed, peace and security that have all been established by previous administrations in the State.

With the gubernatorial choices now before Delta’s PDP delegates, it has become imperative to urge them to remain resolute in their belief in Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who, far and above every other consideration, is a loyal, committed, victorious and unwavering party man.

It is important to urge Delegates to go for a homegrown, intelligent and astute politician, who can relate with people; one who understands the people and can relate with them in their anxieties and celebrations; one that is interested in their welfare, understands their language and is right at home in the social and cultural locales and milieu, not like a fish out of water faking and forming ‘home boy’ just to score cheap political points.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is the original Delta man in the guber race and as the Naija saying goes: “If e nor be Panadol, e nor fit be like Panadol”.

Barr. Livingstone Edesiri, is a public affairs analyst.

Lagosians Want Sanwo-Olu Re-elected

 

Lagosians from all works of life have expressed support for the second-term bid of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for continuity and completion of his laudable projects

In an independent online survey carried out in all the local governments in the state, many Lagosians are in support of a second-term agenda for Governor Sanwo-Olu, who they said, has brought about the laudable transformation of the state.

As revealed in the online survey which was conducted by FREDDAN Continental Consultancy, a team of Development Experts and International Poll Analyst, a larger percentage of the respondents showed their readiness to support a second-term bid of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

Last week, there was a purported move by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to replace Governor Sanwo-Olu with the Head of Service, Alhaji Hakeem Muri Okunola, a report that has been denied by the Governor’s Advisory Council.

According to the figures derived from the survey, which was carried out in two parts, online and SMS survey, 64.68 percent of the respondents were against a second term bid.

It was deduced that the respondent who was below 40 percent still hold the governor responsible for the EndSARS debacle, while the SMS Survey which targeted respondents over 40 years, 71.40 percent expressed their readiness to support a second term agenda from the governor.

According to the information gathered, they stated that the proactive and frontal management of the COVID-19 pandemic, his giant strides in the infrastructural sector as well as his easy-going nature are part of the qualities which have continued to endear them to him.

The survey covered all the local government areas and Local Area Development Areas of the state with a total number of 77,605 respondents been recorded.

A breakdown of the figures shows Alimosho – 13,000; Ajeromi/Ifelodun -950, Kosofe – 9,535, Mushin – 402, and Oshodi/Isolo – 1,200. Others are Ojo – 1,420, Ikorodu – 725, Surulere – 1,350, Agege – 1,390, Ifako Ijaye – 1,225, Somolu – 780 and Amuwo Odofin – 1,885. Others are Lagos Mainland – 1,450, Ikeja – 12,400, Eti-Osa – 3,520, Badagry – 420, Apapa – 8,200, Lagos Island – 13,720, Epe – 2,622 , Ibeju-Lekki – 1,410.

Sanwo-Olu Signs Bills Establishing Additional Two Universities In Lagos

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday signed the bills for the establishment of additional two universities in the State – Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology.

He assented to the bills transmitting Lagos State Polytechnic in Ikorodu, Isolo and Surulere campuses to the University of Science and Technology as well as Adeniran Ogunsanya Colleges of Education, Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Epe to Lagos State University of Education.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Lagos House, Marina, was witnessed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), members of the Governing Councils and management staff of the tertiary institutions, among others.

Speaking after signing the bills, Governor Sanwo-Olu, said Lagos and its indigenes are now blessed with two additional universities to the existing Lagos State University (LASU), established in 1982 by the first Executive Governor of Lagos State, the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande. 

He said: “We are doing this very quickly because we need to take this law to the National Universities Commission (NUC), that will do their due diligence and we are believing they will give us a timely approval when all of us will go and receive the certificates for the establishment of the two universities.

“We believe that the transmission will be smooth. We believe that the process would be without any hindrance. We believe that we will do a good job at ensuring that what is best is the only thing that we do for Lagos. I feel so delighted and proud of all of us creating history today and I believe that indeed generations coming after us will remember this very bold, audacious decision that we have taken.

“The two institutions that have now been transmitted into universities are institutions that have produced professionals, students, lecturers among other notable men and women in our society. I feel what we have done is a proper thing for the existing staff, both academic and non-academic and more importantly for the students today and the future students that would be coming in to be able to recreate their future and be in a position that we are turning out the leaders of tomorrow.”    

Speaking earlier, Wahab said the establishment of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, will solve issues relating to admission for Lagos State citizens.

Wahab also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for putting his full weight behind the establishment of the two additional universities. He also appreciated the Lagos State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa for believing in the process.

Ahmed Dikko's Transformative Efforts At PHRC

 

By Adewole Kehinde

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Mr. Ahmed Dikko, is on course to end the protracted rot in the establishment and ensure it works at full capacity again.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company has witnessed rejuvenation in the last two year since the current Managing Director took over the reins of the company. Before March 2020, the refinery was comatose and regarded as a waste of public resources because it had gulped billions and yet had not worked.

Due to the failure of successive administrations to do the needful, the company has failed to serve the purpose it was built.

Since the approval of $1.5bn by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Engr. Ahmed Dikko, has rolled up his sleeves to drive the company to yield the right result with the ongoing extensive rehabilitation of the Refinery.

Since he took over the helm of affairs in March 2020 as the Managing Director of PHRC, Ahmed Dikko has been putting his best foot forward to making PHRC proud again. With the signing of an agreement with EPC Contractors, Maire Tecnimont SpA on April 6 and followed that up with the technical kick-off of this project on May 6, the project activities have swung into action after the contractor shared the detailed project execution plan, the PHRC broke up into discipline sessions with various groups for engineering, quality control, and construction among others.

The ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery is one of the key planks of this policy.

Given the significance and magnitude of the task, only a thoroughbred, a professional knowledgeable not only in the technical aspects of the job but one also nuanced in the matter of administration and coordination, would effectively deliver on the assignment particularly as President Buhari has set the rehabilitation of the refinery, Nigeria’s largest till date, as one of the priorities of his administration.

It was thus not surprising that the NNPC would turn to Dikko, a man who had in the decades he has worked with the corporation beginning from his first stint at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company limited, where he worked in the Operations and Engineering & Technical Services Departments, he has traversed units and departments within the NNPC until finally rising to the position of Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) in March 2020.

He was charged with the key task of delivering the Rehabilitation Project of the Refinery and bringing its facilities to optimal production capacity and sustainable operations. Phase 1 of the Rehab Project which is the integrity study and inspection has been completed. The Project is in the second Phase with the signing of the EPC contract for the rehabilitation with Maire Tecnimont SpA and the subsequent Technical kick off meeting in May, 2021.

Although the approval of the $1.5 billion may seem gleeful for PHRC and indeed the public, it was greeted with mixed feelings. However, Dikko’s reaction remains optimistic. This is as he says they are putting in the energies required nonetheless to ensure they cover all angles.

He expressed, “This way, they can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time. A lot of people were making all sorts of comments, probably, out of not having the correct information but this is the first time in NNPC that this kind of approach has been taken. So much consultation and transparency went into this process. Right from the bidding process, to the selection of the contractor, and the eventual award of this project.”

In the process of selecting the contractor, he revealed that PHRC had to use reputable international EPC companies to bid for this exercise. In the words of the MD, “this is a very big plus, and the bidding process was quite open and transparent. We utilised other external stakeholders in all these processes that we are doing so that they can contribute and see the openness in it. Clearly, the Bureau of Public Procurement, NEITI, ICRC, and Federal Ministry of Finance among others were there with us. This is unprecedented in the history of project development in NNPC and we are very sure it will yield the right result.”

Notwithstanding, Dikko acknowledged that they got approvals from NNPC management for a robust project management consultant and owner engineer, who would support them as owners in this process to make sure that they truly deliver the project based on what has been scoped earlier in phase one of the project.

“Part of what is in our contract is to make sure, as much as possible, that we use the original manufacturers of these equipment and things that we need to change during this project. Then there is the presence of a lot of the licensors of these process plants here with us like UOP who are licensors to the FCC unit and Axxeis to the KHU are also part of these.

“So you can see it is a robust combination of experience and international bodies that are part of this project. And then to crown it up, we that are here locally as owners in Port Harcourt have a dedicated team that has shown resilience, professionalism, and commitment to ensure that exactly what is captured in our scope of work is what is going to be delivered,” while crossing his heart, “I will like to assure Nigerians and other stakeholders that we would surely get this right; we would put in the energies that is required, and we would make sure that we cover all angles so that together we can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time.”

Indeed, Dikko, a veteran engineer, declares that the rehabilitation activity is very dear to the staff and management of the company. This is as he shows concern on the safety around the pipelines particularly from the main plants to the jetty. According to the PHRC chief, “We know very well that we truly need to put these barriers together so that we can protect our right of way, our pipelines and also the people who are around these facilities.

He, however, chipped in that in the first phase of the project, they needed to have a robust engagement with the communities so that they can relocate those who are encroaching on the right of ways properly. This, he added, would enable them to have sincere discussions with the communities so they can understand that the benefit of staying away from the right of way of the pipelines is for their safety first.

Dikko acknowledged that host communities engagement is one of the key priorities for the success of this project and PHRC management recognised this right from the earlier days of the award of this contract, hence, the company, through Public Affairs, has been doing a lot of engagement with these communities.

Interestingly, PHRC plans to put out the information correctly about this project as well as manage the expectations of these communities. While their approach is to get the communities to buy into this project and be part of it, the contractors have nominated a community rep that is working closely with the PHRC Public Affairs team in the manner to ensure that the right information is given to the communities. “The expectations are managed and together we can work as partners to deliver this project without any hindrance,” expressing that everything is good, thus, he is very delighted with the efforts so far.

Critics have queried what the government would achieve by injecting such a humongous amount of money into the rehabilitation project. For the purpose of clarity, there are quite a number of benefits in bringing the nation’s refineries back on stream. The project, when completed, would ensure increased revenue and energy sufficiency in the nation and prevent unplanned shut down as well as increasing GDP.

Other benefits will include local production of Aviation Turbine Kero and reduction in foreign exchange demand through reduced importation of petroleum products, satisfying local energy demand, strengthening the Naira by reducing the demand for Forex, and creating thousands of jobs across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply etc) including several third-party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods.

The refined products also will serve as feedstock for small-scale local manufacturing. The most significant and visible benefit is energy security for the country.

For Dikko, he is neither resting on his oars nor allowing the challenges to slam their efforts. While he describes the ride so far as very good, he’s pleased with the cooperation of all staff members of PHRC and the commitment. “So this is what I would like to appeal to everybody around PHRC and indeed NNPC to contribute and dedicate anything possible to make sure that this project succeeds because the whole Nigeria; 200 million Nigerians are waiting for this and we cannot afford to fail.”

Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662