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Atiku’s turbulent journey from polls to tribunal loss

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Atiku’s turbulent journey from polls to tribunal loss

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he PDP further challenged the emergence of Mr Buhari as a candidate for the elections on the grounds that he failed to meet educational qualifications to contest the election. The petition was filed on March 18, about 177 days ago. According to section of the electoral act, a petition of this nature must be determined before the expiration of 180 days.  Although the petition was filed on March 18, hearing into the main issues did not commence till July 3.

First objection by petitioners

The hearings had partly been delayed because of an objection raised by the PDP against the leadership of the panel as earlier constituted under the leadership of the Court of Appeal President, Zainab Bulkachuwa.

Appeal court president, Zainab Bulkachuwa heading the inaugural session of the presidential tribunal on Wednesday
Appeal court president, Zainab Bulkachuwa heading the inaugural session of the presidential tribunal on Wednesday. The PDP cited the active membership of Mrs Bulkachuwa’s husband, Mohammed Bulkachuwa, and son, in the APC, as reasons for their objection.

The petitioners also alleged that a statement made by Mrs Bulkachuwa at the opening session of the tribunal suggested that ”she had taken a stand in favour of the APC when she submitted that elections were bound to result in a dispute no matter how properly conducted.”

Following that objection by the petitioners, Mrs Bulkachuwa recused herself. This resulted in the emergence of Garba Mohammed as the chairman of the tribunal.

Legal fireworks

Subsequently, on July 3, the PDP began its hearing and presented 62 witnesses to support its claim.

Among the witnesses presented by the PDP was the media adviser and spokesperson for Mr Abubakar, Segun Showunmi; a former ally of President Buhari, Buba Gamadima and a former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka who appeared as the last witness among others.

The PDP also showed a video clip where an INEC resident electoral commissioner from Bayelsa State, Mike Igini, made comments related to the central server which the petitioners believed was in support of their claim.

The APC reacted to the deposition of the video evidence by producing a similar video clip where the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, debunked claims regarding the server.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

The PDP had named INEC, Mr Buhari and the APC as respondents in the suit. Consequently, the respondents made several applications also challenging the petition by the PDP.

The first respondent, namely INEC, questioned the validity of the PDP petition ”because it did not include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whom INEC described as a necessary party to the matter”.

But in a ruling on the issues, the tribunal said section 137 (2) of the constitution does not imply that Mr Osinbajo is a necessary party to the suit.

According to the court, the section mentioned above was specific in its mention of those to be categorised as parties to a petition.

They include: “the candidate in an election, the political party who participated in an election,” among others.

“It is the conclusion in the judgement that running mates to an election are not a necessary party,” the court ruled.

The tribunal then dismissed the application filed by INEC. The court also dismissed an application by INEC suggesting that the PDP petition was not properly attested to, by the lead counsel, Levi Uzoukwu.

Buhari’s ‘qualification’ saga

The five-member panel then decided against a submission by the APC that the claims concerning President Buhari’s certificate were pre-election in nature and should not have been raised as part of the PDP’s petition.

According to the court, section 138 which focused on the educational requirements for contesting ”did not refer to the issues raised in the section as pre-election in nature”.

Regarding the allegation that Mr Buhari was not qualified to contest in the first place, the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence before it to conclude that President Buhari ”was not only qualified but that he was eminently qualified to have contested the election”.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari will swear in new ministers on August 21
The PDP challenged Mr Buhari’s results on the grounds that the Cambridge University and the West African Examination Council copies of the result contained a number of discrepancies including the spellings of Mr Buhari’s name.

“There is no doubt the second respondent is not only qualified but is also eminently qualified.”

The court also said Mr Buhari ”is not the maker of his certificate, and there is nothing to show that the errors in the names of Buhari as indicated on the certificates from Cambridge and WAEC implied that the certificate did not belong to Mr Buhari”.

“I am of the opinion that whether it is Muhammadu Buhari with a U and Mohammed Buhari with an O, they relate to the same person,” the court ruled

‘Security operatives not named’

In another application by INEC challenging the PDP’s failure to name the security operatives as parties to the election, the court ruled that INEC was right in submitting that the PDP ought to have included the security officers mentioned in the petition. The PDP had argued that the government rigged the election by deploying security operatives to disrupt the proper conduct of the elections.

Central server

Reading through the section of the petition regarding the controversies surrounding the alleged use of a central server, the court noted that the PDP had said that Section 9 of the Electoral Act was amended in 2015.

“The issue is: Can it truly be said that the section amended actually empowered INEC to transmit election results electronically?

“The court only has a duty to interpret the law. The court has no power to amend the law.”

The court read out the import of the provision. It stated that Section 22 (a) does not provide for electronic transmission of results. The court then read through other sections of the law.

“It is undeniable that the transmission of election result is manual at different and all levels of the elections at different stages from the states to the national level.

“There is no provision authorising the first respondent or any of its officers to transfer election results to any of the servers. There is also nothing allowing the first respondents to use the smart card reader for the collation of results.

“I’m not aware that the card reader machine has replaced the voters’ register,” the court ruled.

‘Non- compliance with Electoral Act

Regarding the allegation that the election was marred with widespread irregularities, the court said the petitioners pleaded ”that so many of their agents were situated in various polling units and that members of the first respondents connived with security agents to conduct massive rigging”.

“They also alleged that no real voting took place in Dekina Local Government Area, among others,” the judge said.

The judge, however, added that the ”PDP failed to call the polling unit agents who would have testified that they were arrested harassed or affected by the violence pictured by the petitioners.”

“There is no admissible evidence on record to support the petitioner’s allegations,” the court ruled.

Subsequently, the court decided that the PDP had failed to satisfactorily prove its allegation and dismissed the petition in its entirety.

All the panel members agreed with the lead judgement. For Mr Abubakar and his party, the next option will now be to head to the Supreme Court for legal redress.

By: Emeji Kelechi Noble

PDP Youths fault Wike over congratulatory message to Buhari

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PDP Youths fault Wike over congratulatory message to Buhari
Gov. Wike

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]yesom Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State  has been berated for congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari over his victory at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

The PDP youths under the aegis of PDP South South Youths Vanguard, also criticised Wike for describing the panel set up by the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) to resolve the Minority Leadership crisis in the House of Representatives which the governor described as the most corrupt in the history of the party.

The governor had on Wednesday congratulated President Buhari on the validation of his election by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, urging him to use his victory to work for all Nigerians, irrespective of their political leanings, and also to work towards the unity of the country, as the country is divided.

Reacting to Wike’s position, the PDP South South Youth Vanguard, in a statement by its National Chairman, James Efe Akpofure, said that the governor was biting more than what he can chew.

He said that the governor is not bigger than the party, adding, “how can the leadership of PDP say that the party is heading to the Supreme Court and Wike who was approved by the party to fly its flag at the governorship elections, and a member of the party is congratulating the President, who benefitted from a faulty judicial system that has been gagged by the executive.

“Wike should know that he’s not more than the party and as such, he should stop bad mouthing and ridiculing the PDP. If he thinks because he was the one that brought the National Chairman he can do whatever he likes, he should have a rethink.

“The party cannot take a position on issues and he’s taking a contrary position by congratulating the President the whole world says manipulated the election that brought him on board.”

The youths noted that for him to have come up with an issue that has already been done with, specifically, the issue of the PDP minority leadership in the House of Representatives, it shows that the governor does not have respect for the party. The youth vanguard, however, called on the party leadership to assert its authority and put the governor where he rightly belongs.

They also called on Wike to show respect for the party and stop dragging the name of the PDP in the mud.

Hon. Funkekeme has charged ACNPN to be mindful of their role as watchdogs of the society at the grassroots level

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Hon. Funkekeme has charged ACNPN to be mindful of their role as watchdogs of the society at the grassroots level

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]t.Hon. Solomon Funkekeme ,The Senior Political Adviser to the Governor of Delta state has charged the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN),  Delta State Chapter  to be mindful of their role as watchdogs of the society at the grassroots level.

The Senior Political Adviser to the Governor of Delta state, Honourable Funkekeme Solomon, made the call on Thursday in Asaba when a delegation of the state chapter of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) led by Comrade Jude Obiemenyego paid him a courtesy visit.

Honourable Solomon said as the first in the news coverage chain, community newspapers should serve as sources of community news to other media organisations, adding that their stories should reflect the developmental efforts of government at the grassroots.

He said the impact of government could only be well felt not just by reporting activities in the urban centres, but when happenings at the grassroots were made known to the populace through the community newspapers.

The Senior Political Adviser to the Governor of Delta state,Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon with Comrade Jude Obiemenyego

The Senior Political Adviser charged the publishers to build partnership to make them strong and mitigate extremity, adding that they should avoid factionalism and scale up their operations to be able to gain recognition and more attention.

Rt. Hon Solomon promised that government would continue to recognize the publishers as critical stakeholders in the Delta project, and appealed to them to shun fake news and insist on investigative and developmental journalism in order to promote peace and unity  in the state. Earlier, the state chairman of the association, Comrade Jude Obiemenyego, said the visit was to familiarize with the Senior Political Adviser and to seek partnership with the state government in moving the association and the state forward and to promote unity in the state and to showcase and celebrate our essence as Deltans.

 

By; Ike Abiagom

Atiku, PDP rejects verdict…heads for Supreme court

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Atiku, PDP rejects verdict…heads for Supreme court
Uche-Secondus
National Chairman, PDP

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) completely rejects the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal describing it as provocative, barefaced subversion of justice and direct assault on the integrity of our nation’s justice system.

In a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary expressed shock that the tribunal failed to point to justice despite the flawless evidence laid before it, showing that President Buhari was not only unqualified to contest the election but also did not score the majority of valid votes at the polls.

“The PDP finds as bewildering that a court of law could validate a clear case of perjury and declaration of false information in a sworn affidavit, as firmly established against President Muhammadu Buhari, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence.

“The party is also rudely shocked that the Court took over the roles of the Respondents’ lawyers who clearly abandoned their pleadings by refusing to call evidence in defense of the petition. The court raked up all manner of excuses to make up for the yawning gaps occasioned by the total absence of any evidence from the Respondents.

“Nigerians and the international community watched in utter disbelief when the tribunal ruled that one need not provide a copy or certified true copy of educational certificate such individual claimed to possess, contrary to established proof of claims of certification”, PDP said.

The party noted as strange that the court even went ahead to provide rationalizations in favour of President Buhari, even when all hard facts before it shows that he did not possess the claimed educational certificate and that the Army was not in possession of his WAEC certificate as claimed in the affidavit he deposed to in his Presidential nomination form.

The PDP also described as shocking that the court approved the flawed declaration of President Buhari as the winner of the election despite evidence to show the perpetration of illegalities, manipulations, alterations and subtraction of valid votes freely given to Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians.

According to PDP, indeed, the pervading melancholic atmosphere across our nation since the verdict is a direct indication that the judgment has not fulfilled the desires and expectations of Nigerians.

The PDP however encouraged Nigerians to remain calm and not to lose hope or surrender to despondency or self-help, as our lawyers are upbeat in obtaining justice at the Supreme Court.

“This is more so as the tribunal itself admitted that there are several errors i

 

By:  Emeji Kelechi Noble

I dedicate the victory to God, and to Nigerians– Buhari

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I dedicate the victory to God, and to Nigerians– Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari says Wednesday’s verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal affirming his victory at the 2019 polls, is victory for Nigerians who trooped out to overwhelmingly elect him for a second term.
The President’s reaction to the judgement is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser, Femi Adesina, issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
“Good conscience fears no evil report. I was unperturbed all along, because I knew Nigerians freely gave us the mandate. We are now vindicated,” he said. While dedicating the victory to God, and to Nigerians, President Buhari also commended the judiciary for “dispensing justice without fear or favour”.
He extended a hand of fellowship to those who were dissatisfied by the outcome of the election, and had gone to court, noting that it was within their democratic rights to do so.
He however said that with the pronouncement of the judiciary, “it is time for the country to move forward as one cohesive body, putting behind us, all bickering and potential distractions over an election in which Nigerians spoke clearly and resoundingly”.

Tension in Ogwashi-Uku Poly as Governing Council Set to Impose Liberian on Institution

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Tension in Ogwashi-Uku Poly as Governing Council Set to Impose Liberian on Institution

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ctivities of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku Library Department may be thrown into tension if the institution Governing Council goes ahead to interfere with the recruitment exercise of a Chief Librarian for the school. According to inside sources, the process of recruitment is being interfered with by the decision of the Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr Festus Okubor to impose one Dr. Alex Obuh, without the relevant cognate experience to be the Chief Librarian contrary to the laid down guidelines as advertised in Vanguard Newspapers of May 27th, 2019 by the institution and by the committee headed by Dr. J.U Akajakpor, a Chief Lecturer of the institution.

The school in its advertorial stated that applicants should possess the required academic qualification, and cognate experience of 15 years in an academic environment. However, the list of shortlisted candidates of 8 applicants, the committee considered, Mr. Aniogbolu A. Chukwudi, Dr. D.O Akparobor, Mr. Akpokurerie Azino Oscar as qualified, while Ogochukwu T. Emiri (Ph.D), Dr. Alex Obuh, Rev. Marvelous N.B Nwajei, Ehiwuogwu E. Mercy, and Irivwieri J. W, not qualified for the position in respect to the guidelines laid down by the school authority for the committee.

In the case on Dr. Alex Obuh, the committee discovered that, though to his credit, he had published in 15 journals, 5 chapters contribution in a textbook and presented 6 conferences’ papers, he was deficient in the number of years of work experience, as he had 11 years cognate experience as against 15 years required. It was also discovered at the time of screening, he had no national service certificate.

Further investigation also revealed that on the day of the interview, Dr. Obuh who was present, was discovered going about boasting that the chairman of the board had assured him of the job of Chief Librarian of the Polytechnic.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic of the institution, and their Non-Academic counterpart in a their reactions, expressed shock at the development, agreeing that the impending action is against the laid down guidelines.

As the time of this report, only the present Acting Chief Librarian, Mr. Aniogbolu A. Chukwudi, Dr. D.O Akparobor, Mr. Akpokurerie Azino Oscar are qualified for the position, however, Dr. D.O Akpokurerie had gotten an appointment as the Chief Librarian of Ondo State University before the interview date of the Ogwashi-Uku Poly.

With this development, Mr. Aniogbolu A. Chukwudi, who is now the Acting Chief Librarian with 18 years cognate experience, and Dr. D.O Akparabor, from the Delta State University, Abraka are the only candidates qualified for the position.

Reacting to the allegation against the Board Chairman, the school Public Relation Officer, Mr. Billy Onotue said that the committee will not want to go off the laid down requirement, as it is a very sensitive position, however, asserting that there are bound to be some political manoeuvring due to vested interest.

Further insights shared by another senior officer of the school who doesn’t want to be named, said it is the right of the Governing Council to engage such officer, but must be within the laid down rule.

Effort to get the response of the Chairman of Governing Council was not successful at time of this publication.

Sen. Nwaoboshi Celebrates New Yam Festival With his People

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Sen. Nwaoboshi Celebrates New Yam Festival With his People

By: Ike Abiagom

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur Oracle turned Miracle of Nigeria Politics,Senator representing the great people of Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly and Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Distinguished Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi was in his home town Ibusa on the 10th of September 2019 to Celebrate Annual New Yam Festival as Custom and Tradition demands with his people, friends, well-wishers and supporters.He commenced the 2019 Iwaji Festival at the Anioma’s apex lawmaker’s ancestral quarter at Isieke High Street, Ibusa in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State in grand style.

The event was attended by personalities like Dcn Moses Dickson Iduh, Chairman PDP Delta North Senatorial District, Chief Monday Oyeme Chairman, State Inland Revenue Board, Hon Charles Emetulu, member Representing Ndokwa West at the State House of Assembly, Chief Adizue Eluaka 1st Member Delta State Capital Territory Development Commission, Olorogun Arthur Akporowho, Honourable Commisioner for Urban and Rural Development,Chief Austin Izagbo, ICDU President General Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Sobotie, SA to Distinguished Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi , Hon. Luka Igbonoba , Ogom Nwaoboshi,Chairman, Zitas World  Ltd, Chief Nelson Agbamuche  , Odoziani -1- of Akwukwu- Igbo kingdom with other too many personalities present to mention but afew. It was like a carnival, as different dance groups danced to the admiration of the guest.Congratulations the true son of Ibusa..

DESOPADEC TOWN HALL MEETING: Askia Assures Host Communities Of Legacy Projects **As Isoko Nation Make Demands

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DESOPADEC TOWN HALL MEETING: Askia Assures Host Communities Of Legacy Projects **As Isoko Nation Make Demands

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Bashorun Askia Ogieh (FCNA,CrFA) has assured the Isoko nation that the Commission will engage in legacy projects as part of the infrastructure and human capital development agenda of His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for DESOPADEC.

The MD/CEO Bashorun Askia Ogieh made the promise during the Mid Year ISOKO conference and DESOPADEC TOWN HALL MEETING with Stakeholders held at the Isoko Development Union (IDU) secretariat in Oleh on Monday, 09, 2019.

At the well attended meeting, each Clan in Isoko had three representative each of the Traditional Rulers, Presidents General and their secretaries across Isoko land respectively who brought their inputs into the forthcoming 2019/2020 DESOPADEC proposed budgets for the oil producing communities.

Bashorun Askia emphasised that “Governor Okowa is interested in some legacy projects that he can personally commission to show that we have changed from DESOPADEC of old to that of present because we have actually rebranded and we have gone through all the rebranding processes.”

Bashorun Askia who was accompanied by Executive Directors, Commissioneed and key staff of the Commission, revealed that the budgeting system of DESOPADEC which is in two fold, the centralized project (legacy) and the ethnic nationality project, would ensure that all very areas are carefully tackled in the ensuing process.

He urged the President General of IDU, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, to make the compedium of list of the projects available as “We intend to start a proper budget process after meeting with all the ethnic nationalities that make up the mandate areas as enshrined in the law establishing DESOPADEC. “

He also expressed hope that the Presidents General have consulted adequately with the people in their various communities and with relevant inputs from the traditional rulers, so that government will implement the wishes of the people.

He said that Governor Okowa had emphasized on infrastructure and human capital development in the mandate areas, assuring that relevant departments at DESOPADEC will look into issues raised during the interactive session.

Although he emphasized that funds accruing to the Commission are limited, he promised that the 14 percent due to Isoko people will be given to the Isoko nation, saying that every Isoko clan will be carried along in DESOPADEC plan to ensure that all the communities are touched.

According to him, “We are not there for ourselves but to serve you.”

On Umeh road, he directed the Executive Director Project to embark on a site inspection to ascertain the scope of work to be done as he pledged to make it a legacy project.

On the demand for the review of scope of all old and existing projects and their designs, he said DESOPADEC will interface with IDU to identify the projects.

While assuring that all ongoing projects earlier embarked upon by DESOPADEC will be completed, he said that “As an approach, we have agreed that 60 percent of every of our projects will be devoted to ongoing projects while 40 percent will go for the new ones.”

He also emphasized that every project handled by DESOPADEC is usually executed based on the quantum of oil production with Itsekiris – 29 % production, Ijaws – 27 % production, Urhobos – 21 % production, Isokos – 14 % production and Ndokwas – 9 % production

Responding shortly after the meeting, HRM Joseph Idiare Oriagha1, Odiologbo of Oyede who submitted that “DESOPADEC under Bashorun Askia has woken up to the new system of constructive governance”, saying that the fulfilment of the Commission’s agenda would be awesome for the Isoko people and Deltans in general. He said that the representatives of Isoko nation in DESOPADEC are persons who have good integrity.

The President General of Ozoro clan, Mr. Areh during a vote of thanks lauded the Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC and his team for the meeting and prayed for God’s enablement to fulfill the promises made to the people.

Present at the enlarge meeting were Traditional Rulers across Isoko land, all DESOPADEC team led by the MD/CEO, all Presidents General, Chairmen and Secretaries of various Clans.

APC will collapse if Buhari leaves office without changing the leadership – Okorocha

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APC will collapse if Buhari leaves office without changing the leadership – Okorocha

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator Rochas Okorocha, the immediate past Governor of Imo State, has lamented the humiliating treatment meted out to him by his party, the All Progressives Congress, in spite of his sacrifices and financial contributions.
Okorocha, the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that he got evil reward from APC for his commitment to the course of the party, especially in the South East.
He noted that he had to go contrary to his kinsmen and political associates just to ensure that the party was placed on a sound footing in Imo State and in the South East, but was surprised that he reward was suspension.
He said: “If you recall I was called all sorts of names like ‘Okoro Hausa’ and that I was building mosques and all that were associated with it.
“But I kept deaf ears because I felt that I was on the right course with my people.
“I was instrumental to bringing Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC and he cannot deny that fact.
“I took the troubles of APC in the South East and the APC I see now can easily tell Governor Emeka Ihedioha to come to its fold if only he can fight Rochas.
“That is really an unfortunate situation and it has weakened my spirit and my faith to the party because I thought we are family working to advance the course of this nation.
“But the way it is going, it does not look like there will be a solution.
“And there seems to be silence everywhere.
”I don’t even know my stand about my suspension because for some time, I don’t know what is happening in APC.
“But for the silence all over, it just looks as if it is normal.
“So, I am just waiting and thinking of what next to do, but I am still a member of APC and I love the party and will support it.”
According to Okorocha, there is need for a change in the party’s leadership to ensure the party does not collapse after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okorocha added that Buhari’s reputation appeared to be the binding factor of APC in addition to the fact that the North was arguably the major decider in Nigeria politics.
He said: “I have never thought of leaving the party; I feel that time will take care of most things, but my only worry is that the party may disappear with the exit of President Buhari.
“For the moment, Buhari seems to be the strongest pillar upon which this party is built.
“If nothing is done to correct the injustices in our party at the national level, then, I fear that this party may disappear with Buhari’s exit.
“Our party is already busy thinking about presidency in 2023 and not supporting the issue of governance, which is what we have right now.
“The score of our party or its assessment depends on what we have done with governance and what we have done with politics.
“These are some of the problems we have and thinking that being APC is a platform to catch political power.
“People have begun to zone where the president will come from and where he will not come from, leaving the issue of governance; so, these have been some of the challenges we have as a party but I hope they will be addressed.
“But that cannot be complete unless we do some surgical movement in the leadership of the party.”
Okorocha noted that Nigerians would judge their leaders on the basis of what they had  done as a government before they could decide what to do with them in 2023.
The former Imo governor further said that he was not in a hurry to make decisions on the next line of action following his suspension from the party.
He, however, revealed that his in-law, Uche Nwosu, would return to the APC from Action Alliance if he eventually reclaims his governorship mandate.
On the allegations of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as governor, Okorocha challenged Ihedioha to try to surpass his record rather than the negative campaign against his administration.
He also: “I challenge any government to do 50 per cent of what I achieved in Imo.
“I left N48.5 billion for the new government to take off.
“It is either the government of Ihedioha is confused or it is not relevant.
“If not, no normal thinking person will begin to witch-hunt me after all that I achieved in Imo.”
Okorocha blamed his travails on some unnamed top leaders of the APC whom he accused of conniving with opposition elements in the state to undermine him politically.
Okorocha commended the judiciary for upholding his election, describing the Tribunal’s ruling as a “proof of his innocence” after the Independent National Electoral Commission accused him of obtaining victory through duress.

Gov. Okowa Makes U-Turn On Suspended 2015 Civil Service Employment

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Gov. Okowa Makes U-Turn On Suspended 2015 Civil Service Employment
Delta State Governor, Dr. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress Delta State, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku (Immediate Left to Okowa), during a courtesy call on the Governor, in Government House Asaba.

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 announced that 2015 suspended civil service employment in the state would be revisited within the next one month.

He made the disclosure in Asaba when the new Executive Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state visited him. The governor said that he had directed the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission to look into the case of the suspended employment and identify the Deltans among the persons.

According to him, Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission will do a need assessment for the state and within the next one month, those qualified would be recalled.

He said that his administration would employ more workers to fill vacant positions in the service, and recalled that the government recently employed no fewer than 1, 000 teachers.

“We need more than the 1, 000 teachers that we have engaged and when we look at their entitlements, we will engage more.

“We are also engaging 100 Extension Officers to give a boost to our drive in the agriculture sector which will ensure food sufficiency, and generate employment for our people.

“From the employment of the teachers, you will observe that quality persons were engaged to teach our children.

“The very best were taken because, in our employment drive, we are not only looking at the qualified persons but, those who have the knowledge to teach our children in the critical areas,” Okowa said.

He congratulated the new NLC executive in the state, assuring that his administration would continue to partner organized labour to ensure a progressive state. He said, “I am ready to stay in partnership with the NLC, because you believe in partnership for results rather than agitation for results.

“There is a lot to be done in our state and we want to reassure you that we will continue to stay committed to providing infrastructure.

“Workers should continue to do those things they have been doing for us to have a peaceful state and the enabling environment for investment to thrive.

“Most times when you hear labour leaders speak, it is not on a friendly note, but in our state the organized labour unions are very very cooperative, they offer genuine advice on how to stabilize the government.

“I have always said that for us to succeed, the political class must work with the civil service; that is why we ensure prompt payment of their salaries and their promotion as and at when due.

“We thank God and earnestly look forward to the inauguration of the Central Secretariat Complex in the early months of 2020, because it will help us with coordination and shared services.”

He said that his government was committed to the payment of the national minimum wage, adding that as “it concerns the contributory pension scheme, many states are shying away from it.

“But, it is a very good scheme that came with a lot of challenges; as a state we spend about N1.3 billion monthly on pensions whereas, there are states that have less than N1.3 billion as their total wage bill monthly.’’

Earlier, Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, had said that the visit was to thank the governor for his support to organized labour and workers in the state.

“Our dear Governor, you have made workers to become landlords in Delta State; you have provided conducive work environment and you have approved the training and retraining of staff.

“Your commitment to the payment of minimum wage once the circular is released; your employment of 1, 000 teachers, payment of salaries and promotion of civil servants as and at when due, among others, deserve commendation,” he said.

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