I Comrade Anthony Okocha A.K.A. Ezendigbo felicitate with His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on his impressive victory. With this victory , You have have demonstrated your unyielding boldness, resolution and determination to accomplish more on your “SMART AGENDA” and Prosperity for all Deltans.
Your Excellency Sir, it is our hope that the trust placed on you by the good people of Delta State to re-elect you again will inspire you to do more in your efforts in promoting quality governance in Delta State in the next four years.
Once again Congratulations !
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he House of Representatives member-elect for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in Delta State, Rev. Francis Waive says Femi Gbajabiamila’s choice as speaker of the 9th National Assembly will favour Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhar-led administration.
Waive, who is the only Reps member-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress,APC from Delta State noted that Buhari needed a house leadership with Gbajabiamila as head to help champion his policies in the next four years to deliver on APC electioneering campaign promises.
In a statement issued by the cleric turned politician,Waive said Gbajabiamila’s speakership would help accelerate rapid development by the APC-led government through purposeful laws gear towards the common good of all Nigerians.
He stated that he had decided to pitch tent with Gbajabiamila, who is the current majority leader of the House, above other contestants because the 9th National Assembly will neither be confrontational nor be a rubber-stamp to the executive.
“My expectations on the 9th NASS is one that combines independence with collaboration for the good of our country.
“I look forward to an Assembly that is passionate about service delivery to Nigerians and result-orientated. Not a confrontational Assembly neither a rubber-stamp.
“I want to proudly introduce myself anywhere as a member of the National Assembly without shame or fear.
“The 9th Assembly I believe will work with the Executive to bring the dividends of Democracy to our people. And a leadership that will be humane, fair, just, capable and productive.”
He noted that Gbajabiamila having served as minority leader and now majority leader with legislative experience spanning over 17 years, he should be elected as the next speaker during the proclamation of the 9th Assembly slated for June 11,2019.
Waive implored his colleagues irrespective of their political parties to vote Gbajabiamila as the next speaker of the House of Representatives for the common good of Nigerians whose interest they were elected to protect during 2019 general elections. “Rt Hon Femi Gbajamiala is my choice for the Speakership. With over 17 years legislative experience working as minority leader and then majority leader.
” I have observed him in the last couple months and am thrilled by the way he treats fellow honourable members. He knows everyone by name and relates with each one as though you were the one and only member of the house. His sound education and solid contacts in the polity stands him out.
“Fortunately, he is the candidate of my party the APC. I think it is natural that both the majority leader and his deputy Rt Hon Wase step in as Speaker and Deputy Speaker as in other climes”.
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator Ifeanyi Okowa and his Edo State counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki met Wednesday (yesterday) to brainstorm on how to deepen economic ties and improve on the security situation in the two states.
Goverrnor Obaseki arrived Government House, Asaba with members of his executive council and was received by Governor Okowa and his team. The meeting held behind closed door and lasted for about 45 minutes before they were joined by Journalists.
Governor Okowa said, “it was a meeting between brothers and friends who are now Governors and more interesting is that, our states belonged to the old Bendel and he came with ideas that will move the two states forward.”
While clarifying that it was not the first time the two Governors were meeting, Governor Okowa asserted that the whole idea was to leverage on strong ties as members of the old Bendel State to better the lot of the people.
In a brief remark, Governor Obaseki stated that it was important for the Governors of the two states to discuss issues of common interest such as economy, security, energy, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), among others, bearing in mind that both states shared the longest boundary and historical background.
According to him, “I am here to congratulate my friend and brother on his victory at the polls and successful inauguration for a second term; we came from the legacy Bendel State; we discussed economic cooperation between our states.”
“Today, Edo and Delta States could be the main power house of the country given our energy and agricultural potentials; we looked into how to strenghten our economic ties and our participation in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission,” he said, disclosing, “We looked at insecurity in our common borders, especially, communal clashes and general insecurity and we have agreed to ask the Assistant Inspector-Gerneral of Police and the Commissioners of Police to come up with a plan to restore security in our states,”
He continued, “we also agreed to ask for the inauguration of the NDDC advisory committee of Governors and also, to work with our colleagues to improve governance in the Commission; we are of the view that based on the resources the Commission receives, there is need for improvement in project conception, siting and execution because, nothing stops the Commission from using 50 per cent of its resources to solve the energy problem of the region.”
“Also, a regional Master Plan is necessary for implementation by the NDDC and we also looked at the area of energy as Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti States are major stakeholders in BEDC, so, we need to be proactive to strengthen BEDC to provide electricity to our people and restructure the company to make it work efficiently for the region,” Mr Obaseki said.
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba CAC, Seme Customs Command
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]eme Border Area commander CAC Uba Garba cannot relent in fight against smugglers , Importers and their agents plying the Seme route with Concealed goods are in for trouble this is because Muhammed Uba Garba, the Area , Controller, and Adahunse Rashid, a Deputy Comptroller in-charge of the Command Enforcement Unit, including the patrol team leaders have gone back to the drawing board to review their anti-smuggling operations strategies.
Note that Sere is only one route either from Seme/Krake Joint Border or the Owode outation to take delivery of cleared truck ladden or smuggled goods to the Lagos market. There are fears that Seme Patrol team officers may have relaxed in their anti-smuggling operations which had rubbed off on the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Strike Force and the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, resident officers and its newly established anti-smuggling team along the Owode road and at the Gbaji checkpoint .
Many may think that the anti-smuggling fire in Seme Customs Comptroller when he was FOU, Zone A, may have been extinguished as he is no longer making spectacular seizures , he was known for at the FOU, Zone A, within the one year , he was there.
Unknown to many, the Customs Comptroller , has his plan B, to deal with the suspected smugglers in the area including the importers with the agents who Conceal prohibited goods into their trucks. They may have known that the Customs Comptroller was out for them with closure of the Atlas park at Republic of Benin side of the Border and the provision of a temporary park on the Nigeria side for the agents to be keeping their trucks after joint examination comprising both the Nigerian and Beninois Customs personnel and other security agencies personnel at the land Border.
The Seme Customs Comptroller may have finally sanitized the activities of the agents who are used to doing dirty jobs at the land Border station that he move moved his anti-smuggling war chest to Owode out station. His efforts appear to have paid out.
The Grassroots Publishers learnt when information leaked out to him based on his renewed intelligence gathering machinery that a truck loaded with Indomie but have wraps of canabis Stiva, popular, India hemp, Concealed in it was heading to the country. The Customs Comptroller was said to have kept it close to his chest . He was said to have discussed the matter with Adanhunse, who is in-charge of the Command Enforcement to mobilise his patrol teams for action. The Customs Deputy Comptroller did not hesitate in do so.
Muhammed Uba Garba: Comptroller, Seme Command
The fallout was that the Command patrol teams took over the Owode-Gbaji rout without letting the cat out of the back to avoid exposing its exclusive operation to other teams. True to its intelligence gathering, the alleged suspected Mitsubishi canter branded in Indomie insignia were said to have been arrested by one of the Command patrol team led by one Hamisu , a Superintendent of Customs , around the notorious Mowo-Elija axis. The trucks may not have been seized along the Owode-Gbaji road as the driver may have entered the found his way to the Mowo- Elija axis. Given the determination of the Seme Customs , to get the suspected truck, he did not hesitate in deploying the Command patrol teams to all the nooks and crannies of the Seme- Badagry axis.
It was gathered that the cartons of Indomie loaded into the truck were brought out to ensure the information given to the Command about the Concealed drugs was right. True to the information giving to the Seme Customs Comptroller, 1,582 wraps of canabis Sativa, popular India hemp, valued at about N40 million was said to have been found in the truck last May. The drugs were said to have been promptly seized and a suspect allegedly arrested in connection with the Concealed items.
With the seizure of the hundreds of wrap of the Sativa Canabis, drug, Muhammed , the Seme Customs Comptroller , has made a bold Statement that it is no longer going to be business as usual for those who indulge in illegal trade activities or involve in other trans-border crimes.
The Grassroots Publishers finding show that Ghana, in the last couple of years remain the major source of illegal supply of the Canabis Sativa drug consumed in the country. This is evident by the seizure of the seizure of the item in the last couple of months , by various Customs Commands, particular, FOU Zone A ,and the Seme Command, which had been traced to Ghana.
This is why Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, may have to take up the matter with his Ghanaian counterpart to mobilise his officers to closely monitor the items loaded into vehicles heading to the Nigerian market. Maritime watchers believe that if the Ghanaaian, Togolese and Beninois Customs personnel along the major roads linking these countries are doing their work as it ought to be done, it would be difficult for these wraps of Canabis Sativa to enter into Nigerian to be intercepted by FOU, Zone A, personnel or the land Border stations patrol teams.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he new executive governor of Imo State has vowed to probe Rochas Okorocha financial book . The ongoing tussle between Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor Rochas Okorocha, might not end soon as Ihedioha has vowed to probe every financial dealing done by the state in the last eight years.
Ihedioha said this as he revealed that nothing was handed over to him by Okorocha. He stated this while speaking with the incoming lawmakers in the state today.
The governor vowed that all those who embezzled the state’s funds must be dealt with, adding that the service of security agencies would be employed to investigate all spending.
“I will have to involve the services of security agencies in making sure that those who served the state must account for it (money spent). “I will criminalise those who loot our treasury. Nothing was handed over to me. We must make them accountable,” Ihedioha said.
He advised the lawmakers-elect to diligently serve the state, noting that the state is at a “critical point”.
He said, “The opportunities that your legislative position offers may also appear daunting as it is exciting, and as challenging as it is empowering.
“I say this, because you will be assuming your position as members of this legislative assembly at a very critical time when the state is at the crossroads of seeking recovery from an era of arbitrariness to the new direction that we are set to go, of order, due process and respect for the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, Okorocha, while giving his valedictory speech warned the incoming administration of Ihedioha not to fight him.
“When you remove this seal of governance off my face, you will see the real Rochas. The real Rochas is still asleep, if not bigger than the governor, so let no one fight me and I will not fight anybody,” Okorocha said.
[dropcap] S[/dropcap]enator Peter Nwaoboshi ,Delta North Senator-Elect and current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta has lent voice to the robust and contentious debate over who becomes the next Nigerian Senate President and thrown his weight solidly behind the ambition of Senator Ahmed Lawan, who appears to be the front runner and most favoured contender, for the plum job of the Number Three citizen in the country.
NAN reports that Senator Nwaoboshi, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta, made the declaration while addressing media men in Abuja on Friday, May 31, following his legal triumph at the Court of Appeal and the restoration of his mandate by the Appellate Court, as the authentic Senator-Elect for Delta North Senatorial zone, after successfully appealing the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, headed by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, which had, on April 3, 2019, nullified his October 2, 2018 emergence as the victorious PDP Delta North Senatorial candidate at the party primaries and his subsequent victory at the February 23 National Assembly elections, which the PDP won.
Nwaoboshi, who clearly outlined his reasons for backing Alhaji Ahmed Lawan as the fit and proper Senate President to lead the forthcoming 9th session of the National Assembly, equally stated unequivocally that with his mandate as Delta North Senator-Elect restored by the Court of Appeal, he was fully aware of the reported intention of his challenger Prince Ned Nwoko, to take the matter to the Supreme and was fully prepared to meet Nwoko at the Supreme Court, to defend and secure his mandate once and for all.
Justifying his decision to pitch his tent with the Yobe North, All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator, against his main rival, also of APC, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South, who he ironically replaced as Senate Majority leader in 2016, Nwaoboshi averred that Senator Ahmed Lawan, from his assessment of the key political gladiators on the field, had better credentials than all the other contenders for the Senate Presidency position.
Nwaoboshi said: “In 2015, I made my support clear that I was going to support the incumbent Senate President (Bukola Saraki), even before other persons came to join and my prediction came to pass.
“I have called you people again this year to make my position
clear because I believe that after the election, what should be
paramount on our minds now is Nigeria. Not party, not religious affiliation, but what we think is good for Nigeria.
“To that extent I have been thinking and I have been watching all the aspirants closely. Many of them have come to consult with me, spoken with me on phone, visited me personally both in the chamber and outside the chamber. So, I feel it is necessary for me to make my position clear so that some of these questions people are asking can be resolved”.
Speaking further, the Delta North Senator-Elect said: “Now this is my personal position. When I believe in a cause, I would always work to advance that cause. For the Senate presidency, I have made it clear to my friends that I will support Sen. Ahmad Lawan for the presidency of the 9th Senate,” he said, adding that his decision was informed by Senator Lawan’s competence and experience, as well as what Nwaoboshi described as his intelligence and ability to carry others along irrespective of party
affiliation or ethnicity.
“It is for the following reasons that I am backing him. I have found out that Sen. Lawan has been in the National Assembly for the past 20 years and as such he has gathered a lot of legislative experience both from the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
“The president of the senate is the chairman of the national assembly and someone who ought to understand the workings of both chambers and Lawan has experience from both chambers. Also as a leader, I have found competence and intelligence in him. He also appreciates the views of others and he listens to sound arguments. Any leader who is going to preside in that chamber must be able to accommodate other persons and must be intelligent.
Setting the records straight, Senator Nwaoboshi stressed thus: “Make no mistakes about it, I never supported him (Lawan) as Senate President, when he was put forward by his party the APC, in the 8th senate and I had my reasons. But now, I also believe that in this one I am making a good choice in supporting him,” he said.
While cautioning the APC against unguarded statements that might affect the goodwill the senators-elect had for Lawan, Nwaobosh pointedly noted that it was the prerogative of the Senators to choose their leaders, even as he stressed that the legislature had its mechanism for choosing and removing its principal officers, advising further that rather than
handing down instructions, stakeholders ought to consult with the lawmakers to be in order to achieve their objectives in the emergence of their favoured candidates.
“I must give kudos to the APC Deputy Chairman, North, Distinguished Sen. Shuaibu. He made a statement that is
consoling and acceptable, by saying that leadership must consult and negotiate and not
sit in your house and say it must be this person or that person. Nobody is a child and that is why you see that even those who supported Lawan initially, are
withdrawing especially within my party PDP. In as much as we
agree that whoever is going to be senate president will come
from your party APC, it is not for you to tell us it is this person or else, he will never have anything to do with us.
“That is not statesmanly. We are going to choose our leader and
when we find out that the person is no longer serving the Nigerian people, we have our own mechanism. The senate is made up of men who have distinguished themselves in their various careers. So you do of sit in your office or in your high heaven and dictate to them who is going to be their leader,” he cautioned emphatically.
Disclosing further, Nwaoboshi hinted that: “The PDP has not taken a decision as a political party as far as the presiding officers of the 9th Senate are concerned. Our party has not also told us the candidate we should vote for.
“I know the PDP leaders will not say this is the candidate they want. They would only give us a guideline. I also have a right as the representative of my people to determine what is good for the Anioma people.
“I am a loyal PDP man. I have not left the PDP and it is not part of my agenda to do so. However, regarding the leadership of the 9th Senate, I know my people would be happy with my choice of Lawan. My people know what they benefitted from the support that I gave the incumbent Senate President. I can make a choice on my people’s behalf because I have lived among them over the years.
“Most of the resistance that people are seeing especially in my own party is not because someone is questioning Lawan’s competence or that he does not have the experience or intelligence. The senate should be left to choose their leader,” he said unequivocally.
Addressing his legal triumph at the Appeal Court and the success of his challenge against the Federal High Court ruling that overturned his mandate as Delta North Senator-Elect, Nwaoboshi said he had been confident of winning and reclaiming his mandate because he had faith in the Judiciary to give him justice.
“I knew that the judgement of the Federal High Court will not stand,” Nwaobishi declared with conviction. He equally dismissed insinuations that his challenger at the Appeal Court, Ned Nwoko, would present the Certificate of Return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be inaugurated as Senator, on June 11, when the 9th Senate is expected to be inaugurated.
“Once the election has been declared and the certificate of return issued to the winner, it is only the highest court in the land that can order the withdrawal of the certificate. I have my certificate of return. Nobody has withdrawn it. What was issued to Ned Nwoko was a piece of paper and not a certificate of return. I was the one that contested the election having been declared winner in the primaries,” he said.
Senator Nwaoboshi then assured that he was also sure of victory, should the matter go up to the Supreme Court, as his Challenger had reportedly vowed to do.
“I will meet them at the Supreme Court, if they decide to go all the way. We are fully ready and prepared for them,” Senator Nwaoboshi declared confidently.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ssociation of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Council, have congratulated His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Authour Okowa, Governor, Delta State, over his victory at the 2019 guber polls in the state.
In a letter to the Governor, signed by Sir Cyprian Eboagu, State Publicity Secretary, ACNPN, the group said the re-
election of Dr. Okowa was well deserved.The letter read: “On behalf of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, Delta State Council, we congratulate Your Excellency on your well deserved victory during the Gubernatorial Election for your second term in office.
“We also felicitate with you on your hitch free and unprecedented swearing-in ceremony on the 29th of May, 2019.“Your electoral victory has brought peace and united Deltans more as one people with one destiny. Also, the mammoth crowd that graced your swearing-in ceremony attests to your huge achievements in infrastructural development, human capital development and improvement of security across the state.”
The group added: “We the publishers of community newspapers across the state are very much committed to collaborating with your administration by ensuring that your programmes and projects are executed according to your administration’s specifications through our assessments and reports from the grassroots.
“We believe that as we report the feelings, aspirations and expectations of our people at the grassroots to the world,
your government will continue to take the advantage of our professional impute as you raise the bar of governance
through your successful SMART Agenda.
“We appreciate your co-operation and support during your first tenure and pray for an improved collaboration and support for the community newspapers who are agents of transformation, education and information dissemination in our rural communities.”
ACNPN wished the Governor divine strength and the needed enabling environment to actualize his dreams for Deltans as enunciated in his speech during the swearing-in ceremony.The publishers promised to continue to be supportive of the Governor’s laudable projects and programmes geared towards giving prosperity to all Deltans, as they appealed to members of the association to continue to guide their reporters and correspondents to live up to the tenets of good and positive journalism by ensuring professionalism.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he executive governor of Delta state , Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa says his second term administration would be all-inclusive, saying that those who will work with him as appointees must avoid nepotism and sectionalism. The governor stated this while swearing-in the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, at the Unity Hall, Asaba, on Monday June 3, 2019.
According to Governor Okowa who spoke shortly after the oath of office was administered on the SSG, “sectionalism and nepotism must not have a place in the thoughts, choices and actions of those who will work with me.”
“I want to assure all Deltans that this administration will continue to run an all-inclusive government whether in terms of appointments or projects distribution; we have only just started; Deltans should trust us to do the right thing, and do it we shall and I wish to emphasize that appointments into this administration will be based on merit and geographical spread, not on emotions, sentiments or for the sole purpose of political patronage,” he said.
Governor Okowa continued, “we are in a hurry to get things done and cannot afford to lose precious time; therefore, this is not the time for apprenticeship; we shall be going for men and women, who are conversant with governance, understand our policy direction and require minimal supervision to do their work; it shall be a good combination of youth and experience to ensure that governance goes on seamlessly.”
He specifically urged Mr Ebie to know that as the SSG he should be aware that his office is the engine room of governance by “maintaining an open door policy and as much as possible make yourself available to all and sundry and give every citizen the opportunity to benefit from our programmes because, in doing this, you must be tactful, objective, just, resourceful and calm at all times.”
He expressed confidence that Mr Ebie will work tirelessly to help his administration deliver on its electioneering promises by reconciling and harmonizing the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government for effective policy formulation and implementation.
“Mr Ebie is a fine gentleman who served meritoriously as Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the first tenure of this administration; his civility, analytical depth, communication skills and diligence are essential qualities needed for the office of the SSG.
“In addition to these, modern statecraft, with all its complexities and challenges, requires team players, proactive leaders and men with large appetite for work; criteria which I am convinced Mr. Ebie is well equipped with to enrich the social, political and economic narrative of our dear State”, Okowa said.
In his response, Mr. Ebie thanked God for the successful inauguration of Governor Okowa and his Deputy, Barr. Kinsgsley Otuaro for a second term, observing that such made it possible for his choice as the Secretary of the State Government.
While thanking Governor Okowa for the opportunity to serve the people as the SSG, he promised to carry out his functions diligently in line with the stronger Delta agenda of Governor Okowa’s administration, stating, “there is still a lot of work to be done.”
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]lots by APC governors to remove Oshiomhole thickens every minutes, if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to steps in,the plot to remove the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from office will reach a crescendo in a few weeks’ time.
But chairmen of the party in the South South states have blamed the immediate past national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for the plight of the incumbent chairman, Oshiomhole.
The chairmen passed a vote of confidence on Oshiomhole and vowed to resist any attempt to blackmail him out of office for standing against injustice which they said was the hallmark of his predecessor.
The statement was jointly signed by the six South – South APC state chairmen namely, Ini T. Okopido, Akwa Ibom State; Amos Lalabunafa, Bayelsa State; Mr. John Ochalla, Cross Rivers State.
Others were Prophet Jones Ode Erue, Delta State; Aslem U. Ojezua, Edo State and Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Rivers State.
Governors behind the move to remove Oshiomhole are belching smoke and will soon set their foot soldiers loose to start demanding for a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
A party source told Saturday Tribune in confidence that a letter released on Tuesday by the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party, Senator Lawan Shaibu, was part of the coordinated plot to put the perceived mismanagement of the party by the former Edo State governor on the front burner.
The source said further that the anti-Oshiomhole forces, who have infiltrated his National Working Committee (NWC) and succeeded in winning certain aggrieved members to their camp, were actually waiting for an auspicious time to strike in a few months’ time until a recent move by the party chairman compelled them to review their plan and move swiftly.
The source disclosed that the composition of a five-man committee announced on Monday was the last straw which angered the enemy camp as it was perceived as a deft move by Oshiomhole to axe more chieftains of the party.
Checks revealed that Oshiomhole had set up the committee to “review the numerous petitions on anti-party activities of some members from the states.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Lanre Isa-Onilu, in a statement, disclosed that the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Niyi Adebayo, would lead the committee.
The statement said the setting up of the committee became necessary following “several petitions alleging various forms of anti-party activities by some members, including working against the party or our candidates in the just concluded elections.”
The committee, which has one week to submit its report, has as members, National Vice Chairman (South-West), Mr Bankole Oluwajana; National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala; National Treasurer, Adamu Fanda and National Disabled Leader, Misbau Lawal Didi.
“Coming a few months after the suspension of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Rochas Okorocha and Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, his targets were able to read between the lines and they took a counter move,” the source noted.
Further findings by Saturday Tribune showed that Senator Kabiru Marafa; the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Abdul Aziz Yari and other protagonists in the crisis that rocked the Zamfara State chapter of the party are expected to be reprimanded by the Adebayo-led committee.
The Supreme Court, last week, in its ruling on the litigations that trailed the controversial primaries conducted by the party in Zamfara State, upheld the decision of the Sokoto Division of the Court of Appeal to the effect that the APC did not conduct any valid primary election and as such, had no candidates for any of the elections in the state.
The apex court consequently declared that the party with candidates with the second highest votes and spread in the various elections were the valid winners of the governorship and National Assembly and House of Assembly elections and should be issued with certificates of return.
2023: Govs infiltrate APC NWC?
With the emergence of Oshiomhole, loyalists of the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu and his defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) were perceived to be in firm control of the APC, leading to complaints in hushed tones by remnants of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and President Muhammadu Buhari’s defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Saturday Tribune’s checks revealed that besides the former Edo State governor, Senator Shuaibu, who wrote the letter demanding Oshiomhole’s removal, and Chief Adebayo were members of the defunct ACN.
The national secretary of the party, Malam Mai Buni, who was in the defunct ANPP, has since vacated the office, having emerged as the Yobe State governor. Stalwarts of Buhari’s CPC have since embarked on the project to install Waziri Bulama from Borno State as replacement for Malam Buni as the national secretary.
Bulama was the Deputy Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and he is from the North-East.
But governors in the North-West led by Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai and his Zamfara State counterpart, Abdul Aziz Yari, who vacated office on Tuesday, may have succeeded in winning aggrieved Senator Ahmed Lawan to their camp.
Incidentally, Lawan is from Zamfara State and the Supreme Court judgment has since stripped the APC of the governorship ticket, three Senate seats, seven House of Representatives seats and 23 seats in the state House of Assembly.
A party source told Grassroots Publishers that there is mutual distrust between Adebayo and Oshiomhole as the Tinubu camp believes the former Ekiti State governor was “donated” to the party’s national secretariat by the trio of the immediate past Ogun State governor, Senator Amosun, Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi. There has been speculation of an el-Rufai/Fayemi presidential ticket in 2023.
Forum of state chairmen divided
Findings revealed that the Tinubu forces are banking on the forum of state chairmen of the party to stave off the plot to unseat the embattled former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
By virtue of the APC constitution (2014, as amended), the 36 state chapter chairmen and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are members of the party’s NEC and their support for the immediate past national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, sustained him in the office for a long time.
The governors have since pulled the rug off Oshiomhole’s feet, having succeeded in polarising their ranks as only a few of them from less than eight states have spoken in defence of Oshiomhole since the plot to remove him became public knowledge.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]helsea have emerged the 2019 Europa League champions as they demolished Arsenal 4-1 in the final match played on Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, the match came to life when Olivier Giroud opened scoring for Chelsea.
Emerson hit an early, flat cross from the left and Giroud got across his defender to send in a flying, thumping header into the corner from about 12 yards out on 49th minute of the match.
Pedro doubled Chelsea’s advantage. It was absolutely clinical from Pedro. Eight years after scoring against Manchester United in the Champions League final, he’s at it again.
Eden Hazard gets on the left of the area, finds the right pass, of course, and Pedro rather scuffs a left-footed finish across Petr Cech and into the corner.
On 65th minute Eden Hazard’s penalty made it 3-0 for Chelsea.
The Belgian number 10 sends Petr Cech the wrong way and just passes it into the back of the net.
Alex Iwobi reduced the tally as he put one back for Arsenal. It was a great goal for the Nigerian international.
Arsenal have a corner, it’s not dealt with and Alex Iwobi, who’s only just come on, lets it bounce about 22 yards out and then just nonchalantly sends a dipping shot into the far corner with the outside of his boot!
Chelsea sealed the victory as Hazard scored his brace on 72nd minute.
Hazard sends Olivier Giroud into the penalty area, wide left. He brings out a lob wedge to lift the ball back into the path of Hazard, and he controls a calm finish past Petr Cech and into the back of the net.
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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he House of Representatives member-elect for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in Delta State, Rev. Francis Waive says Femi Gbajabiamila’s choice as speaker of the 9th National Assembly will favour Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhar-led administration.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ssociation of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Council, have congratulated His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Authour Okowa, Governor, Delta State, over his victory at the 2019 guber polls in the state.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he executive governor of Delta state , Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa says his second term administration would be all-inclusive, saying that those who will work with him as appointees must avoid nepotism and sectionalism. The governor stated this while swearing-in the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, at the Unity Hall, Asaba, on Monday June 3, 2019.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]helsea have emerged the 2019 Europa League champions as they demolished Arsenal 4-1 in the final match played on Wednesday.
