[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has labelled Anambra State the leading state in drug peddling, abuse and misuse in the country. Addressing journalists in Awka, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NDLEA in Anambra State Command, Mr. Charles Efosa Odigie, said that drug barons in Anambra State trade mainly on Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, cannabis, as well as some other drugs which are being abused today like Tramadol, etc.
He said that there are other drugs like cough syrups with codeine which are legally acceptable are also in the list of abused drugs in the state.According to Odigie, the Codeine content in cough syrup causes serious drowsiness adding that when overdosed, it can lead to health crisis.
His words: “Anambra State is the leading state when it comes to drug abuse, and we have been doing our best to reduce the scourge to the barest minimum.“Only recently, we discovered and destroyed lands where Methamphetamine was produced. Again, we made a big seizure of Methamphetamine, which is regarded as the most potent drug in the world. This dangerous drug is produced in some parts of Anambra.
“We are teaming up with Umunachi community in the state to fight the scourge. They have been calling us for raid at the hideouts of the peddlers.”
Odigie said that a big seizure was recently made in the community regretting that they could not arrest the syndicate during the raid.He urged other communities in the state to emulate Umunnachi town by reporting anybody suspected of peddling drugs in their community.
He added: “We shall be very grateful because these people doing it are members of our communities. They are not spirits; so we can fight them to standstill.“As a body, we are doing our best; the state government under Governor Willie Obiano, is also doing its best to assist us in this fight.”
The NDLEA image maker in the state further said that the Anambra State Government had assisted the state command of the NDLEA with vehicles, money and motorcycles to enable them carry out their assignments successfully.
While advising youths to stay off drug abuse describing it as dangerous, he commended the Anambra State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Sule Momodu, for his strides and sleepless nights in making sure that drug abuse is drastically managed in Anambra
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he living legend Chief Barr.Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, the Aguwajiejemba of Ibusa, Oshimili of Akwukwu Igbo Kingdom, Ide of Okpanam Kingdom and Ochiagha of Anioma, is an oracle of wisdom and man of Unquantifiable intelligence. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi by international assessment is a political prowess whose effort at enthroning transparency,accountability and fairness is unparallel. An apotheosis of leadership, an academic wizard, Senator Nwaoboshi’s display of intellectual vastness, oratory garb and courageous disposition has given him an edge to be a great leader of our time.
He was born in 1957, an intellectual with four Degrees, BA Hons (1986), LLB Law, Uniben, BL Law School, LLM Masters Degree from Abraka. A Political Administrator with vast experience of over 35 years. He was A Political Aide to the then Governor of defunct Bendel State in 1979, Chairman NRC, Old Oshimili LGA from 1991-93, State Deputy Chairman, DPN Party from 1995-97.
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Delta State Chapter, the first State Secretary, PDP Delta State Chapter in 1998. Indeed his Chambers was made the first PDP Secretariat, Delta Chapter. Political Adviser to Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Former Governor of Delta State. He was Commissioner for Agriculture and Special Duties in Delta State and Abuja respectively. Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja. He is the Father of Equity in Delta Politics, whose struggle gave birth to Anioma born governor. He was elected PDP Delta State Party Chairman in 2008, later re-elected in 2012. Responding to his people’s (ANIOMA) call, he resigned his Chairmanship position to contest for the Delta North Senatorial Seat in 2015 which he won convincingly.
He is a man who knows the murky waters of Delta politics like the back of his palms, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial District and immediate past State Chairman of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has lots of things to say when he finally writes his memoirs as one of the most focused and patriotic politician to have ever come from Delta North Senatorial District.
Going back in the days when Delta North (Anioma) people were not at the fore front of Political Leadership in the state and beyond, the oracle of Delta State Politics, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi was just standing with very few and he never gave up building a formidable and challenging Political Structure comprising of people of INTEGRITY majorly from the Anioma extraction.
Today, the result of his patience and steady positive progress stands for every Delta North (Anioma) Citizen to benefit from. He keeps his promise to always make himself available to serve the people of Delta North (Anioma) in any capacity as he currently serves as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As Delta State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, he weathered all storms to build a formidable, impregnable and unconquerable party in the state. During his tenure, he provided the party executives official cars right from the state party executives to the local government and built a befitting state secretariat for the party which was described by the then National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu as the best in the country.
He is an astute voice for his people; fought for his people’s common goals and understands the feelings and plights of his people. He fought a gallant fight to ensure that key stakeholders respects the party’s zoning arrangement in the state which eventually saw to the emergence of the grassrooted and political technocrat Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, a Delta Northerner, as Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in a kinly contested party primary which he eventually won to become the first Anioma son to emerge Governor of the multi-ethnic Delta State. His dogged political exploits paid off again in the Senate as he was appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Deveopment Commission (NDDC) and has since commenced work while urging the NDDC to improve on her performances by making sure that the people gets value for their money.
Distinguished Senator Nwaoboshi has begun making his marks in the Senate as he has sponsored a Bills for the amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act in a bid to make it in tune with current realities and international best practices and also the reviewed and amended Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Establishment Act of 2000, to make it mandatory for International Oil and Gas Companies to set aside three percent of their budget for the development of the Niger Delta region.
Senator Nwaoboshi is a man of towering political heights. It is therefore not unexpected that mudslingers, paid critics and blackmailers will sponsor damaging stories against the “ORACLE”. He believes so much in the words of the great philosopher Aristotle, “To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” Since joining public service, he has never been unwary of critics because he knows and understands the benefits of good criticism for a leader.
However, when criticism becomes destructive and intended to score cheap political points, he also draws a lesson from the words of Dale Carnegie, when he said “Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”
He has since forgiven all his critics who are bent on blackmailing him into parting with huge sums of money to feather their nests, but because he has refused to yield to their blackmail and mudslinging they have resorted to media onslaught on his person. Having achieved mystical feat which Napoleon Bonaparte of France could not even achieve , and being a political enigma with divine gift of intelligence and eloquence which could be likened to that of President Obama of America, it is expected that our Titan and detribalized leader will secure the total support of the people Delta North (Anioma Nation)unopposed to represent them for the second term come 2019 because the Anioma nation has a loud voice now at the National Assembly on like before.
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]verybody loves speedy internet, so it’s no surprise that every major telecom firm in the country is working to make it even faster. Smartphones, watches, homes, and cars are increasingly requiring stable internet connections. When you’re looking at buying a new phone, you might find that there are way too many acronyms to choose from, between CDMA, GSM, LTE, and WiMax; the list goes on. What does any of these mean? It can be easier to focus simply on the differences in these networks as they apply to you directly.
The simplest explanation is that the “G” in 4G stands for generation, that is fourth generation of mobile data technology, as defined by the radio sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
What is 4G?
The ITU set standards for 4G connectivity in March of 2008, requiring all services described as 4G to adhere to a set of speed and connection standards. For mobile use, including smartphones and tablets, connection speeds need to have a peak of at least 100 megabits per second, and for more stationary uses such as mobile hotspots, at least 1 gigabit per second.
When these standards were announced, these speeds were unheard of in the practical world, because they were intended as a target for technology developers, a point that marked a significant jump over the current technology. Over time, the systems that power these networks have caught up, not just in the sense that new broadcasting methods have found their way into products, but the previously-established 3G networks have been improved to the point that they can be classified as 4G.
What is LTE?
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and is nott as much a technology as it is the path followed to achieve 4G speeds. As it stands, most of the time when your phone displays the “4G” symbol in the upper right corner, it doesn’t really mean it. When the ITU set the minimum speeds for 4G, they were a bit unreachable, despite the amount of money tech manufacturers put into achieving them. In response, the regulatory body decided that LTE, the name given to the technology used in pursuit of those standards, could be labeled as 4G if it provided a substantial improvement over the 3G technology.
Immediately networks began advertising their connections as 4G LTE, a marketing technique that allowed them to claim next-gen connectivity without having to reach the actual required number first; it would be like the U.S. claiming they had landed on the moon because they got pretty close and the spaceship that got them there was a lot better than the previous ship. It’s not entirely trickery though, despite inconsistent speeds depending on location and network, the difference between 3G and 4G is immediately noticeable.
To make matters more confusing, you’ll also likely come across LTE-A at some point. This stands for Long Term Evolution Advanced, and it takes us a step closer to proper 4G. It offers faster speeds and greater stability than normal LTE. It’s also backwards compatible and works by aggregating channels, so instead of connecting to the strongest signal in your vicinity, you can download data from multiple sources at the same time.
So the real question is, can you feel a difference between 4G and LTE networks? Is the speed of loading a page or downloading an app on your handhelddevice a lot faster if you have LTE technology built in? Probably not, unless you live in a city. While the difference between slower 3G networks and new 4G or LTE networks is certainly very noticeable, many of the 4G and “true 4G” networks have upload and download speeds that are almost identical. The roll out of LTE-A is starting to make a difference, but your mileage may vary. For now, LTE-A is the fastest connection available for wireless networks.
Challenges of using 4G, 4G LTE
When comparing the two, one challenge of using 4G and 4G LTE – if you’re currently using 3G – is that you will probably need to purchase a new smartphone with 4G capabilities. 3G devices simply cannot provide the 4G experience. You must also be in an area that offers a 4G network. If you want to use 4G LTE, your mobile device must support it, and you must be in an area that delivers 4G LTE service.
Another challenge is choosing a cell phone carrier that offers 4G or 4G LTE service. 4G is offered in most areas now, but 4G LTE may not be available. That’s why it’s important to check your carrier’s coverage map. If experiencing 4G LTE is something that matters to you, you will want to find a carrier that offers the most 4G LTE coverage.
Choosing 4G or 4G LTE
Choosing 4G or 4G LTE comes down to what speeds you require or prefer. If you need or want the fastest speeds available, you will want to buy a smartphone that supports 4G LTE. In addition, you will want to check the coverage maps for different carriers to see who offers 4G LTE in the most areas, or at least the areas where you spend the most time such as your home and workplace. It’s also a good idea to visit a wireless retail location to test the different network speeds yourself. You will find a noticeable difference between 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]BOUT 60 traditional rulers from Delta North Senatorial District under the aegis of Delta North Traditional Rulers Forum (DNTF) have passed a vote of confidence in the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, endorsing him for second term in office.The meeting of the royal fathers, held recently at the Palace of the Obi of Owa, HRM Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, came on the heels of a similar endorsement of Okowa by the ‘Delta PDP Mandate’.
The Delta PDP Mandate, at an earlier rally in Warri, declared Okowa as “sole governorship candidate” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, stressing that aside his achievements so far as Governor, the unwritten power rotation principle operational in the state since 1999 clearly favoured him.
Meanwhile, Governor Okowa has said he was both humbled and excited the vote of confidence by the traditional rulers from his own senatorial district, saying this would encourage him to continue to solicit for peaceful coexistence among royal fathers in the central and south districts as peace remained the bedrock of his government.
Addressing the gathering at Owa-Oyibu, the governor attributed the success stories of his administration to the peaceful disposition of traditional rulers that has engendered an enabling environment for governance, saying no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour.
Okowa said, “I sincerely, appreciate you (the traditional rulers) for the vote of confidence passed on me. If vote of confidence comes from those who own the land, we must appreciate it; and, most importantly, I thank the traditional rulers for providing the enabling environment for my government to execute its programmes. A lot is being done and more will still be done. We will achieve more as a united people. As a government, we will try as much as possible to remain focused and my respect for the traditional rulers will never wane.
“This is an important meeting and I am very excited with the level of activities of our traditional rulers. When we share ideas, we are better positioned in our commitment to give our people the best.
“If the traditional rulers fail to cooperate with the government, that government is bound to have crises. We have had town hall meetings where we discussed issues affecting us, we shall continue with local government areas we are yet to visit from next week.
Gov. Okowa Ifeanyi
“Delta North (district) has been largely peaceful, the peace in the area is very important for me because, when Delta North remains peaceful, I will find it easier to preach peace in other senatorial districts.”
The governor urged the traditional rulers to report any unhealthy situation involving herdsmen to the Divisional Police Officers in their areas and ensure they live in peace while awaiting the Federal Government to proffer solutions to the problem.
He also called on the traditional rulers to set up vigilante groups in their kingdoms and ensure such are registered with the police, stating that there must be collaborative efforts to check crime and criminal activities in the state.
The traditional rulers had in an address read by the Ogene of Ibedeni, HRM Jonathan Kanegede I, said, “We are not surprised that your massive people-oriented programmes are being recorded and appreciated by many through numerous awards; and, since you are not tired in seeking the people’s well-being and progress, we unequivocally pass a vote of confidence on you, Governor Okowa and your administration.
“We, the Royal Fathers, the 63 traditional rulers representing the various groups in Delta North, on behalf of our chiefs and the entire people, are happy with your famous SMART agenda, the massive road construction across the state, Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme, Skill Training Entrepreneurship Programme, and many others too numerous to mention.”
Speaking, Head, Collective Leadership, Onu Ika Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Usifoh, called for consistent enlightenment campaign to discourage youths from harvesting organs, selling their organs or illegally moving to other countries in their quest for quick wealth.
Obi Efeizomor II, who is the chairman of the state council of traditional rulers, had in a brief speech thanked the governor for attending the meeting which provided a platform for the traditional rulers to express their views about his government.
In a related development, former works commissioner and currently Chairman, Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, Mr. Solomon Funkekeme, moved the motion to endorse Okowa towards 2019, and it was seconded by the Delta Central Coordinator of Delta PDP Mandate, Chief Arthur Akpowowo.
The National President of PDP Delta Mandate, Chief Isaac Anwuzia, who described the association as a strong voice in the political equation of the state considering the array of seasoned politicians the group is made up of, stated that Governor Okowa has been endorsed for second term by the association.
The Delta South Coordinator of the group, Mr. Amar Agbajor, the Delta North Coordinator of the group, Hon. Moses Iduh, the Delta South district PDP chairman, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba, and its National Director of Publicity, Mr Patrick Ukah, all dwelt on the eligibility of the incumbent as the best material for the governorship in 2019.
Ukah, who is also Delta State Commissioner for Information, stressed the need for all adults living in the state who were yet obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to “go to the nearest Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office or centre and register to be qualified to vote for Governor Okowa in 2019.
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]ov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe has called on the Federal Government to intensify aerial survelliance to rescue the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls and enhance general security of the state.
Gaidam made the call on Monday when the Presidential Committee to unravel circumstances surrounding the abduction of the students of Government Girls Science Technical School, Dapchi, visited the state.He commended the Buhari Administration for its committed zeal in fighting insurgency in the North-East.
He said the visit by four different delegations sent by the federal government underscored the commitment of government to rescue the schoolgirls.The governor also commended to the Nigerian Army for acting with dispatch and realigning the check points in Ngelzarma and Damagum to beef up security.
“I am optimistic that with the kind of inspiring concern exhibited by the federal government, other patriotic Nigerians and indeed, the international community, we will intensify our efforts until all the girls are found.”He lauded the efforts of security organisations, which he said, had recorded unprecedented success to the admiration of all.According to the governor, the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have deployed their personnel to schools across the state to build more confidence in the parents and students.
Gaidam solicited for comprehensive strategy to mop up the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.The Chairman of the committee, Rear Admiral Victor Adedipe, said they were in the state to dialogue with stakeholders to uncover circumstances surrounding the abduction.He said that the committee had interacted with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole and other senior military officers engaged in the operation.
He listed the committee’s terms of reference to include: to ascertain the circumstance of the abduction, determine the exact number of persons abducted, confirm presence and disposition of security operatives and communication facilities in Dapchi.
Others are: to suggest to government, measures to locate and rescue the students, measures to forestall future occurrence and recommend any other measures that can assist the government.
Meanwhile, the Dapchi Youth Development Association has declared total support for the ongoing efforts by government to rescue the schoolgirls.
A communique signed by Alhaji Baba Shehu, Secretary of the association, called for engagement of all parents of the schoolgirls by government committees.“While rescue efforts are ongoing, we urge Yobe Government to decide in earnest the fate of the over 800 girls that escaped the abduction and returned home following closure of the school, “it said
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ETIRED Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie has warned the nation’s leaders to tread softly because there is anger in the nation, arguing that even leading members of the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre have demonstrated commendable candour by openly acknowledging that the hopes of 2015 have been shattered.
In his latest open letter to the nation, Cardinal Okogie began on a sporty note, reminding the nation that late football commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, was fond of using an Igbo proverb while giving minute-by-minute description of football matches on the radio.
“Anytime there was an infringement that escaped the attention of the referee, he would ask his colleagues, Sebastian Ofurum or Tolu Fatoyinbo if they too saw the infringement. If they confirmed what he saw, he would say in Igbo: “What two persons have seen and confirmed to be a boa must not be mistaken for a piece of diamond.” One may apply that maxim to the situation in our country right now.
“There is anger in the land. Many voices are echoing it. These voices of anger are so deafening that it can no longer be denied. The level of discontent in Nigeria at this point in time is like the proverbial boa sighted by even more than two persons. It would be unwise to mistake it for a piece of diamond.
“It has been sighted by Retired Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida who have spoken of the anger in the land in clear and unmistaken terms. It has been sighted by traditional rulers who have called the attention of government to it. It has been sighted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria when Bishops went into the corridors of power to speak to power, in the way Biblical prophets directly confronted kings in Israel,” Okogie contended in the letter.
Continuing, he maintained that the situation can no longer be treated as the cry of “wailers”, “even leading members of the party ruling at the centre have demonstrated commendable candour by openly acknowledging that the hopes of 2015 have been shattered by the disappointment of 2019.
“’Your worst enemy could be your best friend, and your best friend your worst enemy,’ sang Bob Marley. But presidential aides in our country do not seem to grasp the wisdom in those words. By their own reckoning, anyone who raises doubts as to the rightness of government policies, actions and statements is an enemy of government.
“He or she is ridiculed as speaking because there is no more access to ill-gotten wealth. A police officer, appointed to his office, demonstrated unspeakable insolence on television, calling an elected state governor a “drowning man”. In other climes he would lose his job. In Nigeria he keeps it.
“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria stood with and for democratic forces in this country during the dark days of military rule. In 1984, when the current President was a military ruler, Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops went to him to inquire as to when he would restore democratic governance. During the lawlessness of military rule, Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops called for elections and called for the release of political prisoners.
“Interventions of Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops date back to October 1, 1960, the day Nigeria gained independence, when the Bishops addressed a letter to Nigerians. Fifty years later, the same Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria addressed another letter to Nigerians, entitled “Growing a New Nigeria”. That letter was presented to former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent in 2011.
“The Bishops have never failed to offer their advice to successive governments in this country. Every line, every word of every intervention emanating from the Conference was chosen to offer frank and friendly advice. The Bishops did the same thing a few days ago, calling the attention of the President to the anger and disappointment in the land. At the end of their friendly exchange with the President, some of his aides and friends resorted to name calling and gratuitous accusations.
“Anyone who has a faint idea of how the Catholic Church is run would know that the Catholic Church does not run on tithes. She has never taught that God’s blessings depend on tithes. No Catholic Bishop in this country has a private jet. Not even the Pope has one. But an uninformed state governor, notorious for being insolent, described the Bishop’s intervention as the wailing of religious leaders who no longer have access to tithes because of this government’s anti-corruption fight.
“True friends tell each other the truth. There cannot be sincere friendship where there is no truth. Those who are telling our President the truth are his true friends. Those who are shielding him from the truth while insulting those who tell him the truth are his real enemies.
“By insulting well-meaning Nigerians who happen to disagree with policies of government they are not winning friends for the President. They are in fact helping to grow the rank and file of the angry. Whoever loves this President would want him to succeed. Whoever wants him to succeed must tell him the truth. For if he fails, Nigeria fails.
“The truth is: Nigerians are not happy. As we said early in this administration, Nigerians are hungry and angry. They are not happy because their lives and their belongings are not safe. They work so hard while the value of the money they earn cannot make them enjoy basic things of life. Nigerians are unhappy because the economy has been so mismanaged that some cannot pay the school fees of their children.
“Nigerians are unhappy because they have not got jobs. Nigerians are unhappy because, instead of hope, they are offered propaganda and insults by the President’s men. Nigerians are angry because their loved ones are butchered by herdsmen while the response of government is woeful.
“The issue at hand is more serious than getting re-elected. It cannot be resolved by way of a facile intra-party reconciliation. Before it can succeed, this government must admit it has failed. Before it can retrace its steps, this government must admit that it has strayed from the path of keeping the promises it made, promises that made Nigerians vote as they did in 2015. Apart from seeking intra-party reconciliation, this government must first reconcile with Nigerians by treating them with respect.
“Despite the insolence of some of its officials, we still pray for this government: may this government not suffer the fate of the proverbial hunter’s dog that got lost in the forest because it obstinately refused to heed the hunter’s whistle,” Olubunmi Okogie further warned.
Although he is yet to declare whether his interest is for the senate or House of Representatives, Nwaka said his face is set to move to the national assembly and make his constituents proud.
In a facebook post with the title: “I have chosen to go to the national assembly,” Nwaka said right from the days of the defunct western region to the present day Delta state, the Anioma people have shown exemplary moral character, enviable intellectual capacity, astonishing industry and fruitful interpersonal relations.
The facebook post reads: “Other people see the Anioma man or woman and see integrity, vision, enterprise, self-control and excellence; they behold the attributes of a role model.
“We raise our children to manifest the finest traditions of knowledge, temperance, industry and unimpeachable moral conduct. By our natural composition, the Anioma man or woman, whether from Ndokwa/Ukwuani, Ika or Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, should not be the subject of unrestrained public ridicule or a reflection of intellectual docility.
“Though we clamor for our rights, we are not ill-tempered. At all times, we demonstrate the social graces of public conduct. That is the Anioma man and woman I grew up to know.The national assembly should be a conglomeration of the best from other lands.
“We must therefore put our brightest materials forward so we should not only compete favorably with the highest that other societies have to offer, but more importantly, show the world the true values, beliefs and character imparted on us by our forefathers.
“Our people deserve nothing less. We must not allow sentiments or behaviors that are strange to our nature to prevent us from actualizing our great God-given potentials as a people.
“In this regard, I shall, in the next few days, make the necessary consultations, after which I shall spell out the exact course of my proposed journey to the national assembly.”
R-L Chairman, Edo State Chapter, All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Anslem Ojezua; Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., during the Swearing-In Ceremony of the elected local government chairmen, at the Government House, Benin City, on Monday, March 05, 2018
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]do state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has admonished the newly elected council chairmen that they have no excuse to fail to serve their people warning that they have no godfathers to settle. Governor Obaseki gave the admonition Monday, while swearing-in the newly elected Chairmen for the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state.
He charged the new heads of the councils to be accountable, responsive and responsible in administering the affairs of their respective councils. He said, “My administration has kept aside N2 billion saved from the Paris Club refunds in the councils’ treasury for the new executives to commence activities.
According to him, “You are not coming to meet an empty treasury. I have saved your Paris refund in excess of N2billion and some of you have savings in excess of N2billion.
“So, you will be coming into office with some reserves and savings, but you have to focus on enduring projects.”
He said the era, in which council bosses left offices with debts for their successors would not be accepted, noting that his administration has spent the last 17 months offsetting debts incurred by former local government executives.
The governor described the peaceful conduct of the electoral process as historic, noting, “The increasing acceptability of the laudable programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) enabled you to secure victory at the polls. We do not expect less from you.
“Your elections were free and fair, so you must go and serve the people who voted you into office. You have no Godfather to settle. Your sole responsibility must be the welfare of the people in your council,” the governor charged the newly elected executives.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, commended Governor Obaseki for saving up funds for the chairmen to kick-start their activities. He described the act as benevolent and urged the council bosses to utilize the fund for the benefit of the masses.
In a chat with news men after the swearing-in, chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Hon. Napoleon Agbaman said he would take the issue of environmental sanitation seriously by evacuating refuse in urban areas and educate rural dwellers in the council area to provide good toilet facilities in their homes.
He assured that he would ensure he fulfils his electioneering campaign promises to his people.
Reacting to the governor’s charge to the chairmen, Special Assistant to Governor Obaseki from Isi ward in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Kate Odeh, assured that Hon. Agbaman will readily key into the governor’s expectations as Uhunmwode people repose a lot of confidence in him.
She assured that as Special Assistant to the governor, she will collaborate with the Local Government chairman to fast track development in the area.Also speaking, chairman of Igueben Local Government Area, Engr. Jossy Ogedegbe said he would hit the ground running immediately he resumes office at Igueben Monday.
Local Government elections were held in Edo state last Saturday, 3 March in all the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state.All the chairmanship and councillorship seats were won by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP boycotted the election, siting alleged bias by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the last eight days, Manchester United have shown they can fight. A goal down against Chelsea, they came back to win 2-1. In an even deeper hole against Crystal Palace — all of their own making — they did it again. The win moves them back into second in the Premier league above Liverpool, who visit Old Trafford on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho can take plenty of credit throwing on substitutes Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Juan Mata to change the game and the win was secured by Nemanja Matic’s first goal for the club, one minute into stoppage time, a superb 25-yard effort that flew beyond Wayne Hennessey.
For the first 48 minutes, United were awful. When relegation-threatened Palace scored after 11 minutes, the only surprise was that it had taken so long. The home side had already had plenty of time to send Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof into a panic with hopeful balls into Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth and it was Benteke who created the opener.
After squaring up Smalling on the left, The Belgium international rolled a pass across the edge of the penalty area for Andros Townsend to shoot past David De Gea thanks, in part, to a defection off Lindelof. The Swedish defender, caught turning his back as Townsend went to shoot, will not want to see the replay.
That Mourinho sent out his substitutes to warm up after 20 minutes said everything about the performance, which was poor at both ends. An Alexis Sanchez pass, which hit the advertising hoardings with Antonio Valencia in acres of space, summed it up.
And whatever the United manager said at half-time did not work; just three minutes after the restart, Patrick van Aanholt raced away down the left to react quickest to a sharply-taken free kick and calmly finished past De Gea.
It was only then that United started playing. Smalling pulled one back after 55 minutes, heading in Valencia’s cross, after which Paul Pogba forced Hennessey into a save and Matic had a shot cleared off the line by Benteke. Fifteen minutes from full-time, they finally found a way through.
After Sanchez’s effort looped against the bar, Romelu Lukaku engineered a yard of space to steer in the equaliser, his eighth goal in his last 11 games. It provided the platform for Matic to score from 25 yards and send the United fans into a bouncing mass in the corner of the stadium.
It was not a performance to show that United are capable of bridging the gap with Manchester City next season, but the fans who danced their way out of Selhurst Park will not care.
There have been enough seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired when comebacks like this were not possible. Indeed, not since a 3-2 win at Hull on Boxing Day 2013 have United won in the league after going 2-0 down.
So there is also something to admire in the spirit United showed. With the title long gone and a top-four place all but guaranteed, it would have been easy to let this game slip by after falling two down. That they did not shows that they feel there is still plenty left to play for this season.
But despite the euphoria of victory, there are plenty of problems for Mourinho to address. Most notable is why his team has not got noticeably better since the arrival of Sanchez and why Pogba is still struggling to make the most of his fantastic talent on a regular basis.
Given that Crystal Palace started the season with seven straight defeats, it is remarkable that they are even in contention to beat relegation. That they will now fancy their chances of playing Premier League football next season is testament to the job Roy Hodgson has done at Selhurst Park.
Palace’s fate this season will be decided by their last six games, in which they meet Bournemouth, Brighton, Watford, Leicester, Stoke and West Brom. It is a run-in that offers the opportunity to pick up enough points to reach the magical 40. They will not fear any of those games after this performance against United and will relish facing Liverpool, the next visitors to Selhurst Park on Mar. 31.
Hodgson will be disappointed that his team surrendered a two-goal lead, especially after dominating for so long. But he is experienced enough to know that relegation scraps are not defined by games against teams at the top.
With Wilfried Zaha — by far Palace’s best player — expected back from injury soon, there is every reason to suggest they will host United again next season.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he rejection of the Peace Corps Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, report has filtered in that some members of the House of Representatives have begun the collation of signatures to veto the President’s assent and make it an Act of Parliament.A report today by New Telegraph revealed that, so far, 173 lawmakers have appended their signatures to the document, which is being coordinated by four lawmakers.
The President had last Tuesday transmitted to the National Assembly, citing financial implications and duplication of duties of existing security agencies, as reasons for withholding his assent to the bill.
A top member of the group from Rivers State, who spoke to New Telegraph on the condition of anonymity, said they are hopeful that before the expiration of the 30-day window provided for in the constitution, they would be able to garner the required two-thirds majority to override the president’s assent.
According to him, “We need just 240 members to overturn the table against him (president) and we are double sure that in the next two weeks, we will convince more members to join this movement. So far, I can confirm to you that we have 173 members already on our list and this is authentic.
“What we are doing is not about party or religion or region; it is about Nigeria; it is about the future of our youths who are roaming about the streets due to lack of jobs. “The Peace Corps is a veritable platform to create employment and reduce corruption in Nigeria. Mr. President cannot be telling Nigerians, ‘we don’t have money’ when the country is contributing to many bodies.”
Asked whether they will be able to get the required two-thirds in the Senate, the lawmaker expressed confidence that their colleagues in the upper chamber were working round the clock to secure the required number.
“Our colleagues in the Senate are very much in tune with what we are doing; they are as concerned as we are because Nigerians are suffering; our youths are being held hostage by an insensitive government. I can assure you, we are going to get the two-thirds and we will go ahead and create the Peace Corps for our youths,” he said.
The lawmaker, however, declined to disclose the identity of those who have appended their signatures to the paper, saying “we are keeping our list close to our hearts and we will not like to make it public now. But what I can assure you is that, there is a group, we have gotten 173 followers as at today and we are ready to override his (President’s) assent, and there is no going back.
“At the appropriate time, we will make our identity known,” he stated.
Another PDP lawmaker from Kogi State told New Telegraph that “they are lobbying and mobilising other lawmakers to ensure that Peace Corps becomes a reality.”
“Just imagine the number of jobs it can create. I must say Dickson Akoh (the commandant) has done a good job and we must encourage him,” he added.
The National Assembly is empowered by the provisions of section 58(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to override the President’s veto on Bills. While the House requires 240 members to make up its two-thirds, the 109-member Senate requires 73 members to veto the president’s assent. Section 58 (5) provides that “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”
While Order 12(b)(c) of the Standing Orders and Rules of the House of Representatives (2016), also provides that the rejected Bill could be looked upon by the House (through a motion) and if supported by two-thirds of the Reps, the Bill is proclaimed law without the assent of the President.
Grassroots Publishers recalls that after the president’s letter withholding his assent was read on the floor of the House by Speaker Yakubu Dogara last week, many lawmakers picked holes in the development and expressed the willingness to veto his refusal. One of the lawmakers and chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) told journalists that the President’s refusal to assent to the Peace Corps bill was misguided and would rather aggravate the security challenges in the country.
The lawmaker said the House was going to review the president’s decision and chart the way forward. According to Ossai, “If the reasons given by Mr. President are not germane, I will personally lead a lobbying process to make sure the House veto him.”
Also, the Senator representing Abia North, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, and his counterpart from Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani, had at different occasions condemned the withholding of assent by President Buhari.
Addressing journalists in his office on Wednesday, Senator Ohuabunwa expressed hope that end had not come to the Peace Corps Bill. On his part, Senator Sani twitted via his personal twitter handle to urge President Buhari to rescind his decision on the Bill, saying, the abduction of school girls in Dapchi could have been avoided if a youth based organisation such as Peace Corps was in place.
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