Labaran Maku: We Thought The Obidient Movement Was A Joke

 A former Information and National Orientation Minister Labaran Maku has admitted many saw the ‘Obidient’ movement and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi as a joke.

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, took the nation by storm when he emerged as a third-force candidate. Despite being dismissed as lacking a political structure, the LP candidate who enjoys a huge youth following scored over six million votes and won in 11 states to finish third in the just-concluded exercise.

But while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily about the outcome of the 2023 elections, Mr Maku admitted that the opposition politicians never gave the LP candidate and his supporters a chance.

“What happened in the presidential election as you could see was that there was this wave of young people, the ‘Obidients’ that we all took for granted and we were thinking Peter Obi was a joke. Where would he go?” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said on the breakfast show Tuesday.

“So, both PDP and the APC, we were thinking ‘This man does not have structure. He will not be able to do so much’.”

He, however, maintained that young people proved them wrong and put up an unprecedented showing in the 2023 elections.

“But the young people seized the initiative from the politicians. And for the first time – what we saw in Nasarawa, Edo, several other places, and in Delta State where the PDP vice presidential candidate comes from – we saw that young people were serious about what they were doing and they took advantage of social media to project a programme which has shaken the nation.”

The PDP chieftain from Nasarawa State admitted that the party lost the presidential election in the state to LP but claimed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s win in the governorship poll was faulty.

For him, the results of the governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were concocted.

Buhari Set To Flag-Off Third Oil Field In Northern Nigeria

 Buhari set to flag-off third oil field in Northern Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to flag-off the Third Oil field in Northern Nigeria on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reports that this was contained in a public announcement on Monday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The oil field is located in Ebenyi at the Headquarters of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The flagging-off is scheduled for Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

It is the second oil field in the North Central region; the first was the Ibaji Oil field in Kogi state.

In the history of Nigeria’s exploration, the Ebenyi Oil field is the third in Northern Nigeria; the first was Kolomani, located in the Bauchi/Gombe axis.

15 January 1956 was the first time Nigeria discovered crude oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, a community in the Niger Delta region.

Bola Tinubu Cancels His 71st Birthday Colloquium, Opts For Prayers Instead

 Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu has cancelled the annual colloquium to mark his birthday, IGBERETV reports.

Tinubu opted for special prayers and a thanksgiving service instead. The president-elect who will be turning 71 on Wednesday, March 29, stated that he's seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.

A media aide to the President-elect, Tunde Rahman said prayers would be held in Lagos and other parts of the country. The special prayers would be offered at the central mosque in each of the five divisions in the state including, the central mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

The statement read; 

“Also to receive prayers among others are President Muhammadu Buhari and first lady Aisha Buhari, president-elect, Tinubu, and his wife, senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice-President-elect, senator Kashim Shettima, and Hajia Nana Shettima, governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, other state governors as well as members of national and state houses of assembly.

“This year, the president-elect said the date, which falls within the holy month of Ramadan, should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God’s guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership.”

I Will Not Run Away If EFCC Invites Me, I Will Honour The Invitation – Wike

 Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has said he won’t run away from Nigeria due to the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after May 29, when his tenure expires,IGBERETV reports.

The governor was reacting to recent revelations by the Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, that the agency would arrest corrupt governors whose tenures end on May 29.

The governor while speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, SUNRISE on Monday, said he would gladly honour the EFCC if invited at the end of his tenure on May 29.

In his words;

“I’m not going to run away because of EFCC. Why should they invite me? If they invite me, I will honour their invitation. I will not run away.”

I Didn’t Say Yoruba Are Political Rascals – Iwuanyanwu

 The Chairman of Elders Forum of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Monday, described as fake news a report credited to him (Iwuanyanwu) that he said the Yoruba were political rascals.

Iwuanyanwu made this known to newsmen in Owerri, while dissociating himself from the said story; during his outing at Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s one year in office event in Awka, Anambra State, weekend.

The elder statesman said his statement was manipulated and circulated on the social media by blackmailers.

According to Iwuanyanwu, “My awareness has been drawn to fake news circulating on social media completely misrepresenting the statement I made at Awka, Anambra State, in connection to the killings, destructions of properties, and harassment of Igbo in Lagos during the recent elections.

“My statement was covered live by Arise Television, Channels, and many other electronic and print media houses.

“All Nigerians of goodwill who care should get the true transcript of my statement from any of these media houses.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that at no time did I make the statement credited to me by blackmail circulating on social media that Yoruba are political rascals as this was fraudulently manipulated.

“I want to warn all perpetrators of this fake news that it is a criminal offense to circulate fake news against a peace-loving Nigerian. For the avoidance of doubt, I am a senior citizen who has meritoriously served Nigeria.

“The seven Igbo-speaking states namely — Rivers, Delta, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States — have also honoured me with the traditional title of AHAEJIAGAMBA NDIGBO.

“I am indeed the first Igbo man to be so honoured. As a professional engineer, I have been honoured with numerous merit awards including the institution of an annual lecture series in my name by my colleagues in appreciation of my contributions to engineering, science society, and humanity.

“I am the Grand Patron of many youth organizations in the country. Most of my close friends who have influenced my business and professional life are from the Northern and Western parts of Nigeria.

“For instance, I am the Balogun Babaguwan of Ibadan land. I have also been honoured with chieftaincy titles by numerous Yoruba oba.

“I am no doubt an honorary citizen of Yoruba land. I have many personal friends and staff of my various companies including directors who are Yoruba.

“Most of them played major roles in shaping my economic destiny, therefore do not have any reason whatsoever to in the Yoruba tribe whom I regard with great respect.

“What I did at the ceremony was to admonish Igbo who felt threatened by various attacks in Lagos that they have no cause to worry because there are no problems between Igbo and Yoruba.

“I, therefore, told them to stay in Lagos and go about their normal businesses. I did however mention to them that the attackers are political rascals and their action does not reflect the good relationship between Yoruba and Igbo.

“Having said this, on a personal note, I must comment as follows: I felt very sad that a Nigerian should be denied his democratic right to vote for any candidate of his choice because of his tribe.

“What happened to Igbo in Lagos was in the press and Igbo are very grateful to those distinguished well-meaning Yoruba, who spoke against the killings, injuries and destruction of properties of Igbo in Lagos only because they voted the candidates of their choice,

INEC To Conduct Supplementary Elections On April 15, 2023

 Arising from its meeting held today, the Independent National Electoral Commission has decided that all outstanding Governorship, National and State Assembly supplementary elections will take place on Saturday 15th April 2023.

A detailed official statement will follow shortly.

Wike To Ayu: I've No Other Job Now Than To Pepper U, The Fight Has Just Started

 AYU, THE FIGHT HAS JUST STARTED -WIKE

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared to Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who has been suspended by his political unit in Benue State that the fight against him in the party has just started.

The governor stated that it has now become unthinkable to allow any person who was unable to deliver his political unit, ward, local government or State to the PDP during the last general elections to preside over the party.

Governor Wike spoke on Monday during the inauguration of the remodeled Community Secondary School, Okoro-nu-Odo, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

The Rivers State governor accused Dr. Ayu of collecting bribe and the PDP experienced colossal failure in the 2023 presidential and governorship elections in Benue and across the country.

"Ask them, those who want to be chairman of this party (PDP), what do you have to give to the party now? Presidential election; you took bribe, and lost in your unit, lost in your ward, lost in your local government and lost in your State. Which party will you preside over now?"

Governor Wike said it was God who hardened Ayu’s heart not to resign when the G-5 governors and members of Integrity Group demanded for his resignation after the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate.

He noted if Ayu had resigned then, his cohorts who were vehemently opposed to the zoning of elective and appointive offices would have used that as an excuse for the party’s abysmal performance in the just concluded general elections.

The governor said it will be morally offensive for Ayu to remain as the national chairman of the PDP after the catastrophic defeat of the party under his watch in his unit, ward, local government, State and national. According to him, the suspension of Ayu is the beginning of the fight to save the party.

"Those of you who are fighting that they have suspended him, you have not seen anything yet. The fight has started. Ayu, the fight has just started. If you know him, those of you who are close to him, tell him, Iyorchia Ayu, the fight has just started." 

Governor Wike insisted that instead of Dr. Ayu, using his position to strengthen the grip of PDP of Benue State, he allowed it slip off him. According to him, other PDP controlled States cannot sustain the party financially and tolerate him as their chairman.

"Will you preside over the one (Rivers PDP) I have secured victory for? You want to come and preside over this State (Rivers) so that we will begin to donate money to the party? You, bring your own State to the party too, so that your State can contribute money to the national. If you don't deliver your State, you can't preside over us. You cannot."

Governor Wike noted that already, some persons within the party are thinking and acting to side with Dr Ayu to fight back the suspension slammed on him. He warned such persons that they will be doing so to their detriment because they would have consequences to face.

Specifically, governor Wike said: "look at somebody who did anti-party, he is suspending people. The chief priest of anti-party, native doctor of anti-party suspending those who have worked hard for this party.

"All of you who are joining Ayu, be prepared. Now, I have no other job, the job I have now is to put more heat on them and I will continue to do that."

Governor Wike pointed out the nullity of the purported summoning of members of the National Working Committee of PDP to Abuja to meet and pronounce the suspension as illegal.

"If you like, let the National Secretary rush to Abuja. Let them meet this afternoon and say the suspension is illegal, you will see what you will face. You are calling us small boys, you will see what small boys can do to you."

Governor Wike stressed that those who thought they could toil with Rivers State and not be dealt with squarely can begin to lick their wounds because they have been "peppered".

Governor Wike also dismissed the claim by the former governor of the State, Chibuike Amaechi that he constructed five flyovers during his tenure and yet cannot list them for identification.

The governor restated that his administration, within four years, constructed 12 flyovers, handled by reputable construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, and went ahead to list the flyovers to clear any public doubt.

Governor Wike bemoaned the N50B squandered by the Amaechi administration on less than 2 kilometre monorail project that was never realised.

He wondered why Rivers residents still listen to such politicians when they come around to woe them to allow them fill spaces of political leadership when they failed on previous promises of providing democratic dividend.

Governor Wike thanked the people for voting massively to elect Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who is now Rivers State governor-elect.

Commenting on the project, governor Wike recalled the deplorable state of the school and said Rivers school children who school there will now have a conducive learning place to advance their education.

Inaugurating the project, governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi described governor Wike as a man who loves his people, which has informed the sustained delivery of projects across sectors to better their life.

He insisted that given such massive infrastructural revolution so delivered, it will be joke taken too far for any opposing political party to think and dare challenge to win PDP in Rivers State .

Governor Umahi corrected the impression in some quarters that Governor Wike worked against the victory of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Rivers State.

He explained that in 2019, it was governor Wike who tirelessly mobilised political leaders in South East to support the vice presidential ambition of Peter Obi after supporting him to win that slot.

Governor Umahi commended Ayu for not resigning when the G-5 governors and the members of the Integrity Group mounted pressure on him do so. According to him, if he had conceded to the demand then, it would have been difficult for the APC to win the last presidential election.

“I want to also thank very highly the suspended Chairman of PDP. You know, he did very well because if he had accepted to resign, it would have been very difficult for the APC. So, he is our man and I commend him very well. And I'm begging Wike they should lift the suspension so that he can suspend many more of your leaders. We love what he has done.

“And so we commend him and I think that Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) must know that he worked for him, and must also integrate him in the next administration. And, so all these set of people, Asiwaju/Shettima must know that God turned their hands, to work for him, to actualize the will of God and actualize unity, equity and fairness. And we are very grateful to God for that.”

The Ebonyi State governor also praised governor Wike, whose insistence that a southern Nigeria must succeed President Muhammadu Buhari paved way for the electoral victory of the APC is the south of the country.

“God directly and indirectly made Governor Wike very much available. And so, there is no way APC can conclude about the success of the election without mentioning Governor Wike. And I will be asking Asiwaju/Shettima to please bring Governor Wike to the core administration of the federal government. He has a lot to offer. He has a lot to offer for the unity of the country.”

Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla said the school, founded in 1982, over the succeeding years, suffered dilapidation until the intervention of governor Wike.

According to him, there are one numbered unit of six and three classrooms block, three numbered unit six classrooms block, a storey building housing science laboratory, library and ICT, 300 sister Assembly hall, administrative building, a quarters for members of the National youths service corps and water supply facility.

In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedu Mmom noted that the premises once looked like an abandoned poultry farm but has been restored into a conducive educational facility.

On his part, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu stated that the remodeled community secondary school is one in the series of magnificent projects governor Wike has delivered across the Rivers State.

According to him, the project now stands among other, as an eloquent testimony of governor Wike's untiring commitment towards the provision of quality learning facilities for Rivers students.

Kelvin Ebiri

Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State governor.

March 27, 2023.