The Mystery of Delta politics

The Mystery of Delta politics As Many political watchers are still pondering about what happened in Delta PDP gubernatorial primary Okechukwu Jombo, writes that is has become a political mystery. That Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, against all odds, pulled 406 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief David Edevbie, who scored 299 and another leading aspirant in the race, Sir Tony Obuh, who got five votes, in the Delta state Governatorial primaries of the PDP is still a mystery to so many people . As a matter of fact, the emergence of Dr. Okowa was akin to a political revolution in the state as people from the three senatorial districts voted him regardless of whatever order they were given. Most importantly, the leadership of the Urobo Progressive Union UPU would learn a bitter lesson from this because it backed the wrong horse. What happened in Delta state is a political mystery. It is a clear indication that nobody is God or can play God. When they say 24 hours is long time in politics, nobody should dismiss the statement in a hurry because that is exactly what played out in the state.”“Can you explain why Dr. Uduaghan had to step down for Senator Manager in the Delta South primary, forget the explanation that it was for peace and security of the state, did you not see what happened to Mr. Obuh, who only 48 hours to the primary was the man to beat. . Okowa again is sure he would emerge victorious over the Labour Party’s Chief Great Ogboru and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Chief O’tega Emerhor, in the state. While maintaining that the PDP has a thriving history of electoral victories since the advent of democracy in 1999, he vowed that such would be replicated next year. He expressed confidence that with the caliber of aspirants that jostled for the party’s ticket in the state, who have now keyed into his campaign council, victory was sure. Speaking on the challenges posed by the opposition APC across the country in Asaba, Okowa, who acknowledged that there are great hurdles ahead to be crossed by his party in 2015, however optimistically said PDP would overwhelmingly coast to victory. “This is the first time we (PDP) are going to the polls nationally with a strong opposition. “But with hard work, PDP will surmount the challenges and be successful.” According to him, the gubernatorial aspirants deserve commendation, especially for not allowing their personal interest to override the interest of the state after they were defeated. He said: “PDP in Delta State has always done so well and I believe that we will do better in the elections that are coming up in 2015. “All the aspirants have called to congratulate me. “Besides appreciating them, I appealed for their cooperation and support of all party faithful to further move the party forward.” Okowa urged the 71-man campaign council inaugurated by the state chapter of the party to midwife the 2015 general elections to engage only in “issue-based campaigns devoid of ethnic sentiments”. Political watchers belief that Okowa is the man to beat in Delta and therefore should be taking seriously this because his emergence as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State was not just the result of the steadfastness and steel of the candidate. There were many other factors While he is generally appreciated for his sagacity, his victory has unmistakably highlighted the grip on the state chapter of the PDP of associates of the immediate past governor of the state, Chief James Ibori on the party. Okowa served in Chief James Ibori’s cabinet like Senator Jamesn Manager, who joined forces to push forward Okowa's victory. Okowa polled 406 votes beating to second place, Olorogun David Edevbie, the consensus candidate of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) who also had the political machinery of the state government behind him with 299 votes. Other results as announced by Sunday Kareem, the returning officer were as follows: Victor Ochei (185 votes), Ndudi Elumelu (50 votes), Godsday Orubebe (49) and Godswill Obielum (22). Sylvester Monye, Ovie Omo-Agege and Sam Obi got 10 votes each; Peter Okocha had six votes, Tony Obuh (five), Charles Emetulu (four), Kenneth Gbagi(two) and Mike Uwaka (one vote). One vote was voided. 2006 power shift agreement It was learned on good authority that Ibori insisted on the power shift arrangement by leaders of the party, eight years ago, which is that Delta North senatorial district should produce the governor in 2015. This was against the clamour by the UPU, the apex sociocultural group of his Delta Central district for an Urhobo governorship flag bearer. Incompatible dissimilarities It was, however, palpable that there were some irreconcilable differences between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Okowa which only the two personalities can explain. While Uduaghan stood wholeheartedly for a Delta North successor, his mind was not on Okowa and his body language pointed to the retired permanent secretary, Mr. Anthony Obuh. Until the last minute swing by his political machinery,Obuh was generally perceived as the man to beat inthe contest. Those who served with Okowa in the Ibori government were said to have insisted on Okowa forging ahead a development that pushed those opposed to him to the wall, and brought up the idea of using Edevbie to stop him through the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU. Okowa is known to be loved by the political class in the state, but his problem with Uduaghan alienated some persons until the eleventh hour when the Ibori followers rallied round him. Senator James Manager,who is also of the Ibori political family, led his Ijaw kinsmen, while Tompolo, did a yeoman job behind the scene. Nwaoboshi undeterred till the last minute Former state chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, who had boasted that it was Delta North in 2015, was not deterred by the last minute momentum towards Edevbie. hours before the votes were counted, “Mark it, youwill see what will happen, there is no way Delta Central is going to get it.”Nwaoboshi shook hands triumphantly with SenatorManager shortly after Ijaw delegates cast their votes,probably for a job well done. This was before the votes were counted. The refusal of Delta North aspirants to arrive at a consensus candidate for the primary worried the Ibori political family, but that notwithstanding, it deployed its immense muscle in the three senatorial districts to deliver Okowa. An Urhobo leader said, “In fact, the UPU was shocked that some Urhobo people voted for Okowa instead ofEdevbie. Even though the votes from all the local governments were mixed and counted together, it was clear when the Delta Central local governments were being counted that they were betrayers in the house.” The Urhobo political class and other government officials, who were giving marching orders to deliver Chief Edevbie worked hard as most of them moved from one delegate to the other, canvassing for votes without fruitful results. Most of them beyond what they were given, spent their personal money to woo delegates but to no avail.One reason the Ijaw kicked against Edevbie was that they saw him as a member of the cabal that workedagainst the ascension of Dr. Jonathan as acting president when President Umaru Yar’Adua took ill in 2009. The Ijaw gave bloc votes to Dr Okowa, vowing that the man, who worked against the emergence of their kinsman (Jonathan) would get their votes.

Fresh explosion rocks Maiduguri market

Fresh explosion rocks Maiduguri market Traders and many people who visited the Maiduguri Monday market are feared dead after a bomb exploded on Monday morning. The blast, suspected to have been planted by members of the Boko Haram insurgents occurred not far from the scene of last Tuesday's twin suicide bombing at One Way Monday Market which killed at least 24 people and injured nearly 60. Monday’s blast was equally deadly, witnesses said. A thunderous sound was heard across Maiduguri around 11.15am. This was followed by thick smoke even as pandemonium ensued around the scene as people scampered for safety. Already, soldiers, policemen, fire fighters and humanitarian agencies have moved to the scene. Earlier at about 6.am in Maiduguri, there was fear as a result of two deadly sound suspected to be explosion.

Plateau south and their quest to stop Governor Jonah Jang

Plateau south and their quest to stop Governor Jonah Jang Okechukwu Jombo ,Plateau South’s quest to stop Governor Jonah Jangs anointed candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial seems to have thrown up challenges never envisaged Plateau state like most Peoples Democratic Party PDP held states are facing Confusion state over imposition by their governors hence their effort to pick a consensus candidate from the Southern zone to challenge Governor Jonah Jang’s candidate for the governorship seat. But the move seem not to be going as planned as report have it that efforts by a group known as the Equity and Justice Movement to handpick a consensus candidate from the southern part of the state might not be realistic.This is because some of the aspirants are already rejecting the idea of pruning down the number of governorship aspirants from the Southern axis by a segment of the PDP elders’ forum. They are accusing the forum of taking side with one of the candidates. As such, they have opted to go to the primaries, expected to hold in December, without consensus. The Elder’s forum, under the banner of PDP Equity and Justice Movement, led by Prof. Dakum Shown, recently met in Jos, the state capital, with seven aspirants from the zone. The aspirants at the meeting were Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan, former governor Fidelis Tapgun, former Director General of Industrial Training Fund Prof Longmas Sambo Wapmut, Senator Victor Lar, Architect John Alkali, Engineer Jimmy Cheto and Godfrey Oman Miri. This was with the view to adopting a consensus candidate. However the candidates sense foul play and belief that they are being sponsored and are playing the script of one of the aspirants to ensure his emergence. They challenged the integrity of the leadership of the forum, for that reason five out of the seven aspirants are opting out of the consensus deal on the grounds that the position and action of the elders’ forum failed in the very basic sense to be subjected on any foundation of credibility and transparency. They further belief rightly or wrongly that the criteria they intend to adopt in selecting their preferred aspirant remains unknown to them and unacceptable. Longjang and Lar are the two top contenders for the group’s endorsement, but majority of the members are plotting for the emergence of Longjang for selfish gains. Those against the choice of Lar argued that he lacks acceptability in his home front, Langtang. Some members of the group from his locality were said to have given the movement the impression that Lar would be difficult to sell to the electorate and compelled to opt for Longjang, who, according to the source, was favoured because he is the present deputy governor and could easily be presented to the electorate as someone with the knowledge of the workings of government. Some of the elders also believed that if Longjang, who is seen as humble and over 70 years old, eventually emerges as governor, he can easily be manipulated and some of them can be relevant in the corridors of power. But when the speculation on the choice of Longjang filtered to the other aspirants, some of them, who believe they have the capacity to win the primaries, vowed to reject any selection not done on the basis of transparency, a development that is presently fueling the speculations that a consensus candidate may never emerge from the zone. Even as the confusion continues the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in the state, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has said that the APC in the state has not selected any of the four contestants as a consensus candidate. Dalung who is reacting to a report which indicated that Alex Kwapnoe, another governorship aspirant, could serve as the party’s consensus candidate, said it was wishful thinking for anyone to think that the party had anointed one of the four contestants at this time. While speaking to newsmen in Jos, the governorship hopeful said, “if there is any consensus reached it could be the figment of the imagination of a great dream of an individual who woke up from his bedroom and dreamt that he was taking oath of office as a governor so he addressed the press to say he was already there. The reality of the situation is that the APC must be more democratic than the PDP to be able to win power. So even if we are going to do consensus, it must be the consensus of the contending interests.” He however said getting a consensus candidate was not completely ruled out as the four contestants are quite understanding and recognise that each one is competent to lead the state, adding that they will be prepared to go into the primaries if that fails. Outside party lines elders of plateau south ahead of the 2015 governorship primaries have started mapping strategies with the principal purpose of producing a consensus candidate from Plateau South Senatorial District of the state. It was gathered that the Council of Elders from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state on recently held a secret meeting at the Jos residence of Jeremiah Useni, which lasted several hours. The meeting, which was between PDP Equity and Justice Movement, also had in attendance seven governorship aspirants of the PDP, all from Plateau South. They included the Deputy Governor, Ignatius Longjan; a former Governor, Fidelis Tapgun; a former Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, Prof Longmas Sambo Wapmut; Senator Victor Lar; Architect John Alkali; Engineer Jimmy Cheto; and Godfrey Oman Miri. In the meeting guidelines and principles are being introduced to the gubernatorial aspirants in view of having one of them emerge as a sole candidate from the South to challenge Governor Jonah Jang’s anointed candidate, G.N.S. Pwajok. The Southern zone, within last few weeks, has been spitting fire over alleged planned efforts by Governor Jang to impose the senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Pwajok, on the people as the next governor. Pwajok and Governor Jang, who hails from Du in Jos South Local Government Area, have decided to swap positions, a development that is facing stiff protest. This, according to report, is in the interest of justice, equity and fair play. They argued that the 2015 governorship ticket ought to be zoned to the Southern zone, pointing to the fact that the Central and Northern zones have had their shares, leaving the southern zone.

Supreme Court sacked Taraba Ag Governor, orders Deputy sworn in

Supreme Court sacked Taraba Ag Governor, orders Deputy sworn in. Taraba State Acting Governor Umar Garba has been sacked by the Supreme Court. The Apex court on Friday also directed that the Deputy Governor, Abubakar Danladi be sworn in. It will be recalled that Danladi had approached a Federal High Court in Taraba, following his impeachment by the by Taraba State House of Assembly in September 2012. The lawmakers had found him guilty of gross misconduct and engaging in private businesses. But the Federal High Court ruled that Danladi was impeached in line with the provisions of the Section 188 of the constitution. The ruling was also upheld by a five-member panel of the Justices of the Court of Appeal, who dismissed the case as lacking in merit.

Police NASS invasion: My ordeal

The Nation was last week greeted with news of Police invasion of National Assembly complex which yours sincerely witnessed very early in the morning of that Thursday.I was in fact denied access to the National Assembly complex by security men for not carrying my identity card which had been missing for two days before that time. All my pleas fell on deaf ears as they insisted that they were under very strict instructions not to allow people without identity cards in. I was curious because even when I had my ID card they never bothered me and that was why I had not gone to process a new one. However I went back to the car park to think of how to access the complex and decided to walk out of the gate and access the place by hitching a ride with a colleague which I did but was still pointed out by the security men and told to come down at the gate. As I was still contemplating what to do after coming down The Speaker of the House of Representative Hon. Aminu Tambawal’s motor Cade came along but was stuck in the traffic. After some minutes the speaker came down from his car with other House members of the All Progressive Congress APC who were with him and walked to the gate which was already locked by policemen but was denied entry. It however took the ingenuity of members in their scores that saw the Speaker and members gain entrance to the complex after they beat the security network to force the main gate to the National Assembly open. Some members, including the Minority Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon Abdulraham Kawu, Bimbo Daramola, Samuel Adejare, among others, were forced to climb through the gate before they could gain entrance into the National Assembly complex. Older men like senator Bukar Abba watched in awe as the younger once scaled the gate Immediately the Speaker and some members who were with him gained entrance into the National Assembly, policemen who were preventing them from entering the complex resorted to the use of tear gas to scare them away including myself but members had to cover up the Speaker and they made straight to the chamber of the House. The following dialogue ensued between the Speaker and the security operatives: Speaker: (Laughs) Excuse me, can I please access the premises of House of Representatives for me to go and preside over the House? My name is Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of this House. Can anyone answer me, please? Speaker: Officer how are you? Approach me please. Have you identified me? Mr Wilson, please come.. Even when he introduced him self as the speaker the policemen ignored him which led to the anger of other APC house members who started shaking the gate and shouting ''Kill us all Kill us all'' At this time tempers had risen and Members buoyed by the shouting started climbing the gate to the amazement of the crowd that had gathered Seeing that they couldn't stop what was happening the policemen opened the walkway for the Speaker who now walked into the complex but had to trek to the chambers were all hail was let loose as Policemen tried to prevent him from gaining access into the Chambers of the House of Representatives started firing tear gas at the advancing lawmakers On entering the lobby of the NASS the whole place had been engulfed with smell of tear gas many people were seen running from the building with their hands covering their nose it was totally pandamonic . Staff and visitors alike deserted the ever busy lobby of the complex. The only place I could run into was the press centre and thank God it was open. What a day.

Fayose's invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly is barbaric and condemnable -Ekiti APC

Fayose's invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly is barbaric and condemnable -Ekiti APC Our attention has been drawn to the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly (EKHA) this morning by Gov Ayo Fayose and his attempt to arm twist the house to do his bidding to tinker with the constitution and confer functions on the caretaker chairmen he has set up for the Local Government councils. He is forcing his way to inaugurate them in spite of the due legislative process. In his characteristic manner, Fayose this morning went to the hallowed chamber in company of armed soldiers and policemen, dreadfully garbed, and unleashed terror on the innocent assembly workers, forced his way in and compelled his 7-man PDP house members to sit and do his bidding. We condemn the act in its entirety and we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support our clarion call to call Gov Fayose to order. We have not minced words to point out the series of constitutional infringements being committed by Fayose as Ekiti State governor and this is just one in many. We are cock-sure that this impunity will not stop. The predictable chaos is here already and we are back to witnessing the reign of terror in Ekiti State. We also learnt that realising that it would require 9 members to form a quorum in a 26-member house, Fayose also brought some strange men into the hallowed chamber to impersonate Honourable Assembly members in his attempt at ensuring a constituted quorum. He insisted that they must appoint a speaker among them and go ahead with legislative matters, forgetting that the house doesn't hold plenaries on Monday. How badly can an impunity be? We condemn in categorical terms Fayose's lawlessness and executive recklessness. His bully and arm-twisting tactics know no bounds and he is acting like an emperor who cannot be stopped. He has hijacked and pocketed the Judiciary and he believes there is nothing stopping him from taking over the legislative functions, as long as his gun-totting soldiers are at his beck and call. Seeing Fayose move about with battalion of gun-totting soldiers is dreadful and harrowing. Military men who are supposed to be defending the territorial integrity of the country, following a governor about, unleashing terror on the innocent people and deliberately holding the state capital to ransom. This reminds one of the civil war era. Peace is fast eluding us in Ekiti and we are back to the season of anomie We are chronicling all the constitutional breaches by Gov Fayose, who has taken over the executive, legislative and judiciary functions in Ekiti State and we are hopeful that the law will find him out one of these days. We saw it coming. Now that it has come, we are hopefully that the heavens, the law and concerned citizens of the land will sooner than later rescue our beloved Ekiti State from the claws of Emperor Fayose. When he told the people that he was a changed person, we thought it was for good, least did we suspect that it was for the worst. We will neither retreat nor surrender to his evil whims and satanic caprices. He who the gods must destroy, they will first make mad. This time shall pass but history will not forget Fayose's invasion of our peace. Signed: Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State Chapter

Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN

Senate to confirm Muhammed as CJN ------Recieves President Jonathans letter on State of Emergency in Bornu,Yobe And Adamawa By Okechukwu Jombo Senate will today screen and possibly clear Justice Mahmud Muhammed president Goodluck Jonathans nominee for the seat of Chief Justice of the Nation CJN He is to replace retiring CJN Justice Aloma Muhktar who steps down November 20. Senate will also receive President Goodlucks letter on the State of Emergency imposed on Bornu,Yobe,Adamawa which expired yesterday.He might ask for full Emergency ruleon the troubled states The emergency rule was first declared in the affected states on May 14, 2013 by President Goodluck Jonathan over the continued activities of members of the Boko Haram sect. Since that first declaration of six months, the emergency rule had been extended twice. The third tranche of six-month emergency rule expires on Thursday While declaring emergency rule in the three states in 2013 in a nationwide broadcast, Jonathan had invoked Section 305 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He had announced that regardless of the state of emergency imposed, the political structures in the affected states would remain intact. Following continued violence in the state in spite of the emergency rule, there were calls for the sacking of the state governors to pave way for the appointment of military administrators. The Presidency had however said it was unconstitutional for the President to sack state governors. Mahmud’s name had been sent to the lawmakers in a letter by President Goodluck Jonathan dated November 10. The letter indicated that the nomination was in line with section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Speaking at last Thursday’s plenary, Senate President David Mark told his colleagues that the screening would hold next Tuesday “in the committee of the whole.” The lawmakers in committee will also meet over the Petroleum Industrial Bill PIB which had been in the Legislatures since last year