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2023: Okowa, Ibori, Other PDP Stalwarts Plot APC’s Collapse in Delta
Pro-Omo-Agege Group, Others Join Ruling Party
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and others on Saturday pledged to work harmoniously to ensure the victory of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections. They sued for a united front among among members to enthrone peace and understanding in the battle ahead.
Both Senator Okowa and Chief Ibori spoke during the party’s mega rally held in Asaba the state capital on Saturday.
Okowa assured members of the ruling PDP in the state of free, fair and transparent primary elections ahead of 2023 general elections.
He affirmed that PDP remained one united family and assured that leaders of the party would ensure that primaries for all elective positions were free and credible.
He said that the massive mobilisation for the rally showed that PDP was ready to rescue Nigeria from the ruling All Progressives Congress and advised aspirants in other political parties not to waste their money to contest elections in Delta.
“I give thanks to God for what is happening here today and I thank our leaders in the PDP, our state and local government executives, our youths and women for the massive mobilisation for this rally.”
“It is the grace of God and through their hands that we have mobilised to make a statement today across Nigeria that PDP is prepared to take over this nation.
“One good thing about us in the PDP is that we are one family, we are not like the other people where one man takes it all. Here in PDP, we are one family.
“We work as a family with the love God but in the other parties, they are always fighting themselves,” he said.
He thanked Deltans for their great support and cooperation with his administration.
He said that the PDP was able to retain its dominance in the politics of Delta with the unflinching support of the people.
“It is because you have always supported us that is why when we win, we win very well. We won well in 2015 and in 2019, and in 2023 we will finish work again.
“We are advising those who want to run in other political parties not to waste their time and money because there is no space for them in Delta”.
Okowa remarked that his administration had done quite a lot since inception, explaining that he had appointed many youths into government and that never in the history of the state had youths been so appointed into various offices in the state. Speaking also, former Governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, lauded Governor Okowa for his leadership of the state and the party, and declared that he would continue to support him to succeed beyond his tenure as governor of the state.
“I thank you for the job you are doing in Delta and at the national level for the benefit of Nigerians. I most especially thank you for what I am seeing here today because you have done very well in Delta State and I cannot be more proud that you are our governor today.”
“You are leading us very well and it is our duty, and we are all committed to say that you will finish very strong and at the end of the day we will all gather to thank God for you.”
“From what I can see here, you have provided an atmosphere for a free and fair contest and you have provided an atmosphere for people’s aspirations to be heard without intimidation whatsoever.”
“Of a truth, this was the philosophy behind the formation of this great party when I said in 1998 that democracy is about opening up the space and environment for everybody to aspire to whatever he or she believes in and I thank you for continuing with that vision.”
“I want to thank you on behalf of teeming members of our party thank you and pray that God will continue to guide you as you lead us in the years ahead,’’ Ibori said.
He added that he personally didn’t “believe that your leadership will terminate at the end of your tenure as governor; I don’t believe that.
“I have come to say that you have earned your strides and your strides will continue to carry you on by the grace of God.
“On behalf of my one vote, my unit in Ogharefe, Ethiope West Local Government Area, I want to commit and dedicate myself to the service of PDP Delta State and Nigeria at large”.
Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Kingsley Esiso, while welcoming the defectors said that the rally was primarily organised to welcome decampees from APC and other political parties.
Esiso said that the massive exodus from APC was a testimony that the party has failed Nigerians in all ramifications.
“I can tell you that the primary purpose of this rally is to reduce the opposition party in Delta State by 90 per cent.
“My heart is full of joy and a testimony that APC is a failed political party and the people of Delta have come to realise that APC has only come to bring us economic hardship, poverty, banditry, kidnapping and failed promises.
“It is therefore not a surprise that every reasonable member of the APC is jumping ship to join us. Today, we are harvesting many of their leaders from different local government areas and we are celebrating this victory for our great party,” he said.
Other leaders who spoke at the rally included, Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Chief Ndudi Elumelu, Senator James Manager and former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Stella Omu. Those who defected to the PDP, were led by former Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Cyril Ogodo. He pledged to work for the PDP to ensure that APC was no more in the state.
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Bandits Invade Niger Local Market, Village Head, 20 Others Killed
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
After relative peace since the start of the Ramadan fast,daredevil Bandits invaded a Niger local market and killed the Village head and 20 traders in Madaka, Rijau local government areas of Niger State.Rijau Local Government which borders neighbouring Kebbi State, has experienced consistent banditry attacks in the past one year.
Eye witnesses inform our Correspondent that the suspected bandits riding on motorcycles stormed the market on Thursday afternoon around 3. 30- 4pm when activities at the market were at its peak.According to the source, the invading bandits who shot sporadically into the air to scare away traders later started ransacking big time traders by carting away food stuffs and Cash.Villagers who had the pandemonium at the market square fled into nearby bushes to take cover and the Village head who attempted to find out what was happening was shot dead at close range.”At the end of the confusion, we discovered that twenty one persons including our Village head were wasted,The Source maintained that, the bandits before leaving later set about 50 houses including commercial shops on fire, and a number of cars and motorcycles were burnt down during the incident.”After killing innocent victims and burning down the market they also went away with an unspecified number of the villagers to an unidentified destination”Confirming the incident, Madaka District Head, Alhaji Isah Bawale said it was a black Thursday evening in a telephone interview on Friday morning.He further recounted that the Community had come under similar attack some times ago when his predecessor was killed without any resistance from security agencies.When contacted, Niger State Command of Police Public Relations Officer PPRO SP Wasiu Abiodun assured to verify and get back but he couldn’t revert at the time of filing in the report.Meanwhile, the Niger state government, especially the commissioner for security, General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (retired) is yet to speak on the incident.Uncategorized
Women Are Nation Builders, Bayelsa NAWOJ
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Bayelsa State chapter has described women as society builders hence they should be empowered to harness their potentials for nation building.
Chairperson of NAWOJ Bayelsa, Mrs Grace Orumieyefa handed down this during a one day program to commemorate the 2024 International Women Day held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Mrs Orumieyefa noted that NAWOJ has over the years been at the forefront of advocacy for women rights as the empowerment of women brings empowerment for everyone around her which makes a better society.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation, ENWAF, Lady Eunice Nnachi urged women to take advantage of technological advancement to improve their learning and training in order to empower themselves.
“You can learn almost anything using the internet, through YouTube, women should use this medium to learn many things and train themselves.”
While responding to questions, she said, women should not be desperate to get life partners but should ensure that they have partners who can help them to achieve their dreams.
The Keynote Speaker, Mrs Ebi Kakandar who delivered a lecture on “Harnessing the Prospects and Potentials of Women” called on women to shun all forms of laziness, be determined and courageous to pursue their life ambitions.
Mrs Kakandar pointed out that factors such as building a growth mindset, improving your emotional mindset, developing willpower, cultivating strong social support, aspiring for greatness and setting achievable goals are some of the keys to achieving success as a woman.
She encouraged women to seek more knowledge and inspire themselves to be self-reliant.
Various organizations such as NUJ, FIDA, NLC, MWAN, Starzz Initiative, DO Foundation, POWA and other women organizations as well as NGOS delivered Goodwill messages for women advising to aspire for higher achievement.
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Students Loan: FG Explains Delay in Take-off, Sets New Date
The Federal Government has set the month of March for a definite opening of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) portal for eligible students.
Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, Execute Secretary NELFund, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja urged eligible students to register to access the fund.
President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023, signed the Access to Higher Education Bill into law to enable indigent student access interest-free loan to pursue their education in any Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The scheme was slated to commence between September and October 2023, but because of unforeseen circumstances, there was a revised timeline to January.
Giving reasons for the delay in starting the scheme as earlier scheduled, Sawyerr explained that the process is technically driven and necessary measures needed to be put in place for proper execution.
“The take-off date is this month (March) and the reason for the delay is that we are trying to get it right.
“This is not a political programme where we say, oh! we are just going to do it, it doesn’t matter how it works.
“This is a programme that will, probably run beyond me as a human being, not even as a Secretary. This is something that we want to run adequately, so we have to get it right,’’ he said.
Sawyerr, reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to ensure that lack of finance should not be a reason for any student in Nigeria to halt education at a tertiary level.
According to him, the scheme was designed for indigent Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and applications would be done online.
“We have decided that, all applicants should be able to access this scheme regardless of where they are, who they are and who they know.
“We want this to be a process that is fair to all and we will advertise the portal widely so that applicants will be able to go to the website to fill series of forms and answer certain questions.
“Base on the data they input and their answers to the questions, the system will be able to determine appropriately, whether they are eligible to apply or not,’’ Sawyerr explained. (NAN)