POLITICS
Imo Guber: Uzodinma Spends N5bn On Owerri hotel Tooms to Block Opposition- Diala

From Marcel Duru Owerri
The Director, Media and Publicity, Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organization, Chief Chibuikem Diala has said the attention of the Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a document, which is an official circular, addressed to all chief executive officers and All General Managers of Hotels in Owerri metropolis with the bold headline” REQUEST FOR RESERVATION OF ALL YOUR HOTEL ROOMS FROM 4TH NOVEMBER -11TH NOVEMBER 2023″ written on the official letterhead of the said ministry and signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Jerry Egemba.
In a chat with Journalists at Labour Party Secretariat in Owerri I Diala disclosed that
the release by the commissioner read: “I wish to refer to the above subject and inform you that the Ministry of Tourism intends to rent and occupy all the rooms in your hotel no matter the size and classification from Saturday 4th November to Saturday 12th November 2023 at your usual cost per room for full occupation.
“I therefore request you to submit to my office before 12 pm tomorrow Thursday 26th October 2023 details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for settlement.”
Dials further stated that as a campaign organisation, we are concerned that the state government through its ministry of tourism is requesting all hotels in the metropolis to “reserve all their hotel rooms from November 4, to 12, 2023 .” What could be the reason behind this request for all the hotel rooms in Owerri metropolis?
With over 1500 hotels in the metropolis and an average of 50 rooms per hotel, this means the prodigal state government is trying to rent and pay for a minimum of 7,000 rooms for eight nights in the metropolis, amounting to a staggering sum of about N5 billion. What a waste!
“The question that Imolites must ask Gov. Hope Uzodimma, as we approach the November 11 election is: Why do you want to spend 5B Naira of taxpayers’ money? Who are those that will occupy these hotel accommodations? Why this desperate, anti-democratic leadership style all in a bid to hold onto power? Must the blood of every Imolite flow because you want to be governor for another four years? Why not subject yourself to a free and fair contest, at least for once, and allow the people’s wishes to thrive”
Diala opined that widespread allegation that the government is already importing thugs from nearby APC states into the Imo State Capital ahead of the November 11 election to muzzle the opposition and rig the election is no longer a secret. “Could this bulk booking and blocking of rooms be to accommodate these political thugs?
He added that on the other hand, it is further alleged that the hierarchy of the federal security agencies is deploying special forces to Owerri for the election. Sources within state government circles are claiming to have strong control over these security men, including their accommodation and logistics.
“Why would Governor Uzodimma, a candidate of the APC, be the one to provide accommodation for security personnel posted to oversee an election in which he is also a candidate? Where is the fairness?
“We want to alert the public, especially the CEOs and managers of hotels in Imo State of this possible government plan to use their facilities to hide criminal elements contracted to cause the breakdown of law and order in the state”
In his own comment, we urge them to resist any form of coercion (subtle or forceful) to harbor those who are here to cause anarchy in the state.
“This is a government that has run the hospitality sector in Imo State aground with its policies and bloodletting inclinations that have put guests and businesses to flight, only to remember them to house its thugs for the perpetuation of its evil tendencies”
Diala revealed that they have encouraged the hotels to leave their doors open only to responsible and verified guests, who are fit to stay and willing to pay, and not subscribe to the suspicious plans of the outgoing governor, who in almost four years in office never bothered to identify with the hospitality sector.
“We also call on the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, the DSS, and, indeed, all security agencies to be aware of the alleged plans likely to cause disharmony and a breakdown of law and order in the state.
He urged the head security agencies to also clarify the role of Governor Uzodimma on the welfare and accommodation of security officers posted to the state for election duties. Is it that Governor Uzodimma is providing accommodation to these officers or he is trying to use the blocked accommodation as bait to compromise them.
Stressing that their response will help douse fears that Gov Uzodimma already has security agencies in his kitty.
“Above all, we implore President Bola Tinubu to consider the plight of the Imo people and listen to their cries. We believe the president will ensure that the right things are done”
“We also state categorically that the outgoing government’s plan to subvert the will of the people in this election must fail, as Imolites are ready for the election and shall elect a leader of their choice”
POLITICS
Obi Personally Funded His 2023 Presidential Campaign — Ex-LP Treasurer

The former National Treasurer of the Labour Party LP), Oluchi Oparah, dismissed allegations that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, misused party funds during his 2023 presidential campaign.
Oparah stated that Peter Obi personally funded his campaign activities and also made financial contributions to the party.
She stated that Obi not only financed his own campaign activities but also played a key role in stabilising the party’s finances upon joining.
“There was nothing of such. Mr. Obi never spent any money meant for the party,” Oparah said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, when asked to react to the allegation by a chieftain of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, that Obi spent party funds on his campaign.
“In fact, he lifted the party from zero level to where it is today,” she added.
She disclosed that before Obi joined the Labour Party, it was deeply in debt and struggled to pay its staff salaries.
She noted that Obi fulfilled all the financial obligations expected of him and went further to donate to the party from his personal resources.
“Mr. Obi fulfilled every righteousness financially towards the Labour Party. There was never a time he asked for a dime from the party, unlike other political parties will do,” she stated.
She also explained the campaign financing structure, stating that each candidate was permitted to operate a separate campaign account, independent of the party’s official accounts.
She explained that the Labour Party also maintained its financial accounts for party activities.
“He spent a lot of money on the Labour Party. We have programmes that Mr. Obi solely financed by himself. Obi spent from his money because the Labour Party did not have a dime,” Oparah said during the interview.
She also condemned what she termed the lack of accountability in the current APC-led administration and called on Nigerians to concentrate on holding the ruling party accountable instead of targeting Peter Obi.
She also challenged those accusing Obi of financial misconduct to come forward with proof of the payments they claim to have made to the Labour Party.
“As far as I am concerned, Mr. Obi was the only person who showed interest in contesting on the platform of the Labour Party.
“So, anyone claiming whatsoever should come out to show us the particular account to which they paid whatever thing they say they paid to the Labour Party,” she maintained.
Oparah praised Obi’s charitable nature, describing his charitable activities as a consistent trait long before his time as a presidential candidate, adding, “Anyone that knows Mr. Obi very well knows that his act of charity is five and six, like the air he breathes.”
End
POLITICS
Osun PDP Confident of Adeleke’s Re-election, Mocks APC Aspirants

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed confidence in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of securing re-election in 2026, declaring that the contest would be a “walk in the park” regardless of the opposition’s candidate.
In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media, Oladele Bamiji, the PDP ridiculed the growing list of governorship aspirants within the All Progressives Congress (APC) describing the trend as both “amusing” and “a parade of political irrelevance.
“Osun is not a rehabilitation centre for serial election losers and self-serving political actors,” Bamiji stated.
He challenged the APC aspirants to explain their sudden interest in returning to power, asking, “What exactly did they leave behind at the Abere government secretariat that now fuels their desperation? Is it the backlog of unpaid salaries, the plight of neglected pensioners, or the crushed hopes of teachers and local government workers under their watch?”
The PDP emphasized that Governor Adeleke’s administration has maintained a people-centric approach, and any APC candidate would find it difficult to convince voters to abandon progress for a troubled past marked by “failure, deceit, and arrogance.
”“They must be ready to face pensioners and explain why their pain went unanswered. They owe explanations to local government workers whose funds were slashed under their leadership and are still being withheld by the APC-led federal government today,” Bamiji added.
He dismissed the opposition’s media attacks against Governor Adeleke as hollow and ineffective, stating, “Throwing insults at a performing governor does not equate to popularity or credibility. The people of Osun no longer vote for deceptive noise; they vote for results they can see.”
POLITICS
El-Rufai Still APC Member – Kaduna Party Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Bashir Jamoh, on Thursday disclosed that the party still consults former governor Nasir El-Rufai and he offers his advise without any charge.
Jamoh also said the Kaduna state chapter of APC was yet to part ways with El-Rufai despite his involvement with the opposition coalition-backed African Democratic Congress, APC.
A few months ago, El-Rufai dumped the APC, citing lack of internal democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former governor moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before joining the opposition coalition which adopted the ADC.
However, Jamoh who is a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, insisted that El-Rufai is still a card-carrying member of APC.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Jamoh said: “We are yet to reach the point where we will say farewell to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Forget about the politics.
“When we need his advice, we consult him, and he offers his contributions free of charge.
“You cannot disown your child of eight years. He was governor for eight years under the APC.
“Even when he was in the PDP and later the CPC, which merged into the APC, he contributed to the building of this party.”
End