The president said his administration was reviewing the possibility of convoking a national conference.
President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that his administration is not opposed to dialogue among Nigeria’s various ethnic nationalities and is reviewing the possibility of a national conference
Mr. Jonathan said he was not opposed to Nigerians coming together to discuss how they would continue to live together in peace and unity. Speaking after receiving a memorandum from The Patriots, led by Ben Nwabueze, on the need for a national conference, Mr. Jonathan said that the issue of Nigerians coming together to discuss their future should not be out of place.
He told the group that there has been constant discussion within government on how to create an acceptable platform for a national dialogue that will reinforce the ties that bind the country’s many ethnic nationalities and ensure that Nigeria’s immense diversity continues to be a source of strength and greatness.
“The limitation we have is that the constitution appears to have given that responsibility to the National Assembly.
“I have also been discussing the matter with the leadership of the National Assembly. We want a situation where everyone will key into the process and agree on the way forward,” he said.
He thanked the Patriots for acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts to implement his administration’s agenda for national transformation.
“As a government, we are totally committed to transforming this country, Positive things are being done and by the grace of God, we will get to where we ought to be as a nation,” he said.
The Patriots’ delegation included Ayo Adebanjo, Solomon Asemota, Chris Okoye, Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, Dan Suleiman, Kimse Okoko, and Michael Orobator.
President Jonathan also welcomed the group’s call for the moral re-orientation of Nigerians, saying that he shared their belief that ongoing efforts at national transformation and development will be greatly enhanced and facilitated by the cultivation of better national ethics and attitudes.
Speaking to journalists after meeting with the President, Mr. Nwabueze, a Professor of Constitutional Law, said the convocation of a national conference was the fastest way to achieve the most needed transformation in the country.
“We have done our own research; and we are not perfect. But our own review is that we have in this country 389 ethnic nationalities. We need to bring these nationalities around a conference table to discuss how we are going to live together as one country in peace, in stability in security as one country with the aim of achieving national unity,” he said.
Mr. Nwabueze said Nigeria was not yet a nation but a state and the convening of the national conference should be seen “as a matter of priority as soon as possible, in any event before 2015 general elections”.
The Patriots is among various pressure and rights groups that have demanded the convocation of a national conference to discuss Nigeria’s future.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
According to Codewit Correspondent, Beverly OSu was been hospitalized for hours; “We are told Bev sustained the injury on the finale of the reality show while climbing the stage. Fellow housemate Melvin and former BBA contestant Uti Nwachukwu are some of those who visited her while on admission, according to sources who spoke with NET.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
With the commencement of international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in Enugu State, the Igbo World Assembly (IWA), the apex Igbo organization in Diaspora has commended the federal government for the giant stride.
While Ethiopian Airlines was the first international airline to land in the airport, the Chairman of IWA, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Secretary General of the group Chief Oliver Nwankwor in joint statement said that it was a strategic economic development step of the present administration to establish international airport in the South Eastern part of Nigeria.
“Igbo World Assembly (IWA) is aware that it was not an easy task to achieve this historic and remarkable development on the 24th of August 2013” the group said.
While commending the Hon Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Uduah for her achievements and professionalism in making Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu a reality, as well as the good jobs being done other airports across the country, the group in the statement urged the Nigerian state Governors to fully support the Hon Minister and other serving, elected and appointees of the Federal government of Nigeria.
“IWA encourages constructive criticism but these must be presented appropriately with fairness and relevant facts.
“ The Nigerian State Governors should exercise restraints in their public statements to avoid sending wrong messages.
“IWA thanks Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for making Akanu Ibiam International Airport a reality during your term of office.
“ IWA looks forward to other accomplishments in the South East and South South geo-political zones to further improve and broaden the economic development of Nigeria” the group said in the joint statement.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States hinted Thursday it could act alone to punish Syria for a chemical
weapons attack, following hesitation by its closest ally Britain and a deadlock at the United Nations.< The Obama administration also denied that public skepticism dating to an Iraq war intelligence debacle was complicating its effort to justify possible military action against Syria.
National security heavy-hitters including the secretaries of state and defense, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, planned to brief top lawmakers on possible responses to the attack in a Damascus suburb last week that killed hundreds of people.
The intelligence community was working meanwhile on a declassified public report on the attack, which officials said will show there is no doubt that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime shattered taboos by using chemical weapons on civilians.
Obama, who came to power criticizing his predecessor George W. Bush’s go-it-alone approach on foreign policy, was confronted Thursday with a choice over whether to wait for allies or launch unilateral US action.
The White House said that while Obama prized the United Nations and closely consulted allies, his first duty was to US national security, which he sees threatened by the Syrian attack.
“The president’s chief accountability is to the American people that he was elected to protect,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
The comments came as Britain struggles for a political consensus over Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to join expected US-led military action.
The political fracas in London sparked speculation that a timetable for action, which many observers had believed could see air strikes in Syria within days, could slip.
But at the State Department, spokeswoman Marie Harf said: “We make our own decisions in our own timeline.”
The Obama administration also hinted that unlike Britain, it did not see the need to wait for a report by UN inspectors in Syria on the chemical attack on a Damascus suburb on August 21.
It reasons that since the panel’s mandate is merely to establish an attack happened, and not to apportion blame, its findings are moot.
On Wednesday, the Obama administration said it did not see any future in a British bid to secure a mandate from the UN Security Council for attacking Syria, due to Russian opposition.
Obama sees perils to US national security in the belief that Syria shattered international norms by using chemical weapons, and that US interests and regional allies could be threatened next.
The release of the document detailing the Syrian attack was expected to come Thursday, though officials said it had not yet been finalized.
Obama aides stress they envisage only “limited” punitive action in Syria and dismiss comparisons with the US invasion of Iraq, which the president built his political career on opposing.
The discrediting of what was once deemed “slam dunk” intelligence on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction is imposing a high burden of proof on the current administration.
Center for Strategic and International Studies analyst Anthony Cordesman termed the coming report the “most important single document in a decade.”
But officials denied the Syria drama was in any way comparable to Iraq.
“Nobody needs an intelligence community assessment to know that chemical weapons were used here,” said Harf.
“In Iraq, we were waiting for an intelligence community assessment to determine whether they even existed. Those are two categorically different levels of assessment being done here.”
Some reports this week suggested that the US assessment would include communications intercepts and other data from inside Syria.
But sources are downplaying expectations, saying the public analysis will mirror the case already made by Washington, which they consider strong.
Signs that the US report will not be able to directly link Assad to the attack with anything other than circumstantial evidence were bolstered by a British intelligence report released on Thursday.
The study found no credible intelligence to suggest opposition forces fired the chemical arms and that there was no “plausible alternative” to the idea that the regime was to blame.
But, possibly due to the need to safeguard sensitive intelligence sources, there was no detailed evidence directly implicating Assad.
While Cameron recalled parliament for an uncomfortable debate on Syria, there were no plans for the US Congress, which is in recess, to do likewise.
The White House will likely argue that since its proposed action in Syria will be “limited,” it does not require Congress to wield its constitutionally granted power to authorize a declaration of war.
But the more time that passes before US military action, the more restive the domestic political scene becomes.
Earnest said Thursday’s consultation exercise with lawmakers would likely not be the last one.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
LAGOS — Two security guards of Daystar Christian Centre were, Thursday, docked before an Ikeja Magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing 100 litres of diesel worth N20,000.
The suspects are Felix Richard (26) and Lucky Ikiedemhe (26), who were arraigned before Magistrate Abimbola Makanju-Oshodi.
The security guards who reside at 35, Oyinlola Street, Ipaja and 16, Adeniyi Jones, Ogba respectively, were brought to court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, said the defendants committed the alleged crime on August 24, 2013, at about 10:35pm, at Oregun, Ikeja.
He said the defendants, while inside the church premises, conspired to steal 100 litres of diesel belonging to Daystar Christian Centre.
According to him, the head of the security guard of the church caught the defendants while they were trying to smuggle out the diesel from the church’s compound.
The prosecutor said the offence committed contravened Section 409 and punishable under Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.
Meantime, the 29-year-old mechanic, Fashina, who resides at 4, Dada Street, Iyana Iba area of Lagos, was said to have committed the alleged offence at about 6 a.m on August 11, 2013, at Iyana Iba junction, Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant robbed an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle, which is valued N98,000., However, the owner of the motorcycle has not been identified yet.
The police prosecutor said, “the defendant is a member of a robbery syndicate that usually rides on motorcycle to rob people of their belongings
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
President Goodluck Jonathan said Thursday in Abuja that African nations must learn to manage their resources better if they wished to overcome poverty and underdevelopment.
Speaking at an audience with Pastor Chuck Pierce of Global Spheres International Church, President Jonathan said that in spite of current challenges, he was confident that African nations will achieve rapid development and progress if their governments and peoples make the right decisions and implement them.
“I believe that we can get to where other nations are if we do things rightly. If we put our acts together, we can take our rightful place in the comity of nations,” the President told the Corinth, Texas-based pastor who is hosting an international conference of his church in Abuja.
Thanking him for his interest in Nigeria and Africa, President Jonathan urged Pastor Pierce to continue to pray for the country and the continent.
Pastor Pierce thanked the President for receiving his delegation which included other church leaders from Nigeria and other African countries.
He told the President that he believed that this was an important time for Nigeria and assured him of the continued prayerful support of his global church.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
It was a night of smiles as our CEO,Sim Shagaya was yesterday recognized for his efforts in online shopping in Nigeria as he won the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Award in the CNBC/All Africa Business Leaders Award in West Africa.
The CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leader Awards is aimed at celebrating the efforts of bold individuals/African game changers who have shaped business on the continent in 2013.
While receiving the award, our CEO dedicated it to the team and investors of Konga, describing it as a salute to Konga’s audaciousness, tenacity and innovativeness in online shopping in Nigeria.
The full list of finalist’s for each category in West Africa were;
Business Leader of the Year
Jean-Louis Ekra – President and Chairman, African Export-Import Bank Segun Agbaje – Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank PLC Andrew Alli – Africa Finance Corporation President and CEO
Business Woman of the Year 2013
Arunma Oteh – Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria Biola Adekanbi-Alabi – Managing Director, M-Net Africa Managing Director Sola David-Borha – Chief Executive: Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC
Entrepreneur of the Year 2013
Fabrice Sawegnon – Voodoo Group, CEO Tayo Oviosu – Paga Founder, CEO Sim Shagaya – Konga.com Founder, CEO
Young Business Leader of the Year 2013
Obinna Ralph Ekezie – Wakanow.com Limited, Founder and Managing Director Jason Njoku – iROKO Partners, CEO and Co-Founder
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
This weekend, I head to Dallas as World Igbo Congress(WIC) convenes. The last time the convention was held in Dallas was in 2000. I still remember the debacle of that convention when some leaders of WIC tried to smuggle in Abubakar Rimi to headline the event. But those were WIC’s good old days.
As I prepare to return to Dallas, my mind is however on the 2004 convention in New Jersey. Two important things happened at that convention. One was Chris Uba’s confession that Dr. Chris Ngige did not win the Anambra State governorship election of 2003. I reported it in the piece, “An Evening With Chris Uba.”
“In a matter-of-fact manner, Uba stood up and astonished all that were present when he said, "We did not win the election. I have gone to church to confess. The election had no document. I called the result before 12 midnight. I gave INEC the money and asked them to call the result." The revelation caused uproar in the hall. "The person we took his thing is here," Uba said, pointing at Peter Obi who was sitting in the audience. There was thunderous applause as people looked at Peter Obi and some began to call him governor.”
The other thing that happened which I did not report was a private meeting that a group of us had with the then APGA chairman, Chekwas Okorie, at the New Jersey convention. Chekwas gathered five of us into his hotel room to tell us how after the 2003 election, he went to President Olusegun Obasanjo to complain that APGA was cheated. Chekwas said he told Obasanjo that APGA won in at least four out of five states in the East. According to Chekwas, Obasanjo agreed with him. The president asked him to go and choose three states that he would like to see handed back to APGA. Chekwas told us he left Obasanjo’s office excited. After consulting with APGA leaders, he sought an audience with Obasanjo. Chekwas said he could not get an appointment until few days after the election results were announced. When he finally did, Obasanjo told him off. “Go and do your worst,” Obasanjo told him.
Chekwas reflected on the incident and told us how Gov. Bola Tinubu handled a similar situation. He said that when Tinubu of Lagos state heard that there was an effort to rig the election and declare PDP the winner in the state, Tinubu called Obasanjo and told the president that he had 10,000 OPC members in various parts of Lagos state with gallons of petrol waiting to set the state on fire if Iwu’s INEC dared to announce PDP winner in Lagos state. According to Chekwas, Obasanjo immediately called Iwu and asked him to leave Lagos state alone. In Chekwas’ estimation, Obasanjo tricked him by calming him down with a false promise. After buying time and seeing that the people of the eastern states were not on the streets expressing their anger over their stolen mandate, Obasanjo called Chekwas’ bluff.
Another election is set in Anambra state. The dynamics have not changed. Just like in 2003, the presidency is interested in who wins in Anambra state. For the ruling PDP government in Abuja, if APGA wins in Anambra, it is as good as PDP. But if APC wins in Anambra state, PDP is finished – not just in Anambra state but probably in a big chunk of the country.
For the ruling APGA party in Anambra state, the challenge is different. If APGA wins in Anambra state, APGA is finished. If APGA loses in Anambra State, APGA is finished. Gov. Peter Obi has famished APGA so much that what the party is doing in Anambra state is a last dance. For all practical purposes, it has folded its tent into the PDP. After this election a formal announcement of the death of APGA will happen.
On the candidates, nothing has changed. There are always the same four candidates running for governor in Anambra state: a trader pretending to be a thug; a thug pretending to be a trader; an intellectual pretending to be a thug; and a thug pretending to be an intellectual.
The people of the state are the most disconnected from their government anywhere in Nigeria. That was how former governor Mbadinuju could close down schools in the state for one year and nobody cared. Gov. Obi closed down government hospitals in the state over doctors pay for one year and people went about their lives as if nothing happened. The people of the state are therefore susceptible to all kinds of inducements and manipulations as they have little or no ownership in the government that will finally emerge.
Here are the candidates: Willie Obiano, former chief executive of Peter Obi’s bank, Fidelity. He was Peter Obi’s joker in the whole process. His primary job is to cover up Obi’s tracks against the peeping eyes of the EFCC. Obi had to abandon the elected delegates for a handpicked list of delegates made up of his aides and party chiefs to get Obiano victory. In a general election, Obiano, a new comer in politics, hopes that low voter turn out and Obi’s recent willingness to share government largesse will see him through.
In the PDP corner are former NANS president Tony Nwoye and Andy Uba running concurrently from the two factions of the party. Nwoye was a young graduate made the PDP party chairman in the state when Andy Uba ran for governor in 2007. Nwoye is supported by Arthur Eze and his gang, long exiled from power in Anambra State and eager to get their hands back into the tilt. Uba has Obasanjo and his gang and is being used as a chip in the Jonathan’s 2015 game plan. Unless the national party steps in, the decision on who’s the legitimate candidate for the PDP may be decided by the courts long after the election. It gives the PDP an undue advantage of running with two candidates and gathering votes across two constituencies. It worked for Andy Uba in the senatorial election that saw him in the senate. Because the winning margin will be low, whoever gets the nod of the courts, (wink wink, Andy Uba) may end up getting enough votes to win.
In APC is the wounded Chris Ngige. Ngige still holds sway in Idemili South and North but that will not be enough to win the state. According to political operatives on the ground, the Lagos state deportation affair is not a factor in the village level of the electorate. But the Anambra political elite are not excited about Ngige. His ability to sway voters across the state depends on the machinery the APC is willing to deploy in the election. If they overwhelm the state, they could easily get the 25% needed in other parts of Anambra state. In 2009, Maurice Iwu personally vowed that Ngige would not win the election because it would amount to handing over a major Igbo state to a Yoruba party. He declared Obi winner with just 97,000 votes when there are 1.8 million registered voters. What will Jega do?
Finally, there is the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Ifeanyi Uba of the Labor party. Rather than an aberration, Ifeanyi Uba is well at home in Anambra political space. He comes in with accusations of involvement in oil subsidy scam and a bank loan fight with Coscharis Group’s Cosmos Maduka. Worthy of note is that Uba has taken his campaign to the markets in Lagos, People’s Club halls in America and Pubs in Europe. He campaigns with a hunger that tells observers that he needs the governorship stool more than any other candidate. Why is that?
Already INEC has discovered over 93,000 ghost names in Anambra state voters’ registration list. There are more. And the intrigues have not yet started. No doubt, those campaigning at home and abroad with borrowed money and bellicose godfathers will also be campaigning in Okija shrine and all the dark places where elections in Anambra state are typically won.
The Anambra people have no tool with which they can shine their eyes. They have been overwhelmed by mediocrity and low expectation that they are already a loser irrespective of who is announced winner on November 16.
Discounting the dead and those who have moved out of Anambra state since the voters’ registration was last conducted, party workers are estimating that there are over 800,000 ghost voters in the state. I project that the winner of this election is the man who controls these ghost voters. And your guess is as good as mine.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” -Emperor Haile Selassie.
Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State is in the twilight of his second term in office and the jostling for who succeeds him has begun in earnest. The jostling may not necessary be about whom the successor would be, even though some aspirations, despite not openly declared are more than obvious, but more-so, the battle at this time is about the where in the geo-polity the successor would come from. Several permutations ranging from the absurd to the macabre are being postulated by different interests in justification of primacy of succession, but herein only two are worthy of discourse, being, the issues of Upland/Riverine Dichotomy and the Senatorial rotation of the office of the Governor of the State.
Old Rivers State was created on the 27th of May 1967 from the then Eastern Region and further balkanized into Bayelsa and the present day Rivers State in 1996. Made up predominantly of Riverine Ijaws (Kalabari’s, Okrikans, Ibani’s, Andoni’s, etc) and the Upland (Ikwerre’s, Ogoni’s, Ekpeye, Etche, Oyigbo, Ogba’s etc). From inception, harmony, brotherhood and cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious application and observation of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle in the allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the State, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage discord.
In our earlier treatise, we had incontrovertibly catalogued this trend of political engineering as handed down to us by the founding fathers of the State and which has been sustained as a vehicle for equitable distribution over time by all well meaning leaders. We had averred that since every senatorial zone in the State is fortuitously made up of both components, the sanctity of the principle cannot be violated by the dictates of senatorial rotation, which at best is an adjunct to the ingenuity of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle. Some erstwhile leaders who had tried to repudiate the principle had failed spectacularly and the budding revisionism borne of the myopia of inordinate ambition of an unconscionable few today, would fare no better.
For the avoidance of doubt let us intellectually examine how the principle has fared in the 4th Republic juxtaposed with the exigencies of the nascent senatorial rotation. And without being parochial and/or economic with the truth, determine whether justice, equity and fairness could or would be served; our amity preserved and promoted; and our heritage and posterity, united and progressive, if in 2015, due negligence and inattention to detail we consign the glue of our peaceful co-existence to extinction by promoting the election of another Upland Governor.
In 1999, when the West Senatorial zone was to produce the Governor, the Kalabari, though the largest homogenous ethnic group in the zone conceded the position to the Upland (Dr. Peter Odili) for the sake of equity and fairness, considering that the last occupant of Brick House, Chief Ada George is Riverine, and this was inspite of the fact that his tenure lasted less than 2 years. The Rivers East Senatorial zone in 2007 also produced Upland Governors (Sir Celestine Omehia and the incumbent Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi) both Ikwerre’s, presumably premised on the fact that hitherto the Riverine had produced back-to-back Governors and maybe because the only Riverine enclave in the senatorial zone, Okrika, produced the last but one Chief Executive, so no one begrudged them and the Riverine accepted this in good faith, even though this unprecedented act of chivalry will culminate in an unbroken 16 years in power to the Upland. Now, if we accede that in 2015, it is the turn of the South-East Senatorial zone, to complete the tripodial rotation, common sense and astute judgment, devoid of sentiments, demand that the Ogoni’s (the majority ethnic group in the zone) also, should in good faith and for justice, toe the sterling example of the Kalabari’s by conceding the exalted position to their Riverine neighbours. Anything short of this conscientious interplay of mutual accommodation may consign our togetherness to jeopardy, because it would amount to reckless insensitivity to consciously attempt to exclude the Riverine component of the State from the power matrix for 24 years. Res ipso loquitor!
Furthermore, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) unequivocally in Chapter II, Section 14(4) states inter alia ….. “The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the federation” If we may ask, would Rivers State not be in violation and indeed in contravention of the spirit and letter of the constitution should the Ogoni’s insist on excluding and marginalizing the Riverine component of the State for 24 years? Even the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a cue from the Federal Constitution when in Section 7(2) of the Party’s constitution it affirmed that “the Party shall adhere to the principles of zoning and rotation” and so it is applicable to most of the registered political Parties. Most States today and their out-going Governors tend to subscribe implicitly to this dictum, as can be gleaned from the public declarations of Governor’s Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; Peter Obi of Anambra State; and even our very own indomitable Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, amongst many others, whose unwavering commitment to ensuring that the egalitarian principles of justice and common-humanity are upheld to the greater glory of unity, amity and equity. Therefore, we dare say without apology, that only an uninformed and unreasonable person, impervious to the peaceful co-existence and co-habitation of the peoples of the State, who is pandering to selfishness and inordinate ambition can dispute the overarching imperative of a Riverine Governor for Rivers State come 2015?
It would not be inappropriate to mention here, that though some people, given to lascivious wantonry, may have chosen to stoke the fires of discord and whip up sentiments by equating the honourable and time tested Ogoni cause and struggle, with their primordial interests, many notable Ogonis of moral rectitude and inscrutable reputation, strongly assert that access to “Brick House” by one individual is not and cannot be the panacea to the degradation and dehumanization of Ogoniland and its people. We believe that it amounts to myopic self-aggrandization and indeed “Identity theft” to reduce such a globally acknowledged and applauded cause to personal ambition. It is also worthy to caution, that the present sabre rattling and threats of dire consequences, demeans rather than enhances, the quest for Governorship, since it will only inadvertently alienate many of us who consider ourselves lovers of the Ogoni. Let no one be deluded that any single ethnic nation can install itself Governor of Rivers State without the cooperation and collaboration of the other ethnic groupings.
It is pertinent to clarify, that MOSOP should not be overly agitated by comments and or proclamations from the Obuah led PDP faction, because no one, no matter how highly placed, or organization, be it GDI or by whatever name called, can impose or dictate who the next Governor of Rivers State would be, that prerogative is the will of God as would be expressed through the people of Rivers State. We are also seriously concerned that the present leadership of MOSOP is allowing its hallowed name to be drawn into partisan politics. This we believe is unfortunate and could not have happened under the erstwhile leadership. MOSOP should also appreciate and not arrogate to themselves, that the Ogoni’s alone inhabit the Rivers South East Senatorial zone, or are they automatic inheritors or overlords of the zone.
For these reasons, and to preserve, promote and protect our collective destiny, and the future of our posterity and heritage, we implore and encourage our compatriots of Upland extraction, especially our sun-crowned Ogoni brothers and sisters, who though eminently qualified and believe they are poised to actualize a long anticipated aspiration, to acknowledge that the vicissitudes of current political fortunes weighs precariously against their aspiration, if amity is to be preserved. The Ogoni like the Kalabari before them, need come to terms with the fact that though, along with the Ikwerre they represent the “Big Three” and have not been privileged to occupy the exalted position of Governor (with the exception of the Ikwerre), this is an esteemed sacrifice that must be made to the greater glory of our tomorrow as Rivers people with one destiny under God.
We are not unmindful and neither are we naïve to the great sacrifices the Ogoni like some other ethnic nations in Rivers State have made and continue to make, nor are we impervious to the perceptions the “our turn” mentality provokes, but we pride in the conviction that the Ogoni always does what is right, no matter the cost. Considering their emancipated enlightenment as espoused by Ogoni heroes past, from the eclectic Reverend Timothy Naakue Paul Birabi through the effervescent Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa, we are of the conviction that truth, astute judgment and good conscience will surely prevail. God bless Great Ogoni! God bless Rivers State.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Fresh crisis has hit the already polarized ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State as the Party heads for the rocks with the new plot by the leader of the faction led by Felix Obuah, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to dump the controversial Chairman over what Wike considers as weak and cantankerous.
A source close to the Minister for State, Education, revealed under guise that the recent pronouncement by Obuah at Ahoada East during the inauguration of the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, may have become his albatross. Obuah who sources within the group describe as inexperienced, less exposed and incompetent to play the politics at the centre because he possess no finesse and charisma may have shot himself in the foot when he declared that Wike is the next governor of Rivers State.
Our checks at AGOGO NEWS revealed that in spite of the ovation he received for that pronouncement, it tends to have exposed the sinister plot by Wike to deceive the people particularly those who have ambition to succeed Gov. Chibuike Amaechi into believing that the campaign against Amaechi's government is for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan's perceived ambition to seek re- election.
As the news of Obuah's statements hit the airwaves, there was said to be a disquiet within the camp of the group headed by the vociferous junior minister. Obuah's unguarded statements were said to have sent a signal to the powers that be in Abuja that Wike's recent show of 'love' for the President and his wife may be a plot to retain power in the hands of the Ikwerre ethnic group where the present Governor comes from.
Inside sources at the Villa revealed that the political think- thank of the President have resolved that an endorsement for Wike will eventually pitch President Jonathan against his own people of Ijaw ethnic Nationality who believe that it is their turn to occupy the exalted seat after Gov. Amaechi in 2015.
According to our findings, the Ijaws in Rivers State comprising of Kalabaris, Okrikans, Andonis, Bonnys and the Opobos are already coming together in a bid to resist any plan by Wike to impose himself on the people of the State. Speaking on the issue to our correspondent, Alabo George Tamuno- Dagogo, a prominent traditional ruler dismissed the plan by Wike and his unsuspecting supporters as those who will work for others to benefit from in the long run. He said, "It is now clear that the so-called opposition against Amaechi is for the interest of one man whose penchant for avarice is known to us. He has deceived people to follow him in the plot to stop Amaechi at all cost while he is positioning himself to become governor. We now know better and we are going to resist him at all cost", he said.
With the clamor by the other ethnic groups particularly the Ijaws and the Ogonis to stop Wike at this stage, the spin doctors of the now embattled Minister have concluded plans to replace Obuah in order to reduce further mistakes by the man who they now see as having been used to oust the former Chairman of the Party in the state who is loyal to Amaechi. They say he has outlived his usefulness and they are confused on how to discard him to avoid losing grip of the Party's structure.
There are also reports making rounds that Obuah may eventually sell out to Gov. Amaechi who it was that ferried him to South Africa for multiple surgeries when there was an assassination attempt on his life in 2008. A close ally of Obuah revealed that the former Chairman of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA feels indebted to Amaechi and may eventually truncate Wike's plans to become governor. Obuah who is popularly known as GO ROUND is said to have complained of Wike's high – handedness particularly when he was the Chairman of Obio/ Akpor LGA and eventually the National Chairman of ALGON.
According to our source, the two men have never been best of friends even when they both served as local council chairmen, and Wike being suspicious of this is said to have concluded plans to replace Obuah before the 2015 elections. Asked how Wike will achieve that, the source said that his boss who masterminded the coming of Obuah against Chuef G.U. Ake possesses the falsified documents that may have brought Obuah into power as it is a known fact the Obuah never indicated his interest to vie for the position during the Party's congress.
The renewed crisis in the ruling Party may portend grave danger if the leaders of the Party do not wade in. The end result may be likened to the scenario in Anambra State and Imo States were the opposition took over the reins of power from the once formidable PDP.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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