Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has described the allegation of cultism against him by the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as unkind and uncharitable. For him, this is taking politics of mudslinging too far. This latest evil and immoral accusation, he believes, is an attempt to destroy his hard-earned reputation.
The APC candidate who stated this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital called on politicians to focus on issues that would improve the living standards of their people rather than resorting to criminal and baseless accusation and cheap blackmail that are capable of exacerbating the already tensed political atmosphere in the state.
According to Peterside, this accusation runs contrary to his ideals as a practising Christian and preacher of the Gospel. “I am amused by this baseless allegation because as a Christian, I know where I stand with Christ. And any attempt by anybody or group to tarnish my hard earned reputation will be resisted and challenged.
“I never belonged to any secret society or cult group all my life including my university days and I will never be. For emphasis sake, let me unequivocally state that I was never a member of any cult as alleged by my accusers.
“From 1986 to 2011, I was a member of Church of God Mission International but for distance, I had to change my denomination to Salvation Ministries and my pastor can attest to my undiluted Christian life and spiritual standing. Curiously, this unfortunate allegation is coming from a party that Rivers People and the Christian community are alleging of parading known Ogboni members.
“Perhaps this is a diversionary tactics to divert attention from the demand of the Christian community in Rivers State that those who aspire to the high office of governor must have high moral and spiritual standing. And that the church resolve not to vote for anybody with secret society background is firm and well known, and this is highly commendable. I can say without any fear that I was never and will never join any cult.
“For me, the issues before the electorate go beyond unfounded and criminal accusation. I am aware that Rivers people know all of us and our moral standing and character, including the issue of Christianity and where I stand. One would have expected my accusers to face the real issues of providing quality leadership rather than crying wolf where there is none.
“I am an open book! In my days both at Okrika Grammar School, OGS and Rivers State University of Science and Technology where I served as National President of National Union of Rivers State Students, NURSS, among other positions, I did not join any cult group not even with the excuse of youthful exuberance. This accusation is therefore unjustified and should be disregarded.
“I consider this a flagrant assault on my reputation and integrity and I am not going to take this lying low. Therefore, I am going to challenge this affront on my person and character in the court of law”, he said.
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.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come down hard on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State for producing controversial former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesome Ezebunwo Wike, as the party’s flag-bearer for the 2015 gubernatorial election. Rivers APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt this morning based on the announcement of Wike as the winner of PDP’s gubernatorial primaries dismissed Wike’s candidature as an imposition and the process that led to it as a macabre dance.
Said the party in the statement signed by its State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya: “We have watched with amusement the macabre dance by PDP and its leadership which culminated in the imposition of Chief Nyesome Wike as the part’s flag-bearer for the 2015 gubernatorial election. To us, the emergence of the cantankerous and disreputable Chief Wike means an easy victory for us as he cannot in any way be compared with our candidate, the very reputable and visionary Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. The battle is now between the Rivers State people and the forces of darkness which the PDP represents.”
Continuing, Rivers APC said: “That Wike could emerge after the alarm unitedly raised by the 16 other PDP aspirants that were duped of their hard-earned money as the outcome of the process had already been determined by forces whose hatred for Rivers State is legendary speaks volumes about the extent to which the Presidency and the PDP national leadership are prepared to go to humiliate the good people of Rivers State. What is more, for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP leadership to disregard the warning and pleas by Rivers State Elders such as Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Chief A.K. Horsefall and Jonathan’s own ethnic Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the dangers of Wike’s candidature portends to the peace, progress and unity of Rivers State simply demonstrates the level of disdain and scorn that the Presidency and PDP leadership have for Rivers State and her people.”
Rivers APC described Wike’s candidature as illogical and the height of injustice to the Riverine parts of the State. According to the party, “The imposition of Wike from the same Ikwerre tribe with outgoing Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, against the wishes and pleas of other parts of the state paints PDP as being insensitive to the yearnings of Rivers people for equity, justice and fair play in the distribution of power in the state. Rivers State is divided politically alongside Upland and Riverine areas. The Upland has been in power since 1999 till date through Dr. Peter Odilii and Governor Amaechi, governing Rivers State for a cumulative 16 years. Commonsense and justice dictate that after Governor Aamechi, the Riverine area should be given a sense of belonging by being allowed to govern the state. Thus, PDP, if it has any regard for the feelings of Rivers people, ought to have emulated our good example by producing a candidate from the Riverine but it has characteristically squandered this golden opportunity due to the Presidency’s desperation to foist Wike on Rivers State. Let us imagine – but God forbid! – that Wike wins the 2015 election. That means that the Upland would be in power for 24 years to the determinant of the Riverine area. To us, this is the highest level of inhumanity and injustice against our Riverine brothers and sisters.
“The choice of governorship candidates has once more left no doubt about the true colours of APC and PDP. It is now left to the good people of Rivers State to make their choice between darkness (PDP) and Light (APC) during next year’s governorship ballot. We trust them to make the right choice and vote for Dakuku Peterside and APC.”
Long Live APC! Long Live Rivers State!!
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC 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.
It is no longer news that the PDP gubernatorial primaries held in Rivers state were designed to tell myself and other aspirants that the Ogoni and Ijaw aspirations were not just misplaced, they were irrelevant.
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 in a message has urged his supporters and fellow lovers of Nigeria to ignore the falsehood fueled through propaganda by the opposition and vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections.
The President, in a message at a media presentation of 'Candidate Goodluck Jonathan', in Lagos through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, yesterday promised that his administration would continue to seek the peace, development and progress of the country in the face of serious challenges and opposition by those who deliberately choose to remain blind to the lofty achievements his government has recorded in the last four years.
While encouraging his supporters in Lagos to take it as a duty to move from house to house, speak to their friends, neighbours and colleagues on the need to vote right in 2015 said: "There is the need for continuity and improvement in the country."
Okupe in his comment said the coast is now clear and the battle for who becomes President in the 2015 election is definitely going to be a battle between 'Good luck and bad luck' .
Justifying why his office organised the 'Candidate Goodluck Jonathan' event, Okupe said it was to tell Nigerians what the government has achieved so far as against the lies the opposition has been spreading .
Reading the President's message at the event at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Ikeja Okupe said, "Distinguished guests, thank you very much for taking your time to attending this meeting, you must all take the advantage of asking any question and be sure that I will receive reports from my team."
Saying he is often accused of being fanatical about President Jonathan Okukpe said: "Yes, it is true. I stand for and work for what I believe in. I have worked for two presidents and I speak because I believe in what I say. I do not wish to denigrate anybody.
"This Jonathan is the very best that we have seen. There is no offence to compare ourselves with Goodluck Jonathan. The man Jonathan bears a lot of burden, he keeps quiet, he is focused and does not talk anyhow or denigrate anyone so that Nigeria will remain one.
"There are members of the opposition that are deaf. It is not by coincidence that every good thing is happening in Nigeria during his administration but the fact is the man is focused and he has the best brains around him."
He pointed to the fact that the opposition are waiting to base their campaign against Jonathan on three areas, which are security, power and corruption .
"But Jonathan's administration has recorded tremendous achievements in these areas such that in the last four years the country is now generating over 4800 megawatts compared to the 2800 megawatts the country has generated since 1960."
Okupe agreed the government has not yet attained the utmost level, but added "there is room for improvement as we are still working within the roadmap to achieving our aims."
In his remarks, Chairman of the Northern Elders Council (NEC), Alhaji Tanko Yakassai reiterated that the North would vote overwhelmingly for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket in the 2015 presidential election and called on the rest of the country to do the same.
According to him, "I am happy to know that President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed by his party, the PDP, as its presidential candidate. I also want to congratulate his party, the PDP for introducing the method of right of first refusal to Nigeria and I hope other political parties will adopt this measure to prevent any form of rancour in political parties. This is the type of politics that we are looking for in this country; politics of ideas and programme. Let me use this opportunity to fault the insinuations about the Boko Haram insurgency."
"That the Boko Haram was created to frustrate Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's administration and that his administration was sponsoring Boko Haram, both impressions are wrong. Boko Haram came on the Nigerian scene way back in 2002; this was during President Olusegun Obasanjo's first term in office. That was the time Boko Haram started.
"The Federal Government has nothing to do with Boko Haram and no government will encourage insurgency against itself. Anyone who is saying that Boko Haram is created to destabilise Jonathan or is being sponsored by Jonathan is erroneous and wrong," he said.
Commenting on the resolve of the North to vote for Jonathan, he said "we, the North, are so grateful that he decided to retain architect Namadi Sambo as his running mate, in the last five years, we have not heard of any rancour or disagreement between the President and his Vice.
"I hope that President will ensure that he executes the recommendations of the National Conference especially the rotation of power so that each geo-political zone will have the opportunity of producing the president of this country."
Chairman of the occasion and Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) was hopeful Jonathan would emerge victorious in the 2015 presidential election.
He said, "we are assembled here today to launch President Jonathan, who is definitely going to be the president of Nigeria. I have toured the whole country.
After a fair assessment, I can boldly say that our candidate, President Jonathan will be the next president of the country. I am going to make a prediction and that prediction is definitely going to come to pass. That prediction is we will win."
On reason why Jonathan deserves to be overwhelmingly supported, former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George said it was imperative for every Nigerian and the South West in particular, to rally round Jonathan's second term bid.
According to him: " This man has courage. There was need for us to discuss the Nigerian project and he was not afraid to allow us to discuss the Nigerian project and proffer solutions to issues.
Even if for no other reason, he deserves our vote. He has also promised to execute the recommendations of the conference. The conference accepted that we have State Police, devolution of powers and that local government should be given a special status."
He continued: "We then set and recommended that there would no longer be immunity for governors. President Jonathan, in his magnanimity, allowed us to do all that and more at the conference and we concluded that that document would be the new beginning for Nigeria. Why would we shortchange the South-South? Let us make sure that we actualise this on February 14, 2015 and you know that day is a special day, which is Valentine's Day."
Describing the presentation as a day of history, George said, "Anybody who wants to rule Nigeria, must have patience, and we need that kind of man to take us to higher heights. It is also time we won Lagos State. Let me also advise those that lost during the governorship primaries that some will win, some will lose.
There is time for everything."
Also speaking, , Senator Florence Ita-Giwa said the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion was an indication that Nigerians believe in President Jonathan.
"I always say that what President Jonathan has faced has been unfair. "He is the most vilified president the country has ever had, yet despite all the challenges, he remains focussed and humble
"If other presidents have enjoyed two terms, Jonathan must also enjoy his two terms."
Guest speaker at the event, Professor Dupe Olatunbosun said, "I have looked at the presidential candidates of the two political parties the PDP and the APC and I intend to draw a comparative analyses between them because they have both served as presidents of this country.
He however commended Jonathan's administration for his achievements in all sectors of the country, saying: "Despite all the challenges Jonathan encountered, Nigeria's economy has improved to become the number one economy in Africa, but the problem I have is that the wealth of this country is still in the hands of some few. I see a lot to be done. Corruption needs to be combated in all fronts in our society."
Listing some of the achievements under Jonathan, the guest speaker said, "During the Goodluck administration, the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill was passed. We all know that when Buhari was Head of State, he did not have the challenges President Jonathan has and he also did not believe in democracy."
The event attracted eminent personalities including Lagos State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Senator Fola Bajomo, Senator Ayo Arise, Chief Jubril Martin-Kuye, Prince Teru Olateru-Olagbegi, Mr. Bisi Omoyemi among others
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.
FROM the mysterious Amasuomo creek in Burutu Local Government I have canoed into the River Niger. This is prompted by two developments – the unceasing acidic verbal minimization of President Goodluck Jonathan by Professor Wole Soyinka and the desecration of Soyinka’s personality by John Udumebraye. My responses to both attacks are that of indignation, bewilderment, puzzlement and surprise (Soyinka’s article “under the sign of an iconoclast”) at a time such as this.
It would be a laughable intellectual sophistry to create a discourse devoted to castigation and denial of the achievements of President Jonathan at this time of Nigerian history. From education, road infrastructure, environmental management, power, industrial revolution policy, agriculture, airport, Railways revolution, transport, and the overall performance of the economy, President Jonathan has visibly demonstrated capability and commitment to the development of the Nigerian project.
The facts of his unwavering pursuit of the transformation agenda are open to appropriation from TAM and other advocacy groups. Any healthy critic of the president would have journeyed to the parts of the country where the transformation projects are located either to prove or disprove the transformation claims. Criticism of President Jonathan devoid of this approach is better dismissed as a prejudicial, ego-boosting and self-serving agenda bound to harm Nigeria in her search towards a new Nigeria.
When unguarded, uncomplimentary comments are made against the visible transformation drive of President Jonathan , the Chibok girls saga and insurgency in general, the interventionist role of the police in the construction of security barricade against Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal saga based on the intelligence of impending invasion of the National Assembly by thugs, tendentious self-serving anti-progress agenda would be spotted as the likely inspirational source of such action. Stuck to this destructive self-serving dance of distraction, to cast President Jonathan as a president worse than king Nebuchadnezzar betrays a failing mind perpetually conditioned and indoctrinated to demonise the President no matter the radius of developmental illumination daily beamed out by him. This is a sheer dramatization of personalized war of antagonism and hatred for Jonathan.
For Soyinka to claim the metaphorisation of President Jonathan using Nebuchadnezzar, he has fallen from the hallowed height hitherto occupied. The activities of Bola Tinubu, Governor Rotimi Amaechi who threatened to form a parallel government even before the conduct of the 2015 elections, and many other APC stalwarts notorious for verbal terrorism merit some degree of healthy critical commentary but on these Soyinka has been silence. This uncharacteristic silence has the hallmarks of degeneration and regression into a selective critic. Can Soyinka’s recent biblical metaphorisation of President Jonathan be viewed as a metamorphosis of Soyinka into an implacable selective critic of the President?
As a writer, I am sure, Soyinka is only interested in the ironic meaning of Nebuchadnezzar as metaphorically applied to President Jonathan. It could be an uncanny case of the use of individualised Soyinkaised CONCEIT in appreciating Jonathan’s unusual transformation records – because President Jonathan bears no resemblance to Nebuchadnezzar in any form. Then could this be penciled down sympathetically as Soyinka’s rare moment of being overpowered by invasion of superfluous lexemes and metaphors in their stray?
Yes, Soyinka misfired when he cast Jonathan as a president worse than Nebuchadnezzar. John Udumebraye equally misfired when he described Soyinka’s Nobel prize for Literature as a product of his political activism rather than his literary prowess and versatility. This is a demeaning categorization of Soyinka obviously borne out of over-expectation of the man, forgetting that no matter the unfathomable height of Soyinka’s verbal sophistication and literary prowess, he is still essentially a mortal with limitation/shortcomings.
In the life of a man, there are moments of luxuriant growth, surplus upward progression, perfection and excellence as are moments of deficit, verbal recklessness,decomposition, diminishing return, degeneration, recession and regression. No mortal is immune to these existential realities. One area we must unashamedly share collective guilt is over-expectation. We have made Soyinka an angeland expect too much from a mere mortal. For those who are puzzled by Soyinka’s recent selective criticism, the latest in the series of which is the biblical metaphorisation of President Jonathan, see it from the perspective of the arrival of occasional moment of diminishing return in the life of every man. Equally see it from the perspective of man’s occasional predisposition to irrational theorization and irrational praxis.
Soyinka is a genius both as a literary and political activist whose prehensile tentacles are spread to all the genres of literature – poetry, drama, prose – so much so that critics no longer know in which genre he should be rated best. For Udumebraye to verbally pedestrianize Soyinka’s scholarly achievements in trying to counter his recent selective outburst, he has desecrated the oracle of African literature. Soyinka cannot be a scholar and be a scholar at the same time as Udumebraye angrily portrays in the grip of confusion and ambiguity. He is a scholar of international repute and dignity. Soyinka is more sinned against by Udumebraye than President Jonathan by Soyinka.
I do not believe that the Pyrate Confraternity is a cult as nothing reprehensible has ever been associated with it since the beginning of the campaign of denigration and demonization mounted against it. I do not see anything wrong with Soyinka leaving University College, Ibadan for the University of Ife, neither do I see anything wrong with Soyinka’s pursuit of his academic dream at Leeds University, UK. It would appear that the target of Udumebraye is to demonize and desecrate Soyinka’s intellectual shrine just as Soyinka appears ideologically positioned to demonize Jonathan’s transformation philosophy. This is where both moves become irretrievably faulty.
President Jonathan’s development strides are unbeatable just as Soyinka’s intellectual achievements are unrivalled. Henceforth, Soyinka should endeavour to direct his feet down a healthy path.
in his criticism and biblical metaphorisation of President Jonathan just as Udumebraye should be honest in his assessment of Soyinka’s achievements. I wish both Soyinka and Udumebraye could be awakened to their sins by this correctional piece.
Mr Ekanpou Enewaridideke, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta 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.
In withdrawing himself from consideration on the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described it as a patriotic duty and personal contribution towards rescuing Nigeria from the clutches of poverty which he said the ruling administration had plunged the country
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.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Hon. Dakuku Peterside has called on all good men to activate their sense of appreciation and sympathy as the world commemorates The International Day of Disabled Persons.
The governorship aspirant made the call today in press statement saying, “Today, we remember in a very special way, our brothers and sisters who face physical and mental challenges of varying degrees. Our world definitely, would have been different and undeniably incomplete without them. For that reason, we celebrate them for making the world inclusive and complete”.
“But we must ponder on a day like this. How much of equal opportunities, rehabilitation, love and above all, prevention of disabilities have we encouraged in our different worlds as individuals and groups? There could not have been a better time to advance the rights of persons with disabilities”.
“Therefore, we need to activate our sense of appreciation and sympathy as we join the rest of the world in marking this day. This obiligation should shape our thoughts and actions today and beyond”.
“We are Greater Together”, Hon. peterside conluded.
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.
All Progressives Congress (APC) Consensus Governorship Candidate for the 2015 election in Rivers State, Hon. Dr. Chief Dakuku Adol Peterside, has sent the olive branch to other aspirants for the position, assuring that he will carry them along in his plans and activities.
Peterside in a statement issued on Saturday by Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, specifically singled out Senator Magnus Abe, whom he referred to as his brother whom he holds in high esteem.
Peterside said: “I am grateful to God, to our Leader, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and to our great party APC for finding me worthy to be tipped as consensus candidate ahead of our forthcoming state primary election. I am humbled by their choice of me and wish to assure that I will at all times do my best to justify their confidence in me.
“Those who are trying to sow seeds of discord between me and my elder brother, Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, have already failed. Distinguished Senator Abe is not only my friend and elder brother but has also been my close ally in most of the strategic planning we have done in the Amaechi political family, so it is given that he will be at the centre of our march to the Brick House. I have visited and had brotherly discussions with him. Together we will shame our detractors and claim that which God has destined us to be.”
Giving a peep into his plan for Rivers State, Peterside said: “We bring a roadmap of wealth for Rivers State anchored on a legacy and foundation of prosperity laid by our Leader, Governor Chibuike Amaechi. We all know Governor Amaechi’s legacies in education, health, agriculture and other areas. He has built world-class schools and hospitals in every nook and cranny of the state. His health centres can match any standard hospital found anywhere in the world. In a couple of days, we shall be unveiling our campaign plans and programmes. This is a RIVERS PROJECT. It is not about APC. We invite everybody to come on board, join us to move Rivers State to the next level.
“Rivers people’s support for me is overwhelming. I really appreciate the outpouring of love. I thank all Rivers people. I will not disappoint you. APC members rely on God and I will continue to rely on God. I do not depend on my strength or ability. I will ensure unity in Rivers State. All Rivers people will have roles to play in my administration, when elected as governor by God’s grace. Our doors will be wide open.”
Reacting to the protest against his nomination by some youths said to be from Ogoniland, Dakuku Peterside said: “I heard that some 150 young men and women were at the Government House, Port Harcourt, three days ago. Ogoni people love me and are very hospitable. I grew up in Ogoni, where I spent over ten years. I still have many childhood friends from Ogoni. The protesters are not Ogoni, but people from other political parties, who want to cause confusion. The opposition parties sponsored the 150 youths to protest. It is nothing to worry about. I was at the forefront of Ogoni struggle in 1990, when the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) was put in place.
“Ogoni people are peace-loving and not violent. It was when I was Rivers Commissioner for Works that most of the roads in Bori (traditional headquarters of Ogoniland) were tarred. I will continue to protect Ogoni interests. Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe is my brother and friend and we have had useful discussions. APC in Rivers State cannot be in reverse gear. We will place emphasis on equity, justice and fairness. We will ensure inclusive government. Everybody will be carried along. I am an Ijaw, but I will be the governor of Rivers State. We can together build a greater Rivers State.”
Throwing light on how Peterside emerged as Consensus Candidate, State Party Chairman Ikanya said: “Rivers State APC was divinely set up to address three principal injustices visited on some sections of Rivers State. One of them is addressing the unjust situation of the Riverine areas of the state not occupying the seat of power since 1999, after the eight years of Dr. Peter Odili and the eight years of the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi – all from the upland section of the state. The second injustice is that of the Ogoni, a key tribe of the state, not producing a Governor, Deputy Governor or Speaker of the State House of Assembly since the creation of the State as far back as 1970. The last injustice is that of the South-East Senatorial Zone not producing the Governor since the creation of the state; Rivers East having produced Dr. Odili while Rivers West produced Governor Amaechi, leaving the South-East in the cooler all these years.
“Addressing these three major issues at the same time was a hectic task for the leadership of Rivers State APC and being a human organisation, it will be too much of a demand to achieve these three major goals at the same time. Therefore, in the wisdom of the party leadership they achieved two of the three goals by conceding power to the South-East Senatorial Zone and also resolved to shift power from the upland to the riverine area of the state. This zone presented four great leaders in the persons of Most Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, who is representing the zone in the upper chambers of the National Assembly, Engr Tele Ikuru, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Barr. George Feyi, Secretary to the Rivers State Government, among other great leaders. Any of them so chosen will still defeat whatever any other party may present in the 2015 elections but in a every given contest, one person must emerge and when the party decided to address the riverine issue Hon. Dr. Chief Dakuku Adol Peterside from the Riverine area of Opobo/Nkoro LGAs, member of the Federal House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee who is a symbol of unity of both the Ogoni people and both the riverine and upland sections of the state, becomes the general acceptance to fly the flag of APC in the 2015 gubernatorial election of Rivers State.”
According to Ikanya, “This explanations becomes imperative particularly for those outside Rivers State so that they may not be deceived by the mischievous PDP in Rivers State that wants to continue with the injustice meted to the South-East Senatorial Zone and the riverine areas of the state by plotting to truncate the divine mission of the APC by imposing Chief Barr. Nyseom Wike from Ikwerre tribe that prodcued the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, to fly the flag of PDP come 2015. If Wike succeeds, that will make the upland section of the state to govern the state for 24 years, thus effectively excluding both the South-East and the riverine areas of the state from governance of the state. This, to us in APC, is the highest injustice to can mete to a fellow partner in the growth and progress of our dear state. This is the mission and goal of the struggle and battle for the soul of Rivers State come 2015.”
Ikanya commended and congratulated the leadership of APC in Rivers for settling for a personality widely accepted by all the sections of the state described as a symbol of unity, visionary, egalitarian and most importantly patriotic whose love for Rivers State and her people is infectious. He described Dakuku Peterside as a man who has earned a reputation as a charismatic and disciplined leader; creative and hardworking, a broad-minded fellow with strategic insights. The State Party Chairman said of Peterside: “He brings integrity, compassion, pro-poor perspective and intellectual dimension to bear in tackling tough national issues. His loyalty to friendship and bridge-building skills are remarkable. Respected as one of the most result-oriented, meticulous, consistent, trustworthy and God-fearing political leaders, in all public offices he has held he has brought innovation to bear and made remarkable impact that has endeared him to his fellow compatriots. He is a role model and mentor to several young persons, who look up to him for inspiration. He has at various times turned down at least fourteen chieftaincy titles, several honourary doctorate degrees and awards rather believing in the people as a reason for service.
“In the House he serves as chairman of the strategic Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Committee that oversees the management of the key driver of Nigeria’s economy (Petroleum Industry). Dakuku Peterside also serves in the most important House committees of Anti-corruption, National Ethics and Values; Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes; Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Electoral Matters; Industry; Communications and Works. He is a well known champion of reform and strengthening of institutions as key to unlocking development potentials.
“Besides, this great son of Rivers State is an international resource person on oil and gas matters and a leading leadership/management scholar and speaker in leading conferences around the world. He is a respected authority on corporate political strategy and Business-Govt interaction in Nigeria. We are proud to recommend him to the great people of Rivers State as their next governor after the departure of the goal-oriented Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi in 2015.”
Ikanya expressed shock over the interest demonstrated by the PDP bigwigs since the announcement of Dakuku Peterside as the party’s consensus candidate. He said that the way PDP was rattled by Peterside’s emergence simply shows that his choice is the best for the state. He advised PDP to throw in the towel I good enough time to avoid being disgraced during the 2015 gubernatorial poll.
The Party Chairman condemned the few youths sponsored by PDP that gathered at the Government House to protest the choice of Peterside to fly the flag of APC. “I am further shocked by the conduct of the few youths sponsored by PDP who gathered at the Government House to protest the choice of Peterside to fly the flag of APC who is not a member of their sinking PDP,” he stated. He commended Senator Abe for disassociating himself from the misguided youths.
The Party Chairman explained that not minding the choice of Dakuku Peterside, “it is important to re-emphasise that the primaries of the APC in Rivers State will hold as planned and all processes will be duly and diligently adhered to. The APC will continue to uphold and abide by the hallowed principle of internal party democracy and will not depart from it.” Ikanya said the clarification had become necessary so as to “properly situate what has happened to prevent avoidable misreporting by the media and not to play into the hands of detractors and mischief-makers.”
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.
A demonstrator held a sign supporting immigration outside a US Border Patrol facility in California earlier this month.
What if the Irish potato famine had happened today?
It’s something to think about, in light of Massachusetts’ current role in the immigration debate, when appeals for compassion collide with pronouncements about the law. Here’s where we stand: Governor Deval Patrick makes a passionate pitch for sheltering undocumented children who fled violence in Central America. Four major gubernatorial candidates rush to agree, which says something about Massachusetts character.
But public sentiment is split, resistance is vocal and strong, and the language the opponents use is telling. In the 19th century, Irish immigrants were called many of the things you hear hurled at Central American immigrants today: a scourge on public health, a drain on the economy, a threat to American culture.
One thing they weren’t called, though, was “illegal,” because that term hadn’t been conceived yet.
“People are shocked when I say before World War I, there were no green cards, no visas, no quotas, no passports, even. Really, you just showed up. And if you could walk without a limp, and you had $30 in your pocket, you walked right in,” said Mae Ngai, a legal and political historian at Columbia University, whose studies focus on immigration.
It’s worth remembering how malleable the rules of immigration have been, as each successive wave of foreigners has come across the border, drawing resistance from those who came before. And that mid-19th-century wave is especially noteworthy, because of the role Massachusetts played.
At the time, white Protestants made up the local majority, said Mark Hubbard, a historian at Eastern Illinois University who wrote a book about Massachusetts nativism. After 1845, a huge wave of Irish came in, fleeing the famine. So did a wave of Germans, escaping political unrest.
These newcomers were Catholic, sparking fears about allegiance to a foreign pope. Their culture of drinking collided with the Yankees’ Puritan strain. They arrived at a time of economic unrest, as artisans were losing their jobs to mass production, while immigrants were willing to work hard, for little money, in the factories.
That these Irish were “more than desperate,” Hubbard said, barely mattered to the public at large.
“They are fleeing a terrible situation. But there just wasn’t much empathy for that,” he said. “It was more about how this wave of foreigners is going to irrevocably change America.”
And yet they could come — with no paperwork issues or quotas or restrictions or immigration courts. Political backlash followed, in the form of secret societies that coalesced into the Know Nothing Party. The Know Nothings grew so popular that, in 1854, they overwhelmingly took over the Massachusetts Legislature — where they pushed for prohibition laws, aimed squarely at Irish and German culture.
They also supported an effort to extend the naturalization period to 21 years. At the time, the debate centered not on sending immigrants back, but on denying them the right to vote.
The Know Nothings disintegrated almost as quickly as they formed, their national wings divided on the issue of slavery. Before long, the country was distracted by the Civil War, which helped the Irish and Germans assimilate.
But other immigration laws would come, driven by economic forces, buoyed by racial stereotypes. In the late 19th century, Congress passed “moral turpitude” laws aimed at Chinese immigrants on the West Coast. In 1924, Congress passed the National Origins Act, which imposed country-by-country limits, based on immigration patterns in the past. In 1965, Congress changed those rules to allow an equal number of visas from every country — which means, as Ngai points out, that Mexico gets the same number of visas as Belgium, and that there are absurd discrepancies in the length of the oft-cited “line” to enter America legally.
The law can change again. It probably will. Today polls suggest that the majority of Americans support a path to amnesty. But we also need a history lesson. Some of us more than others.
“These people don’t have the same culture we have here in Bourne, and we have to protect our children,” someone recently said at a public forum on the Cape, regarding Patrick’s plan to shelter those immigrant kids.
The question of who “our children” are — and the gravity of their lawbreaking — depends on when you start the clock.
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.
Pandemonium broke out in the Asipa community as an apprentice bricklayer, identified as Rasheed Sulaiman, was shot dead while testing the potency of a bullet-proof charm given to him by a herbalist.A resident of Asipa, a community in the Ife North Local Government Area, told PUNCH Metrothat Sulaiman, on Saturday called his cousin, Siji, to follow him to a secluded place to test the charm.
Sulaiman wore the amulet and gave a gun to his cousin to fire at him. The cousin fired the shot and killed Sulaiman instantly.Residents were unaware of the mission of duo, but the sound of a gunshot was said to have attracted attention of the people of the area to where the incident happened. Siji was said to be found weepingbeside the body of the deceased. Siji reportedly explained that the deceased compelled him to shoot at him to test the potency of an amulet.
It was gathered that the deceased, who was known to be a tough guy, could be preparing to use the charm for the governorship election in the state. The incident was said to have triggered panic among the elders of the community who believed that some other youths might have similar charms.Punch reports the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Osun state Police Command, Folasade Odoro, could not be reached to react to the incident.
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.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
