Jonathan Vs Kwankwaso over 250Bn Naira Grants for Kano LGAs

President Goodluck Jonathan took the political combat yesterday when he visited Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, summoning that the Governor gives account of over 250Bn Naira grants of Kano 44 Local Government Areas since year 2011. President Jonathan while speaking at a unity rally organized by the PDP to welcome to their fold from APC the erstwhile governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, maintained that his party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are poised to clinch Kano from Kwankwaso and his All Progressive Congress Party – APC. Meanwhile, the PDP rally took place at the popular Polo Ground in the city of the state, graced by multitudes of PDP party faithful and supports of Mallam Shakarau…

Hon. Dimaku donates bus to Ehime Mbano PDP – Declares interest for second term bid

Hon. Kingsley Nwabueze Dimaku,  member Imo State House of Assembly member representing Ehime Mbano State Constituency has donated a bus to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As part of its effort to reclaim Imo State come 2015, Ehime Mbano Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had its prayers answered on Saturday, March 15, 2014 when Hon. Kingsley Dimaku donated a 14 seater bus to the party. At an elaborate ceremony held at his Agbaja residence, the lawmaker informed the party exco and stakeholders that the gift of the bus to the party was in fulfillment of a pledge he made last year. Hon. Dimaku narrated his ugly experiences in the House of Assembly for rebuffing overtures…

Job creation, my priority – Says Capt Emma Ihenacho

One of those who regard the high level of unemployment in Imo State, as unacceptable and consequently vowed to make job creation his top priority, is Capt Emma Ihenacho, former Minister of Interior, now aspiring to become the next governor of the state, come 2015. The guber aspirant and former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who recently left for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to pursue his political ambition, while declaring his intention to newsmen in Owerri, Saturday, March 15, 2014, said that the society owed the youths the duty to get them usefully engaged to earn a living and raise their own families as soon as they graduate in their fields…

PDP embraces returnee at Ehime Mbano

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ehime Mbano LGA Chapter has welcomed back into its fold aggrieved high-profile personalities who decamped to other parties before the 2011 general elections. The returnees who include: Chief Cosmas Iwu, Hon. Stanford Onyirimba, Hon. Prince Nduka, Chief Ogoke Macdonald, former State Chairman of PPA, Hon. Kenneth Nwachukwu, former ACN Chairman in Ehime Mbano LGA with thousands of their followers. Speaking at the event, Hon. Kingsley Dimaku posited that he has played a major role in ensuring that the new converts were given a safe landing. He further elucidated that the coming on board of the heavyweights will facilitate the desire of his party to recapture the state come 2015 elections….

PDP shuts down Imo – As President Jonathan welcomes decampees

When the heat against the apartheid regime raged on in South Africa in the 80s, late music maestro, Sunny Okosun put a rhetoric question in his hit philosophical track, “Papa’s land” wanted to know who owns the land. This rhetorical aphorism replayed itself on Saturday, February 22, 2014 as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his entourage arrived Imo State for the PDP Unity rally held at Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, capital of Imo State, K.O. Mbadiwe of blessed memory will in his witty remarks describe the turnout of people as a “political earthquake” which shook the foundation of the state like “hurricane cartrina”. The tumultuous crowd of party faithful mobilized for the august event overstretched…

President Jonathan’s visit to Imo

One of the national newspapers captured the event well when it said:  Owerri Shuts down as Jonathan Welcomes PDP Returnees. Since Governor Okorocha’s daughter’s wedding last year, no event or ceremony has impacted Owerri or rocked and restricted movement as much as last week’s presidential visit. The good thing is President Jonathan’s long-awaited visit has finally come. A proud moment for us! It was, indeed, a privilege for us to welcome the first president from the South South – a man who got our votes 100 per cent three years ago. Igbo people, so welcoming and hospitable, turned out in their numbers to bid him “ndeewo!”  Governor Okorocha, with other South East governors and eminent…

Jonathan sacks chief of staff

President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed his chief of staff; three senior government sources told Reuters on Monday, extending a wave of government changes a year before elections. Nigeria is advancing as an investment destination but political instability is a concern for investors, especially as wasteful government spending tends to spike ahead of elections. Presidency spokesman Reuben Abati told reporters that chief of staff Mike Oghiadomhe had resigned because he wanted to pursue political opportunities in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But government sources said he was sacked. Jonathan is facing a crisis within the PDP centred on his assumed intention to run for another term in the 2015 election. He has yet to say…

Igbo Governors at War: Anambra, problem of Ndigbo – Okorocha

-You’re a rabble rouser – Obi‘ The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, slammed political leaders from Anambra State, accusing them of playing cash and carry politics, which had sabotaged the efforts of Ndigbo in achieving the age-long ambition of producing the President of the nation. Okorocha stated this at the inauguration of the South-East interim executive committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Ahiajioku centre in Owerri, Imo State capital recently. He lamented that some politicians from Anambra State were prepared to collect money and contract to sabotage the efforts of the zone, adding that such mentality must be discarded, if Ndigbo is determined to achieve its political aspiration. The Sun newspaper quotes…

My trouble with Jonathan – Gov. Amaechi

Recently some reports made the rounds that Governor Amaechi Rotimi  impregnated the daughter of a prominent professor, and that the girl had already moved into his house.  Another version of the story had it that the governor had problems with his wife over her advice that he should soft-pedal on his approach to the rift between him and the presidency for his own safety. But the governor, during a chat with newsmen at the Government House, said his marriage was intact, contrary to what his opponents alleged that his wife ran away from Nigeria because he impregnated another girl. He said: “That story is bad, but at least, it brought back my wife.  I don’t…

PDP, others slam Obasanjo, APC over Jonathan

People Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and former Commissioner for Information in Imo State, Chief Elvis Agukwe and a group, Movement for New Nigeria  (MNN)  have criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the All Progressive Congress (APC) for failed attempt to incite Nigerians against President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration. Agukwe said Obasanjo’s letter and the utterances of APC were intended to bring the president and his government to disrepute, but for the “timely, researched and factual” presentation of Jonathan in his reply to the letter. “At other times what Obasanjo and APC did was a coup de’tat.  But we thank God that Nigerians did not take the deceitful bait.  They believe in their president and…

As Political Campaigns Gather Momentum

Politicians are warming up for campaigns next year for 2015 elections.  Already they have started tearing each other apart.   Experience has shown that most political office holders serving a first term often spend the last quarter of their tenure campaigning for re-election, whether or not they have delivered democracy dividends to their electorates.  They spend huge government resources campaigning for themselves.   The year 2014, properly fits into this picture.  We are about to enter a period when all sorts of people, good and bad, aspiring for political positions spend mind-boggling sums of money, organizing rallies, printing posters and dolling out cash seeking for support and votes.  This period is full of intra and…

Duruiheoma appointed NPC Chairman

President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Imo State, Chief Eze Duruiheoma as the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC). Eze Duruiheoma (SAN) was nominated to replace Chief Festus Odimegwu who resigned his appointment as NPC Chairman two months ago. Odiumegwu ruffled political feathers when he vowed to clean up the NPC by ensuring that the expected 2016 census was credible, adding that figures presented as census figure for the country had always been cooked up by interested parties.  He was forced to resign. The Senate is required to confirm the appointment of Duruiheoma, who incidentally hails from the same Orlu Zone of Imo State as Odimegwu.

Anambra State 2014 Gubernatorial Election (1)

“the Die is Cast” Different political drums have been rolled out in Anambra State and the beatings are getting frenzier and more ferocious. The people of the State (Anambra State) are getting more anxious and enthusiastic to dance to the tunes, for they have almost exhausted their patience to move into the political stage to exhibit and execute their well-known political dance steps.   Every registered political party (serious minded ones) in Nigeria through their political parties in Anambra State are warming up frantically and gearing up tenaciously for the Anambra State Governorship Election which I have termed the mother-of-all-elections, because every political party in Nigeria wants to use Anambra State Governorship Election to test…

Hon. Pat-Ekeji receives pat on the back – As okada riders express solidarity

The constituency office of Lady Barr. Ngozi Pat-Ekeji, member representing Aboh Mbaise LGA in the Imo State House of Assembly located at Nguru Centre along Owerri-Umuahia express road was on Friday, September 27, 2013 transformed into a beehive activity as executive members of Okada Riders Association in Aboh Mbaise stormed the place with the intention of showing solidarity to the lawmaker for his outstanding qualities and effective representation. Receiving the members in her office, Hon. Ekeji branded the visiting group as “an august group of statesmen” who should not be left out or neglected if the entire constituency must be carried along in the scheme of things.  She expressed her delight in honouring the thank-you-visit…

ANAMBRA STATE ELECTION IS ON THE HEAT AGAIN, WHO DO WE TRUST?

It’s politics time again, the wind has started blowing, and Anambra is in the news again. The political atmosphere is tense, the tension has risen again, this time around someone must occupy the top seat of Governor come 17th of March 2014 to replace the ebullient outgoing Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. Now the question is who do you think that the cap fits? In every indication, Anambra is a State blessed with human and natural resources. The State has proved over the years that she is capable of producing men of timber and calibre capable of occupying every position both locally and internationally. Therefore I am not surprised to see the calibre of aspirants vying…

Eight PDP Members Die in Auto Crash

Eight members of Peoples Democratic Party, Abia state chapter have been confirmed dead and six critically injured as a result of ghastly auto crash along Anambra-Enugu highway. The men were returning from the Anambra state ward congress, where they worked as auxiliary staff in preparation for the governorship election holding on 18th November this year. The surviving six members who were reported to be critically injured were rushed to the federal medical centre, Umuahia, thanks to the state government who sent in ambulances since the industrial action embarked upon by health workers affected the operations of UNTH Enugu. On learning about the news the state secretariat of the party suddenly transformed into mourning arena while…

No regret serving Under Rochas – Nnanna Okoro; As Governor grades ex-commissioners, aides

The erstwhile Commissioner for Community Government Council (CGC) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Barr. Lady Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro said she enjoyed her tenure while it lasted and that she would not feel disappointed if she was not re-appointed. Nnanna-Okoro, popularly called the Lady of the Masses, spoke to THE LEADER while handing over to the Permanent Secretary, on Friday, July 19 as directed by Governor Okorocha.  The Governor had earlier dissolved the enlarged executive council, comprising commissioners and senior aides. Lady Nnanna-Okoro said dissolution of cabinet is a normal process of administration, explaining that dissolution is not “sack” as some press would like to put it because the chief executive could dissolve the cabinet for several…

APC is a non-issue – Prof. Uwazuruike

As the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha continues to insist that the agitation for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction could only be realized on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), the member representing Okigwe South in the House of Representative, Prof. Chudi Uwazuruike has dismissed the APC as an alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking with our correspondent in his country home, Umunakanu Ehime Mbano recently, Prof. Uwazuruike said since the APC has not been registered as a political party, the contraption “is a non-issue”. The lawmaker who addressed the press on his intention to canvass for votes in the 2015 general elections on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party…

How Professional Associations can stop Corruption in Nigeria

Professional associations are umbrella organizations that bring people of same profession or career together mainly to protect and advance their career interests. There are ‘a million’ of them across the globe! Some that come to mind in Nigeria include: Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Association of Nigerian Medical Practitioners (ANMP), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), etc. I asked several Nigerians what these associations stand for. Hundred percent of those asked said they fight for the right of their members. “Why do you think so?” I asked. “Because they are always going on strike because the Government won’t pay them their salaries,” they said. Rightly, fighting…

Jonathan condemns irregularities in Oguta rerun election – As PDP, APGA trade Accusations

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, condemned the irregularities that characterized the rerun election to the Imo State House of Assembly in Oguta on Saturday, June 29, saying that the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election negated the spirit of one man, one vote, which his administration was trying to foster in Nigeria. Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, President Jonathan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to bring all those who played any role in the violence and irregularities that marred the election to justice. The President said it had become apparent that…