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Anambra Guber Poll: Court Clears Uba, Others

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As the political intrigues in Anambra State continue to unfold, A federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, has affirmed that Senator Andy Uba remains the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, following the ruling by the court that the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of executive remains the legitimate PDP executive in the state.
The trial judge, Justice H.A Nganjiwa stated this yesterday, while ruling on the interlocutory injunction brought by the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP faction executive in the state.
The Oguebego-led executive had gone to court praying, among other things, that the court should compel the PDP to accept Andy Uba as the legitimate governorship candidate of the party, and himself as the Anambra State chairman of the party against Ken Emekaye-led execo.
The duo have been in a protracted political battle in the state over  who controls the party leadership in the state as well as held parallel party programmes in the state.
Consequently, Justice H.A Nwanjiwa while ruling on the motion, ordered the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and deal with the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP faction executive as the authentic party leadership in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
The court also ordered all the parties involved in the matter to maintain the status quo as well as comply with the earlier directives of the court in that regard.
The court had earlier granted a similar motion directing the PDP to recognise Ejike Oguebego as the chairman but later withdrew it, and recognised the factional executive members led by Ken Emekaye which conducted the primary elections that brought Mr Tony Nwoye as the party gubernatorial candidate for the Anamba poll in November this year.
The court in its ruling yesterday, however, up turned the decision and upheld its earlier ruling to recognise the Ejike Oguebego-led executive which nominated Andy Uba as the PDP governorship candidate.
The judge also declined to set aside the orders earlier made by his senior colleagues on the matter, adding that he lacks such powers to do so.
‘I lack such powers to set aside the orders made by my superiors and the court, and whoever that is not satisfied with  my position should go to the Appeal Court’, he declared.
Justice Nganjiwa, however, told both the plaintiffs and the defendants that he would no longer continue with the trial based on an alleged petition against him from one of the defense counsels in the matter  to the Chief  Justice of Nigeria (CJN), challenging his credibility and fairness in the matter, adding that he would adjourn the matter and wait for further directive from the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, the first respondent in the matter, M.M Kalu, explained that the order has a far-reaching effect on the matter at hand, noting that the outcome of the ruling can mar ort make PDP in Anambra State.
Kalu opined that the court rather than granting the orders sought by the plaintiff, went ahead in his ruling to strengthen the plaintiff,  by asking PDP and INEC to recognise them, adding that the judge refused to hear their motion which borders on jurisdiction and proceeded to hear the interlocutory motion.
He urged the court to continue with the matter so as to deal with the substantive suit, adding that the judge would have discontinued with the ruling when he received the alleged petition.
“We will continue our matter here. The judge would  have stopped the ruling when he received the petition, so we must continue with the matter until there is a further directive from the CJN”, he said.
‘The matter is of national interest. The ruling has seriously affected us because the court has strengthen our opponents”, he stated.
In his response, the counsel to the plaintiff, Charles Onyebukwa stated that the court was right in its ruling, adding that the import of the ruling was that Chief Andy Uba remains the legitimate PDP candidate in Anambra 2013 election as he was the product of the  primary elections conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led executive in the state.
He disclosed that there was no new development in the court ruling, noting that the court only re-affirmed its earlier decision on the matter.
The case was later adjourned to 17th September, 2013 for mention.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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