Politics
Jubilations Trail Okorocha’s Victory
Practising journalists of Imo State extraction working in Rivers State , have joined the train to celebrate the victory of the Governor-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, declared as governor last Saturday after the supplementary election held in four local government areas in the state.
The event, which was held at the secretariat of the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), attracted journalists from both government and private media organisations in Rivers State. They called on the governor-elect not to disappoint the trust of the people by going the way of the outgoing governor ,Chief Ikedi Ohakim.
Speaking at the occasion, Vice Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Terver Akase praised the courage of the people of Imo State for voting and ensuring that their mandate was not stolen during the governorship election in the state.
Akase, who described Okorocha,the Governor elect, as one of the most privileged Nigerians to be alive and received encomium from his people expressed the hope that the governor- elect would take the state to a greater level within the next four years.
In his speech, Mr Francis Onyeukwu said the occasion was not the celebration of the downfall of the outgoing Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,but to appreciate the fact that the people’s votes had counted.
Onyeukwu noted that Governor Ohakim was not able to meet the aspirations of the people. “ the insecurity of the state was worrisome as it became impossible for indigenes living outside the state to go home”
In his speech, Mr. Chukwudi Akasike advised the governor-elect to sustain the philanthropic posture, which he had been known for and ensure that he brings the state back to its original glory.
Mrs. Ann Godwin urged the Governor elect to pay more attention on road projects ,stressing that this would improve the lots of the people.
Others who spoke at the occasion include, Ms. Clarice Azuatalam and Mr. Joe Ezuma who said the gathering was a show of happiness that the votes of the people of the state counted during the just concluded governorship election which will translate to freedom from oppression from the ruling class.
They challenged the governor-elect not to toe the line of Ohakim in order not to lose the love and trust of the people of the state.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a pat on the back from Imo indigenes residing in Rivers State for conducting “transparent” supplementary election last Friday.
The Tide reports that Imo electorate overwhelmingly voted for Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as a protest against incumbent Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Reacting to the outcome of the supplementary polls, an Imo indigene living in Port Harcourt, Mr Gozie Chigbu, told The Tide on Tuesday that INEC deserved commendation for conducting a free and fair election in Imo.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan and Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, had shown Nigerians that a credible electoral process was feasible in the country.
Another indigene, Mr Lucky Okafor, said: “In fact, everybody was confused in the process, but at last INEC had helped us out of the confused state of things.”
Okafor said Nigeria would soon become one of the leading democracies in the world because its political process had produced leaders such as Jonathan and Jega.
Similarly, Mrs Chiemena Eze told The Tide that Nigeria could become one of the best democracies “ if we can display enough patriotism and conduct free, fair and credible elections like the 2011 elections”.
She commended the president and the INEC chairman, saying that the duo had proved to the international community that “Nigeria still parades honest and sincere leaders”.
Another indigence, Mrs Nnenna Obi, said the Imo governorship election had proved to the entire world that “there is no imposition of candidates in these 2011 general elections in Nigeria”.
The Rivers contest is expected to draw heightened attention in the oil-rich state, as political actors position for influence in a district long regarded as strategic to the balance of power in Rivers State.
INEC disclosed that the by-elections will hold concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, underscoring what promises to be a politically charged day across several parts of the country.
Beyond Rivers, the electoral body listed other affected constituencies to include Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Ondo South Senatorial District, and Enugu North Senatorial District.
The vacancies, according to INEC, arose from a combination of deaths, resignation, and other constitutional developments. In Nasarawa, the demise of Senator Godiya Akwashika has left a gap in a district considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Enugu, the passing of Senator Okey Ezea has set the stage for a competitive race in the South-East.
Similarly, the Ondo South seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who now serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa seat in Kano opened up after the death of Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan.
Analysts say the Rivers South-East by-election, in particular, could reshape political alignments in the state, as parties jostle to fill the void left by Sen. Mpigi and consolidate their foothold ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholder from Bayelsa East Senatorial District, on Monday, endorsed the incumbent Senator representing them to run for a second term.
Leading the stakeholders, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (iii), Dr Iti Orugbani, said the reason for the endorsement was based on the federal lawmaker’s trajectory of good deeds and massive execution of projects across communities of the Senatorial district.
Dr Orugbani highlighted some of the projects to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts and town halls amongst others, noting that Sen. Agadaga’s performance has exceeded those of others who hitherto represented the oil rich area.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor’s aide who called on the State’s Eastern political enclave to respect the 2022 new zoning agreement, which guaranteed second term for Senators from the District, stressed the need for political tolerance and peace in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“In 2022 the leaders and stakeholders across party lines from Bayelsa East held a meeting and altered the old single term for Senators from the district’s agreement and signed that begining from 2023 any Senator emerging from the district must serve for a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, then an incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was given a second term ticket by the party. Though he lost to the PDP.
“Now that the entire state is now APC and the District has an APC Senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA, why not also give him a second tenure?
“The stakeholders in 2022 changed the old political agreement because they saw that it wasn’t beneficial to the district any longer. And so, because it was Ogbia Local Government Area that started the old zoning arrangement by producing the first Senator in 1999, I want to plead that let Ogbia also begin the new two terms zoning agreement”, he said.
Also speaking, the duo of woman leader of a support group, ‘Agadema Women’, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, stated that the incumbent Senator has done well for the district in the past three years that he has been in office.
They lauded the federal lawmaker for his infrastructure projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in select communities of the three local government areas of the district, commending stakeholders for supporting the lawmaker in his second term bid.
In his remarks, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the endorsements he has received lately from constituents and admirers across political parties.
The lawmaker noted that within the past three years that he has been Senator, he has delivered dividends of democracy to his constituents across the Senatorial District, emphasizing that the call for him to be senator from the Brass Senatorial District came to him as a surprise, noting that he accepted the clarion call when the clamour became so loud.
“I was Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, when various groups from the zone came calling on me to contest the 2023 Senatorial polls.
“Ever since winning the elections as a senator, I’ve continued to deliver on my mandate in both representation, lawmaking, oversight, project execution and support for constituents when called upon. And I shall continue to do more if elected for a second term”, the Senator said.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 15 as deadline for definite hearing in a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The judge on Monday shifted the hearing date following the absence of the plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chris Uche, SAN, representing Dr Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Mr Uche said, the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Dr Jonathan.
He argued that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit, adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, had filed the case seeking an order to restrain Dr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as an aspirant for the 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Dr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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