News

Obi Aguocha: Deputy Speaker, Kalu did no wrong asking Gov. Otti to rejoin APC

Published

1 month ago

August 19, 2024

By Stanley Ohajuruka

Envy is not a virtue. This is perhaps, an admonition most appropriate for the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Obi Aguocha in response to his diatribe and vituperations I read earlier today against the deputy speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu who equally represents Bende Federal Constituency of the State.

Obviously, Aguocha was pretending to respond to a recent interview where the deputy speaker called the State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election, vowing that the party must win Abia in the next election.

While I have no issues with the federal lawmaker from LP disagreeing with Kalu on the submission, I am however worried by the total drift from the issue at stake to an unbridled display of envy and hate.

Reading between the lines, I could see a man who has been harbouring so much animosity against the person and the office of the deputy speaker. I could also see a man who was only waiting for an opportunity to pull the trigger and incidentally, one happened through the interview and he chose to lay bare his tongue to make lethal utterances.

To say the least, this is very unfortunate and mischievous too. My reading of the situation is that Hon. Obi Aguocha has shown he’s tired of pretending to be Kalu’s friend and ally and decided to show it in most brazenly manner. May I, again, remind, Aguocha that pretence is also not a virtue.

Come to think of it. In the real political sense, what is the offence of the deputy speaker? That he asked the governor of his state to return to his former political party? Come off it. Is that what anyone would do for his party?

May be, Obi Aguocha, a neophyte in political discourse needs some political education to know that Kalu by virtue of his position and the office is a national leader of our party and as such would at any time show predilection for the recruitment of new members into his party.

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is largely concerned about the development of the country. Abia State is a sub national government and Kalu, like any other leader from the area is also interested in the progress of the State. And so, the call to Governor Otti to join APC is purely in the economic interest of the State.

The implication of this is that, both leaders will join hands to work for the good and rapid development of the state.

From every conceivable stance, it is obvious that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown serious goodwill in Igbo Land with the recent signing into law of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill. And to an appreciable degree, Kalu who sponsored the bill has consciously demonstrated conspicuous affinity with the presidency in a way that will benefit Abia State and the entire south eastern political ecosystem and landscape.

If this can be happen when most of states in the region are in the opposition, it simply means that they can get more from people-oriented, interventionist projects of the federal government should they belong to the same political party. And this is largely what informed the call to the governor to join the progressive party.

So, Kalu’s comment tilts more towards economic growth of Abia State and by extension, the south east than the deduceable connotations for political manovering ahead of 2027 general elections.

Again, let it also be stated that Kalu wants the best for his state in terms of economic growth and development and nothing more. And because, Nigeria operates a political party system, it can only be natural for any leader of his position to call on his friends, one of whom is Dr. Alext Otti, the Governor of Abia who he said is doing well to join the APC.

Ohajuruka, a former Acting Governor of Abia State, former speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, former member, House of Representatives and APC Chieftain writes from Umuahia.

News

Shettima becomes 1st VP to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UN Assembly in 25 yrs

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.

The president has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.

President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.

“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”

“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement added.

Since return to democratic governance in 199, Shettima will be the first Vice President to Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.

Only Goodluck Jonathan represented Nigeria as Acting president in September 2010 at the 65th UNGA, while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was away in Saudi Arabia due to his ill health.

News

Plateau Assembly approves N5.8bn for LG election

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Plateau State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved N5.8bn for the conduct of the local government election in the state slated for October 9, 2024.

The approval by the House followed a communication from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which was read at plenary by the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.

The Speaker stated that the request was necessary as there was no budgetary allocation for the LG elections in the 2024 budget.

A member of the State Assembly, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the Assembly, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday.

The lawmaker said, “Governor Mutfwang, at Tuesday’s plenary, sought the House’s approval for N5.7bn as the 2024 supplementary, which was increased after upward review by the legislators.”

He continued, “The House leader, Joseph Bukar, presented the bill during our plenary. While soliciting the support of members for speedy passage, he said PLASIEC was running out of time in preparation for the election.”

“In their individual contributions, Hon. Kalamu Dal suggested a downward review of the budget size, while Hon. Daniel Nanbol urged for a critical review and deliberations. Afterwards, members approved a revised sum of N5.8bn, as opposed to the N5.7bn requested.”

The increase, as explained by Bukar, was due to an increase in security allocation for the election, from N2.7m to N4.2m. “So, that is what happened, and that is where we are at the moment regarding the forthcoming LG election,” the lawmaker concluded.

News

Enugu, Kwara tighten security ahead of LG polls

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Security measures have been intensified in Enugu and Kwara states ahead of their Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

In Enugu State, the Police Command has pledged to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the elections.

However, the peace accord signing for the elections was marred by the absence of major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and Labour Party.

Only representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Accord attended but chose not to sign the accord, citing the lack of participation from the leading parties.

Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said all wards and flashpoints had been identified, and security personnel would be on high alert to prevent any disruptions.

The Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu, said the commission was fully prepared for the elections with the support of the state government in procuring necessary materials.

In Kwara State, security agencies have been actively coordinating to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Over 3,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed across the state.

The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has completed arrangements for a trouble-free election.

Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reported that a strategic meeting with heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and others, had been held to ensure coordinated efforts for maintaining law and order.

The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, guaranteed maximum security for the election period.

The NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, announced the deployment of 3,000 personnel to various polling units and emphasised their role in preventing violence, ballot snatching, and other disruptions.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Telumun Tombowua, announced on Thursday that eight political parties will participate in the upcoming LG elections in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Tombowua said the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.

He emphasised that the law establishing the BSIEC does not permit the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines for this election.

Regarding the APC, Tombowua confirmed that the National Working Committee of the party had requested the commission to work with the seven-man caretaker committee appointed to oversee party affairs in the state.

He noted that while 14 parties had initially shown interest, only eight completed the necessary processes and submitted their candidates.