End Of Governance In Abia State

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 by Ubani Ikedichi Emenike
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I feel sad any time I write about Abia State .

In fact one lacks words to describe the riot of emotions that course through my mind. A state that is blessed with natural resources and talents but which has been grounded due to poor leadership. It beats my imagination how each administration since we started this present democratic dispensation in 1999 have turned the state which ironically bears the appellation ‘God’s own state’ (because the name has roots in the Holy Bible) to an object of scorn and ridicule in the comity of states. It is a shame that instead of moving forward, Abia State keeps retrogressing. A lot of writers have commented on the issues I will raise in this piece and on each occasion they have been replied by an ever ready army of minions and sycophants who buy up space in the media to defend the indefensible. (Such people will actually sell their soul to the devil for the right price).One of them told me that I can continue to write but it will not make any meaning. This he attributed to the fact that Abians and Nigerians in general are complacent. Due to the gross poverty and unemployment in the land, people have become helpless and have gradually withdrawn into their shell like snails. This is probably why we have an army of sycophants who can do anything to eat from the crumbs of the feet of the governor. We also erroneously believe that religion will save us from the inept leadership that has been inflicted on us. We expect that by being positive minded and by pretending to see no evil and in return not commenting on the ill doings of our leaders that they will change from their and work for the people. But anybody who still thinks so is surely living in dream land.
The beauty of democracy is that the electorate have the right to keep their elected representatives on their toes at all times in order to enhance better performance .This is how it is done in the western world where there is respect and sanctity for human rights and the electorate at large. This is obviously not so in Nigeria where public officials become inaccessible and become dictators in civilian garb after elections. They become demigods with license to kill, maim, arrest and imprison every dissenting voice. They use every arsenal in their armory to subdue the agitation for the provision of the basic rights for which they were elected to provide. They hate been criticized and will bare their fangs at the unfortunate fellow who does so. Times have changed and political officials are now being held liable for the promises they make on the campaign trail in a desperate bid to win elections at all cost. And with the advent of the internet, citizens now have an opportunity to air their grievances and point out lapses on the part of the political class if there is no access to the traditional media. Besides, in sane societies where there are leaders with the fear of God, citizens could embark on peaceful protest with placards to protest one wrong policy or seek for the provision of an important amenity without harassment from security officials but not in Nigeria.
I have always maintained that a governor who is worth his onions should not be reminded of his duty to the electorate .This is bearing in mind that he, his family, extended family, mistresses, et al, live in opulence at the expense of the tax payers. In any case, the average governor is not better in any way than the ordinary man in the street. It is just that nature and to a large extent luck chose to bestow him the honour of being in that position. It does not in any way make him special. Most of our problems in Nigeria are self inflicted; we give elected officials the impression that they are rare breeds while they in fact ride to power on our crest. We make them seem infallible by praising them to high heavens which is what their bloated egos want. We tell them what they want to hear just to get part of the national cake from them. That is why things will never get better in Nigeria. That is why governance has been reduced to propaganda in Nigeria.
I therefore find it difficult to understand why someone who does not spend a dime of his own money right from the first day in office till the day he vacates office will find it difficult to provide the basic and fundamental infrastructures for the citizens of the state. It is absurd and such a person deserves to be stoned out of power. I also condemn in all totality the culture of praising a governor for any infinitesimal thing he does in a state with our commonwealth, it should be stopped. Why? It makes us look stupid. It is the zenith to which people can degrade themselves. No wonder they see us as tissue that can be used and discarded after elections. Nobody in his right senses should praise someone who is entrusted with public funds to provide basic infrastructure that would make life better for his fellow beings. Besides, that is why the person ran for the office in the first place. In any case such infrastructures are usually provided at inflated, bogus and outrageous prices. At any rate there is no paucity of people who can deliver the so-called dividends of democracy in our society. The recent events all over the Arab world has shown that citizens (no matter how docile) can react and overthrown the dictators in power when they are fed up with them. And with the way things are going on in Abia State a revolution would not be long in coming.
Abians have had it rough in the past twelve years, right from the kleptomaniac Orji Kalu whose ‘itching fingers ’made him turn a whole state into his business conglomerate. A man who is alleged to have acquired about nine hundred shops in one market in Abia State among other malfeasances. At the end of his inglorious reign, he inflicted Governor T.A. Orji who obviously lacked the capacity to govern the state on hapless Abians in order to cover his tracks. It is a known fact that T.A who was his chief of staff was the conduit through which funds were siphoned from the state treasury and this was highlighted when the latter sprang him from EFCC net and swore him into office in his private quarters in 2007.But that is a subject of discussion for another day.
Abia is one of the oil producing states in Nigeria but the two most important towns, Aba and Umuahia are nothing to write home about and the worst hit is Aba , which has a lot of creative people and is supposed to brim with industrial activities but the reverse is the case. The level of poverty is abysmal, public utility services are absent and environment degradation has become prevalent. One sore point is the bad roads in the state. This writer accompanied a journalist who did an analysis on Abia roads about three years ago. We went round Aba and captured all the roads on camera, he did the story and it exposed the governor’s underbelly then. The funny thing is that those roads are now in even worse state of disrepair. The governor keeps giving lame excuses and for the umpteen time, he said that contractors will be mobilized to the bad roads after the rainy season but it turns out to be a serial lie as usual. The people of Aba went through hell during the last rainy period as they have been passing through in the past four years. Aba was so disgusting and people could not move freely after each rain fall. People had to wait for water to recede from the flooded roads riddled with pot holes before going out. There was/and is still no road for car owners to ply on. In the past four years, the governor tried to downplay his inefficiency by giving various excuses why he could not perform. In some instances, he said the security situation in which kidnappers nearly over ran the state prevented him from working. Another excuse was that the deluge of petitions he faced after the 2007 election prevented him from focusing on his cardinal duty to the state. A lot of mundane excuses were bandied about while other focused governors in neighboring states were busy working. The masses bided their time and waited for the 2011 general elections to shove him out. During the buildup to the 2011 general election, it was evident that the governor stood no chance of returning to power but he was helped to the seat by President Jonathan and the PDP who had an unusual interest in Abia State, although it is evident that their interest was rather personal and selfish and not in the interest of the long suffering people who evidently needed a change. This can be deduced from what is happening right now in Bayelsa (the state of the president) where a governor who has been ruling the state under the umbrella of PDP for the past four years was denied a return ticket on the allegation of non performance, and other misdemeanors, but in the case of Abia, the governor was lured from another party into PDP and giving the ticket on a platter of gold. Abians were irked by this development and this manifested when people refused to come out in Aba when the governor came to campaign. In fact they pelted him at the campaign ground with sachets of pure water to show the depth of their grievance with his inept government. But, unfortunately, PDP had their way while the people only had their say. The governor who is very skilled at passing the buck of his failure back to other people during his campaign blamed his predecessor for his inability to perform. He told the public that he was in bondage for four years while the wealth was being shared by the Orji Uzor clan. The level of degradation in Abia State as at that time was painted succinctly by Dimgba Igwe of the Daily Sun newspaper in the February 8th 2011 edition and he said “The governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, earns about the same revenue with say, Abia State, plus or minus. With that he was able to build a state university from the scratch with 22 courses- as at the time I visited about three years ago- accredited. He built roads, built a multi-billion waterworks that turned a landlocked state into a state with pipe borne water flowing everywhere and he built an airport from the scratch, which is now in use………..” .He went further, if you are from Abia and you had to choose a governor to run Abia State in terms of utility value, would you go for the present incumbent or for a Danjuma Goje if he were to run for governorship in Abia State? From his analysis the difference between the two governors was crystal clear. The elections has come and gone but Abia is still in stagnation despite the fact that we have been liberated from Mamacracy (according to the governor and his cohorts). The question now is what excuse will be given to Abians at the end of this tenure? It is now evident that his predecessor was not really the problem for the glut in transformational plans for the state. Some people in the state are of the opinion that the governor should be tolerated and his obvious shortcomings over looked so that he would end his tenure and fade away peacefully. They argue quite convincing that since the man did not perform in his first term which is the criterion for getting a second term and he still got the second term on a platter of gold, he would not work again. This is in fact true because there is nothing going on in Abia State except media propaganda which is being sponsored by the governor and his cohorts to give an impression that a government is in place. But on the other hand it would be a cowardly option to keep silent because the governor is sustained in power by tax payers’ money and he is duty bound to provide the basic infrastructures and services for the people whether he likes it or not. It is a right and not a privilege.
The most absurd thing however is that while the government has not impacted positively on the lives of the citizen .Abia State is always in the news for very bad reasons. There was the Absu 5 gang rape controversy. There was the case of his son Chinedu (a.k.a Ikuku) who is not a government functionary but who goes around town in convoys with sirens and police escorts for effect. His word is law in the state and political appointee live in fear of him. A man who would not buy something in a shopping mall where people are but chase them away before making his purchase. But he met his waterloo when he stepped on a toe that was obviously bigger that him. Do we mention the infrastructural levy fraud being forced on companies and landlords? Do we mention the various indiscriminate levies, keke, taxi and bus drivers pay daily by force to agents of government .Do we mention the incessant increment of school fees in the state owned tertiary institutions? Do we explain how the students of Absu defeated him when he wanted to plant a surrogate as to do his bidding as the students’ union government president in the state owned university? The government generates lots of revenues from different sources daily but one wonders why there is nothing tangible on ground to show for all the generated revenue. One seriously questions the rational for having a government in place when it abdicates its responsibilities. What is the essence of having a government if we cannot have good roads, adequate security, et al? Is junketing all over the world in search of nonexistent investors the essence of having a government? And any serious person would tell you that in this digital age with the advent of the internet, one can just sit in the comfort of one’s office and make any arrangement with any investor in the world with the click of a computer. The world is now a global village. The problems of the average Abia citizen in this administration are legion and cannot even be exhausted. Do we even talk about the misguided demolishing of shops going on without provision of stalls for the displaced traders to use? What about the retrenchment of workers from other states which might have serious repercussions if other states decide to pay the state back in kind?
The governor also appears to have a field day because he has emasculated the opposition. There is no opposition in Abia State for now. The few people who kept him on his toes in the past are now in the same party with him and for certain political reasons cannot speak out against him .These people in high places were willing to stand up to the governor in the past, they were courageous enough to stand for the truth, but that was then. They now grumble in their closet as to how powerful and monstrous the governor has become but can no longer say so openly. Everybody has suddenly gone into a deep slumber now. They are waiting for 2015 to begin to say the truth about the rot in Abia State. By then it will be politically correct to speak out against the governor but for now they have their political future to protect. It is politically expedient for them to be silent now. The question now is who will speak for hapless Abians? Who will deliver them? We demand a change in Abia State. The governor should either seat up and work for Abians or ship out. Governance is not easy, it is not a tea party, I concur, but on the other hand it is no reason for laxity and maladministration. There is a marked difference between working, trying to work and not working at all. We travel to other states and we see what able governments are doing. The problem with our democracy is that everybody wants to be at the helm of affairs for selfish reasons (usually material wants) and not for the populace. And unfortunately very few politicians with vision and the determination to work for the people have access to power. The rains have gone now, the roads should be rehabilitated. To whom much is given, much is also expected from

Sijuade’s NRC: Repositioning Nigeria’s Iron Ribbon

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The railroad engine has a peculiar way of announcing her metallic presence. It is by means of intermitent long notes that habitually pierce the silence of the night, and in the day time, audible enough to stand out of the ever rumbling noise of city life. In Lagos as in Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt and in other railway towns in Nigeria, this used to be a constant feature that reminded the railway community of the arrival and departure of the train. Unfortunately, when bankruptcy, huge deficits and total neglect by the Federal government apparently forced the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC out of mainstream transport business, passenger journeys as well as freight movement dropped. Consequently, the usual rumble of the railway engine with its trademark warning device was reduced to an uneven distant drone; steadily fading out of urban and suburban consciousness.

Of recent, however, residents of Iddo, Ebute-Metta, Yaba, Oshodi and numerous other railway communities along Ilorin-Lagos and Ewekoro-Ilorin routes have testified that the orchestra is playing again. The train and her fabled air horn alongside their ferrous ensemble are becoming louder, much more frequent and steadier than usual.

Prior to the decay in the Nigerian railway industry, which began in the mid 70’s, the NRC was a leader in the Nigerian land-based transport system. The locomotive rolling stock of the NRC was noisy, congested, slow and cheap. It was the way the world moved bulk. It was a vestige of a colonial past, which the new indigeneous order was supposed to build on. The trains worked and were reliable to the extent that passengers could telephone a railway station to find out when the train was due. The railway espoused the development of new towns that ultimately became large industrial and commercial cities. It also helped develop early potentials for tourism.

Following the failure of NRC, traffic moved from the railways to the roads leaving loss of jobs, loss of revenue, infrastructural decay, over-capacity and bankrupcy as its telltales. The road network totalling 194,000km and crisscrossing the country’s hinterland however, proved grossly inadequate as huge volumes of freight and passengers still could not be transported in time. Above all, there have been problems of poor road network, road pavement failure, unstandardised vehicles, lack of professionalism and general ugliness pervading the road transport industry.

While previous administrations had blamed the failure of NRC on underinvestment, and as a response had come up with mearsures that further deepened the situation, the present administration is being more practical and indeed more realistic in its approach to resolving the issue of underinvestment and other underlying problems confronting the NRC. In the short run, we’ve come to see that the reasons why there has been underinvestment in the railways is the failure of Strategic Management, Project Management, and the lack of political will on the part of the political class. There is also corruption which undermines the best efforts of providing for Nigerians an infrastructure on which they can build a robust transport system for the generations to come.

It would be recalled that efforts to revive the ailing rail system dates back to the days of the military when General Sanni Abacha, in 1995, contracted China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC for track rehabilitation and procurement of locomotive and rolling stock for the NRC. By 2006, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also engaged CCECC for the modernisation of the Lagos-Kano rail line in commencement of the first phase of the proposed three phase line upgrade. It is believed that some 125 billion Naira was spent between 1999 and 2008 on railway rehabilitation project.

As part of the on-going efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan to launch Nigeria into the realm of the 20 most developed economies by the year 2020, railway transport has been identified as one of the areas where Nigeria must continue to invest. Accordingly, the Federal government has since 2010 embarked on numerous capital projects aimed at restoring NRC’s lost glory. The projects range from rehabilitation of workshops, training schools, railway stations, wagons and coaches to procurement of workshop equipment, railroad cranes, wagons and coaches, and upgrading of signalling and communication systems. Other projects include procurement of locomotive engines, pressurised tank wagons for movement of Petroleum products and the on-going rehabilitation and provision of special wagons for the movement of agricultural produce to boost rail services in Nigeria.

The expectation of Nigerians is captured in the mission statement of the NRC; “To emerge as the leader in the Nigerian land-based transport system, using well-motivated work force with modern technology to offer high quality and reliable rail transport services with guaranteed customer satisfaction. To be a world-class rail transport organisation, which provides efficient, affordable, reliable, widely connected and customer-oriented services.”  Incidentally, the NRC management team is headed by a Technocrat with experience in the cognate field of Engineering, Business Management and Project Management Consultancy.

British rail was the model on which the Nigerian railway was built. The strategic objective was to create access to the natural resources in the hinterland to the ports.But it is noteworthy here that the British did not restrict the model to the conveyance of raw materials ftom the hinterland to the ocean corridors. The model allowed much room for Nigeria to extend the frontiers of rail transport to make it more flexible and adaptable for both freight and passenger transport. Evidently, though, railway extension programmes were in progress until the oil boom days in the 70’s when the economic game plan changed. Spending on the roads more than trippled against the rail. The road network increased from about 70,000km in the early 60’s to 150,000km in the 80’s. Airports also multiplied from 2 in 1970 to about 16 by the end of 1980. In contrast, the rail network had seen little or no investment. Sadly, though, while advanced nations like Canada, China, USA, Japan, India, UK, France, and Russia invested more on railway, Nigeria resorted to the importation of Tankers, Trailers, Buses and Cars and the expansion of roads without considering the attendant effects of congestion, pollution and high mortality incidents.

It is not a coincidence that Engr. Adeseyi Sijuade had served at various high profile capacities in the British Railway industry before joining NRC. That is just what professionalism calls for. His appointment as Managing Director for NRC was possibly an experiment in President Umar Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda which, though naturally, metamorphosed into President Jonathan’s Transformation agenda. Epectedly, this experiment has been observed to be impacting positively on the fortunes of NRC. Perhaps, by induction, the states are adopting railway project initiatives as a means of alleviating the problems of mass transit and also delivering the dividends of democracy to their people. At present, Guangdong Xinguang International Group is at the verge of completing the 357 billion Naira, Abuja Light Rail Project. This project is aimed at decongesting the Abuja City traffic by providing a rail option for Commuters and Freight. The need for railway transport in the FCT is so urgent as a recent report by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT Zaria reveals. Accorrding to the report, FCT attracts an average of 700,000 cars and 9 million passengers each week. In the same vein, Lagos State government is vigourously pursuing the completion of the first phase of its light rail project while Enugu State has completed plans for her 256 billion Naira light rail project.

Engr Sijuade should look beyond the primary task of reviving the existing railway infrastructure, which unquestionably, is on course. He should consider the light rail dimensionm which the states are providing as complimentary to his overall task of relaunching Nigeria into the sphere of railroad passenger and freight transport. His readiness to effectively coordinate these interests as they emerge would, over time, stimulate much more investments in rail transport. Above all, he should continue to see his appointment as a call to contribute to the transformation of Nigeria by way of putting his experiences to good use as NRC goes through total and aggressive repositioning for improved productivity.

Chigozie Chikere

Member, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, CILT Nigeria

7 Samuel Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II, Abuja.

e-mail: grandefather@yahoo.com

Uduaghan Revokes Asaba Club’s Certificate of Occupancy

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Delta state Government has revoked the certificate of occupancy of Asaba Sport Club and taken over the premises recently vandalized by unscrupulous persons in order to reduce tension and avoid loss of lives and property.

The state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this while inspecting projects in Asaba said the compulsory acquisition of the property was informed by the unprovoked violence and destruction visited on the Sports Club by criminals.

He said the property would henceforth be used for public good explaining that instead of allowing crisis to deny club members their relaxation outfit government take-over of the property would restore sanity.   

Piqued by the level of destruction of properties in the Club, the governor directed the State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe to track down the suspects and bring them to book.

He regretted the level people can go to destroy the dreams and aspirations of others, warning that the law must take its full course on those who carried out the dastardly act.

Governor Uduaghan said those who destroy the property of others should not be allowed to go free and should be punished to serve as deterrent to others.   

“This destruction is unfair, wicked, and intolerable, the Commissioner of Police must track and arrest the perpetuators,” he said.

The governor who inspected schools under renovation in Asaba gave contractors handling such jobs six months dead line to complete them.

He also directed the contractors handing such jobs to execute them professionally and meet all specifications.   

Speaking further, he stated that his administration would create conducive environment for academic excellence in primary and post primary institutions in the state saying “we believe that our children should be taught in a better environment, so we are building modern schools.”

The governor who was also at the Asaba International Airport announced that the airport tank farm, otherwise known as aviation fuel depot has reached 85% completion, adding that when functional the airport will be viable for air cargo flights.

“The airport dream is a collective one, l am quite happy we are moving steadily on the project. The strategy is to make it an international airport because the location is strategic and viable,” he said.

Benue State: Appreciating The Strides Of The State Government

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Benue Water Plant: Unit Ops

The State Government of Benue State appears on path to rebuild the infrastructure of the State in a manner that has not been witnessed in its history.

247ureports.com’s recent visit to Markudi, the state capital showed the government’s effort in revamping the healthcare delivery systems has come to yeild results. The results of the effort is shown below at one of the General Hospitals in Markudi is shown below.

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The Benue State government had also embarked on the construction of a water treatment and supply plant to deliver water to the entire residence of the State. The plant is presently under construction. See below.

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Ojukwu: Orji Uzor Kalu Raps Obasanjo

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As Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s cocky tribute to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu continues to draw the ire of compatriots, former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu believes the retired general was out to offend the sensibilities of the Igbo.

 
Kalu wondered why Obasanjo would continue to wage war on the people through extraneous means even while others acknowledged Ojukwu’s place in Nigerian history.
 
He said,”Gen.Obasanjo’s tribute was full of terminological inexactitudes.Ojukwu could not have thought of tendering apology of any sort.He did not drag the Igbo to war.War was inevitable at the time because the people could not fold their hands as they were slaughtered in some parts of Nigeria.”
 
Kalu also dismissed Obasanjo’s claim that he and Ojukwu were subalterns in the Nigeria Army at the same time.
 
“It is sad that Obasanjo does not recognise Ojukwu as a superior officer.Ojukwu joined the army as a graduate in 1958 and shortly after Independence in 1960,wore the eagle as epaulette-a Major.At the time the Ikemba taught Second Lieutenant Murtala Mohammed Military Tactics at Teshie Ghana,Obasanjo was a Lieutenant.A subaltern is an officer below the rank of Captain.I think Obasanjo should find out from Brig. Christopher Oluwole Rotimi,”he pointed out.
 
The former governor advised Obasanjo to take a cue from such officers as General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade,’Black Scorpion’ Brig.Benjamin Maja Adekunle and Rotimi in discussing Ojukwu and Biafra.
 
“Brig. Adekunle never failed to accord Ojukwu deserved respect.When they met in Kaduna long after the crisis,’Black Scorpion’ addressed him as Sir.Akinrinade, a brave Third Marine commando, also would not fault the Igbo for going to war.Rotimi still tells the world that Ojukwu was his boss.These are equally great Nigerians,who in the first place are Yoruba like Obasanjo,”Kalu added.

Kidnapping: Enugu AG denies plan to stop PDP Candidate’s trial

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Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Anthony
Ani, has dismissed as completely unfounded and untrue, the allegations
by the Chairman of the Nsukka Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association
(NBA), Professor Malachy Ukwueze that he intended to use his office to
interfere in the criminal trial of the chairmanship candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s local government election
for Igbo Eze North council, Mr Bonaventure Onuh.

Professor Ukwueze had been quoted by a national daily as claiming that
Onuh was the Attorney General’s client when he (AG) was in private
practice and the he has now indicated his intention to stop Onuh’s
trial for an alleged attempt to kidnap the Branch Manager of Bank PHB
Mr Kevin Ezeja in 2009.

However in a statement issued yesterday, the Attorney- General
expressed shock and outrage at the allegation declaring that not only
was Mr Onuh never his client when he was in private practice but at no
time did he indicate any intention to stop the trial as alleged by the
Nsukka NBA Chairman.

He said, “Let me state very clearly that Mr Bonaventure Onuh was never
my client while I was in private practice and has no such relationship
with my law firm even now. I am not, and have never been interested in
any particular case as the Attorney General of Enugu State”.

Mr Ani said all he could recall about the case was that there was
petition by counsel to one of the accused persons in the case referred
to in the publication on the basis of which, he directed that the
information already filed be withdrawn and the case referred to the
police for further investigation.

He added that contrary to Professor Ikwueze’s claim, no Lawyer has up
till now, applied for or been granted fiat to prosecute the case
adding that he was surprised to read that one Mr Eli Ugwu has been
given fiat to prosecute the case.

While expressing reservation at the manner the Nsukka NBA Chairman
rushed to the press without checking his facts, the Attorney General
assured the public that the Enugu State Government has zero tolerance
for any form of criminal activities “and will stop at nothing” to
ensure that any person no matter how highly placed, involved in any
criminal activity, will be fully prosecuted through his office.

My Take On The Naija Same Sex Marriage Bill‏

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The recent bill banning same sex marriage/public display of affection by same sex couples and the resultant penalties by the National Assembly in Nigeria has been generating much controversy internationally.Personally, when I saw the headlines last week, I didn’t even bother reading as I thought it was one of those moves by a bunch of overpaid alleged lawmakers to try giving the impression that they are actually working. I never thought it would receive as much press and attention as it has these past few days.
 
Having grown up in Nigeria, I know that from my experience homosexuality is frowned upon by society. It was a very rare exception and even at that, the homosexuals largely kept to themselves, or as they put it, kept it in the closet. I for one never personally knew any, though I heard a few stories of them. I recall swimming at Durbar Hotel as a teenager and one of the guys pointed out a clean cut guy in the pool that if I recall correctly, may have been in his late 30s to early 40s  and told us he was gay and that we should stay away from him. It seemed very queer and quite funny then. I also recall one of my friends that attended a Command Secondary School joking about how they had a guy in their boarding school that got beat cos he was a “faggot on the loose” (I still remember that term). Throughout my days at the University of Port Harcourt, I don’t recall any specific out-rightly gay incident, though there were silent rumors-but nothing immediately stands out in my memory. However, I do remember a guy “Bobby Razzler” – a character that allegedly was cursed with always wanting to bang anything in skirts. He was straight as far as I was concerned but he was also one of the most abused: verbally and physically on campus.
In the larger society, there were rumors of the ruling military Generals being a cabal of homosexuals (maybe bi-bisexuals would be a more appropriate term as some were married with children and were also known to be “womanizers”). There were rumors of big Alhajis in the north that loved young boys.
 
As far as the women, the stories were mostly of how in girls-only boarding schools “Senior” girls conscripted and molested young freshmen students and introduced them to a lesbian lifestyle in their high school dorms. It had a term that I don’t recall, but I remember a Ghanaian friend telling me of similar situations in Ghana they called it “Supee” (or something along those lines). Then there were scorned girlfriends/wives or ex-girlfriends/ex-wives that have developed strong resentment towards Men and decided to live as bi-bisexuals or straight lesbians. In all these, such lifestyles were very discreet and private. Public displays of affection (PDAs) was quite rare even for straight couples talk-less of same sex ones.
 
Now back to the pending bill in Nigeria. While the idea that the spirit behind the bill might be aimed at moral or even spiritual cleansing and preservation of Nigeria’s society, I think it is suspect.
First, those legislators and lawmakers in Abuja that are arguably and probably the highest paid in the world ought to realize that gay marriage is not the biggest problem facing the Nigerian masses. I guarantee you they were not elected (or rigged in) to fight for or against gay rights by their constituents.
Along those lines, if their main concern was championing morality, then one would expect that the emphasis should have first been on corruption. Endemic corruption is, in my opinion, a more pressing and even crucial problem than Gay marriage.
With vast resources an enormous potential, it is unforgivable that the Nigerian people are denied the very basic infrastructures and amenities. Billions of dollars (not Naira) are spent each and every year on these, yet there’s little or nothing to show for it.
The insecurity in Nigeria is at unprecedented levels – terrorism by Boko Haram, kidnapping, brazen armed robbery, assassinations, Niger-Delta militants etc.  
And the clowns in Abuja could only come up with the genius idea of a law against gay marriage!
On the other hand, make no mistake: We are living in a neo-colonialistic world and the Anglo-American empire are running things. Already there has been hints of threats and possible sanctions from the UK, US and even Canada against the Nigerian government should the bill be passed. Should such be the case, guess what: the politicians and elite wont be the ones to suffer – again the poor masses will bear the brunt. An informed and in-depth analysis and you can be sure on whose hands and influence the world is under.
 
It was only here in the US that I have observed homosexuals living relatively “normal” and often aggressive lifestyles and initially it was a very big cultural shock to me. Over the years, I have observed the Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transsexual (LGBT) movement grow, met them as anyone in New York City would and even personally know one or two people of such orientation, having worked with an agency that provides housing for clients largely from that demographic.
You see, it used to be quite funny to me how here in the US it (same sex marriage) is a big deal: its a hot presidential campaign issue and in NY as well as some other states it has even been signed into law. In my opinion its not a major concern of the average American, but since basic amenities, infrastructures and constitutional guarantees to human and civil rights are in place, Americans can have the luxury of sorting out how sexual and lifestyle preferences factor into their society though it would obviously be more ideal if emphasis was placed on more pressing issues like employment and the ailing economy. The so-called homophobia is alive and well in the US and the West as a whole, just kind of suppressed. It is handled tactfully not blatantly.
 
Having said that, with Nigeria being a notorious “follow-follow”, maybe Nigerians should be counting their blessings that the law being proposed wasn’t the other way round. Imagine the impact or backlash it would have already had on an already highly volatile society, talk-less of the far reaching impact on the moral fabric of this same society that has continually had more than its fair share of moral, spiritual and social decadence.
For once, it seems the Muslim North and Christian South have finally found a common ground albeit a rather unexpected/unusual one. On the surface, the law doesn’t penalize one for just being a homosexual. The punishment is for homosexuals that try to get married and that is seen in certain circles as being fair as it has been the norm in many societies for centuries. From my observations based on feedback from forums I have read, the proposed law is popular and well accepted in Nigeria by the overwhelming majority. Yet it does not change the fact that this is not a matter of immediate national priority. This whole episode might perhaps be just a waste of time. Not only for the homosexuals, but also for the strong pro or anti gay elements, the politicians in Abuja, the foreign governments that are meddling in the issue, and even my humble self. After all, I could have used the time I spent thinking, analyzing, composing and writing this piece on something more important and/or productive. Seriously.   
 
My personal, moral and religious beliefs does not support nor encourage such lifestyles, amongst others.  In the same vein, those beliefs and principles that I have and strive to live by do not make me hate. I believe in the Golden Rule of doing unto others as I would love them do unto me and the Divine Wisdom of leaving all judgment unto God. I don’t think I flaunt my heterosexuality and I really detest when some flaunt their alternate sexual preferences or lifestyle in my face or don’t keep to their space in that regard. To each his or her own. But that is MY PERSONAL prerogative. As free moral agents, every human has a right to live their lives the way they chose to and should accept the resultant consequence(s) thereof.  
In conclusion, this is just another sign of the times we are living in. Divine prophecies are clearly being fulfilled right before our very eyes. As you read this, please use discernment.
 
I’ll really appreciate your comments and input to the discourse – maybe something can come up from this….waste of time.
 
-‘Kem.
 
   
P.S: Below are some links regarding the subject matter:
2. Interview of alleged Gay Nigerian: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16006716 

New Controversies Trail Ojukwu’s February 2nd Burial

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The death of the hero of Igbo cosmopolitan society and pilot of the modern Igbo project appears a raining storm that threatens an end laden in intricate controversies. Early indicators gleaned from the immediate family members and associated political personalities following the public announcement of the death of Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Ezeigbo Gburugburu in London exposes an unadulterated glimpse into the complexities hidden neatly beneath the surface away from the public reach.

On the first level, 247ureports.com has gathered through an authoritative source that the burial date for Ezeigbo has yet to be finalized – that the publicly stated date of February 2nd 2012 was not entirely correct. The announced date of February 2nd 2012 was the date that the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan selected out of three dates given to him by the burial planning committee – as the most suitable for him to attend. It was further gathered that Ezeigbo may be buried before or after the 2nd of February 2012. The burial arraignments are still on the planning stages.        

The announcement of the burial date by the chairman of the south east governor’s forum and governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi may have been premature. This is according to the titled personalities in Nnewi. 247ureports.com learnt that the appropriate personalities in Nnewi whom the corpse of Ojukwu belongs to have yet to be informed officially according to the customs of Nnewi of the death of Ezeigbo. Ezeigbo was a titled man.

In talking with the image maker of the Anambra State government, Hon. Maja Umeh, he clarified that the Governor had made wide consultations with many concerned groups before he make the public announcement. The Information Commissioner [Hon. Maja Umeh] continued to add that the burial of Ezeigbo is one that is large and mistakes of oversights are bound to happen. He extended the governor’s apologies to any group that may have been passed over during the consultations.

Nonetheless, the nuclei family of Ezeigbo, his children and siblings, has opted to take control of the burial arraignments away from the politicians. The family has set up an alternate burial arraignment committee headed by Ezeigbo’s elder brother, Dr. Joe Ojukwu. The family committee which is still to seat will be the body to set the program for the burial activities and the respective dates. It is anticipated that the family committee will seat over the Christmas period as all the family members return home for Christmas festivities.

Meanwhile there appears a possible nuisance and an imposter to the burial preparations – claiming the rights to the corpse of Ezeigbo.  One Sylvester Ojukwu who claims to be the rightful first son of Ezeigbo has threatened lawsuit [court injunction] to halt the burial of Ezeigbo. Sylvester had filed a suit against the family in July of 2011 when it was rumored that Ezeigbo had passed. The lawsuit sought control of some of the belongings of Ezeigbo. But cursory investigation by 247ureports.com indicates Sylvester maybe onto mischief. It was gathered that Ezeigbo while alive made it clear that he was not the biological father to Sylvester – to the extent that Ezeigbo said it to Sylvester in public. Adding muster, during the burial of one of Ezeigbo’s wives, Sylvester arrived and proceeded to seat with the family of mourners [as a member of the family] but he was rebuffed by the entire family and told to go sit with the guests. And he did.  But Sylvester has continued his effort to import his person into the Ezeigbo family and it remains a perplexing ordeal. 

It was gathered that with the announcement of Ezeigbo’s death that Sylvester jetted off to London in attempts to secure Ezeigbo’s corpse only to discover that Ezeigbo [Jnr] and Gov Peter Obi had already secured his father’s corpse at a safe location unbeknownst to Sylvester.

On the political front, not all is well.  The south east governor’s forum that is chaired by the governor of Anambra state that commandeered the control over all burial arrangements may have discovered it started off on a greasy foot –and may have found difficulty finding a credible standing. Following their first meeting held over the burial of Ezeigbo in Enugu, the south east governors elected to form a burial planning committee of which the chairman will be drawn from Imo State, a deputy chairman from Enugu State and a secretary from Anambra State. And the respective state governors will do the selecting.

But the selected choices by the governors have raised bitter concerns with groups involved in the burial arrangements.

The governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime selected Jim Nwobodo, the former governor of the old Anambra State as the nominee for the deputy chairman while the governor of Imo State selected Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu as the nominee for the chairman. Gov Peter Obi selected Senator Ben Obi as the nominee for the secretary. 

Insiders involved in the burial arraignment express displeasure particularly over the selections presented by the Enugu State governor and the Imo State governor. They pointed to Chief Iwuanyawu’s historic antecedents as being heavily anti-Igbo oriented. A source amongst the south east governors whispered to 247ureports.com that Chief Iwuanyawu was responsible for a significant number of uncompleted federal projects in the south east – and is not worthy to chair the burial of Ezeigbo. This same sentiment is espoused over the selection of Jim Nwobodo because of his reported public lampooning of Ezeigbo on his return from exile. The then governor of the old Anambra [Jim Nwobodo] was said to have made it impossible for Ezeigbo’s senatorial bid to succeed.

The Ezeigbo family is expected to make public their own burial arrangements soon.

Giddys’ place demolition: Is it political victimization, what are the sins of Nwaomu?

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Tuesday, November, 15, 2011 at about 7:00am, Delta state government under the leadership of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan gave an order to demolish a popular drinking spot, GIDDY’S PLACE in the heart of Asaba, owned by the former state chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Mr. Gideon Nwaomu. Our Correspondent, takes a look at the motives behind the demolition.

For the owner of Giddy’s place, Mr. Gideon Nwaomu, Tuesday, November, 15, 2011 will forever remain a black Tuesday not to be forgotten like every other day as his only means of livelihood known as GIDDY’S PLACE, established some decades ago was brought down under his nose by the state Task Force on Flood Control and Removal of Illegal Structures following an instruction said to have been given by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

On that fateful day as early as 7:00am, the task force led by its chairman and commissioner of Environment, Mr. Frank Omare in company of his Land and Survey counterpart, Mr. Patrick Ferife, commissioner for Bureau for special duties, Mr. Tony Nwaka and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah had barricade the Giddys road and drafted two bulldozers to the premises and to the shocker of sympathizers, passersby and friends of GIDDYS PLACE who besieged the environment, the structures were brought down amidst stern-looking soldiers and men of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

As the property worth millions of naira along Anwai road were been brought down, in spite of the global recognition as a climate change agent by the state, trees were felled as the exercise turned  a feast of crying, wailing and raining of curses on the Delta state government by sympathizers. In what looks like victimization, Journalists including our Correspondent were banned from covering the demolition. The owner of Giddys Place was not speared as he was severely manhandled by the security as well as confiscating his digital camera even as his valuables thrown out under the instructions of the Environment commissioner, Omare.

In tears, Nwaomu who witnessed his business of over twelve years brought down like pack of cards, told reporters that the drinking and relaxation spot used to be the home for members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori and the incumbent governor, Uduaghan who used to patronize the place until recently the proprietor pitched his tent with the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) candidate, Chief Great Ogboru.

While Nwaomu told journalists he had the necessary documents as the legal occupant of the land, Commissioner for Environment, who led the demolition squad through one of his aides, said the exercise was not a press issue, fuelling speculations that the action was meant to politically victimize Mr. Nwaomu. Unconfirmed reports have said, that Uduaghan personally told his commissioners to ensure that the Giddy’s place was brought down or face sack.

Nwaomu, a well known businessman and show business promoter was before now a political associate of Governor Uduaghan before pitching his tent with Ogboru, arch rival of Uduaghan in controlling political soul of Delta state. Nwaomu is known to be a very reputable, hard working and upright businessman in the state who made a lot of friends in the business circle hospitality.

Continuing with his ordeal, Nwaomu stated that “It’s a long story, it started sometime in 2010 before the annulment of the 2007 governorship election. When we saw that things were not going well in our state, we started a group called Action for Democratic Change. We started campaigning about seeing infrastructures on ground and not on television screen, pages of newspapers and billboards. We started reaching out to people to tell them about their rights in politics. In between this time, I got involved in a pragramme in Minaj Broadcast International (MBI) called Political Diary and I was able to air my view which attracted more people into our group because of our objectives. After the election was annulled I was invited back to MBI and I told the world that our election was inconclusive because people were still on queue to vote when results were announced. At the end of the day, Chief Ogboru came to see the traditional rulers in Asaba at the Asagba palace and got to know about our campaign for good governance. He came here and the moment he got here, Dr. Uduaghan called to say that I was hosting Ogboru at GIDDY’S. I told him that the place was a public place and that anybody could come and unwind. I told him that Ogboru came to see my group which I tried to introduce to him but he did not take us seriously. That is how I incurred his wrath and since then he has been after me. GIDDY’S has been asked to pay a tax of N7.2 million and I asked who audited my account.”

According to Nwaomu “They came here and demanded for my Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, named Mr. Felix Izeh, number DTSR 1034, Ref No LA/ A /1738/11, dated October 7, 1997, signed by P. E. Ebitomno (Mrs.) originated from the Military Administrator’s Office, Director of Lands and Survey. Similarly, the Deed of Re-assignment between Izeh (assigner) and Mr. Gideon Nwaomu (assignee), prepared by D. O. Nwanokwai, a legal practitioner, is here with me and after perusing it, they said I was using the place meant for residential as commercial. I responded immediately by getting an architect to draw what is here and I went o apply for change of use which has not been granted. I notice that they were bent on pulling down this place, so I called my lawyer and we went to court. We were in court on September 18 and the government was represented. In fact they asked for adjournment and the case was adjourned to November 18. But yesterday, the commissioners for Lands, Environment, Special Duties and Information came to tell me to remove my valuables that they had directive to bring the place down. They would have done it by 4am but they could not get bulldozers. This morning they came and started the demolition. I tried to take photographs but they ordered the police to beat me up and seize my camera. I want to say that the government in the last six years have been putting GIDDY’S PLACE on the internet as a tourism resort. I want to state here that this government that is telling us about green revolution, climate change, look how many trees they have brought down. A governor that is campaigning about climate change is putting generator everywhere, this is the only project that is going on in the state. I will go back to court to seek redress. This is political victimization.”

On his part Nwaomu’s counsel, Mr. Cyprian Ashibogwu, described the action of government as “arbitrariness of the highest order” stressing that the government has flouted due process as the matter was pending before a competent court of law.

In separate reactions, the state Government through the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah informed journalists that the exercise was done in accordance with the law. They defended their action, stressing that the demolished building was not meant for business but residential saying that, they have issued many letters and notice to the owner of Giddy’s place but he refused to comply, which necessitated the demolishing exercise.

According to Ogeah “And apparently, security reports that have been reaching the government suggest that that place is a meeting place for criminals and all sorts of nefarious activities take place there. That is number one. I think when that place was approved for any kind of building, it was supposed to be for some form of residential and now it has been converted to commercial use. Secondly which is also very important is that you notice that because of this big television screen we put out, you see our people sit in the middle of the roundabout watching television and that is very dangerous to them, we have situations of lots of accidents, people have been killed there. That is why government also looked at that space there and realizes that we could convert it into a park. The big deep gulley that was there, a lot of money was pumped into san filling it to reclaim the gulley. The idea is to make into a park and that television screen would be turned around and people can sit down and view it. And like we said when we go ahead to get the kind of interactive software we need to get in there, then we can do that and government can use that to reach the people. And off course, this falls under the clause of what government calls overriding public interest. So by the time you look at all these issues you will understand why it has to be done.”

Also reacting, the commissioner of power and energy, Mr. Charles Emetulu stated that “In this country, people easily cross the line of privilege and convert it to right, it is not proper. When el-Rufai came and started demolishing structures in Abuja, people said it’s not proper but when got there after about 12 months, they exclaimed that the place was now looking good. It was for residential building and he has been told severally, ultimatum was issued and it has since elapsed. Let us not be emotional about this, if it is right, it is right, if it is not right, it is not. This is not political as people would think. It has nothing to do with politics or where Ogboru drinks when he comes to Asaba. GIDDY’S had enough time to relocate but he chose not to.” 

Reacting to the demolition, state chairman of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Tony Ezeagwu  condemned in strong term the government action adding that “The Delta state government action after the perceived “Victory” at the election tribunal has suddenly become an albatross to the good people of Delta state and political opponents, an action capable of polarizing the state further. Let the government tell the World why it demolished Giddy’s Place, a highly referenced natural relaxation centre and a beacon of tourism in Asaba Delta state, well located within the parameters of the laws of the state, known to have hosted high profile events such as the famous Star trek of Nigerian Breweries Plc among others. We join all progressives the World over in condemning the reprehensible destruction of Giddy’s place which has served even the perpetrators directly or indirectly in the past since commencement of business in 1996. Why would any right thinking government destroy a tourism spot listed as one of the tourism attractions of the state or a case of political vendetta against DDP and Mr. Gideon Nwaomu, DPP stalwart and CEO of Giddy’s place who has been vocal in the demand for accountability and good governance in Delta state. The world would want to know.”

Lamenting what she called mere political victimization and wickedness, one Rosemary Mordi, Coordinator, Friends of Giddy’s, who said that the relaxation place has brought peaceful co-existence, promotes interaction and community development, insisted that “The area provides a great opportunity of convergence to get information and discuss business in the state as well as providing employment to the unemployed youths in Asaba and its environs.”
A former Commissioner for Economic Planning under Ibori, Clement Ofuani, had described Giddy’s place as a place where people come back to their root, ambiance, design, freedom and preserves reservation and natural environment no matter how flamboyant the person is, the diversity is essential.

Some Government officials who pleaded anonymity told this reporter that “It’s a big pity that Uduaghan is doing this because of political differences. This GIDDYS PLACE was the place in 2007 where a political forum for Uduaghan’s governorship ambition called ‘UGSM’ was given birth to. So since all this time the giddys place was not illegal. It is a known fact that the Udughan doesn’t forgive easily. If you doubt me just go and do your own investigations and you will be shocked what you will find out I bet you.”  While cross section of Deltans spoken to condemn the Uduaghan’s action even as they rained curses on government.

A member of the PDP who pleaded not to have his name on print reacted this way “Uduaghan has no respect for rule of law; He is good at flouting court orders. The governor had some time early this year flouted a judgment delivered by Justice G.B. Briki-Okolosi of the state high court in a case between the state PDP chairman, Peter Nwoboshi, Innocent Ezewezie and Peoples Democracy Party (Claimants) & Christopher Okafor, Accord Party, Oshimili North Local Government Council and Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (Defendants). The case which has suit No. A/9/2011 and judgment was delivered in favour of Uduaghan’s party (PDP) but he flouted the judgment to favour the Accord Party against his party. Delta state government strives in what we called Executive lawlessness.” the source noted.

Some businessmen and politicians in Delta accused the governor of not respecting the sanctity of business community as his action of political persecution may drive away investors from Delta, because nobody can invest his hard earned money where there are no security and respect for the rule of law. According to all available information, the people in Delta state put the demolishing exercise carried by the state government as political victimization and persecution of known opponents of Governor Uduaghan as Nwaomu is believed to be one of the deciding factors of political popularity of Ogboru in the area.

While some pundits are accusing the Police and Government of connivance to persecute political opponents, it is in the mind of other oppositions that they are tired with the present situation in the state where the opposition are persecuted.

It was further revealed that several Ogboru’s supporters and political associates have suffered similar fate across the state in recent times where their property have suffered one demolition or the demolition.

Hundreds of sympathizers are visiting Nwaomu for sympathy; among them include some Uduaghan’s government officials that are not happy with the exercise and some supporters, politicians, traditional title holders, business associates and some organizations.

It would be recalled that a similar political victimization incident almost took place sometime in June, 2011 as the state government marked for demolition the multi-Million naira TIVO-Super market belonging to strong supporter of Ogboru and former Commissioner for Finance in Delta State, Love Ojakovo, under James Onanefe Ibori. But the early intervention of a Warri based lawyer and frontline activist, Mr. Omemiroro Ogedegbe who vowed to use all his legal contacts to stop this open political radicalism being shown against a fellow Deltan for no just cause prevented the exercise.

In what looks like relief, Just on Tuesday, November, 22, 2011 the legal battle between the Delta state government and Mr. Gideon Nwaomu, proprietor Giddy’s Place got an injunction order from the state High Court, IV, the order issued by Justice G.B. Briki-Okolosi restrained the government and commissioner of police from carrying out any further action on the said land pending the determination of the suit filed by Nwaomu.

Nwaomu, through his counsels, Mr. Luke. O. Aghanenu, Mr. E.A. Ogana, Mr. C.M. Ashibuogwu had in a suit NO A/204/2011 dragged the state government, Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Commissioner of Police and Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice (Defendants/Respondents) to court, praying it for an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their privies, agents, servants, workers, and whoever deriving powers from them from carrying out any act that will be detrimental to the property where the claimant/applicant resides and carries on business known as GIDDY’S PLACE pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.

Addressing Journalists shortly after the ruling, counsels to the clamant, Mr. Luke. O. Aghanenu and Mr. E.A. Ogana described the ruling as inspiring, courageous and interest of justice adding that the action of the state government when the matter was already pending in court was Executive recklessness of the highest order.

As His Lordship, Justice Okolosi adjourned the celebrated matter to January, 12, 2012, Deltans and indeed the whole world are watching with keen interest and praying for justice to take its course since the court remain the last hope of the oppressed.

Sokoto Guber: More Troubles For Gov Wamakko As Jonathan Wades In

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With the recent injection of the sacked Federal Sports Minister into the ongoing tussle for the gubernatorial ticket for the Sokoto Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] against the upcoming gubernatorial election, the already complex electoral tussle found a new level of complexity. This is as 247ureports.com has gathered that the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has turned his attention to the Sokoto State gubernatorial tussle with the intention of denying the incumbent governor chance at winning the PDP gubernatorial ticket.

As gathered, President Jonathan had been less than happy with the activities of the Sokoto State governor stemming from his anti-party practices that saw to halt the emergence of the then Acting President Jonathan into a presidential candidate under the PDP banner. Particularly, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was reported to have openly supported President Jonathan’s political opponent [Abubakar Atiku] during the presidential PDP primaries. The governor was also reported to have actively worked against the PDP during the general presidential elections. Through the Governor’s help, the Congress for Peoples Change [CPC] won the State. Sources indicate that the Governor provided significant financial assistance to the CPC in the State.

 One of President Jonathan’s close associates who briefed 247ureports.com concerning the President’s mindset on the Sokoto tussle indicated that the Sokoto State governor has shown that he is not a PDP member – and so should not be allowed to be given another chance to misuse the party platform. The Presidential aide noted also that the Presidency has received reports from major PDP stalwarts of the governor’s activities in Zamfara and Kebbi States.

In Kebbi State, the governor was reported to have worked actively against the PDP in favour of the CPC. The Governor was alleged to have contributed financially to the CPC. In Zamfara State, the governor was also alleged to have contributed majorly to the surprising PDP loss to the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] during the April 2011 gubernatorial election. And the Governor’s disposition is alleged to be of CPC rather than PDP.

But the Governor’s aides in talking to 247ureports.com denied that the Governor had involved himself in anti-party activities nor had the President turned away from supporting him for the PDP primaries. The aide indicated that the President had assured the governor of his support over the telephone last week.

Informed social commentators in Abuja who are close to the activities in Sokoto discount the governor’s claim as untrue – stating that the Presidency has concluded its plans on the Sokoto situation. They indicate that the national PDP leadership has reached a decision to punish the Sokoto governor for his anti-party activities. “They want to set example of him“, said one of the commentators.

It is feared and/or expected for the presidency to repeat the Bayelsa-type PDP primaries – that may linger to become a process to be decided in the law courts. Stay tuned.

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