Omo-Agege/Osanebi APC convoy passing through Jeddo
Massive turn out for the campaign train of the Delta Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and his Deputy Rt. Friday Ossai Osanebi as APC campaigns in Jeddo Ughoton and Ugbokodo communities in Okpe LGA, Delta State.
The APC Governorship campaign team of the Deputy Senate President, DSP Omo-Agege were received Friday January 13 at the ward to ward campaign with excitement at Jeddo where Sen. Omo-Agege came out of his car and received direct salute and handshake from the people in the area , which according to them such never happened in the area since the country transit back to democracy in 1999 till date.
Delta APC Guber candidate DSP Omo-Agege during the campaign said Deltans will punish Okowa and his party PDP at the polls with their votes for his poor performance as a governor of the oil-rich state.
Some APC enthusiast were seen sweeping what they term as ‘bad governance away’ at Jeddo market axis , describing the APC and Omo-Agege as the EDGE and real rescue of Delta state and Nigeria at the Presidential level in the forthcoming February 25 and March 11, 2023 elections.
The mammoth crowd at Ughoton the headquarters of the ward where the campaign rally were held, supporters expressed delight on the kind of support they are having from the grassroot in Okpe LGA.
Jeddo Ughoton and Ugbokodo residents however assured the APC and DSP Omo-Agege of their votes at the poll.
Delta State Chapter Of Host Communities Producing Oil And Gas Of Nigeria, HOSCON Youth Leader Laud Tompolo Foundation, Her Executive Secretary For Providing Succour To Flood Ravaged Victims, Poor House Hold In Delta And Bayelsa State
Mayor Timinepere Ogobiri who led some civil rights advocacy groups, some members of NUJ warri and environs such as Niger Delta Democratic Rights Organization on a discreet investigation which was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency of the foundation recently and in our findings was revealed by beneficiaries of the Tompolo foundation said the foundation has done marvellously well in ameliorating their huge suffering inflicted by the harsh economy and the flood epidemic in 2022.
The team of discreet investigators who went into the cities of Warri , Udu and Effurun, especially in Ekpan, Jakpa road residents attested to the fact that the Tompolo foundation showed up when they were in dare need of social support.
However, in the months of September, October, November and December 2022, the truck loaded , marine boats of consumable food items such as bags of rice, litres of groundnut, palm oil, Indomie cartoons, tea beverages, hundreds of tubers of yams, medical items, school bags, books worth hundreds of millions in naira were sighted heading to Ogulagha, Gbaramatu Patani, Kaima, Burutu, Bomadi, Ogbe-Ijoh, Udu, Effurun and other adjoining Communities in Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West LGA’s as well as its environs.
Lot of beneficiaries from poor house hold expressed joy as they could not halt their gratitude to God Almighty and to high Chief Government Oweizide Ekpomupolo alias Tompolo and the executive Secretary Prince, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo and other directors of Tompolo (TF) charity foundation in reaching out to poor house hold in this trying times they are in dare need of support.
It was also discovered that the process of being a beneficiaries is devoid of ethnicity, religion, social status, just randomly picked and by recommendations of residents who aide to identified those in dare needs of succour in the society.
Findings also unravel that those distress road side destitute beggars were not left out with a carton of Indomie noddles, a litre of groundnut oil each at different locations in Warri, Effurun, Udu LGA’s respectively.
Some orphanage, hold people’s homes were also not left out as they were also impacted positively with succour from Tompolo Foundation.
It’s a known fact on reality of Tompolo charity foundation has in the past provided support to the Downtrodden among average house holds and still reaching out without strings attached.
Meanwhile prayers were offered by hundreds of beneficiaries to Tompolo foundation for their magnanimity toward the Downtrodden in their various communities.
Another beneficiaries who could not isolate her joy, Mrs Onome Otobor a (widow) eulogies the kind gesture of Tompolo giving back to society, said lot of people are richer, privileged like Tompolo yet did not deem it fit that they are grateful to Tompolo foundation and that where ever this funds is coming from will never stop flowing as they continually offered prayers.
Tompolo Foundation was officially launched at Hotel Excel in warri area in 2012 with attendance of erstwhile Vice President to Goodluck Jonathan, GEJ, Alhaji Sambo and many others hundreds of dignitaries in attendance including the former Governor of Delta State Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan captains of private industries and others.
Office frontiers of these foundation are as follows:
Executive Secretary, Executive Directors of Health, Education Projects etc
A group led by Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, Comrade Amaechi Ogbonna, Tsola Emiko Amoye and Isaac Dorsu acting on behalf of the Indigenes and members of Oil and Gas producing communities of Itsekiri ethnic extraction in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, Delta State, have dragged the new NDDC Board to court , praying the Court to restrain the new Board from accessing funds and implementing budget pending the determination of the suit filled.
The group noted that their ethnic group (Itsekiri) are of the major oil and gas producing communities in Nigeria, hence they approached the Federal High Court Warri to restrain the newly constituted NDDC Board from accessing funds of the Commission pending determination of the issues surrounding the constitution of the board which the group alleges does violence to the Constitution as well as the NDDC Act.
The case filled with the suit No: FHC/WR/CS/131/2022 brought by PRINCE EMMANUEL OKOTIE-EBOH AND 4ORS VS THE PRESIDENT F.R.N AND 7 ORS, the Group contends that the screening, clearing, inauguration and constitution of the Board constitutes a threat to the unity and oneness of Nigeria.
Counsel to the Group Jolone Ikomi, Esq., Chief Robinson Ariyo, Esq and Brenda Modupe Alabi (Nee Saliu) argued that the combined reading of the provisions of sections 2, 5 (2) of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (establishment, etc.) Act Cap N86 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria; section 14 (1), (2) & (3); paragraphs 7 & 8 (1) (a), (b) & (2) of the third schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) can only lead to one conclusion; the constitution of the NDDC Board was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and should be set aside.
The group by its Originating Summons dated and filed on the 29th day of December, 2022 submitted the following questions to the court for determination:
“1. Whether Madam Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie, the 8th Defendant qualifies as an indigene of an oil producing area.
“2. Whether quantum of oil production/contribution is not a mandatory qualification for determining priority of appointment into the NDDC Board.
“3. Whether it is not mandatory that a person to be nominated to fill the slot of Delta State as either the Chairman or Managing Director or the Delta State Representative on the Governing Board of the Niger-Delta Development Commission must be an indigene of an oil producing community in the circumstances.
“4. Whether it is not illegal, unlawful and repugnant to equity and good conscience for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to nominate Madam Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie, the 8th Defendant and for the National Assembly to screen her notwithstanding her obvious non-qualification.
“5. Whether it is not illegal, unlawful and repugnant to equity and good conscience for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to exclude Delta State of Nigeria, a prime oil producing state from its due of the slots of a State Representative and Managing Director of the Commission in the circumstances”.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Abang ordered that in view of the sensitive nature of the subject matter of the suit, that the Defendants should be served the processes and be given the opportunity of being heard. He noted that the suit is too sensitive for an Order of Interim injunction.
The Learned Judge, Justice Abang however ordered that the Defendants be served immediately and adjourned the matter to January 19, 2023 for the Motion on Notice.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah has declared that governance in Nigeria is a criminalised enterprise due to the way and structure it is being operated .
Bishop Kukah made this disclose known Wednesday January 11, 2023 during a live interview on ChannelsTv, he took a swipe on some politicians in the country describing them as major problem to Nigeria.
Bishop Kukah is also the Coordinator National Peace Committee, he noted that the political reward system in Nigeria causes and encourages violence thereby making violence inevitable in most parts of Africa.
The revered clergy who spoke on the nations politics and the voters in 2023 election, advised youths to take advantage of their number and work together to vote the right persons in 2023 at Presidential, Governorship, Senate, House of Reps, Houses of Assembly and other subsequent polls.
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, today, Monday January 9, dismissed a certificate forgery suit filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP House of Reps Candidate for Warri Federal Constituency in the forthcoming February 25 polls, Mr. Kelly Emiojerenre Esuku, against the Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief (Dr.) Thomas Ereyitomi.
Our Correspondent reports that the Court, described the suit as nullity, saying the time to adjudicate had expired.
While delivering the judgement in a suit No. FHC/WR/CS/90/2022, Mr. Kelly Esuku & Anor Vs. Hon Thomas Ereyitomi & 2 ors, the Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Abang, slammed the plaintiffs, with a five hundred thousand naira cost, saying the judgement should serve as deterrent to “mentally unstable people, who want to use cases for purposes not serious enough”.
Chief (Barr) Robinson Ariyo, was lead Counsel to Chief (Dr.) Ereyitomi on the matter.
The Member Representing Warri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Hon. Chief Dr. Thomas Ereyitomi, JP has urged residents of Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West LGAs who registered in the last concluded Continuous voters exercise to go collect their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs in their various wards and point of registration.
Chief Ereyitomi made the appeal to his Warri Federal constituents recently as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC began distribution of PVCs from ward level January 6-15, 2023 across the three Warri LGAs and all parts of the state and country respectively.
He described the PVC distribution as a clear way to build confidence and add more people to exercise their franchise by voting PDP candidates as Warri LGAs and Delta are for PDP all the time, noting that PDP has all it takes to rescue Nigeria at the federal level and add more sustenance to the development strides recorded under the Okowa administration in the state growth.
Rep Ereyitomi who is also seeking return to the House of Representatives solicited for votes for all PDP candidates from presidential, Atiku-Okowa, Governorship – Sheriff Oborevwori/Onyeme, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in the 2023 polls.
Dr. Ereyitomi stressed the need for INEC to make the PVC collection to be done in an easy and stress free process in order to encourage eligible voters not to be disenfranchised by not accessing their PVCs on time.
Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Charles Aniagwu on Friday said ultimate power to elect leaders lies with the people and not the decision of any leader.
Aniagwu who was reacting to the chants of “Atiku, Atiku, Atiku” at Ibadan during the flag-off campaign for the re-election of Governor Oluseyi Makinde said at a news conference in Asaba that the era of leaders deciding who to be voted for was over as sovereignty lies with the people.
He stated that the reaction of majority of the people at the Ibadan rally was an indication that Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Dr Ifeanyi Okowa were the preferred ticket to rescue and rebuild Nigeria from the ruins of the APC-led Federal Government.
“You saw what happened in Oyo State yesterday, when one man tried to ascribe to himself the powers to decide who the people will vote for but the people expressed their democratic right which is very clear that Atiku Abubakar is their choice.
“We have said severally that our train has left the station but because we have very quality breaks we can always stop to carry hesitant passengers.
“So we will continue to appeal to our leaders, the G-5 governors to sheath their sword and return back to the main fold of the party and join hands with the party to actualize the mission of recovering and rebuilding Nigeria.
“Those who mobilised them did not foresee what they saw and it goes to show that no one man can boast of deciding how the people will cast their votes.
“As we speak I am sure you have seen the level of inflow of people, in this case notable Nigerians from other political parties to the PDP
“We must commend our party faithful in Oyo State for demonstrating that Atiku Abubakar is the right choice for Nigerians.
“We still have time for any of the Presidential candidates who wish to step down for Atiku Abubakar and because we have promised an all-inclusive government they will not be left out as their ideas will be harnessed to achieve our mission of rebuilding this country,” he said.
On the endorsement of Labour Party Presidential candidate by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, Aniagwu said that the party was not worried as the ultimate power to endorse candidates lies on the people who have already endorsed the Atiku-Okowa ticket across the country.
“As a Presidential Campaign Council we do not begrudge the Labour Party candidate nor the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on the position taken by the former president.
“Our presidential candidate and his running mate are very much aware from the onset that we were going into a contest with other contestants.
“But we are confident of victory because we have the competitive edge to be able to win because Atiku Abubakar and his running mate tower above other contestants in terms of their experience and antecedents.
“All the candidates have their qualities but like you know in any examination some will score C and some A, both of them have passed the examination but one scored better, Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa are in the A region as far as this election is concerned.
“So if there is an endorsement coming from our former President and Chief Edwin Clark, we recognise that democracy offers freedom of expression as guaranteed in our constitution and if that be the case we do not begrudge anybody endorsing anyone.
“We have already received a whole lot of endorsements from numerous Nigerians who, the ultimate power to endorse resides.
“And because we have continued to interface with the people across the country, most Nigerians understand that Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa tower above other candidates in the contest,” he stated.
Aniagwu stressed that the party would not join issues with anybody castigating the former President or any other person for that matter for speaking out as to their preference.
“What we are interested in is that most Nigerians understand that Atiku Abubakar is in the A region of the endorsement box to be able to bring us out of the woods
“One thing is that every Nigerian irrespective of political parties understand the very parlous state of our country whether in the area of the economy, insecurity or our unity.
“Since we all agree that we have these challenges, the only issue we are yet to agree on is how we intend to address them but when you begin to tick the candidates experience and manifestos, Atiku and Okowa have what it takes to take us from our current situation,” Aniagwu added.
Delta Government on Friday slammed Deputy President of the Senate and Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over a purported letter warning banks to stop advancing loans to the state government.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Charles Aniagwu who spoke at a news conference in Asaba said Omo-Agege has no right nor powers to stop the government from carrying out any constitutional action.
Aniagwu said the state government operate an open government and have been transparent and accountable to the people in all its financial dealings.
He said that the APC candidate had failed to tell the people what he intends to do but rather resorted to personality attacks on the governor who was not on the ballot with him.
“First of all, Omo-Agege is not in a position to warn anybody. He is not even a Governor-elect. So on what grounds is he issuing warnings?
“Secondly, you recall that the Bridging Finance that we asked for, we followed all the processes. We do not go through the back door if we need any facility nor just go to the banks.
“So it is not the Social Media that you would hear. Any time that there is a need for us to talk about a facility, we follow the process. First, there would be an EXCO approval, upon which we will go to the House of Assembly.
“After we get an approval from the House of Assembly, we also ensure that we observe all the conditions precedent.
“The N100 billion that was approved, we have not finished accessing it, so how can he now wake up to say that we are now asking for N40 billion?
“So if the man wants to campaign, let him go and tell Deltans what he wants to do; not peddling stories that do not add up.
“You have been in this state, there has never been anytime we take any facility without making it public, because part of the processes includes briefing the media at different levels of the process.
“Imaging somebody who is supposed to be the number two law maker in the country, is warning a bank in the state. He does not even know where his powers stop,” Aniagwu stated.
Aniagwu further said when other leaders were with their constituents during the Christmas and New year celebrations, Omo-Agege absconded and travelled out of the country because he was shying away from celebrating with the people.
“He just returned from the oversea trips to fire a wrong salvo and we are urging and advising our brother who forgot that he was supposed to represent us in Abuja.
“All our federal roads in Delta are totally impassable and while others have been busy negotiating what to take home for their people he was very busy trying to approach the mace of the Senate.
“As a party in the state, we are campaigning based on what have done and on the credibility of Sheriff Oborevwori from the streets of Delta where the yellow revolution is organic in nature.
“We need to remind Omo-Agege that Delta State is home to PDP and if he wishes to contest election in the future he should return to the party and possibly wait until after Oborevwori’s tenure,” he said.
The Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress announces that in its revised Campaign Timetable just released, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has shown further personal commitment to the cause of the All Progressives Congress and its Presidential flag-bearer, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 Presidential election, by indicating his readiness to be physically present at some of our forthcoming presidential campaign rallies.
Recall that Mr. President, out of his very busy schedule, had earlier attended the flag-off of the Presidential Campaign in Jos on the 15th of November, 2022. This was also after graciously accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling party.
In the latest Campaign Time Table released yesterday (5th January, 2023) the President is billed to join the Campaign Train in at least ten States. The States are Adamawa State on the 9th of January; Yobe State on the 10th of January; Sokoto State on the 16th of January; Kwara State on the 17th of January; Ogun State on the 25th of January; Cross Rivers State on the 30th of January; Nassarawa State on the 4th of February; Katsina State on the 6th of February; Imo State on the 14th of February and the Grand Finale in Lagos State on the 18th of February.
The PCC expresses its profound gratitude to President Buhari, the leader of our great Party, for his sterling and inspirational leadership at this time and for galvanising our teeming members and supporters across the country.
We urge our party faithfuls and supporters to turn out en masse, as usual, in the forthcoming campaign rallies. The zero hour is nigh; our spirits must be high; we must not relent in this our collective march to our victory that is divinely ordained.
Thank you.
FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb(UK)
· Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
· Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Federal Republic of Nigeria. SAN, FCIArb(UK)
Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday deplored the abandonment of Gas Revolution Industrial Park project in Ogidigben in the state by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Federal Government.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at Ogbe-Ijoh during the party’s local government campaigns in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas of the state, Okowa also slammed the APC administration for the moribund Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja now Premium Steel Company.
He said that as important as the gas revolution park was to the nation and the world, the Buhari administration had failed to ensure its realisation.
He pointed out that the world was moving towards gas as alternative energy source, but lamented that the Federal Government’s ineptitude had put the gas project in jeopardy.
The PDP vice-presidential, however, assured that the Atiku-Okowa ticket would make the project a top priority when elected.
According to him, when optimally harnessed, the gas potential in Warri South West Local Government Area and other oil-bearing communities would significantly boost the nation’s economy and the state as well as the local government areas.
He said that the APC administration lacked creative ideas on how to diversify the economic base of the nation which would have put the nation on a pedestal of sustainable growth and development.
“For over seven and half years, the APC-led administration has failed to bring the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Ogidigben to reality because they don’t understand the economic potential of the project.
“This is why we must have our own person in Abuja so that we can ensure commencement of the project.
“Let’s vote the PDP to ensure realisation of the project. It will be one of the major projects we will embark on once we take over.
“The whole world is moving towards gas and we have it in abundance and I can assure you that we will focus on it because many countries are looking for gas and we have it in abundance.
“If elected, the Federal Government, under the PDP would pay special attention to the enormous gas in Warri South West Local Government which has been abandoned by the APC administration.
“A PDP Federal Government, if elected, would harness the vast gas potential in the area and other oil-bearing communities in the country to strenghten the economic base of the nation which will also trickle down to the local government areas that produce oil.
“APC has finished Nigeria with their inept administration and we will not allow them to kill us before we act. So, let us vote them out with our PVCs,” the governor stated.
On Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, Okowa assured that the PDP would join hands with the core investor, Premium Steel, to revive the moribund company.
“We are already talking to Premium Steel; the state government may invest in the company for the sake of our people that will be employed there,” he stated.
He commended his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, for his contributions to the party’s campaigns saying, “the work you are doing in reconciling members of our party, we are happy with it and we can’t thank you enough”.
Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, said he was grateful to Governor Okowa for the construction of Aladja-Isaba road, Madagho Sport road and interventions at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
Otuaro said Warri South-West would not disappoint the party, and assured that they would vote for all candidates of the party as they had always done.
Former Governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, lauded the people of Warri South-West for being very peaceful and commended Okowa and Otuaro for their contributions to peace and development of the area.
At Udu, the former governor decried the mismanagement of Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja and urged the Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to work towards reviving the company, when elected.
Governorship candidate of the party, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, commended Otuaro for his laudable contributions to the governance of the state, assuring that he would advance the state further with his M.O.R.E. Agenda.
He said the party had never lost election in Warri South-West and urged them to maintain the status.
In his remarks, State Chairman of the party, Chief Kingsley Esiso, said Deltans had resolved not to vote for people with questionable characters.
He said that Deltans would vote Sheriff Oborevwori as governor because he would live with the people and transform the state with more development projects.
Director-General of the State Campaign Council, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, commended the people for their consistent support for the party since 1999 and urged them to vote all candidates of the party in the elections.
At Otor-Udu, a former APC chieftain and aide of the Deputy President of the Senate, Benjamin Sharta, along with hundreds of his supporters, dumped the APC for the PDP.
He said that they left the APC because of the dictatorial leadership style of APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and lack of progress in the party.
Omo-Agege/Osanebi APC convoy passing through Jeddo 
