SAVING OBIANO FOR 2017 IS SAVING ANAMBRA

BY: OKEKE RUPHINA A.

FPO/HND/MC/015/149

Ahead of the gubernatorial election in Anambra State come 2017, some political contractors are already at work overheating the polity in the state.

This is because of their ambition either to govern that State, or having governed the State before, they want to pave way for them to milk and suck the State dry to the detriment of the generality of Anambrarians.

They held sway in government without any obstruction or plot of any sort against them by the people of Anambra State. They had a free rein and enjoyed the widest support of the people, although their tenure was disastrous and tragedous as the people were subjected to perpetual economic slavery and untold hardship. Yet, the families of these political tin gods and their acolytes swam in the ocean of wealth and affluence.

If these gladiators who boast today that they gave the present governor the leeway to mount the saddle should be truthful and have the grace to admit the obvious, they will concede that the governor commanded tremendous respect and an intimidating pedigree which are setting and marketing points any day and anywhere.

Given this scenario, it is now clear as crystal that the destructive activities of these so-called political kingmakers are actuated by no more than sheer jealousy, envy and animosity towards the present government on account of its competency and capacity to provide infrastructural facilities, reflect the economy, and serve dividends of democracy to the people.

It floats common sense that somebody who settled for the present governor among the army of contenders for the position would be the one to spearhead campaigns of calamity against the governor and employ and galvanize surrogates and acolytes to destroy the government.

The governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano, is definitely out to protect the interest of the people of the state, give the state first class leadership and provide durable democratic dividends for them.

Moreover, he places premium on his name and integrity above all, unlike his predecessors. Again, unlike his predecessors, Obiano is a complete gentleman, a scholar, auditor and financial management expert.

Anambra State and her people will be better with the re-election  of Obiano. The re-election of the governor is a political imperative. Anambrarians should therefore be wiser than the serpent as the devil you know is better than the angel you do not know.

Saving Obiano is simply saving Anambra state.

APGA RESTRUCTURING AHEAD OF 2017 ELECTION

BY: OKEKE RUPHINA A.

FPO/HND/MC/015/149

The reigning word in Nigeria politics today IS restructuring of the country.  While some people are of the opinion that Nigeria needs true federalism, others say the country needs fiscal federalism. But, for me as a concern daughter of Anambra State, I stand for the restructuring of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of next year’s gubernatorial election in the state and 2019 general elections.

This is a call borne out of a desire to ensure that Anambra State under APGA does not rescind back from its emerging glory. The kind of restructuring needed is two types; one is that APGA should be restructured. Secondly, the state cabinet as overseen by Governor  Willie Obiano should be reshuffled to include those who worked hard towards the governor’s election rather than what we have today where the cabinet is a reflection of those I prefer to refer to as ‘foreigners’. This  set of people were not part of the people to worked to bring Obiano in during the 2013 elections.

The cabinet should be restructured because right from the time of Obi to the present government, the state has remained unique. Like people who have different political interests, Anambra was the base of APGA in the same way Alliance For Democracy, (AD) – which metamorphosed to Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which served the South West before it coalesced with Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) and other political parties to form what we have at the centre as All Progressives Congress (APC).

I feel the same transition should take place in APGA. The party should be repositioned to a wholly national party by opening it up for a fresh membership drive that would incorporate Nigerians from the six geo-political zones. It can retain its original name or change to a new one.

PDP RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE SUBMITS REPORT TO SHERIFF

BY: OKEKE RUPHINA A.

FPO/HND/MC/015/149

The reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is making frantic efforts to reunite aggrieved members of the party.

The reunion is part of efforts to put things in place ahead of the proposed PDP national convention.

The Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Professor Jerry Gana, revealed this while briefing journalists after a meeting with the Sheriff’s faction of the party on Friday in Abuja,.

He says the committee hopes to reconcile all aggrieved persons before the party’s convention.

Professor Gana also said that the committee had presented its recommendations to Senator Sheriff’s faction and expressed optimism that it would promote reconciliation if implemented.

At a separate meeting with party members from the northeast, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, asked members to be cautious of the decisions to be taken by various leaders of the party to avoid plunging it into another round of crisis.

The PDP Youth Leader in Kaduna State, Ahmed Maiyaki and federal lawmaker, Tony Nwulu, insisted that the youths be carried along in the process.

Hopefully they tidy themselves up and assume their role as the largest opposition party to the APC.

UGWUANYI LISTS ENUGU STATE'S DEMANDS TO BUHARI’S MEN IN PEACE MISSION TO IGBOLAND

By: Okeke Ruphina A.

FPO/HND/MC/015/149

Ugwuanyi, at the Federal Government organized Town Hall Meeting for political, religious, judicial, civil society, socio-cultural groups, called on President Muhammad Buhari to redeem his campaign promises to the people of Enugu.

The governor revealed that the call became necessary, following the sustained poor power supply in the country. Ugwuanyi said the situation was discouraging investments and as a result, he is urging the Federal Government to make substantial investment in the Ugwuoba Gas Field in Oji River Local Government of the state. His words: “I recall the President’s campaign promise to revive the coal mines in Enugu and utilize it to generate electricity. Coal is a major energy source in some countries of the world and we have it in abundance in the state. If this is done, it will directly or indirectly create jobs for millions of Nigerians. “Work at the Ada Rice Farm Irrigation Project started by the Federal Government in the state in 2007, has since stopped at the site. This project is critical and important to the state government, following efforts to diversify the economy and make the country self-sufficient in rice production. “Of very critical importance to us is the Ada Rice Farm in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area. The project has the capacity for low gravity irrigation and has the potential of expansion to cover 10,000 hectares. “Unfortunately, only 1,200 hectares of irrigable land have been fully developed. The Federal Government started the rehabilitation of the project in 2007. Sadly, progress in this regard has been slow. “The Federal Government should re-evaluate the project to make it fully functional, to provide employment and boost economic activities in the area”. Continuing, Ugwuanyi stated that some Federal Government agencies in the state were indebted to it and contributed to its financial stress. Ugwuanyi said: “The government of the state will in this regard appreciate the intervention of the Federal Government to ensure the payment of huge debts owed the state by some federal agencies and establishments in the state. “They are the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, which owe N2.3 billion, N10 billion and N190 million respectively in tax returns.

The demands seemed endless but hopefully, the Buhari led government will attend to some of the appeals

ANAMBRA REJECTS GRAZING BILL

ANAMBRA REJECTS GRAZING BILL

By: Okeke Ruphina A.

FPO/HND/MC/015/149

The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Rita Maduagwu, has said that the State Assembly under her watch will not support the controversial Grazing Reserve Bill, writes Ikeugonna Eleke.
The speaker who said grazing reserves were not a priority in the country for now, said the State House of Assembly would resist it as Nigeria could do without it.
She said the House had received petitions from segments of the state, including the League of Anambra Professionals (LAP), on the matter without even a single support for the bill.
She also said that the state has our various opinions, but for me I don't think grazing bill is one of the bills I will jump at because, honestly, we can do without it; it shouldn't be the priority in Nigeria.
'There are so many people in Nigeria that have cattle ranches, so if you can do cattle ranching, why grazing bill? Outside here, they kill cows, they eat cow meat without grazing bill, so why grazing bill? I won't be a party to it. I don't think I will jump at it, but if the state so wishes, I don't have any problem but personally I don't think it is a bill I will jump at because of all the controversies following it.