PDP divided over Delta State chairman's second term bid

The second term bid by the Delta State Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kingsley Esiso has been further steeped in controversy following claims that political leaders in the oil rich state have  finally dropped him.

An account has it that Mr Kingsley Esiso was told point blank that he cannot be the party's chairman for another term.

A top government official who did not want his name in print, claimed an agreement has been reached to finally disqualify the former Itsekiri born politician,  but that the decision was still being kept from the public. Esiso  was told that much in Oghara, headquarters of Ethiope West Local Government.

Another account said Sapele political leaders three weeks ago disqualified  Esiso.

"The rejection  is aimed at getting fair share of political privileges for Sapele" the member representing Sapele State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Felix Anirah said.

At a meeting of Sapele political leaders, Anirah said 'a position zoned to a local government is meant for those carrying INEC voter's card and the party's membership card from the constituency or local government area"

" The incumbent State Chairman, Chief Kingsley Esiso enjoyed full privileges and political benefits before he relocated to Ethiope East Local Government. In 2015, he moved his INEC voter's card from Sapele State Constituency elsewhere. He cannot struggle with the constituents in Sapele Local Government " he said.

Anirah maintained that there was no tribal undertone in the decision of Sapele PDP leaders.

"Nobody ever contemplated a tribal factor into the position of the State Chairman zoned to Sapele Local Government in Chief James Onanefe Ibori's residence on Thursday, March 19, 2020 by the leaders of Delta Central Senatorial District on the instructions of Delta State PDP caucus where the Governor and Deputy Governor of Delta State and other leaders of the party were present "

The lawmaker stressed on the fairness question, saying that the PDP leaders in Sapele rejected the candidacy of the incumbent chairman.

He noted that the exercise of selecting a nominee for the position of State PDP Chairman by the leaders of the party in Sapele was undermined by the incumbent chairman.

"The decision taken on March 19, 2020 as stated in agreement with all leaders of PDP in Delta Central with clear instructions that positions zoned to the various local governments should be filled and returned on Monday, March 23 , 2020 to Senator Ighoyota Amori's residence for onward transmission to the appropriate quarters. The incumbent assumes  it is his birthright. He refused to consult the leaders of Sapele Local Government "

The Sapele representative scolded the State PDP Chairman for violating the Party's Constitution.

He also lashed out at Esiso for engaging in mudslinging by calling leaders of Sapele Local Government all sorts of names.

He pointed out that the Office of the State Organizing Secretary and State Assistant Secretary were zoned to Ethiope East Local Government.

"Sapele is gazetted for the Office of the State Chairman of the Party in Delta State "

Anirah pleaded with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Prof Sam Oyovbaire and leaders of Delta Central to ensure that only those with INEC voter's card and party card in Sapele Local Government should be considered for the post of State PDP Chairman.

"Hon Michael Diden started his political career in Sapele  and until he moved to Warri North Local Government,  he enjoyed all the political privileges accrued party members. He lives in Sapele. He has never taken what is shared to Sapele because he does not vote in Sapele. Prince Joseph Atseyinku is a Local government and Ward 8 leader. Engineer Tony Aniretan is the PDP LGA Youth Leader. They have INEC voter's card and party card in Sapele Local Government Area. They are accorded full status and benefits like other party members in Sapele "

A third account said Sapele political leaders recently took a stand on the matter,  endorsing  former  Sapele Local Government chairman, Hon Godwin Atose as the party's chairman.

The leaders in a letter to Governor Okowa nominated Atose as the choice candidate for the position of Delta State PDP Chairman, a position zoned to Sapele Local Government.

They asked Esiso to forget the seat as the stage nolonger favours his re-election

Signed by Chief Anirah, Margaret Unukegwo and others,  the leaders gave arrogance, lack of consultation, high handedness, selfishness, divide and rule policy as reasons for rejecting the incumbent chairman.

The leaders also urged Governor Okowa to find and assign Esiso a position of board chairman.

A meeting of political stakeholders  was held Tuesday in Sapele to drum support for Chief Godwin Atose.

A fourth account said Sapele Youths wrote a letter to Governor,  urging him to stop making Sapele a laughing stock.

"In the spirit of our new democratic culture, fairness and justice, it has become necessary to appeal to His Excellency,  Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to stop those marginalizing Sapele and plotting to give Sapele slot to Itsekiri or Agbon man" Dr Peter Odiete, leader of the youths said.

COVID-19: Rivers People Deserve More Than Few Grains of Rice, Eze Tells Wike

...Describes Attack On Caverton As Bad Business For Rivers Economy, Welfare Of Rivers People

...Accuses Wike and His Allies in APC as Behind the Comatose State of Rivers APC

Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People's Democratic Party and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the purported palliative measures put in place by the Rivers State government to cushion the effect of the COVID -19 lockdown as a serious embarrassment to the sensibilities of the good people of Rivers State. 

In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, Eze maintained that Rivers people deserve more than 3 cups of rice, few cups of garri and a sachet of noodle as palliative for each family after budgeting a whopping sum of Two Billion Naira (N2B) in this regard.

According to the party Chief, "the State Government food palliative intervention through its Committee headed by His Excellency, Ambassador Desmond Akawo the newly elected PDP State Chairman though targeted mainly to PDP members, are 3 cups of rice; 5 cups of garri; one satchet of noodles(indomie) for a family".

"I would suggest that rather than humiliate and embarrass PDP members and  citizens in such brazen manner and turn them to mere beggars, it would have been best the government and its agents kept their money and allowed markets to open for free commerce. Families can fend for themselves above such humiliating and ridiculous degree to which the state has subjected them". Eze stressed.

Chief Eze blasts the State Government for excluding the APC faithful from the palliative intervention and further stated that the  action of the State government has further exposed the ineptitude and recklessness of the PDP administration in attending and addressing issues of critical importance like public welfare etc. 

On the closure of operation of Caverton Helicopters in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze frowned at the declaration of  Gov. Wike, stressing that such is ultra vires the powers of any state government as aviation and incidental matters are exclusive preserve of the Federal Government at the exclusion of any state including Rivers State.

Gov. Wike had on last Wednesday, declared Caverton Helicopters a personal non grata thus "For endangering the lives of Rivers people by its suspicious operations, the Rivers State Government has declared Caverton Helicopters, Persona Non Grata in the state".

In a State Broadcast on Wednesday, Gov. Wike also directed Local Government Council Chairmen to close the Offices of Caverton Helicopters across the state.

The governor went further to say that by its actions Caverton Helicopters have clearly shown that Rivers lives do not matter to it. It is an enemy of Rivers people and is hereby declared persona non grata in Rivers State.

Frowning at the development Chief Eze said the governor would have opted for a more pragmatic approach to handling the issue rather than making inciting pronouncements to heat up the polity. 

He said subjecting the pilots and air passengers to screening to determine their COVID-19 status would have been enough measure rather than charging them to court for carrying out lawful orders of the Federal Government to save the nation's economy.

He counselled the governor to be a bit more civil by considering granting the  detainees freedom to avoid throwing the economy of the state into further distress. 

Recall that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had threatened to shut down all air operations to and fro Port Harcourt if the state government fails to release the detained pilots and in solidarity, the United Labour Congress has issued similar warning to shut down operations of service providers under its overage should government continue to keep Caverton Helicopters' Pilots under custody.

Chief Eze appealed to Gov. Wike to reconsider his ill decisions and actions and immediately release the pilots to save the state and her people from perpetual lockdown, stressing that the people and the state economy will suffer more should AON and ULC put their threats into effect. 

Eze noted with sadness over the swiftness of the arrest and speedy throwing into detention of the two Caverton Pilots by the Judiciary based on the Governor's influence, Nigerians can now see the biased nature of the Rivers judiciary of doing whatever the Governor wants them to do. This was one of the many reasons why APC couldn't produce even a councilor in Rivers State during the last general elections. The Presidency and indeed Nigerians should now see what APC in Rivers State is suffering in the hands of Governor Wike in collaborating with well known internal enemies of APC to keep the APC in Rivers State in perpetual comatose state.

Eze quoted another chieftain of the APC, Chibuike Ikenga, as saying that under Gov. Wike, every policy, decision, order, proclamation etc are not well thought out for the good of the masses or for the overall wellbeing of the state/citizens but well crafted or rehearsed for egocentric enhancements.

Chief Ikenga further stated that from the outset, "his programs are geared towards self aggrandizement and political profiteering. The personalization of governance in the state points to the same direction of a totalitarian and despotic regime under democracy.

Eze commended the Churches in Rivers State for rejecting  the temporary relaxation of the lockdown order for religious activities by Governor Wike which forced the Governor to cancel his earlier ill advised idea in this regard that would have endangered the lives of Rivers State people.   

Eze pleads with the Governor to drop the Emperor toga and relate as friends with members of his State Executive so that they can build up the confidence to advise him wisely on how to handle some critical and sensitive issues pertaining to governance and should also consult widely each time critical decisions, especially those touching on law and citizens' welfare are to be taken to save him from policy somersaults associated with his administration.

Signed

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

APC Chieftain & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP

 14– 04 – 20

A crayfish seller and Theatre Arts graduate wins “Help the Hard Worker” contest

A crayfish seller and Theatre Arts graduate from the Imo State University, Miss Nneoma Uzoka has emerged winner of the March 2020 edition of the “Help the Hard worker” monthly competition organized by a non-governmental organization, Princewill’s Trust for entrepreneurs, youths and Rivers residents who are engaged in micro business ventures and all forms of hard work in Rivers State.

A statement made available to journalists today by Princewill’s Trust titled “April Fools day Message for a March Winner” explained that unlike many beneficiaries of April Fools jokes, Miss Nneoma Uzoka, a crayfish seller, is not going to get pranked.

It reads: Her gift is real and it is the result of hard work, dedication and commitment. We bring to her good tidings and a tiny recognition of her efforts, with a view to encouraging her and many others to follow her footsteps and the footsteps of the others who chose hard work over laziness and a sense of entitlement. A transfer has been made direct to her account for 100,000 Naira and she has also acknowledged receipt. We trust that she will use the money well and look forward to her joining other previous Help a Hardworker winners, in making progress.

“Today might be April Fools day, but we all must refuse to be fooled into thinking that things just happen. No. We must put in the hard work. That is not true for only contestants of the Help a Hardworker competition, it’s true for all citizens. Especially to citizens of Rivers state. Considering what we are going through, I think it is pertinent to use this medium to appeal to every one of us to start the victory march against the Covid 19 virus from within. Each of us must play our part. My health is your health and vice versa. We are all inter connected.

“What we have learnt from the rest of the world tells us that one person carrying the virus can infect several people before that one person can even display any symptoms. So self isolation, social distancing and very good hygiene makes a very very big difference. The best advice from me to you is STAY HOME, avoid going out and lie low unless you have a critical reason not to. Follow the advise of the government and the healthcare professionals and please please please, do not gamble with your life. You only have one. What you are looking for outside could kill you or someone close to you.

“Here in Princewills Trust, we and the team have had to make changes to our laid down processes to protect our team and the wider community in which we operate. The first is we have had to do electronic transfers and present prizes virtually, so as to protect lives. The second is we will postpone the Help a Hardworker competition until full freedom of movement has been restored. Our inability to fully vet nominees means that it would be impossible to carry on in its current format. We will use this period to refocus on awareness and reorientation with a focus on positive messaging.

“A similar programme to the Help a Hardworker that had already been scheduled to start in April, will go ahead though. It will be called Help a Smartworker and will be restricted to political allies with exceptionally novel small business ideas. It will be based strictly online so can survive Coronavirus. Whenever its sister programme is restored, they will run alongside each other side by side.”

Miss Nneoma, an indigene of Imo state who sells crayfish in the popular weekly Oil mill market and Aluu boundary market was declared the winner, closely followed by Miss Chioma Amuzie and  Florence Martins who came in second and third positions respectively in the keenly contested competition which saw over five thousand contestants contesting for the top prize.

Confirming the receipt of an online transfer of the cash prize of One Hundred Thousand Naira via a telephone conversation profoundly grateful and excited Nneoma stated that she gives God all the glory for the victory. She further noted that she worked serious hard for it but above all, the grace of God found her and made it possible for her to emerge winner. 

The Imo state born Theatre Arts graduate turned Crayfish dealer further noted that, she intends to invest the prize money in her business as soon as the whole Covid19 pandemic blows over. Miss Nneoma also used the opportunity to call on hard working and enterprising youths in the state to advantage of the platform provided by the Prince’s Trust to apply as they may emerge winners too someday. Furthermore, she noted that the Help the Hard worker initiative is real, authentic and transparent.

While concluding her remarks, Miss Nneoma, prayed God Almighty to reward the founder of Princewill’s Trust abundantly for his love for the down trodden and people of the state and the country at large.

Speaking on behalf of the Princewill’s Trust, Hon. Ikem Anthony congratulated her. He also called on the general public to stay safe and stay at home to curtail the spread of the corona virus which is current on the rise in the state.