Monica Bemoans Vicious Plots against Gov. Umahi

....Umahi Is One of the Best Leaders of Our Generation', She Says

.....Vows to Expose Those behind Plots to Blackmail, Destroy Umahi's Profile

......Commends Umahi for Unbanning Okada Operations in the State and For Shaming His Critics by Forgiving the Sun and Vanguard Journalists

Lady Monica Chidinma Ada Eze, President and Founder of one of the most popular, vibrant and focused Non-Governmental Organisations operating in Ebonyi State, the David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA) has described as unfortunate, unacceptable the gang up aimed at smearing, maligning the image and political future of her principal, Apostle David Nweze Umahi (FNATE, FNSE), the Governor of Ebonyi State, the lion of South East and Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum. 

In a statement made available to Media Houses in Abakaliki, the state capital, Lady Chidinma Ada Eze, lamented over the campaign of calumny executed with renewed sense of vigour by those she said do not mean well for the state and country. 

According to this influential lady of Ebonyi extraction, "I have observed with utmost dismay the upsurge on negative reports and write ups, even Editorial Opinions against my Principal and the award winning Governor of Ebonyi State based on the recent misunderstanding he had with some Journalists working in Ebonyi State and seems to me that most of these actions and reactions, though not justifiable are borne out of malice, envy and jealousy in a grand plot to undermine and destroy the rising star of the present political clime." 

Leadership Newspaper, one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, in its Editorial opinion of 25th April, 2020 titled "Umahi’s Onslaught On Journalism", made some unfounded and uncomplimentary remarks on the Governor to the effect that, "Umahi is probably trying to gag the press because what he sought to achieve by this feeble, intolerable and absurd ban is to instill fear in the journalists, whip other journalists into line to do his bidding." 

Far from it. Governor Umahi believes in press freedom and the incontrovertible role of journalists as watchdogs to ensure compliance with the social contract between government and the people. The governor is a seasoned democrat and therefore has no such in his agenda as his inputs and assistance to Journalists in the State is very visible even to the blind and so tagging the Governor with such unfavorable insinuation is both unfounded and unacceptable. 

I have read the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and the ridiculous suggestion and petition to Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by two Lagos-based media support organizations, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC) calling for the removal of the governor duly elected by the people of Ebonyi State because of the alleged attacks on journalists. 

The Nigeria League of Vet­eran Journalists (NALVEJ) described him as the Hitler while some other funny groups stated that he is an Emperor and Nebuchadnezzar. 

Most despicable of all these reactions is the one that came from people who claimed to be Ebonyians in Diaspora; the

Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) asking PDP to sanction the Governor. Such reaction is saddening,  emanating from people who for the past ten years or more have refused to visit their homes because if they do they would have been of much praises for the Governor having turned the once abandoned State into a construction Haven and one of the most developed States in Nigeria and the fastest growing economy in the whole of South East today. 

One May Ask Why All These Attacks on Umahi? 

In answer to this question, my aunt and senior colleague in the Pen business provided an answer in her recent article titled, "Why Gov. Umahi Should Never Be Nigeria's President." 

The rationale behind these attacks on Governor Umahi may be easily fathomed; it is simply that he has distinguished himself as one of the greatest leaders of this generation and a potential leader of this country so the enemies of progress set in motion machineries for his decimation and destruction before the time. According to Lady Comfort Obi, the Publisher of the Source Magazine, 

I once listened to money man, Chief Arthur Eze, lobby president Muhammudu Buhari to look no further than the Ebonyi State Governor for a Nigerian President of the Igbo extraction- if, and when the time comes. As you know, Umahi is a Buharist, even though he is a PDP governor. He never hides that. 

Last Obi has only succeeded to expose this planned gangup to ridicule and destroy Umahi and if I may ask, when has it become a crime to aim for a higher position in Nigeria and when has it become a crime to be associated with President Buhari whom Umahi sees as both his political father and boss? 

But Is Umahi Qualified For A Higher Position In Nigeria? 

To every right thinking Nigerian who is alive to happenings in the country and who has the interest of the country at heart, the answer is in the affirmative. However, I will still rely on my aunt and senior colleague Lady Comfort Obi to build on my answer. According to this powerful Pen Pusher, "In fairness to Umahi, he has so far, done well as Ebonyi Governor. He has encouraged Agriculture, especially, in the area of rice production. Ebonyi rice ranks amongst the best in the country. I don't know much about what he did in the area of yam production, but I proudly ask for Abakailiki yams from my yam customer. But where Umahi has definitely excelled most is in the provision of Physical Infrastructure, especially roads. Aside from Anambra State where Peter Obi excelled in the construction of roads, no other governor in the south east compares to Umahi in that area. Gradually, Umahi has bequeathed Ebonyi with quality roads. Umahi has also excelled in the area of education, granting scholarships to hundreds of Ebonyians in relevant areas of study. Thanks to him, Abakailiki, which, as the state capital looked worse than a local government headquarters, has had a complete turn- around. It looks bam." 

If all these feats do not qualify this man described as the David of Ebonyi, the wisest Governor In Nigeria according to Governor Ikepazu of Abia State, this Zik Awardee for Leadership for higher position in Nigeria, I will like to know who else will be qualified.  

Today, due to the foresight of this visionary leader of our time, Ebonyi State is the only State in the entire south- south and East that has a virology centre, where the blood samples of the dreaded COVID- 19 victims are tested and possibly treated in these two regions. It is a fact  that the results of those that tested positive in Imo and Abia including Bayelsa States were all done at Abakaliki.  

Not satisfied with all his giant strides in Ebonyi State the innovative and wonder working Governor have concluded arrangements to construct an ultra- mordern and state of the art Hospital Complex at  Alex Ekwueme which shall be a Centre of Excellence for the treatment of positive cases of  Corona virus and related virus. 

Gov. Umahi is a magician and your visit to Ebonyi will convince you. 

Unbanning the Operations of Okada and Reabsorption of the Two Journalists 

Lady Monica Ada Eze who also doubles as the Technical Assistant on Media to the Governor describes the unbanning of Okada operations in the State as timely and demonstration that Governor Umahi is truly a caring leader. 

Monica Aka Ada Ebonyi highlighted that

"Ebonyi State will soon commence the distribution of palliatives to her people as over 90,000 facemasks and sanitisers have been shared to our people. Some pastors earlier arrested for violating the laws on COVID-19 by the Anti-Corona Virus team have been released. 

 On the two controversial Journalists, Ada Ebonyi quoted her boss as saying,  

”I have directed that The SUN and Vanguard reporters be invited to join us. The unfortunate incident with the press was not intentional. But I am asking everybody to disregard what has happened. Because we are all partners in progress and let us work together. But I will advise that you, please crosscheck your information before publication. There are some certain write-ups that people are not happy about. But I have said please let everybody down tools in love and work together. I specifically asked that The SUN and Vanguard reporters be invited because as a father when you beat a child with one hand, you bring the child back with another hand. I believe strongly that if anybody wants to intentionally bring you down he can’t pull you down standing, he will certainly go down with you. And you may even rise above him. But the single way to be happy in life is to be happy with success. I want to invite the press for partnership and also ask them to also please help us build the State.” Umahi has demonstrated by this act that he is not only humane but a true Statesman. 

In conjunction with my principal, I appeal to all and sundry to join hands with us to build the Ebonyi State of our dream. Monica Ada Eze submitted.

Signed, 

Monica Ada Chidinma Eze, Aka Ada Ebonyi 

President DUNAETA & TA on Media to Gov Umahi

NDDC: Isaiah 59:19 – that Spirit works in Akpabio

By Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel

Indeed, times have changed, and the youth of this generation are learning and imbibing what may have easily been apostate to the youth of prior generations. In my recent article, The Pharaoh knows no Joseph in Forensic Audit, I quoted the legendary Malam Nuhu Ribadu, when he said, “when you fight corruption, corruption fights back”. Sadly, it is an unbelievable dawn of the apostate in our land.

These are times of blurry perspectives, when men can no longer differentiate between right and wrong. Our youth have gone commercial with a mind of negotiable commitment. They have no social or political persuasions, but are vacant and available for the crusade of corruption.

Upon the resumption of his second term, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC – and hell vulcanized. In apparent global glare, corruption is fighting back. In certain instances, corruption fights with an allusion that what is good and honourable is in fact questionable.

It was before a global audience that the Point-Blank News alleged that the NDDC IMC has within two months disbursed Two Hundred Billion Naira (N200,000,000,000), whereas, the NDDC had only received less than fifteen percent (15%) of the said figure. The sad things, is that these tales of putative disbursements are not only false and misleading, but are also exacerbating ignorance.

Furthermore, sequel to the special request by the Government of Ondo State, and the Lassa Fever outbreak in Edo State, upon which on the 16th of April 2019, the NDDC entered into a contract pursuant to the Public Procurement Act of 2007 with a company for the supplies of Lassa Fever Protective Kits – the contract value was N2,425,242,248.00.

The company fulfilled their contractual obligations through the NDDC process, but the NDDC before the expiration of the Prof Brambaifa administration could not fulfil her own obligation of prompt payment.

Like what has become the culture of State Governments, where contractual obligations are treated with levity, more so those of a different administration, the Prof Pondei IMC could have easily ignored the contract, and exposed the NDDC to the consequences of ensuing litigations. But seeing that extant requirements have been fully complied with, they chose to honour the contractual agreement between the NDDC and the said company, and released the payment to the company - and believe me, more payments would be released to as many companies that have legitimate cause to be paid.

Seeing that payment has legitimately been made, the merchants of lies congregated again, and without thorough investigation, they took to the media to sensationalise the fact of payment with an allusion of corruption.

Something apparently remarkable in the Buhari administration is the rule of law, and that is what has curtailed the arrogance of impunity.

In terms of the Public Procurement Act, payments that exceeds 80 days should attract interest – owing to this, the contract was fully paid for.

It is also noteworthy that owing to the need to establish the dawn of a responsive administrative protocol, that will aid the efforts of the Buhari administration to entrench a culture of responsibility, patriotism and respect, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has shown determination and capacity to raise a standard against the advancement of corruption and vested interest.

It is therefore immensely tragic that in an effort to frustrate the forensic audit of the NDDC, a commendable Interim Management Committee is daily vilified through the instrumentation of ignorance, joblessness and hunger – the poverty of our youth has thus become a tool of coercion to sustain the reign of mediocrity and ignominy – believe me, the tide will turn!

What President Buhari saw in Sen. Akpabio before appointing him as Chairman of the Presidential Monitoring Committee, is his doggedness, resilience, tenacity and the persuasion to make society work – NDDC will work!

May I therefore advise the traducers of IMC and the Honourable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, to deploy their steam and strength shunning out legislative Bills that enjoy the coloration of contemporary developmental innovations.

With the ferocious advancement of corruption, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio is, and represents the standard raised to preserve the integrity of our society - the forensic audit will be exhaustive.

Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel is the General Coordinator and Chairman, Free River Social Media FRSM

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