A former Minister for Information and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr has faulted the adoption of “Continuity” as campaign slogan by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state ahead of the 2023 governorship election, saying the party whose administration failed to perform in seven years does not deserve another chance.
He declared that the last seven years in Enugu State “has been a disaster of great proportion” saying the present administration had been unable to lift the state beyond where his predecessors left it.
Nweke, who interacted with members of Enugu Professional Online Publishers (EPOP) at his GRA residence in Enugu, said that it was wrong for anybody seeking the mandate of the people to publicly declare his intention to continue with the activities of the administration that has failed to move the state forward in terms of economic development.
“Most of the problems we are facing today is as a result of leadership failure. Why do you aspire to lead? What is your vision?. Do you understand what service means – is it about you, your cronies, family and friends? Do you know the essence of governance and do you understand what it means?
“My position is that the last seven years has been a disaster of great proportion in Enugu and all the indicators and indices of development point to that fact. Water crisis in Enugu has persisted, insecurity is at an all time high…,” said Nweke, who was also Director General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG.
Continuing, he said: “I always wonder what people mean when they begin to preach continuity to us in Enugu state. What are they continuing?” Is it continuity of land grabbing, poor infrastructure, potholes in the capital city, and bad governance? We need to know.
“This was how one man told us nrashi in 2015 and we never asked what is nrashi? But today we might have seen the meaning. His government has nothing to offer and someone is campaigning with continuity.
“We should ask those adding Continuity to their posters to come out boldly and explain what they want to continue. For me, this is exactly what Enugu Professional Online Publishers and all media practitioners should be interrogating”.
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Frank Nweke Jr
The APGA governorship flag bearer, who said he has deep knowledge on what governance entails especially in a state like Enugu having participated actively in governance, expressed his intention and eagerness to create a conducive business environment and boost the wellbeing of the people.
He said: “The responsibility of a good government is to maintain security, law and order, improve the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens for the economic progress of the society.
“The welfare and wellbeing of the citizens cannot exist if there’s no law and order. Farmers will be unable to go to farm which will result in food insecurity, hunger, poverty.
“Man by nature will tow the part of least resistance if there are no consequences for certain action. Every state must retain her coercive powers. The moment you begin to share those coercive powers, it becomes a classic symptom of state failure.
“The reason for the lack of investments in Enugu is very simple, the current state of affairs is not conducive for businesses to come. This also is the cause of the increase in unemployment because there aren’t so many jobs that the government can provide. Giving 200 young people ‘Executive Assistant’ jobs is not enough. I believe in sustainable jobs and this can be done through investments.”
On his plan for the transformation of the state economy, Nweke Jr said: “The knowledge economy is the new economy and through technology you can catalyze thousands of jobs and Enugu can be transformed as the technology hub of southeast of Nigeria.
“And how do we do this? We need to create the enabling environment. The access to land must be easy. The acquisition or receipt of certificate of occupancy must be easy. I mean, what will you be doing as a commissioner for land? So as a governor, if you cannot guarantee the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to a potential business within 48 hours to one week maximum, what exactly are you doing?”
According to him, the APGA government would “establish what I call a Geospatial Land Management System, similar to what was done under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in the Federal Capital Territory. And these things don’t require geniuses. It is the political will, it is the vision, it is the determination and then it can work.”
Nweke praised the determination and commitment of past leaders of the state, who, he said, left indelible legacies, noting that their efforts created conducive business environment and economic development which the current administration had failed to sustain.
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His words: “When our revered Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo was in government, he built Nike Lake Hotel, established the then Anambra State University, Sunrise Flour Mills, Anambra TV, Premiere Breweries, Anambra Vegetable Oil Product and so many others within 4 years. Think about the number of jobs that were created.
“The 40 billion Naira Ama Breweries built during the government of His Excellency Chimaroke Nnamani is a testament to how jobs can be created and other businesses established because of the conducive business environment.
“Under the government of Governor Sullivan Chime, the Mexicans established a major farm in Enugu which led to exportation of pineapple products, bananas and others.
“Regrettably, most of these businesses have shut down within two years of the emergence of the current administration, as a result of the unfriendly and obnoxious policies of the government. The key to job creation and economic regeneration is in a very strong partnership with the private sector underpinned by a conducive business environment.”
The former Information Minister, however, advised the electorate to make a wise choice in next year election, pointing out that voting for anyone in PDP or APC “is as good as backing impunity and bad governance in Enugu state.” He described APGA as one of the best options for the political revival of the southern states.
Explaining his campaign slogan which is “Arise, Let’s Build Enugu’, Nweke further assured that if he is elected into office, he will invest hugely in the Knowledge-based economy.
“If you look at the theme of my campaign, it is simply “Arise, let Build Enugu” because I realized that we need the partnership and support of the people. I will keep it simple. Sustainably resolve water crisis, clean up our city, patch the roads and open new roads where necessary.
“I will invest heavily in technology infrastructure, and my first shot will be on knowledge-based-economy where you will have youngsters who will be in Enugu and have the opportunity to work for companies all over the world using available I.T infrastructure”.
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He further added that he will market Enugu, and attract investors due to the peculiar nature of the state and position in the Southeast adding that with many institutions in the state; both local and foreign investors will make Enugu the first choice.
The National leader of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi on Wednesday said his concern at the moment is how to see Nigeria achieve her potential as an independent nation.
Obi who had embarked on a tour of some parts of the country and carried out some social and education projects, explained that his mission has nothing to do with politics or the 2027 presidential election.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Anambra State governor stated “Only God can tell who can run for election in future; my interest now is the poor and how to see Nigeria work.”
He regretted that 70 per cent of the wealth of the country is in the hands of about one per cent of the population, noting that if about 200,000 rich Nigerians could deploy their resources for the basic needs of the poor, the situation would not be as deplorable.
He equally called on governments at all levels to ensure that resource deployment is aimed at improving the living standards of the poor and pulling them out of poverty.
The former LP presidential candidate stated that his humanitarian tour of some parts of the country has exposed him to the level of poverty in Nigeria and the abandonment of the people.
Obi who announced the completion of the construction of 10 boreholes in some states of the North for a short-term water supply to the people, said if 200,000 rich Nigerians could do the same in the area of their choice, it would go a long way to solving the water needs of the people.
He stated that the potential he found among Almajiris in the Quranic schools in the North was an indication that with adequate encouragement and support, they could be catalysts to national development.
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“I am carrying out a campaign to make the rich in our midst do more in providing water to our rural poor and helping to pull the out-of-school children off the streets for proper development.
“This is the time to cut waste; our larger population can’t be suffering a conspicuous lack of basic needs like water and we live lavish lifestyles in their midst.
“Our crisis of insecurity and other challenges derives from poverty, and it’s our responsibility to pull people out of poverty through good education,” Obi stated.
He also reacted to the allegation that he did not build any new school when he was governor of Anambra State, explaining that he met education is shambles, as schools were closed and the state occupied 26 positions in the country.
But according to him, by the time he left as governor, Anambra was number one in the country.
“I improved the quality, physical and mental well-being of the people; schools had the basic things they needed and the people shone like stars, and that was my manifesto.
“Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable,” he pointed out.
He expressed confidence that the crisis in the Labour Party would be resolved amicably, adding, “What is happening in the Labour Party is child’s play compared to what is going on in APC and PDP.” (New Telegraph)
A former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In his resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Ihedioha cited a misalignment between his personal beliefs and the current trajectory of the main opposition party.
The former governor expressed his dedication to the advancement of democracy and good governance in the country despite his decision to step away from PDP.
According to Ihedioha, having been a member of the party since its inception in 1998, he has contributed immensely to the growth and evolution of the party.
The former governor, however, lamented recent developments within the PDP, stating that it has deviated from its core principles.
He voiced concerns over the party’s inability to enact internal reforms, uphold its own regulations, and effectively oppose the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.’
“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately.
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“While the decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one. Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria”, the letter added.
• Protesters demand cancellation of APC ward primaries in Ondo State on Sunday, April 21, 2024
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, took to the streets on Sunday to protest what they termed irregularities and biased conduct of the ward primaries across the state on Saturday.
The ward primaries meant to produce the governorship candidate of the party for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the state has been marred with non-availability of election materials.
The protesters called for the cancellation of the ward primaries.
The protesters stormed the APC state secretariat in Akure to display their displeasure to the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the ward primaries across the 203 wards of the state.
Most of them are supporters of one of the aspirants, Olushola Oke, and they carried different placards calling on the national secretariat to remove the chairman of the primary election committee and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo.
They described the process as a daylight robbery and urged the national secretariat of the APC not to allow the state to be embroiled in crisis.
One of the protesters claimed no ward primaries were held, insisting that the guidelines given by the national secretariat of the party were not followed as the committee did not distribute materials to any wards.
The party members warned of likely consequences if an unpopular candidate is imposed on them as it could affect the chances of the party in the governorship election.
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Ododo had on Saturday announced that polls would be conducted in all 13 wards of Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state by noon on Sunday.
“Having received reports of the primary election from the 203 wards in the 18 local governments of Ondo State, the primary election committee has decided that election will be conducted in all the 13 Wards of Okitipupa local government with total validated registered members of 9,515, because of validated reports that the exercise did not hold in the local government due to late arrival of materials and personnel as a result of logistics challenges.
“Election in Okitipupa local government shall be conducted 12 noon on Sunday 21st April 2024. The final collation of the results will be done thereafter,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, two aspirants and agents of two other contestants raised concerns about the conduct of the primary.
They alleged that based on the conduct of the exercise, plans were made to favour certain aspirants.
Olugbenga Edema, who is one of the 16 aspirants in the race for the APC ticket, decried delays in the distribution of materials and called on the party to investigate the process.
Rotimi Williams, the agent of Oke, took a similar position.
Shola Ajisafe, the agent of Adewale Akinterinwa, backed the narrative by Edema and Willams.
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“My people have been calling me. No material has been distributed to them,” Ajisafe who is from Ondo North said, accusing Governor Ododo of working in favour of a candidate. (Channelstv)