Delta Government on Monday commenced bilateral discussions with its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on its proposed budget of N459 billion for the year 2023.
This is coming after the consideration of the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and other budgetary instruments by the State Executive Council (SEC).
Explaining several factors that influenced the indicative budget size for 2023, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Barry Pere-Gbe, mentioned the Russia/Ukraine crisis, galloping inflation, and the volatile exchange rates.
While the Russia/Ukraine conflict has negatively affected cash flow to third-world countries, the Economic Planning Commissioner said that the inflationary trends have also affected the contractual obligations of the state government which has prompted upward reviews of projects.
‘’All of these affected the 2022 budget which has given us a sort of guide in planning the 2023 budget. We cannot run with the macroeconomic framework of 2022. We need to look at setting up another set of economic framework.
“We are looking at a production benchmark of 1.6million barrels per day in the context of ongoing vandalism, oil theft, etc…. We are looking at oil price sold at 70 USD. The average for this year is 107USD but if there is a drop, it would not be as drastic as bringing it to 57USD. So, we don’t want to be very ambitious.
‘’The exchange rate is N435 as against N410 of 2020. We will be doing 13.1 percent as against the 13 percent of 2022. With all of these put together, we arrived at N459 billion as the indicative global size of the 2023 budget.
‘’I am calling it indicative because this is not the final to it. We will also go back to the State Executive Council where we will debate this again and then proceed to the House of Assembly for it to be looked at.
‘’Hence, the outcome might be more or less than this. The N459.2bn that we are going to distribute is an indicative figure and will be presented to the State Executive Council as a draft document,’’ he said.
On how to raise revenue to fund the proposed budget, Pere-Gbe said there would be a drop in the government’s net financing from N46bn to N15bn to reduce the debt stock of the state by paying all outstanding loans interest elements and meet outstanding contracts.
“It is a good policy thrust for a transiting government to ensure that the debt burden is reduced greatly before handover.
“The 2023 budget will focus on more than 90 percent of outstanding commitments and ongoing projects because we don’t want to increase the budget far beyond what the actual receipts will be,’’ he said.
Appraising the performance of the 2022 budget, Pere-Gbe said that for all the indicators from January to June (half of the year), the state has not spent beyond the plan. ‘’Delta State has received accolades for acting Budget Realism (acting within the budget)’’.
Speaking shortly after presenting the Ministry of Information proposed budget for 2023, Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu commended the Ministry of Economic Planning for their contributions towards ensuring the finishing strong agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
“What we have come here to do today in line with what we have been doing over the years to ensure that we kick-start the process of our budget in good time so that the budget takes effect on the January 1 every year.
“What we have done today is to give them insight into what we have done in the past seven months plus in the ministry and we were able to give account of what we have done in our capital provisions even as we continue to desire for more.
“We are hoping that at a point in time we are hoping to unite the operations of DBS Asaba and DBS Warri without having to lose any staff so that at the end of the day, they operate much more harmoniously rather than operating independently and not being able to give adequate information to our people.
“We are confident that in the course of time we will be able to achieve that using budgetary provisions. The governor is on the same page with us on the need to upgrade infrastructure in our media houses and we are excited and hoping that in the next couple of months we would be able to upgrade facilities at Ubulu-Uku.
He said the Ubulu-Uku transmission station will provide the platform for the unification of DBS Warri and DBS Asaba.
“Once the unification is done, they can evacuate their signals right from their various studios in Warri and Asaba while Ubulu-Uku will serve as the point of convergence.
“When this happens, they will be able to redistribute these signals to the rest of the state and beyond,” he said.
Ahead of 2023 we also have the intention to bring in some new blood into these media houses because for a very long time they have not recruited.
He said the role of the Ministry is to provide the policy framework for the supervision of the parastatals and to communicate perceptions about what government was doing to Deltans and then also bring back feedback from the people to the government.
On the Government Printing Press, Aniagwu said it requires over N1.3billion to set up a digital printing press adding that government was considering establishing one where the Pointer Newspaper and other government documents could be printed for safety and reduction in cost of printing.
The leading Political Pressure Group in Delta State the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) has felicitated with the Urhobo Nation on occasion of the 74th Memorial Day Celebration of it’s legend and first President of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Mukoro Mowoe which took place yesterday in Ughelli.
Urhobo Map
The Delta Political Vanguard who hailed the Urhobo Nation legend Mukoro Mowoe said his achievements remains unparalleled by generations of Urhobo Nation Leaders despite having died 74 years ago.
Speaking on behalf of the Delta Political Vanguard a leading Pressure Group in the People Democratic Party Comrade Sanco Ese Darlington who is the Secretary of the Group noted that the present leaders of Urhobo Nation must rise up and emulate the virtues of Mukoro Mowoe who stood up to fight and defend Urhobo Nation causes at all times, unifying Urhobo Nation and making sure Urhobo Nation was never divided.
Sanco Ese Darlington who is also the President of Urhobo Development and Unity Forum (UDUF) wondered if the present leaders of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and leaders of other Prominent Urhobo Socio, Cultural and Political Groups are not bothered about what legacy they he intend to be remembered for. He stated that Mukoro Mowoe will be embarrassed and will turn it’s grave to see that the almighty Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) which he helped to birth is no longer alive to it’s duty of unifying Urhobo Sons and Daughters and are now partisan and keeping quiet in complicit silence as it’s children fight a macabre Political War to the consternation of other Ethnic Nations who looked up to Urhobo Nation as big brothers.
Comrade Sanco Ese Darlington called on Urhobo Nation Leaders to puts it’s house in order or risk losing the confidence of the younger generation of Urhobo Sons and Daughters and warned that the Urhobo Progress Union must refrain from endorsing one Son against another in Political contest but to embrace all regardless of Political Party be it PDP, APC, APGA, SDP, LP or any other.
Comrade Sanco wondered why the DC – 23 Group has all of a sudden become silent and look away when it ought to wade into the political fight between two sons whom they recommended to Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and the Delta State People Democratic Party (PDP) as possible Governorship Candidate Sheriff Oborevwori and Olorogun David Edevbie. He called on the DC- 23 Group to as a matter of urgency do what is needful and help stop the needless political war that has worried other Ethnic Nation about the divisiveness in Urhobo Nation.
The fearless Okpe born Activist who hailed Activist Rex Anighoro founder of the Coalition of the Urhobo Nation Young Leaders and Stakeholders (CUNYLS) convener of the 74th Mukoro Mowoe Day celebration for his over Ten years consistency in seeing that the Mukoro Mowoe Day is celebrated called on Urhobo Nation Young Leaders to wake up from their slumber in the pursuit of leadership noting that Mukoro Mowoe was a Young Man in his forties when he helped to form and lead the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU). He stated that ” Young Urhobo Leaders rise up now from slumber and position for leadership because if our Urhobo leaders will fail us we must not fail ourselves”, he concluded.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged youths to be partners in the developmental process of government, through active participation in policy making processes.
Governor Okowa stated this during the thanksgiving service, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development to commemorate the International Youth Day, at Saint Philips Anglican Church, Asaba.
Okowa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Barry Gbe, commended youth for beginning the week-long celebration with a thanksgiving service which he said, was a brilliant step to tow.
From left) Dr Kingsley Ashibogu, Commissioner Ministry Higher Education, Dr Barry Gbe, Commissioner Ministry of Economic Planning represented the Governor of Delta State, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, Commissioner Ministry of Youth Development, Hon Kelvin Ezenyili, Chairman Oshimili South LG & a Guest, during the thanksgiving service at St. Philips Anglican Church by Min of Youth Development to mark the International Youth Day. (IYD)
According to Governor Okowa, youth should be partners in progress as well as stakeholders, to enable government deliver the dividends of democracy effectively to the citizens.
He encouraged them to put on the right attitude, to enable them deserve what they crave for, saying that their aspirations were good but added: “Aspire with reasonable goals, embrace self-development, if not you will lack self-esteem and be ignorant too.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, stated that the theme for this year’s international youth day “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for all Ages” was apt and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) action was needed from all generations.
Comrade Egwunyenga, also commended Delta youth for their peaceful disposition, saying that they have proven themselves to be innovative and productive.
Also, in his remark, the National Youth Council of Nigeria Chairman (NYCN), Delta State Chapter, Ambassador Kenneth Okorie, encouraged the youths to work in tandem with the older generation, see them as advisers whom they could consult often, the generation after them as well as themselves to achieve the theme of this year’s celebration.
Ambassador Okorie urged the youths to support government policies, get their permanent voters card (PVC), and be actively involved in the electioneering process for them to get the desired change they want.
Earlier, in his sermon, the Vicar of Saint Philips Anglican Church Asaba, The Very Venerable Felix Okonkwo, admonished youths to put on the whole armour of God, to enable them stand firm whenever the whirls of discouragement, frustration, moral laxity, confusion show up, saying that they were used by the Devil to distract people.
Citing the youthful exploits of David in the Bible, he urged the youths to serve God with sincerity of heart, which he said, can make them overcome the present day Goliath of man, which could be spiritual or physical.
Venerable Okonkwo, who took his Bible reading from the Holy book of Ephesians chapter,16 verses 13 to 20 and 1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 40 to 42, urged the youths to shun internet fraud even as he emphasized on the importance of self-development through learning skills and stop the slogan of, “I don’t have a helper.”
Dignitaries at the thanksgiving service include, the wife of the State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, Commissioners, Special Assistants and Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, the Chairman Oshimili South Local Government, Hon. Kelvin Ezenyili took the Bible reading.
The highpoint of the event was the Special Thanksgiving by youths, led by the Commissioner for Youth Development.
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The government of Delta State has promised to collaborate with various Advocacy groups in creating awareness to fight HIV, TB and malaria, along with the impact of Covid-19 in various communities in the state.
The Permanent Secretary Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Winful Orieke stated this when he declared open a 6 days program organised by Civil Society for Malaria, immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) in collaboration with Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs network to implement the two years project (2021-2023) of Covid-19 Response Mechanism and Resilient and sustainable system for Health strengthening (C19RM/RSSH) in Asaba.
Dr. Winful revealed they have done community activities with so many health related advocacy groups like Acomin, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs among others in kicking out diseases from the state.
The PS disclosed when there is community involvement, the activities becomes sustainable and the people are fully aware of the need to complement government efforts on sensitisation in their communities.
He said some of the advocacies have supported them in the distribution of mosquitoe nets and sensitisation on nutrition while encouraging others to join on the crusade to inform the young mothers on the importance of breastfeeding their children.
Again, he called on the groups not to relent at this time where the Covid-19 is still ravaging our communities saying “the risk is still there to prevent not only the omicron variants but new ones that are likely to come.
Earlier, the Executive Director Delta State Agency for control of Aids (SACA) Dr John Osuyali commended the facilitators on this initiative of contributing their selfless services to humanity in assisting to prevent and reasonable curb the endemic in the communities.
Dr Osuyali urged them to take ownership of the program for it is better they fully integrate the community for genuine sustainability with immense results.
Various stakeholders from the religious body, health sector, media, security experts and government personnel were all present for Intensive lectures given by the facilitators from the national body for the 6days program from 1st to 6th august, 2021.
On the first 3days, there was state level orientation of the Community Led Monitoring (CLM) team were 15 based communities organisation were lectured on the need to enable their various communities accept and take ownership of the project within the two years.
Consequently, the national facilitators used the next 3days to impact meaningfully on the State Advocacy Team (SAT) which was later inaugurated by Dr Osuyali.
On behalf of other team members, the chairman of SAT, Mr. Greg sifo thanked members for the opportunity given to serve and promised to provide the needed leadership for Result based performance at the end of the project.
The officials of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme commended the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his passion to bring deliberate succour to its citizenry promptly.
Okowa at NG CARES
They gave this commendation when the governor officially flag-off Result Area 1 and 2 of the D-CARES programme in the state.
The Director Economic Growth, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning/Chairman, Federal CARES Technical Committee, Mr. Aso Ovakporaye thanked His Excellency for making Delta State proud for been the first to flag- off the program with Result Area 3 in September, 2021. “You will recall that when you flag-off Result Area 3, I was here. You did us proud for been the first flag-off which has made number one”
Mr. Ovakporaye thanked the Governor for all the support he has been given to the various Result Areas is impactful while pointing out that some state chose small numbers of the delivery platforms but Delta state chose all the platforms and assures them of delivery with the high level of their commitment so far even said they are they can kick-out poverty from Delta State.
The chairman revealed that at the technical level they told the world bank not to leave it Nigeria CARES but every state should domesticate it and Delta was superior.
He thanked the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Chairman State CARES Steering committee for level of mobilization which has enable the state to be number among others.
In the same vein, the National Coordinator, NG-CARES Program Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje also commended the Governor for his personal touch and attention for the NG- CARES programme in the State, saying that Okowa is the kind of Governor that should be leading the country even as he wish him the best in in endeavors.
Dr. Obaje disclosed the programme is performance for Result, for when the state spend to implement the programme they will be reimbursed by world bank after verification.
Comrade Nneka Glory Nwachukwu, Internal Auditor of the Federal Information Chapel Of The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), is one of the foremost and versatile Information Officer of the Federal Ministry, Delta State Center…
Comrade Nwachukwu, Our meeting was orchestrated by just an event, we have been good friends ever since, she has been a friend more like a sister to me. I have followed and observed her throughout the life span of our friendship and today i celebrate your consistency, commitment to the Federal Information Chapel Of The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), your family, friends and core belief, your heart of compassion and above all your spirit of contentment.
Comrade Nneka Glory Nwachukwu
As you add another year today, I welcome you to your appointed days of harvests and rewards. May the years ahead of you be brighter, rewarding and fruitful.
Happy birthday to you my friendship, my sister and my dearest colleague…
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has felicitated the Asagba of Asaba, Asagba (Prof) Chike Edozien on his 98th birthday and 31st anniversary on the throne as the Asaba of Asaba kingdom.
Elumelu in a Statement on Thursday, eulogized the traditional ruler and described him as a renowned icon and outstanding monarch who has contributed immensely to the medical profession, the traditional institution, the development of Asaba and humanity in general.
Asagba / Elumelu
He appreciated God for preserving the life of the traditional ruler, saying that the Lord God Almighty in His love and mercy has continued to make the Asagba’s reign eventful and glorious.
“On behalf of the Elumelu family, the good people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and of course the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, I, with the utmost reverence and joy celebrate you, Your Royal Majesty, our father, the Asagba of Asaba, (Prof) Joseph Chike Edozien, on your 98th birthday and 31st anniversary on the throne.
Prof. Chike Edozie, Asagba of Asaba
“I give thanks to God Almighty always for keeping you in very sound health with great wisdom, grace and strength as the fountain and wellspring of blessings to the people of Asaba kingdom, our State Delta and our nation, Nigeria in general.
“Since your ascendancy to the throne, you have continued to radiate a transcendental glory, love, uprightness, justice, fairness as well as inexorable source of inspiration in all virtues; honesty, diligence, industry, accommodation and peaceful coexistence for which our people are known.
“At 98, you remain a living legend, an outstanding national Icon, a renowned statesman and patriot who has contributed immensely to the development of the medical profession, the traditional institution as well as the unity, stability and development of Delta State and Nigeria at large.
Ndudi Elumelu
“To the younger generation of leaders, you remain a beacon of light and shining demonstration that the essence of leadership lies only in seeking the good, happiness and sustenance of others at all times.
“Your Royal Majesty, on this great day, as our people roll out the big drums in celebration, I pray to God to preserve you in good health, peace, unlimited joy and grant you many more decades on the throne to the Glory of His Name and the benefit of humanity,” Elumelu stated.
To formerly fulfill his political ambition to represent Burutu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Chief (Dr.) Ebi Franklin Waboke, FCIM, has voluntarily retired his appointment with the Delta State Government.
Waboke revealed this in his retirement’s notification letter, dated 16th May, 2022, he submitted to the Delta State Government which he made it’s acknowledged copy available to journalists in Asaba while briefing on the reasons he was seeking political powers.
He said subsequent to his emergence as the flag bearer for the Burutu Federal Constituency of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), he voluntarily commenced his retirement at 58 years of age to enable him contest the 2023 general elections scheduled for 25th February, 2023.
Waboke who noted that the care for human life and happiness, not their exploitation and extinction was the first and only legitimate object of good governance, therefore the worth of every State through its government was the worth of her citizens, said he was seeking the attainment of political power through legitimate, democratic and constitutional means for the purpose of building an egalitarian society predicated on the principles of equity, freedom and social justice.
Chief Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke
Adding, he said “Providing basic infrastructure and necessities of life, and for the observance of open democratic process in all organs of the party, State and to defend the sovereignty of the people, and the development of the Nigerian (ljaw) youth through the establishment and sustenance of social, cultural, sporting and entrepreneurial engagement activities.
“AIso for the development of leadership capable of effectively and efficiently managing National institutions and resources, as well as creating conditions and opportunities for the development or the potentials of all Nigerians”.
While noting that philosophers have always interpreted the world in various ways, and that the point of all was to change it, Dr Ebi Waboke, The Lomafe Of Laje Land, stated that a political mandate was required to transform the resources and economic strength for the benefit of all.
Chief Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke
“For this purpose, I Seek the mandate of the good people of Burutu Local Government Area, together with the support of all well meaning people all over Burutu Federal Constituency Seat in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly in the forth Coming General Elections on the 25 of February, 2023”. The DTHA Deputy Clerk on Legislative Matters stated.
Chief Dr Ebi Franklin Waboke thanked Almighty God for the experiences gathered so far from the service which he said he would put into use for the service of his Constituency, The State and the nation at large.
The Weeping Poet, John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo’s 1970 post civil war poem, “The Casualties”, affirmed that “we are all casualties.”
In today’s Nigeria, people have characteristically become ‘OBIdients’. One could say, like Clark-Bekederemo, that “we are all ‘OBIdients’.” ‘OBIdients’ are voluntary followers of the political ideology of Mr Peter Gregory Obi, the former Governor (extraordinaire) of Anambra State, Nigeria.
He has refused to offer a dime ‘shishi’, in contrast to the auctioning of the votes as seen in the previously held national conventions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Obi has become the 2023 Marcus Garvey of the (Federal Republic of ‘OBIdients’), hopefully leading them to a new Nigeria. They meant it when most of them sang: “Carry me dey go, Peter Obi carry me dey go for better Naija.”
The first cadets of this moral army were the netizens (citizens of the internet), the Generation Z, who were charmed by Peter Obi’s mantra: “Go and verify”. If eternal life had been preached the way Peter Obi is being preached, the ‘Kingdom’ would have come since June 2022. Senator Chimaroke Nnamani could not manage the frustration of a regular politician, and declared the Generation Z as intolerant, rude, condescending, intellectually averse and shallow. One respondent to Nnamani’s July 7, 2022 outburst was Rev Fr Ted Onumaegbu.
Peter Obi
He said: “For a Nigerian elder politician who characteristically has always breathed down so hard on the young, who views the younger generation with deep-seated suspicion, and who doesn’t know the difference between the www. of an internet and the https:// as the protocol that brings the internet to billions of users, all of these young people with so much knowledge are “rude, intolerant, condescending…. Yes, Gen Zs are cute, knowledgeable, they think in hashtags, twitter and Instagram. Oh, one more thing: they are the quintessential ‘copy and paste’ generation.” One cannot agree any less than Onumaegbu’s analysis.
They became members of a moral army, not by conscription, option of employment, remuneration, nor status symbol, but united in the drive to reorder and take back a lost country, plundered by the political class, who believe and activate the Nicholo Machiavelli principle: ”Politics have no relation to morals.” This army is desirous of politics guarded by morals and virtue; they believe that prayer goes with action; the hashtag is #TakeBackNaija.
They were derided by the squander-mania political class as being social media noise-makers, who are following a party with no structure, but before one shouted Jack Robinson, the structure emerged. In two weeks, the Independent Electoral Commission recorded well over ten million new registrations for the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) as at June 27, instant; and the campaign for PVC is massively gaining momentum. It is speculated that age 18-34 make up 39.7% and age 35-49 make up 32.5% (72.2% of registered voters) and this is the bulk of the army. Samson Akintaro on June 27th reported emphatically that the youths accounted for 70% of completed voter registrations (www.nairametrics.com).
Peter Obi / Datti Ahmed
The Sri Lanka revolution of July 9th is ripe in Nigeria, but approached in a different manner; not invading the President’s palace and chasing him away, which will result in bloodshed as never seen before, in a polarised country like Nigeria. The Nigerian youths have rather started the long awaited bloodless revolution (the Nigerian BASTILLE DAY) by being ‘OBIdients’ (and lately, ‘YUSful, in relation to the Labour Party Vice- Presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed).
‘OBidients’ belong to PDP, APC, (or any other parties), they may not be partisan nor inclined to any religious or ethnic identity; they have risen above these dividing factors, and have identified themselves with one common goal: to bring back the glories and dreams of a Nigeria once thought of as an African promised land, flowing with milk and honey. ‘OBIdients’ are teenagers, young adults, adults, wrinkled, anyone who ‘hungers and thirsts for uprightness’, justice, equity and fairness in Nigeria. They shall, like the Great Master said, “Be Satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
This land has been raped (or rather gang-raped) by greedy, visionless, avaricious, heartless managers, beginning from President Buhari who looked away and allowed the pillage, to the unfortunate members of the National Assembly who sold their ‘birthright’ and refused to checkmate the excesses of the government in power, with the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, promising to assent to whatever would be brought to his desk by President Buhari.
There is the tragedy of the judicial mafia, that lost the integrity of the hallowed wig and gavel, allowing the judicial system to almost belong to the whims and caprices of the ruling party, and a property of the executive arm of government, as widely speculated. It got so embarrassing that there had to be a palace coup, that saw to the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Mohammed, who is being investigated for financial misappropriation and a host of other allegations.
The security agencies became a nightmare, and the nemesis of the common Nigerians who turned a blind eye to the snake that crept into the neighbour’s roof; now the snake’s offspring has spread into every roof in the neighborhood. The cahoots of the Police, Army, Customs and others have allowed the infiltration of ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members into the system, as reported by Ibrahim Adeyemi on July 9, 2022 (www.premiumtimesng.com). Adamu Aliero, declared wanted by the Police as a bandit kingpin was just crowned Sarkin Fulani (leader of Fulani) by the Emir of Sabon Birnin Yatondo, Zamfara State, amidst heavy Police presence to protect the criminal.
Today, Shakespeare’s voice could be heard – Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more. Little wonder Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed declared that no government in Nigeria’s history promoted corruption like Buhari (Vanguard, July 18, 2022).
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) always issued Communiqués (as some other groups), harping on the nose-dive mode of the aircraft piloted by the politicians. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and lately Nuru Khalid (the Chief Imam of Apo Mosque that was sacked on April 4, instant, for criticising the government), have been vocal, but always criticised in defence of those that pay the pipers. Interestingly, Kukah openly challenged Buhari’s media men to an open debate on the claimed good governance offered by this administration, and the government quarters have been silent since April 19, 2022. Nigerians need, as a matter of urgency, a detailed report on those displaced, maimed, kidnapped, and killed from the time Boko Haram became a political tool in Borno State, as widely speculated, and especially through April 2015 when President Buhari took over the administration of Nigeria, till date; all classes of citizens slaughtered in broad daylight should be made available. On July 16, another report of two Priests kidnapped in Kaduna State made the headlines, a recurrent shock, just days after Kaduna Diocesan Priests protested the killing of Fr Vitus Borogo.
The failure to bring back Leah Sharibu (and even the remaining Chibok Girls in captivity), the culpable complicity in the recent Kuje prison break, the invasion of the Kaduna International Airport by terrorists who have still been tagged as bandits, the multiple massacre of the Ondo Catholic Church worshippers in June 2022 with no arrests yet; the stoning to death of Deborah Samuel in a tertiary institution, and more. The daily kidnappings and killings of victims, not forgetting the Abuja-Kaduna railway attack victims, where the Federal Government has shown itself to be emasculated to safeguard the citizens, and arrest the culprits. President Buhari promised security during his campaigns, but like Nero, he has ‘fiddled while Rome burned’. Nigerians live more in fear today than before, especially after the release of over 800 inmates of Kuje prison by the terrorists, who freed all their jailed members. It happened few weeks after it became public knowledge that the condition for releasing Abuja train victims was to let go the jailed terrorists. Few hours after the jail break, some kidnapped victims were curiously released. Such coincidences are rare. No one is safe any longer; thus the new mantra: ‘OBIdience’ is better than sacrifice.
On July 14, 2022, the ASUU strike entered the sixth month, with no end in sight, as the Federal Government of Nigeria is not going to blink first. For the umpteenth time the Federal Government has failed to fulfill its promises and financial obligations to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, and stiffled the motivation needed by Nigerian students who were recovering from the previous lengthy ASUU strike of 2021. This Valentine’s gift (as the strike started on February 14, 2022) to Nigerian students, their parents and guardians, by ASUU and the Federal Government, has taken a curious turn, as the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has fielded Bola Ahmad Tinubu (projecting a volatile situation of a Muslim-Muslim ticket), whose speech on July 13, 2022, at the political mega rally in Osun State, only added insult to injury, when he publicly said: ‘They will labour till DEATH’ (Vanguard Newspaper, July 13, 2022). This was taking it further from the earlier slogan against the ‘OBIdients’ and Labour Party, that they will labour in vain.
Mr Peter Gregory Obi has replied Tinubu in a refined way, characteristic of himself and which is the yardstick of ‘OBIdients’, thus: “There is dignity in labour…labour members will not labour till death.” There are heightened concerns that if the elections are rigged or auctioned, the President Mohammadu Buhari APC led government will hand over the batton of a continued ASUU strike to Tinubu, who already has poured his venom, his death manifesto on young Nigerian, and they are not taking it lightly. The Punch Newspaper reported a terrified serving Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, harassed by a Nigerian at a cafeteria in the USA (the video is circulating). Incidents as this may continue for those who blossomed with Marie Antoinette’s Louis XVI, while the people starved and died.
By stroke of chance or design, while Tinubu cursed ‘OBIdients’ in Osun State, Mr Matthew Okpebholo in Edo State donated a magnificent building for Peter Obi’s campaign, declaring his happiness in what he was doing, being ‘OBIdient’, maybe, and resolved to employ Mr Peter Obi with the PVC in 2023 with other ‘OBIdients’. In Abuja, Mr Kelechi Abonuyo, Director General of New Nigerians Anchor Point (NNAP) published an article on the redemption mission of this group which has unified nationals from all parts of the country with the same objectives: the choice of a credible candidate for 2023 elections (NNAP is under the umbrella of ‘OBIdients’), and Peter Obi won NNAP’s national election anyway. In Enugu State, a teenager, Covenant Onyebuchi, donated her life savings, an undisclosed amount of money, to Mr Peter Obi, to enhance the electoral logistics that will fast-track his entry into Aso-Rock.
‘OBIdients’ and their motivations were perfectly captured by Channels TV news anchor, Seun Okinbaloye’s powerful speech on July 13, 2022, on the need to not gamble with 2023 elections, as it is a defining moment, when the rest of Africa is waiting for her sleeping giant to wake up and rise. He emphasized that “the nation is choking, it can no longer breathe, there is a shortage of air, we need to allow this nation to thrive…this nation Nigeria cannot be taken as a private enterprise anymore”.
There is equally a tweet ascribed to Umar Musa Matazu that says: “Whether you like Buhari or not, you must agree that he improved some industries and sectors in Nigeria: ‘The banditry industry got better; the Federal Ministry of Kidnapping had a big boost; National Agency of Suffering had expanded very well, and is touching everybody. Sai Baba’”, he ended. Last of all, a recent viral video of a dog eating roasted corn, with background voices in Yoruba and pidgin English on the hunger rate in Nigeria would convince a doubting Thomas that something is ‘rotten in the city of Denmark’.
This moral army is determined to take back Nigeria, and the slogan in today’s Nigeria has moved from “No PVC, no food”, to “No PVC, no ‘ze oza’ room”, a serious threat to the men who show laissez-faire attitude towards the PETER OBI movement championed by Youths, Women, the Labour Party, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Civil Society Organisations, the Nigerian Students Organisations, and even some Preachers at the pulpit.
Peter Obi is also ‘OBIdient’, because ‘OBIdients’ have declared that if he refuses to enter Aso Rock Abuja come 2023, they will carry him and force him on that Presidential seat. In 2023, ‘OBIdients’ believe that it is Peter Obi (with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate) against other party Presidential flag bearers. Obi knows the problems of Nigeria, which he pointed out by likening Nigeria to the ill-fated Titanic, saying that while the lower class was battling with the sinking ship, the upper class was busy partying, until the whole ship went under, before they could realise it. His knowledge of the solution gave rise to the spontaneous emergence of this moral army, stronger by the day. END.
Fr Prof. Fidelis I. Agwulonu (Ahiara Diocese) is the Vice Chancellor of UNIVERSITÉ NOTRE DAME DE TANGANYIKA, Congo (DRC); the Dean of Academics, and Head of Departments of UNITATIS UNIVERSITAS SALVATORIS, Virginia, USA.
The first batch of the Oyo State Labour Intensive Public Workfare Beneficiaries (OYS-CARES LIPW) under the NIGERIA CARES operation selected from eighteen local government areas of the State have been deployed to their different communities to carry out public works activities.
The youths, who have started working since May 2022, will be paid a monthly stipend of ten thousand naira for four hours per day and twenty days per month works in the areas of grass cutting, filling of potholes, clearing of drainages, sweeping of dirty environment, collection and disposal of refuse as well as traffic control at major public institutions like community halls, hospitals, courts among others.
The Head of the Oyo State of LIPW, Mr Sangogade Olusumbo, while monitoring the activities of some beneficiaries within Ibadan metropolis on Wednesday morning, said the local government areas where the beneficiaries were deployed include Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Egbeda, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Ido, Irepo, Iwajowa, and Kajola local government areas.
Others, according to him, are Ogo-Oluwa, Olorunsogo, Oluyole, Oriire, Saki East and Surulere local government areas, where the local government Community Development Officer will keep up the daily monitoring of the beneficiaries at their respective duty posts.
Sangogade hinted that the Oyo State government bought into the idea to further empower the youths to contribute to the development of their communities while being paid a stipend to show appreciation for their efforts monthly.
“This effort is another area where the State government, through the Federal government and the World Bank, has co-opted the youths who might have been idle at these communities and the beneficiaries will contribute towards maintaining a hygienic environment while ensuring traffic sanity, especially in the major metropolis.
“The office has a system of monitoring the beneficiaries so that they will do their expected rounds daily within the specified time as apart from the routine monitoring by our office from Ibadan, each local government Community Development Officer is also saddled with the responsibility of going round these beats to monitor beneficiaries doing their public works.”
He added that other local governments areas that were yet to benefit from the programme would soon get the same opportunity as soon as fund is available for selection of beneficiaries and their deployment.
