Innocent Ojefia Blog

  Tony Obuh can be spotted easily in a sea of heads. His chocolate complexion and trademark smile ensures that. But it is not the colour of his skin or his friendly mien that has made him unique. The peculiarity of his personality as embedded in his strength of character, legacy of achievements and vision in public office is what has set him apart. He has etched indelible footprints on the sands of time in every endeavour he has ventured into and since emerging on the political scene has brought a refreshing touch to the game. This is a statement of fact. Yes verifiable facts as different from opinion or mere posturing. But where is Tony Obuh’s strength of character? Before I address this question let me put the question broadly: wherein is the politician’s strength of character in a country where the political stage is seen to be fouled by the antics of the players themselves? So if the broad perception of the average Nigerian politician by the general public is swathed i...

The Advisory Council of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) consisting of the nine Niger Delta state governors has met with a resolve to urgently address some of the challenges facing the Commission. The governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, who briefed the press on behalf of other governors, shortly after the meeting which lasted into the early hours of Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the New Government House in Asaba, said that the meeting has given room for the NDDC to give an insight on their programmes and budgetary update. According to him, emphasis was also placed on the burning challenges facing the Commission. He noted that the Advisory Council is looking at the updates to leverage on some of the outstanding problems among other challenges, including that of defaulting oil majors who have reneged in meeting up with their obligations to the Commission. “We are ready to see how we can assist in resolving some of these challenges and how we can leverage on s...

Good sportsmanship was yesterday exhibited by Sir Tony Obuh and Obarisi (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege, as the two Governorship aspirants in warm embrace exchanged pleasantries in Asaba, at the 54 th Independence Anniversary thanksgiving and dedication of the new Government House Chapel. This is the time to move State forward through the united commitment of all stakeholders. It would be a mistake if we keep looking at things that divide us. Such thinking should remain in the past. All hands should be on deck to place the State at where it rightly belongs. This brotherly embrace is a step in the right direction. The future holds so much and this is a good way to start.

The State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi has said that for the sake of equity an Anioma son or daughter should emerge as governor of the State in 2015. Chief Nwaoboshi stated this when Mr. Tony Obuh paid him a consultation visit. The PDP Chairman who prayed for Sir Obuh, asked God to grant him his heart desire. The Chairman, while speaking asked rhetorically, who said Sir Tony Obuh was not a politician?  He then noted that whenever Tony Obuh came to his house they always discussed politics. He emphasized that Tony Obuh is grounded in all the policies and programmes of the State government in the past fourteen years and that Obuh retired from the political position of Permanent Secretary, because appointment to that position is political. He thanked  Obuh for the support he had given to the party in the past, adding that the Obuh family had always been supportive PDP, especially the late Chief Ben Obuh who was until his death the vic...

At least, six ministers may quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet in October as preparations for the 2015 general elections peak. The affected ministers are expected to resign their appointments in order to pursue their governorship ambitions on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. As of press time, the ministers who have governorship ambitions in their respective states include Senator Bala Muhammed (Federal Capital Territory), Mr. Labaran Maku (Information), Chief Emeka Wogu (Labour), Mr. Nyesom Wike (State, Education), Dr. Samuel Ortom (State, Trade, Industry and Investment) and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (State, Defence).

A pastor, John Kayoda, lost his wife and four children to a midnight inferno on Thursday, in Warri, Delta State. The cleric was said to be at the church’s national programme, holding at Ikeji-Arakeji in Osun State, when the incident happened. His wife and four children - two boys and two girls - all within ages eight and 18 died in the inferno which engulfed the mission house of the church at about 12.30 a.m on Thursday. When the Nigerian Tribune got to the area around 10.30 a.m, sympathisers and members of the chucrh were gathered in groups wailing inconsolably. The pastor was said to be on his way back to Warri as of the time of filing this report. The entire three-bedroom mission house closely attached to the church auditorium was raised down, with no item recovered from the rubbles. An eyewitness and church member, Mrs Stella Osama, said the remains of the pastor’s wife and four children were burnt beyond recognition. Another eyewitness, Mr Bright December, ...

A police officer, on Wednesday morning, was knocked down by a driver, killing him instantly in Delta State. The driver, Peter Bolorunduro Igbekele, who resides in Ugbomro, where the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) is located, however, said he lost control. The police officer was a Cadet ASP attached to the Ebrumede Division, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. He was said to be on duty with three of his colleagues at DSC Roundabout, Warri, when he met his untimely death. Motorists and residents of DSC Roundabout ‘duty post’ however, had been complaining of the dangerous mode employed by policemen, who abruptly stop vehicles at the junction, leading to accidents on several occasions. The unsolicited presence of policemen at the roundabout, it was gathered, usually caused gridlock, resulting in several loss of manhour during peak periods. Nigerian Tribune gathered efforts to save the officer was futile, as he gave up the ghost before gettin...

Being cheated on, can be very painful, especially when you have been very faithful and really love that person, but is that enough reason to kill a cheating partner, and ruin your life in the process? A man identified as Michael Akpore of Urhiephron, Ughelli South Local Government Area, as been arrested by the police for reportedly killing his wife, Julie Akpore, 32, over claims of adultery. Micheal lured his wife to the bush along Iwhrekan/Ekakpamren Road, where he allegedly butchered her, and reported himself to the police, a few days after he had committed the murder. This was confirmed in a statement by Mrs Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command; “The suspect claimed he killed the wife because she confessed that she was having extra marital affairs. He was promptly arrested, the crime scene visited and corpse of the woman recovered and deposited at the Jeremi Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.” So pathetic!    Whoever...

The persistence of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region where over 400,000 barrels per day are stolen may threaten world peace and democracy if concerted action is not taken to curb it, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, has warned. Speaking at an African Business Round table-organized workshop on combating emerging threats held on the sidelines of the on-going United Nations General Assembly in New York, Uduaghan said with 90 percent of the stolen oil exported, the cash return was enough to empower individuals and organizations engaged in the theft to destabilize democracies in the West African sub-region. The Delta State governor who is also the chairman of the Committee on Crude Oil Theft set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria said the growing insurgency by extremist Islamist groups and violence on the civil population may not be unconnected with the huge cash outlay that cannot be traced due to crude oil theft. He called on the international co...

THE UNCT-United Nations Country Team led by Ambassador Shola Omoregie earlier today at 13:00hr presented its report on Delta state at the ongoing 69th Session(2014) of the UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY in New York, USA. The presentation which took place at meeting Room 6, UN General Assembly Building in NY, USA was kick-started by Ambassador Joy Ogwu who is Nigeria's Permanent Repres entative to the UNITED NATIONS. She commended the Delta State Government for making her a proud DELTAN through it's MDG-Tailored Governance where the weak in the society are given priority attention through affirmative action as reflected in the free maternal healthcare Programme, the free under-5 and over-65 medical Programme, the micro-credit scheme, the Edumarshal program and the provision after access to portable water for Deltans. She enjoined the Governor to keep the flag flying. On his own part, the Country Co-ordination/Leader of the UNCT; Ambassador Shola Omoregie in his remarks commended th...

The Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay has described Mr. Tony Chuks Obuh as a near perfect gentleman who served the State diligently and qualified to be governor, adding he has all it takes to manage a complex State. Macaulay who is also the Supervisory Coordinator, Isoko Federal Constituency, Project Obuh 2015, said Obuh “always discharged his responsibilities with smiles on his face,” noting that “he is someone you can trust with great responsibilities while you sleep, never tired and one without complaints.” He was speaking Sunday at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Agbor for a thanksgiving mass for the voluntary retirement as Permanent Secretary from Delta state civil service after 32 years of meritorious service by Mr. Tony Obuh. Macaulay, who was Obuh’s immediate boss until his retirement, described him as a dependable man, intelligent and full of initiatives and prayed to God to lead aright. Mr. Obuh who is an aspirant in...

  THE Senate President David Mark, on Monday, asked the APC to stop spreading falsehood as regards the possible postponement of the next general election. Mark, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the statement credited to the APC, warning against a possible postponement of the 2015 election amounted to expanding the frontiers of falsehood and a disservice to Nigerians. He said this in his reaction to the statement by APC national publicity secretary, Mohammed’s  which proved an obvious misrepresentation of his position by calling for a  declaration of war on the Boko Haram, adding that APC’s interpretation of his position “was a bogus and blatant lie.” He said the claim that he called for a postponement of the 2015 election was incorrect. According to him, in the course of debate in the hallowed chambers of the Senate, he had insisted that the issue of insurgency must be addressed now and not election matters. The state...

  ·         If we don't plant the right things, we will reap the wrong things. – James Harvard. Gongs of words and the flutes of interests of the many tribes in Delta State and Nigeria have sounded. The people have adopted Tony Chucks Obuh as their key choice who has the potentials that could drive a proactive economy in the State. Tony Obuh from his speeches and action is a man with a passion and commitment to lead Delta State from this present economic spark to higher heights. Commitment is the connection between our values, intentions and our actions. Connection is the coming together of more than one element, while commitment is the giving of ourselves to it, the surrender. The connections we make generate our commitments, just as our commitments generate more profound connections. Passion is the essence of commitment. Passion is that which deeply stirs us. It is the fire from within and that which motivates us. When passion is mis...

The Tony Chucks Obuh’s divine personality is catching on like wildfire, as Agbor was today overwhelmed by crowd of his supporters from across the State and indeed the country. The whole of Agbor metropolis was on a lockdown as Obuh had a thanksgiving for his successful retirement from the Delta State Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary.  It is undeniably proven that Tony Chucks Obuh advent to the political turf of the State has received widespread support and commendation from well-meaning individuals and groups. What however tends to take me aback, is the claim by the minute and infinitesimal detractors that Obuh is being imposed on the people. When I hear the word imposition I often ask if anyone can ever impose anybody on Delta State and it receives the level of acclaim Obuh has? The answer is in the negative. Deltans at all times know what and who they want. Their choice of Tony Chucks Obuh is therefore very far from what should be called imposition. I have dec...

Since modern day politicking is that of the fast lane, not many persons pay attention to excellent leadership qualities a man possesses. In the Delta State 2015 Governorship race, the presence of many aspirants has not over shadowed the outstanding Godly qualities of Mr. Anthony Chucks Obuh. Mr.  Anthony Chucks Obuh is a study in servant leadership. And like Zig Ziggler says: The ultimate measure of a man is not the number of servants that he has but the number of people that he serves . His popularity before his nomination may not be unconnected with it. He has always quietly assisted people within his capacity and oftentimes, these acts do not attract much publicity. To crown his humble disposition, when asked about his contribution to the present government, with all sense of modesty, he situates the drive and the passion that undergirds the obvious changes altering the landscape of the State as the work of God almighty and those of his boss, the Governor.  He...

S apele— Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday in Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area, said the government’s  Delta Beyond Oil  initiative was a legacy project that will stand the test of time even after his exit from Government House. The governor, who paid an unscheduled visit to the revamped Songhai Delta Farm, in Ovwore Community, Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area, also said the farm was revamped to play a major role towards the actualisation of the initiative, noting that revamping the farm was a major success of his administration that will stand the test of time. He said: “As part of the success we have achieved so far in our  Delta Beyond Oil i nitiative, we thought it wise to revamp this farm and today we have successfully done that. “Let me quickly add that the benefits of this farm are enormous. Apart from the production of several classes of food stuff for Deltans, Nigerians and in fact, foreigners, this farm is also serving...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday fixed November 29 and 6 December for its Governorship and Presidential Primaries.  The general election will take place in February 2015. Olisa Metuh, the party`s National Publicity Secretary, said in Abuja that the primaries for the National Assembly would hold on 22 November, adding that the dates were proposed by the party`s National Working Committee (NWC). According to him, the dates were proposals that were subject to the approval of the party`s National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled to meet on Sept. 18. “ We expect all public servants, government appointees and elected party officials who are interested in contesting any position to resign their appointments seven days before the commencement of the ward congress election,’’ he said. NAN, however, learnt from the party’s national headquarters that sales of nomination and expression of interest forms for various elective offices would be between October 27 and 2...

Kano - Gunshots and an explosion hit a college in the north Nigerian city of Kano on Wednesday and multiple casualties were feared, witnesses said. Students and workers at the Federal College of Education in the Kofar Kabuga area of the city fled in panic as shots rang out and an explosion ripped through the campus at about 14:00 (13:00 GMT). There was no official confirmation from local police and no immediate indication of the number of casualties but two witnesses told AFP they saw at least five vehicles taking away casualties. Educational establishments in Nigeria's second city, and the commercial capital of the north and a centre of Islamic scholarship dating back centuries, have been hit several times in recent months. On 30 July, a female suicide bomber killed six people after detonating her explosives at a noticeboard on the campus of the Kano Polytechnic College while students were crowded around it. The attack was the fourth by a female bomber in the city in a wee...

Pastor  Chris Oyakhilome, on Sunday, enjoined his congregation to refrain from speaking against a man of God. The church also suspended Michelle Okojie, a pastor in Lagos, for her “subversive activities.” The reason for Ms. Okojie’s suspension was not given. At the church’s Sunday service, Mr. Oyakhilome described a man of God – as different from a preacher – as one who had been given a revelation from heaven. “To speak against the man of God is to bring a curse on yourself and your children. When you hear people speaking against a man of God, move away from there. “Men of God don’t just talk. When they speak, God is forced to move.”  Sunday’s service was Mr. Oyakhilome’s first appearance to the Lagos branch since the news of his divorce broke last month.

A source in Abuja said some intelligence professionals were questioning the propriety of using cash and secretive means to purchase weapons. “The use of raw cash by government to buy weapons abroad is not appropriate. Look at all the embarrassment now,” said the source. “It’s the kind of system used by criminals and shady organizations,” he added. Challenger 600 private jet with registration number N808HG  Flightaware The Nigerian government has maintained a curious silence since the scandal broke on September 5 when South African law enforcement agents confiscated $9.3 million from two Nigerian private jets that landed at Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg.  However, a source in the Presidency said that the government had reached out to South Africa and explained that the arms purchase deal had Abuja’s official approval. Despite such assurances, the deal has continued to raise dust and...

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed for cooperation from Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and acts of terrorism in the country. President Jonathan in a goodwill message to the Second Plenary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Effurun, Delta State, affirmed that his administration was committed to end all forms of insurgency in the country. Jonathan, who was represented by Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, explained that the government has intensified the fight against terrorism in the Northern part of the country but that it requires the continued cooperation and prayers of all Nigerians. “I need the cooperation of the entire country in the fight against Boko Haram. In doing this, Nigerians should also pray for the defeat of the Boko Haram,” he said. President Jonathan also assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment, towards conducting free and fair polls in 2015. Uduaghan, speaking at the same event said that government, thr...