Innocent Ojefia Blog

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki has confirmed that he has received the ministerial list from President Muhammadu Buhari. Bukola Saraki  ✔ @bukolasaraki I can now confirm that I just received # Thelist of Ministerial nominees 5:20 PM - 30 Sep 2015  ·  Abuja, Nigeria, Nigeria     1,571 1,571 Retweets     172 172 favorites The list has now been officially submitted to the Senate. The list was conveyed by chief of staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari and Sen. Ita Inang, the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters (Senate). Recall that Buhari had promised to submit the list by the end of September. READ ALSO :  Ministerial List Will Be Released Before Midnight- Presidency The list was sent after the Nigerian Senate ended plenary for September 30.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Today at the Delta state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba closed its defense without calling any witness to substantiate its claims that the Delta state governorship election in April 11, 2015 was free and fair. The All Progressive Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate Olorogun O’tega Emerhor is challenging the declaration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the winner of the governorship election held on April at the tribunal. At resumed hearing, Counsel to INEC, Mr. D.D. Dodo (SAN) who was represented by Mr Onyinye Anumonye tendered from the bar document of unit by unit card readers’ as uploaded as at April 16, 2015, which was earlier tendered by Okowa but was rejected by the tribunal. INEC’s counsel also told the tribunal that they would not be calling any witness but will only rely on the document already tendered at the testimony of other witnesses called by the 1 st   and 2 nd   resp...

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has debunked reports that Preside nt Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the federal government’s pipeline security deal with Global West Vessels Specialists Limited (GWVSL), a company said to belong to former Niger-Delta war-lord, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).  NIMASA: Tompolo’s pipeline security contract intact. Giving the high incidences of pipeline vandalisation in parts of the country, it could be recalled that the maritime security contract was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan and awarded by NIMASA in 2011. But in a sharp clarification, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Jauro, on Tuesday, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, refuted reports that the maritime security deal was terminated, pointing that it did not in any way encroach on the constitutional duties of the Nigerian Navy to protect the n...

Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, frontline industrialist, technocrat, administrator and an Ancient Mariner died at the age of 82. This was made known at 8.15 a.m. on Tuesday, by his son, Ese Onosode, in a statement.  Onosode was a former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party of Nigeria. He was educated at the Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan, he emerged in the 1970s, as one of Nigeria’s leading educated chief executives, when he was at the helm of NAL merchant bank of Nigeria. Over the years, he has risen to become a leading boardroom player in Nigeria’s corporate environment. He was also a former presidential adviser to President Shagari and a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Management.

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa today swore in Chairman and Members of New Board of Internal Revenue and Civil Service Commission with a ch arge to make resourcefulness and diligent teamwork their watchword towards midwifing the process for wealth creation, which is the hallmark of his administration. Those sworn in are: BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE (1) Sir Monday John Onyeme        Chairman (2) Barr.Mike Edegware                 Secretary (3) Mr Goddey Iwebuke Daniel       Member (4) Hon Solomon Ighrakpata          Member (5) Mr Barry Gbe                             Members CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION BOARD Chief Nkem Okwuofu ...

Following the nullification of the All Progressives Congress [APC] Bayelsa state gubernatorial primary election held in Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Timi Alaibe has withdrawn his candidature for Timipre Sylva. "having carefully examined the circumstances that have trailed the Governorship primaries of our great party in Bayelsa state, I have come to the conclusion that pushing my Governorship ambition beyond this point carries alongside it some collateral consequences", Alaibe said in a statement made available to Elombah.com. Elombah.com had reported that APC had on Monday ordered fresh Bayelsa gov primary, following which the candidate that won the election,  Timipre Sylva vowed to boycott the rescheduled election. National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said this at the end of the party’s National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Monday One of the contestants, Timi alaibe had asked APC to cancel primary claimed to have been won by a fo...

Foremost technocrat and boardroom Czar and an Ancient Mariner, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, 82, is dead. It was learnt Mr. Onosode died Tuesday  morning  at Gold Cross Hospital, Ikoyi Lagos at about 8:15am after a protracted illness. Onosode was flown home yesterday from London. According to Wikipedia: Gamaliel Offoritsenere Onosode (born 22 May 1933) (Died 29 September 2015) is a Nigerian technocrat, administrator and a former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party of Nigeria. Educated at the Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan, he emerged in the 1970s, as one of Nigeria’s leading educated chief executives, when he was at the helm of NAL merchant bank of Nigeria. Over the years, he has risen to become a leading boardroom player in Nigeria’s corporate environment. He was also a former presidential adviser to President Shagari and a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Management. Life and career An Urhobo man, b...

One housewife identified as Mrs Nkechi alongside a cook, Bassey Okon are cooling off in police custody for allegedly attempting to kill her husband… The suspects were apprehended by men of the Delta State Police Command and while confirming the arrest, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Celestina Kalu said the suspects arrested on Wednesday in Asaba, at the residence of their target, a retired Head of Service along Abraka-Asaba road following a tip off.  Kalu stated that Mrs Nkechi allegedly contracted the cook to kill her husband and had already given him the sum of N35,000 as down payment of the N100,000 agreed, adding that Nkechi promised to pay the balance of 65,000 as soon as the deed was carried out. As fate would have it, the cook on that day, was caught in the act of carrying out the evil assignment by the target’s son who was watching him from upstairs. It was learnt that Okon served his man, the alleged poisoned food but the former head of service ...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for the inclusive participation of all Deltans in governance for the actualization of his administration's SMART agenda of prosperity for all. Addressing leaders and elders of the Delta Central Senatorial district who paid him a 'thank you' visit in Asaba (28/09/15), Governor Okowa emphasized that for the state to grow, the partnership of all Deltans irrespective of political affiliates is needed, adding that everyone has a role to play in achieving a greater Delta State. “I call for partnership from all Deltans, even from my brothers in other political parties that contested election with me, because we can’t continue to do thing in the old way, go to the tribunal after every election, we should come together to work for the development and progress of our state, we have to close ranks as we need the partnership of all Deltans for everyone has a role to play in achieving a greater Delta State”, The go...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has challenged tertiary institutions in the country to be accountable, innovative and infrastructure driven to make them centre of excellence. Governor Okowa gave the charge when he received the chairman, Prof. Abel Mac Diakparome and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of the Delta State University [DELSU], Abraka. The Governor said that the universities must account for its internal generated revenues and utilise same for infrastructural development in the schools as government, going forward might not be able to fund the schools adequately. “if we think that government can continue to fund every aspect of the university we will be making a mistake, the university must run itself so that it can account for every money it generates, the state government pay salaries and carry out infrastructure development in our tertiary institutions, the schools need to generate money and use same for infrastructural dev...

As Minister of Petroleum, Ms. Diezani Alison-Madueke was not only powerful, but influential. She was highly revered and had the ears of former President Goodluck Jonathan. It was no surprise, therefore, that her exquisite detached house in Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Lagos, was heavily guarded by mobile policemen and naval ratings. Right in front of the property is a well-manicured waterfront garden with a small jetty, where speedboats and small yachts of various types were anchored. But as the popular saying goes, the only thing constant in life is change. Today, the number and size of boats anchored near the garden have dwindled to just three boats that lack the splendour of the former large vessels that used to grace the entrance to the property.  Also, unlike in the past when the security around the building was so tough that residents had to keep moving until they got past it, there are currently only one or two unarmed naval ratings carrying out sentry duties a...

… Reveals Why APC Agents Refuse To Sign Result Sheets A staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Dominic Okenna has told the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Abuja that there was no official circular that barred the use of manual accreditation by electoral officers during the last governorship elections in the State. Dominic Okenna, who said he served as the Electoral officer for Onna Local Government Area, said that INEC had a procedure which involves sending information by circulars from Abuja through the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who in turn subsequently passes the circular to all concerned official. Okenna dimissed the alleged directive that barred the use of manual accreditation in the April 11, 2015 elections, saying “we never received the press statement purportedly sent from INEC Abuja on the use of card readers,” adding that the statement was merely a press statement, and not an official circular. ...

Urhobo Political leaders along with elected and political appointees today paid a solidarity and thank you visit to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. The group was led in the visit by Senator   Ighoyota Amori ,   Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district and Prof Sam Oyovbaire, Chairman, Delta University Governing Council and Peace Advisory Committee. They declared the total support of the Urhobo nation for Governor Okowa’s administration and commended the Governor for the appointment of worthy sons and daughters of Urhobo extraction into positions of authority.

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for prayers, love, sacrifice and partnership among Nigerians to move the nation forward. As events to mark the nation’s 55 th independence anniversary celebration kicked off. The Governor Okowa made the call at the inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the 55th independence anniversary celebration held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Bishop’s Court, Asaba. He said Nigerians need to pray for the nation and make the necessary sacrifice in order for the nation to grow, adding that both leaders and the led have a role to play in ensuring the nations greatness. ‘’ We need to pray for our nation and play our individual roles to move the nation forward, we must play our part and not just to criticise those in authority, if this nation have to move forward we have to partner among ourselves both as a nation and as individuals, only through prayers and partnership with God can we move faster’’ the governor s...

W hen I heard our dear President Muhammadu Buhari was heading to the 70th United Nations General Assembly with 3 Governors from the North; the NSA from the North; and Perm Secretary of the Ministry of Defense –  all of them from the North , I convinced myself that “he must be planning to present a case to the global powers about needed support for our efforts against Boko Haram and; more importantly the fate of our internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the rebuilding of the terrorism-ravaged North-East.” So, I was shocked to discover earlier this  morning via a tweet by @bukkyshonibare , a leading‪#‎BringBackOurGirls advocate that. “The Nigerian government did not attend the subject meeting as reported by  Reuters. “ RELATED:  Nigerian Gov’t Missing From Boko Haram Centered Event At UN Assembly (PHOTOS) This president is, now, beginning to get under my skin – his last trip to meet with President Obama was also laden with governors that wer...