Innocent Ojefia Blog

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has under his leadership instituted the most transparent financial system in the allocation of resources accruing to the State. Since assuming office, the Delta State government has exhibited one of the utmost transparency in its financial system in the disbursement of its resources. The administration has been creative in the management of the scarce resources to lift the State beyond the limit of the available resources. The State government is prudent, knowing that the funds coming in was not sufficient for our needs in the first place. And this is why the State government has been able to pay its workers. Despite the meager allocations coming from the Federal Government, the State still pays salary and carrying out development projects across State. And nobody bothers to ask how it is been done. As we move into a new year, media pra ctitioners, especially online media should endeavour to be objective and thrive less on...

It is most intriguing and provocative that Nigerians refuse to be provoked for all their woes! How far can you push a Nigerian before he reacts like an angry lion? Isn't it a ridiculous mockery and insult that Nigerians are the only world citizens that when pushed to the wall, spend more energy to break the wall and cross over rather than fight back? Read this and let's know who our real enemies and shameless oppressors are - GOVERNORS, EX-GOVERNORS, SENATORS, REPS. Can't we do something to get rid of these big thieves that use our power against us?ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! NIGERIANS WAKE UP! A lion never shies away from a fight when it is hungry, neither does it blame the buffalo for resisting or refusing to be eaten. How come our forefathers dared death and everything to give us a sane society? Twenty-one senators currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors. The current senators who once served as governors are Bukola Sa...

I wonder how those who genuinely believed that Buhari was going to fight corruption now feel? Disappointed? Head in the sand? Cognitive dissonance? ...As corrupt as the Jonathan administration was, it was once railroaded by the force of public opinion to “accept the resignation” of former Aviation Minister Mrs. Stella Odua over her controversial purchase of MW armored cars worth $1.6 million. Even Obasanjo, not exactly an apotheosis of integrity, fired a number of his ministers accused of corruption. But a man who rode to power on the strength of his credentials as a dogged anti-corruption fighter is looking the other way when his close aides are accused of corruption. The president, it’s now obvious, is only interested in fighting corruption if his political opponents are the accused.  So we have graduated from "stealing is not corruption" under Jonathan to corruption is not corruption when the people accused of it are the president's "anointed."  ...

      - 40 foreigners were arrested within one week within the deadly Sambisa forest following the recovering of the forest from Boko Haram terrorists - It is believed that the foreigners were providing “back-up” for Boko Haram At least, 40 foreigners were arrested within one week within the deadly Sambisa forest following the recovering of the forest from Boko Haram terrorists. According to a report by The Nation, profiling of the foreigners has started to determine whether or not they were working in cahoot with Boko Haram insurgents. A military source said the identities of the foreigners and their missions in Sambisa Forest will not be revealed untill after a thorough screening has been completed but it is believed that the foreigners were providing “back-up” for Boko Haram. ”In the last one week since we launched massive operations in Sambisa Forest, we have arrested over 40 foreigners. “We will come up with the details later after the profiling of the...

Two suicide bombers struck in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, in the early hours of Monday. Victor Isuku, spokesman of the Borno state police command, confirmed the incident. This comes less than 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari praised the military for capturing Sambisa, described as Boko Haram’s last enclave.  “I am delighted at, and most proud of, the gallant troops of the Nigerian army on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa forest,” the president had said. More to follow… Follow us on twitter  @ OJFI

The travails of Chief James Onanefe Ibori was most sore, because it was headed by prominent Urhobo sons and daughters.  It is on record that Chief Ibori is among few Urhobo sons and daughters that have worked tirelessly for the economic and political development and progress of Urhobo land.  It is ironical therefore, for the same people to be in the forefront of his persecution even after his release.  Nobody asked why Chief Ibori should be singled out from among other thirty-six State Governors for victimization and punishment? Chief James Onanefe Ibori - name and person has gone through so much abuse - post 2003 especially - and from Chief E. K Clark in particular .  It riles when people will not give due honour to Chief Ibori for his contributions and doggedness for Urhobo cause. There is nothing some people will not resort to because of politics. At a time, Femi Falana failed to refer to Dr. Odili’s case when he said no court in Nigeria has the power to...

·          James Ibori is presently in court, set be released.  ·      British Government lawyers fail in their bid to keep Ibori in further detention.  ·          British Home Secretary acting unlawfully and misusing her powers Drama in the British High Court today as senior lawyers for the UK’s Home Office failed in their last minute bid to prevent Ibori’s release.   The apparent decision to block Ibori’s release and detain him appears to have come from the highest echelons of the UK Government - the Home Secretary who was accused in today’s haering of acting unlawfully and misusing her powers.   Sian Davies, the Crown Prosecution lawyer did not object to Ibori’s return to Nigeria, yet at the last minute the Home Office stepped in. There is clear discord between the two arms of the British Government.   Ibori’s team was led by Ian McDonald QC, t...

This one has moved beyond a party matter. Saraki has effectively conducted a coup against Buhari, and right now, Buhari's hands are tied and Buhari knows it. Saraki is now negotiating with NLC and ASUU on when to strike and not strike; unilaterally rejecting Magu based on a DSS report (that I guess Buhari did not see before sending Magu's name to the senate for confirmation! Jesu!); unilaterally rejecting the request for loan.... etc. etc. Buhari has now become a lame duck.... unable to do nada. Saraki is fully in charge of Nigeria. That is just the way it is. And, it is not surprising, because Saraki is a deft political operator. As the chairman of the governor's forum, he operated as a capo de tuti. Ultimate gangsta. Pocketed all of the other governors, and wielded the powers of that position with precision. He is doing the same as Senate president. The leadership of the NASS has taken control. Buhari is fumbling. It started with the crazy lopsided appointments...

President Muhammadu Buhari is ready to shake up his cabinet, a move that may affect no fewer than 10 Ministers. According to THISDAY, the presidency has reached out to the Senate, informing it of its intention to reshuffle the cabinet. With some of the Ministers to be sacked, the presidency is trying to avoid another controversial screening process, especially with  recent occurrences . The cabinet shake-up is also necessary, as Buhari needs to fill two existing vacancies, created by former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity,  James Ocholi’s death  and  the appointment of Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed  as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). The source also told the newspaper, that while some of the 10 Ministers will be dropped, others will swap portfolios. “There is an understanding that in the new year, one of the key assignments the Senate will undertake, aside from the consideration of the...

I have, in the last few months, been shuttling from villages to towns across the three senatorial districts of Delta State at a high frequency for various reasons that additionally paid off in a manner I least envisaged. In the vast majority of areas thus visited, the common denominator of my journeys can be encapsulated within the context of a landmark developmental statement presently dominating the geography of Delta. My numerous trips ended up becoming a firsthand experience of the developmental strides of the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led government, a series of encounters that have inspired me to share those experiences with Deltans, more so for the reason of avoiding false spin from false prophets and self-seeking politicians who have appointed themselves naysayers to each and everything good the Okowa administration is entitled to legitimately take credit for. It is as such, most gratifying to report that despite the lean purse of the State, the Okowa administration some...

The leader of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group Abubakar Shekau may have been captured by ‘king of hunters’ around Gafa Mountain in Borno state According to reports by Daily Sun, there has been speculation about Shakau’s capture for over a week. A highly placed source quoted in the report revealed that troops of the Nigerian army fighting in the area had surround the Gafa Mountain area last week over intelligence report that top Boko Haram leaders were hiding there. Recall that severally, the Nigerian military had pronounced Shekau either arrested or killed only for the Boko Haram leader to bounce back alive, with YouTube video releases. The Nigerian army, earlier this year had announced the death of three key commanders of the extremist Boko Haram sect. The army said the terrorists were killed in a major air strike on their location in the dreaded Sambisa Forest. Also, on May 12, 2014, the DSS, through its former spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, insisted that the man in th...

Sometimes, it is doubtful if the character of our elite can engender meaningful development. Their quest for survival makes the struggle for power too intense and absorbing that it overshadows everything including development. When we think of development, we are thinking of the objective interests of society. But, because of the need for survival, most of us are in no position to think of the objective interest of society. Most of us just confuse what sustains our existence with public interest. The consequence is over politicization of issues and errant sentiments.  Indeed, I have always been accused of being unsparing in my criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but what those who have formed such opinions failed to understand is that as scholars, we have a huge responsibility to write in ways that would elevate the country and make it better than it is. To educate, if need be, praise and criticize in order to bring improvement into the society. Such huge respon...

- Delta state House of Assembly has lost one of its long-serving members, Mrs Omawumi Udoh - Mrs Omawumi Udoh representing Warri south I constituency died at a London hospital after a protracted illness - Mrs Udoh has been described as an extra ordinary woman, who demonstrated a life of service, love, compassion and excellence to her family, community and the State Delta State House of Assembly has lost one of its long-serving members, Mrs Omawumi Udoh.  Chief Monday Igbuya, the Speaker of the Assembly, on Wednesday night announced the death of, Mrs Omawumi Udoh representing Warri south I constituency. She died at a London hospital after a protracted illness.  The speaker in a statement signed by Henry Ebireri, his Chief Press secretary, Igbuya described the late Udoh as “a dogged fighter, grassroots woman and leader. He said:   “I wish to convey to you the deepest condolence of the Delta House of Assembly in an emotion laden voice. It is really hard t...

Nigeria’s economy has continued to fall since 2014 when oil prices slumped and has been in declining. By 2015, the country ran into recession after Gross domestic product shrank in the first quarter contracting by 0.36 percent from a year earlier, according to the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics. The last time the economy contracted was the second quarter of 2004, according to data on the central bank’s website. Falling prices of crude oil, from which Nigeria derives up to 70 percent of State revenues, has caused the nation’s economic outlook to deteriorate as all levels of government struggles to pay salaries, meet other obligations and stimulate growth, forcing increased borrowing.  There are few States in the country today with recurrent surplus, which is a good indicator that they have the ability to meet monthly recurrent expenditure commitments. Over thirty States are having recurrent deficits, which is a bad indicator, meaning that monthly average r...

Honourable Justice James Omo-Agege, OFR (rtd), the former Chief Judge of Delta State, who transited to glory on August 18, 2016 at the age of 83, is on his final journey home this weekend. We have lost a great man who was honest, straight forward and patriotic. Justice James Omo-Agege was the patriarch of the Omo-Agege dynasty of Orhomurun Orogun, who established himself as an international judicial behemoth. He was the Chairman, armed robbery and fire arms tribunal in Benin, where he sat over the judgement of Lawrence Anini, DSP Iyamu and their ignoble group. With the creation of Delta State, Hon. Justice James Omo-Agege became the Chief Judge of the State between October 3, 1993 and November 4, 1998. He later became pioneer Chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC. He was an outstanding and profound lawyer, and a vibrant judge. He will be remembered for his incisive intellect, his agile wit and his captivating prose. Though he has joined ...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa has assured the Gbaramatu people who had complained of the project’s abandonment that a “reasonable funding” for the EPZ Project had been realized, hence his administration constituted a Steering Working Committee. “The project has not been abandoned. I can assure you that”, he stated. Governor Okowa also called on the Gbaramatu people to play their role by creating a peace enabling environment for the project to succeed. Earlier in his remarks,the immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan described as temporary the challenges facing the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ (Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port/Ogidigben Gas City) in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. Jonathan made the assertion as part of his goodwill message shortly after the Delta State Governor, Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa presented a staff of Office to the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM. Oboro Gbaraun II, Ake...

  Recently, a prominent politician from Delta State met with a former Governor in the South South geo political region. The Governor had refused to have audience with this politician who was on a fence mending mission; until the kind intervention of a mutual friend who pleaded with the ex-governor to have a rethink. During the meeting, the former Governor berated the politician for betraying him by not supporting Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s governorship bid. “Do you now see?” the ex-governor lashed out. “Nobody saw this coming but if your candidate had won do you think he would have been able to manage and stabilise the State with the current economic crisis in the country?”  This same sentiment is one that has been expressed by friends and foes alike. Even his most rabid critics would concede that Delta needed Governor Okowafor a time such as this. His broad based experience in legislative and executive functions, administrative acumen, political savvy and disciplined work...