Innocent Ojefia Blog

I was shocked when former president Goodluck Jonathan called me to concede defeat while votes were still being counted during the 2015 election, President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed Buhari made the disclosure on Monday at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja, when he hosted the State House Press Corps to a lunch as part of activities marking this year’s democracy day. “When he made that famous call at 4:45 pm and said ‘Good evening Mr. President, I have called to congratulate you and I concede defeat’, I was silent for quite a while because I was surprised and he said ‘did you hear me?’,” the president said. Buhari said he was shocked because for someone who was a deputy governor, a governor, a vice president and a president for six years to concede that easily showed  Jonathan’s “great sense of patriotism”.  President Buhari said another former military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, advised him to visit Jonathan for his “statesmanship and ...

DETERMINED to reduce clash between herdsmen and communities in the state, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday had a forum with stakeholders where carrying of offensive weapons by herdsmen was frowned at.  Present at the forum which had as it's theme, “Fostering Peaceful Co-existence Between Farmers, Host Communities and Herdsmen in Delta State,” were representatives of traditional rulers’ council, communities, Farmers, Local Government Council Chairmen, Miyetti Allah, Miyetti Allah Kautu Hore, Cattle Dealers Association, Cattle Breeders Association, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Moslem Leaders, Civil Society Organisation, the Military, Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as Nigeria Imigration Service. Governor Okowa while declaring the event which took place at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, open, urged participants to speak freely about the way out of the qua...

  It was a gathering of who is who on Sunday in Asaba as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor of Delta State celebrates one year in office with a thanksgiving and praise to God.  Former Military Administrator of the state, Navy Captain Walter Feghabor, former Deputy Governors of the state, Chief Benjamin Elue and Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), elected and appointed political office holders; traditional rulers and lov ers of democracy were among the guests at the occasion which took place at the Events Centre, Asaba. Governor Okowa at the occasion which he attended accompanied by his wife, Edith; his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, Ebi thanked God for a successful one year in office and gave kudos to Deltans for their support. "One year down the line, we have reasons to thank God; today is thanksgiving and praise day; the times are tough, very tough and we know that the situation is the same nationally, but, we are very troubled in Delta State because our pipelines...

The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the ongoing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region, an official has said.  Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger-Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, said this at the end of a meeting he convened in Benin. Mr. Boro, a retired Brigadier General, told journalists on Saturday night that the pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the country and inflicting pains on Nigerians. ‎ He urged the agitators to dialogue with the relevant authorities over their grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.‎ He assured that plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants with welfare and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.‎ Mr. Boroh stressed the need to find lasting solutions to the current situation in the region. The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our area...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday failed to give specific details of recovered loot as part of his anti-corruption war during his Democracy Day speech, consequently reneging on an earlier promise he made to that effect.  Mr. Buhari had on May 14 said in London that he would personally provide specific details of all recovered stolen public funds because he believed that what Nigerians were being fed through the media were not detailed enough. “So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this because all Nigerians are getting from the mass media because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC, DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th,” Mr. Buhari said while attending the anti-corruption summit in London. But during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday morning, the president only repeated previous claims that his administration was g...

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to deal decisively with the issue of militancy in the Niger Delta region. In a nationwide address to mark his one year in office, the president lamented the effect of attacks on oil installations. “If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken. We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice,” he said. “The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems.” Buhari said his government had been able to recover “significant amount of stolen assets”, saying the details of the status of recovered assets will be published. “We are also engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which are in different jurisdictions. The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant amount of assets have...

  Brigadier General P.T. Boroh (Rtd), from all indications has relocated to the creeks of the region. Brigadier General Boroh is the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme. This might not be unconnected to the recent activities of the Niger Delta Avengers. According to a source, who simply identified himself as “Andy Spiff”, the Amnesty Boss was sighted having interactions in Rivers, Delta and Edo states on the same day. The source noted: “Over the past couple of days, Gen Boroh has had various meetings with ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the amnesty programme in the region. “This vigorous touring might be evidence of the Federal Governments readiness to dialogue with the Avengers.” It would be recalled that the Niger Delta Avengers have been targeting oil and gas installations in the region. This, according to them, is in a bid to cripple the economy and bring the Buhar...

Things are deteriorating in the Niger Delta, as Rivers State Command of the Nigerian Police scramble to deal with the missing 5 Nigerian Police officers ambushed by unknown gunmen. As soldiers lay siege to Oporoza YENAGOA- THE strike teams of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, in the early hours of today, Saturday, struck in Bayelsa State, blowing up trunk line belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.   The group, which claimed responsibility for the explosions in a tweet, said: “At About 2.15am on Saturday the @NDAvengers blow up Nembe 1, 2 and 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk Line belonging to Agip and Shell.” Meanwhile, soldiers invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom, at about 1.52 am, this morning and were still laying siege to the community as at 8.00 am. The soldiers, who came in no fewer than seven gunboats, allegedly beat up residents, including an octogenarian community leader, Chief ...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged Nigerians to respect the rights of the Child and create an enabling environment to realise his or her potentials.  Speaking at the Grand Finale of the 2016 National Children’s Day Celebration in Asaba, Governor Okowa said that the Nigerian Child like his counterparts worldwide has an inalienable right to be protected from all forms of abuses and exploitation and inculcated with the right societal values and norms so as to realise his potentials. Governor Okowa said that “As spelt out by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Nigerian child, like his colleagues all over the world, has inalienable right “to survival, to develop to the fullest, to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.” The Delta State Child’s Right Act has domesticated these principles” “ All Nigerians, irrespective of background, should c...

In order to find a lasting solution to the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has agreed to re-engage persons from communities in the region to protect the oil pipelines.  The federal government has also promised to restructure the amnesty programme so as to address the critical issue of neglect by the government and international oil companies, as claimed by the inhabitants of the region. Nigeria’s crude production has dropped in recent times from about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to around 1.4 million bpd due the vandalisation of critical oil pipelines by agitators in the region, a development that has resulted in the country losing its place as Africa’s top oil producer to Angola. The Muhammadu Buhari administration had, before now, threatened military action against the perpetrators who it had described as economic saboteurs. But in a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NN...

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says various groups, including the Concerned PDP Stakeholders have agreed to work with the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee. BOT Secretary Ojo Maduekwe disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, while addressing newsmen on the resolutions of the board’s expanded meeting with various organs and groups in the PDP. Maduekwe said that the groups agreed to work together and support the decisions reached at the PDP May 21 National Convention, held in Port Harcourt. “We agreed that the National Caretaker Committee led by Markafi should involved members of the Concern PDP Stakeholders group for effective integration of all points of views and indices,” Maduekwe said. He added that in order to settle the latest leadership crisis in the PDP, the meeting set up two committees to engage all aggrieved leaders and members of the party. “The BOT at the expanded meeting decided to immediately engage all groups...

President Muhammdu Buhari has revealed his greatest shock since assuming power on May 29, 2015. He said he could not believe when he was informed that Nigeria had over the years squandered all its precious foreign exchange on the importation of food items and other frivolous items, including tooth picks. Speaking in Abuja yesterday to editors and newspaper executives in an interview to mark the administration’s first year in office, Buhari said last year, when oil prices fell to $40 per barrel, he summoned Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] Godwin Emefiele and asked to see what it was that Nigerians were buying with foreign exchange. He said, “Up to 2013, we were earning on average over $100 per barrel from oil but by fabulous coincidence, it went down to about $30 per barrel when we came in. There was no money to import food. For me, it was the biggest shock. “Nigeria became an oil economy and we left agriculture and solid minerals and everyone went to the city...

A man had just concluded his transaction at a market in Abuja, paid for the consumables he bought at scandalously high prices and was expecting his change. Sensing that the seller who collected his money was not paying attention, he repeated: “I said you should give me my change.” At that point, the man looked at him and replied: “I heard you the first time but let me offer you one piece of advice: In this market, you ask for the balance of your money, not change. We don’t want to hear that word again in this market. Last year, we voted for change but see where it has landed us!” - OLUSEGUN ADENIYI The word "Change" has been changed (no pun intended) to "Chains" in some circles in Nigeria.  So there is no surprise there.  The thing is of all the past HOS and ex-Presidents, the one most resistant to change is this president.   That's the irony of the whole change propaganda.  Granted that people do change, but this president is so se...

It is sickening when the apologists of the Buhari’s presidency keep on asking Nigerians for more time to address the mess which they accuse the PDP of creating. Honestly, this is a lazy man’s excuse. Nigeria’s backlog of problems did not start with the PDP in 1999. The putrid nature of the Nigerian State should be located within its proper context. But even at that, history has thought us that bemoaning the past does not solve the present. In all sincerely 12 months is enough for any visionary government to change the direction of the country. As a matter of fact, Muhammadu Buhari and APC made, by the last count, a total of 81 electoral promises in the run in to his presidency. These promises include the public declaration of assets and liabilities by Buhari and his team, introduction of state and community policing, ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad, implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions f...

The Federal Government has appointed the Chief Executives of six information-related parastatals under the Ministry of Information and Culture, with South South missing out from the six appointees made. Despite the  continuous  noise,  APC Delta, nay south south  still on the losing end.  The appointments were announced in Abuja on Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The new Chief Executives are: 1.   Mr. Ishaq Modibo Kawu – Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC 2.   Mr. Mansur Liman – Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) 3.   Mr. Yakubu Mohammed – Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) 4.   Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) 5.   Mr. Bayo Onanuga – Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 6.   Mr. Osita Okechukwu – Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) The new appointees ...

…Decries Effects Of Crisis On Development.   To find lasting solution to the perennial Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja Communal clashes, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has set up a high powered Panel of Inquiry with Professor Abednego Ekoko as Chairman.  Other members are Mr. F.O. Osiawa, Surveyor General, Mr. J.N Ogabu, Asst. Surveyor-General, Barrister Ernest Edomwonyi, Legal Counsel/ Secretary, Chief Engr. Paulson Okobiebi and Elder Stephenson Lerhovwre [Aladja Community Representatives] and Hon. Denbofa Oweikpodor, Mr. Franklyn Igangan [ Ogbe-Ijaw Community Representatives].                     Senator Okowa while inaugurating the Panel of Inquiry at Government House, Asaba, decried the effect of boundary crisis not only on peace and security of the communities and the state but also on development, investments and the state's economy. “This administration is always committed to the pu...

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Akpan, on Monday advocated special amnesty for owners of Nigeria’s stolen money, starched in the various banks all over the World in order to generate enough forex to drive the nation’s economy. Akpan, who stated this in his office while addressing journalists, explained that the country currently have hundreds of billions of dollars starched in various banks abroad and the countries where they were kept, are using them to drive their own economy while Nigerians are suffering. He said, �� Makes perfect sense. Abacha looted and stashed in foreign countries, but have all the money been recovered, and at what cost?  If the looter dies, then the money is lost to host countries forever.  It makes sense to make deal with the looter while he is alive to move the cash back into Nigeria. Another side of this issue is education, a public awareness campaign to educate looters that they are making other countries, ...

The Governor Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has attributed the successes recorded by his administration in the delivery of development projects across the State, despite the economic down-turn in the country to superior planning.  The Governor in a crowded press conference to kick-start activities to celebrate his one year of being in office at Asaba, said, “when I addressed the State immediately after my swearing-in as Governor on May 29, 2015, we were in the middle of a serious economic crisis, our monthly revenue both from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue had dipped significantly; the non-oil sector of the economy remained largely untapped; the level of youth unemployment was troubling, posing a clear and present danger to the socio-political stability of the State; our credit was in bad shape, and the financial system was at best, shaky and at worst, perilous; indeed, our promise of prosperity for all Deltans seemed illusory, but, we moved sw...