Innocent Ojefia Blog

At intervals, I always enjoy having interesting chats with several friends online. But in random thoughts, I took a second look at those who are most vociferous against the current administration in the State and discovered that they are all immediate past members of PDP who moved over to APC after the general elections in 2015. It was also most funny and interesting to note that none of the original members of the APC in the State go online to haul attacks and invectives at the present administration. After analyzing the underlining motives for the exasperation of the former members of the PDP, I came to seriously agree with the concept of stomach infrastructure.  And I wept for the future of Nigeria.  There may be no hope for any better future.  Why?           I have always held Karl Marx in high esteem as one of the most realistic social scientists of all time.  Marx postulated that the economy is the foundat...

The optimistic, overconfident Nigerian who offered me a “no shaking yes” to both questions was only able to do so because he successfully outed me as I tried to remain incognito and maintain a low profile at the hotel pool in Lagos. Retreating incognito to a joint to assess matters about the polity. This time in the holiday season of 2016, I was alone in a secluded corner of the poolside, trying not to look like me. I didn’t want the burden of public recognition which often ruins my attempts at privacy in Nigeria.  It was evening and my niche on the poolside terrace was poorly-lit, increasing my chances of an uninterrupted time to unwind alone. On the table, in front of me, a half-finished big bottle of Orijin was trying unsuccessfully to help a bowl of nkwobi down my throat. I thought that the bottle was doing a poor job of accompaniment and blamed myself for believing that only one bottle could successfully accomplish the task of helping the nkwobi to its final resting...

The Delta State government   has denied trending allegations in the media of alleged $10m money laundering involving the governor and a US-based Ika-born actress, Georgina Onuoha. In a statement by the Delta State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Pat Ukah, the governor described his involvement as "ridiculously tasteless and mischievous", adding, "This can only be part of the unrelenting campaign of calumny and the ceaseless peddling of pernicious propaganda against the person and office of the Delta State Governor."  Quoting copiously a national newspaper headline, "Girlfriend defrauds Gov of $10m", Mr. Ukah wondered why the newspaper report and subsequent media reports strove to link Delta State Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa with the said story.  "It is instructive to state that The Nation, quoting sources from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported that a serving governor from the South - South region, allegedly ...

What we need in Delta State is Constructive Engagement not Falsehood, Needless Blackmail and Propaganda. Opposition does not makes us enemies, It only means we see Progress from different perspectives. It is sad that principal aides to Delta Central Senator, Distinguished Senator Ovie Agege are at the frontline to incite Citizens to needlessly malign His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. This strategic blackmail Agenda has been going on for some time but now more energied and amplified. Efe Duku, should you continue in your failed attempts to ignite falsehood and incite hate against Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as you have started then we may all be ready for the 'Market Square' experience you have always wanted. The relative peace as Urhobos we have enjoyed on the Cyberspace may soon be broken and i know it will gladden your heart but sadly none of us will be winners. Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa   goes on insulting Okowa everytime but thankfully it h...

We heartily congratulate you on turning a year older. You are not getting older, you are becoming mature. Not just a year older, but a year better. People as amazing as you do not just pop up. Like a fine cheese or wine, they just get better with age! As a journalist and a lawyer, his strength is in his character, which is invisible. Yet he is not hidden because he does not shy away from responsibilities and challenges. You are a man of history whose life has affected Delta State and indeed Nigeria in an unprecedented manner. Osu, you have spent most of your adult life serving your father land as a law maker, administrator, public servant and statesman.  Your influence has been felt in all areas of governance. I urge you to use the rest of your life to continue to serve humanity as many young people look up to people like you for counsel and guidance. I pray God to grant you good health and long life for more selfless service to Delta State, Nigeria and the e...

Every Nigerian who wonders why Buhari's "anti-corruption" government is turning out to be one of the most brazenly corrupt governments in Nigeria's history should read this incredibly insightful interview by Junaid Mohmmed in Punch Newspaper. Snippets: You claimed to have been a friend to President Buhari since he was a rising officer in the army, do you have to come to the open to criticize him instead of doing that privately? There is a little story about this. I had occasion to speak about this issue about two or three times. Yes, the man has been my friend and I remember in 1998, I saw Buhari, he was then Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund and he asked me to see him in Abuja from Kano which is about 450-500 kilometres. Upon my arrival, I was lodged at the then NICON NOGA Hotel, the next morning, I joined him in the office at Asokoro over tea. After we had discussed other matters, I gave him the information I had about some dirty business going on in the...

On the scale, how has Buhari performed? On present evidence, there is no better way to capture the stewardship of Buhari as Nigerian President than a betrayal of all who have bent over backwards to give him benefit of the doubt. Let us provide some corroboration in the collective wisdom of two respected Nigerian newspaper publications-one of which expressly endorsed the Buhari candidacy. One year into his incumbency the Punch newspaper adjudged: ‘Buhari’s sectionalism is not only unprecedented, it could not have come at a worse time. The reality today is that Nigerians are deeply divided. Seventeen years of dashed hopes of progress under a democratic dispensation have reopened the deep fissures in the polity and polarised the populace into mutually suspicious camps. Sectarianism and ethnicity have been rearing their poisonous heads. It is in this combustible mix that Buhari stubbornly presses ahead with appointments that weigh heavily in favour of his northern regional bas...

When you read through posts by Oghenedoro   Pedro Otega (alias   Fejiro   Oliver), you can see random insinuations that he is being used by Okowa and Hilary. The question is: does Okowa or Hilary need the assistance of Fejiro to do anything? What would either of them achieve through online attacks by someone that is not a credible source? There is no doubt that Fejiro is a freelance mercenary and blackmailer, who attacks prominent people to induce them into discussions. Most Deltans know that Fejiro is a born blackmailer. Why should anyone then take him seriously. It is doubtful if he has any particular paymaster, because he attacks anybody, both within and outside government. It is therefore, also irresponsible for anyone to associate anyone for that matter to any tirade from Fejiro. It is better to respond to him directly than making and casting unnecessary aspersions on innocent persons. But media owners and   journalists  need to resist any...

Ayodele Fayose, the Ekiti State governor and the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’s Forum, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 25, thwarted operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) efforts to arrest Apostle Johnson Suleman of The Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide in Ado Ekiti. The Pastor who was in Ado Ekiti for a two-day crusade was alleged to have preached against Fulani herdsmen rampage by ordering his members to kill any suspected herdsmen they find near him or his church recently in Auchi, Edo State.  According to reports by Vanguard, Suleman was trailed after paying a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House to his hotel room by the operatives of the DSS in Adebayo area of the state capital. The DSS operatives who almost forced their way into the hotel was also said to have been resisted by security men of the hotel who insisted on knowing their mission. The pastor was said to have alerted Governor Fayose to ...

The opposition, in connivance with some of their allies in online media, have perfected the art of serial attacks, laced with outright lies, half-truths and malice just to rubbish every progressive innovative policy, programme and delivery by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of his electoral promises as captured by Prosperity to All Deltans . But these attacks are not new. They have become trademarks of a frustrated and disgruntled opposition. The financial challenges for all levels of government since this administration came on board in May, 2015, is general knowledge. It may therefore, not be necessary to chronicle the impact of the fall in crude oil prices in the international market that culminated into flight of fund from the Federation Account with associated gross cut by 60% in allocation to States in the country. In addition, the administration inherited a strangulating financial situation when it assumed office. It is, however, important to acknowledge that crude oil sa...