Innocent Ojefia Blog

  Dr. Pat Utomi told a very big lie that he had his PHD at 18 years when he actually graduated from Nsukka in 1977, with his first degree.  Dr Uduaghan is Utomi's senior by TWO years. He entered the University of Benin to read Medicine in 1974 at 20 years, after his HSC from Federal Government College, Warri. Utomi was 18 years old when he was admitted to read Mass Communications at Nsukka in 1973. So, his claim that he already had PHD before Dr. Uduaghan entered the University is that of a scholar suffering from memory loss or most probably, a pathological liar. Sunday Areh was reacting to a claim by Pat Utomi in Punch Newspaper of Saturday, 29 July 2017

After days of musings on the altercations between Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Dr. Pat Utomi, it is good to make some necessary observations. When did Dr. Utomi realize that Delta State was into a debt peonage. All these past years, he put up with his observations, probably out of elite solidarity, because he has been hand in gloves with those in authority. It is therefore obvious that he only came out now, because of his self-interest based on his intention to become governor of the “highly indebted” State. His observation is not out of any altruistic or intellectual motives. In all sincerity, he is part of the problem for putting up all these years with what he knows was a wrong policy option. The summation from that attitude is that he does not naturally have the interest of the State and its people at heart.   On the issue of a youth centre to be built by CVL to give opportunities to youths, it is unfortunate and laughable that an important project that will impact...

Those interested in the dustbin of Nigeria's history will one day find APC inside the rubble, among the putrefaction, just beside PDP, and bring out her carcass for examination. Such students of the dustbin of history will likely conclude that APC's signature contribution to the Nigerian tragedy is not in the empirical failure to deliver on measurable electoral promises in virtually all areas of national life but in the deadening of the Nigerian mind. A nation's mind is lost when the capacity for ironic sentience dies. And no group of Nigerians, at any moment in our chequered national history, has contributed more to the assassination of irony than the confederacy of parochial interests in the leadership of APC. If blindness to irony stopped within the ranks of APC's leadership, if it was limited to Governors, Senators, Reps, and other political figures within her ranks, I wouldn't be so worried. It would be their funeral. I am not in the habit of s...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has urged members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to bring back those who had intentions of leaving the party and also, win members of other political parties to the PDP. Okowa made the call today (21/07/17) in Asaba, at a stakeholders meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to celebrate the victory of the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee at the Supreme court. Deputy Governor Burutu Otuaro, immediate past state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan and other leaders attended the meeting. “Please, reach out to our brothers and sisters to come back to the Party, we should be more united and stronger; don’t drive anybody away, this is the time to call on members of other political parties, including members of the APC (All Progressive Congress) to come and join us; it is the PDP that Nigerians want, it is a party that will give power back to the people; there is no more faction in our party, we are all one,” the Governo...

An enlarged meeting of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Delta State is currently going on in Asaba, the State capital. The meeting is being attended by all elected and appointed members of party and party officers from across the State.   Governor of Delta State, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, his deputy, Barr  Kingsley Otuaro , Delta PDP Chairman Barr  Kingsley Esiso , Former Governor of Delta State Dr  Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan , South South PDP Chairman Elder  Emmanuel Ogidi , Members of the Delta State House of Assembly led by the Speaker Rt Hon  Sheriff Oborevwori , Rt Hon  Osanebi  Ossai  Friday , National Assembly Members, past ministers, present and past commissioners, LGAs party chairman and the excos, party leaders, chieftains and all past and present political appointees.   The meeting is expected to discuss issues relating to the Supreme Court judgment and also the way forward towards sweeping the polls come 2019. Details l...

The Nigeria economy is expected to grow by 2.5 per cent this year after contracting 1.6 per cent in 2016. But the population is also growing at 2.5 per cent. So, in per capita terms, things are going nowhere. The reasons for the “recovery” are twofold. First, last year’s performance was so dismal it would have been difficult for the economy to fall further. Without doing anything at all — a reasonable description of policy under Muhammadu Buhari, the country’s ailing leader and frequent London resident — the baseline effect has worked its magic. Second, the oil that makes up so much of government revenues is flowing faster. In June, production was 1.7m barrels a day, 10 per cent higher than a year ago. Like weeds shorn of their leaves, graft will doubtless spring back as lush as ever once the Buhari strimmer is back in its box. One should, they say, never let a crisis go to waste. That advice has clearly not reached Abuja, where the economic collapse brought on by swooning o...

A WEEK-long activities marking the milestone of the serving senator representing Delta north senatorial district, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, climaxed today at the St Augustine's Catholic Church, Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA of Delta State. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, clocked 60 years on Friday, July, 14, 2017. The birthday events was rounded off today at the St Augustine's Catholic Church, Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA of Delta State. Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, Delta State Governor Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, former Delta Governors, Chief James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Reps Minority Leader Rt. Hon Leo Ogor were among dignitaries that graced the 60th birthday thanksgiving service.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, flanked by former governor, Chief James Ibori were sighted together on Friday at the funeral of late Estate Management guru, Sir Fortune Ebie. They were seen seated together at the funeral ceremony, which took place in Agbor on Friday Okowa who returned to the country Thursday night after his short vacation in the United States of America was accompanied by his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso and other top government officials to the funeral service held at the Cathedral Church of St. John (Anglican Communion), Agbor. The governor is expected to transmit a fresh letter to the state House of Assembly on Monday notifying them of his return and resumption of duty as governor.

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged political office holders to imbibe the lifestyle of the late sage of Estate Management, Sir Fortune Ebie in rendering service with integrity. The Governor, accompanied by his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso and other top officials of government made the call today while speaking at a funeral service for late Sir Ebie at the Cathedral Church of St. John (Anglican Communion), Agbor. According to Governor Okowa, "Sir Ebie served and led with an unassailable integrity, he set a standard of moral rectitude in the slippery world of business and service; he exhibited an exemplary courage and selflessness in service, and we should take the battle from where he stopped, it is the best tribute we can give to him." "I know we are mourning, but, we have every reason to celebrate his life for what he did for Nigeria as a nation, ...

A dog following a man with bulging stomach is full of expectation, for he will either stool or vomit for the dog to lap up. That describes the paradox of defection from one party to another in Nigeria. A few years back, the PDP enjoyed the boom of defections when the going was good. In the current trend, she suffers a reversal of that fate. Like our elders once said, you may be expecting the dry leaf to fall only for the green leaf to do so. I am of the conviction that, going forward, the All Progressives Congress may wither and wilt, while the seemingly dying Peoples Democratic Party, like the proverbial phoenix, may reinvent herself. I am not persuaded by the one-way traffic of defections to the APC, to believe, or conclude, the party is healthy and thriving. Like speed, obesity kills. And believe me if you will, the APC is more than obese. Let’s attempt a forecast of tomorrow for the writing is on the wall. Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the A...

The outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic Chairman of the party, can be described, as victory for democracy and the rule of law. The ruling has put to rest internal feuds between Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi, which had split the party along factional lines in the last 14 months. The victory would no doubt go a long way towards setting the tone for the rebuilding process in the party and place it in good stead to reclaim its ruling party status in 2019. The judgment is also good for democracy in Nigeria because the PDP has shown tenacity and the ability to lead Nigeria as egalitarian society based on the rule of law. PDP ran Nigeria for 16 years, and during that period, democracy was deepened and the rule of law respected; things were done according to the dictates of democracy and rights of Nigerians. There was no form of infringement and violations of people’s rights. T...

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. The apex court, in an unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices, handed leadership of the party to the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the part. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour who read the lead verdict validated the National Convention PDP held in Port Harcourt on May 21, 2016, where the Sheriff led National Executive Committee, NEC, was dissolved. He said the convention was not conducted in disobedience to any court order. The apex court accused Sheriff of engaging in forum shopping, saying he “displayed infantile desperation to cling to office at all cost”. Consequently, it awarded a cost of N200, 000 each, against Sheriff and Prof. Wale Oladipo who acted as National Secretary of the party under him. The Judgement of the apex court brought to an end a protracted leadership crisis...

The Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Barrister Festus Ovie Agas, has described the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as a visionary and detribalised leader whose firm determination to deliver on his electioneering promises is unparalleled. The SSG stated this in his congratulatory message to the Governor on his fifty eighth birthday celebration. "I congratulate Your Excellency as you mark and celebrate your 58th birthday anniversary in good health and divine favour. You have over the years made your family and the State proud, especially for your unbroken promises and visionary leadership which has opened a new page of quality service to Deltans”. "I am grateful to God for His divine hands upon your life and that of your family, particularly as you lead us into another phase of socioeconomic and and political development. "The footprints of your good governance initiatives since you assumed office as Governor of Del...

There are two types of Nigerians: those in government and those awaiting their turn in government. Forget all the talk about the size and potential of Nigeria’s economy. Forget all the talk about business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the rise of a vibrant new demographic of creators defying the odds to crystallize into a 21st-century transnational elite.  That is all puff and powder for there is really only one business in Nigeria and it is called government. Everybody is just really waiting for and on government. Every other sector and sphere of Nigerian life and all the players in all those private spheres and sectors are merely waiting on and for their turn in government. In Nigerian life, there is no creativity, no aspiration, no vision, no mission, no genius, and no dream beyond “joining government”. The sum total of national life is nothing but an endless footsy playing between those in government and those outside, hoping to cajole them to be let in or schem...