Innocent Ojefia Blog

Veteran actor and filmmaker, Zack Amata, got married for the very first time in his life on Saturday, September 23. The actor who is the  father  of award-winning filmmaker, Jeta Amata, 43, reportedly has five children from five different women. His brother,  Fred , Family members and other  Nollywood  personalities attended the wedding. Congrats to these newlywed, Mr. and Mrs. Amata!    

TEN States have misspent the bail out funds and the Paris Club refund, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said yesterday. The NLC made good its threat to “Name and Shame” states that refused to pay workers or make public the bailout funds and the Paris Club refund they got. The congress also warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff, saying it will mobilise its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase when Nigerians were yet to get a good service foe the previous increase, which has been declared illegal by the court. NLC President Ayuba Wabba, who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja, said six of the 10 states were in a terrible situation, pointing out that the congress had directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months salaries to declare an industrial action. While reacti...

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has announced the appointment of Commissioners who will pilot the affairs of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, (DSIEC). The appointment of the Commissioners which is subject to Screening and subsequent Confirmation by the House, was contained in a letter sent to the House by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The letter read in part stated that, "In exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 198 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. I wish to submit as here under, the list of nominees for appointment as Members of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, (DSIEC). The members include: 1. Chief Mike Ogbodu - Chairman 2. Mr. Fredrick Oduje Ulakpa - Member 3. Mr. Friday Edmund Seimode - Member 4. Mr. James Eruorhevwameme Umukoro - Member 5. Mr. Gregory Chukwuma Edeme - Member 6. Light Oritseweyinmi Diden - Member 7. Mrs. Yvonne Ovuevo Wagbatsoma - Member The Governor ur...

New report has it that the police inspector who accidentally shot 2 persons dead on Sunday during a child dedication have been arrested by the disciplinary unit of the Nigerian Police Force Zone B, Warri, he would be arraigned this morning for trial at Asaba, Delta state capital, according to reports. It will be recalled that inspector Samuel Imana and his team was  hired as escort to the yahoo boys who attended a child dedication, trouble was said to have started when the boys began to spray and the police inspector decided as usual to release some gun shot on the air but unfortunately the bullets hit 3 persons, 2 were reported dead, while the last is still in coma. A police officer, Inspector Samuel Imana, at area command in Warri, Delta State has been alleged to have shot three persons mistakenly yesterday, after he was said to be acting under the influence of alcohol at a child’s dedication. According to Sapele Olofofo, two of the victims, one Elvis Kugbere and another...

Delta State Government led by the State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has signed a memorandum of understanding with God Is Good Motors led by Mr Chidi Ajare on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to completely overhaul the transport company. Governor Okowa while speaking after the Delta State Government signed an MOU with God is Good Motors Ltd in a PPP to reposition Delta Line Company, noted that sometimes the best decision may not be popular with the people but at the end the people will rejoice that the decision was taken. Governor Okowa also inspected the Mercedes Benz Sprinter that God is Good Motors is introducing to Delta Line Company under the PPP Arrangement.

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has signed three Bills passed by the Delta State House of Assembly into Law. The Bills include: DSIEC Bill ...Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) Bill, LG Amendment Bill and Administration of the Criminal Justice Bill. The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborovweri, accompanied by principal officers of the legislature, presented the bills to the Governor on today in Asaba. The bills were signed in the presence of top government functionaries. The Governor noted that Local Government elections will take place as soon as appointments are made into DSIEC".  The tenure of elected local government officials will expire by the end of October 2017.  

The Delta State chapter of the  All Progressives Congress  (APC) boasts that the party will claim the State from PDP in 2019 is just cheap and silly. These talks are words that are meant to win favours from the APC led federal government rather than serious declaration of intent by the party to defeat the ruling party in the next elections. Most of those in the forefront of these campaigns are alien to the politics of the State.  We wouldn’t blame them much, because they are ignorant of Delta politics. Secondly, the exercise of bringing the divided APC together, which they claim to have succeeded in, doesn’t add up. The addition of Cairo Ojuogbo and his co-travelers into the fray further complicates their situations. The division within the APC in Delta State is skin-deep and multifaceted and it is entirely driven by the reckless ambition of several men against the run of affairs to become governor at all cost. It is most of unfortunate that these power-hungry ...

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Festus Ovie Agas has said that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)- led administration was doing its best to enhance quality of lives in the state and will not relent in that regard. Speaking at the second phase of empowerment programme put together by elected and appointed political office holders in Ughelli North Local Government Area and inauguration of PDP Grassroots Mobilisation Executive for Ughelli Ward 6, 2 the SSG assured Deltans of the commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to developing all sectors of the state’s economy. He stated that despite the recession, Delta State had witnessed tremendous growth under the PDP, emphasising that all that was required was the unflinching support of the people, particularly in the area of peace and security ,as no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere of crisis and commended his other elected and appointed political office holders in Ughelli North for putting resources ...

Nigeria politics is anchored on one thing and that is platform, in which the actors use to ascend leadership positions. When the Peoples’ Democratic Party was in power and the ruling party in government, the party is the cynosure of any aspiring politician. Now, the game has changed as we are approaching another election in less than one and half years, some elected politicians and those, who may aspire for elective office may change gear to the ruling All Progressives Congress. So, the defection of Cairo Ojougboh and his co-travelers did not come as a surprise, because it only goes to confirm the long-known agenda of the Sherrif led PDP, which was to destroy the party and then pitch tent with APC. Nigerian politicians have no scruples and are devoid of ideology and morals.  Politics, for years, or all too long, has not been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong... There is no doubt Nigerian politics cannot produce anything different from what we have ...

What took place in the Southeast was expected by all reasoning people. Granted that the reason that the civil war was fought between 1967 and 1970 has remained with us and has even intensified History has demonstrated unequivocally that no part of a nation breaks away from the mother nation through this method. Kanu may have a serious case but his method is childish and intellectually barren. Reasonable minds were disturbed by his childish and dense utterances, as well as by his acceptance of his ignorant followers' delusional ascription of God-like status to him. It was deplorable to read a speech he made, wherein he demeaned some soldiers who had paved way for his entourage into Abakiliki, a speech wherein he also belittled the governor of Ebonyi as scampering once he showed up to the state. It was clear then that the next soldiers would not necessarily conduct themselves in decent manners that would attract ridiculing from Kanu. That's what h...

The Governor Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has traced infrastructure decay, weak public institutions, healthcare institutions, among others to a governance in deficit. Delivering a lecture titled "good governance for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development: Experience and Lessons" at the 2017 edition of University of Ibadan Alumni Lecture organised at the University of Ibadan Alumni Association at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Governor Okowa also, proffered solutions to the challenges. According to him, "the lamentable state of our socio-economic development evidenced by corruption in all facets of our national life, weak public institutions, crumbling infrastructure, urban decay, loyalty to primordial interests, weak healthcare system, low literacy rate and widespread poverty is indicative of a governance deficit." "We must, therefore, ensure effective governance systems and institutions that are responsive to public needs, delivering...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has described the Church as a key factor in ensuring good governance. The Governor made the description when the leadership of Delta State Chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria led by Bishop Kingsley Enakirerhi, General Overseer of Heroes of Faith Ministries paid him a ‘thank you’ visit in Asaba. Governor Okowa said, “the Church is a key part of governance, it has a lot of roles to play in governance, especially, in ensuring a peaceful state because, when the state is peaceful, you spend less resources on development.” “A lot of people look up to their church leaders, so, the church will help us to have more peaceful communities, peaceful local government areas, peaceful states and a peaceful nation,” he said, adding, “the Church should help in passing information on issues of governance to the people, making the youths to redirect their thoughts and know that the oil economy is no longer sustainable and they should...

The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, is present at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, which is going on at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting is being presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The minister had, in an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC last week, said she preferred former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, not Buhari for the 2019 presidential election. Details later.  

Shehu Sani, a senator from Kaduna central, has disclosed reasons behind All Progressive Congress, APC members determination to get President Muhammadu Buhari back to power come 2019 election. Sani said the Nigeria political elite see the President as a “meal”, and that they want him to seek re-election for their own survival. Aisha Alhassan, minister of women affairs, stirred a storm she when declared she would support Atiku Abubakar if he runs for office in 2019. In an interview with the BBC Hausa, the minister said she would support her godfather, Abubakar, even if Buhari seeks re-election. She also claimed that the president told members of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – that he would only spend a single term in office to “clean up the mess of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”. Her declaration and statements have ignited conversations on whether the president would seek re-election or not. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sani said while the masses ...

The Senior Aide to the Governor of Delta State on Research and Communications, Hon. Innocent Ojefia has assured that no amount of sponsored blackmail will distract Governor Ifeanyi Okowa from delivering on the SMART agenda of the State Government. Hon. Ojefia stated this while playing host to members of the Delta Collectives, who were in his office on a solidarity visit to reaffirm their support for the vision driven government of Governor Okowa in Delta State. The visit was led by the Chairman of the Collectives, Mr. Ken Imonisa. Describing the recent publications by Saharareporter as sponsored and politically motivated, maintaining that some mischief merchants and political fortune-seekers were working desperately to misrepresent Government genuine intentions because of the build-up to 2019. Hon. Ojefia said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been able to maintain peace and unity in Delta State, construct roads, boost agriculture, attract industrialization and generally earn D...

GOVERNORS of Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Nyesom Wike and Emmanuel Udom respectively have resolved to work for the interest of the nation. Rising from a closed-door meeting, the three Governors stated that the meeting was in the interest of the nation and to boost economic activities in the South South region, stressing that it is important that the area is peaceful for e conomic growth. Briefing the press after the meeting which took place at the Government House, Asaba, Governor Udom of Akwa Ibom State who was flanked by his colleagues disclosed that security of the region and the revival of the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo, Delta) Commission were the main issues discussed at the meeting. According to him, “we are principally here to discuss economic issues as it affects the region; on behalf of our colleagues in the South South states, we met to see how we can revive the BRACED Commission and boost security in the re...

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on Niger Delta leaders to unite for the rapid development of the geo-political zone. The governor said that unity is needed in the geo-political zone to check the current situation where outsiders take advantage of the disunity of the area to deny the people benefits of their resources. The Rivers State Governor, who is also a co-chairmam of the PDP Reconciliation Committee spoke on Saturday at Oghara, Delta State during a meeting with former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori and the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa at the Former Governor’s Residence. Governor Wike was accompanied on the visit to Oghara by Former Acting Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba,Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara ,Former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo and Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor. Also Present wa...

As the fireworks for and against the current Women Affairs Minister, Senator Aisha Alhassan,  for declaring support for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, while serving Buhari, continue, former Presidential Adviser, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has said that Nigerians should commend her for having the courage to speak the truth rather than deceive the president. Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker, told Saturday Vanguard that what Alhassan said was nothing strange, as many other ministers in the Buhari cabinet have in the past expressed reservation about his ability to seek re-election in 2019 going by his falling health. “What the minister has said is nothing new but the truth. Others in the cabinet of Buhari have been making such statements but in hushed tones. It is only that Alhassan had the courage and boldness to speak out and people should not chastise her because she has nothing to lose by staying or leaving Buhari’s cabinet,” Mohammed said. Mohammed, who was also a d...

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifean yi Okowa has harped on the need for host communities of Independent Power Plants in the country to be first line beneficiaries of the projects. Speaking on Friday in Asaba, when he received in audience Top management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company [NAOC] and Stakeholders from Okpai Community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area,Governor Okowa urged companies to always engage their host communities proactively so as ensure peace and reduce agitations and confrontations. The Governor expressed satisfaction with NAOC’s plan to construct two sub-stations at Okpai and Kwale aimed at providing adequate electricity supply to both communities, and sued for cooperation and support from all stakeholders. “The community is important to the implementation of projects as we need peaceful environment for investments to take place, This project is being designed in the best possible way this time around to deliver over 450 mega watts of electricit...

In a political stand that might put her in a face to face confrontation with President Muhammadu Buhari, Mama Taraba has remained unapologetic and defiant.  The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan aka Mama Taraba, said on Thursday she stands by her remarks to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate in 2019. Alhassan had told the BBC Hausa Service that she would not support President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to seek re-election in 2019. Speaking to State House correspondents on Thursday, the minister said she is not afraid of being sacked by President Buhari. She said:  “No, I have no comment. What will I say now? I have said all in BBC Hausa Service. Get someone who speaks Hausa very well to translate it for you.” On her relationship with Buhari now, she added:  “How will I know? I have not seen the President but I don’t think the President is a naive person.” “God gives and God takes. That is all and I...

- Some good news for Nigerian students as lecturers on strike have finally agreed to suspend it  - ASUU has agreed to the federal government's offer after a closed door meeting with a government delegation - The leadership of ASUU says it has accepted the offer and would take it to its members The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it has agreed to consider the federal government’s offer and suspend their strike. This great news comes after 12 hours, 30 minutes of a closed door meeting between ASUU and a government delegation in Abuja which started 1:38pm on Thursday, September 7 and ended 2:15 a.m. on Friday, September 8. According to Premium Times, the leadership of ASUU, however, said though it accepted the proposal presented by the government, it will take the proposal to its members and get back to the government in a week. The national president of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, told journalists after the meeting that the union will come back af...