Ukwa/Ngwa Leaders Unhappy With Gov. Ikpeazu Over Abia PDP Chairmanship Seat

 

Political leaders from the Ukwa/ Ngwa bloc of Abia state have expressed displeasure with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu over yesterday’s emergence of Chief Johnson Onuigbo a.k.a Akinbod, as the state PDP chairman.

The leaders, who met at a secret location in Aba after the PDP state congress, lamented that the Ikpeazu could not exercise his authority to help enthrone a state chairman who would be completely loyal to him. They stated that Onuigbo’s election had the imprint of Senator Theodore Orji and his son, Engr. Chinedum Orji who have retained the political leadership of the state even after the former had served out his tenure as governor.

Speaking on the condition of strict anonymity, a leading chieftain of the party in the area who convened the meeting told our correspondent that the Ukwa/Ngwa people expressed fear that the former governor and his son who is also the majority leader of the state Assembly may use the new chairman against the governor’s re-election.

“According to him, “We are afraid on the way the PDP congress went without the governor exercising his authority as the leader of the party in the state. How can he allow somebody who has served out his tenure to install a state party chairman for him? This is never done, there is danger. There is more to it; this is why we decided to convene this meeting. Soon, we will send a delegation to the governor to hear from him on the development. We will also use the occasion to warn him that he is treading a dangerous path if he continues to concede his powers to others. He needs to assert his authority as governor, but what we have seen so far, is disheartening. It is either he sits up or forget re-election.”

Even the zoning of the party chairmanship seat to Umuahia North was greeted with condemnation across the state. The popular acclaim was for the seat to be occupied by a party faithful from Umuahia South or Osisioma Ngwa council areas.

“Why will every position go to Umuahia North LGA? They produced the Senator for Abia Central and the majority leader of the state legislature, so why can’t they leave the chairmanship position to other local governments? Politics of exclusion has been the bane of Abia state,” a chieftain asked rhetorically.

Source: 247reports

BREAKING: Nigeria deregulates downstream oil sector, petrol to sell for about N145 a litre

 

The federal government has announced a full deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry, pushing the price of petrol to about N145 a litre.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, announced the policy change in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon, confirming the exclusive report of Monday, May 9 on the matter.
“In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies,” Mr. Kachikwu said.
“All Oil Marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.
“Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.”
Read full statement below.

PRESS STATEMENT ON CURRENT FUEL SITUATION
We have just finished a meeting of various stakeholders presided over by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The meeting had in attendance the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN).
The meeting reviewed:

1. The current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country.
2. The exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product. These prices range on the average from N150 to N250 per litre currently.
3. The meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.
Following a detailed presentation by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:

1. In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.
2. All Oil Marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.
Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.
We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel. In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.
We share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues. Along with this decision, the federal government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges.
We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices.
The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products.
Source: Premium Times

Abia CPS, Information Commissioner Clash Over Alleged Insubordination

Abia state Commissioner for Information, Bonnie Iwuoha and the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu has clashed over an allegation that the CPS have continued to usurp his duties as the manager of the state information machinery.

Iwuoha, according to Abia Government House sources, has been lamenting that the CPS has rendered him redundant as he (Adindu) combines the functions of both offices. Before the appointment of Commissioners which came six months after Ikpeazu was sworn in, the CPS was in charge of the information ministry, and may have felt reluctant to confine himself to his duties.
Angered by the development, Iwuoha was said to have stormed the CPS’s office recently requesting him to mind his duties as the governor’s spokesman and stop interfering into his duties as Information commission.  A staff of the Government House, who witnessed the incident, told 247ureports.com that a heated argument ensued between the duo as Adindu in a moment of rage, shut the door against Information Commissioner and warned him never to set foot on his office again. Both men have not been on talking terms and have been opposed to each other. Since then, Iwuoha has been reported sick and unable to resume work. It could not been confirmed if his illness is linked to the incident.

The feud has continued to fester even as both hail from Ngwa clan as Ikpeazu.  As a result of the development, our correspondent gathered that Iwuoha had petitioned Gov. Ikpeazu accusing the CPS of insubordination and threatening to kill him. The governor is said to have directed his Chief of Staff, Chief Chijioke Nwakodo to query the CPS.
The situation has taken a toll on the governor’s media unit as the numerous Special Assistants and Advisers on Media to Ikpeazu have taken sides with the warring officials. The CPS is currently mobilizing support among the over 20 SAs on Media to the governor to battle the Commissioner. Those who have been opposed to the CPS as a result of his alleged arrogance in the discharge of his duties have found the feud an opportunity to get back at him. Adindu has been alleged to have shown lack of respect to majority of the governor’s appointees including his Chief of Staff, Nwakodo, without Ikpeazu battling an eyelid, amidst series of complaints.

A cross section of commissioners and senior officers of the administration are said to be prevailing on Ikpeazu to sack Adindu or redeploy him for his lack of respect to Iwuoha and other officials of his administration. Adindu has made more enemies than friends for the governor since he was appointed CPS.  Even journalists in the state have not been spared of Adindu’s arrogance.
“Godwin Adindu’s arrogance and I know it all attitude has caused many people to hate the governor.  People are surprised that Ikpeazu has retained him despite his attitude. We know he won’t sack him because they are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church,” a staff of Government House, told our correspondent.

Source: 247reports