Why I Chose Governor Okowa As My Running Mate — Atiku, PDP Presidential Candidate

 Prior to the announcement, Atiku explained that it was a tough decision to arrive at his choice of a running mate, stating that he selected Okowa due to the perceived qualities of the latter in governance and politics.

 

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar earlier on Thursday announced Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, as his running mate.

Prior to the announcement, Atiku explained that it was a tough decision to arrive at his choice of a running mate, stating that he selected Okowa due to the perceived qualities of the latter in governance and politics.

According to Atiku, the Delta governor possesses the relevant qualities for the position of Vice-President coupled with appropriate experiences in both the legislative and executive arms of governance.

Atiku noted, “It is a difficult decision that I was called upon to take but I am not afraid to take difficult decisions.  

“Someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions will remain part of my everyday life, let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who among the eminently qualified shortlist will be my running mate.

 “Accordingly, let me state that the person who I have chosen as my running mate possesses those identified qualities; he personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and also deserve.

 

“He's a serving governor who has demonstrated in his state and through his conduct that governance is about service to the people. I know that he will not only add excitement to our energized campaign but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government come 2023.

"I am pleased therefore to announce here my choice of a running mate who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the presidential elections but also in the governorship and legislative elections.

“He will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country, he has both legislative and executive experiences; His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Authur Okowa."

SOURCE: Saharareporters

Nigerians to enjoy improved power supply from July 1 – NERC

 Mr Sanusi Garba, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), says Nigerians will witness improved power supply from July 1 following renewed efforts by industry stakeholders.

  

Garba gave the assurance at an interactive session with newsmen after the Second Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) meeting on Wednesday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by top officials of NERC, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Generation Companies as well electricity Distribution Companies.

He said NERC had facilitated a contractual agreement between the Gencos, TCN and the 11 DisCos that would guarantee the generation, transmission and distribution of an average of 5,000MW of electricity daily to customers effective July 1.

According to him, the contract is binding on all the players across the sector’s value chain and stipulates penalties for any party that defaults on the arrangement under the new regime. 

Garba said: “Yes, we have had discussions with the gas suppliers within our regulatory space. We have them on board to ensure that once we made the commercial requirements, gas was going to flow.

“Now, for transmission we have heard of figures well in excess of 5,000MW and clearly TCN will be able to deliver that.

“I recall clearly in March last year we had 5,400MW. So, it means it is quite possible based on signed commitments.”

He said all the stakeholders across the value chain had obligations and there would be consequences if they failed to deliver.

“So, in a situation where Gencos are able to deliver 5,000MW but TCN is unable to do so, they’ll pay the penalty to the generation company and so on.

“And whenever the power is available and DisCos do not take the power; then they will pay liquidated damages that will compensate other market participants.

“We might not have 24/7 power supply from July 1 but Nigerians will see the trajectory because the target is to have an average of 5,000MW daily for transmission and distribution,” said Garba.

He also blamed the recent collapse of the national grid on inadequate gas supply, maintenance of some thermal stations as well as vandalism of power infrastructure and gas pipelines.

“The challenges of today are very clear. In the past, it used to be weak infrastructure and so on and so forth. Now we have certain external factors contributing to these events.

“Obviously, it’s not common around the world to see people coming down, pulling down transmission towers for no reason; or blowing up crude oil lines.

“In a number of instances, most of the gas we have today is associated gas and because of that when crude lines are disrupted it also affects the supply of gas to the thermal stations,” he said.

Garba commended the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the interventions in the power sector, adding that country would soon start feeling the impact of the investments positively.

News Agency Of Nigeria

There’re so many terrible people around Buhari, says Amechi

 He claimed there are plans by some persons to ‘wipe away the Igbo race in Nigeria’.

  

A First Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amechi, has said that although President Muhammadu Buhari is a good man, “there are so many terrible people around him”. According to Amechi, the enemies are ‘misleading the president’ regarding detained Nnamdi Kanu’s situation.

The elder statesman also claimed there are plans by some persons to ‘wipe away the Igbo race in Nigeria’.

“President Muhammadu Buhari by my association with him is a good man and prepared to respect me. But there are so many terrible people around him, who mislead him on this matter and other matters of national interest and they are not helping in the tomorrow of this country. Their plan is to wipe away the Igbo but it is not possible,” Amechi, who clocks 94 on Thursday, June 16, 2022, told the press. 

He further asked the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu to him as his 94th birthday gift. For Amechi, the release of Kanu will reduce crimes perpetrated in the name of IPOB in the southeast.

“There is only one key to the solution to killings in Igbo land now, and that is the release of Nnamdi Kanu. If that young man is released, you will see all these criminals who spring up claiming to be agitating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu while their real intention is to rob innocent and unsuspecting people, will go into hiding because they will have nothing as a reason to come out,” Amechi told the press.

Like Amechi, several Igbo leaders have pleaded with President Buhari to release Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). But the Nigerian leader has said he won’t interfere in court matters.

Kanu heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group he founded around 2012 that is pressing for the secession of the Igbo ethnic group’s homeland, which covers part of southeast Nigeria. The Nigerian authorities view IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

Kanu has filed charges alleging that he was illegally taken from Kenya in June 2021 and asking that he be repatriated to the United Kingdom (UK), his country of residence. 

SOURCE: Pulse

PDP picking Atiku left bitter pills for South East- Igbo elders

 The Igbo elders said the region felt betrayed by the PDP after years of supporting the party.

  

Some Igbo leaders, under the aegis of Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF), have reiterated their disappointment over the decision of the frontline parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to ignore the South-East in picking their presidential candidates ahead of 2023 election. 

The organisation however, said it's keeping hopes alive as there were other routes to a South-East presidency. This was disclosed on Saturday by the Secretary-General of IECF, Prof. Charles Nwekeaku. Nwekeaku maintained that what the PDP did to the South-East can be best described as betrayal and injustice

He said, “Whatever might have happened in PDP, what is clear is that PDP has rejected the Igbo and Igbo have given the PDP more support than any other zone.

“An Igbo son, the former Vice President (Dr. Alex Ekwueme), was instrumental to the formation of the PDP. Since 1999, the Igbo have been voting for the PDP, even at the time other people migrated, Igbo remained in PDP.

“For PDP to come and change the zoning arrangement, because it is the turn of South-East, is bitter pill for Igbos. Even the people who dumped PDP in the past later came back, the PDP preferred to consider them.

“We won’t quarrel with them, but it doesn’t go down well with an average Igbo person. And so what we do next?”

 The candidateS who are of Igbo extraction include Peter Obi (LP), Professor Peter Umeadi (APGA), Professor Christopher Imumulen (AP), AND Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC). 

Source: Punch