Imo on the precipice

         "There is a saying in our local parlance that when a little child becomes overfed, he challenges his 'chi' to an open fist battle".

This is the very unfortunate situation confronting the entire APC at both the federal and state governments.

APC as a party which can best be described as a conglomeration of a major chunk of our political class with one irrefutable similarity which is the avalanche of disparties concerning their ideological dispositions if there exists any in the first place. A political party represents a group of politicians of like minds that share a particular line of thoughts, reasoning,principles on which they aspire to power to effect a positive change in line with the party's ideology, but, the case of the APC is totally in contrast owing to the way and manner they have conducted governance and the internal issues of the party since 2015 till date. 

Nigerians were in a hurry to send the then ruling party(PDP) away from the presidency in the build up to the 2015 elections owing to their perceived disaffection with the then ruling party and were somewhat in a unilateral state desirous of a change, then came the APC with the "change mantra" like a whirlwind,the party swept the major states and the presidency off the feet of the PDP. It is not sufficient to acquire or be handed power, what is pertinent is the use of such power to actually impact positively on the social well being of the people and leave a good legacy as footprints. The assessment of the performance of the APC is subject to various schools of thought with divergent views and perspectives. Nigerians expected much more than they have from the APC. The APC leadership is yet to address certain perceived imbalances in the Nigerian system ranging from sustainable economic growth,youth employment,stable electricity supply,insecurity, adequate infrastructure, equitable distribution and allocation of available resources and strategic positions among a myriad of unmentioned and unresolved issues, rather, we are confronted by very frightening indices negative in disposition such as high debt profile, extreme poverty status,high out of school children statistics,eroding currency power, decreasing power capacity generation,alarming unemployment levels of all times,wanton killings and spilling of blood of innocent Nigerians by untouchable "Fulani Herders", terrifying hunger levels in the land of Nigeria,etc, the giant of Africa.

It is not out of place to opine that the APC rode to power on the wings of populism in 2014/15 and the least APC could have done was to justify the confidence resposed in the party, rather they engaged in wilful and reckless sqaundering of the political good will of Nigerians. Most Nigerians do not just regret this abuse, but, cannot wait to actually respond to this malfeasance through the use of their PVC come 2019 elections in an election that will be free, fair and credible-INEC take note!

 Owelle Rochas Okorocha the governor of Imo state was a huge beneficiary of the public good will and populism wave that saw APC become the ruling party in the state in 2015. Rochas in his wisdom as an Emperor that he has shown in the governance of the state betrayed the unsuspecting Imolites, though this did not come as a surprise to those that have knowledge of his antecedents, some of us tried to warn Imolites in advance but, they were overtaken by the euphoria then. As a man that rode to power by sheer providence ought to reciprocate this by promoting the social well being of Imolites, effective and efficient allocation and management of the state resources and ensuring good governance across the state. He ought to remain grateful to God Almighty and appreciate the people of Imo state for giving him this privilegde and not his birthright, rather, he chose to enunciate anti people policies and programs subjecting the masses to extreme poverty thereby leaving them more impoverished and terribly vulnerable to the odds of the society. Rochas arrogated all powers in the land to himself, cornered the major chunk of state resources to himself and family members, single handedly awarded the wonderfully made in Nigeria 'CHINA' projects that time has proven them to be below standard quality in all ramifications. Rochas and family have become extremely wealthy at the detriment of Imo state. Some will be quick to remind us that Rochas was rich and wealthy before he became the state Governor- anyi ma ihe nile. Like the proverbial Oliver Twist wanting more, resorted to the execution of an unthinkable and unreasonable idea of all times in Imo state of installing his son in law,Uche Nwosu as the next governor of Imo state. This serves as the most arrogant and hellish attempt on the sensibilities of the people of the  Eastern Heartland that prides itself as home to some of Nigeria's brightest and best minds ever in the history the country.What an affront !!! This Uche Nwosu that prides himself as the inevitable governor of Imo come 2019 obviously reminds us of a child that is overfed and decides to challenge his 'chi' to an open physical battle-ewoo! What are the antecedents of Uche Nwosu asides being once before domestic aide of Rochas, finally impregnated Rochas' daughter that somewhat qualified him as a beneficiary of the Rochas family 'hospitality' and finally rewarded him with the Chief of Staff to the Governor position that has made him 'rich and wealthy' all of a sudden on the sweat of the civil servants and pensioners. The Rochas Dynasty as referred to by the APC national Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is not a claim but a conscious move by Rochas to enslave the state.It beats the imagination of amdiscernible mind why and how some gullible minds that feed of crumbs headlessly defend this madness in the name of 'agburu Rochas na Ugwumba' Ndo ndi agburu. A cursory peep into the past shows that Rochas has never betrayed himself in the way and manner he treated people that had one transaction or the other to do with him by leaving a very sour taste in their mouths.

He is a professional at dislocating systems and joints and that he successfully midwifed in Imo state till date. The entire state is highly polarised like never before to enable him perpetrate his divide,conquer and rule mentality. He is blinded by unusual and unbridled quest for materialism that has made him and the family convert almost all the available plots of land and property within the purview of the state government in Imo to their personal estates using funny names and cronies. This mentality has been transferred to Uche Nwosu as he has started acquiring property and building estates as well. Let them be reminded that no man has left the surface of this planet earth with a single physical property on record. Worthy of note is that these ill acquired estates with details are in the public domain and there must be a time of reckoning-pretty soon anyways.

Ndi Imo cannot and must not encourage such political rascality and recklessness again.

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nkosisonga@gmail.com (Abuja)

 

Edo IGR Set to Soar As Govt Deploys Tech-Based Revenue Collection Scheme

The Edo State Government has deployed its innovative technology-based revenue administration scheme which automates the entire process of revenue administration from capture, profiling, assessment generation and notification through to cashless settlement and is set to boost internally generated revenue in the state by expanding the tax net and enhancing payment convenience for citizens.

The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, explained that the new scheme will eliminate man-made barriers and other extraneous variables that interfere with the revenue collection process.

According to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr Igbinidu Inneh, the innovative solution christened Edo Revenue Administration System (ERAS), "is being delivered as part of the strategic institutional transformation of the EIRS and feeds off the Governor's objective to transform Edo State into an innovation hub.

Inneh explained that "The ERAS solution is a distributed revenue administration system which seeks to solve the challenges faced by revenue authorities in Nigeria for Edo State."

Tagged Project Dobberman, ERAS according to the technology partners, "in every sense has been delivered in an unprecedented record time in less than 18 months from conceptualisation, partner selection to development and integration.

"This is significantly ahead on time for the deployment of most Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems anywhere in the world."

The EIRS boss noted that "the current tax base which grew within weeks of testing ERAS from just about 190,000 to over 250,000, will double within the first six months of operations and to one million within two years."

The visibly elated EIRS boss further said that "This accomplishment is truly one legacy Edo State will bequeath to the Nigerian Revenue Administration process and indeed other emerging economies of Africa.

On the project name 'Dobbermann', Mr. Inneh explained that it took its root from tax history and the strategy of Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, who first bred the Doberman Pincher dog breed in the town of Apolda, Germany, around 1890 as the local tax collector. He ran the Apolda dog pound and aimed to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many dangerous, bandit-infested areas.

"It is simple to see that ERAS has been conceived, conceptualised and developed as the technological, modern day watch dog of government revenues."

He added: "The following revenue streams, Personal Income Taxes (PAYE and Direct Assessment), Withholding Tax, Land Use Charges, Consumption Tax, Vehicle Administration, Vehicle Insurance Policy Assurance, Business Premises (Regulations, Management and Control), Lottery Regulations, Stamp duties and other MDA services will be administered by the system.

"And has payment solutions that cater for cashless and seamless transaction processing for both formal and informal sectors with online and offline features."

Courtesy: All Africa

I’m Still Rivers APC Governorship Candidate, Says Abe

Senator Magnus Abe has declared that he remains the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Rivers State contrary to reports that he had backed off.

Abe was elected by his faction of the party in the state through direct primary while the faction loyal to Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, elected Tonye Cole through an indirect primary.

But there were media reports that he had backed off his governorship ambition and was negotiating with Amaechi for a chance to return to the senate.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, Abe’s spokesman, Parry Benson, described the report as unfounded, stressing that there was never such a meeting.

Benson said, “the said report by a self-styled media outfit said in attendance at the meeting were Senator Abe himself; Amaechi; National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and select members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“We hereby state that this trending story is another deliberate misinformation and mischief aimed at diverting public attention from the real issues and the reality on the ground.
“Let it be on record that Senator Magnus Abe remains the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State following the mandate freely given to him by members of the APC during last Sunday’s gubernatorial primary election in the state.”

He emphasised that there was no such meeting, adding that such a meeting ever held, Abe was not privy to it and nobody could be in such a meeting in his stead.

“The one thing presently occupying the mind of Senator Abe is to actualise his ambition as Governor of Rivers State through a peaceful, acceptable and constitutional means come 2019 in order to deliver democratic dividend to Rivers people and transform the state into an enviable haven of industrialisation and attract real investment.

“Senator Abe is resolute and firm to the mandate of the people of Rivers State and nothing less.”

He recalled that in his twitter handle Wednesday morning, Abe said, “As a Christian, my knees are exclusively for the Almighty God. Those who fear God cannot kneel before man. Our struggle is based on our faith in God and His promise of freedom for the oppressed.

“I bought the form for governor, and I am running for the office of governor. Relax ladies and gentlemen, keep faith and work hard. Our struggle has just begun and our day of Glory shall surely come”.

Courtesy: This Day

Sanwo-Olu Thanks Tinubu, Ambode

Sanwo-Olu in a speech yesterday appreciated Ambode for his sportsmanship and for providing the conducive environment for the primary to hold.

He also thanked Tinubu and said his fatherly role would not be taken for granted even as he saluted the leaders of the party at the state and national level and promised not to let them down.
Ambode pledged that if he is elected governor, he would make integrity his watchword.

He said, “Fellow Nigerians, I want to thank us, thank all of you for the numerous support I have received from everyone, I should seize this opportunity to thank everyone. But first I need to thank the Almighty God who has kept all of us, Lagosians, Nigerians, up until this very moment; all glory, honour and adoration goes to the Almighty God.
“I think it’s appropriate I thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has provided the platform for all of us, so many of us that have looked up to him, the fatherly role, a political landscape that one cannot take for granted.

“I want to also use this opportunity to thank the national chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, His Excellency Adams Oshiomhole and the national working committee for giving us tremendous support, for encouraging us and for letting true democracy reflect, for sustaining this direct primary and for letting it be the true test of what it should be.

“In Lagos State, I think it is appropriate to thank the entire leadership of our party from the GAC, our numerous fathers, our uncles who have held on to this journey, who have demonstrated leadership to the highest level, who have demonstrated impeccable integrity at all levels, I think I owe them deep level of appreciation, I thank you.
“I want to thank the entire structure that we have in APC, from our national assembly members, distinguished senators from Lagos State, members of the House of Representatives, especially the majority leader and his entire team, the speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I want to thank all the 57 chairmen and all our 57 local government areas. I want to thank all our ward chairmen, our councillors.”

Promising an inclusive government, Sanwo-Olu said, “Lagosians, I think with what you have done for me, I cannot take you for granted, I cannot take this mandate and this confidence for granted, I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life but more importantly, like I’ve always said, I’ll remain committed, I’ll keep an inclusive government, I’ll be responsible, integrity will not run far from me and I will not do things that in any form would make you to begin to doubt my capacity or capability.”
He urged the electorate to come out en masse and vote for him during the 2019 elections in order to “realise a Lagos of our dream".

Courtesy: This Day

Tambuwal EXPOSED What He Discussed With Obasanjo Ahead Of 2019 Elections

Latest report as Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Wednesday night held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence.

According to NAN, Aminu who addressed journalists after the meeting, said he was in Abeokuta to consult with Obasanjo in respect of the 2019 poll.

“Obasanjo is one of the critical leaders of the country and it is necessary for me to consult with him concerning the 2019 polls, particularly on my aspiration to contest for the presidency of Nigeria,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that Nigeria could still attain greater and enviable height particularly if the citizens vote rightly in the 2019 polls.

He advised that every component part of the nation should be given an opportunity and sense of belonging in the Nigerian context.

Tambuwal also urged political gladiators not to make the 2019 election a matter of “do or die”.He described the clamour by the youths for increased participation in the governance process in Nigeria as “justified”, considering the high percentage of their population in the country.

Tambuwal called on the present leadership to accord them more opportunities to participate in governance process.

Courtesy: My Nation News

FG to Ban Use of Tobacco in Nigeria

Following the high mortality rate of tobacco users in the country, the federal government said yesterday it had concluded plans to ban tobacco use in Nigeria.

The decision, it said, was part of the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act of 2015 which is the national law domesticating the World Health Organisation Framework on Tobaco Control (FCTC).

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure while addressing the 8th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8), to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

He noted that through multi-sectoral engagement involving government and civil society organisations, the federal government had began mass awareness campaigns on the provisions of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, to create the enabling environment for enforcement.

“Government had reviewed the standard for cigarettes to include the complete ban on cigarettes with characterising flavour, including menthol.
“Government of Nigeria had ratified the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products, adding that the instrument of accession would be finalised and deposited at the United Nations Headquarters”, the minister said in a statement issued in Abuja.

The minister pointed out that “tobacco farming leads to deforestation due to land clearing and curing of tobacco leaves, it also increases land and water contamination due to extensive pesticide use, among other factors”
To this end, the minister congratulated the Head of the Convention Secretariat, Dr. Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, for leading a high-level discussion and also expressed support for further collaboration and partnership with member states.
“The convention is a milestone in the promotion of public health,” he said.

“It is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of people to the highest standard of health, provides legal dimensions for international health cooperation and sets high standards for compliance,” he added.
The Conference of the Parties of the WHO FCTC is the governing body of the Convention.

The 2018 reporting cycle for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) were conducted in accordance with decision FCTC/COP4(16), using an internet-based reporting instrument.

Data collection for the 2018 reporting cycle was carried out from 1 January to 31 March 2018. Of all 181 Parties to the Convention, 142 (78%) formally submitted their 2018 implementation reports, while most of the remaining parties updated some of their information in the reporting database.

Courtesy: This Day