Aniocha North again: My life, wife, family in danger, Ekene Origin Nwaonye cries out, gets anonymous threat letter

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

An anonymous letter threatening the life of the Leader of the Aniocha North Legislative Arm, Mr. Ekene Origin Nwaonye has been sent and received by him.

Accordingly, and naturally, Mr.  Nwaonye has cried out to the general public intimating them that his life, that of his wife and his entire family are in danger.

Nwaonye who made this known to Journalists on Monday 15th April, 2019 at Asaba, the Delta State Capital said that a warning letter addressed to the Leader of Aniocha North Legislative Arm was found by him at the porch of his house at Issele-uku on Sunday evening on his way back from his vacation.

He said that on opening the letter, he was shocked to read a three short paragraph warning him to withdraw the vote of no confidence passed by the Aniocha North Legislative Arm on the Chairman of the Local Government and the Clerk of the Legislative Arm, threatening that if he fails to do so himself, his wife or members of his family will be kidnapped and dealt with severely.

“You know the security situation in the country as a whole, based on this; I had to immediately report the matter to the Issele-Uku Divisional Police Headquarters, and the Issele-Uku office of the State Security Services, SSS where the matter has been taken note of

 “I have gone further by calling on the members of the press this afternoon and through you to the general public to let you all know that my life, that of my wife and members of my family are in danger,” Hon. Nwaonye stated.

On who could be responsible for that letter and the motive, the Leader of the Aniocha North Legislative Arm noted that it is the Job of the security agencies to find out.

He however explained that as councilors representing various wards in the local government area, they were elected by the people to be their eyes and ears in the Aniocha North Local Government and to speak on their behalf; hence as the Leader, he has been leading members of the legislative Arm to do just what they were elected to do.

 “But It is obvious that the Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Chuks Oseme, in spite of the fact that the people need me and others to work for them, does not in any way want me to be at the Local Government not to talk of being the Leader of the Legislative Arm.

 “So he has been doing everything within his power to do away with me, not knowing that power is given through the instrumentality of the Almighty God,” Nwaonye said, and went further to explain how the chairman of the Local Government has been using a civil servant who is the Clerk of the Legislative Arm to frustrate the activities of the legislative Arm, adding that the Clerk’s impunity has gone to the extent of convening the sitting of the legislative Arm without the directive of the Leader.

 “You will recall that on the 13th of November, 2018 the Legislative Arm of Aniocha North Local Government, passed a vote of No confidence on the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, having witnessed unprecedented fraudulent practices and persistent violations of due process,” the Leader stated and made available a copy of a document addressed to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly petitioning the State House of Assembly on the Matter.

In that document titled, “Vote of No Confidence on Honourable Oseme Chukwugoziem, Executive Chairman Aniocha North Local Government Council, Issele-Uku and Request for Investigation” they listed 21 indictments on the Executive Chairman of the Local Government and prayed the House through the Speaker to come to their aid by setting up an investigative panel of inquiry, relying on section 131 sub section 11 paragraph 1 of the Delta State Local Government Law 2013 as amended.

They also prayed for four other things which included the removal of the Clerk of the Legislative Arm from office for complicity and dereliction of duty.

The document was signed by the Leader, the Deputy Leader and Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee and copied to the Honourable member representing Aniocha North State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi.

Hon. Ekene Nwaonye further revealed that with the intervention of the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who in his magnanimity resolved the matter, a kind of truce was reached and we thought that with the intervention of the Governor, the Chairman will run the affairs of the council in line with due process, but all to no avail, instead his impunity was taken to another height.

Nwaonye also to the journalists that the Chairman in his bid to frustrate him and the activities of the Legislative Arm, took full control of the Clerk who now takes directives from him instead of the leadership of the legislative Arm, thereby bringing the activities of the Arm to nothing.

 “it was based on this ugly development that the House in its sitting of 21st February, 2019 passed a vote of No confidence on the Clerk and requested for her suspension for  reasons listed in this Document which I will hand over to you”, he stated.

The Leader also disclosed that on the same 21st February, the House because of the exigency of the General election resolved to go on recess to reconvene on the 18th of April, noting that the resolution was as usual forwarded to the Chairman for his information.

He noted that before they went on recess, the Chairman of the Council did not in any way bring up the issue of the Presentation of the 2019 proposed Budget estimate of the Local Government until he traveled out, having duly handed over to his Deputy.

 “It was on Wednesday, 27 March 2019 while we are on recess that members received a text message from the Clerk, the Clerk that a Vote of No Confidence has been passed on by the House, calling members for sitting with regard to 2019 Budget Estimate.

 “ Members were asking, if it was not the Clerk that they no longer have confidence on and at the same time wondering if the Chairman was not aware that the House was on recess. OK accepted that it was an emergency situation, did the Chairman call the Leader or the Deputy leader’s attention to the need to convene the House? Why bringing the Honourable House to disrepute? There are many ways for him to reach us and accord us our due respect and regard, but he chose to dishonor us using the clerk and her husband who is not even from Aniocha North”, Hon. Nwaonye Stated.

He disclosed that having reported the Clerk to the Delta State Local Government Commission on the resolution of the House, the legislative Arm has also resolved not to carry on any more legislative activities until the Clerk is removed and replaced.

 “This is the reason they want to kill me, my wife and members of my Family, but the security agencies have been duly informed and My God is able”, he concluded.

A call was put across to the Delta State Police Command through the PPRO, DSP. Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who responded that she was out of town and referred us to her Assistant, ASP Orisewezie who said that the command has not received any information regarding the subject matter.

PDP takes APC to task over statement on Okowa’s security initiatives

The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has taken the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the State to task over its latest comments on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's Peace and Security initiatives, describing the APC's criticism as a pointless rigmarole and the Press Statement itself as a poorly crafted and hugely disappointing exercise both in text and context.
A response by the Delta PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, dismissed the APC Press Statement, signed by Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, who, according to the PDP, is still moonlighting as the Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta State.
Full text of the PDP statement reads:
Press Statement
14th April, 2019
DELTA PDP KNOCKS, EXPOSES APC OVER IGNORANCE OF GOV. OKOWA'S PEACE AND SECURITY ACHIEVEMENTS
"Our attention has once again been drawn to a Press Statement titled: DELTANS ARE ENTITLED TO RIGHT TO LIFE, AND PROTECTION BY GOVERNMENT and signed by Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, who is still sadly moonlighting as the Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta State, and it is rather unfortunate and temporarily diversionary, that we have to take time out of our busy Pre-inauguration schedule, to once again educate the APC on the excellent achievements of the Governor Okowa administration in entrenching and sustaining Peace and Security in Delta State.
'"For starters, it is imperative to inform the APC that the fundamentals of security and peace building have been well defined and articulated in the brilliantly packaged SMART Agenda and we refer them to the specific component that outlines the vision, which, if they had just taken a little time to peruse, would have saved them the embarrassment and ignorance reeking all over their wishy washy press statement.
"It is on record that the agenda of Governor Okowa's administration from the onset, had centred not only on the critical need to sustain the peace of inter-community relations in every area of the State, but also to address the recurring challenges of violent crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery, as well as curb the emerging and horrible incursions of suspected herdsmen, which threatened the livelihood of our people in recent times.
"The Governor Okowa administration had, in its first tenure, not only improved on the existing strategies to address these threats to peace and security, but had introduced appropriate new measures to tackle the sources which bred and encouraged insecurity, breach of peace and threats to the safety and protection of lives and properties of Deltans, with considerable and commendable success.
"These measures have included; Verifiable effective support to all Security Agencies viz: the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and sister agencies, not only for combating the sources of insecurity and conflicts, but also for intelligence gathering to quickly nip in the bud or initiate quick proactive responses to planned and reported criminal activities.
"In addition to these, Governor Okowa's administration has also ensured that auxiliary security operatives, including Vigilantes, have received adequate attention, support and assistance to enable such community directed services keep the peace and provide security in the form of vigilante networks operated in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, as determined by the statutes that established the existence and operations of Vigilante groups, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua administration, in October 2004.
"Again, Governor Okowa's administration equally placed great faith, trust and confidence in the role of traditional institutions, particularly the Traditional Rulers of all the communities, to effectively cooperate with the government to ensure crises free homelands, by strengthening the capacity of Community leaders to further equip them in identifying and flushing out miscreants, trouble makers and notable elements of conflicts and insecurity, operating within the communities. The establishment of the Delta State Stakeholders forum for regular discourse on peace and security has been a huge and successful initiative in this regard.
"To therefore insinuate or suggest, as the APC Press Statement has inferred, from whatever warped and erroneous information, garnered apparently, from its half baked, ignorant and misinformed sources at its disposal, that Governor Okowa had turned a blind eye to the legal/moral responsibility placed on him by the law and that members of Delta State Vigilante survive on the crumbs from good spirited members of the public, while the government of Delta State care less about their welfare, is not only misleading, but a big fat lie, which can only be manufactured in the laboratory of falsehood, operated at full capacity by the fractured and fictionalized Delta APC, whose fantastic pedigree to fabricate lies, has even now destroyed the entire structure and fabric of their existence before the world.
"The Delta State Government has not only ensured that all security agencies and related groups, including vigilante groups, have been fully accommodated, assisted and supported, through the necessary channels and relevant agencies, to avoid operational and constitutional conflicts, it has also entrenched a harmonious and cooperative relationship amongst the various agencies, in the collective effort and partnerships to address the existing security challenges and enhance peace building initiatives.
"We need to add further, that the sustainable peace achieved in the creeks and riverine communities of Delta State, by the bold, brave and visionary strategies put in place by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa himself, has been overwhelmingly responsible for the substantial increase in oil revenues, which is the singular, most dominant contributor to the national treasury and major source of income that helped the inept APC administration at the Federal level, escape the stranglehold of self imposed national recession, as a result of its clueless economic policies.
"We are even more amazed and saddened by the foolishness of the APC Delta press statement, which claims to be concerned about the protection of Delta lives, when in fact, their own government at the centre has continued to turn a blind eye and pay lip service to the unprovoked attacks, maiming and perennial killings of helpless Nigerians, including Deltans, at the hands of these marauding, suspected cattle breeders and herdsmen across the country, even as they appear to seemingly be in complicity and offering full encouragement and support to these dastardly acts of premeditated killings in Delta and other Southern States in the country.
"It is a real shame that the Delta APC surreptitiously quoted Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, without even realising, in its foolishness to sound intelligent, that this section is a greater and more damning indictment of the APC led Federal Government, under which national insecurity, an orgy of brazen and brutal killings, wanton loss of lives and horrendous destruction of properties across Nigeria, have become some of the ugly and unfortunate legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.
"The Delta PDP is even becoming progressively worried and more concerned and disturbed by the growing activities of unprovoked attacks, maiming and perennial killings of helpless Deltans and the wanton taking of lives and destruction of properties, particularly in the Abraka axis of the State where the strongman and so called " peoples general" is lord and master and holds sway with unchallenged autocracy, over his fiefdom. We recall with great pride, how one of our members in the State House of Assembly, bravely and fearlessly routed these unscrupulous elements in a celebrated fight back against the siege on his constituency and yet we are left wondering how and why these suspected herdsmen have found a comfortable home and killing field in an area where the presence alone of a supposed "peoples general", should have been an assurance that the lives and properties of his people ought to be fully secured and protected, rather than pillaged and destroyed. Can it be possible that the "peoples general" is actually supporting, aiding and abetting those who are killing, maiming and destroying his people, especially given the favourable position and policies of his party towards accommodating and encouraging herdsmen to settle in our midst? This is the fundamental question Deltans must ask about what is happening in the Abraka axis.
"There is no doubt whatsoever that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration has not only performed exceedingly well in the area of security and peace building in his first tenure and is now poised to do more in that area in his second term. Our hope and appeal is that those who truly love Delta State and their own people, should support the government and make greater individual effort in protecting the lives and properties of their own brothers and sisters, instead of churning out spurious and diversionary press statements to cover up, what can only be described as the sabotage of government efforts in an obvious strategy of cutting their nose to spite their face, for selfish political gains.
"We are therefore advising the Delta APC to first of all look inwards and remove the huge log in its eyes, so that it can see and appreciate the tremendous achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the area of security and the protection of the lives of Deltans. If a so called "peoples general" can live so comfortably in a small environment like Abraka, while the unprovoked attack, maiming and perennial killings of helpless Deltans, the wanton taking of lives and destruction of properties is carried unchallenged and with deadly ease, by some marauding suspected cattle breeders and herdsmen, then we wonder what would have happened to the whole of Delta State if such a person is allowed to be in control of the governance of our dear State.
"We want to once again appreciate our traditional rulers and leaders, youths and women, our spiritual fathers and indeed the people of Delta State for voting for the continuation of peace and unity in our State with the overwhelming vote of trust and confidence in the reelection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (Ekwueme) for a well deserved second term.
"Our pledge is to consolidate on our efforts, as we commence our second tenure, to make Delta State better and stronger and ensure more prosperity and the good dividends of democracy for all Deltans.
"Delta is PDP and PDP is Delta State.
"PDP! Power to the People."
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary
PDP, Delta State.

Delta APC expresses concern over security of life, property

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta state chapter, is worried by the security challenges in the state.
It expressed the concern in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Barrister Sylvester Imonina, condemning in totality the what it described as “the unprovoked attack, maiming and perennial killings of helpless Deltans in the hands of some marauding suspected cattles breeders in the State, as well as “the wanton taking of lives and destruction of properties in Abraka and Uwheru Communities and other places in Delta State.”
For the APC, the situation has left it with no option but to “if the Government of Delta State is not guilty of dereliction of her duties to all Deltans!”
The full text of the statement reads:  
11th of April, 2019.
PRESS STATEMENT.
DELTANS ARE ENTITLED TO RIGHT TO LIFE, AND PROTECTION BY GOVERNMENT.
The All Progressives Congress, Delta State, condemns in totality the unprovoked attack, maiming and perennial killings of helpless Deltans in the hands of some marauding suspected cattles breeders in the State. On the other hand, the wanton taking of lives and destruction of properties in Abraka and Uwheru Communities and other places in Delta State leaves one to wonder if the Government of Delta State is not guilty of dereliction of her duties to all Deltans!
By virtue of Section 14 (2) (b)  of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. In Delta State, it is on record that the Governor of Delta State receives/pockets Billions of Naira as security vote! What is the Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa doing with the huge sums of monies earmarked for security in the State?
Few years ago, a law was validly enacted by the Delta State House of Assembly, which gave legal backing to setting up of Vigilante in the State. By the law, amongst the functions of the Vigilante are:
1) Gathering of information about the happenings in their area.
2) Apprehending criminals and handing them over to security agencies.
3) Foiling criminal activities in their area of operation. Etc.
The questions that come to mind are:
1) Are the vigilante being funded by the state government?
2) Are the Vigilante being trained and re-trained periodically?
From available information, members of Delta State Vigilante survive on the crumbs from good spirited members of the public, while the government of Delta State care less about their welfare, despite the fact that the law setting up the Vigilante in Delta State places major part of the funding/expenses on government! The Governor turn a blind eye to this legal/moral responsibility placed on him by the law.
APC condemns the starving of Vigilante in Delta State, of funds they are legally entitled. We state unequivocally that members of the Vigilante must and should be given them their due.
Meanwhile, we call on all security agencies in Delta State to up their game in tackling insecurity within the State. On the other hand, we state that monies accruing to Delta State belong to Delta State, not individual or group of individuals. The government of Delta State should support security agencies with tangible sum of monies and weapons for fighting violent crimes in Delta State.
APC calls on all Deltans to put the government of Delta State on her toes. Deltans deserve better than what the government of Delta State is doing presently if any, in the area of security and good governance. Deltans should remember that nothing good comes easy! Therefore, Deltans should demand for their right.
As for some of our Traditional Rulers, we charge you to do the needful, by providing good leadership for your subjects. Traditional Rulers should stop singing praises of failed government and their officials, and draw the attention of their sons and daughters to the happenings in government to the happenings in their area.
On behalf of APC, Delta State, we condoles with the families of those who lost their lives to heinous crimes and wanton killings in Delta State. Be assured that APC, Delta State would continue to work and projects the needs of all Deltans at all times.
DELTANS DESERVE RIGHT TO LIFE, AND PDP LED GOVERNMENT IN DELTA STATE MUST NOT SHELVE HERSELF OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
APC, Change!
APC, Progress!!
APC, A New Delta!!!
Signed:
Barr. Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina,

Ogboru’s a product of illegal guber primary, says Judge, upholds Ochei’s reliefs to quash 2018 primaries results, aligns with judgment in Cyril Ogodo case

A Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State this afternoon declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidature of Chief Great Ogboru is null, void and of no effect because he emerged through an illegal primary process.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who delivered judgment in a suit brought by the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei against the conduct of the APC governorship primaries of September 30, 2018, who approached the court to invalidate the results of the APC primaries, and that the list of delegates used at the primaries was not what was envisaged by the consent judgment.

Ochei also argued that the aspirants did not get any advanced list of delegates before the party primaries.

Justice Dimgba in his ruling, ordered the cancellation of the APC governorship primaries that produced Chief Great Ogboru.

According to the judge, four of the five reliefs sought by the plaintiff succeeds while relief four was not granted because it has been overtaken by time.

He said:"All the reliefs sought in this suit are similar with those for which Justice Adegoke pronounced judgment on, so grant reliefs 1,2,3,5. But relief 4 is refused because the governorship election is over and the relief is spent."

In arriving at the judgment Justice Dimgba explained that the Federal High Court has one jurisdiction and as such cannot be seen giving discordant judgments.

"Having considered the decisions reached by the Federal High Court in the case of Cyril Ogodo which has similar reliefs and the fact that some of the defendants in this suit are the same, the court has decided to follow the decisions arrived at in the Ogodo case," the judge declared.

Our needs at Issele-Mkpitime, by Chief Ugbolue; felicitates with Okowa, Nwaobi for re-election victories

Our needs at Issele-Mkpitime, by Chief Ugbolue; felicitates with Okowa, Nwaobi for re-election victories

By Chukwudi Abiandu and Patrick Ochei

The foremost needs of the people of the sleepy but agrarian town of Issele-Mkpitime, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta state are water supply and internal roads, according to a notable leader of the community, Chief Henry Ugbolue, the Ekwueme of Issele-Mkpitime.

Chief Ugbolue made this know when he visited the member representing Aniocha North in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, an engineer at the latter’s official residence in Asaba.

Felicitating with Nwaobi for his well deserved victory and return for the second term, Chief Ugbolue described the lawmaker as a lion who dared the unchallengeable and conquered the seemingly unconquerable thereby changing the erstwhile political template of Aniocha north in a manner that has brought equitable progress to the local government in so short a time. “Congrats, you are a warrior,” Ugbolue told Nwaobi.

Besides coming to congratulate Nwaobi on his re-election for the second term, Chief Ugbolue said: “As a community leader, I am interested in what Issele-Mkpitime would benefit from. My politics is basically local. Don’t forget Issele-Mkpitime . We don’t have water; we depend on rainfall to survive. Our community is agrarian, our people need irrigation, and our land is fertile.

We can create multi-millionaires in Issele-Mkpitime using agriculture.”

Praising and commending Hon. Nwaobi for the great influence he brought in making the Issele-Uku-Issele-Mkpitime deplorable road now very well done and motorable, Chief Ugbolue, a journalist and communication expert and the Ekwueme of Issele-Mkpitime said: “You have helped us to get a good road, but we need water and internal roads.

He declared: "I have come to congratulate you my brother, on your victory. I have also come to tell you not to forget Issele-Mkpitime in your agenda for the next dispensation. We are very proud of you in Issele-Mkpitime for understanding our pain and giving us a major road that is so dear to us.

“However, we are appealing for internal roads and water specifically. Do it for us and your path with Issele-Mkpitime will become like that of the river that never runs dry.

“Honourable, you are a man of your words; we trust you and believe in what you can do. You are a good man who was brought up decently. You are also a lion in fights; that is why God led you through all the journeys against the indecent people with larger number in Aniocha North.

“One thing I must advise you my brother, you have begun on a very good and remarkable note, you must keep it up. Please continue to do that with paramount interest for the people and God will always be there for you."

Chief Ugbolue explained that as a lion and great fighter, he would have come with a sword to present to Hon. Nwaobi as a mark of respect, but pointed out that the world has evolved and that the pen has become mightier than the sword. Thus he had to travel all the way to America to buy special and symbolic pens for both Honorable Nwaobi and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Accordingly, brought out a well packaged pen and presented to Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, asking him to always use it when he wants to write Issele-Mkpitime, so as not to forget Issele-Mkpitime in his programmes and projects.

He also presented another pen, asking Hon. Nwaobi to help transmit it to His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State; also as a mark of honour for making Deltans proud with his landslide victory.

Basking in the joy of Chief Henry Ugbolue's visit, Hon. Nwaobi introduced his parents to the man whom he called a true brother.

Nwaobi recalled the enormous support that Chief Ugbolue accorded him, told his visiting parents from America that he had never seen a man like this. He narrated how he (Ugbolue) supported him financially in the first election, while also mobilizing his people of Issele-Mkpitime for him during that election.

  

He said Ugbolue did not stop there as he always made monetary contributions to any of his empowerment programmes.

  

"In this very 2019 election too, he not only gave me money, he also was around for the election and helped to supervise my election in Ward 5 Issele-Mkpitime. In fact, he ensured that those who came to snatch ballot boxes never succeeded.

  

“I am proud of him. He has shown me love and above all, making our relationship go beyond friendship; we are now brothers. And in all of this, he is not asking for anything personal. I see him as a progressive constituent to work with, in our resolve to move Aniocha North to the next positive level", Nwaobi affirmed.

On the request made by Chief Ugbolue, Nwaobi assured him that he would immediately send water experts to Issele-Mkpitime to do a general survey on how water project can be sited in the town.

Moreover, the elated father of the Honourable Member, who previously celebrated his 86 birthday anniversary, prayed for Chief Ugbolue and blessed the friendship that has matured into brotherhood between him and his son.