COUNTDOWN TO 2019 IGR SUMMIT: PDP-Govs Forum Says It Is Ready

–           Dr Peter Obi to deliver keynote speech

–           Summit to tackle newer IGR options in a recessed economy

By Aferiokha Osigbemeh

The PDP Governors Forum is set to host the 2019 Edition of its annual IGR Summit in Abuja.

In a statement released Tuesday by the Summit Organizing Committee and signed by Patrick PA Okon on behalf of the Forum; the Summit will hold at the BON Hotel Stratton, (formerly Protea Hotel), Asokoro, Abuja,  on Wednesday/Thursday, November 27-28, 2019.

The statement in part reads: ‘’the current economic reality in the country has more than ever before informed the need for the forum’s initiative to escalate same for public discourse at the upcoming summit.

It added that: “The challenge of declining internally-generated revenue and the need to boost alternative sources of income for the PDP-governed states outside reliance on the monthly federal government allocation will be receiving adequate attention at the converge.

“It will also strive to define the extant possibilities and proffer fresh initiatives to increase revenue for economic growth and development in the states. 

Titled “The Imperatives of Developing Internally-Generated Revenue Options for State Governments in a Recessed Economy”, the summit which is facilitated by the PDP Governors Forum and managed by Messrs Red Sapphire Nigeria Limited, in conjunction with the Producers of high-profile Finance programme, “Money Line on AIT”, will parade the Finance expert, Nancy Iloh as Summit Anchor. 

Key Resource persons and Finance Experts with tested knowledge and transfer experience drawn from the IGR/Finance Sector have been penciled down to deliver thought–provoking papers and case studies to address as well as proffer enduring and sustainable solutions; aside crafting fresh ideas for the development, generation and effective application of digital formats to improve internally-generated revenue (IGR) strategies and platforms in the states and local government areas (LGAs) in a recessed economy.

The expected participants are – State Commissioners of Finance, Trade/Investments, Budget/Economic Planning, Tourism and Local Governments/Chieftaincy Affairs; National/State Assembly Committee Chairmen on Local Governments whose input will generally provide statutory and parliamentary backing for the major determinants and considerations on IGR Resources; SSAs on Trade/Investments, Economy, Finance and Revenue Generation; LGA Chairmen/ Secretaries, as well as Heads of State Boards of Internally-Generated Revenue and Senior Executives engaged in the Development and Management of Rural Economy amongst others.

The high-profile summit will feature the Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson as the Chief Host of the summit, and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus as the Special Guest of Honour.

The former Governor of Anambra State and 2019 Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Dr. Peter Obi, the Chairman of the Summit, will also deliver the keynote address on the theme “The Imperatives of Developing Internally-Generated Revenue Options for State Governments in a Recessed Economy”.

Mr. Akinyele Oladeji, an IGR Expert and Managing Consultant/Country Representative of Canadian Software Development Corporation (CSDC Consulting Nigeria) will lead a coterie of frontline speakers, session chairmen, faculty members and renowned IGR/Finance Experts cum Consultants drawn from allied and related agencies.

I WON BAYELSA GUBER POLL-PDP Governorship Candidate, DIRI

…Ask inec to declare him governor elect

By Aferiokha Osigbemeh

The Peoples’ Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that he won the Saturday Gubernatorial election in the State.

Diri therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare him winner of the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state.

Senator Diri who  made the call on Monday while briefing newsmen in Yenagoa, said that the results monitored by his party’s situation room in the eight local government areas, showed in clear terms that he won and  should be declared the governor-elect of Bayelsa state.

The PDP governorship candidate who announced 98,582 as the total figure scored by the PDP said the APC got a total of 55,903 in the election.

Giving a breakdown of the figures, he said the PDP scored 4,096 in Brass local government area while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 2,525.

According to him, the PDP polled 9,903 while the APC had 7,976 in  Ogbia,while in Southern Ijaw, the PDP scored 12,225 and APC got 9,542.

Senator Diri who announced that in Yenagoa, the PDP polled 21,165 said the APC scored 15,560, while in Sagbama, the PDP got 60,339 and APC had 7,831.

He further explained that the PDP polled a total of 21,381 in Ekeremor, while the APC scored 8,780.

Also in Kolokuma/Opokuma, he noted that the PDP had 12,110 and APC 6,659 while in Nembe, PDP polled 24 and APC had 908 votes.

He maintained that it was illegal for the APC to have contested the governorship election because of a subsisting court judgement and urged INEC to disqualify the APC, which is a major contender in the exercise.

He stressed that he did not contest the election against the Candidate of the APC, David Lyon, who was returned winner by INEC as the party had already been disqualified by the court before the election.

The PDP’s agent, Chief O.O. Osusu, said there were two subsisting court judgements before the conduct of the November 16 Governorship election, stressing that it was wrong for the APC to be on the ballot.

In separate speeches, governorship candidates of the Green Party, Eniye Zidougha, APGA, Fayeofori Bob-Manuel, Okiah Jones of Masses Movement of Nigeria as well as several other gubernatorial candidates who spoke, lampooned INEC for declaring the candidate of the APC, Chief David Lyon winner.

According  to them, despite obvious irregularities including the use of the Nigerian Army to intimidate voters and subvert the will of the people, the electoral body still went further to announce the results.

The aspirants therefore, challenged INEC to produce the court order which cleared the APC to participate in Saturday’s governorship election.

He questioned   the use of returning officers from one particular university at the collation centre who they noted were influenced by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole to rig the polls. 

They also berated the Army for its interference in the polls to favour the APC and called on the electoral umpire to declare Senator Douye Diri of the PDP as winner of the governorship election held on 16 November, 2019.

The Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area. Hon Ebinyon Turner recalled his ordeal in the hands of soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army who arrested him and other party members during the election.

PDP Youths Berate APC Over Allege Plot To Manipulate Judiciary To Remove Makinde

By Aferiokha Osigbemeh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths have warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) to perish the thought of trying to allegedly manipulate the judiciary to remove Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.

The youths, under the aegis of PDP South South Youth Vanguard, said that they have watched with keen interest what played out in the state during the appeal court judgement.

The youths, in a statement by its National Chairman, James Efe Akpofure, said they could detect the “hands of Esua, the voice of Jacob,” in the entire scenario that played out during the appeal case, where the judiciary couldn’t stand its ground and pronounce judgement.

The youths cautioned APC to stop any plan to gag or manipulate the judiciary to do its bidding as doing so will only ridicule the laws of the land and make the country a laughing stock before the comity of nations.

“The idea of manipulating, harassing and intimidating the judiciary to subvert the will of the people in Oyo State will not work. The people have spoken through their votes.

“We will advise the APC to perish the thought of trying to tinker with the will of the people. What the APC did during the appeal court judgment is not hidden from us. We watch with keen interest how the judges, maybe, because of intimidation, harassment or fear of APC couldn’t pronounce judgement.

“We are making it clear to the APC that their plan to bulldoze their way into Oyo State Government House will not work, as the people are ready for their antics. They should feel the pulse of the people if they really have their interest at heart.”

BAYELSA DECIDES 2019…

POLICE INSPECTOR AMONG OTHER CASUALTIES IN NEMBE MASSACRE

By Aferiokhai Osigbemeh

The Police Inspector, Mr. Achibugu Odagi, who was among the hundreds of people who sustained gunshot wounds from rampaging thugs of the All Progressives Congress(APC) yesterday in Nembe lost the battle for his life at the general hospital in Nembe.

His body had since been deposited at the Nembe General Hospital.

The Inspector was deployed from the Mobile Police Unit in Delta State.

Another of his colleagues, Mr.Ododomu was luckier as he survived the attack with a gunshot wound on his leg.

Two other policemen are critically injured and are battling to survive.

US GROUP DEMAND PROBE OF ELECTION VIOLENCE SPONSORS

– Call on US, UK to place travel ban on perpetrators

By Nelson Uddoh

The John Pofi Foundation working in collaboration with the United States Nigeria Law Group (USNLG) and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Electoral Integrity has demanded for a probe of the sponsors of election violence in Bayelsa state.

The groups also urged the United States of America and the United Kingdom governments to place an immediate travel visa ban on unscrupulous politicians, who have sponsored, incited or executed violence in previous or forthcoming Bayelsa state elections.

Bayelsans will tomorrow go to the polls to elect their governor for a four-year tenure. The concerned groups called for a peaceful election in the state and read riot act to any perpetrators of election violence.
Already a driver of Outside Broadcasting Van attached to Radio Bayelsa,Simon Onu, was killed and scores shot on Wednesday during an attack by APC thugs on a People’s Democratic Party rally in Nembe Ogbolomabiri, Bayelsa State.

In a statement by Rev John Pofi Behalf On behalf of the groups, “the violence in the state has led to several loss of lives and properties of innocent citizens of the State.
“This call became necessary, having observed events of the past few weeks, leading up to the governorship election in the State tomorrow. Our worries are based on the previous experience in past elections and the inability of the security agencies to arrest the situation. 
“We are seriously doubtful of the capacity of these security agencies to arrest the next round of terror that may be instigated by these   same   set   of   politicians,   who   have   been   going   about,   inciting   violence   across   the communities in the State, while also recruiting militias to disrupt elections with impunity.

“This coalition is presently engaged in pre-election monitoring in Bayelsa State in tandem with previous  assessments of the 2015, 2016 and 2019 elections in Bayelsa  and the unprecedented level of violence witnessed in certain communities during the said period. It is fundamental at this time to remind the world that elections in some parts of Bayelsa have witnessed an unimaginable level of violence, sponsored by identified persons and unleashed on the innocent people of the state,leading to the death of many, with property destroyed. 
“It is therefore alarming that despite witnessing at least three major seasons of violent attacks and violation of the fundamental rights of these innocent Nigerians, stakeholders including INEC, the federal government, the Bayelsa State government and other relevant security agencies have not acted on the report that detailed the atrocities and violations witnessed during the elections. 
“As we speak, none of these perpetrators has been arrested or prosecuted, hence our call to the government of United States and the United Kingdom to impose a Visa ban on these known sponsors and perpetrators of violence in Bayelsa State during the elections. Incidentally, various reports on election violence in Bayelsa state captured audio  and   visual  recordings   and   testimonies   of  the   victims  of   the   violence   that   marred   the conduct of election in Southern Ijaw, Nembe, Ekeremor, Brass and some other parts of the state during   the   election.   Harmless   citizens   were   molested,   attacked   and   harassed   with   the complicity of those that ordinarily were supposed to protect the 2015/2016 governorship election. The incidents recorded during the 2019 general election remain one of the worst and under-reported cases of election violence in recent times. Many citizens were murdered, scores hospitalized with gunshot and machete injuries. Property worth billions of naira were looted, vandalized and burnt.

The people of Peremabiri community in Bayelsa have since January 2016 become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their own state and remain hostage to criminal elements mainly sponsored by oil pipeline surveillance contractors, reportedly funded by an oil multinational. 
The likely consequence of the forthcoming Bayelsa Governorship election, is greater violence except urgent actions are taken. During the 2019 National and States assembly elections in the state, political thugs aided by security agents invaded polling stations across the electoral wards in the Nembe-Bassambiri state constituency. Several voters,mainly women and the elderly people, were assaulted and election materials hijacked. Residents of this peaceful town were chased out of their ancestral homes to neighbouring towns as well as Yenagoa were they have remained IDPs ever since. The militarization and armed banditry of 2019, resulted in several casualties once again in Southern Ijaw LGA, which saw the murder of two party   agents,   including   Mr   Reginald   Dei,   a   photographer   attached   to   the   Bayelsa   State Government House. He was allegedly killed in his bedroom by political opponents aided by men in army uniforms, who stormed his Oweikorogha community in Southern Ijaw local government area during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. 
It is instructive to bring to our remembrance the ugly incident that occurred in Twon Brass, BrassLGA  on Sunday, February  24,  2019  when  a  serving  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Police,  Kola Okunola,  was abducted,  brutalized  and  nearly  killed  during  the elections.  A member  of  the House of Representatives, Hon. Isreal Sunny-Goli, was identified as the mastermind of this grave incident   and   was   arrested   by   the   police.   His   punishment   for   this   act   is   to   seat   among “Honourable” members in the House of Representatives. 
Till date, these wounds are yet to heal, as the people do not only feel abandoned on a daily basis,but   have   also   come   to   a  conclusion   that   the   perpetrators   of   electoral   violence   are untouchable.  This is a narrative  which  we  intend  to change  without  further delay  by  ensuring  that justice is appropriately served. Therefore,  today, we  are  demanding  that the  perpetrators  of  these  ignoble acts  are  made  to account for their previous actions. We can no longer continue to reward perpetrators of crime against humanity, many of whom have found their way into government today. We are calling on lovers of democracy and the international community to beam their searchlight on persons such as Chief Timipre Sylva, Mr Sunny Goli, Mr David   Lyon,  Senator  Heineken  Lokpobiri   and  militant   leaders  Paul  Eris  {GeneralOgunboss},  among others.

This is the only way to prevent future occurrence of such incidents as well as strengthen the nation’s democracy.

What was witnessed in Bayelsa   during  the   previous  elections  were   well  orchestrated  attacks against the people of the state. These actors are once again preparing for a repeat and the only way to checkmate it is to prosecute the perpetrators of the previous action. We hereby call on all patriotic Nigerians, leaders and members of the International community to join us as we commence this new phase of seeking justice for these victims of the senseless act of   political   desperation.  

Our democracy will continue to be endangered until we ensure that desperate politicians are made to answer for their deeds. Prosecuting the perpetrators of the unprecedented violence witnessed during the 2015/2016 Bayelsa governorship election and the 2019 general elections will send a strong warning and deter others from perpetrating such in future.

CSO DEMAND IMMEDIATE ARREST OF PERPETRATORS OF NEMBE KILLINGS

By Aferiokhai Osigbemeh

National Democratic Frontiers has demanded for an immediate arrest of sponsors and perpetrators of yesterday’s killing of some indegenes and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nembe, Bayelsa State, among whom was a Radio Bayelsa  OB Van driver, Simon Onu, during the campaign rally of the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri.

Recall that yesterday, suspected militants of the Otita Force led by one Gabriel Jonah, a member of the campaign of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress unleash violence on the venue of the PDP campaign, leading to the killing of three people with several injured.

The Civil Society group in a statement issued in Yenagoa and signed by its Coordinator Dr Ben Shuaib said that the sad event undermines the preparedness of INEC and the security agencies towards the Saturday gubernatorial election, if these perpetrators are not immediately brought to justice, there are every tendency for a repeat of their heinous acts during the election.

“We are demanding that Gabriel Jonah and every other identified perpetrators of yesterday’s violent killing in Nembe, be immediately arrested and made to face the wrath of the law. We are sad that an otherwise civic responsibility such as an election is being reduced to war by these criminals and their sponsor. We shall not fold our arms and watch fellow citizens being murdered for no reason by these criminals being aided by the desperate politicians.”