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Ohanaeze PG, Ozichukwu insists; ‘l will hand over to Rivers indigene’

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2 months ago

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Ohaneze Ndigbo PG,Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu
Following the controversy surrounding the election of a new  President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the incumbent PG, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu unequivocally stated his position in forthcoming election in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary,Rt Hon Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia by  reaffirming his commitment to hand over the reins of power to an indigene of Rivers State on Friday, January 10, 2025.
 He stated that though his tenure as a President General is very brief, but “what matters is the impact and legacy with which we will be remembered. The millions of Igbo people all over the world are watching us with more than a passing interest on the quality of Ohanaeze leadership that will be enthroned on January 10, 2025”.
Chukwu made the above remarks during the Valedictory Session of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at its National Secretariat, No 7 Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu.
The Igbo Leader reiterated that the success or failure of any organization is a function of its leadership recruitment process. He explained that the Screening, Appeal and Electoral  Committees for the purpose of the forthcoming Ohanaeze election comprise men and women whose public records and antecedents are above reproach.
 He once more urged the people of Igbo extraction in Rivers State in particular and other Igbo states in general to ensure that only men and women of integrity and proven records of accomplishments are put forward to fill the offices zoned to the states in accordance with the rotation principles of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. “Every true  Igbo looks forward to a vibrant Ohanaeze Ndigbo; a sociocultural organization that comprises men and women of honour, moral rectitude and selfless service, an organization that lives up to expectations and places the Igbo interest first in their policies and programmes”. In addition, an Ohanaeze that “every Igbo will embrace with pride irrespective of political leaning, ideological persuasions and  religious affiliations ”.
Chukwu emphasized that for one to lead the Igbo, the person must have proven experience in leadership roles, particularly in cultural organizations, age grades, town unions, market associations or similar contexts. Evidently, the person must be well educated with demonstrable leadership traits, including strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Not only that, the person must have cultural competence; a deep understanding of Igbo culture, traditions, and values. Above all, such a person must have a profile of strong moral character, transparency, and accountability.
The Igbo Leader seized the opportunity to introduce two Executive Orders: The first is on Membership Registration. Chukwu lamented that since the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was founded in 1976, it has lacked the capacity to function effectively due to paucity of funds. He therefore proposed that every Igbo should pay a registration fee of One Hundred Naira per month or One Thousand Two Hundred Naira per anum; while affiliate organizations will pay Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira annually.  He stressed that every proud Igbo will subscribe to the prescribed fees because we all aspire for a viable Ohanaeze with a strong economic base. Membership Registration gives one a sense of belonging, ownership, and participation. A committee comprising eminent Igbo was constituted to drive the process.
The second Executive Order is the establishment of a Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), which is charged with Advisory, Representative, Oversight and Supportive Roles. It provides benefits of corporate knowledge and institutional memory. The PAC will offer strategic guidance, policy formulation, stake-holders engagements, community outreach, mentorship, fundraising, conflict resolutions, capacity-building, amongst others. The two executive orders were approved by the NEC.
He later led the NEC to an exciting tour of the Centre for Memories at No 2 Awgu Street. Independence Layout. Enugu.
The Igbo Leader appealed to the Federal government to put more efforts into the resolution of the state of insecurity in the South East by assisting the states in reviving the industries and thereby providing employments to the teeming youths. He added that to restore peace and order, there is the need for a balance of kinetic and non kinetic approaches.
Nze Chukwu highly commended the NEC Members for their patience and demonstration of community spirit.
To the Governors Nze Chukwu was full of praises. He said that though he had no interactions of any type with any of them except, of course, his State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma.  He appreciates the fact that they all have Igbo Spirit burning in them. He prayed for them to remain very committed to the growth and development of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He appealed for special attention to the needs of the youth. We should assist them to achieve their life dreams and goals. He stressed that our future is in the youths. We must demonstrate empathy, care, and concern for their needs and future.
Members commended the Igbo Leader for his enviable vision, his missionary zeal and Apostolic ideal; more importantly, the courage to step in at a critical juncture that needed the intervention of a moral edifice with character. Members noted that on January 10, 2025, the name of Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu will go down in history as the man who took the bull by the horn, re-wrote the Igbo narratives and left his name in gold.
Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR also received commendations for piloting the ship, weathering the storms and emerging successfully at the demise of Chief Joel Kroham, the Deputy President General; Late Professor George Obiozor, a former President General and Late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a former President General, all within the life of this current administration. Appreciations also went to Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary for his outstanding intellectual outputs and consistent aggressive media engagements amidst the numerous challenges that confronted the socio-cultural body. Members commended Prince Garry Enwo Igariwey, a one time President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for his invaluable interventions to save Ohanaeze, especially during the most turbulent times.
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Politics

IPU cannot consider Natasha’s petition – Jimoh Ibrahim

Published

21 hours ago

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March 14, 2025

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Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Inter-parliamentary Committee, remarked that the purported petition from the suspended Senator Natasha is “dead on arrival.”

He emphasised that Nigeria, rather than Senator Natasha, is the member of the IPU.

A petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state.

This implies that the IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members.

The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is!
Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I served as the interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.

Furthermore, as Chairman of the Inter- parliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”

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Politics

Senate moves to establish Early Voting for Nigerians on essential duties during elections …..As Bill scales 2nd reading 

Published

21 hours ago

on

March 14, 2025

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By George Mgbeleke
The Senate on Thursday passed to second reading a Bill to amend the Electoral Act to provide opportunity for Nigerians on essential duties to perform their civic duties.
The Bill sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz zMusa Yar’adua seeks to amend the Electoral Act tagged “Electoral Act(Amendment -Early Voting Bill) 2024.

Senate in session in the chamber

In his lead debate Senator Yar’adua noted that the Bill seeks to enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right; the right to vote.
He said,”This very important bill seeking to introduce early voting in the Electoral Act 2022 to enhance the inclusion, participation and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, and for related matters, was read for the first time on Wednesday, the 15th day of May  2024.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, due to the far-reaching nature of this Bill, let me crave your indulgence to extensively highlight the background, which I believe will not only provide a proper context for this legislative initiative but also motivate this hallowed chamber to accelerate the legislative process in enacting the Bill.
“Background and Rationale
In any democratic process, equal opportunity must be given to all citizens to participate in elections regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation or socioeconomic status. This ensures the true reflection of the will of the people thereby enhancing the stability of the democratic process. Unfortunately, a huge number of Nigerians who are involved in making Nigeria’s elections a success are excluded from the crucial decision-making of choosing their leaders through the ballot.”
The lawmaker further observed that,”Over one million citizens who play critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections are disenfranchised.
” These include INEC officials, including ad-hoc staff, the security personnel, journalists, observers and others who work on election day to uphold the integrity of the process are effectively denied their right to vote because they are deployed to polling units far from where they registered. This is an irony that should not be lost on us, and this bill seeks to correct that by making provision for early voting for such citizens.
“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, this exclusion has characterised all elections in the Fourth Republic and became more alarming in the 2023 General Elections with over 1 million ad-hoc staff, 310,973 police personnel, 93,495 military and Department of State Service (DSS) personnel, 51,000 personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps, 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service, 9,447 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and 350 personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who were actively engaged in election activities were disenfranchised. Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission reported that 144,800 observers were deployed by 196 national and domestic organisations, with the implication that those citizens were also unable to vote. This is in addition to journalists and others involved in elections in various capacities. The number of those excluded from voting could change the outcomes of election results.”
Continuing he said,”Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the figures highlighted above makes this bill a necessity to address the ‘disenfranchisement’ of eligible voters. As lawmakers, it is our duty to ensure that every Nigerian citizen, regardless of their profession or duty on election day, has the opportunity to participate fully in the electoral process. Incorporating early voting in our electoral legal framework shall strengthen universal adult suffrage as our Constitution guarantees every eligible Nigerian the right to vote.
” Furthermore, this Bill strengthens democratic values as democracy thrives when participation is broad, inclusive, and representative. By preventing those on election duty from voting, we are limiting the breadth of participation and undermining the very principles of democracy.
“Distinguished Colleagues, here are the highlights of the bill:
Provision for eligibility and registration of early voters:  Political parties will receive a list of registered early voters to ensure transparency.
Eligible individuals include security personnel, electoral officials and those deemed eligible by the commission who must apply 30 days before the early voting date (Clause 44A (2)-(6)).
“Implementation and Voting Procedure.
A designated early voting date will be set, not more than 7 days before the general election (Section 44A (1)).
Voting centers will be established in every ward, with early votes counted on the official election day (Section 44A (10)-(17))Cross-Country Survey.”
The Lawmaker noted  that early voting has been part of the electoral legal frameworks in other jurisdictions with its attendant huge success stories in promoting voter participation, reducing election day pressure, and increasing accessibility.
” In the United States, early voting varies by State, with some states allowing a few days to several weeks (up to 45 days) in advance of election day. In Australia, early voting starts about 2-3 weeks before the election, with the 2019 federal election recording 40% of voters that cast their ballots early. In Canada, early voting takes place 12 days before election day allowing voters greater flexibility. In Germany, Postal voting is initiated four to six weeks before the election, enabling voters to participate ahead of time.
“Distinguished Colleagues, it is interesting to note that early voting has also gained traction in several African countries as a tool to improve electoral efficiency, increase voter turnout, and enhance inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups. In South Africa, the Independent Electoral Commission allows early voting 2 days before the general election for individuals such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, security forces, and those working on Election Day.
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Politics

No Individual Bigger Than PDP, Says Diri

Published

2 days ago

on

March 13, 2025

By

PDP zonal caretaker C'ttee members with Gov Douye Diri (2nd from the Rt)

By David Owei ,Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was bigger than any individual and that its internal challenges would be fixed once the members resolve to tackle them.

Speaking to journalists at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday after the inauguration of the party’s South-South zonal caretaker committee led by Elder Emma Ogidi, the Bayelsa Governor said the political will to confront those fomenting trouble in the party resided with the members and not solely on the leadership.

Diri, who is also Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, stated that for the party to be competitive as the oldest in the country, it must look inwards and fix its internal issues.

He said: “For me, we have to look inwards before accusing those outside our party. We have to first fix our internal issues.

“It is very easy to point accusing fingers. But the PDP has to sit back and tackle its internal challenges. That is only when we can stand to compete with others.

“I want the PDP to be competitive with other political parties. We are the oldest political party in Nigeria. So we have no reason to be accusing outsiders.”

On whether the party’s leadership had the political will to discipline those fomenting trouble, Governor Diri averred that such will resided with the members.

“We are all members of the party. The moment we all resolve that we need to fix our party, there cannot be any one person that is bigger than the party.”

He stressed that the newly inaugurated zonal caretaker committee had the mandate of the National Working Committee to look into every issue affecting the party in the South-South.

The Bayelsa helmsman expressed the hope that the event was a step forward for the party.

“In our zone, which is the only area in the country you have four governors of the party, we have all resolved and are together on this. You can see the deputy governor of Delta State, who represented the governor. I have also received messages from the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers. It shows that we are together and what we need to do is to show leadership and work with the zonal committee so that our zone will again become safe and strong for the PDP.”

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