IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the one-item amendment to the Electoral Act 2022. The bill was transmitted to him by the National Assembly for assent last week so as to avert an imminent political crisis in the country.

The Caucus notes with grave concern that Mr. President’s delay in signing the single amendment to Section 84 (8) to the Electoral Act 2022 has thrown the nation into serious confusion and constitutes a huge threat to our democracy and the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the Caucus urged the President that any further delay in signing the amendment to the Electoral Act to give political parties a sense of direction in the conduct of primaries for the election of candidates for the 2023 general elections has the capacity to derail “our entire democratic process and destabilize our dear nation”.

“As representatives of the people, the Minority Caucus urges Mr. President to avert an imminent political crisis that has the capacity of exacerbating the security situation in the country by immediately signing the Amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 and leaving a legacy of a credible electoral process to the nation.

Being one of the most misunderstood individual in the political sphere, the different feedbacks he gets from most people are defined from different angles.

Looking at the level of infrastructural developments recorded during his tenure as Governor of Imo state, it is safe to say that no government has done up to One-tenth of the numerous projects he has embarked on in the state. Creating infrastructure and an enabling environment for growth and progress is one of the key responsibility of any government dedicated to its people.

Infrastructure increases the quality of life of a society, as well as ease of living and creation of jobs.

The first cargo airport in Imo state was constructed by Rochas Okorocha and its quality was adjudged as the best in the country by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a service organization statutorily charged with managing all commercial airports in Nigeria and provide service to both passenger and cargo airlines.

Imo state under his tenure had the best state high court (a project embarked by him of course) and that shows the level of importance he places on the Judiciary.

Also, about 30 healthcare facilities were constructed for his people as access to hospitals was made easier.

Also, his donation of an ultra modern office complex to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is indeed a reflection of the harmonious relationship between Okorocha and the workers in his state.

And of course, this list won’t be complete if we do not add his famous educational achievements. Imo state boasts of free primary to university education, all thanks to Rochas and his investments in the educational sector.

Quality education is the passport to knowledge and knowledge in turn is power.

The Imo state ICT facility in Imo is state of the art and he says “We hope to make good use of these provisions and bring education to bear in the development of society.

As we catalogue our achievements and enumerate the great achievements, I’ll like to say, that we do not forget that we are here because of the people, and that we were elected by the people to serve the people, and we are here at their mercy.

“So, the right persons to judge our performance should have been the people. I say so because political power, whether legislature or the executive, is but a trust – a trust that can only be justified when used for the benefit of the common man.

“The question before us this afternoon is, how happy are the people? What are their emotions?” – Rochas Okorocha

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday banned commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, from operating in six local government areas of the state. 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the ban during a meeting with police chiefs in the state, saying it is “total and indefinite”. The affected local councils are Ikeja, Surulere, Eto-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa, the governor said.

“After a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six local government areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated,” Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in a statement issued after the meeting.

“We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six local government and their local council development areas, effective from June 1, 2022.”

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it has no plans to suspend Facebook over the alleged use of the platform to incite violence by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

But addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said Facebook has assured that it will take action against posts that incite violence on its platform. He also reacted to the ministers who declared their intention to seek elective positions but were yet to resign their appointment.

The minister explained that President Muhammadu Buhari has the sole power to confirm the status of the affected ministers. Suspected IPOB members have launched a series of attacks in the South-East, destroying some security formations as well as killing some innocent persons in the region.

Most recently, an army couple were killed on April 30 in Imo State, a situation that made the military authorities to say IPOB was not promoting the interest of the Igbos.

Tens of thousands of Rangers fans are in Seville ahead of one the biggest matches in the club's history. Police expected up to 100,000 supporters of the Glasgow team to travel to the Spanish city for the Europa League final.

They will be joined by 50,000 fans of German side Eintracht Frankfurt. The vast majority of those who have travelled do not have tickets for the game in the 42,700-capacity Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Only 9,500 tickets were originally sold to Rangers fans, although more are believed to have been made available in recent days.

Ticketless Rangers fans will be able to watch the match at the 57,000-capacity Estadio La Cartuja in the north of the city - where Celtic lost the 2003 Uefa Cup final to Porto.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen are attending the Federal Executive Council meeting a few days after withdrawing their political ambitions. Malami was vying for the governorship position in Kebbi State while Tallen was vying for the Senatorial position in Plateau.

Before the commencement of the meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, a minute silence was held in honour of the former Minister of communications under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, Olawole Adeniji Ige, who died at the age of 83.

Those who were physically in attendance are the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, and National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd).

Other Ministers are also in attendance include; the Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Power, Abubakar Aliyu, Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello; Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; that of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Health, Olorunimbe Mamora; Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri as well as Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba.