NATIONAL VIBES

Posted by Admin The United Nations Security Council has been alerted to the United States of America's (USA) alleged role in escalating and encouraging the spread of conflict and crisis across the globe. This notice was sent to the UN by the International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management (ICGCCM) in a detailed report highlighting factors fuelling global conflicts around the world. In the document carefully signed by Andrew Young and Chris Ratzinger, ICGCCM’s chairman and co-chairman, the group said it came to this conclusion after extensive research on the trends and some of the factors that shape/influence global conflict. According to the international centre, this research work took an estimated seven months and three weeks to undertake and complete. Among others, the group recommended that the US should be placed on the watchlist for negligence and aggravation of global conflicts through despicable actions and inactions. It further revealed that th

The PDP Governors Forum has congratulated Governors Udom Emmanuel and Seyi Makinde of Akwa Ibom and Oyo States respectively over the validation of their election victories by the Supreme Courts against the decision of the Court of Appeal. In a statement on Wednesday, the Forum, said the news of the apex court verdicts did not come as a surprise because of the massive support Deacon Emmanuel and Engr. Makinde received from the people and residents of Akwa Ibom and Oyo States as the case may be during the March 9th, 2019 Governorship Election. The Forum said the affirmation of the mandates clears the path for the governors to settle down in the enormous tasks of taking their states to greater heights without any further distractions. It described the victories as a testimony to the transparent, credible, democratic, free and fair election process that produced them and the other PDP Governors. The statement which was signed by the DG of the Forum, Earl Osar

... berates APC chieftains, thugs for disrupting inspection of election materials The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has accused the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Monday Udoh, of violating the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal order on the inspection of election materials. Senator Diri said in defiance of the tribunal's order, the REC allowed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to inspect sensitive and non-sensitive voting materials used during the November 16 governorship election. The tribunal had granted the prayer of the PDP counsel to inspect the materials. However, instead of complying with the order of the tribunal, the REC allowed APC, which is not a party to the prayer, to be part of the exercise. Diri in a statement made available to newsmen described the involvement of APC in the exercise as a flagrant abuse of the tribunal's order. He accused the REC of partis

Posted By Tony Okechukwu The African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO) has announced and formally invites members of the global community to her 12th Annual African Women in Leadership Conference (AWLC).   In a press statement signed by the Founder/CEO, Dr. Elisha Attai, AWLO said the 2020 Edition of the Conference with the theme: Women, Peace-Building and Environment is scheduled to hold from 2 nd to 5 th April, 2020 at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani, Freetown, capital city of Sierra Leone. The statement in part reads: “The aim of the conference is to confer and galvanize action towards creating the rubric for peace-building, while maximizing the environment to advance women’s potential. “With more than a decade-long history of impact, holding the reins of women’s leadership, the African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO) continues to unlock new doors to African women and African American women’s leadership advancement. “E

The PDP Governors Forum has condoled with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, the government and people of the state, on the death of their foremost son, elder statesman and former Secretary of the Federation (SGF), Obong Ufot Ekaette, who will be laid to mother earth this weekend. A press statement from its Abuja Secretariat on Wednesday, signed by the DG, Earl Osaro Onaiwu said: “We are deeply saddened by the news and we commiserate with the Ekaette Family, people of Onna Local Government and Akwa Ibom State in general on the passage of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette, a consummate administrator and bridge-builder who gave his best in the service of his country.” “He was a devoted statesman and devout Christian, who dedicated his life to the service of God, stability and growth of the nation and the good of humanity at large, aside being a strong voice and stickler for dedication to duty and discipline in a disti

The PDP Governors Forum has congratulated its member-Governors who were honoured Tuesday at the MUSON Centre, Lagos during the Tribune’s Platinum Awards Ceremony. A press statement from its Abuja Secretariat on Wednesday and signed by the DG, Earl Osaro Onaiwu said in part: “We are deeply touched by the development whereby out of the 15 eminent Nigerians or more rightly put, five governors; who have distinguished themselves in the service of the country to merit the Tribune @70  Awards, four are members of this revered forum. This goes a long way to show that their meritorious services to their people and the nation in general are not only outstandingly visible and impactful but can be rated in flying colours. “We congratulate Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), for the honour Tribune has done them and the entire PDP Governors Forum. It shows that members of the forum have distinguished themselves in public

...NO MAJOR LOAN IN OVER TWO YEAR ...SAYS FEARS OVER LOANS MISPLACED The Bayelsa State Government has said that it is not making any effort whatsoever to obtain new loans in the state. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who stated this in a statement on Monday also said that the Government had not taken any major loan in over two and a half years. Iworiso-Markson stated further that the government would not present any fresh budget to the House of Assembly for the year 2020. He explained that the 2019 budget would run till the end of the Administration in February 14, 2020. The Commissioner stressed that the Restoration Government under the leadership of the Honorable Henry Seriake Dickson, had not also received any loan advance from any financial institution. According to him, Governor Dickson is reputed to have led a transparent and decent government in almost eight years and would not initiate any step that could impact adversely on any inc

The Peoples Democratic Party Youths Alliance has challenged former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan to respond to the comment By the First Lady, Aisha Buhari that evil people have taken over the country to the APC. The Youth Group also urged the former President and his wife to provide answers to Mrs Buhari’s criticism of the Defence of Jonathan by the Presidency. The Group’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Saleh Abubakar, argued in a press statement in Jigawa on Sunday that Aisha Buhari’s poser justified the strong allegation of anti party against the former First family. He said that the very fact that the Presidency would jump to defend the Jonathans showed their unholy relationship with the APC which manifested during the election in Bayelsa. He stressed the Presidency’s rush to defend Jonathan and his wife as rightly observed by the President’s wife indeed confirmed the underhand tactics that was deployed to rig the election in Bayelsa.

Posted By Tony Okechukwu The PDP Governors Forum has condoled with the government and people of Akwa Ibom State on the passing away of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s father, Late Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang. In a press statement from its Abuja Secretariat on Thursday signed by the DG, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the Forum said it is deeply saddened by the news. The statement described the deceased as a complete gentleman; a devoted statesman and devout Christian who dedicated his life to the service of God, stability and growth of his people and the good of humanity at large. The Forum prayed the Almighty God to accept the soul of the departed and comfort those left to mourn him. The sad event occurred on Sunday, December 1st, 2019. He was aged ninety (90 years). And according to a family source, after due clearance from the head of the family, Pastor Edo Ekim (The father of the celebrity Nollywood actress, Ini Edo), the first son of the departed patriarch, Mr. Gabriel Nkanang (Jr.) wa

Posted By Tony Okechukwu The PDP Governors Forum has condoled with the government and people of Akwa Ibom State on the passing away of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s father, Late Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang.  In a press statement from its Abuja Secretariat on Thursday signed by the DG, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the Forum said it is deeply saddened by the news. The statement described the deceased as a complete gentleman; a devoted statesman and devout Christian who dedicated his life to the service of God, stability and growth of his people and the good of humanity at large. The Forum prayed the Almighty God to accept the soul of the departed and comfort those left to mourn him. The sad event occurred on Sunday, December 1st, 2019. He was aged ninety (90 years). And according to a family source, after due clearance from the head of the family, Pastor Edo Ekim (The father of the celebrity Nollywood actress, Ini Edo), the first son of the departed patriarch, Mr. Gabriel Nkanang (Jr.) w

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has approved the appointment of 15 Special Advisers to the Governor. They are: 1. Mr. Sunny Wokekoro 2. Alabo George Kerley 3. Barr. Okiri Aribitonye 4. Barr. Erastus Awortu 5. Hon. Sylvester Mgbor 6. Hon. Victor D. Ekaro 7. Hon. Innocent Paddy Wali 8. Barr. George Ariolu 9. Hon. Deima Iyalla 10. Barr. Emma I.  Utchay 11. Engr. Nkem Nwaribe 12. Hon. Harvey Azuka Ideozu 13. Mr. Andy Nwanjoku 14. Mr. Austin Sor 15. Barr. Otonye Briggs The Special Advisers  will be sworn in by the Rivers State Governor on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt by 12 noon.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that with elections effectively over across the country, the focus should be on governance for the good of Nigerians. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday,  Governor Wike said that politics should be de-emphasized at this time. He said: "We are here to assist.  We are not fighting with anybody.  We are here to complement the efforts of Government". "Politics has come and politics has gone. We have won the  election here, they have lost. But they have won in other places.  Politics has ended and we are now talking about governance". Governor Wike decried the situation where corps members device different schemes to ensure that they are posted back to their home state. He said: "We should try and discourage the idea that you must serve in your State.

By Tony Okechukwu The PDP Governors Forum has congratulated all its members on the landslide victory recorded on the various post-election petition cases at the several Courts of Appeal across the country. In a press statement released on Friday and signed by the DG of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the forum said the Appeal Courts have by their judgments affirmed the wishes of the people who not only voted en-masse for their preferred PDP Candidates, but defended their votes and the mandates they granted the governors during the gubernatorial election of March 2019. In the statement, the forum urged the electorate not to relent their efforts in giving the necessary support, prayers and loyalty to their leaders. It also pleaded with the governors to reciprocate the love of their people with the resolve to continue to do more in delivering democratic dividends to the people who have not only put their hopes on them but have given them their wholehearted trust and undiluted loya

- Set Fresh Agenda for Economic Diversification The PDP Governors Forum has begun the countdown to hosting the 2019 Edition of its annual IGR Summit in Abuja. Glimpses into the event show that an array of tested IGR experts are billed to make strategic presentations, aimed at boosting revenue generation initiatives in the PDP-governed States. The ultimate intention of the Forum in hosting the strategic event is aimed at increasing the economic well-being of the citizenry, and more access to dividends of democracy, a cardinal objective of the PDP. The summit is expected to parade finance and IGR experts like Dr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, a former CBN Deputy Governor, Mr. Akinyele Oladeji, an IGR Expert and Managing Consultant/Country Representative of Canadian Software Development Corporation (CSDC Consulting Nigeria) and a coterie of frontline speakers, session chairmen, faculty members amongst

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to sack the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva over his comment on a female judge. Recall that Sylva while featuring as a guest on a programme on Channels Television on Thursday, the 14th day of November, 2019, had made comment on the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting at Yenegoa wherein the Court delivered a judgment in the case filed by Senator Heineken Lokpobri and cancelled the Bayelsa State APC Primaries. Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa State had made some indicting and defamatory remarks about the person of the Honourable Judge of the Federal High Court who presided over the case. Reacting to Silva's comment, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths, under the aegis of PDP South South Youth Vanguard, said that the Minister is not decent enough to hold a public office. Calling on President Buhari to sack the Minister, the PDP youths, in a statement by its National Chairman, James Ef

BY NELSON NSEABASI Economic planning and development has been the bedrock of thriving economies all over the world. The issue of income generation for a micro and macro level is vital to the well being of a particular economy, as it is with it that development is planned. In recent time, the nation Nigeria has witnessed a period of drastic decline in the economy, leaving the price of stocks very low in the trade market while unemployment rose to an alarming rate. Firms were forced to relocate resources, scale back production and lay off employees. To salvage the situation, it is recommended that government adopt strategic macroeconomics policies. Intermittently and constantly, there are series of discussions on how to continually improve the economy, as against inflation and deflation. It behooves of the leadership and persons responsible in various offices at federal and state levels, to see to it that they generate a tangible percentage of the resources required to meet the

The failure of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clichéd the governorship seat in Bayelsa State has been blamed on the party leadership. The PDP youths, under the aegis of PDP South South Youth Vanguard, also blamed Governor Seriake Dickson’s highhandedness for the failure The PDP youths, in a statement by its National Chairman, James Efe Akpofure, alleged that monies exchanged hands between the party leadership and the governor over his choice of candidate. The youth further alleged that monies also exchanged hands between the party leadership, Timi Alaibe and Ken Koko over the party ticket. The group noted that Bayelsa people were not happy with Governor Dickson's decision to feature a candidate that is not popular among the people. The PDP Youth Vanguard added that the decision of the governor on his choice of candidate was selfish, adding that if Dickson had listen to the voice of the people, things would have been different. Aside blaming Dic

- Summit to tackle newer IGR options in a recessed economy 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 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

...ASK INEC TO DECLARE HIM GOVERNOR ELECT Posted By Tony Okechukwu The Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that he won the Saturday Gubernatorial election in  In the State. Diri therefore that 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

By Tony Okechukwu Some journalists covering the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa have been involved in a boat accident as the boat they were travelling in capsized. The four Nigerian Journalists cheated death on Saturday  as the boat conveying them across flooded parts of Sampou community on Nun River, Kolokuma Opokuma area of Bayelsa capsized midway. Their destination, Kolokuma Opokuma, is the home of the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Duoye Dori. The Journalists were among other journalists accredited to cover the  Bayelsa election. The victims were returning from the polling station when the incident happened and left them submerged.  The timely intervention of sympathisers who rescued the journalists, prevented them from drowning. The flood in the area prevented the journalists from travelling by road and in the alternative, made use of local canoes to travel to the polling unit 4, Ward 6, where the PDP candidate hailed from

…Urges Security Forces to Protect The People Posted By Tony Okechukwu The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urges the people of Kogi and Bayelsa state to remain at alert, resist all undemocratic brigand elements and take all legitimate steps to protect their votes to the very end. The party also charges INEC and security forces to ensure that nothing happens to the ballots at every level and that results reflect only the will of the people as expressed at the polling units. The PDP cautions INEC to note that the people already know how they voted; they already know the outcome of the polls at the respective polling units, they already know how the parties are standing and as such, will never accept any alternation of results at the collation level. The party also calls on the Inspector General of Police of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the military high command to be patriotic by taking measures to assist and protect the people, in their quest to protect their votes. The PDP

By Tony Okechukwu The Governor òf Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson has accused  the General Officer Commanding the 6th Division òf the Nigerian Army of compromising security in Favour òf the All Progeessives Congress against the PDP. The Governor  said that even though Gen. Sarham has been transferred to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, he refused to move and waited behind to supervise the use of the Army to perpetrate heinous electoral crimes and irregularity  in the Bayelsa guber polls. The Governor said that the GOC and the  Brigade Commander òf the Artillery Brigade, attached soldiers to all APC leaders in all the wards who they use to terrorize people from one polling unit to another. The Governor added that the GOC moved to Yenagoa to  personally supervise  the undemocratic and illegal activities  of the Army in the Bayelsa polls using the Brigade Commander of the Artillery Brigade as the commander of his  soldiers in the  orgy of violence on Ba

By Tony Okechukwu The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Bayelsa state, Senator Douye Diri, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is colluding with the security agents to manipulate the election. Senator Diri stated this shortly after casting his vote at his polling unit, ward six, unit four in Sampou community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state. “It is going on peacefully in my unit and Kolga. Voting orderly here. It’s going on well here. However, I have reports of pockets of electoral fraud commited by APC, coming on with thugs to hijack materials denying PDP members from voting. I raised the red flag about Nembe Bassambiri. What I have is that no PDP agent is allowed to go into Nembe Bassambiri. At Eniware in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the reports I have is that the APC thugs went there. The same with Opolo, and other places. But we are monitoring the process”, Diri stated. The PDP candidate also

By Tony Okechukwu A Coalition of Civil Society groups currently in Bayelsa have raised alarm over a sudden deployment men of the Nigerian Army from the 6 Brigade Port Harcourt Rivers, towards the end of the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa. They said they have been authoritatively informed that the soldiers some of whom have just arrived Yenagoa are being positioned to take over the collation centers and headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in the state capital. Speaking in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Barrister Atari Emmanuel, the said "The world is watching with breathtaking attention the funny game currently being played by the Nigerian Army, in the ongoing governorship election in the state.  We are worried that despite aiding thugs across the various local governments, particularly in Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Ekeremor local government areas to unleash terror on innocent voters, the Army is going further, by impo

The Rev John Pofi Foundation and some communities in Bayelsa State, have warned the Nigerian military personnel against turning communities into war zones, following an intelligence that the security agency was being mobilised to disrupt collation process. The foundation warned that the Military personel in large numbers and stationed at Aridof hotels , the political base of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipriye Silva, is currently experiencing unusual large presence of military officers. The military personnel were drafted to communities  allegedly by the APC stalwart and the Governorship candidate, David Lyon, on the suspicion to be used to disrupt the collation of election results. "They are allegedly camped in a location within the communities  in preparation for disruption of results", said Mr. Owie Luke one of the indigenes of Bayelsa. Rev. John Pofi of Reverend John Pofi Foundation, expressed great worries

The APC Governorship Candidate Hon. David Lyon Cast his Vote at exactly 11:00 hours in his hometown Olugbobiri. Hon. David Lyon who casted is vote at Unit 001 Olodiama Ward 4 in Southern Ijaw Local Government area, Bayelsa State. Says he will win the contest by landslide

At Ward 5, Unit 7 and 9,  Opolo Town Hall polling centre, where two persons were shot, an INEC official said the people refused to vote, insisting they would not vote and allow others to vote for another party apart from APC  INEC officials have started relocating their materials to yet to be known destination. Security have however been beefed up in the area with police, army and DSS officials stationed in the area.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cancelled voting in Ologi (Ward 03) of Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) due to violence. A senior officials of the commission was quoted as saying that violence in the area, including manhandling of electoral officials led to the cancellation. According to Ukuachukwu Orji, INEC Supervisory Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ogbia LGA, members of the Ologi community forcibly prevented election in the riverine area. “As our people (electoral officers) were coming into the community after crossing the river, they seized them and the materials and burnt all the materials. They chased our people away and seized some but the military rescued them,” he said. He spoke in Otuoke (Ward 13 of Ogbia LGA) where President Goodluck Jonathan and his family voted, saying that election in the community was then cancelled as a consequence of the violence. He expressed satisfaction that election has been smooth in other communities

Posted By Tony Okechukwu Reports of hijacked electoral materials as well as detention of some party leaders currently mars the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa State. Also, INEC officials were absent in many polling units including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia local government. In Ekeremoh local government, political thugs were allegedly led by a top party leader to hijack sensitive electoral materials to his residence at Ekeremoh LGA. An INEC official, after collecting sensitive materials from Oporoma allegedly arrived Otuan without the sensitive materials, after voters discovered that the original sheet were not in the list with her. The official was however apprehended by party agents who questioned her motives for showing up at the polling unit without the original voting sheets. In SILGA Ward 14, the military stationed around the area were also allegedly holding top party leaders hostage in Ogboinbiri community. The leaders have repo