October 12, 2022
Press Statement
Nigerians were again appalled and sickened by the lack of depth being exhibited by the embattled Presidential Candidate of the tottering All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as reflected in his recent utterances against other political parties.
While Asiwaju Tinubu has proven to Nigerians that he is incapable of serious Presidential discourse, it is nevertheless disgraceful that the APC Presidential Candidate, who is facing multiple legitimacy and disqualification issues, is displaying such vacuity in the public domain.
For emphasis, the PDP is a serious political Party campaigning on issues and we have refrained from commenting on the many personal, health, academic, ancestry and corruption issues challenging the APC Presidential Candidate.
Apparently, dazed by the resounding presentation of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the hugely successful flag-off of our Presidential Campaign in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, on Monday, October 10, 2022, Asiwaju Tinubu has become disoriented to the extent that he can no longer articulate or engage in any productive and focused political discourse.
If there is any Party that can be described as a “termite party” of course it will not be the PDP which is fully “ARTICULATED” and soaring with its campaign but the doomed APC that is crawling, having become legally crippled and no longer a legitimate and valid vehicle to field candidates in the 2023 general elections.
This explains why the APC cannot constitute a Presidential Campaign Council, let alone flagging off its campaign.
Though the APC Presidential Candidate has demeaned himself before Nigerians, the PDP as a decorous Party will still refrain from commenting on the issues of his personal health and alleged unwholesome addictions for which he has become a butt of public joke.
Since he procured the APC ticket, the APC Presidential Candidate has not made any meaningful comment or contribution to serious national issues, instead he has been engaging in illogical, incoherent and fatuous utterances.
Our Party cautions Asiwaju Tinubu to advice himself, guard his utterances, face his many legitimacy and disqualification issues and stop making himself an object of public ridicule.
What is expected of Asiwaju is to apologize to the nation for the woes and suffering brought upon Nigerians by the misrule of the APC which he helped to install and for which Nigerians hold him personally responsible.
The APC Presidential Candidate should come to terms with the fact that Nigerians have moved on with the PDP and Atiku Abubakar as their next President given Atiku Abubakar’s established focus, integrity, experience, capacity and readiness to lead the mission to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria from the monumental failures and misery that the APC represents.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
JULIUS BERGER WINS 7TH CONSECUTIVE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR LEADERSHIP AWARD AT #IAMBRANDNIGERIA’S TOP 50 BRANDS 2022
The Country’s practically most reliable and innovative engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has robustly for the 7th consecutive time won top rating as “Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand in the Building and Construction Services Category” at the Top 50 Brands Nigeria Awards.
At a ceremony to unveil the Top 50 business brands in Nigeria last week in Lagos, the highly acclaimed construction experts, again retained its leadership position in Nigeria’s engineering construction sector in recognition of its outstanding and ever trustworthy quality, brilliant innovativeness and operational best international standards and practice in the building and construction industry for the year 2022.
At the eagerly anticipated annual national brands evaluation event anchored in Lagos, where who is who in the various industrial sectors are assessed and named with ranking awards, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc emerged the winner in the building and construction sector with a Brand Strength Measurement, BSM, of 66.5, notching up an additional 6 points to strongly beat and best its own previous brand performance record of 60.5 points at the previous 2021 ratings.
The Chief Executive Officer of Top Brands Nigeria, Taiwo Oluboyede in his opening remarks at the landmark event congratulated Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and other sectoral winners declaring that, “…today, these are the Best Brands in Nigeria”.
According to Mr. Taiwo Oluboyede, the CEO of Top Brands Nigeria, the drivers of the #TOP50BRANDSNIGERIA awards, the Brand Strength Measurement (BSM) ratings of nominated companies are determined by their consistency of corporate mission, professional resilience, individual Brand Identity, Client Retention, Quality Elements, Market Category Leadership as well as a brand’s Diversification activities and Productivity. Other BSM assessment considerations include Innovation, National Spread, Online Engagement and a brand’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Consciousness and engagement. According to Taiwo Oluboyede, “…This becomes the objective measurement and merit-driven outcome of the annual brand research endeavour, where we evaluate a brand’s ability to deliver on its promise to its customers or clients who consume its products and services from the customers’ or consumers’ point of view….”
Oluboyede speaking from the citation of Julius Berger from the BrandNigeria 2022 Manual, further said that, among many other fine technical qualities of Julius Berger, the company places emphasis on the deployment of progressive construction methods and innovative technologies to achieve sustainable and value-driven solutions. He said the scope of Julius Berger’s operations covers “…all areas of construction including the pre and post phases. Success is built on the strategy of having vertically integrated operations, which improve efficiency and timelines of project execution”.
To underscore the foregoing, the Top Brands Nigeria CEO said, “Julius Berger is a brand that is unmistakably recognized throughout Nigeria, a brand that has built a track record of delivering the highest level of performance and a brand synonymous with quality and reliability”.
Congratulating Julius Berger at the unveiling of the 2022 awards in Lagos, Taiwo Oluboyede reiterated that“…the engineering construction leader is a company seized of a progressive and open-minded corporate culture constantly progressively driven by a development and growth-oriented Board and executive management. The company empirically never stands still in its efforts to drive both the Organization and its clients’ developments forward to its sworn allegiance to good success”.
Julius Berger at this year’s event was also again positively cited and commended by Taiwo Oluboyede for its consistent business culture of punctuality and capacity to arrive on schedule and well prepared for maximum productivity in all of its projects and operational tasks with ready clients.
It would be recalled that the Executive Director of Administration of Julius Berger, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi, earlier told news correspondents during one of the company’s media parley events that: “…In Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, punctuality is the soul of business and, as a propelling operational policy, we seriously work to arrive at every milestone and assignment as planned. That corporate culture proudly and productively underpins our company’s reliability to our clients in every project. That is our proud historical legacy; a tenacity and consistency of purpose that has made us to consistently win the highly coveted construction sector leadership award…” Bayi added that, “…we promise to maintain our matchless productive momentum and remain the trusted and preferred partner when project timelines and success matter most to the client. That is Julius Berger’s lasting and reliable promise.”
With regard to the 2022 construction sector leadership award to Julius Berger, Alhaji Bayi who had to give his remarks on the telephone from offshore where he was for official assignment said: “…On behalf of the Board, Executive Management and entire Staff of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, I wish to appreciate and thank the BrandNigeria organization for this valuable award, and for the objectivity that has continued to define the ratings, keeping the nominations for the awards only merit-driven”.
The CEO of BrandNigeria, Taiwo Oluboyede, had earlier noted that since the advent of Julius Berger in Nigeria for the construction of Eko Bridge in Lagos in 1965, the engineering construction company has historically and decisively stood strong as a preferred partner for project success anywhere there is an engineering challenge in the country
Besides Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, other winners at the 2022 BRANDNIGERIA TOP50BRANDS Award event included the Dangote Group, Globacom, Lafarge, MTN, Oando, FCMB, Access Bank, Coco-Cola, Zenith Bank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, UBA Plc, Nestle, Cadbury, BUA Group, Fidelity Bank, Total energies, Guinness, Airtel, Nigeria Breweries, Toyota, P&G, Channels Television, Samsung, Multichoice, etc.
Okowa mourns Archbishop Apena
Governor of Delta and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has condoled the Christian community and Isoko nation in Delta on the passing of foremost cleric, Archbishop Christian Apena.
Apena, the founder of Bethesda Gospel Mission International Inc, Irri, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, reportedly died on Sunday night at 91.
The Governor noted that the late cleric was aged, his demise was shocking because there was no report that he was sick before the incident.
He said, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika in Asaba, that Apena’s death was a big loss to the Christian community in Delta, especially for his vibrant teachings and wise counsels at all times.
He also commiserated with the family, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Irri community and the entire Isoko nation on the demise of the renowned preacher.
The governor urged them to be consoled by the legacies of integrity and sound biblical teachings that the deceased espoused while working in the Lord’s vineyard until his final breathe.
He assured the family and the Bethesda Church of the support and prayers of his family, Delta Government and people of the state at this trying period.
“It is with sadness that I, my family, the government and people of Delta commiserate with the Christian community, the Apena family and all Isoko people on the passing of Nonagenerian cleric, Archbishop Christian Ovwoma Apena.
“He was a strong voice in the Christian community where he taught the word of God without fear or favour.
“His death, no doubt, is a great loss not just to his family and the Christian community but to our state and nation. His teachings and support for the work of Christ spanning over 49 years will be evidently missed.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the CAN and members of Bethesda Gospel Mission that the soul of the deceased repose peacefully and the family given the fortitude to bear his demise,” the governor said.
Okowa, Omo-Agege, Okonjo-Iweala, other Deltans bag national honours
Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were among illustrious Deltans honoured at the National Honours Award Investiture for 2022.
Also honoured are Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Kiagborekuzi I; Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, Ogurimerime Ukori I; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chairman, Zenith Bank, Mr Jim Ovia and Chairman, UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu.
Others are Chairman, ThisDay and Arise Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; Chairman, RainOil, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie and Kenneth Gbagi.
They also include Professor Itse Sagay, Julius Dediare Rone, AVM Charles Owho, Professor Emmanuel Nwanze, Elton Edorhe, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr Victor Etuokwu and Mr Dike Chigbue.
The ceremony which held on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance.
In his remarks shortly after the ceremony, Governor Okowa said that the Award was for Nigerians who had contributed to nation-building and I thanked God that he met the criteria to receive the award.
He expressed gratitude to President Buhari and the National Honours Awards Committee for the investiture and congratulated other Deltans and Nigerians on their well-deserved honours.
Okowa pledged to continue his contribution to nation-building to make Nigeria to realise its full potential.
“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Honours Awards Committee for my investiture as a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), in recognition of my contributions to the development of the nation.
“I congratulate all Nigerians and distinguished Deltans who were also honoured with the various categories of National Awards.
“This award makes me to realise that I have contributed my bit and I hope it will spur me to think more about the growth and development of this country.
“I hope that together in commitment to this nation we will all continue to work with our people across Nigeria to find the growth path that can take us to Nigeria of our dream.
“I must say that I am humbled by this recognition and pledge to continue to play my role to make Nigeria a better nation that lives up to its full potential,” he stated.
Okowa also affirmed that the award would spur him to do more for Delta in the years ahead, adding that the “award is a call to duty for me and I thank God that i have the opportunity of being the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We are working very hard and we expect that Nigerians will be in a position to truly realise that the PDP team is the best team at this very critical time in the development of our nation.
“By the grace of God, upon victory in 2023, I will work with the President, Atiku Abubakar and other stakeholders of this nation to find solutions to the current challenges that we have in our nation.
“There is no doubt that the challenges are truly numerous and frightening in terms of disunity, insecurity and economic downturn which is affecting human capital development.
“I believe that when God, through the elections helps us come to power that we will work with all sections of this country to begin to restore hope and to rebuild the cracked foundations of this country,” he stated.
On her part, Director-General of World Trade Organisation Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said no award could be more gratifying than the one from one’s country and lauded President Buhari for the honour.
She said the honour was a call to do more in her endeavours and expressed satisfaction with Governor Okowa’s human capital and infrastructural transformation in Delta in the last seven years.
She urged him to do more in the remaining months of his administration.
Responding on behalf of the award recipients, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, pledged their readiness to work with the President in surmounting the nation’s challenges in the remaining period in his tenure.
He described the recipients of the awards as patriotic Nigerians that had impacted positively on the nation in all sectors.
A total of 447 Nigerians were invested with award in various categories by the Federal Government.
Rt. Hon. Dekor, Excited Over Nomination Of Gov Wike For Distinguished Award In Infrastructure Delivery
…Says He Deserves Nothing Less
As the news of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s nomination for Infrastructure Delivery Award by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government reverberates, the Rivers State number one citizen has continued to receive encomiums and accolades.
One of the such well meaning Nigerians is Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, the federal lawmaker representing the good people of Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
According to Rt. Hon. Dekor, Governor Nyesom Wike has raised the bar of good governance so high in this country that everybody can feel and see it. He does not deserve anything less, he noted.
The Khana/Gokana representative and House Committee Chairman on Host Communities was however quick to note that most exciting is the due regard and honour coming from the federal government that is controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to a PDP Governor.
“I doff my cap for His Excellency for the Honour and wish to congratulate him for the pride and honour brought to the Rivers people. I also wish the entire country could see things this way and reciprocate the feat by electing selfless and performing Nigerian citizens into positions of trust and higher responsibilities irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, religion and political affiliation. I bet you this nation will be a heaven on earth if this were to be,” the Ogoni-born politician echoed.
Rt. Hon. Dekor, former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and one time Commissioner of works in the State said without mincing words that the only way out of the doldrums is to pray to have the like of Gov Wike at the helm of affairs across the states of the country and, “not just praying but going the extra mile to support such rare political icons,” he declared.
Signed:
Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor Media Team.
October 12, 2022
ONELGA Flood:
Obuah Provides Accommodation For 100 Youth Corpers
Immediate past Former Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has continued to identify with victims of the flood disaster in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, with the provision of residential accommodation for one hundred (100) members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the area.
According to the NYSC Local Government Inspector for ONELGA, Stella Ejor, who disclosed this while speaking on Go-Round TV on Wednesday, Bro. Obuah said the gesture is to get a place of accommodation for the corpers until the flood is over.
She said the corps members affected by the flood were those serving at Ndoni, Egbada, Egbema, Agah, Mgbede, Okwuzi, Obagi, Idu Ogba and Oboburu communities.
The Inspector who said the corpers would be housed at Bro. Obuah’s hotel at OKPOSI, expressed fears that the surging flood was on its way to Akabuka community, adding that Bro. Obuah has directed that mattresses and beddings should be procured for the comfort of the corpers.
“There is also a place at the Low Cost Housing Estate where Bro. Obuah has also directed that other corps members should be camped”, she said, and described Obuah as a Godly man and father with listening ears.
Recall that Obuah, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and Mbanabara-Agu 1 of Orashi Kingdom had been on tour of badly affected communities in ONELGA, providing succour to victims.
Despite having his magnificent Krisdera Hotels also affected by the flood, some video footages have gone viral on social media showing Bro. Obuah on t-shirts and shorts wading through some flooded homes to offer help to stranded victims.
In yet another video footage, Obuah was seen frying garri, for some flood victims who could not leave their homes to fetch some food.
On Tuesday, Bro. Obuah caused a stir at the Ebocha-Egbema bridge when he stopped over to empathize with some victims.
At Ndoni, he stopped, introduced himself to an elderly woman and gave her a dash as her face lighted up in smiles. He beckoned to a woman selling yam, and was told that each yam sold for N1000. But to her shock, Obuah squeezed N10,000 and collected just one of the yams.
Bro. Obuah on Monday, fulfilled his promise to provide four IDP camps by donating his Clarion Hotels located at Okposi as well as one of his business premises.
Famous for his benevolence towards the downtrodden, Bro. Obuah has said at many fora that he derives immense joy from humanitarian services.
Hear him: “It’s in my blood. The secret behind my philanthropic acts is in the scriptures that say whatever you do, remember the poor, the less privileged, those who are not as able as you are and ensure to share the little you have among them, because they are also important, even Christ said, whatever you do to the least of them, you do unto Him.
“Another reason is because of Christ and we love God and you cannot love God without loving humanity”.
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity
To Bro Felix Obuah.
MTV announces nominations for ‘2022 MTV EMAs’
MTV has announced nominations for the ‘2022 MTV EMAs’ with Africa’s blazing stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa once again securing nominations. Nigerian superstars Burna Boy and Tems with record-breaking hits like ‘Last Last’ and ‘Damages’, as well as breakout sensation Ayra Starr with her hit single, ‘Bloody Samaritan’ were nominated in the Best African Act category. Alongside South African Amapiano artist Musa Keys, Tanzanian singer-songwriter, Zuchu, and Ghanaian performer, Black Sherif were also nominated in the category.
In a display of pure African excellence and black girl magic, Nigerian pop artist Tems will have a shot at winning two awards at this year’s MTV EMAs. Not only has the 27-year-old musician clinched a shot at the Best African Act, but she has also been nominated in the Best New Act category alongside Baby Keem, Dove Cameron, GAYLE, SEVENTEEN and Steven Sanchez.
“Every year African talents dazzle the world with remarkable ingenuity and vibrant artistry, and this year is no different. We are quite elated to celebrate these talents and the pure genius they produce as well as their grit, determination, incredible ethic and achievements at the 2022 MTV EMAs,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount Africa.
Leading the pack of international nominations this year is Harry Styles who gathered seven nods, including for Best Artist, Best Song and Best Video. Taylor Swift follows closely with six nominations including for Best Artist, Best Pop, and new EMA category, Best Longform Video. Nicki Minaj and ROSALÍA each earned five nominations including for ‘Best Song and Best Artist.
The ‘2022 MTV EMAs’ will take place at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, and broadcast live on MTV channels in over 170 countries. It will air locally on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322, GOtv Channel 72) on Sunday, November 14 at 20:00 WAT/ 21:00 CAT (Pre-Show) and 21:00 WAT/ 22:00 CAT (Main Show).
PRESS RELEASE
Jandor, Akindele, others are noisemakers – Sanwo-Olu
LAGOS 2023: SANWO-OLU KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN AT EHINGBETI SUMMIT, SAYS SOME OPPONENTS ARE NOISE MAKERS
…Governor launches Lagos Development Plan 2022
…Signs State Wealth Fund, Civil bills
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday kicked off his campaign at the Ninth Ehingbeti Summit in Lagos, saying he is the best among the governorship candidates in the State based on his administration’s track records in the last three and half years in line with the THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos.
He described some of those contesting against him in the March 11, 2023 governorship election in Lagos State as ‘noisemakers’, noting that when it’s time, men would be separated from toddlers.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Closing Ceremony of the Ninth Ehingbeti Summit held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos on Wednesday.
The Governor during the event launched the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, a 30 years plan from 2022 to 2052, to chart a growth path for the State. He also signed the Lagos State Wealth Fund Bill and Lagos State Civil Bill.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government and Del York Group for Lagos Film City as well as the MoU between the State Government and Siemens Energy for Electronics Technician training with Siemens Energy.
Speaking on the 2023 governorship elections in Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu said he believed the people of Lagos State will do the right thing in next year’s election by re-electing him.
He said: “Today is the day that INEC officially flagged off campaigns for governorship and House of Assembly elections. And there is no better time for me to do my official flag-off than at an economic summit like this where we are talking about our city, our people and Greater Lagos. What we are talking about is real; people can feel and they can see it.
“Some people can come here to claim anything. Some candidates would go about and make a lot of noise. They don’t even know what governance is all about. We have done a lot and people can feel it. People know this is a government that works for them.
” It is not about us; it is really to create that enabling environment for them (the citizens) to do well. Lagos State has witnessed prosperity in the last three and half years even in the COVID environment and that is the trajectory in which we want to continue. So, tell the noisemakers that after the noise, there would be calm and Lagosians will truly understand what we are talking about.”
Speaking on why he deserved to be re-elected, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “For me, there can never be any better campaign; there can never be an any better conversation and there can never be any better means of showing and showcasing what this government has done for the past three and half years than what you all have seen here in the last two days.
“I want to tell all Lagosians that it is as clear as day and night. Of course, there are a lot of people on the bill. There are a lot of noisemakers on the bill. There are a lot of other people that don’t even know their right from the left on the bill.
“I know there are a lot of other people that are out and shouting. Let them shout but after the shouting, there would be calmness because indeed you Lagosians know the right thing to do. And you will do the right thing by voting for us and re-elect us to continue with the great work that we’re doing.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
12 OCTOBER 2022
PRESS RELEASE
12th October, 2022
Delta’s Job Creation Marvel: Upright, Decent, Reliable, Says PDP; Accuses APC Of Pull Him Down Syndrome
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has accused the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of unabashedly playing politics of pull him Down syndrome and spreading distorted information to deceive the people.
PDP made the charge in a Press Release issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza in response to comments attributed by an online news medium to the APC’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ebata Onojeghuo Esq. in a story with the headline: “223,000 Direct Jobs: Delta APC blast Okowa, says it’s disingenuous attempt at scoring cheap political points … they are mostly political appointees, aides, and Keke riders”
Criticising the comment for its deviousness, a silly stunt done to trick and mischievously mislead Deltans and other members of the public to believe its lie, Delta PDP said it would have been surprised if the APC officials had not acted true to type in their worthless criticism of the administration of His Excellency, and go-getting and amiable Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
The PDP debunked the APC claim, pointing out that the information that APC is trying to tar with its sly comment is the incontrovertible and honest truth of the solid facts of the job creation marvel of Governor Okowa that is second to none.
The splendid scorecard of the PDP administration is the fulfillment of the Governor’s campaign promises on job and wealth creation since 2015. It is the hallmark that has defined the Governor as the “Talk na do” governor and the people’s beloved “Ekwueme.”
For the sake of properly informing those who genuinely want to know the fact and authenticity of the extent of the impact that the job and wealth creation efforts of the PDP administration has made since 2015 to date, it has become necessary for the PDP to declare that the facts stated by the Governor are correct, honest and candid. He is the one who is driving the administration and so no one can tell the story of his success and achievements better than him. And the facts are verifiable by anyone who sincerely wants to know the truth, not those who see the declaration as an opportunity to display wickedness and impugn the integrity of the well-meaning Governor just for political reasons. The facts and figures in the scorecard as made by the Governor are evidence-based, verified, and authoritative. These facts and truth are accordingly reiterated as follows:
- That the PDP administration has created no fewer than13,510 new youth entrepreneurs from previously unemployed or underemployed youths through skills training, retraining, mindset reorientation, entrepreneurship training, startup and working capital support.
- It has created 223,905 direct jobs through multi-faceted programmes and
initiatives in skills development, skills upgrading, entrepreneurship
training, enterprise microcredit, livelihood sustenance, business
support grants, market linkage support, and public service jobs placement.
- It has created 1,325,750 indirect jobs arising from ancillary and multiplier
effects of public infrastructure works, Public Private Partnership (PPP) investments, sector-specific programmes, community-level and local government-level projects and youth empowerment grants and related programmes.
Delta PDP expresses its disappointment with the opposition party that rather than make attempt to verify claims on the job and wealth creation efforts of the government, it prefers to describe the truth as “disingenuous attempt to score cheap political point.” This is bad politicking and therefore unfair, as it is only a scheme to mislead and create disaffection in the people against the Governor, and their beloved PDP.
It is equally unbecoming for an online news medium that lays claim to being dispassionate to fall for the deception of APC by posing such infantile questions to a political party’s opponent while in a competitive political race. The answer is already a foregone conclusion. Because what the online news medium did can be likened to placing a party’s head on the board while arming the opponent with a well-sharpened machete of compromised questions and asking the opponent to chop off the head of its rival.
A medium with good intentions would have asked its reporter to go independently and verify the claims of the Governor and then confront him or his officers with its findings subsequently. The PDP in Delta is therefore challenging the online medium to do its own independent finding and cross-check with what the Governor presented before swallowing the mendacity claims of a political competitor. We state categorically that the claims of the Governor are solid, honest, and not the product of anyone’s imagination.
In another attempt to further rubbish the good deeds of the Governor the APC talked about factories, this is illiterate thinking. The system the Government of Delta State adopted in job and wealth creation is the strategy of seven social investment and job creation programmes including YAGEP, STEP, YAGEPRENEURS, and STEPreneurs among others, through giving them skill acquisition trainings to produce a complete set of graduands having full complements that will make the youth fully developed to be job and wealth creators and employers of labour. Of course, the good news is that many who have benefitted from these programmes have limitless joy for the opportunity, as many express gratitude to the Governor for his kind gesture as they tell their stories amid tears of joy. Will APC and the online medium say that they don’t listen to other mediums including national television stations whose news crews attend these programmes and air their reports with shots of proceedings and participants of the programmes? Participants in the reports are even captured making comments about how glad and pleased they are with the programmes and how it has brightened their future by giving them hope for a better living.
It needs also to be pointed out that among the television houses that cover the job creation training programmes of Delta State Government is the TVC, a television broadcast station owned by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now presidential candidate of APC. TVC reports the event whenever the trainings are commencing and the graduation ceremonies. So, what is the APC so-called State Publicity Secretary trying to prove? Nothing indeed, but mischief in hack writing.
Of course, it is a pat on the back for Governor Okowa that he has found a way to provide succour to Deltans who otherwise would have been jobless by giving them appointments as special assistants with job descriptions and specifications. It is better imagined what the fate of these fellows would have been without the opportunities given to them. But the APC is displaying bad belle, an expression of sadism. For the party, these people should be left to rot and pine away in ignominy and obscurity with nothing and in abject poverty. This, for us in PDP is the product of the ingenuity of a compassionate Governor, one who detests seeing people, especially the able bodied and intelligent youths stranded and frustrated in the society. We rather give kudos to the good-intentioned Governor Okowa for this nice gesture.
It is against all the above that we thank the people of Delta State for not falling for the deception of the desperate APC, who seeks to play foul to come into government in the State. Indeed, Deltans know where their bread are been buttered. And it is in PDP. They are well aware of the APC story of bad government and governance at the Federal level, especially the sorry state of things in the country today. Rather than cry wolf where there’s non, Deltans are asking APC to sell their candidates and programmes rather than engaging in propaganda and using unfair and foul tactics of trying to hit Governor Okowa below the belt.
Thank you Deltans for believing in Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, thank you youths of Delta for expressing your gratitude for the opportunities you have to better yourselves through the job and wealth creation programmes of the PDP-led State government. Thank you for always making Delta PDP and PDP Delta.
PDP! Power to the people!!
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza,
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.
State Police, panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges – Okowa
Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday said one veritable measure for addressing insecurity in Nigeria was for States to operate their separate police systems.
He stated this in his remarks at the annual conference of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja, and noted that there had been a consensus among the citizenry for State Police in the country as a way of reducing crime rate.
Okowa said that it was unfortunate that the Federal Government had remained indifferent on the issue, and assured that PDP administration would enact a law to empower States to run their separate Police systems.
According to him, with State Police where indigenes will ensure protection of lives and property in their areas, criminal activities would be curbed drastically.
He particularly stated that State Police would help in the effective enforcement of anti-open-grazing law in the states.
The vice-presidential candidate reaffirmed that a PDP government in the country would ensure that some powers were devolved to the states for better development of all areas across the country.
He said that the country’s economy was in a bad state, and promised that Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) as the bedrock of every economy, an Alhaji Atiku Abubakar administration would give that sub-sector priority attention.
He added that to attract and stimulate investment in the country under a PDP government, energy issues and other malignant infrastructural drawbacks would be aggressively addressed.
