REVEALED! SEE WHAT OKOWA DID WITH N550 MILLION PENSION FUNDS

The Delta State Government, Thursday (23/03/2017), disclosed that it is has disbursed a total of 550 million naira to offset the retirement benefits of 100 retires since the beginning of this year.

The Head of Service in the state, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, who made the disclosure in Asaba while presenting payment schedules to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the settlement of 54 retirees, assured that the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will continue to sustain the monthly release of funds to the Retirement Savings Account (RSAs) irrespective of economic situations.

Bayoko observed that the steepest challenge facing the contribution pension scheme is the rising number of retirees on the waiting list of payment, adding that “their pains, anguish, disappointments and forlorn hope have become a strong challenge that must be surmounted if any meaningful gain is to be made out of the scheme in the long run”.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

“The state government, in response to this challenge did promise and had consistently released funds for the settlement of retirement benefits since January 2017. So far, about 100 retirees’ benefits amounting to 550 million naira has been settled since the beginning of the year.

See THE SOLUTION TO PDP CRISIS

“This unwavering commitment is coupled with the fact that counterpart contributions for workers are being religiously remitted on a monthly basis into their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), making Delta State one of the most up-to-date in the payment of pension entitlements”, he said.

The head of Service noted that the state government is aware of the increasing dominance of the pension industry as well as its potential of becoming a major catalyst for socio-economic growth, adding that “at the moment, its asset under management is in excess of N5 trillion, with only about 27 per cent of its potentials tapped”.

Delta State Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko (Middle), the State Chairman, Bureau of Pension, Chief (Mrs.) Christiana Siakpere (Left) and the Secretary of Bureau, Mr. Chuks Aguonye during the presentation of payment schedules to Pension Fund Administrators in Asaba.  

“As a responsive government, we cannot take the back seat in efforts aimed at maximizing our socio-economic advantage while at the same time responding actively to the yearnings and aspirations of our workforce. While the cost of running the scheme may be high at these initial stages, we understand that it puts a cap to our future liabilities and it is obviously the way to go in ensuring a sustainable pension administration”, Bayoko said.

He appealed to all stakeholders and partners of the pension scheme to map out packages that takes current economic challenges into consideration, adding that the state government would leverage on all sincere efforts at deepening the tenets and operation of the scheme with the aim of protecting the interest and welfare of its workers.

See the LIST OF THOSE WHO BOTCHED NIGERIA'S DREAM

The State Chairman, Bureau of Pension, Chief (Mrs.) Christiana Siakpere explained that funds are disbursed to beneficiaries of the scheme on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, urging retirees to be patient while all processes are being perfected to ensure the prompt payment of their benefits.

Siakpere noted that the mass retirement of government workers in 2012 coupled with the economic downturn were the major causes of delay in the payment of benefits to retirees, assuring that with the current commitment of the state government, smiles will soon return to faces of the retired staff.

Meanwhile, an Asaba-based legal practitioner has disclosed the only condition that must be met for Nigeria to make meaningful progress.

OFA REVEALS PANACEA TO PDP CRISIS

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to linger as the two parallel divides of the party separately led by Senator Ahmed Markafi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff insist on laying claims to the national control of the near 20 years old political family.

In this interview held in Asaba, Delta State, a stalwart of the PDP and former Commissioner representing Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief (Dr) Henry Ofa explains that seeking political solution through genuine dialogue is the leeway out of the mustering political tragedy in the party.

Ofa also tells our correspondent, JOSHUA ERUBAMI, that unless urgent measures are taken to end the crisis, the PDP may soon gasp its last breath. Excerpts.

What are the main causes of the crisis rocking the national leadership of the PDP?

The Peoples Democratic Party has held sway as the most potent political platform in Nigeria since the country returned to democracy in 1999. Unfortunately, recent development shows that the continued and bourgeoning success of the party is being threatened. It all started from the time when some persons at the helm of the party’s affairs refused to relinquish power despite the expiration of their legitimate stay in office. Every position, particularly that of political offices, has a duration and when the end of your own your stray in office comes, it becomes very honourable to diplomatically and tactically step aside to ensure that your relevance is still sustained in whatever gathering you find yourself.

The main challenge of the PDP now is that of the feud between Senator Ahmed Markafi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on who should control the nation soul of the party. You will recall that Sheriff got the mandate to act as the party’s chairman after the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in the heat of the failed bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan to retain his presidency position during the 2015 general elections. Sheriff was supposed to act for few months after which a national convention of the party would be convened to conduct elections into the principal positions of the party. But at the expiration of his acting period, he sought to be the substantive chairman of the party which was widely rejected and that was the genesis of the whole issue.

Chief Henry Ofa 

He moved to stop the national convention of the party held last year but his move was not entirely successful as the Lagos court, in which he had sought legal restraints against the convention, only suspended the election of three principal officers of the party, including the position of the national chairman. As a law abiding party, the stakeholders held the national convention during which they dissolved the National Executive Council (NEC) but did not elect principal officers as ordered by the court. In order to strengthen the party ahead of the 2019 polls, leaders of the PDP set up a caretaker committee led by Markafi to oversee the affairs of the party for three months pending the final resolution of the differences. But the Sheriff faction opposed the move and that was how the supremacy battle began.

From your analysis, what have been the impacts of the crisis on the party?

They are too numerous to mention. The major one is that the continuum of the crisis is gradually pushing the party to a dead end. Some members of the party, including senators and other serving political officers elected under the flagship of the PDP are hiding under the crisis to defect to the APC (All Progressives Congress). The constitution allows the defection of serving political officers once it is established that there is crisis in the defecting politician’s party else, he or she could be recalled and ordered to vacate such position. More people are leaving the party and, except urgent measures are taken to mitigate this crisis, the party is heading towards comatose.

It is alleged that the PDP crisis is being sponsored by some APC loyalists... 

(Cuts in) That is a mere allegation. It has to be substantiated. Besides, no man can make you fight against your house if you truly believe in its unity and ideology. The crisis is internal.

Factional Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. 

How do you see members of the PDP who have defected to the APC and other parties?

They are not true politicians. They don’t believe in political ideology. A good politician joins a political platform not because it is in power but because he or she believes in its ideology which is the fulcrum upon which any genuine party rests. The PDP has a progressive ideology that is geared towards human capital development, improved welfare and general development of the society; that ideology has not changed and will never change. So, if the ideology remains the same, then it is totally unjustifiable for any of its member to defect. Joining the ruling party at the national level does not give you the leverage of getting all you want.

See FEAR GRIPS DELTAN COMMUNITY OVER ALLEGED TOXIC WASTE

If the ideology of the PDP remains as it were in the 1990s, why then has the party churned out different agenda in all of the three administrations it has produced in Delta State for instance?

Yes, it is one ideology, but the routes to achieving such ideology are many. It is like God. There are many of God’s worshippers on earth today who explore various ways and means in getting to him, but God still remains a single being. With reference to Delta State, Chief James Ibori came up with his agenda in 1999, by 2007, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan floated a three-point agenda and by 2015, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa rolled out a five-point agenda ostensibly called the SMART Agenda. The words and arrangement may be different but a careful look at all the areas of focus shows that the three administrations are concentrated on human capital development, security, health, infrastructures, welfarism and similar areas. In essence, the paths may vary but the destination is same.

The PDP crisis still persists with series of litigations pending determination, what should be the way forward?

Political solution is the leeway out of the morass. I have said this over and again, court judgments will further polarize the party and leave lasting divisions in it. Markafi and Sheriff should forget about who is right and embrace dialogue. Dialogue is more beneficial than argument. No man can take it all. They should reach an acceptable compromise where both factions will chose some of the key positions and allow peace reign in the party. The two arrow heads should be made to have input in the party, just as the governors are considered vital for the success of the party.

Taking the matter up at the Supreme Court is not the best; that legal tussle will take about three months to determine yet elections in some states are drawing closer. We have lost too many elections already; we cannot afford to lose more. Nigerians are looking up to the PDP as the only hope out of the APC induced hardship, but if the crisis continues, then I am afraid that the party may be no more soon.

Factional Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. 

Ahead of the 2019 polls, there are signals that the PDP may merge with other political parties, how do you see that?

The PDP is still the strongest party in Nigeria. The issue of merger can only be considered if the current internal crisis is allowed to be settled through court rulings. If the party embraces dialogue and political solution to the current differences, then it will be easy for it to win the needed number of supporters that will ensure its victory by 2019. At present, we must preach the good gospel of dialogue because it pays.

Since acting President Yemi Osinbajo assumed office, there seems to be some improvement in the country’s economy particularly in the rising strength of the Naira to Dollar. What is your opinion on his leadership style?

Osinbajo is not a politician but a technocrat. His recent visits to the Niger Delta area have really brought about much peace in the troubled region of the country. This has resulted in increased daily oil production and more revenue to the country. It is quite gratifying that he is able to bring his technical knowledge to bear, but that is not to say that the APC is doing well. The acting President is just working hard to ameliorate part of the untold hardship the federal government has brought upon Nigerians. I will urge him to step up his efforts to give Nigerians benefits of the change they were promised. I will also call on Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari irrespective of political and ethnic divide. There is no denying the fact that he is the President of this country. If he is sick, then the country is invariably sick too.

It was recently reported that an India-packaged garri is being sold in Nigerian supermarkets; what does this portend to a country like ours that is endowed with rich agricultural soil?

That is sheer madness. It is totally ridiculous to all farmers in this country. It is agreed that Nigeria has regrettably remained an import dependent country for virtually all of its needs, but importing garri into "a country like Nigeria that is naturally blessed with a fertile agricultural soil is the height of insults that can be given to citizens who are making efforts to consolidate the economic diversification drive of the federal government. Such situation is capable of undermining the value chain of agriculture, particularly cassava cultivation in the country, all Nigerians must kick against it.  Importing garri into Nigeria is totally ridiculous and an expression of sheer madness by those involved. Whoever buys such product is invariably beclouded by a very poor sense of judgmen.

Who in his right senses will import garri in which production Nigeria has an economic advantage? Look around every corner of Nigerian towns and villages, you will find well processed and fresh garri made from Nigerian farms. Our soil is so richly blessed that it supports the growth of virtually all varieties and species of agricultural products; if we genuinely follow the path of agriculture, there is no doubt that we will do well like we did in the past when the agrarian sector provided bulk of our gross domestic earnings.

The diversification efforts of governments at the federal and state levels appear to be yielding some positive dividends. Anything that tends to undermine this progress must be stopped. Besides the ongoing investigation into the monumental aberration, the federal governments should strengthen its holds on our national borders because it is appalling that the product scaled through our national surveillance without a prompt detection.

How would you assess the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration?

I must thank God for giving Okowa to Deltans at this critical time of our history. Those of us who fought for his victory are being vindicated today because the governor is giving us more reasons to believe in his delivering capacity. With what he is doing in the state, the PDP will have less task of retaining his governorship at the 2019 gubernatorial poll because the ordinary citizens will be his strength. Take a look at his realistic approach to job creation for the teaming youths; network of good and durable roads; human capital development drive and other laudable infrastructural development; you will see that the man is really working.

See also WHY OKOWA DESERVES SECOND TERM

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State 

One of the best ways to know someone who knows what he is doing is how fast he springs into action. Okowa appointed members of his cabinet, sent several bills to the State House of Assembly and executed several projects within his first 100 days in office. Yet, even the federal government and some APC led state governments operated as sole administrators for several months into their governments. As regard 2019, the APC and other political parties should forget wrestling power from the PDP backed Okowa’s government because there is no vacancy at all.

How would you rate his managerial skills?

Excellent. Despite the sharp economic crunch, Governor Okowa is still working, paying staff salaries, funding projects and keeping the state afloat. It is astonishing as to how he does that. He has prudently managed the lean resources coming to the state and everyone has smiles running on their faces. It is obvious some persons have some reservations about him especially in matters of appointment, but please let us be patient with him. It will soon get to your turn.

BREAKING: NYSC RELEASES 2017 BATCH A MOBILIZATION TIME-TABLE

After several months of waiting for mobilization, prospective Corps members should start packing their luggage as authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have disclosed arrangements for the 2017 Batch A. 

According to a release obtained from one of its official websites, nysc.org.ng, the activities concerning the Batch A commences from April 4, 2017.

See arrangements below..  

Source: NYSC Portal

Photo credit: Umudide Peter 

NIGERIA AND THE BOTCHER'S

Godbless Nikatene

Nigeria as a nation has experienced many of the problems common to other new nations. There are associated with strong primary industry development, and a fully functioning administrative bureaucracy. Yet, its subsequent history is one of economic difficulty, political violence, and growing poverty amongst its peoples.

The naivety of planners was evident in the way in which the potential problems were handled in the lead-up to independence. Despite the early warnings of writers like Awolowo and experiences of other West African postcolonial countries, it was assumed that with the establishment of democracy, tribalism and ethnic difference would fade as people learned to identify themselves primarily with the nation rather than with their own ethnic communities.

Democracy is built on the equality of citizens; the freedom of these citizens to associate with one another for the realization of their ideals and the defense and promotion of their interests; and the freedom of these citizens to choose between the different political platforms of various political parties and candidates, and see to the actualization of the platforms they have voted for, if their choices win.

But in Nigeria, people have effectively been disenfranchised by their own circumstances on the one hand, and their leaders’ perfidy on the other. As a result, Nigeria is approaching a situation where democracy is being practiced without democrats and elections are being conducted with scant regard for the electorate. The ballot is not respected by the government and the price of protecting it is too high for the people to pay; but the bullet, once universally feared, is now generally out of fashion.

The biggest blunder of Nigeria’s ruling class has been its failure to build strong and stable social system to provide the kind of atmosphere that democracy needs to take root and flourish.

The concrete foundation of any country is based sorely on the unity, you cannot attain, unity without peace and justice. You cannot attain peace and justice without love and honesty.

To enable us understand this further, let us look at our national anthem that we all stand up everyday to honor. Those who composed our national anthem had this in mind when they wrote in the last verse of the first stanza thus " One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity"

Have we really considered the weight of this verse as we recite when the opportunity present itself? Have our leaders really tried to govern this county in an atmosphere of fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Untied Nation chparter on freedom? Has it not been a situation of the strong always oppression of the weak?

I wonder sometime if our leaders take time to read and digest the national anthem like the pupils in primary and secondary schools. The second stanza, verse five and six which speaks of  building a nation " In love and honesty to grow and living and true" Have we related to ourselves in love and honesty Where the Kaduna man is saying that the oil in Delta belong to Kaduna? Where is the Niger Delta people have been completely deprived of the control of their natural resources?

The petroleum industry bill, PIB. designed to take care of the interest of all had been kept in the cooler by the majority enthic groups in the national assembly for almost seventhy years now, where is the justice in that? The last verse of our national anthem says "To build a nation where peace and justice shall regin". It is indisputabel that, a country where peace and justice reigns, progress is guaranteed. The composers of our national anthem cited this fact and all of our past and present leadership have accepted it as such. It therefore follows that all the past leaders including the present leadership have failed to govern with justice, honesty, fairlness and equity. They are all therefore the botcher's or spoilers of our country nigeria.

They are the ones who have made it impossible for the nation to attain great developmental strides. Hence, all of the challenges we face today as a nation can we have leader who can govern with justice, fairness and equity? Until we have that, the country will continue to elude us, you can never stifle the free spirit of man, no matter how hard one tries.

If the only permanent solution is a foundation of peace, justice and equity then all of these are not in place for the past 56years after our independence, the people that we have placed in postions to lead us as messiahs both past and present, have not do well, they are the spoilers 'botcher's'

The spoilers 'botcher's' are those who have allowed this country to be sharply divided along enthic and religious lines all through the years. The botcher's are those who have sold our commonwealth to their friends and cronies. The botcher's are those who have refused to have true census figures thereby denying the nation the opportuntity of proper plannig which would have supported Boko Haram to develop into the monsters that is has become today. The botcher's are those who will approved projects but failed to followed it up to completion. The botcher's are those who laundry our Money to other country, to enriched themselves.

The 'botchers' are those who through their leadership have encouraged the fulani herdsmen to become agents of religious anf ethnic genecide. The botchers those who always represented the Niger deltans people for peace dilogue without know reasonable result. The botcher's are those who preach democracy yesterday when were in oppostion and now that they are office have endoresed the fascist approach of obtaining justice.

The botchers are those who openly canvassed the activities of Boko Haram and fulani herdsmen in the past but today are asking the press to suppress news of the activties of the selects. Botcher's are those who canvassed the rule of law yesterday and today bound judges who have not dispensed justice in their favour.

The botcher's are those who cried for credible and fair election in the past but today are openly subverting justice and the democratic process. The botcher's are those who refuse to acknowledge the rights and privileges of others to their God given resources and talents. Botcher's are those who want to change the facts of history, to suit their own whims. Botcher's are those who have chosen to fight Corruption with corruption, there should be no distortion or selective treatment. These are the botcher's of our nation and until these ones are removed or forced to cahnge their ways, they will continue to hinder our collective growth because they are in power.

We, as Nigerians must understand our differences and arrive at a general consensus on the need for us to summon courage and vote only those good Christians and good Muslims from amongst us who will save us from the hands of the present manipulators who have no respect for human feelings and aspirations. We must arrive at a consensus that only a collegiate leadership of knowledgeable, humble, patriotic and committed Nigerians is voted into office. We have had enough of this contraption.

2019: We'll Queue Behind Okowa, Says Sakpra

Godbless Nikatene 

Hon. Henry Sakpra, Commissioner For Special Duties Government House 

The Delta State Commissioner For Special Duties Government House, Hon Henry Sakpra has urged the people of Udu Local Government Area of the State to queue behind Senator Okowa and distanced themselves from opposition, he made the call during Inspection of Ovwian road ongoing construction.

Sakpra who disclosed this to newsmen during the weekend, he stated that Senetor Okowa's led
administration has spread to Udu Local Government Area.

The Man Hon. Ben Igbakpa, the political Oak Tree

He enjoyed all Udu indigins to stand with prosperity for all Deltans, he assured them that more projects is coming to the area, saying that, "comes 2019, we have no other candidate to support but Senator Okowa"

He lauded Okowa's achievements for one and a half year in office, he thanked the Smart governor Okowa for putting Smile on the faces of the people of Udu local government via good roads construction he urged the people of Udu kingdom to always embraced the existing Peace in the area, noting that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment, adding that, It's only through peaceful coexistence that can attacked development to the local government, he said.

He charged the people of Udu kingdom never to relented their support for the led Okowa administration, because the governor will also see udu as his second home, he urged them to keep faith in the Pipelines of prosperity for all Deltans. 

He emphatically thanked the state government for the on-going roads construction in the area adding that the good people of Udu Kingdom will continue to benefit immensely in terms of infrastructural development from the Okowa led government.

Meanwhile.........INEC Gives Dates for 2019 Election

INEC ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTION

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced dates for 2019 general elections.

In a statement posted on its website Thursday, the electoral commission said it was making the announcements well ahead “in order to ensure certainty in our dates for elections, and to allow for proper planning by the Commission, political parties, security agencies, candidates and all stakeholders”.

“To that extent, the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16th February 2019, while the Governorship/State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections will hold on Saturday 2nd March 2019.”

LAWYER FAULTS NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION, CLAIMS IT INCAPACITATES GOVERNORS, LG CHAIRMEN

The commission also announced that 23 of its electoral officers being prosecuted for various electoral offences will be placed on half salary and will not report for duty pending the determination of their respective cases by the court.

Read the full statement:

Gentlemen of the Press,

You are all welcome to yet another briefing, which is in fulfillment of our pledge to regularly brief the public on the Commission’s activities.

1. Our democracy is maturing and the Commission believes that there should be certainty with regard to the timetable for elections. For instance, in the United States, general elections always hold on the second PRESS Tuesday of November in the election year. In Ghana, it’s the 7th of December of the election year, while in other places like Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Costa Rica and Switzerland, the dates are also known in advance.

In Nigeria, the constitution provides for elections to hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days to the end of the incumbent’s tenure. 

In order to ensure certainty in our dates for elections, and to allow for proper planning by the Commission, political parties, security agencies, candidates and all stakeholders, the Commission has decided to fix the date for the National Elections for the third Saturday in February of the election year, followed by State elections two weeks later. 

READ WHY IBORI PLEADED GUILTY

To that extent, the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16th February 2019, while the Governorship/State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections will hold on Saturday 2nd March 2019.

2. The Commission has also received a Report from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, informing us that 23 Electoral Officers indicted over the investigation into the 10th December Rivers Re-run elections have been charged to court. The Commission has repeatedly said that it will cooperate with security agencies for the prosecution of any of our staff found to have violated the integrity of the electoral process. Accordingly, at our meeting today, the Commission decided to apply the provisions of the INEC Terms and Conditions of Service to all those charged to court, since it constitutes gross misconduct. The penalty for this is interdiction. All the 23 Electoral Officers will be placed on half salary and will not report for duty pending the determination of their respective cases by the court.

3. Ladies and gentlemen, you will recall that last week, we informed you that a decision would be taken this week on the recommendation by the Disciplinary Committee on staff members indicted by the EFCC Report for misconduct during the 2015 General Elections. However, in view of the fact that some of the staff are also among those being prosecuted by the DPP, the Commission has decided to defer its decision on the EFCC Report to enable us reconcile the EFCC/DPP reports.

4. And as part of our routine consultations with our stakeholders, the Commission has decided to hold the next regular quarterly meetings with stakeholders as follows:

A. Tuesday 14th March –Meeting with Political Parties

B. Wednesday 15th March – Meeting with Civil Society Organizations

C. Friday 17th March – Meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

D. Monday March 21 – Meeting with Media organizations. Our invitations have been sent to the respective stakeholders

5. We wish to assure all Nigerians that the Commission will remain fully committed to the sanctity of the electoral process and will never protect any of its staff, no matter highly placed, found to have violated the provisions of the Electoral Act and our guidelines.

Meanwhile, an aide serving in the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration has disclosed why the Governor should be re-elected in 2019.

AFTER CAREFUL ANAYLISES OF THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION, SEE WHAT THIS LAWYERS THANKS

A Delta State based legal practitioner, Barr. Andrew Odum has said that for Nigeria to lay claim to true federalism, there is an urgent need to restructure the country in the manner that will engender the devolution of certain functions and powers to states and local governments.

Odum while addressing participants at the first annual convention of Young Elites with Initiative and Entrepreneurship Mind of Nigeria (YEIEMN) held in Asaba on Saturday, said at present, the Nigerian constitution so much concentrates power at the centre that state governors and local government council chairmen are handicapped and made powerless in many issues that have direct bearing on their
subjects.

“With the system currently allowed by our constitution, the federal government holds total control over law enforcement agencies, the electoral system is totally controlled by the federal government and many other critical structures are outside the control of state governments. The result is that state governors cannot perform their duties effectively because the means of working are concentrated in the hands of the federal government.

. 

Some participants at the convention. 

“If for instance there is a conflict in a state and security agencies are needed, the governor will have to call the Commissioner of Police in that state. The Commissioner will thereafter call the Zonal
Assistant Inspector General of Police who will then place a call across to the Inspector General before an action can be taken. Until we change all these structures, state governors cannot be truly said to be in control of their states”, He said.

SEE ACTS OF NIGERIAN POLTICIANS THAT ARE WORSE THAN WITHCRAFT

Further, the lawyer contended that it is totally unhealthy for the federal government to perpetually fasten its holds to the control of solid minerals in the state, maintaining that the long and parochial method whereby the federal government allocates revenues to the state and local governments has “stifled social, economic, political and overall development of Nigeria”.

“The money for the federal, state and local governments should be made to flow directly into their separate accounts. The federal government is even in charge of delineating wards and constituencies, how can things work well? The federal government is overburdened already, it should devolute some powers”, Odum insisted.

Earlier, the founder and President of the organization, Initiator Emmanuel Ubitule explained that the convention tagged "Revolutionalizing the Mindset of the Nigerian Youth to Facing Contemporary Changes of our Modern Time" is aimed at redirecting the "unrealistic view" that the youths cannot make a positive difference if given leadership positions.

Ubitule said "it was observed that our youths have lost what it takes to be bold, courageous and outstanding due to how and where we have positioned our thoughts and beliefs", calling on the youths to "key into positive involvements in our today's politics, become creators of
job and uphold the true dignity and integrity of a Nigerian youth no matter the circumstances".

Meanwhile, former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori has argued that he is not a thief. Ibori contended that despite pleading guilty to the offences for which he was jailed in 2012, his hands are clean.