Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, stated that he would have abandoned his governorship ambition if Governor Godwin Obaseki had approached him reasonably.

Shaibu accused Obaseki of being a dictator and revealed that his resolve to pursue the governorship intensified after Obaseki threatened to destroy him if he did not step down.

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Shaibu claimed he had secured 381 delegates who would have voted for him in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary, but he was prevented from entering the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin where the primary took place on February 22.

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Having now defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, Shaibu spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the APC National Working Committee in Abuja, expressing feelings of betrayal despite his sacrifices and loyalty to Obaseki.

“The truth is that the issues were all political. I declared to contest for the governor of Edo State. That is where the fight started,” Shaibu said.

He added that he tried to pacify Obaseki, but to no avail, leading him to decide to contest for the governorship.

Shaibu also refuted claims that he took 22 official vehicles after his impeachment, stating that the governor only bought one vehicle for his convoy in their seven and a half years in office.

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Reflecting on their relationship, Shaibu said, “If the governor had shown leadership, maybe I wouldn’t have contested because I am not a desperate person. My ambition is not inordinate. I have an ambition to fix the state. If somebody else can agree that we collectively fix it, I will follow. But the governor wanted to behave like a military dictator.”

Regarding accusations of corruption and misconduct, Shaibu maintained his innocence, explaining that he was not impeached for any wrongdoing.

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He emphasized his dedication to the state’s development and his commitment to democracy.

When asked about forgiving Obaseki, Shaibu hesitated but eventually said, “The only person that is perfect is the Almighty God. None of us created by God is perfect. One of the greatest commandments in the world is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ If all of us can actually take to that commandment, there will be peace in the world.”

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Shaibu concluded by affirming his loyalty to Edo State and his efforts to support Obaseki’s success despite the challenges in their relationship.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has passed away at the age of 82.

His death was announced by his son, Jide Iwuanyanwu, following a brief illness.

Iwuanyanwu, who succeeded the late Professor George Obiozor in the role, was known for his leadership and contributions to the Igbo community.

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He was a prominent figure in the socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.

President Bola Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have all expressed their condolences.

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President Tinubu praised Iwuanyanwu’s legacy, noting his significant impact on Nigeria and the Igbo community.

Speaker Abbas described Iwuanyanwu as a renowned businessman and politician, emphasizing his dedication to peace and stability in Nigeria.

Deputy Speaker Kalu highlighted Iwuanyanwu’s contributions to socio-economic development and his efforts towards peace in the Southeast.

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Governor Soludo called Iwuanyanwu a mentor and supporter, praising his exceptional leadership and commitment to progress.

Peter Obi referred to Iwuanyanwu as a bridge builder and a dedicated advocate for peaceful coexistence.

Iwuanyanwu’s influence extended beyond his political roles.

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He was a philanthropist, engineer, and businessman with a vast portfolio, including companies like Hardel and Enic Construction Company and Daily Champion Newspapers.

He was also a sports enthusiast, founding the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club.

Iwuanyanwu’s early life was marked by academic excellence, leading to a prestigious German Academic Exchange Scholarship.

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His studies were interrupted by the Nigerian civil war, during which he contributed to the Biafran war efforts as part of the Research and Production Directorate.

After the war, Iwuanyanwu resumed his studies and built a successful career in civil engineering, making significant contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure.

His legacy includes numerous business ventures and a lifelong dedication to the Igbo community and Nigeria at large.

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Iwuanyanwu is survived by his wife, Lady Princess Frances Iwuanyanwu, and numerous children and grandchildren. His passing marks the end of an era for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and leaves a lasting legacy of leadership and service.

The Senate is currently reviewing a bill designed to enhance fiscal transparency within local government administration.

The proposed legislation, titled the “Local Government Fiscal Accountability Bill 2024 (SB, 549),” seeks to mandate the publication of monthly allocations to all local government areas from the Federation Account.

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Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central), the bill’s sponsor, underscored the significance of this measure in promoting public trust and confidence in local government operations during a discussion with journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

“Transparency in local government finances will lead to more effective and rapid development in rural areas and help curb rural-urban migration,” said Senator Mustapha.

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He highlighted that local governments, being the closest tier of government to the people, would benefit from increased accountability through the public disclosure of their revenues.

This transparency, he noted, would drive development and ensure that funds are utilized efficiently.

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“Local government chairmen do not have constitutional immunity. By publishing their revenues, we encourage them to utilize funds wisely and effectively,” Senator Mustapha added.

As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Mustapha expressed his dedication to encouraging local government administrations to focus on rural development and improve the quality of life for residents in these areas.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has affirmed the commission’s readiness to conduct local government elections nationwide if provided with the necessary resources.

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He made this statement on Thursday while addressing the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.

Responding to inquiries from committee members about INEC’s stance on the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding financial autonomy for local governments, Yakubu acknowledged discussions about either unbundling INEC or creating a new federal agency specifically for conducting council polls.

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However, he asserted that INEC has the capacity, competence, and experience to manage local government elections across Nigeria’s 774 councils.

Yakubu supported his claim by citing INEC’s successful conduct of elections in the six Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils, as well as its frequent handling of off-season and bye-elections.

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He emphasized that INEC’s consistent execution of federal and state elections demonstrates its capability to oversee council polls.

Yakubu stated, “If this responsibility for conducting local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission. Right now, we handle national elections, state elections, and local government elections.”

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He further explained, “A national electoral commission might be expected to implement only presidential and National Assembly elections. However, we also conduct governorship elections, state assembly elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory. Our track record proves that we can do it. In the FCT, there are six area councils, 62 wards, and councillorship elections. This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections regularly, ensuring stability and security of tenure.”

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Yakubu noted that no single political party has dominated the FCT, with the six chairmen evenly split between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He highlighted that the FCT councils comprise both urban and rural communities, demonstrating INEC’s experience in conducting elections nationwide.

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He further stated, “In terms of capacity, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory. However, if the National Assembly decides to amend the constitution, we need to engage with them for certain amendments to handle additional responsibilities. For instance, will the Federal Government fund the elections for state and local governments?”

Yakubu also mentioned that there is a proposition for a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.

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Some argue against state electoral commissions conducting local government elections in the spirit of federalism but should improve their conduct.

He reminded the committee that the current constitution creates both INEC and state-independent electoral commissions.

Thus, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC.

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He reaffirmed, “If that is done, can INEC cope? Yes, we can.”

Yakubu suggested that while INEC should not be unbundled beyond its electoral activities, some responsibilities could be handled by other agencies.

This point has been made by various committees since 2008, including the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission.

He assured the joint panel that the commission had made adequate arrangements for the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States.

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He also noted that INEC had prepared budgets for outstanding by-elections in seven federal and state legislative constituencies.

Additionally, he explained that the agency’s 2024 Budget is being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance, with monthly releases of N23.3bn out of the N40bn appropriated for the year.

Daily Gazette recalls that the last local government elections conducted by INEC were on December 5, 1998.