AHEAD of the June 18 governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, a social-cultural organization in the state, the Esan Renaissance, yesterday urged APC delegates in Edo Central senatorial district to back Mr. Kenneth Imasuangbon as the consensus candidate of the Esan.

Lawyer, environmentalist and social activist, Ledum Mitee was the pioneer vice-president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, and until recently, the president of the body.

Mr. Mitee who has also chaired several civil society groups was also until recently, Chairman, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI.

Mitee in this interview in Port Harcourt speaks on burning issues in the Niger Delta, the killings in his native Rivers State and some other topical issues.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has weathered the storm of a turbulent first year in office, largely due to an unprecedented luck of an overwhelming multi-party support in the National Assembly. As a result of the support and cooperation from his colleagues, the 8th National Assembly under his leadership can today point at some achievements despite the various issues that tended to distract and draw him backwards in the last one year.

It is now 6 days to the gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, scheduled for June 18, 2016. Expectedly, the contenders for the ticket are at war. The Benin Leaders of Thought (BLT), a socio-cultural organization led by the Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, had recently endorsed five aspirants of the APC for the epic battle and there is doubt that any of the five will carry the day as it seems in the coming primaries of the party. The BLT, in its recommendation, said the five aspirants “eminently satisfied the state 75 per cent cut off point”.

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, yesterday, took his ambition to the altar of God when he presented his expression of interest and nominations forms to his Parish Priest, at St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic, Church Benin City.

Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North, is the Deputy Whip of the Senate.

Political tension heightened last Monday among the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants in Edo state following allegation that some of the contestants were buying Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) of some of the delegates ahead the June 18 governorship primaries of the party One of the aspirants, Dr Ogiemwonyi has even called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to arrest a member of the House of Representatives representing Etsako Federal constituency Philip Shuaibu for allegedly buying up the Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) of some of the delegates of the party in his area. It was alleged that the PVCs were being purchased for N10,000 –N20,000 each. Ogiemwonyi who made the allegation through his Director of Planning, Strategy and Operations, Akemokue Lukman, said they have in their possession a video evidence to back up their claim.

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), the then military President was a key actor in the event. The June 12 election had its roots in Babangida’s transition to civil rule programme. Beginning with a promise to hand over power to a democratically elected government, Gen. Babangida had in 1987 announced a transition programme which was scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 1987. The timetable included local government elections on a zero-party basis, the lifting of the ban on politics and the registration of political parties as well as the inauguration of elected state governments and the inauguration of a new president in 1990. However, Babangida later shifted the hand-over date to 1993. In December 1987, the regime successfully organized the local government elections on a zero-party basis and in 1989, Babangida legalised the formation of political parties.

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is today being honoured as the Alumnus of the Year by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association. The honour which is reportedly the highest honour given by the association is undoubtedly reflective of the grit and grandeur with which the 76-year-old politician has bestrode the political space. A gentleman to the core, Odigie-Oyegun shows a refinement that captures the grace and polish that is reflective of the finest of human nobility. But as with every mortal, there is a dark side that the chief would always rue, maybe on account of his relationship with Muhammadu Buhari.

WHEN the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa declared after the five-hour meeting with Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, governors of Niger Delta states, service chiefs and others, Tuesday, in Abuja that panacea to the renewed militancy in the region, was on the way, those who heard the outcome were in high spirits. “We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states, particularly Bayelsa and Delta. We believe we are going to find a solution to it,” the governor stated.