Politics

Bill to repel ISOPADEC law scales through second reading in Imo Assembly

Published

8 months ago

September 7, 2024

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The bill to repeal the Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ISOPADEC) Law Number 13 of 2010 and replace it with a new law for the establishment of a new board for the Commission has scaled through its second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

The bill, presented by the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Oru East Constituency, Chigozie Nwaneri, will, according to him, also create room for the inclusion of Oru East LGA as an oil-producing area.

Expounding on the bill, the Chief Whip said that the main purpose of the bill is to replace the old law governing the commission, which he said has become obsolete and no longer in touch with present realities.

He maintained that if the bill is passed into law, it will establish a new board for the Commission with the mandate of ensuring even development throughout the oil-producing communities in the state.

He further stated that the Commission shall make proper use of the 40% of the 13% oil derivation fund accruing to the oil-producing communities from the Federal Government for developmental projects.

The Oru East lawmaker explained that the bill will also create an opportunity for the Commission to liaise with both the state and federal governments to tackle environmental challenges such as erosion control, oil spillage, and the protection of oil installations.

“The bill, if passed, will establish a governing board for the Commission. The chairman and members of the board shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

“The chairman to be appointed shall come from any of the oil-producing areas, with two representatives each from the three local government councils and one representative from each of the three senatorial zones in the state,” he said.

Shedding more light on the bill, Nwaneri pointed out that if passed, the bill will also empower the Commission to have a managing director appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the State Assembly.

The Managing Director will oversee the administrative running of the Commission for a period of four years, with a Director of Legal Services, Corporate Affairs, and Due Process working under him as the Secretary.

He further explained that the new law will ensure that the Commission has its Secretariat in Owerri, the state capital, and offices in every LGA headquarters of the three Local Councils—a move he said will help bring the Commission closer to the people.

After much deliberation, the bill scaled through its second reading and was referred to the House Committee on ISOPADEC, headed by Francis Osuoha, representing Ohaji/Egbema Constituency, for further necessary legislative action.

Politics

Your coalition has crumbled — Presidency mocks Atiku as more politicians join APC

Published

1 hour ago

April 25, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Atiku Abubakar

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Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has claimed that the political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s have crumbled.

Onanuga believes Atiku’s proposed coalition is falling apart due to the defection of key allies to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a post on X, Onanuga criticized the coalition efforts being led by Atiku, which includes a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.

“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated.

“Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again,” Onanuga stated.

Onanuga’s comments followed a similar post by fellow presidential aide Tunde Rahman, who noted that PDP’s internal crisis had deepened with the defection of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC.

Rahman described the development as “the biggest shocker ever” for Atiku, whose 2023 presidential bid fell short.

Politics

Kenneth Okonkwo Predicts Regret for PDP Defectors, Says 2027 Election Will Be People vs APC

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Kenneth Okonkwo (Andy)

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Nollywood veteran and political commentator, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed strong disapproval of the recent wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that those making the move will come to regret it within a year.

Okonkwo’s remarks come in the wake of the high-profile defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with several commissioners and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, who all officially joined the APC on Wednesday.

Reacting via a post on X, the actor-turned-politician did not hold back, accusing the defectors of abandoning their parties for selfish reasons—chiefly to evade anti-corruption scrutiny and secure personal benefits rather than serve the Nigerian people.

According to him, the ruling party’s alleged incompetence and corrupt practices will worsen economic conditions, increase hunger and suffering, and ultimately lead to widespread discontent among citizens.

“Mark my words,” Okonkwo wrote, “Before one year from now, these spineless, shameless, and corrupt members of the opposition parties who are running into the APC now to escape EFCC and for stomach infrastructure at the expense of the Nigerian economy and Nigerian people will regret their actions.”

He further asserted that the ruling APC’s misgovernance would be so glaring that the 2027 general election would no longer be a typical party contest but a showdown between the Nigerian people and the APC government.