CAN had commenced interaction with presidential candidates where they presented their proposals.

Atiku arrived the CAN Headquarters with the his vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Others in the entourage included Governor of Taraba State, Dairus Ishaku; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; Chief Tom Ikimi; Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi;

A former governor of Cross River, Liyel Imoke; Senator Philip Aduda, Senator Dino Melaye, Timi Alaibe, Kenneth Imasuagbon, Dele Momodu, Boni Haruna, and and other party Chieftains were also among the team.

This was as the group reiterated that it was not a terrorist organisation, adding that the recent United Nations’ pronouncement that it was a peaceful movement buttressed the need to treat its members as non-criminals.

IPOB’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement read, “The attention of the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wish to draw the attention of Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State governor, over the killing of innocent citizens in Delta State by Nigeria compromised security agents in the State claiming that they have killed IPOB and ESN.

“However, IPOB members are peaceful and not terrorists to be hunted and killed.

We boldly want everyone, including Nigeria terrorist sponsoring government, to understand that being an IPOB member is not a crime. Recently, United Nations Working Group, in their public opinion defined IPOB’s struggle as a peaceful movement seeking lawful Self Determination from Nigeria.

“If Ifeanyi Okowa continues to play ostrich while this barbarity and shielding of innocent people’s blood continue, IPOB will ensure that his Vice Presidential ambition becomes a mirage.

It added, “IPOB is peaceful in all its operations. ESN under IPOB-DOS is only after Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our bushes and forests who are raping our mothers, wives, and sisters.

“Delta State is now safe heaven for these Fulani terrorists who are doing all manner of atrocities unchallenged. IPOB are watching with keen interest, and we are ready to confront Fulani terrorists in Delta State because Delta State is part of the Biafran territory.

“Also, there was no ESN operative or IPOB member killed in Delta State. Rather, innocent Biafran youths are being massacred at the watch of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. We challenge Nigeria police to publish the names of police officers killed by IPOB and ESN in Delta state.”

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said, “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had on June 29, 2022, during an interview on Arise TV, said Wike, and others who backed the Rivers governor for the PDP vice-presidential ticket slot deserved a detailed explanation from the party’s presidential candidate on his choice of running mate.

This was as he also said he had resorted to fast and prayers to seek God’s direction after the emergence of Okowa as the running mate to Atiku ahead of Wike.

Ortom said it was surprising that Atiku could jettison the recommendation of 14 out of 17 members of the committee that recommended Wike as his running mate.

Ortom said, “I am waiting for him (Atiku) because there are more things he is expected to do. I expected him to reach out to Wike who came second and he denied him the popular view of PDP members. 14 out of 17 members say that Wike should be the VP but in his wisdom, he chose Governor Okowa. Governor Okowa is a nice man and my friend and I have no problem with him. But if we are in a democratic era, and 14 people out of 17 said that it should be Wike, and he (Atiku) in his wisdom gave it to Okowa, I expect more explanation, I expect him to talk to Wike first, I expect him to even reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party.

“But the bottom line for me is that I have gone into hibernation and I am praying and at the end, whatever God directs me, I can assure you that I will do it.”

But speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said, “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

He added, “I have contested this presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court,” Atiku said.

Atiku also noted that he was driven by the passion to serve the country.

“I’m driven by passion and desire to give back to this country. I’m driven by the passion to give back to this country because of what the country has done for me.

“With what I have been able to accomplish at my age, I don’t desire any other thing other than the passion to serve my country.

Speaking on zoning, Atiku said the PDP had never agreed to zone presidency to the South, noting that there was no concession like that.

“We never zoned to any part of the country,” he said.

While expressing optimism that his candidacy will add enormous electoral value to the PDP, Ohanaeze noted that in all of Okowa’s political career, he had served without skirmishes.

The Igbo apex body stated this on Friday in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, titled “Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulates Okowa as vice-presidential candidate”.

Ogbonnia said that Professor George Obiozor led Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide is proud of him.

The statement partly read, “the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide heartily congratulates an Igbo prodigy; an astute administrator, sagacious politician, brilliant physician, creative visionary, prudent resource manager, detribalized patriot, purveyor of morals and a poster personality, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State as he secures the highly coveted Vice Presidential candidacy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has watched with keen interest and admiration the phenomenal trajectory of an University of Ibadan trained medical doctor from the Secretary to Ika North East Local Government; Chairman, Ika North East Local Government; Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources; Commissioner for Water Resources Development; Commissioner for Health; Secretary to the Delta State Government; Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; ECOWAS Parliamentarian; Governor of Delta State and today the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“Available records indicate that from birth, God endowed Okowa with a special grace. It is only grace that explains the mystery behind the profound achievements by a few in various areas of life which paradoxically present enormous challenges to many others. Perhaps, this explains why Okowa ennobled the various offices he held with remarkable skill, exceptional diligence, elegance and panache.

“The life of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa is a veritable tribute to humility, sincerity, simplicity, hard work, perseverance and centrality of morals in the dynamics of power. As a governor, Okowa had a clear vision which he pursued with incandescent passion, valour, candour, honour and unassailable accomplishments.

“Above all other enviable attributes, Okowa resonates as a team player, diverse ethnic manager with a friendly finesse and character comeliness. He is one of the few who has sustained in government without the elixir and grandeur delusion that has become the characteristics of many in positions of authority.

“On the other hand, Okowa has served both as sub-ordinate, co-ordinate and super-ordinate to several persons without skirmishes. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is a quintessential gentleman.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worlwide led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor is very proud of you. We are optimistic that your candidacy will add enormous electoral value to your political party, the PDP.”

Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Justice Celestina Ogisi (retd.), when presented the panel’s report, disclosed that the Panel received 86 petitions and 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for various reasons.

Justice Ogisi stated “In total, the Panel received 86 petitions and 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for various reasons. The Panel also received 10 petitions which sought the enforcement of judgments of various High Courts of the State against the Police for acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings. The Panel recommended the payment of compensation to victims and/or their families for various acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Delta State. We also recommended the enforcement of all judgment debts awarded against the Police, which they have refused to obey till date”.

Meanwhile, the State government said it has concluded the consideration of that particular report except for a few items that needed to carry out some investigations with a view to arriving at the right decision.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu stated that on October 14, 2021, the state EXCO continued consideration of the white paper of the findings of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

“The State Executive Council concluded the consideration of that particular report except for some few items that we have to carry out some investigations with a view to arriving at the right decision. Particularly some directives that will require the Attorney General to find out further details so that we don’t take decisions in error. In all, we have gotten to the end of that consideration except those other few items we jumped because we needed further information before we can ratify or possibly approve the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry”

It was gathered that the meeting, which would hold eight weeks after the governors met in Asaba, the Delta State capital, would further assess decisions taken in Asaba on the open grazing ban, restructuring, fiscal federalism and the call for state police.

The governors would be hosted by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting which would start by 10 am today (Monday).

Aside from the host governor, others expected at the meeting are Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Diri Duoye (Bayelsa), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Oluwaseyi Makinde (Oyo), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).

The Presidency had described the ban and other resolutions reached by the governors as “acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate power.”

The Presidency’s position is contained in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari okays deep-rooted solutions to herdsmen attacks, clears way for ranching and revival of forest reserves,’ signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Reacting to the statement, Okowa who is the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, faulted the Presidency.

He stated, “They said act of politicking and so what? If they want to call it politics, it is nothing to us.”

On July 1, the governor announced that he and his wife had tested positive for the virus and were going into isolation. The news came days after he announced his daughter had also tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

He wrote “My wife, my daughter and I have tested negative for COVID 19, along with other members of the family. We give God all praise and wish to appreciate all who have interceded for us in prayers. I appeal to all residing in Delta to obey all instructions/ regulations in our collective fight to stop the transmission of the virus. God bless you all”