N75Billion Brouhaha: Obiano Is Not Saying The Truth –Obi

F ormer governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has debunked news report that the incumbent government of the state inherited little from its predecessor , saying that there is no iota of truth in the said report, insisting that the former governor indeed left N75 billion behind for his successor, according to reports by The Union Newspaper.

Reacting to a recent statement by the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu that Governor Willie Obiano inherited only N9 billion cash and N25 billion investment, an aide to Obi, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, described the statement as untrue and deliberate attempt to misrepresent facts.

In a statement made available to the press, Obienyem said that Mr. Obi would ordinarily not wish to be drawn into unnecessary controversy but that he (Obienyem) had the responsibility to set

German-Based Isuochi-Born Nigerian Artiste Set To Release New Single, “Music Makes Me High”

He sounds like none ever heard before. His ease of rendition and delivery, like none but himself. It is a combination of jazz, country, soul and folk to form a sound that is synonymous to Che, alone.

‘I find trouble placing my music into a category as my music is not bound by rules but rather an expression of my feelings as they occur…in their raw form,’ he says of his music type.

A Nigerian born Germany based musician,  Che, (the first son of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, of blessed memory), has returned home to make music that would appeal to Nigerians, a music that is drawn from his deep but daily interaction with life that sometimes go unnoticed, a deliberate connect with the recesses of his soul.

His music conveys a strong message that would initiate a paradigm shift in the way music is perceived in Nigeria and consequently, add to the genres legging Nigeria’s music landscape.

He is an artiste with soul and depth. Every song recorded by Che was done with live instrumentation, (analogue) creating an symbiotic connect between the song, the singer and his musical instruments ecosystem.

His complete understanding of music is astute, away from what is obtainable today in the musical scene where artistes are in it for the sake of entertainment and business alone. For Che, music

Only Justice, Equity Will End Biafra’s Agitation – Ikokwu

For 29 years after the 30-month Nigeria-Biafra  war that ended in January 1970, after claiming about three million lives, nobody pushed for or agitated for the resurrection of the defunct Biafran Republic.

Speaking on the issue, yesterday, Second Republic politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who is also a lawyer, said arresting Kanu and other pro-Biafran crusaders would not end the agitation by the separatist groups, according to a report by Vanguard Newspaper.

According to him, the surest way out of the series of separatist agitations in the country is to ensure justice and equitable distribution of the resources of the country.

He disagreed with the treasonable charges slammed on Kanu and wondered what  government would do to social media tigers, who he said have done worse things. His words: "I don’t think Kanu should go in for treason. Technology has advanced so much that most people get their news from the social media. The issue at stake is that of civic rights. It is within the Constitution to say what you want to say without causing

Igbo Angry With Buhari

…..Over Appointments, Arrest of MASSOB Leaders

Apparently reacting to the latest arrest of MASSOB leaders in the country, Igbo leaders yesterday said that the 1999 Constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and “expression, manifested particularly in lawful protests, as a fundamental right,” according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

They further accused President Muhammadu Buhari of allegedly violating the constitution by ruling the country without ministers since May this year.

These were contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, after its meeting at MODOTEL Hotel in Enugu, yesterday.

It also noted that President Buhari’s one man rule had generated much tension and retardation as well as serious retardation of the economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and religious lines.

The communique entitled, “PLENARY MEETING OF THE IGBO LEADERS OF THOUGHT,” read, “The ILT met in a full session Thursday, October 22, 2015 and deliberated extensively on the state of the nation.

“The ILT noted that five months since he was sworn in President Buhari has not been able to form a government but has continued to rule alone.

“The ILT noted that the President Buhari has violated the Constitution of the country in so many ways including the appointments he has made so far.

“The ILT noted that President Buhari’s one man rule has generated much tension in the land, and has caused serious retardation of the economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and religious lines.

“The ILT supports the fight against corruption provided it is not selective and subject to constitutional limitations on power, especially limitations arising from our federal system and

Ibeto To Build US$386m Cement Plant In Enugu

*Dr. Cletus Ibeto

Ibeto Cement Company Limited has entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract with China National Materials Company, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd for a 6000t/day clinker line and 45MW self-generation power plant in Enugu, South East Nigeria. The contract is worth US$386m.

According to globalcement.com, the contract covers the whole process,from the exploitation of limestone mines and the crushing of raw materials, to the packing and delivery of cement and a captive power plant and includes engineering design, supply of equipment, steelwork and materials, civil construction, installation, debugging and staff  training.

Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd is a Shanghai-listed company.

Ibeto Group commenced business in the cement sector in 1997 with the importation of ship-loads of bagged Portland cement through the Apapa ports.

Ibeto Cement was conceived in 2001 following the Federal Government ban on the importation of cement in bags and the institution of a new policy of bulk importation and local bagging.

Located in Bundu Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it started producing bagged cement at its Bagging Terminal in June 2005. The Terminal is an ultra-modern bagging plant with a Flat-storage capacity of 50,000 metric tons and a production capacity of 1,500,000 tons per annum which translates to a production capacity of not less than 6,000 metric tons per day.

It has two production lines, each with a capacity of 2700 of 50kg bags per hour or designed

Okorocha Slams New Biafra Agitators

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, on Wednesday, distanced the people of the South East geo-political zone from the protest over the arrest of the director of Radio Biafra by security operatives saying that such a protest had no supporter or blessing of the governors and leaders form the zone, according to a Daily Times Newspaper report.

Okorocha who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, regretted that the protest over Radio Biafra and arrest of its director would not add any value to development of the zone and life of the people in the area.

The governors and leaders of the South-East condemn the protests, especially for the manner they were carried out in the name of Biafra. If a section of the people in the South-East or even the whole people in the geo-political zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total negligence of the geo-political zone, every governor and leader in the area would support that.

“The South-East is an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area

Ikpeazu Scores Election Petition Tribunal High

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governorship, National and State House of Assembly election petition tribunal in the state, describing it as true reflection of justice to all parties concerned, writes The Union Newspaper.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu, who said this while addressing Journalists in Umuahia, the State capital, noted that Abia people are happy with the judg­ments delivered so far by the members of the tribunal, even though they are yet to complete their assignment.

He added that the people of the State are very much happy with the pain-staking efforts with which they have addressed all issues brought before them.

“Election cases are not quite easy but the tribunal has taken pains to address all the matters before them one after the other.

“Abia people are happy with all the judgment so far. We be­lieve that all the judgment are fair to all concerned and they have reflected the true taste of justice and the wheel of justice has been

My Ministerial Nomination Not Because I’m Okorocha’s In-law – Prof. Anwukah

Former Vice Chancellor and ministerial nominee from Imo State, Professor Anthony Anwukah, yesterday, said his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari was based on competence rather than his relationship with the state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Vanguard Newspaper reports that Prof. Anwukah said the appointment was based on the president’s belief that he can deliver services to Nigeria contrary to reports that it was because he was the governor’s in-law.

Speaking yesterday, in Abuja, when he appeared before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions to defend petitions written against him by a group from the state, Prof. Anwukah insisted that he was not the candidate of the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha because he was an in-law of the governor.

The nominee, though admitted that he was indicted by a panel set up by the state government to probe his tenure between 2000 and 2005, he said the panel chairman, Professor Anyanwu was among the 25 candidates that contested to be vice chancellor with him, saying the alleged indictment

Akure Monarch Forbids Eze-Ndigbo From Wearing Crown

THE Deji of Akureland in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi yesterday listed conditions for truce with the estranged Eze Ndigbo of Akure, Gregory Iloehike, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

One of the conditions was that the Igbo leader is forbidden from wearing any form of crown henceforth.

Oba Aladelusi gave the conditions during a meeting Governor Olusegun Mimiko had with him and the Akure Council of Chiefs  in Akure on the lingering crisis.

The governor had earlier met with the Igbo leaders led by the embattled Eze Ndigbo, Iloehike at the governor’s office.

Ileohike was said to have denied disrespecting the Oba and pleaded with the governor to help resolve the over one-week crisis.

Other conditions include  that the  Eze Ndigbo must apologize for his unruly behaviour in at least three national dailies and on air.

“That the Igbo leader must write a letter of apology to  Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and the Deji-in-Council.

“That the title ‘Eze Ndigbo’ must be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary title and that the Igbo Leader must comply with all the earlier directives of the palace.’’

Dr Mimiko, however, apologized to the Oba on behalf of  the Igbo Leader.

Ekweremadu Faults Buhari on Federal Character Principle

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari on the principle of federal character as contained in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, writes the Punch Newspaper.

Ekweremadu, who spoke during a lecture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Monday, insisted that Buhari violated that section of the constitution in his initial appointments in every ramification.

He said Federal Government’s appointments ought to reflect the diversity of the country.

According to him, a country that had undergone the trauma Nigeria had passed through should be careful to carry every section along.

He contended that the appointments made so far by the current administration were clearly lopsided because they have left the South-East totally empty-handed.

He said, “I think that in this country that is just recovering from a most divisive and bitter-fought presidential election; a country where a vicious civil war has been fought and the scars are still fresh; in a country where a presidential election believed to have been won by a part of the country was annulled; in a country which has deteriorated from one where citizens held high political and

Radio Biafra: Police Arrest Nnamdi Kanu Supporters

Scores of supporters of the embattled director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu were Tuesday arrested by the Anambra State police command at various points in Awka as they embarked on protests in the state capital, Vanguard Newspaper reports.

The protesters, including women, carried placards with various inscriptions, marched from Amawbia to the Government House, demanding that Kanu be left alone.

However, as they approached Government House, the police men stationed at the place fired sporadically in the air and threw teargas canisters to scare them.

Another group protesting at the Arroma junction was also picked by the police.

Anambra State coordinator of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoye said their protest was not meant to cause any trouble, adding that they were only on the streets to prevail on security operatives to release Kanu.

According to him, the protesters were marching to the Government House to plead with Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the matter.

He said: “We are only agitators who obey the laws of the land. This is democracy and there is freedom of speech and freedom of movement.

“Why would anybody detain our leader and in the process be demanding bail fee of N2million. We have not come to fight anybody because we are peace makers”

Anmabra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, confirmed the arrest of

Nwabueze Calls For New Igbo Leadership

Former Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Ben Nwabueze has said that there was need for young men and women to take over the leadership of the Igbo, saying that the old generation of leaders have literally expired.

Nwabueze spoke in Enugu yesterday evening at the 16th annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

The event was chaired by the former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, and attended by other Igbo leaders including the former Registrar of WAEC and now traditional ruler in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike;  former Ohanaeze Scribe, Chief Nduka Eya; Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwo, former Governor of Abia State and ministerial nominee, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, as well as the traditional ruler of Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Azuka Ngoddy; Chief Chika Okpala aka Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo and John Ikechukwu Okafor among others.

However, looking towards the direction of Dr Ekweme, Nwabueze said, “our generation has

Radio Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Granted Bail

Director of  Radio Biafra and Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,  Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested at Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, Ikeja, on Saturday, has been granted bail.

Although, he was yet to fulfill his bail conditions as at the time of this report, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

IPOB’s lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta lamented that Nnamdi Kanu was  put in the same cell with terrorists despite his life threatening health challenges.

He said Kanu is selective to delicacies, adding that he (Kanu) vowed never to eat any food served by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

However, midway into the chat with his lawyer, a call came in, indicating that Kanu has been granted bail in the sum of N2 million or with surety of N2 million with a civil servant of grade level 16.

Obetta further said that “Last week, the Afenifere threatened to secede but nobody was vilified. I am talking about the recent Olu Falae’s kidnap case. The militants in the Niger Delta has done same.”

Ekweremadu Accuses Detractors of Trying to Set Him Up

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has alleged that there is an orchestrated plan by some politicians to falsely indict him in order to force him out of office.

Ekweremadu, in a statement released by his media office on Thursday, alleged that the masterminds of the plot are planning to publish false and defamatory information against his person.

Thisday Newspaper is reporting that according to the Deputy Senate President, those after him are currently scrutinizing the accounts of the Senate and accounts of committees in which he had served with the aim of nailing him.
He vowed to resist all forms of intimidation and remain focused to the end.
“The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate wishes to bring to the knowledge of the public some clandestine efforts by desperate political elements to publish false and defamatory

Ministerial List: For Ndigbo, It’s Thanksgiving All The Way

By Clement Udegbe

SINCE President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB came to power, people have argued that Ndigbo should be punished for not voting massively for him. Some say it was a political miscalculation by the Igbos, that they put all their eggs in the basket of former President Goodluck Jonathan, they are politically naïve, and all that. Such people do not understand where Igbos are coming from. Igbos are very grateful to God for the turnout of events, because if it were not so, they would have been the victims of post elections violence in the north. Igbos have investments in almost every nook and corner of Nigeria, which would have been torched. Ndigbo are the ones who need a peaceful Nigeria more than any other tribe, because they have more at stake in the unity and stability of Nigeria. We simply continue to thank God for Nigeria, in spite of all.

But these men have continued to goad PMB to do all he can to punish Igbos for not voting for him, and his kitchen cabinet appointments, to the complete exclusion of  Ndigbo, confirms his position.

Newspaper reports carry a speculated list of PMB’s Ministers’ nominees, and out of 27, there are only three Igbo names, 10 percent, of which two of them, were major instruments in hacking down GEJ. In essence,and properly too,  Igbos have only one person on that list.

The South South has six names, 22 percent; The north has four names,15 percent, while the Yorubas, the owners of APC have 14 names, 52 percent of the list. Subject to Senate clearance, these plus the northern dominated kitchen cabinet will be the face of leadership under PMB for the next four years.

This list explains why all our fiery newspaper and television commentators could not see

I’ll Recover All Senate Seats in Imo, Okorocha Boasts

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has boasted that he would recover all the senatorial seats in the state on behalf of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, currently held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, according to a report by the nigerianpilot.com.

The governor made the chest-beating while reacting to the ruling by the Appeal Court, Owerri division, ordering the return of the hearing of the petition challenging the election of Senator Hope Uzodimma, representing Imo West, at the March 2015 general elections.
Okorocha told the party members who came to the Government House, Owerri, on a solidarity visit after the ruling that he had concluded arrangements with the judiciary hierarchy in the country to make the tribunals rule in favour of the APC candidates in the ongoing trials.
The Imo State governorship and national assembly election tribunal had on August 2015 struck out the petition by the APC candidate, Senator Osita Izunaso, on the grounds that the latter

BPE Orders Enugu Disco to Hands Off Aba, Ariaria Assets

The Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, has ordered Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, to hand over the disputed Ring Fenced Islands at Aba and Ariaria, in Abia State, to Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited, according to a Vanguard newspaper report.

The assets were recently sold to Afrigem by Geometric Power Limited and Aba Power Limited, which hitherto owned majority stakes in them.

However, in a quick reaction, the EEDC terminated the lease agreement, citing breaches by Geometric and Aba Power. It has also gone ahead to explore other means to assert its right.

Aba Power and Geometric Power have, in trying to excise the ring-fenced islands at Aba and Ariaria from EEDC, argued that an existing agreement with the Federal Government gives it ownership of those portions of the South-East electricity distribution market.

Enugu Disco, on the other hand, has continuously affirmed its rightful ownership of the Aba distribution, noting that the Aba area, Owerri-Nta, Osisi Oma, Ogbor Hill, Factory Road, and Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Abia State, with its assets, are all integral part of the Enugu Disco

Buhari’s Appointments, The Constitution And Worries of Igbo Leaders of Thought (1)

Photo credit: omojuwa.com

By Prof. Ben Nwabueze

The executive power of the Federal Government vested in the President of Nigeria by section 5 of the Constitution is a frightfully enormous power. In terms of its extent, it embraces all the eight functions set out in my earlier write-up.

They are worth repeating here again for easy understanding, viz taking actions involving execution, including appointment and disciplinary control of executive functionaries of government; execution of the laws – the law of the Constitution and other laws; maintenance of law and order; the determination and conduct of policy; direction and control of the departments of state and their activities; protection or preservation of the properties and instrumentalities of government; co-ordination of the activities of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS); and lastly pure administration.

In view of the awesome enormousness of the power, it is not unnatural that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari should passionately covet the office, as attested by the fact that he contested for it in four successive presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. But what is disquieting is that, while intensely coveting the office because of its enormous powers, he should arrogantly disregard the commands of the Constitution imposing restraints on the way and manner the powers are to be exercised. In fairness to him, the question may be asked whether he knows of the constitutional commands

Obiano’s Wife Trains Additional 160 Women in Various Skills

Wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has trained an additional 160 indigent widows and women in various skills acquisition programmes initiated by her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ).

The latest development is In furtherance of her avowed commitment to empowerment of the indigent and less privileged members of the society,

Already, a total of 160 beneficiaries selected for the Second Batch Skills Acquisition programme across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State are currently undergoing training in four areas across different centres in the state.

40 persons were selected in each of the training areas, namely Tailoring, Hair dressing and Beauty Therapy, Confectionaries and Bakery as well as Soap Making.

The venues of the Second Batch training programme which started on August 17 this

Ikpeazu Commiserates With Aba Fire Victims

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has commiserated with the victims of the fire incident that happened along Aba-Owerri Road, Aba yesterday and which claimed the life of a woman with many people injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The accident occurred yesterday morning when a tanker conveying premium motor spirit, PMS, along Aba-Owerri Road hit the road median and exploded in fire, causing heavy pandemonium in the area.

A release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu quoted the governor as describing the incident as unfortunate and pathetic and expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the victims and particularly to the family of the woman who died in the inferno.

He assured them of government support and intervention to ameliorate their suffering in this crisis period and cushion the effect of this tragedy.

The governor also used the occasion to reprimand tanker drivers and those conveying inflammable products along major roads to do so with precaution, warning that government will no longer tolerate the damage they cause to life and property.

He directed all security agencies and regulatory bodies to conduct adequate and constant check on the road worthiness of the tankers and trailers that ply the highways and ensure that all offending drivers are brought to book.

The governor further called on the Aba people to cooperate with traffic officials in restoring order in the affected areas.

Weep not, Ndigbo

By Clement Udegbe

“You are not so blind with patriotism, that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it”---Malcom X

I am one of those , who never wished that APC, with President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, would lead this country. It was not because we supported the ways of the ruling PDP at that time, but because we had our fears, about that change slogan, some of which are now manifesting in PMB’s government.

Our fears included first, that as  Christians, the killings and burning of churches will continue under PMB, but will be seriously suppressed from the public. Today, we hear less of the wickedness against Christians in the north. We do not understand why this is so, while Boko Haram has continued to kill in the North East. Over three months of APC government, Chibok Girls are yet to be recovered, for example, confirming our fear that the whole noise about Chibok Girls was to push GEJ, out of

Obiano to Emeakayi: You Are On A Comic And Disappointing Search For Relevance

The Anambra State government has likened the Open Letter purportedly written by Mr. Ken. Emeakayi and distributed to some select journalists recently as “a comic and disappointing search for relevance.”

In a release signed by Mr. James Eze, Special Assistant Media to the Governor of Anambra State and made available to Oriental Magazine, the government said “Emeakayi and his sponsors ought to have known by now that Governor Willie Obiano is too busy to be distracted with the fecal vituperations of attention-seekers who want to beef up their falling profiles by attacking

Nigeria, a Better Country With Ndigbo - Gowon

L-R: Chief Willie Obiano, Gov of Anambra State, his wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, General T.Y. Danjuma, former Minister of Defence & General Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State during the funeral service… 

Former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon has said that “Nigerians are better off with the Igbos." He spoke at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha Anambra State.

He made the assertion while delivering a eulogy at the burial service of Late Chief, Mrs. Chinyere Asika, wife of the former Sole Administrator of East Central State; just as governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano described the late First Lady as a woman who exemplified the virtue of patience charity and humility.

General Gowon's declaration was borne out of a deep appreciation of the commitment and sacrifice of Late Ajie Ukpabi Asika and his wife to the survival of Nigeria as one entity.

The former Head of State recalled that when he proposed the post of Sole Administrator of East Central State, Asika told him. “I prefer to do this for the good of Igbo people."

According to Gowon, “I was struggling to get an administrator for the newly created East

World Bank Appoints Arunma Oteh Vice President, Treasurer

 

The World Bank has announced the appointment of the immediate past Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, as Vice President and Treasurer.

A statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the bank said, ” As VP and Treasurer, Arunma will manage and lead a large and diverse team responsible for managing more than $150 billion in assets.”

The statement said “Ms. Oteh was selected to this position through an international competitive search”.

Her appointment is effective September 28, 2015, the bank said.

Below is the full statement:

Arunma Oteh, Vice President & Treasurer of the World Bank

Date: July 23, 2015 – 12:49

Arunma, a Nigerian national, was most recently the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria. Appointed to a five-year term by the President of Nigeria in 2010, she led the transformation of the country’s capital markets industry into a major global presence. She was a member of the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the Chairperson of the Africa Middle East Regional Committee of IOSCO.

Prior to joining the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria, Arunma was Group Vice President, Corporate Services, at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). In this role she oversaw a number of departments, including human resources, information and communications technology, and institutional procurement. From 2001 to 2006 she held the role of

Police Invitation: I Won’t Succumb to Intimidation, Says Ekweremadu

AGAINST the backdrop of invitation extended to him by the Nigeria Police to explain his alleged forgery of Senate Rule, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said no amount of intimidation from any quarter would deter him from carrying out his legislative functions.

This was even as he assured all Nigerians and the international community that the National Assembly would do everything necessary not only to preserve the nation’s democracy but defend the independence of the legislature.

Vanguard newspaper is reporting that the Deputy Senate, who reacted to the police invitation to him, in a statement through his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, following concerns raised by Nigerians, his friends and political associates across the world, assured that everything was under control.

The statement said Ekweremadu has since the development, received ” numerous calls and messages from well meaning Nigerians, elder statesmen, governors, senators and Members of the House of Representatives across party lines.

“Concerned members of the international community, youth and women organisations, royal fathers, and Civil Society Organisatons, among others,  have continued to express utter dismay and concern over the unfolding drama in which his life and liberty are being threatened by desperate politicians.”

The statement added: “Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all Nigerians and concerned members of the international community that everything is under control and that all democratic steps

APC Govt Plans to Arrest Ekweremadu – PDP

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the governing All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government plans to arrest the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, according to a report by premiumtimesng.com.

The PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, who addressed a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, said to achieve the aim, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has invited Mr. Ekweremadu to report at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday after which he would be detained.

Mr. Metuh said the APC leadership is not happy with the emergence of Mr. Ekweremadu, a PDP member, as the Deputy Senate President and that after several attempts to make him resign, has now resorted to underhand tactics.

He said since President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that Mr. Ekweremadu’s election was ‘unacceptable’ to his party, the Deputy Senate President, who can only be removed by the

S’East Govs Demand Relocation Of Boko Haram Suspects to Abuja

…Want FG To Compensate Igbo Boko Haram Victims

L-R: Govs Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okorocha (Imo), Ikpeazu (Abia) & Umahi (Ebonyi)

South-East Governors under the aegis of the South-East Governors’ Forum yesterday charged the presidency to relocate the 43 Boko Haram suspects in Anambra state to Abuja where there is adequate security to contain such high profile criminals, according to a report by The Union Newspaper.

In a joint news briefing by the South-East Governors in Owerri after their meeting, the host, Governor Rochas Okorocha who spoke on behalf of the forum called on the presidency to take a second look at the relocation of the 43 Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prison, Anambra state, saying the development had only created fear and anxiety in the region.

Okorocha said, “This reminds me of our experience during the Ebola crisis, no local government agreed to our siting an Ebola centre in their domain so we brought the Ebola centre to the Government House where we can directly supervise it. In the same way, if there is any better

Disabled Biafran Veterans Cry Out For Help

Disabled Biafran soldiers who have been surviving on alms and donations by public spirited individuals have called on the governors of the seven Igbo-speaking states to urgently come to their aid.

The wounded soldiers were relocated from the dilapidated rehabilitation centre at  Oji River, Enugu State to the new centre built for them by the leader of the Movement for the Actuallisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike at Umunamu-Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State recently.

In spite of their relocation to the new center where some decent houses were erected and some stipends paid monthly for their upkeep, the ex-Biafran soldiers lamented that the inmates and members of their families had been living under a very difficult situation.

In a statement signed by Comrades Law Akpu and Festus Mba Onu, President and Secretary General respectively, the wounded Biafran soldiers said: “They took us from Oji  River, Enugu State where we were begging for alms at the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to Umunam-Okigwe where we are today. To God be the Glory.

“Many of us died at the expressway where we had motor accidents on daily basis.  We are therefore a bit now secured accident wise.”

I’m Still IMSU VC —Awuzie

The sacked Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, has said he still remained the helmsman of the university, according to a report by The Union Newspaper.

Awuzie was unceremoniously relieved of his duty early this month by Governor Rochas Okorocha who immediately replaced him with the former commissioner for education in the state, Prof. Adaobi Obasi, who is on acting capacity.

But, speaking with journalists yesterday at the Imo State House of Assembly, Owerri, Awuzie insisted that he still remained the IMSU VC because was not sacked.

According to him, “The letter I have says suspension. So I am happy because am still the Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University. Adobi Obasi is on acting capacity and very soon she will leave”. Asked how he was happy with the way he was suspended without recourse to the university’s senate, Awuzie, who is a former national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, refused to take further questions.

It was learnt that the former VC’s sack might not be unconnected to his open support for former Abia state governor, Ogbonaya Onu’s clamour to be the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. (SGF), ahead of the governor’s main candidate and inlaw, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.

Leave Me Out of NASS Crisis, Ekweremadu Pleads

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu has denied reports making the rounds in the social media and online newspapers in which he was quoted to have tried to explain away the brawls at the National Assembly, according to Thisday Newspaper report.

This is as his kinsmen on Friday dismissed calls for the lawmaker's resignation as a principal officer of the Senate as not only laughable but anti-democratic.
The said report read in part: “Dear Nigerians, please be rest assured that we are all fighting for your interest. We need your prayer and support for a better Nigeria”.

A statement yesterday by Ekweremadu’s Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu said the report supposedly written from Ekweremadu’s purported Twitter handle was fraudulent and mischievous.
Anichukwu stated: “It would be recalled that this office had cause to issue a statement about a year ago (specifically on June 29, 2014) to the effect that the Senator had since shut down his social media platforms and warned members of the public to disregard any message put out on these platforms supposedly by him. That decision was necessitated by fraudulent and mischievous activities

40 Monarchs Sue Okorocha

….Attorney-General, others too for intimidation

The face-off between Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, and traditional rulers in the state over their alleged support for former President Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election has shifted to the court.

New Telegraph Newspaper is reporting that forty of the traditional rulers have filed a suit at the Imo State High Court asking it to declare as illegal, the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, headed by Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri. Among the plaintiffs are Eze Emmanuel Njemanze, Eze Desmond Ogugua, Eze Edmund Njoku and Eze Sunday Okoro who were purportedly suspended by the Council of Traditional Rulers.

They are challenging their purported suspension and the invitation of over 60 other monarchs to face a disciplinary panel, which they perceived as ‘intimidation’ and ‘harassment.’ According to the plaintiffs, Ohiri’s appointment by Okorocha contravenes Section 2, Law No.6 of 2006 (Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters Law). Besides Okorocha, who is the first respondent, other defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the state

Otti Laments Campaigns Against His Origin

The  governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last elections in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has decried the campaign of calumny against him over his Aro descent, describing it as primordial and laughable, according to Vanguard newspaper reports.

Otti said the campaign being run against him by his political opponents was lame and would only be acceptable to the gullible.

According to him, Ngwa ethnic nationality in Abia is a conglomeration of migrants, essentially from Aro, Akwa Ibom and Mbaise in Imo State.

Otti spoke while receiving scores of lawyers of Ngwa origin who paid him a solidarity visit in his Umuru-Nvosi country home in Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state.

Otti, in a statement by his campaign organisation, insisted that he was a full blooded Ngwa man and wondered why people left issues of how to develop Abia to focus on primordial issues.

He said his great-grand father originally settled at Umuru-Nvosi, having migrated from Aro,

Otti Charges Abia Lawmakers on Quality Representation

The governorship candi­date of the All Progres­sives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia state, in the just concluded elections, Dr. Alex Otti, has charged members-elect of the state House of Assembly on the platform of the party to make a difference in the House through effective represen­tation of their respective constituencies.

Otti gave the charge in his speech at a two-day retreat organised by the party for the legislators-elect on the theme, “Socio-Economic Regenera­tion of Abia State through Ef­fective Legislation’’.

He urged them to focus on “legislation that will enhance the quality of lives of the peo­ple and overall development of the state.’’

He said that the retreat, which took place between May 25 and 26, was designed to expose the legislators-elect to global best practices in the conduct of the business of leg­islation.

Otti said, “The two-day re­treat is part of efforts being undertaken by the party to en­sure that the legislators hit the ground running for the benefit of Abians.”

He said that the knowledge acquired at the retreat would equip them for the challenges ahead and also enable them to make greater impact in the lives of the people and the state during their tenure.

He assured them that the party would continue to or­ganise similar programmes as part of the deliberate efforts aimed at helping them to up­grade their skills and capacity for legislative functions.

SGF: APC Leaders Root for Onu

Top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint the first elected governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF).

THISDAY gathered that the clamour for Onu’s appointment began after the presidential and National Assembly elections when the South-east failed to produce any senator on the APC platform for possible election as the Senate President.

It has also emerged that Buhari may appoint a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige as Minister of Health.

Onu, who was one of the few Nigerians to bag a doctorate degree in chemical engineering

Nine Pregnant Girls Rescued From ‘Baby Factory’ in Enugu

The Enugu state Police Command on Saturday said it has busted a baby factory located within Etiti Amankwo Ngwo of 9th mile axis of Udi local government, where nine pregnant ladies were rescued, according to Thisday newspaper.

The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebere Amaraizu said its operatives at 9th Mile Division achieved the feat through their robust intelligence network. The factory is said to be allegedly owned and operated by one Ikechukwu Onoh of Etiti Amakwo Ngwo.

According to the statement, the said baby factory being operated in the private house of the suspect was raided yesterday by the operatives who acted on the strength of intelligence gathered about the baby factory where nine pregnant girls and women with various degrees of pregnancy were seen.

“The pregnant women and girls later gave their names as Stella James 19 years of Ohaozara

My re-election gave S/East sense of belonging— Ike Ekweremadu

Re-elected Deputy Senate President (DSP), Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, stated that the decision of majority of the people of South-East to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was a  decision they are proud of, according to a report by Vanguard.

He said that given another opportunity, the people will vote in the same manner.

Speaking on arrival at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, where a mammoth crowd of supporters and political allies gathered to receive him, Ekweremadu stated that he decided to take another shot at the position of Deputy Senate President when it appeared the people of the South-East were about to be sidelined in the new dispensation.

The Deputy Senate President, urged fellow senators and indeed all political office holders to settle down for business to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians as days of politics were over.

He advised the APC administration of President Muhamadu Buhari  to accommodate all

Obiano Commissions First Ever Functional Borehole in Nanka

*Chief Willie Obiano opens the ta By Rommy Igboanugo-Imah

*Chief Obiano takes a sip of water from the borehole

For the people of Nanka, the years of anguish occasioned by the search for portable water may have come to a happy end with the commissioning of the first ever functional borehole project executed by the government of Anambra State in conjunction with the community at Agbiligba Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Speaking at the event, Governor Willy Obiano expressed happiness that clean portable water was eventually struck at a depth of 2000 Feet, and described the‎ borehole as an important project carried out to assuage the thirst for clean portable water in the community after several trials thus making it the first functional borehole in the area.

The governor stated that the project which cost N20million is in line with the overall policy of making water available across the state, and noted that not long ago, the greater Onitsha