PICTORIAL: Italian varsity confers honorary degree on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

 News Update


Okonjo-Iweala receives doctorate degree from Luiss University


The Luiss University in Rome, Italy has all conferred a honorary doctorate degree on the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The former Nigerian Minister of Finance shared the goodness via her verified Twitter page on Friday.

She shared pictures of the ceremony, noting she was awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Politics.

Okonjo-Iweala said, “So honored to have been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree today in Politics by Luiss University @UniLUISS, Rome, Italy. A wonderful graduate institution with a global reach, educating students to solve problems of today and be prepared for those of tomorrow.”

See photos below:








Okorocha, Araraume absent as Uzodinma’s aide emerges Imo APC chairman

 Politics


Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma

https://7a702yohtcql7rcrv9im6fha3d.hop.clickbank.net/

The immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, and the board chairman of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Ifeanyi Araraume, were absent on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress led by the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, conducted its state congress.

At the Congress held in Owerri, the state capital, Uzodinma’s aide and long time loyalist, Macdonald Ebere emerged as the state chairman.

Ebere, a native of Owerri in Owerri municipal council, was the General Manager of Imo Environmental Transformation Commission under the Uzodinma administration.

Congratulating the new chairman, Uzodinma charged him to reconcile the differences in the party.

The governor said, “I want to urge you not to betray the confidence reposed on you by the great people of Imo State. Go out there, carry out your political evangelism, preach the good message. Tell the story the way it is and our party will grow from strength to strength.

“I will give you all the support you will require. APC is a national party. APC is a party to beat in Nigeria. APC is the party that produced me to be the governor of Imo State.

“If you fail, it means I have failed. But if APC succeeds, it means that I have succeeded. My success is our success and our success is my success.”

A former two-time member of the House of Representatives who represented Okigwe North between 2007 and 2015, Matthew Omegara, emerged the deputy state chairman.

Ebere succeeded Marcon Nlemigbo who had been in interim capacity shortly after Uzodinma took over power almost two years ago.

But Okorocha, through his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that he was not aware APC held any congress in the state.

The aide who spoke to our correspondent said, “We are not aware that there was APC congress in Imo State. What they did today was a birthday party. As long as we are concerned, Dan Nwafor is the authentic chairman of APC in Imo State.

“There is an APC court judgment to that effect. It has not been vacated. You don’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”


Secondus fails to stop PDP convention as court strikes out suit

 News Update

NECO releases 2021 examination results


National Examination Council(NECO)

The National Examination Council on Friday announced the release of the results of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination conducted nationwide in July.

NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dantali Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Minna.

He said that out of 1,233,631 candidates who registered, 1,226,631 actually sat for the examination.

Wushishi explained that 945,853 candidates obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics, while 1,094,291candidates also obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

He said that number of candidates who made five credits and above including English and Mathematics was 878,925 representing 71.64 per cent.

When compared with 2020 SSCE internal figures of 894,101,which was 73.89 per cent, a 2.2 percent decrease was noted.

He further explained that number of candidates who made five credits and above irrespective of English language and Mathematics was 1,226,796, representing 94.04 per cent.

Wushishi said that candidates involved in various forms of malpractices in 2021 was 20,003, representing 1.63 per cent, whereas 33,470 representing 2.63 percent cases were recorded in 2020.

The registrar who reiterated the council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractices said appropriate standards and excellence were maintained right from the planning stage to the release of the results.

He said the reduction in the level of malpractices was as a result of deepened monitoring of the examination by members of the governing board, management and senior staff of the council.

He said that candidates could now access their results on NECO website.


Secondus fails to stop PDP convention as court strikes out suit

 News Update

Secondus fails to stop PDP convention as court strikes out suit




An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed the appeal of the suspended national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus seeking an interim injunction to restrain the PDP from conducting its national convention billed for Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31, 2021, in Abuja.

The three-man panel dismissed the appeal which was filed on October 14, 2021, for lacking in merit.

The judgement was read by Justice Gabriel Kolawale which was unanimously endorsed by the other two members of the panel.

Meanwhile, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has described the dismissal of the suit filed by suspended National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus’ against the party as victory for democracy.

Chinda, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja, said that neither Secondus nor the PDP won the case, saying that the victory was for all Nigerians.

Chinda assured that regardless of the outcome of the judgment, Secondus was going to work closely with the party to enthrone good leaders in future elections.

“It is a welcome development and strengthens our democracy to restate that power belongs to the people.

However, regardless of the judgment, neither PDP nor Secondus won but victory was for the people of Nigeria and indeed democracy.

“I can assure you that the former national chairman of the party will work with the party as the leaders will all meet and sort out the issues whilst not compromising visionary leadership,” he said.

Also, Rep. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) congratulated the Judiciary and the PDP family on the outcome of the judgment.

Ossai said that it was better for leaders to listen to the decision of the people rather than doing otherwise against their wishes.

“It is a welcome development, this is justice delivery.

“The entire PDP had agreed to process a convention, a party that had given him a lot of lifelines to occupy some sensitive positions from state party chairman, organising secretary up to the point of becoming national chairman.

“It is a good one, sometimes we make compromises, I did not like the way he went to Court, some people may look at it differently, for me, I think he is a strong party man occupying the most exalted position,” he said. (NAN)


Who Course Biafra War And How Does Biafra War Start


Who Course Biafra War And
How Does Biafra War Start


 

BREAKING NEWS!! President Buhari Reportedly Escapes Plane Crash

 News

BREAKING NEWS!! President Buhari Reportedly Escapes Plane Crash




Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and the UNGA delegation that travelled with him during his recent trip to the United States, escaped an air mishap after the presidential jet suddenly developed a fault while they were returning to Nigeria.

Buhari had on Sunday, September 19, 2021, travelled to New York for the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Sources told SaharaReporters that the aircraft, a Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-700) marked 5N-FGT developed a fault while the President and his entourage were returning to Abuja on Saturday, September 25.

The publication reported that the presidential aircraft left the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York at 12:08 pm, landed at Sable Island Airport around 5:24 pm and had a 3-hour stopover.

The Nigeria Air Force 1 then departed the airport for Santa Maria where it landed around 9:10 pm. From Santa Maria, it flew to Nigeria and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday, September 26 at 5:01 am.

Sources said the aircraft was subsequently moved to Euro Airport in Germany on September 29 and arrived at 4.15pm after leaving the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 9.48am, with the Nigerian government paying €5,000 (Euros) (N2,385,000 at official rate of N477 to €1) per night as parking fee.

“The Presidential Boeing Business Jet registration number 5N-FGT developed a fault during his trip from New York. He travelled to Saudi Arabia with a smaller jet. A Falcon 7X jet with registration number 5N-FGV. No picture of his departure to Saudi Arabia was released to avoid the public knowing about the jet he travelled with,” a presidential

The one that developed fault has been moved to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Germany for repairs since September. It is registered and operated under another name AMACGND. They intentionally hid it and parked it under another name because it cost €5,000 (Euros) for parking per night,” a source said



Can money keep love in a marriage?

 Can money keep love in a marriage?



Some marriages exist for the sake of money. In other marriages, not even a billion dollar fortune saves the relationship:

After Jeff Bezos in 2019 and Bill Gates in May this year, now it was billionaire Elon Musk's turn to divorce his wife.


Musk and Grimes have been together for three years and have a son, with a super weird name with a combination of unpronounceable letters, X Æ A-Xii, they call him “Baby X”.


According to the statement, the separation was amicable and both maintain a good relationship.


One of the reasons for the break was the overwork at Tesla and SpaceX by the billionaire.


Apparently money really isn't everything!

Welcome to the National Youth Volunteer Programme on Handwashing and Clean Nigeria Campaign For COVID-19 Prevention.

 Welcome to the National Youth Volunteer Programme on Handwashing and Clean Nigeria Campaign For COVID-19 Prevention.


affilliateblogs.blogspot.com

1. Open defecation; is the human practice of defecating outside ("in the open") rather than into a toilet. People may choose fields, bushes , forests, ditches, streets, canals or other open space for defecation. They do so either because they do not have a toilet readily accessible or due to traditional cultural practices.The practice is common where sanitation infrastructure and services are not available. Even if toilets are available, behavior change efforts may still be needed to promote the use of toilets. 'Open defecation free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that have shifted to using toilets instead of open defecation. This can happen, for example, after community-led total sanitation programs have been implemented.



2. Sanitation facilities; coverage worldwide from 2000 to 2015 (the orange line is the data for open defecation)

Open defecation can pollute the environment and cause health problems and diseases. High levels of open defecation are linked to high child mortality, poor nutrition, poverty, and large disparities between rich and poor.

Ending open defecation is an indicator being used to measure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal Number .

Extreme poverty and lack of sanitation are statistically linked. Therefore, eliminating open defecation is thought to be an important part of the effort to eliminate poverty.


As of 2019 an estimated 673 million people practice open defecation,74 down from about 892 million people (12 percent of the global population) in 2016. In that year, 76 percent (678 million) of the people practicing open defecation in the world lived in just seven countries.


 Making Nigeria open defecation free by 2025 

A national road map

The Roadmap provides a guide towards achieving an open defecation free country using different appro beaches


UNICEF Nigeria

Highlights

Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, estimated at over 46 million people. The practice has had a negative effect on the populace, especially children, in the areas of health and education and had contributed to the country’s failure to meet the MDG target. The sanitation situation in the country prompted the National Council on Water Resources in 2014 to prioritize the development of a roadmap towards eliminating open defecation in the country, in line with the United Nations global campaign for ending open defecation.

This initiative tagged “Making Nigeia Open Defecation Free by 2025: A National Roadmap” was developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with invaluable support from UNICEF and other key sector players across Nigeria. In 2016, the National Council on Water Resources endorsed this road map as a mean to eliminate open defecation in Nigeria.

The Roadmap provides a guide towards achieving an open defecation free country using different approaches such as capacity development; promotion of improved technology options through sanitation marketing; provision of sanitation facilities in public places; Community-Led Total Sanitation; promotional and media campaigns; creating enabling environment and coordination mechanism.

In this strategy document an indicative investment required for achieving the roadmap is estimated, showing the cost by government at all levels and the private sector, especially for construction of sanitation facilities in public places and the cost by households for construction of household sanitation facilities.

The Roadmap also provides a basis for the development of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Sanitation (PEWASH) programme which aims to establish a multi-sectoral partnership between government, development partners and the private sector to support the empowerment of rural dwellers in Nigeria through the provision of adequate water supply and sanitation services.

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources will provide the enabling environment, leadership and coordination required in achieving this target by working together with communities, civil society, development agencies, Private sector and government at sub-national levels.










SENATOR UCHE EKWUNIFE 12TH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME:

News Update


SENATOR UCHE EKWUNIFE 12TH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME:






     PAST PRESIDENTS GENERAL OF COMMUNITIES RECEIVE TRAINING ON COMMUNITY SECURITY


   When we finished serving our communities as PGS, we were scattered but Senator Ekwunife brought us together. We are grateful to her for facilitating this programme and always looking out for our welfare", Mazi Omife I. Omife - President Association of Past President General Anambra State (APPAS).


Women Empowerment

Youth Development

Entrepreneurial Development

Capacity Building

Senator Uche Ekwunife Empowerment



PDP'S VALENTINE OZIGBO CONGRATULATES SOLUDO, DELIVERS A THANK YOU MESSAGE TO NDI ANAMBRA


I have just called Professor Chukwuma Soludo and congratulated him on being declared the winner of the Anambra State governorship elections, 2021. I wished him well and prayed for his success. 


Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate all the men and women who contested our dear state's governorship this year. You all have shown a determination to see that Anambra is better. It was an honour to run this race with you. 


Two years ago, I decided to go into active partisan politics with a number of objectives in mind. 


First, to use Anambra to set an example of excellence in governance. The second was to unify Anambra and Ala Igbo around a shared vision of greatness. The third was to inspire more professionals to go into politics. I believe that attainment of these would go a long way in changing the story of black men and women in this world for the better. 


Pulled by the vision of a better and brighter Anambra, we set out on the quest for governorship, resolute on taking revolutionary steps to address the decay and decline in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, the environment, and all other social systems meant to serve the people. 


As laid out in our Ka Anambra Chawapu Manifesto, we planned to transform Anambra into the most competitive sub-national economy in Nigeria by opening up public, social, and commercial spaces leveraging on the strength of our youth and women. Ultimately, to make Anambra the pride of Nigeria. 


Given where we started and where we are today, we consider ourselves winners. Our Ka Anambra Chawapu message has permeated the consciousness of Ndi Anambra, and the nation at large. It is the strongest message that has come out of Anambra 2021, and it continues to beat in the hearts of Ndi Igbo.


On unifying Ala Igbo, I believe that every Igbo person now understands that they have a voice in me because I will forever speak in the interest of the Igbo Nation and the rest of the marginalised and forgotten in Nigeria. 


During this journey, especially in the last months, I have met many professionals who have been inspired into politics by our message and asked me how I got to this level in my first attempt. I urge them to keep the faith. Don't ever let the candle that has been lit in you dim. Our country needs your active participation in her affairs. 


We documented our grand vision for a brighter and better Anambra and presented it to our people with the energy to implement it. Though we may not have the opportunity in the immediate to get it started, we will be holding the government in power accountable to ensure that the welfare of the people is foremost in their actions at all times.


I acknowledge that we could not have done this alone. I am a child of Grace. I thank the Almighty God who chose me for this mission for His abundant mercies and love. 


I thank all the courageous men and women who first believed in me, many of them without knowing me well. You are the heroes of our Ka Anambra Chawapu Movement. I also thank everyone who believed, even without meeting me, who heard our message and came out in full support.


I am grateful to every single person who joined our movement and contributed in one way or the other. The thousands who showed us so much love, from youths and women in the grassroot, to those in the diaspora, to the Non Indigenes, various church groups across all denominations, market women, civil servants, artisans, and many more. Thank you for your prayers, your material, financial, and intellectual contributions. May the Lord reward you abundantly. 


I thank the leaders and pillars of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the national (especially the PDP Governors), state and ward levels who stood by us and worked tirelessly to win the mandate of Ndi Anambra. I appreciate your amazing support and friendship.


Most importantly, I thank the entire Ndi Anambra - home and abroad. The openness, love, and enthusiasm with which you received us, especially as we campaigned across the state, is one that my wife, my running mate and I will cherish forever.


This election was fraught with a lot of short-comings on the part of various government institutions. The security agencies failed to provide a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold. On election day, they were absent from many polling centres leading to elections not holding or held in situations that allowed for chaos and fraud.


The national electoral commission presented untrained and poorly trained staff who could not operate the voting machines in many places. They failed woefully in providing logistical support for their staff and so elections started very late in many places and did not hold in many others. 


The use of government funds and resources to corrupt, coerce, and intimidate voters, PDP party agents, and electoral officials was a major factor in determining the outcome of this election. 


All of these led to the disenfranchisement of the greater percentage of voters and staining the course of democracy. I will be dedicating time to champion the positive change we need to ensure that future elections are truly free and fair and that the will of the electorate prevails.


Denominational politics was also a factor. We need to do a lot more to ensure that competence is never sacrificed on this altar, and that democracy is practiced in line with its truest tenets. 


In all, I am more determined to working for a better future for our children by remaining in active politics and rebuilding our party to be more united and more robust for those who come after us. Ka Anambra Chawapu.


May God bless you all and bless Anambra State.


Thank you. 


Valentine Ozigbo

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra 2021




ANAMBRA ELECTION AND THE WOMEN OF EBENEBE

 

- James Eze


The women of Ebenebe, a sleepy town in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, are the true heroines of the Anambra election which took place last Saturday. A viral video from a polling unit showed where they turned down a princely N5000 bribe money, brazenly given by some party agents at a polling station, with one woman heard loudly and defiantly saying in Igbo language, “APC emego anyi ife; anyi achoghi APC”. Meaning, “We have been dealt by the APC; we don’t want APC again”. They were emphatic in their rejection of the bribe money openly clutched by some unscrupulous party agents. They left no room for negotiations. They were firm and final in their approach. They are poor rural women, ravaged by wants like all rural women, but they put up extraordinary courage in the face of inducement and took the moral high ground. And that’s why I celebrate them today!


These women are remarkable. They could have taken the bribe and still voted according to their conscience. But they didn’t want a stain on their conscience. The motto of The Guardian newspaper describes conscience as an open wound which only truth can heal. The women of Ebenebe held onto truth…their healing truth.


Ebenebe town is not Nnewi or Ihiala or Orafite or Osumenyi where most of Anambra’s billionaires come from. But what they lack in billionaires, they obviously have in moral ones. “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised,” says Chinua Achebe. The women of Ebenebe have bluntly refused to be compromised. That singular act, little as it seems, gives a lot of hope to Nigeria.


The true value of the symbolic courage of the Ebenebe women is that they live in the same state where a serving deputy governor had been lured away to a rival party. They live in the same state where serving and former members of parliament had defected to another party after alleged inducement. They live in a state where the basic measure of success is how much money one has. But they have written their story in gold and their names ought to make history. They have taught us that you can live poor and still live with dignity.


The relevant NGOs and constituted authorities should seek out these Ebenebe women and make them a shining example of what Nigeria could be if we get our acts right. The symbolism of their courageous act must not be lost on us. We must act and act now!


Some times, providence offers us a beacon of light with which to illuminate the pathway to the future. But it is up to a discerning society to recognise it and use it well. Aba women did a similar thing in 1929. Their courage inspired self-belief in our founding fathers to challenge the colonial masters. Enugu coal miners rose against their users on November 18, 1949. Their act of defiance inspired the Zikist Movement which eventually toppled colonial rule. Can we elevate the Ebenebe women’s act?   The joke will be on us if we miss this opportunity to set a new moral tone for our society at a time when the larger population of the youths are involved in get-rich-quick-or-die-trying schemes.


The women of Ebenebe are a gift we cannot turn down!



 Eze a journalist and author, is based in Awka,_ _Anambra State.



I wish to congratulate the winner of the Anambra state governorship election as declared by INEC, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and join millions of Anambrarians to give glory to God for granting us a peaceful election.


In every democratic contest, there must be a winner and God, through the good people of Anambra State has chosen Prof. Soludo to lead the state. As responsible citizens and lovers of democracy, we must accept the wishes of our people as expressed on Saturday, November 6th and Tuesday, November 9th governorship polls.


It has to be said that this election was one of the most challenging for Ndi Anambra, our democratic existence was threatened by myriads of challenges. Leading to the election, the insecurity and killings witnessed across the state casted a dark shadow on the governorship campaign process. However, in the end, Anambrarians triumphed and came out, across the 326 wards in the state to cast their votes in what can be adjudged as one of the most peaceful elections in Nigeria in recent times.


While I commend Ndi Anambra for conquering their fears and fully participating in the electoral process, I equally commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC Nigeria)  for their innovations and introduction of the BVAS technology which no doubt helped in strengthening the credibility of the electoral process.


Similarly, I commend the security agencies for sustaining peace during the election. The Army, the Police, Civil Defence, Federal Roads Safety, community vigilante services and others played a huge role by ensuring that Ndi Anambra exercised their civic rights.


I equally commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano for their efforts in ensuring that all political parties were given a level playing ground. I hope that this election has marked a departure from the days of intimidation and harassment of those in opposition. The outcome of the election has shown that power belongs to the people!


Though the electoral process as witnessed across the 21 LGAs in the state gave our people the opportunity to choose their governor, it is sad to observe that cases of vote-buying characterized the poll, casting a dent on the electoral process. As we continue to develop as a nation, I hope that we make a departure from this ugly development and get our people to see the need to vote according to their conscience - without financial inducement.


While I urge the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, I enjoin him to waste no time in assembling competent team of men and women that will tackle the numerous challenges facing the state. Being aware of the gender gap that exists across all levels of government, I urge Prof. Soludo to be gender sensitive in the selection of his team. 


I wish to specially congratulate the candidate of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo who I learnt has called the governor-elect to congratulate him. This gesture is the truest exhibition of the much preached spirit of good sportsmanship. I hail our candidate for his doggedness and commitment to democracy.


In the same vein, I congratulate Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo and other candidates who contested the election. You all made this election competitive and gave Ndi Anambra several wonderful options to choose from. You are all winners.


Our political party, the PDP fought a good fight, however, we must do the necessary introspection to ensure that we do better in future governorship elections.


God rules in the affairs of men. He gives power to whom He desires. We submit to His divine will at all times.


On behalf of my family, and the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District, I once again congratulate our incoming governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. I look forward to working with him for the peace and development of our dear state.


Congratulations Ndi Anambra!


- Senator Uche Ekwunife, PhD (IYOM)

(#SUE www.SenUcheEkwunife.com)


THE SAD REALITY OF THE NEW GENERATION OF IGBOS IN PRESENT DAY NIGERIA.

 THE SAD REALITY OF THE NEW GENERATION OF IGBOS IN PRESENT DAY NIGERIA.


Ojikwu Speech About Biafra



Nwanna, Many years ago, the General, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu spoke about the "Biafra of the mind." Only a few, I think, understood him. Well, they say, only the deep speak to the deep.


But let me attempt here to tease out Dim Ojukwu's prescription: the greatest proof of Igbo survival and aspiration must be to model, wherever Onye-Igbo stands, the ethos of innovation, excellence, ingenuity, and ability that marked the Igbo endeavor in Biafra. We must also use Biafra as the stepping stone to a higher vision of the Igbo place in the world.


There is no single proof or evidence today that the Igbo of this generation are capable of transforming any nation to which they lay claim. I have looked; I have studied the Igbo situation, and I have listened to my Igbo kinsmen, and I think something is fundamentally wrong: the Igbo are trapped in a deadening hate, self-pity and nostalgia. It is the kind of nostalgia that is both defeatist and deadly because it continues to romanticize the past while the future speeds away.


The Igbo cannot wait until they achieve Biafra or a separate nation in order to build and secure Igbo land. Soon after the end of the war, Igbo survivors of the war, girded their loins and embarked on the work of restoration. With singular grit, they revived the economy of the East, and by 1979, just nine years after the end of the war, were ready to take on the rest of the nation again. We their children are a disgrace to the spirit of those men and women.


The Igbo are today a beggarly nation of impotent, lachrymal people now weeping about "marginalization" and waiting for Nigeria to collapse or let them go, so that they will go and make something of themselves. This is an over-indulged generation. The last of the Igbo are old and dying; the current Igbo are "inferior Igbo." They are just waiting for Godot.


Now, you say, the only time the Igbo will work is if power remains in the South. I think this is too simple. Take a look around you, where are those Igbo men and women? Which Igbo today have the sagacity of Zik, or the courage of Okpara, Mbakwe, or Ojukwu, the capacity of Ojike or Okigbo, the fierce pride and stabilizing force of the old Igbo women, the organizational acumen of an RBK Okafor, the selfless pride of those Igbo of the last generation, who always rose to the occasion when the Igbo summoned them to great causes, including giving their widows mite without question, for as long as "they Igbo have said..."


Now, what I'm trying to say, people, before I lose you, is that the Igbo have left the land, and the land has left the Igbo. There is incoherence. And an Incoherent people cannot run an independent nation, simple.


Bring proof to me that the Igbo have turned Igbo land into an oasis of prosperity different from elsewhere in Nigeria, and I shall agree that the current Igbo know exactly what they are saying. There is no Igbo state with a budget that is not bigger than the budget of the Republic of Ghana. Indeed, put together, the budget of all the states in Igbo land is bigger than the national budget of ten West African states. What have we done with it in terms of rebuilding public services? Creating liveable cities? Developing new infrastructure? Developing the Igbo world.


The North or the West has never run down our schools. 

They did not dismantle the Government Colleges at Umuahia, Owerri, Afikpo, and the Queens School at Enugu. 

They did not destroy our hospitals or primary schools. 

They did not stop us from building our cultural infrastructure - Community centers; recreational centers, or building up our libraries; or public parks, or city centers, or trunk B & C feeder roads. 

They did not destroy our civil service. They did not stymie the growth of our cities. 

They did not forbid the Igbo from creating strategic means of employing their greatest resource - their highly trained manpower- and using them to create a powerful regional economy that would continue to startle West Africa.


The North or West did not say we should not build an efficient trans-regional transport metro system, by jointly developing the old Oriental lines, that would create a network of contacts all over the East and ease the strategic movement of people, or take advantage and rebuild, and expand the Rail system that connects Port-Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe, Ovim, Afikpo, Enugu, to Eha-Amufu. Even if the rail system is a federal project, there has never been a consortium of the Igbo states and consortium of investors that have mounted pressure to force the Feds to hands off the Eastern Rail system, to be run as a regional Terminus. We have never made the argument.


Mbakwe threatened in 1981 that if the FGN did not build an airport in Owerri, he would mobilize and build one. He did it. He threatened that if they did not build the Petrochemical plant in Izombe, he would build one by 1984. The land for the construction of the Imo Petrochemical Plant was already cleared when the soldiers struck on the last day of 1983.


When Mbakwe arrived government house Owerri in 1979, the three major cities in old Imo - Owerri, Aba, Umuahia still had houses operating "bucket latrines" and the cities still employed nightsoil men (ndi Oburu nsi) and ran waste landfills. The first statewide public safety and hygiene law passed under the Mbakwe administration gave every landlord and household in these cities 4 months and a tax rebate to change the infrastructure from the bucket system to the water system, failure of which the houses would be marked as public health hazard zones. This was fully accomplished in three months.


By 1982, there was a marked upsurge and population shift as more Igbo began to leave Lagos and other places to return to Owerri and invest and settle. Nobody told them to return, the conditions were simply made amenable. By 1984, Igbo business men, particularly in the North, were moving their money and opening accounts with the Imo state Progress Bank, and the capital was growing for both accessible credit and for capital borrowing for infrastructural development in the East.


I point this to simply suggest that there is nothing the Igbo wish to accomplish in Nigeria that anyone can stop, if the Igbo hold down their lines. But we've deceived ourselves for too long - we have now made Nigeria into the convenient excuse for our own failures and self-indulgence. Now, there is a man called Onwuka Kalu. He gave the first N100, 000 as donation towards the Imo state Airport Appeals Fund in Owerri in 1981/2. There is not a single plaque to honour this man's gesture at that airport. It will not be the Federal government that will do it; it will be the initiative of those who put value to memory in Igbo land.


But in the Imo/Abia/Ebonyi/Anambra/Enugu divisions that now pervade the Igbo mind, no one will remember. This is no recipe for a people moving towards transformation. Let me now, tell this whole truth: onweghi onye ji Ndi Igbo, Ndi Igbo ji Onwe ha (no one is to blame for the Igbo predicament but Ndigbo). Those who wrestle with Ala, the Earth goddess, often forget that no one has ever lifted the earth. Ala-Igbo is the earth, Anaghi Apa ala Apa! (No one can lift the earth). Period.


The Igbo of this generation are wrestling with the earth left to them by their ancestors. And they are busy blaming everyone else for their condition. We who have done, "Ihe Nzere" should tell the truth, or may our tongues cleave to our gums.


© Professor Obi Nwakanma

SECURITY AGENTS INTERCEPT CACHE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION FROM HON. CHINEDU OBIDIGWE'S CONVOY

 BREAKING NEWS: 

SECURITY AGENTS INTERCEPT CACHE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION FROM HON. CHINEDU OBIDIGWE'S CONVOY


Credible reports from Nteje in Oyi Local government Area of Anambra State reveals that a combined team of the police and the military yesterday (Sunday) intercepted a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the convoy of the member representing Anambra East and West in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe.


It was gathered that the raid was made possible following a tip off. The combined security team was then quickly scrambled. A source familiar with the operation disclosed that the team then trailed the convoy of the House of Rep. member till the outskirts of Nteje before stopping the convoy. It was gathered that the security details attached to Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe at first geared up for a gun battle but when it became obvious that the operatives were indeed a security task force, they stood down allowing the special task force to inspect the entire vehicles in the long convoy.


A total of 52 Ak-47 rifles, 119 pump actions and thousands of ammunition were recovered from several vehicles in the convoy. However, the security details attached to Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe insisted he would not be arrested prompting a standoff. Hon. Obidigwe who did not alight from his bullet-proof vehicle allegedly contacted Gov. Willie Obiano and eventually, to avoid unnecessary casualty, the convoy was escorted back to Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Ukpo. 


It is unclear if Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe is still in custody at the Zone 13 police headquarters. Gov. Willie Obiano was however making frantic calls to ensure the case was not escalated. A security source alleged that Gov. Willie Obiano was willing to do anything to prevent the incident from coming to the public domain.


This incident is coming barely two weeks to the governorship election in Anambra State and at a time of heightened insecurity in the state. There are fears before now that some political actors are actually behind the insecurity bedevilling the state. In fact, Gov. Willie Obiano during a visit to President Buhari few weeks ago over plans to declare state of emergency in Anambra said that politicians are the cause of the killings in the state with many of those causing mayhem coming from outside the state.

VALENTINE EZIGBO

 Valentine Ezigbo


OBI visit Lagos

 OBI visit Lagos



The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the Anambra State election paid a campaign visit to Lagos State State on Sunday in the company of former governor of Anambra State H E. Mr Pete Obi. 

The venue of the event, the oduduwa hall  of Southern Sun Hotel Ikoyi was filled to its capacity with captains of industry and cream of Anambra State professionals.

 

In his introductory speech. Mr. Peter Obi recounted his role as the former governor and sadly noted that Mr. Obiano failed to leave up to expectations of Anambrians. He told the gathering that in their choice of who becomes the next governor of the the state, they  should be concerned about the life style of the candidates. He said that Mr. Valentine Ozigbo given his track records and coming  from the private sector will take Anambra back to winning ways

He said that this election is important to PDP as it will prepare grounds for the 2023 elections and brighten chances of a South easterner becoming the PDP presidential flag- bearer if the ticket is zoned to the south. 


In his own address, the PDP flag bearer said that having identified the problems the state is going through with the present government will do everything within his reach to deliver on all his campaign promises. He appealed to those present to carry his gospel to their kits and kins at home to support him by  coming out and vote for PDP. He also alayed the fears going round by the threats from IPOB about the sit-at home from the 5th of Nov. And said security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair election.


The south-east PDP Congresy Lagos State was ably represented at the event by our able leader chief Felix Orakwue who in turn introduced women leader Mrs. Ebere Ubah, the  Gen. sec. Nze Chibuzor, chief Chidex and Mr. Emma. Nwosu to the candidate chief Valentine. Ozigbo who enjoined us to also sensitise our members and our kits and kins back to join him  in this mutual battle to rescue Anambra State.


Reports from the publicity sub. committee. South- east PDP Congress. lagos.

Emma. Nwosu

NYSC: Seven corps members to repeat service in Abia

 NYSC: Seven corps members to repeat service in Abia


The National Youth Service Corps has ordered seven corps members deployed in Abia for the Batch ‘B’ Stream 1, 2020/2021, to repeat their service year for various offences.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Denis Jingi, said this on Friday in Umuahia during the passing out event and presentation of certificates to outgoing corps members.

Mr Jinga represented by the Assistant Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Caroline Chukwu, said two others also got an extension of their service year for some infractions.

He said that 792 corps members passed out, adding that five received commendations for their meritorious service.

The passing out, earlier scheduled for Thursday nationwide, was shifted to Friday in the South-East because of the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

(NAN)


The speech of Njaba LGA Chairman following the death of two Ezes this week at Njaba LGA Headquarter

 The speech of Njaba LGA Chairman following the death of two Ezes this week at Njaba LGA Headquarter. The chairman, Emeka, is from Amucha. I lifted his speech from Amucha Progressive Forum. Below  is the full story



COMMISERATION WITH NJABA PEOPLE ON THE DEATH OF OUR TWO REVERED TRADITIONAL RULERS


I am still in deep shock as I write to commiserate with the people of Okwudor and Ihebinowere autonomous communities in particular and the entire people of Njaba LGA in general, over the death of HRH Eze Barr A E Durueburuo (Obi II of Okwudor) and HRH Eze S C Osunwa(Ugo 1 of Ihebinowere) following the attack in our Council Headquarters Nnenasa during our monthly meeting of Council of Ndi Eze on Tuesday 19th October 2021. My heart still bleeds as I often drift from concentration and composure since after the ugly incident. I earnestly wish to use this opportunity to once again console the bereaved families, the entire people of Okwudor and Ihebinowere as well as Njaba people in general over our huge loss in the death of these two illustrious Monarchs. May the Good Lord give us the fortitude to bear these irreparable and irreplaceable losses.


I would have addressed my good people of Njaba LGA since two days ago the incident happened, but we have been deeply engaged in the battle to ensure that the 3 traditional rulers who sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries during the attack are given proper and urgent medical attention in a good hospital to prevent the loss of any other life. I am happy that they are responding positively to treatment and I pray for them and also wish them quick recovery.


THE NJABA LGA COUNCIL PROGRAMS OF 19/10/2021.


Following the directive of Imo State Government to convene a stakeholders meeting(between Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th October) aimed at receiving the priority needs and proposed projects from every community for 2022 Imo State budget, I consulted the Member Representing Njaba State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly Hon. Amb. Uju Onwudiwe and we jointly agreed to fix the meeting on Tuesday 19/10/2021. The Interim Management Committee(IMC) of Njaba LGA also scheduled two other major programs in the Council same day. They included:

(1)Free distribution of 20,000 exercise books to public primary school pupils and secondary school students through the heads of the schools.

(2) My monthly meeting with the traditional rulers of the LGA.


On Monday 18th October, I had notified the Operation Search and Flush police team led by one ASP Nwankwo about the said programs scheduled for the next day Tuesday 19th October and also requested for their presence at the council headquarters during the programs. The team leader assured me that they would come. 


It is also worthy of note that this particular team of Police men had been officially posted to Njaba LGA, since 20th September 2021, to work permanently in Njaba LGA. Therefore my notification to them about the programs of the Council is a mere fulfilment of protocols because Njaba LGA is their workplace.


However, on Tuesday 19/10/2021, the police team came to the Council Headquarters for the programs as we agreed. But shortly before the commencement of the programs, the police team leader came to my office and informed me that their Commander instructed them to return back to Owerri. I refused to allow them to leave the council to avoid jeopardising the security of lives and properties in the Council. After some arguments with them, they finally left my office and told me that they would be back in  two hours. The H.O.D Works of the Council, Mr Emeka Uneanya, a gateman working in the Council, Mr Ernest Okorochukwu and few others were witnesses to my argument with the police team leader in my office.


Our meetings and programs nevertheless commenced immediately the police left, as we hoped on their return as they had promised. 


The distribution of the exercise books and Stakeholders meeting lasted for about three hours, yet we did not see the police. I then called the team leader to know why they have not come back, but he told me that his commander had not yet released them. And this is verifiable. 


Our usual monthly meeting with the traditional rulers, which happened to be the last program for the day, was about to be concluded when we saw some armed men approaching the Council hall where the meeting was taking place. The unknown gunmen on reaching the door to the hall opened fire and shot at some of us as we scampered for safety. 


Unfortunately, the two traditional rulers lost their lives in the incident. Three traditional rulers also sustained gunshot injuries. This incident took place few minutes after 3pm.


Let me at this juncture use the name of the Almighty God to appeal to those that are behind these killings to please stop. We cannot continue to kill ourselves for any reason. The eyes and the nose are the same. When one is hurt, the other will start shedding tears. I once again pray God, to give the bereaved families, Okwudor and Ihebinowere people as well as the entire Njaba people the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses. Government will not abandon you in this period of grief and mourning. To those in the hospital, we shall continue to care for you until you are fully recovered and discharged. God in His infinite mercy shall continue to protect us all. Amen


Emeka Iheanacho,

IMC Chairman Njaba LGA,

Imo State

Beware of new virus that steals banking details, NCC alerts Nigerians

 Finance

Beware of new virus that steals banking details, NCC alerts Nigerians



The Nigerian Communications Commission has alerted millions of Nigerian telecom consumers of the existence of new, high-risk, and extremely damaging, Malware called Flubot.

The commission warns that the virus steals banking details from devices.

This was contained in a press statement by the commission titled, ‘NCC alerts telecom consumers on Flubot Malware… Lists measures to guard against attack.”

NCC noted that according to the information received from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team, Flubot “targets Androids with fake security updates and App installations”.

How the virus works

The statement quoted ngCERT as affirming that Flubot “impersonates Android mobile banking applications to draw fake web view on targeted applications and its goal transcends stealing personal data and essentially targets stealing of credit card details or online banking credentials.

“FluBot is circulated through Short Message Service and can snoop “on incoming notifications, initiate calls, read or write SMS, and transmit the victim’s contact list to its control centre.”

pretending to be “FedEx, DHL, Correos, and Chrome applications” and compels unsuspecting users to alter the accessibility configurations on their devices in order to maintain a continuous presence on devices.

“The new malware undermines the security of devices by copying fake login screens of prominent banks, and the moment the users enter their login details on the fake pages, their data is harvested and transmitted to the malware operators’ control point from where the data is exploited by intercepting banking-related One Time Passwords and replacing the default SMS app on the targeted Android device.

“Consequently, it secures admittance into the device through SMS and proceeds to transmit similar messages to other contacts that may be on the device it has attacked enticing them into downloading the fake app.

“It suffices to say that, when Flubot infects a device, it can result in incalculable financial losses. Additionally, the malware creates a backdoor which grants access to the user’s device, thus enabling the invader or attacker to perform other criminal actions, including launching other variants of malware

THE AMAZON TOOK THE INCOMING GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE ON A RALLY OF HER CONSTITUENCY,

 Politics

THE AMAZON TOOK THE INCOMING GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE ON A  OF HER CONSTITUENCY,




It was a very successful PDP rally today @Anaocha today, the Crown couldn't comport in sitting orders, but broke into a near stampede at the arrival of the Amazon Senator uche Ekwunife and at their tour of the arena, Gov. Val Ozoigbo, Mr Pete Obi, and Senator Uche Ekwunife, the PDP Anaocha member present went out of control. It was awesome to behold the majestic strides and gentle acquaintance of the next Gov *VCO* with members of the Anaocha PDP, he is quite a gentleman. 

It's PDP all the way come November the 6th.


Prince Ifeanyi Onyesoh 

Akaekpuchionwa n' Nri










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