ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE

 ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE ON WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2021.

 

It is on a very sad note that I address the State today to condemn in very strong terms, the violence that has been witnessed in Anambra in the past few days.

Since last weekend, some armed persons have unleashed terror with sporadic attacks on innocent citizens in various parts of the State

From the briefings I have received from Security Commanders, Offices of some political parties, branded campaign vehicles and individuals occupying them have been attacked with killings and burning of vehicles observed. Other innocent road users have become victims of this menace with many losing their lives and others, their properties.

Between Sunday 26th and yesterday 28th September, 2021 attacks on citizens at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi and other places have left about ten (10) people dead including an illustrious son of this State, Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of late Prof Dora Akunyili who was reportedly gunned down yesterday around Nkpor.

These are our own people dying every day and for what reason?

Ndi Anambra, these attacks and accompanying deaths cannot be justified and must stop now.

I have therefore conducted an extensive security meeting and have directed all Security Agencies to step up and confront this monster ravaging our land. I charge everyone involved in the security architecture of Anambra State to take very seriously, this threat to our livelihood and boldly rise to confront same. Everything that needs to be done will be done and no stone will be left unturned in this effort. My directive to this effect is clear and i urge every security personnel on duty in Anambra State to do his utmost best to secure our people.

To all citizens of Anambra State and every person living and doing business in our State, I urge you now to join forces with us to confront this common enemy. We cannot condone this savagery for any reason whatsoever. I therefore call on all our youths in the State to rise up and protect our communities. Traditional Rulers, Presidents General, Clergy men, Vigilante Groups and all leadership structures must now take responsibility and in conjunction with the Police, Military and other Law Enforcement Agencies, work to restore order immediately.

To reinforce our commitment and seriousness on this issue, I on behalf of the State Government, wish to announce a twenty million Naira (N20,000,000.00) reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our State. The people behind this must be unmasked and brought to book. I urge Citizens to report to us, anybody bearing firearm who is not a Security or Vigilante personnel, so we can deal with this monster, once and for all. Call 07039194332 or approach any Security deployment if you have any information. As the Americans say, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

At this point, I wish to most heartily condole with the families of all those who have lost their loved ones in the course of these senseless attacks. I promise you that we will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for them. May their souls rest in peace.

Finally, I urge all citizens of the State to unite in this fight against all forms of terror, intimidation and tyranny. We will not succumb to invaders as I am convinced that no Anambra son will indulge in this kind of heartlessness. I warn all those promoting and participating in these violent attacks to leave our State or pay a high price as we will definitely catch up with them.

To all law abiding citizens and persons living in our State, I urge you to go about your lawful businesses but we must now ALL go to work and take back our State. This is Anambra, the Light of the Nation, where darkness has no place. The events of the last one week will not be allowed to fester and by God’s grace, we shall overcome.

Thank you and God bless.

Gov Willie Obiano, FCA.

WE HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON ANAMBRA ELECTION

 IPOB PRESS RELEASE 

WE HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON ANAMBRA ELECTION, WE HAVE NO HAND IN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS IN SOUTH EAST - IPOB

We the great family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukkwu Kanu, wish to dissociate ourselves from the senseless killing of innocent citizens in Anambra State. We have no hands in the political killings going on in Biafra land. We have severally raised the alarm that some cruel politicians are hiding under the cloak of the situation in Biafra land to eliminate their political enemies and blame it on IPOB.

We don't know why wicked politicians especially in Imo and Anambra States will choose to slaughter their opponents and turn around and point accusing fingers at IPOB or the operatives of Eastern Security Network ESN. Politicians should leave us alone and settle their scores. No IPOB member or ESN operative is involved in such barbarity. We have no interest in the zoo politics. Restoration of Biafra is our mandate!

We also wish to clarify that IPOB has never issued any official statement that there would be no governorship election in Anambra State.

Those peddling such rumour are not our members, and should be ignored. Our position on Anambra election will be made public at the right time through our normal channels of information dissemination. Anything to the contrary should be disregarded. Members of the public should stop believing social media fake stories purported to have emanated from IPOB. We are an organized movement and we don't hide our position on any matter.  

Those killed Dora Akunyili husband killed his wife with poison from Fulani because she exposed the death of Yaradua for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over President of failed Nigeria, they know themselves those conspired to poisoned prof. Dora Akunyili, they're contesting governorship election in Anambra State today. 

We have no issues with Chike Akunyili and we don't him, those behind this act must stop this and stop using IPOB name, we don't want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them, this is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State now and it been perfected by Nigeria, DSS security agents are doing this to paint IPOB back in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people. 

We know their plans and gimmick to discourage Biafrans who are encouraging and supporting us but it can't work for them, in the near future those committing this atrocities in Imo and Anambra States will hear from IPOB and our people should not blame us because we must get them. 

Had IPOB issued a statement regarding Anambra election, by now traitors like Joe Igbokwe would have been ranting that it was IPOB that killed APGA and APC members along Nnobi junction last week.

It is obvious that those that burnt Anambra Government House and other parts of the state some years back are  back to use intimidations and killings to subdue their opponents ahead of the governorship election in Anambra State.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

IPOB reveals those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband, Chike

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday, reacted to reports linking the death of Chike Akunyili to its members.

Just before he was assassinated at NKPOR. Rest in peace brother.

IPOB alleged that the death of Chike was a pure political assassination, stressing that those behind the incident are contesting for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

Chike, who is the husband of the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, was killed on Tuesday on his way from Onitsha to Umuoji at Eke Nkpor.

Following the incident, IPOB members were accused of killing Chike.

However, Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, said those who poisoned the late Dora are responsible for Chike’s death.

A statement by Powerful reads partly: “Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband killed his wife with poison are Fulani because she exposed Yar’adua’s death for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over as President of failed Nigeria. They know themselves, Those that conspired to poisoned prof. Dora Akunyili, they’re contesting the governorship election in Anambra State today.

“We have no issues with Chike Akunyili and we don’t know him, those behind this act must stop this and stop using IPOB name, we don’t want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them, this is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State now and it been perfected by Nigeria DSS security agents are doing this to paint IPOB back in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people.

“We know their plans and gimmick to discourage Biafrans who are encouraging and supporting us but it can’t work for them, in the near future those committing these atrocities in Imo and Anambra state will hear from IPOB and our people should not blame us because we must get them.”

Anambra 2021 Poll: PDP Loses Out, As INEC Finally Releases List Of Candidates, Okays Soludo

 Anambra 2021 Poll: PDP Loses Out, As INEC Finally Releases List Of Candidates, Okays Soludo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not participate in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election unless a miracle happens.

The Hotmedia.ng reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, August 19, said the final list of candidates that would contest the governorship poll scheduled for November 6, would be published on October 7.

Hotmedia.ng gathered that in a list released on Thursday, August 19, the commission replaced Michael Umeoji with Chukwuma Soludo as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

According to the report, the Peoples Democratic Party is still excluded from the list of cleared candidates for the poll.

Festus Okoye, the INEC national commissioner and chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, August 19.

He said:

“The commission met today (Thursday, August 19, 2021) and deliberated on a number of issues, including the nomination of candidates for the Anambra governorship election holding on November 6, 2021. “The timetable and schedule of activities approved by the Commission on January 18, 2021, provides for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in line with Sec. 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

Okoye further stated that the list of substitute candidates, which was attached to this press release has also been published on the commission’s website.

He, however, noted that the final list of candidates would be published on October 7, as provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

The News also reports that the APGA commended the INEC for doing the needful by publishing the name of Prof. Soludo and Onyekachikwu Gilbert Ibezim as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party.

The party, however, regretted that INEC almost destroyed the nation’s democracy by publishing the name of somebody who had no business being there in the first place.

Anambra Election Will Not Hold – INEC

   Breaking News: It’s Clear Anambra Election Will Not Hold –  INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is “deeply concerned” about the situation in the South-East especially as it concerns threats to disrupt the elections in the zone, Hotmedia.ng has learned.

INEC also explained that there could be constitutional crisis if it (commission) was unable to conduct general elections in the region.

The Chief Press Secretary to the commission’s chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday.

The Indigenous People of Biafra had threatened that no election would hold in the entire old Eastern region till a date for Referendum for Biafra independence is set.

He said the commission and the security agencies had been discussing and comparing notes on the security situation across the country generally.

As regards the South-East and particularly Anambra State, he expressed the hope that through collaboration, the security situation in the region would be brought under control.

Oyekanmi said, “The commission is deeply concerned about the security situation in the South-East. It is an established fact that INEC cannot carry out electoral activities under chaotic conditions.

“God forbid that INEC is unable to conduct such elections at the appointed time because this will lead to a constitutional crisis. The constitution did not envisage that such elections will not hold.

With regard to the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 6, we are aware of the various efforts by the security agencies on the one hand, and all the men and women of goodwill in the region on the other, to calm things down.”

 NEWS

Borrowing to accumulate debt for next generations is criminal – Obasanjo tells Buhari govt

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the move by the Federal Government to take fresh loans amid outcries by Nigerians over incessant borrowing by the current administration for

Obasanjo, while speaking to Channels Television in South Africa, described as criminal, the alleged move to accumulate debt for the next generation to pay.

Obasanjo expressed worries that if the existing debt remains unserviced or unpaid by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it might become a huge problem for successive governments.

DAILY POST recalls that the president, a few days ago, requested the approval of the National Assembly to borrow the fresh sums of $4,054,476,863 and €710 million.

Reacting, the former president who believes that borrowing is not a problem, however, stated that the challenge would be the utilization of the borrowed fund and the plan or capacity to pay back.

He said, “But if you are borrowing and accumulating debts for the next generation and the next generation after them, it is criminal. What are you borrowing for

If we are borrowing for recurrent expenditure, it is the height of folly. If we are borrowing for development that can pay for itself, that is understandable. Then the payment, how long will it take to pay itself?”

Buhari seeks Senate’s approval for fresh $4bn, €710m loans

 

Buhari appoints board members for NNPC Limited

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, into a company.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, into a company.

Buhari gave the directive to NNPC Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari.

His spokesman, Femi Adesina, disclosed the president’s directive in a statement he issued on Sunday.

The presidential spokesman explained that Buhari’s action was backed by the relevant provisions of the constitution.

Adesina said the president’s directive was in “consonance with Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which requires the Minister of Petroleum Resources to cause for the incorporation of the NNPC Limited within six months of commencement of the Act in consultation with the Minister of Finance on the nominal shares of the Company.

“The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, has, therefore, been directed to take necessary steps to ensure that the incorporation of the NNPC Limited is consistent with the provisions of the

Also, by the power vested in him under Section 59(2) of the PIA 2021, President Buhari has approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the NNPC Limited, with effect from the date of incorporation of the company.”

The statement also disclosed that the president reserved the position of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to himself.

The president also appointed board members of NNPC, among whom are Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and Kyari.

Buhari appointed Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the Chairman of the Board, Mele Kolo Kyari as Chief Executive Officer and Umar Ajiya Chief Financial Officer.

Others Buhari appointed include; “Tajudeen Umar (North East), Lami Ahmed (North Central), Mohammed Lawal (North West), Margaret Chuba Okadigbo from South East, Constance Harry Marshal also from the South South, and Pius Akinyelure (South West),” the statement said