Category: South East

Today’s guest is an exemplary youth, whom against all odds, spearheaded a group of like-minded youths towards activism for CHANGE in governance towards an economically strong,safe and united Nigeria. A group that would later be known as OBI-DATTI YOUTH support ALLIANCE (ODYSA). Samuel Oamen sits with the director of ODYSA, Modesta Onyinye to understand the motivation, intention, and aim towards the group creation, and why the enmass support from the youth for an OBI-DATTI presidency. Excerpts:

Good afternoon, Modesta. Thank you for joining us today. I understand you are a strong supporter of the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. Can you share with us why you are so passionate about his candidacy?

Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. Indeed, I am a strong supporter of Mr. Peter Obi because I believe he has the strong vision, experience, and character needed to lead our country towards a better future.

ODYSA was birthed from a place of deep desire for change in the country. A desire for a new and functional country, with a working system of government.

A desire to permanently retire these old retired men in government that have the country’s economy hindered the development of our beloved country for years. A desire for ONE Nigeria irrespective of tribe, educational, and religious background.

That great to hear can you tell us more about the vision that Mr. Obi brings to the table and why you resonate with it.?

Absolutely. Mr. Obi has put forward a comprehensive plan to address the persistent challenges Nigeria faces. His emphasis on fiscal discipline, innovative policies, and investment in critical sectors such as security, education, socio- economic, and infrastructural development truly resonates with me. I believe implementing these  strategies will not only grow the economy but also tackle the issue of income inequality by creating jobs, thereby empowering the youth.

Read Also: ‘I dreamt Obi won 2023 presidential poll’

It seems his policy platform aligns with your concerns about economic and social development. is there a particular aspect of Mr. Obi’s plan that you find most compelling?

There are several aspects that I find compelling, but that which stands out for me is his commitment to improving the education sector. As a youth and young scholar myself, I have seen firsthand the inadequacies in our education system. Mr. Obi’s plan to increase funding in this sector, encourage research and development, and also focus on training high- quality teachers clearly demonstrates his understanding of the importance of education in building a prosperous nation. It’s refreshing to have a candidate who acknowledges and prioritizes this critical sector.

That’s certainly an important issue. Now, some critics argue that Mr. Obi lacks enough national political experience to lead the country effectively. What is your response to such concerns?

While it is true that Mr. Obi may not have held national office before, However, his experience as the former governor of Anambra State has proven his ability to govern successfully. During his tenure, he implemented various stringent policies that greatly halted the insecurity in the state and impacted the lives of the people of Anambra state positively. I believe this experience, coupled with his expertise as a renowned successful businessman, gives him a well-rounded perspective on both economic and governance. Additionally, the presence of a competent team around him will be an added advantage.

Thank you for addressing those concerns. Lastly, what would you say to undecided voters who are still uncertain about Mr. Peter Obi’s candidacy.?

I would urge undecided voters to take a closer look at Mr. Obi’s pristine record and his vision for Nigeria. It is important to vote for someone who not only understands the pertinent issues in the country but also possesses the determination and commitment to deliver real change.

Mr. Obi’s proposed policies and his demonstrated ability to make positive transformation in Anambra state indicate that he has what it takes to lead Nigeria forward. The lack of credibility and distasteful track record of the opposition party(s) presidential candidate and zero achievement are key to making an informed decision. Nigeria must be great again, and it can only happen through the presidency of Mr. Obi.

Thank you,  Modesta, for sharing your perspective. It’s been a pleasure having this conversation with you, a strong supporter of Mr. Peter obi and his campaign.

I’m happy to be here. Thank you for having me.

The leadership of Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Anambra State has warned touts to steer clear of the market or have themselves to blame.

President General Chief Jude Nwankwo made this known at a special end of year prayer and thanksgiving service to usher in 2023.

He said touts had no place at the market, noting that soon, they would become history.

“Despite the bleak economic situation experienced by the traders, we thank God that the market made appreciable progress. With God’s guidance, the market witnessed quantum leap in major sectors of the economy,” he said.

Nwankwo, also the patron of Anambra State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ASMATA), urged traders to key into government’s policies, especially that of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State and an aspirant for the House of Assembly, Ejike Agbo, has raised the alarm over alleged threat to his life by some persons in the party.

Agbo, an aspirant for the House of Assembly for Ohaukwu South State Constituency made this known at a news briefing in Abakaliki.

He said he had received threat messages from unknown persons due to his decision to challenge the primaries in the court.

He alleged that his car was stolen after the primaries during a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu and efforts to track the vehicle had proved abortive.

Agbo said the police after investigations told him that he should forget about the car, as its disappearance was politically- motivated.

However, Justice Fadima Aminu in a judgment delivered on December 5 declined to hear the matter due to conflicting affidavits.

•Governor receives award

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has sworn in a Special Assistant, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuonu.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abakaliki yesterday by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko,

According to the statement, the governor said the new aide would serve as Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.

He said the aide hailed from Ezza South Local Government.

“This appointment will be the last in the category of State Executive Council until the end of my administration.

“I urged you, the new special assistant, to brace up to the service of the state,” the governor said.

Umahi has received the highest honours award in Ebonyi State, having been conferred with Great Grand Commander of Ebonyi Hall of Fame.

The conferment is contained in a statement signed by Oko, and made available to reporters yesterday.

Oko said the conferment was performed by the Chief Judge, Elvis Ngene, at the executive council chambers.

“The Chairman of the State Honours Committee and Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, said the conferment followed the dictates of Law 008 of 2002 Ebonyi Honours Law.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday presented a budget of N447.4 billion for 2023 to the House of Assembly.

Presenting the budget tagged: “Budget of Wealth Expansion”, Uzodimma said it was made up of N150.4 billion recurrent expenditure, representing 22 per cent and N373.5 billion capital expenditure, representing 78 per cent.

He said the objective of the budget was to satisfy the desire of the people by delivering sustainable dividends of democracy to them and expanding wealth across the state.

The governor added that the budget would put the well-being of the people at the centre of governance through reconstruction of dilapidated infrastructure in urban and rural areas.

He assured the lawmakers of “undying support and commitment to the well-being of Imo people”, noting that there would be no room for misappropriation of funds in his administration.

Uzodimma hailed the House for its solidarity to his government and pledged to “vigorously pursue the implementation of policies, programmes and projects captured in the budget “, when approved.

Speaker Emeka Nduka said the budget presentation provided an opportunity for a “retrospective look at past years with a view to improving on the future.”

It was celebration galore yesterday for civil servants in Anambra State, following 10 per cent increase in their salary by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Speaking at the celebration of the 2022 Public Service Day at the Anambra Secretariat Complex, Awka, Prof. Soludo promised the workers N15,000 as Christmas bonus.

The theme of the event was: “Performance Management System: Impact on the Nigerian Public Service.”

The governor expressed empathy about income earners, especially in the light of the dwindling economic situation in the country.

He said: “Given my own background as a worker, what we are not able to do for the working class, you must understand it is literally impossible.

“On the issue of Christmas rice, we reviewed how it was done in the past and discovered that it is no longer feasible.

“I understand in previous years that past governments gave 25kg bag of rice to civil servants for Christmas.

“The state of Nigeria is bad. Everybody is complaining. Prices are rising very fast; I look at you and wonder how you cope.

“Today, 50kg bag of rice costs over N40,000. That’s beyond the salary of a graduate in the public service. Something is not right!

“What we will do instead, between today and tomorrow, we will first of all make sure our pensioners are taken care of, to demonstrate good faith.

“I wish we could do much more, but today, you will receive an alert of N15,000 as Christmas bonus.

“The income is not increasing, government revenue is not increasing. We cannot print money.

“I understand what you feel and wish that our revenue will go up so we can multiply what comes to you in proportion to Nigeria’s inflation.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said it would seek an audience with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over alleged targeted attacks on lawyers, judges and courts.

It said it hoped to hold “a frank conversation and honest collaboration” aimed at stemming “this terrible tide.”

The association, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, condemned the burning down of Imo State High Court in Orlu on December 16 by yet-to-be-identified arsonists.

It noted that in the process, all the court’s files, exhibits, and records books were completely razed.

It lamented that the attacks would also cause “unimaginable and inordinate delay in the administration of justice” and impact negatively on the livelihoods of members of the justice sector in Imo State, many of whom were litigators.

The NBA urged the Imo State Government to “deliberately and urgently beef up security in and around all the courts’ premises.

It added that judicial officers must also be protected to perform their constitutional duties in a safe atmosphere.

Noting that the courts housed sensitive documents and people’s properties, it argued that they deserved maximum security.

Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to pay 15 per cent of its interest on Mgbede-5 flowline in Mgbede to Oseugboloro village in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of the state.

The court also directed Agip to pay  N5million forthwith as exemplary damages for entering the claimants’ farmland without going through the families and for the inconveniences caused the village.

The court ruled in a suit filed by Princewill Ejekwe and  Maxin Ejekwe as first and second claimants on behalf of themselves, their immediate family and Oseugboloro village in Mgbede clan claiming the lawful ownership of Oseugboloro farmland where the defendant’s (Agip) flowline is situated.

The claimants prayed a declaration that they are lawful owners of Oseugboloro farmland and that entering of the area by Agip without their consent was unlawful.

They wanted the court to declare that the family was entitled to payments of benefits of the said land and perpetual injunction stopping Agip from paying compensation of the land to any other except them.

The claimants also prayed the court for an adequate compensation to them by Agip for the unlawful entry of their farmland and that N750,000 charge be paid to them for prosecuting the action.