Category: South East

Fifty two years after the end of the civil war in Nigeria, President General, Ndigbo Royal Heritage (NIROH) Worldwide, Dr. Paul Okoye, has said the Igbo must wholeheartedly accept the fact that the civil war was fought in error and also accept defeat in that war so that a proper rebuilding process can be achieved.

Speaking  while delivering a keynote address in Umuahia during the 2023 Igbo Political Conference organised by the Igbo group, NIROH Worldwide, Okoye said Igbos  have never come to terms with the reality of their existence partly because they  have never accepted that they  were defeated in the war.

He said the Japanese rebuilt because they accepted defeat the same way for Germany or Italy after their various wars fought and said that a very good way to start properly would be for the Igbo to accept that a war was lost and won.

He said Igbos must tell themselves another obvious truth that the Nigerian civil war was fought in error and out of sentiment, noting that war should only be fought as a matter of last resort and not by sentiment.

Okoye said nonetheless that the Igbo  survived after the war  because of their laborious egalitarian nature and the never say die spirit of the Igbo where they quickly migrated to all the nooks and crannies of the world in search of greener pastures and sooner or later, their diligence and steadfastness paid off.

As the 2023 general election gears up, he said Igbos must drop any form of blame game and ethnical campaign and accept the fact that the President of Nigeria cannot be got by sentiment or deceit but through strategy, investment and hard work.

While calling for serious concerted efforts on the Igbo towards actualising the ambition of producing a President of Igbo extraction in 2003, Okoye emphatically stated that Igbo people may lose their chance in 2023 if they fail to understand that power cannot be got on a platter of gold but rather worked for.

“The North is static while the West and the East are dynamic, whoever aligns with the North rules the country.  Obasanjo gave the West their share.

“Goodluck gave the Southsouth their share. Buhari is serving the share of the North so it is only natural that 2023 is ours. We are not cognisance of the fact that only a president of Igbo extraction can take us to Aso Rock and not an Igbo president,” he said.

Presenting a paper at the conference as a guest speaker, Rocks Okezie Eze,  a Professor of Curriculum Studies and Educational Technology, said Igbos need the support of other regions to get to Aso Villa in 2023.

He called on the Igbo to shun divisive tendencies and work hard as a group to present their best feet forward instead of fighting whether a suitable candidate can come from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi , Enugu or Imo.

Ndigbo Royal Heritage was founded by Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, erstwhile leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra. More than a group, NIROH is a divine mandate, established for the redemption of Igbo people of South East Nigeria, whose leadership is bequeathed on individuals nominated through the ancient leadership structure of Igbo located at Nri, the ancestral headquarters of the Igbos.

Although NIROH is a mission in progress, it has presently established a presence in most capitals of the world in all the continents, with active members and collaborators. In Nigeria, NIROH is in the LGAs and States.

The emergency security meeting between Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and stakeholders of Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, all heads of security agencies in the council area and the council chairman,  Jacob Abonyi, among others, yesterday, ended on a good note, with the stakeholders including the Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Daniel Olinya, assuring that the outcome of the meeting would solve the problem in the community.

Enugu governor had convened the meeting to decisively resolve the recent security challenges that erupted in Mgbuji Village, in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo LGA of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Abubakar Lawal, visited the area yesterday, alongside the Commander of 82 Division Garrison Command of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Chris Ataki and the State Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Habu Daluwa.

The on-the-spot assessment tour of Mgbuji Village, according to a statement released by the Enugu State Police Command “enabled the Commissioner of Police and the Security Chiefs to jointly assess, strategize and put in place immediate measures to avert further occurrence of the incidence and other heinous criminal acts, allegedly perpetrated by miscreants suspected to have intruded into the area from border communities in Benue State.”

Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu, Bishop Olinya disclosed that “the meeting was a successful one”, adding that “we discussed and the decisions reached today, we are very sure are going to solve the problem.”

The Global Initiatives for Anambra Needs (GIAN), a non-governmental organisation, has urged Anambra State governor elect, Prof. Charles Soludo to address the challenge of neglected federal projects in the state.

Director-General, GIAN, Mr Amah Amaonye who gave the advice yesterday, in Awka while briefing newsmen expressed confidence that Soludo would deliver on his campaign promises in view of his influence, scorecards and performances in various positions he served.

He said, “The overwhelming support for  Soludo at the just concluded election comes with unprecedented expectations and it is therefore, a huge burden that he should surmount.

“The people of the state are hopeful that Soludo will hit the ground running immediately when he assumes office in March.

“We are aware that a major problem of the state is the neglect of federal projects in the state. No problem should be seen to be unaddressed or unattended.

“Therefore, a fast, potent solution must be advanced to this problem, which has left the state with many dilapidated roads and poor accessibility.

“This is causing difficulty and logjam never seen before on a daily basis for our people travelling in the state both on the Niger Bridge at Asaba end and the Enugu end, where the roads are in a state of total neglect.

“There should be collaborative efforts among the states, involving  federal and international intervention, to proffer solutions to this problem, ” he said.

The Director-General also urged the incoming administration not to be distracted and to have an ear in the grassroots and impact directly on the lives of the people.

The Bayelsa State Government has warned the Peretorugbene Community Development Committee (CDC) Caretaker Committee in Ekeremor Local Government Area against dabbling into an agreement or contracts with the international oil companies (IOCs).

The warning came on Friday just as the government extended by three weeks the tenure of the CDC as part of efforts to amicably resolve the misunderstanding in the community.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the warning at a meeting with the Amananaowei of Peretorugbene, the CDC Caretaker Committee, the President of the Peretorugbene Welfare Association, and other critical stakeholders at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital.

He assured them that government would do everything possible to ensure the conduct of a new election in no distant time to usher in a substantive CDC in the community.

To this end, he urged the leaders and entire people of Peretorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area to work cooperatively with government to achieve a peaceful CDC election, unity and progress.

The Deputy Governor, therefore, called on all aggrieved parties to put the collective interest of the community above their personal interests and sheathe their swords for enduring peace to reign.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has sworn-in Hon. Justice Victor Uchenna Okorie as the Acting President, Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, Owerri.

Addressing the Acting President, members of the Bar and the Bench, senior government officials and key traditional rulers at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri, the state capital, at the ceremony, Friday, Governor Uzodimma said Justice Okorie’s appointment was strictly on merit and in adherence to due process.

He charged Justice Okorie to discharge his duties in full compliance with the principles of due process and the rule of law upon which he was nominated and inaugurated.

Besides, he reminded the audience that the Shared Prosperity Administration of his government is anchored on the respect for the rule of law and due process, insisting that he expects the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal to follow the same process.

Governor Uzodimma further reminded Justice Okorie that his “appointment comes with a lot of responsibilities which expects him to live above board and show examples that will galvanise the Bench and the Bar to be always on their toes.”

In his response after the swearing-in, Justice Okorie thanked Governor Uzodimma for finding time despite his crowded schedule to inaugurate him as the Acting President Customary Court of Appeal.

He promised to be guided, always, by the letters of the oaths of office he took in the discharge of his duties.

He also promised to work to improve on the already set standards by his predecessors in the State Customary Court of Appeal.

Chief Whip of the Senate and two term governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday held a closed door meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

Ikpeazu received Kalu at his Umuobiakwa country home at Obinngwa LGA, Abia state.

The governor alongside his aides and personal staff who were already waiting for Kalu’s coming, received the Senate Chief Whip who arrived at the governor’s mansion.

Kalu who was accompanied by his retinue of aides and security staff disembarked from his official SUV and advanced to exchange greetings with the Abia governor, who was beaming with smiles on sighting the Senate Chief Whip.

Exchange of banters over, Ikpeazu led his visitor straight to his lounge.

Shortly after another brief episode of greetings, the duo proceeded with the exemption of other aides to the inner room for a private meeting.

The visit of the former Governor Orji Kalu, who is regarded as the Father of Abia Politics comes just a week after the Abia State governor visited President Muhammadu Buhari last December, which fueled speculations that he intends to join the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It may be recalled that photos of Ikpeazu with President Buhari shared on the social media, sparked several reactions with many believing that the visit was unconnected with his (Ikpeazu’s) rumoured intention to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Besides, the unexpected visit also comes less than a week after some PDP stakeholders in Arochukwu local government council, affirmed Orji Kalu’s political supremacy, declaring the former governor as their Leader and Father of Abia Politics.

According to records during his tenure as governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu introduced the current Abia governor to Abia politics.

The outcome of the meeting of the duo was yet unknown at the time of filing the report.

The Commandant of the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anyinla Olowo on Friday disclosed that the command has destroyed demolished several illegal modular refineries in the state.

The destroyed illegal modular refineries were situated at the Ukwa axis of the state.

Olowo who was speaking at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital during an interface with officers and men of the command from the 17 local government areas of the state also disclosed that the command in 2021 arrested 100 suspects for various offences bordering on Petroleum pipelines vandalism, child trafficking/child labour, gender based violence, telecommunication infrastructure, vandalisation and stealing of railway slippers and power installations in the state and among other crimes.

According to the NSCDC Commandant, the Command was able to secure 13 convictions out of 23 court cases.

“A total of twenty three cases were being prosecuted in courts, out of which thirteen convictions have been secured with ten vehicles used in the illegal petroleum products business forfeited to the federal government while the rest are at various stages of trial at the Federal High Court, Umuahia.

“The fight against fraudulent practices received a boost as the Anti-Fraud Unit made several arrests of suspects who were involved in fraudulent activities while the peace and conflict resolutions unit resolved forty one cases through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).”

Olowo, who disclosed that the command lost two officers in the line of duties, lamented shortfall in operational logistics and lack of accommodation for its personnel.

While calling for hard work among its personnel, he assured that the agency would not relent in its commitment in ensuring a peaceful and secured Abia with other sister agencies.