Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has assured the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) of continuous support and partnership.

He spoke at the weekend while delivering a speech at the grand finale of the 2021 Press Week, held at the council’s new secretariat in Owerri.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Declan Emelumba, thanked Imo State journalists for being partners in progress with the reconstruction, recovery and rehabilitation of the administration.

He urged them to adhere to the ethics of journalism and be wary of social media blackmailers.

The state NUJ Chairman, Chief Chris Akaraonye, hailed the planning committee members of the press week for a good job.

He described the theme: ‘Media Participation in Security & Economic Development’, as timely, “especially now that Imo is being bedevilled by insecurity.”

Akaraonye praised Police Commissioner Rabiu Hussaine for doing justice to the topic.

“I want to use this medium to appreciate Sen. Samuel Anyanwu for funding our breakfast after a road walk. Let me also greet members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education chapter, for participating in our novelty match.”

The Vice-President, NUJ Zone C, Ifesinachi Emmanuel, represented by the Zonal Secretary, Eze Adiuku, while eulogising the state chairman of the union for organising a hitch-free press week, advised journalists to expose ills in the society through their reports.

The Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Efiong Akwa, has attributed the peace in the Niger Delta to the administrative competence of the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

He spoke at the weekend during the thanksgiving service by a youth group, the Akwa Ibom Youth Coalition (AYC), held in honour of Akpabio to mark his 59th birthday.

According to him, the appointment of Akpabio as the minister of Niger Delta Affairs has restored peace to the Southsouth.

“We had difficulties and security challenges in the Southsouth. There were threats by agitators to disrupt oil exploration. It took a man of courage and passion like Sen. Akpabio to visit stakeholders in the creeks of Niger Delta.

“That visit brought peace, stability and development to the region. Today, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes are going on in other regions in the country. Southsouth is the safest place now because of Akpabio,” Akwa said.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees and Chairman of Akwa Ibom Youth Coalition (AYC), Obong Mkparawa Emmanuel Inyangetor, described Sen. Akpabio as a special gift to Nigeria.

He thanked God for the life of Akpabio and prayed God to keep him and his family for the service to humanity and the nation.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Akaniyene Umoh, said the essence of the thanksgiving mass was the group special way of thanking God for sustaining the life of Sen. Akpabio and his family over the years.

“The group is happy to associate with Sen. Akpabio and his family. We chose to celebrate him because of his uncommon passion towards Akwa Ibom State youths.

“He built roads; FIFA approved Olympic size stadium and empowered youths and women when he was the governor. We organised the thanksgiving mass as a mark of appreciation of what God has used him to achieve in the state,” he said.

Delivering sermon on the topic: ‘Do not be afraid’, during the thanksgiving mass at St. Anne Cathedral, Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene, to mark the 59th birthday of Sen. Akpabio, the Bishop of Ikot Ekpene Catholic Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Camillus Umoh, read from Isaiah 41: 13-40.

 

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Anambra State has solicited support from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intensify campaign against the use of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, popularly called Mkpuru Mmiri.

NOA state Director Mr. Charles Nwoji spoke in Awka at the weekend when he received a delegation from the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Onitsha, in his office.

He said such collaboration became necessary in view of increasing security threats occasioned by such vices, particularly among youths.

Nwoji said: “In Anambra, statistics, observation and media reports indicate that the issue of drug addiction, particularly the use of Mkpuru Mmiri, is high among youths.

“This development has become a source of concern to the society because these are instigators of all forms of crime, violence and insecurity.

“We want your group and other civil society organisations to join us in the campaign to curb drug addiction in the state, Southeast and Nigeria at large.”

Read Also; Mkpuru Mmiri: NDLEA, Anambra govt, others step up fight against meth scourge

He hailed the group for its role in ensuring a thorough monitoring and observation of the governorship election in Anambra.

Nwoji said their post-election report highlighted the deficiencies experienced during the exercise.

“If we pay attention to these highlighted deficiencies, there will be a great improvement in the 2023 general election. NOA will send this report to the appropriate authority,” he said.

JDPC Manager Mr. Alphonsus Nwoye said the post-election report was to deepen the nation’s electoral process and democracy for sustainable development.

“We observe electoral issues such as voter apathy, ballot box snatching, vote buying, malfunction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation, poor logistics, late arrival of election officers and security personnel, among others.

“These are issues that require actions to mitigate or reduce reoccurrence in future elections.

“We are here to submit the report because we count on NOA’s capacity and influence to reach out to relevant authorities and stakeholders so that we can improve the integrity of our electoral system,” he said.

Nwoye promised to work with the agency for a better society and a peaceful nation.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, has described the continuous attack on Governor David Umahi as a sign of frustration and greatest nightmare of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the state.

Emegha made the assertion while briefing newsmen on the PDP’s recent attack on the governor in Abakakili, the capital city of Ebonyi State.

He explained thaDavid Umahi t the PDP had no clue on how to be an opposition political party, hence Governor David Umahi dominated their factional state executive committee meeting on 17th December, 2021.

“It is most pathetic that  Ebonyi PDP hardly gathers anywhere without mentioning the name of the governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr David Nweze Umahi. And this is a clear indication that they have been suffering and feeling the exit of Governor Umahi from their evil enclave. I laughed at them when I read online the invectives spewed on the governor by a baby factional Chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi, Mr Toochukwu Okorie during the meeting.

“The accusation of running a cruel and brutish government is baseless as Governor Umahi is the most democratic governor in the country. His empathetic, humane and altruistic nature has endeared him to many. For instance, he won the best performing governor’s award in 2019 from SUN Newspaper. He also won the 2019 Human Rights Award, just to mention but a few.

Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha who appreciated the PDP for acknowledging that they are deeply troubled by the governor’s exit from their party wondered how the same party will win election in 2023. He assured them that his party’s accomplishments from 2015 till date have already forced them into extinction.

“What Ebonyi PDP should understand is that Umahi is a visionary leader and no amount of their cries would make him go back to Egypt. Umahi is that great leader an American professional speaker, Pastor John C. Maxwell, talked about: he “knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”. He knew that the way to the liberation of Ndigbo is the APC. He knew that connecting to the mainstream of Nigerian politics is a panacea to the marginalisation of Ndigbo.

“The frustration and confusion in PDP for losing Umahi is why the party’s stakeholders have been attacking him. As a focused leader, he never got distracted but rather promised to be punishing his detractors with gigantic projects in the interest of all Ebonyians, and he has kept to his promise.

“Essentially, Umahi is the one who collapsed PDP in the country. Immediately he left the party as the pillar, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River joined him. Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State joined too. So many National Assembly members and State Assembly members in different states equally defected. They all defected with their teeming supporters.

“I therefore enjoin the good people of Ebonyi State to disregard any accusation coming from Ebonyi PDP against our award winning governor, as the PDP has gone into oblivion.”

The remains of Mrs Adanma Okpara, wife of the late former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr M. I. Okpara, were on Friday laid to rest amidst encomiums and eulogies.

Okpara died on Aug. 22 at the age of 99 and was buried in her country home in Umuegwu-Okpuala, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State.

In his sermon at a funeral service held at Williams Memorial Grammar School, Afugiri, the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria (MCN), Dr Samuel Uche, expressed delight that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation – a life full of humility, decency and sacrifices, with which she touched the lives of people that she encountered.

Uche said that the event was a time for the living to ruminate over the transient ephemeral nature of life.

“Late Dr and Mrs Okpara were neither extravagant nor ostentatious. Mrs Okpara was virtuous and prayerful and did not want her husband to acquire stolen wealth.

“I encourage today’s leaders and their spouses to emulate the Okparas as well as understand that what matters is the good name you leave behind; not the wealth,” he said.

In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, said that the funeral was a moment of sober reflection on the glorious era of late Dr Michael Okpara, as Premier of former Eastern Nigeria, as his achievements were a great challenge to leaders.

Ikpeazu said that the deceased did not fail to teach humility and service to the people she came in contact with.

“So let us use today’s event to raise our feelings of brotherhood, reawaken our strength, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit as a people,” he said.

In his remark, Dr Uche Ogah, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, described the deceased as “one of our best”, who supported her late husband to bring Eastern Nigeria to the limelight.

He stated that the deceased and her husband lived exemplary lives which ought to be emulated by all.

In his remark, Sen. Theodore Orji (Abia Central-PDP), said that the lifestyle of the deceased showed that she was a peaceful person and this was reflected in her marriage and family.

Peter Obi said though he did not know her personally, great testimonies from others showed that she was a strong pillar of support from whom her husband drew the strength for his political exploits. “The economy of the Eastern Region experienced an unprecedented growth under the late Michael Okpara and one can infer that such success was due to the unwavering support he received from his wife, Adanma. As we thank God for her life, we pray God to console her family and all who mourn her, and grant her eternal rest,” Obi said.

Orji prayed to God to give the family and the people of Abia the fortitude to bear the loss.

Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former governor of old Enugu State, described the deceased as a woman of virtue, who upheld the principles of the discipline.

Nwodo said that the deceased was a worthy companion to her husband and urged families to learn from their relationship.

In a funeral oration, the First Daughter of the deceased, Mrs Chinyere Eccles-James, said their late mother was a great source of inspiration to many.

Eccles-James said that their late mother lived a life of continuous goodwill and service to God and humanity.

The first son of the deceased, Uzodimma Okpara, appreciated all who took out time to come and pay their last respects to their late mother. He thanked in particular, those who came from outside Abia State to mourn with them and prayed God to bless and lead everyone back home.

The burial ceremony was attended by eminent personalities including the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt Hon Use Oko Chukwu, the Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Orji, the Senate minority leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Others are the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, former PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu, and former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Nwagbara.

The executives of Egbema Youth Council, EYC, has threatened to permanently shut down facilities of NPDC/Elcrest Joint Ventures if at the expiration of the one week ultimatum, the company refuses to sign the General Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU.

The leadership of the Egbema Youth Council, EYC, has said that the Warri North Local Government Council Chairman, Smart Asekutu, has never supported NPDC/Elcrest or Egbema Youth Council on the lingering signing of the General Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU.

The EYC President-General said: “The Egbema Youth Council are by this publication clearing the air that the allegation against the Warri North Local Government Chairman, Smart Asekutu, of sponsoring the Egbema Youth Council on their peace protest to NPDC/Electrest joint ventures to recognize the communities in the environ of its operational areas, was false and baseless allegations.

“These issues have been there before the coming of Asekutu as the chairman of the local government council. In fact, he (Asekutu) has always been a barrier to our agitations and we are gradually losing trust and confidence in him.

“We have written the company a series of letters informing them of our plan to shut down their operations in the flow stations if they continue to fail to sign the GMoU and carry out their obligations to the host communities.

“He called the two parties which are the NPDC/Elcrest and Egbema Youth Council body to his office at Koko, the local government headquarters, for a peace talk.

There, the company alleged that the Egbema Youth Council had taken them to court and also that they had signed the GMoU document with some few leaders in the kingdom.”