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Tag: Alex Ekwueme

  • Buhari okays immediate treatment for Ekwueme abroad

    Buhari okays immediate treatment for Ekwueme abroad

    President Muhammadu Bubari has approved the immediate medical treatment of former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, outside the country.
    The approval followed a brief the President received Friday on the medical condition of the former Vice-President.

    The approval, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, covers the immediate charter of an Air Ambulance for the emergency movement and the cost of treatment.

    President Buhari prayed that God will grant the elder statesman speedy recovery.

     

  • Buhari greets Alex Ekwueme at 85

    Buhari greets Alex Ekwueme at 85

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with elder statesman and former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON), who turned 85 years today.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President joined all former leaders of Nigeria, professional colleagues and friends of the Ekwueme family in celebrating the octogenarian.

    The President extolled Ekwueme’s love for knowledge and search for wisdom from an early age, which led him into obtaining degrees in various fields of study, including a doctorate in Architecture, and becoming one of the first Nigerians to gain the Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.

    President Buhari commended the former Vice President’s entrepreneurial spirit in setting up the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria, spreading its tentacles to more than 16 cities until he accepted the national call to serve his fatherland in 1979 after a long commitment in building his community.

    The President recalled that as one of the founders of Nigeria’s democracy, the President affirmed that Ekwueme played a major role in mobilising the group of 34 eminent Nigerians in the 1990s, who against all odds opposed military dictatorship in the country and found a liberal and inclusive leadership structure.

    President Buhari recalled his many encounters with the former Vice President over the years and his loving kindness, peaceful nature and deep commitment to seeing Nigeria become one of the greatest countries on earth.

    He prayed the almighty God to grant Ekwueme good health, longer life and more opportunities to share with humanity his fountain of wisdom.

  • Buhari greets Alex Ekwueme at 85

    Buhari greets Alex Ekwueme at 85

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday felicitated with former Vice President and elder statesman, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON) who turns 85 years on October 21, 2017.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President joined all former leaders of Nigeria, professional colleagues and friends of the Ekwueme family in celebrating the octogenarian, whose life’s journey, undoubtedly, had been a narrative of immeasurable grace, courage and candour.

    The President extolled Ekwueme’s love for knowledge and search for wisdom from an early age, which led him into obtaining many degrees in various fields of study, including a doctorate in Architecture, and being one of the first Nigerians to gain the Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.

    President Buhari commended the former Vice President’s entrepreneurial spirit in setting up the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria, spreading its tentacles to more than 16 cities, until he accepted the national call to serve his father land in 1979 after a long commitment in building his community.

    As one of the founders of Nigeria’s democracy, the President affirmed that Ekwueme played a major role in mobilising the group of 34 eminent Nigerians in the 1990s, who moved against all odds in opposing military dictatorship in the country, and enabled the foundation of a liberal and inclusive leadership structure.

    President Buhari recalled , his many encounters with the former Vice President over the years, and his lovingkindness, peaceful nature and deep commitment in seeing Nigeria become one of the greatest countries on earth.

    He prayed that the almighty God will grant Ekwueme good health, longer life and more opportunities to share with humanity from his fountain of wisdom.

  • ‘Why Ikpeazu is battling infrastructure decay’

    Ben Onyechere, a former Special Assistant to Second Republic Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, on Monday debunked claims that Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was selective in his development agenda.

    He said the insinuation that the governor was developing the state’s infrastructure while neglecting other sectors was not true.

    “There are many things competing for attention at the same time for which reason there is a well structured prioritisation process whereby infrastructure is on the front burner.

    “The most onerous task of any government is to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, particularly in Abia which is the nerve center of commerce in the Southeast.

    “The government, therefore, has no choice than to upgrade facilities necessary for growth of the economy,” Onyechere said in a statement.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief said the construction and rehabilitation of roads was crucial to boosting trade and commerce. According to him, past administrations neglected the state’s infrastructure, which he said Ikpeazu was determined to correct.

    He urged Abia citizens to bear with the governor, saying Ikpeazu was committed to transforming every sector of Abia’s economy, in addition to infrastructure.

    The President of the Igbo Question Movement (IQM) said: “The problem is not that roads were not done in the past but their lifespan was nothing to be proud of. The difference is that Governor Ikpeazu is not just awarding contracts for road construction and rehabilitation, but is concerned with the quality of work done.”

    According to Onyechere, the governor was not only fixing state roads, but Federal roads to make life easier for Abians and others.

    “Abia state accounts for the highest concentration of federal roads which have lacked attention for a long time. The governor has, in a short period of time, taken up on many roads that are vital to the promotion of commerce for which Abia is known.

    “It may be surprising to know that the government has completed such roads as Omne, Ukaegbu, Umuola Ehere, Ochefu, China Nwafor Umuihilegbu and Owerri roads despite lean resources accruing to the state.

    “The most edifying of these roads is the long stretch from Umuahia to Arochuku, and roads in Umuahia, some of which are under construction,” Onyechere said.

     

  • Postgraduate Fellowship named after Ekwueme

    Postgraduate Fellowship named after Ekwueme

    A new postgraduate fellowship for Nigerians under the age of 40 is now available for the ‘Dual Career Training Programme to obtain a PhD in Governance and Policy Analysis’ (GPAC²).

    The Alex Ekwueme Fellowship, named after the first elected Vice-President of Nigeria, will be offered every two years from March 2016 and  is aimed at shaping and empowering the next generation of Nigerian leaders.

    The programme will be taught in the stimulating research community of the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance and the United Nations University,UNU-MERIT, based at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

    Dr. Joe Abah, a Nigerian civil servant who graduated in 2012, says: “The GPAC² programme offered me world class, cutting-edge research skills, delivered in a rigorous but flexible way. Since completing the programme I have moved on to higher responsibilities twice in the last three years, including being head-hunted to be the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms in the Presidency in Nigeria, a position that I still hold.”

    The Alex Ekwueme Fellowship, he said, would mean that Nigerian scholars who already have practical experience could complement it with academic rigour in areas that are important for Nigeria’s development.

      “The GPAC² programme meets the needs of researchers with full- or part-time jobs, allowing them to combine their careers with obtaining a PhD. It also provides advanced training in the skills and theory crucial to policy analysis and design, with lectures given by top scholars in the field of policy analysis and related areas including governance, migration, sustainable development and social protection.”

    According to Dr. Mindel van de Laar, the PhD programme director, “The programme is taught entirely in English and consists of a common first year of three training workshops (two weeks each time), followed by two research workshops per year in subsequent years (one week each time).

    To be eligible for the fellowship, she said, “prospective Ekwueme fellows must be citizens of Nigeria under the age of 40 and should have a Master’s degree, a strong academic record, professional and/or volunteer experience, an affinity with academic research, and a clear interest in policy analysis. Ideally, the candidate’s employer will offer support, by for example, providing data, related assignments and the like”.

    Applications are handled through the website of the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance and the next application deadline is 15 October 2015.

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  • Ex-Vice President was wrong, PDP insists

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast has reacted to a claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it would make in-roads to the zone in the presidential election.

    It said the party was embarking on a wild-goose chase, as Southeast remained PDP’s stronghold.

    The ruling party’s National Vice Chairman, Col. Austin Akobundu, in a statement reaffirmed PDP’s earlier position that it would deliver 100 per cent block votes to President Goodluck Jonathan, contrary to the position of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

    He noted that the reality was starring the opposition party in the face, hence the resort to name-calling.

    Akobundu said the fact that APC was clinging on to Ekwueme’s interview “which was incorrect and did not reflect the realities on ground”, showed how desperate the opposition party and its leaders had become.

    He went on: “I respect Dr. Ekwueme, but he should realise that the PDP is dynamic and he should not expect the party to be what he saw in 1998. The Southeast is behind President Jonathan and nothing can change this. Anybody making any prediction to the contrary is out of touch with the realities on ground. The Southeast is better off with the PDP than any other party.

    “The Southeast, besides being an impregnable fort of the PDP, APC’s ideology of lies, deceit, divisiveness and violence is a vexatious stigma that makes support for it a cardinal sin among the peace-loving people of the zone.

    “One thing is sure. There is no place for APC in the Southeast, so they should not hope to get any vote in the zone.

    “The bitter truth for the party is that the five states of the Southeast are in support of the PDP and will deliver a block vote to President Jonathan and other candidates. We advise APC, its presidential candidate and other candidates not to waste energy in the zone.”

     

  • 2015: Ekwueme, Anyim, Nnamani for pro Jonathan rally

    2015: Ekwueme, Anyim, Nnamani for pro Jonathan rally

    Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, are some of the dignitaries expected to join a rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.

    The rally, which is being organised by a pro Jonathan campaign group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is slated to hold in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Saturday.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja on Thursday, the group’s Director of Public Communications and Strategy, Dr. Udenta Udenta, confirmed that the three prominent politicians had accepted to attend the rally.

    Udenta added that the rally would be held in the six geopolitical zones, to be rounded off with a grand finale in Abuja on September 30.

    Udenta said: “The rally, scheduled to take place in the six geo- political zones of the country, will debut in the South-East at the popular Ekwueme Square, Akwa, Anambra State in a blaze of fun-fare.

    “Important dignitaries expected at the Akwa rally include former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Senate Presidents Chief Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ken Nnamani and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.”

    According to Udenta, serving members of the National Assembly and political appointees of the Southeast extraction are also expected to attend the rally.

    “At the rally, the people of the South-East zone who are already overwhelmed by the unparalleled achievements of Mr. President in varied spheres of human endeavours, including massive social and physical infrastructure, human capital development, employment generation and appointments, would place a demand on Dr. Jonathan,” Udenta stated.

    The rally is expected to move to Ibadan for the South-West edition on August 23, while that of the South-south zone will come up in Port Harcourt on August 30. The rally will then move to the remaining geopolitical zones at a weekly interval.

  • My encounter with Mr President

    My encounter with Mr President

    THE decision to recount my encounter with the president while he was governor of Bayelsa State is borne out of the compelling need to do a minor background check on him which may afford us the opportunity to juxtapose his behavioural pattern before he became president and his current style of administration.

    Like every other person, my travail in politics is fraught with  pieces of experience sometimes palatable and other times nauseating through the privilege of association with  people in positions of authority .But one thing stands out  which is the fact that I have had to hallow such privilledges by throwing in every thing in my possession humanly possible in other to sustain any political relationship regarding such to be a learning and sowing process  because sowing begets reaping.

    However, as a student of political behaviour I have found some experiences intriguing when analysed alongside  prevalent  political culture. One of such was my encounter with Governor Jonathan on whom providence had deposited the responsibility of piloting the affairs of Bayelsa State in the absence of  Alamiesiegha who was paying his political dues at the time. This opportunity came when Dr Alex Ekwueme with whom I was working took me and a few security details to Yenagoa on the occasion of a book launch specifically that of the chief judge of the state at that time .

    Quite frankly, during the period I worked with the former vice president,  I was opportuned to meet many important  people while  we  were regarded and treated as special guests at every  event or place we visited during which we flew  around in one of the presidential jets but in that very instance I did not know what awaited us until we got to the border line between Bayelsa and Rivers  states where a government delegation, including the chief judge whose book launch  had brought us to Bayelsa, was detailed by the governor to usher us into Bayelsa  from where we were escorted to the Government House into a warm reception by the governor and his wife who wasted no time in accommodating us at the presidential lodge  next to his modest lodge.

    To cut the story short, as we got in upstairs I noticed the full giant portrait of the former Governor Alamiesiegha in the sitting room and I pinched myself with the question is this not the picture of the wanted governor and  from that moment I began to experience the rare kind of humility exhibited by this gentleman politician  who left no stone unturned in making sure that his numerous guests which included governor and a team who were in the state on the official assignment to reconcile political squabbles of dissenting voices among the politicians in that state

    Ben Onyechere,

  • Ekwueme, Clark, Gbonigi seek total war on Boko Haram

    Ekwueme, Clark, Gbonigi seek total war on Boko Haram

    The Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) has called for full deployment of military arsenal to quash the insurgency in the North East.
    The group which is an assembly of leaders of thought from the three regional zones that made up the Southern Nigeria – the South-East, South-West and South-South said the unity of the country is very paramount and hence the security situation must be tackled headlong as it portends danger to the nation’s cooperate existence.
    The group which has three Co-Chair – former Vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Chief Edwin Clark and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi met on Wednesday for over two hours to consider the country’s security situation with a view to finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
    According to Bishop Gbonigi, the group is becoming uncomfortable with the new dimension the security challenge is taking, especially with the abduction of the over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
    He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything possible to remedy the situation including full deployment of military.
    He said: “We urge the President to take additional measures including the full deployment of our military arsenal to defeat the terrorists.
    “The corporate existence of the nation and collective will of the people to live peacefully together is been challenged and every patriotic Nigerian irrespective of their tribe, religion and political affiliation should rally round President Jonathan as he leads the fight to take back our country from agents of darkness and self seeking bigots.”
    He further warned, “We cannot fold our arms and watch our dear country slide into anarchy. The painful memories and scars of the unfortunate civil war are still very much with us.”
    Gbonigi also urged the security agencies in the country to do everything possible to apprehend and bring to justice the sponsors of the group.
    Ekwueme, who was represented by Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said the country cannot afford to play with naked fire, as this is what the present situation connotes.
    Clark  said the only way out right now, is the declaration of full state of emergency in the troubled states.

     

  • Protests mar APGA’s rally in Anambra

    Protests mar APGA’s rally in Anambra

    Members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) protested yesterday at the Government House and the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka against the change of list for the January 11 chairmanship election.

    The party members are from Orumba South, Orumba North, Ihiala, Njikoka, Awka North, Anaocha, Dunukofia and Onitsha South local governments.

    They accused ex-Deputy Governor Dr. Okey Udeh, Woman Leader Edith Nwokedi and National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh of masterminding the plot.

    They also alleged that the names of the candidates, who belong to the Anglican Communion, were removed for those of the Catholic Church.

    Orumba South party chairman, Thomas Okoli and his allies said if the list was not amended, the election would not hold in the council.

    He said: “In my council, APGA conducted primaries on August 17. Ernest Eze emerged winner with 378 votes, beating John Onyeakpa, but the loser was chosen.

    “The primary was witnessed by Deputy Governor Emeka Sibeudu and other stalwarts like Nikky Ugochukwu and Sir Geoffrey Muotolu, with the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) officials, State Security Service (SSS) and the police present.

    “If the list is not amended, APGA should be prepared to lose. This is no threat.”

    The protesters carried placards, which read: “Onyeakpa is an imposter”, “Ernest Eze is our candidate”, “Uncle Anii is our man”, “We do not want any other person”, among others.