The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • 100-yr-old repairman’s Biafra regrets

    No one knows how many antique wristwatches, bicycles or radio sets he brought back to life but one thing is certain: versatile Pa Benneth Chukwukadibia Uchendu, 100, who has retired as a radio repairman in Anambra State, regrets that one of his sons who would have succeeded him in his trade was killed in the Nigerian Civil War. EMMANUEL UDODINMA reports

    Who would like to be repair watches, bicycles or radios for a living? Not many these days.

    Pa Benneth Chukwukadibia Uchendu who hails from Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State took on all three trades and more. He eventually settled for radio from which he made enough money to build his house apart from raising his family.

    He loved his job but he also has quite a few regrets. The youth, he said, do not want to learn a trade; they want quick cash. Pa Uchendu is also troubled by one consequence of the Nigeria-Biafra War, which claimed one of his sons who would have taken over from him on retirement.

    He spoke to The Nation at his country home, having officially retired as a radio ‘mechanic’ last year after over 60 years in the vocation which he practised from Warri now in Delta State to Nkwo Alor Market, his hometown.

    With five male children, a female and grandchildren, and living in his own house, Uchendu ordinarily should be a happy man but that is not the case.

    The man, who put his age at not less than 100, said his greatest regret was that nobody stepped into his shoes as he vacated his workshop at Nkwo Alor Market, where he plied his trade for decades.

    According to him, youths of the area were not interested in such trade, because they want quick money. Unfortunately, the one that would have succeeded him was killed in the 30-month civil war.

    The centenarian sobbed as he narrated that the workshop that provided food and shelter for him and his family as well as fetched him fame, especially within their locality, has been taken over by a patent medicine dealer, while his tools idled away since last year when he retired after his wife died.

    He said, “It is a long story. It all started before the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in Warri now Delta State. I started as a bicycle repairman, and then diversified into repair of watches including all kinds of wall clocks before adding radio.

    “I came back and established at my hometown Alor, when the war started. And even when the war was raging, I was busy practising my trade. I did not fight during the war because I was above the age needed for recruitment into the army. They were recruiting the younger ones. Besides, the federal troops did not enter Alor Town. Many came to take refuge in Alor. God really saved my community because that time, the federal troops were desperate to enter Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka  Odumegwu Ojukwu’s hometown through Alor but they could not do that before the war ended. So, I was busy doing my business.”

    How did modern technology affect your business as a radio repairer?

    That did not affect me at all. My customers were still coming because you know many people were and are still using radio sets not minding the ones they have in their phones. It did not affect me in any way.

    How many people did you bring up in this trade?

    When I was in Warri, I trained people from Nkpor and Aguleri, although the one from Aguleri didn’t survive the war. The other one is alive but he lives in the north. The number of people I trained is up to 10 but they are scattered here and there. There is another one from Ukwuani in Delta State.

    Did you receive any formal training to be a radio repairer?

    There was a man who I understudied, so to say. The fact is that I have a very sharp brain. I easily catch up with anything I come in contact with. So, I learnt from one man in Warri. I did not even go to school the way you are going today. I attended night school. But I know I’m very intelligent.

    Is there anyone to continue from where you have stopped in this line of trade?

    It is unfortunate that our people don’t like to learn trade. Everybody wants to start big and make it big even some without working for the fortune. I trained someone in my community but he died during the civil war. So, it is difficult to have a replacement because many people do not see the trade as something that could sustain them for life. That is the product of jet and computer age.

    What gives you happiness in life?

    I felt happy when people brought their items for repair and I was able to repair them to the satisfaction of the clients. I felt very happy at that moment. That gave me job satisfaction.

    Could you give an insight into how you lived as a youth?

    I was very careful in my youthful days. I was not a womaniser, I was not a drunkard or into rough life. Boys of this generation run after women and that ruins them. In my own time as a youth, I did not know women.

    I remember what happened in Warri when I was a bachelor. There was this lady who used to call me her husband wherever she saw me. One day I went to church and came back to go where we normally played an indoor game, draught. It was my apprentice who was at home. So, my boy said the lady came looking for me. She took her bath in my home and went to rest on my bed and then left after a while. When my boy told me that, I had to gather all my beddings and burnt them; that tells you my attitude to women in my youth.

    As for drinks, I managed to take that local gin, (kai kai), for some time and gave it up without anybody asking me to do so. If I went to a bar, I could request for a bottle of palm wine which I hardly finished. But there was a day I became drunk. That day my bed was turning upside down. That was the first and last day I was drunk in my life.

    What’s your advice to youths of this generation?

    They should know God. They should have the fear of God in them. It is unfortunate that many youths these days do not have fear of God in their doings. They do everything with impunity as if there is no God. But God records every activity of man and will pay back accordingly. They should start with God and end with Him in anything they do in life, if they want to succeed.

  • Anambra community raises alarm over N1m burial levy

    Indigenes of Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state have raised alarm over high cost of burial in the area.

    They accused the leadership of the town of imposing a burial levy of N1million on every bereaved family as a prerequisite for commencement of funeral arrangements of their loved ones.

    Addressing newsmen in Awka, on Tuesday, some stakeholders in the community led by Chief Felix Okafor and Emeka Akukwe, said bodies of their loved ones spent months in morgues due the inability of the family members to raise the compulsory levy.

    “As soon as the leadership of the town came on board about three years ago, they imposed a burial levy of N1million on every bereaved family in the community before they can commence funeral arrangements of their loved ones.

    “This ugly development have  forced many to abandon their loved ones in mortuaries for months until they can raise money to pay for the levy,” their bemoaned.

    The stakeholders who also accused the leadership of demanding a compulsory levy of N1million to the town union before commencement of any building in the community, said failure to comply to the directive attracted attacks by thugs.

    Read Also: Woman murdered in Anambra

    Describing as bondage the ugly situation members of the community has found themselves.

    Akukwe said, “It was these anomalies that informed my decision to offer myself as a candidate in the June 30 town union election in the area to liberate my people from the yoke”.

    He however noted that the election was rigged by what he called “anti-democratic forces” in the community who he alleged manipulated the electoral processes in their favour.

    Akukwe called for the immediate intervention of the state governor, Willie Obiano, in order to liberate the people of the area and offer them desirable leadership to avert any imminent crises.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the President General of the community, Mr. Titus Akpudo was unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off, while text message sent to him was not replied as at the time of filling this report.

  • Anambra Police arrest six-man robbery syndicate

    The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a six-man robbery syndicate at Oba in Idemili South local government area of the State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State, Haruna Mohammed, who disclosed this in Awka, said the suspects were arrested on June 29, 2018, at about 4.30pm following intelligence report.

    He said suspects intercepted a trailer loaded with Dangote cement along Onitsha/Owerri road on June 9, 2018 at about 3.30am, carting the entire cements in the trailer.

    “At about 1630hrs, following intelligence report, Police operatives attached to the command special Anti-robbery squad (FSARS) arrested the following syndicate, Obinna Ibeh (24), Edwin Chibuzor (24), Orji Onyema (26) and Friday Nwankwo (23),” he said.

    Mohammed said further investigation led to the arrest of the two receivers of the stolen goods, namely Onuchukwu Chinedu (36) and Eze Levi (38).

    Read Also: Five arrested for ‘fund diversion’ in Anambra

    While revealing that some exhibits were recovered from the suspects, the PPRO assured that they would be charged to court for prosecution after investigation were concluded.

    Similarly, a 24-year old man was arrested by Police Patrol team while on routine patrol around 1.35am at Nodu village, Okpuno in Awka South local government area of the state.

    The Police spokesperson said the suspect, Chigozie Nwankwo James, was intercepted in a Tricycle popularly known as keke, with registration number Awka 820 QT.

    “Following a search on the tricycle, Two pump Action guns with breech Numbers HV 942110 and 9041  Makes Maverick and Master magnum respectively, were recovered,” he said.

    He said the suspect was assisting the Police with useful information that would lead to the arrest of his accomplices.

  • Okada ban: Over 1000 “thieves” to lose jobs in Anambra, says Commissioner

    No fewer than 1000 “thieves” would lose their jobs following the ban on the use of commercial motorcycles popularly called keke in Awka and Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The state commissioner for transport, Mr Uchenna Okafor, who disclosed this yesterday in a chat with newsmen, linked the increase in handbag snatching in the state to some of the motorcyclists who he referred to as criminals.

    “It is not in doubt that some of these Okada operators are criminals. They are the people snatching bags from women and students. With this ban, over 1000 thieves will leave the state because they have lost their jobs,” Okafor said.

    The commissioner, who described the ban as total, further revealed that the army and police officers in the state were barred them from riding motorcycles in the two affected states.

    He said the measure was to enable the government enforce the ban in those areas.

    Read Also: Teenage girl raped to death in Anambra

    “The ban on motorcycle operators is total. There will be no exceptions. We’ve met with the police and army authorities, and made it clear that their personnel won’t be allowed to ride motorcycles in the areas affected by the ban.

    “We are not exempting anybody. It’s total and comprehensive. By July 1, no Okada will be seen in any road in Awka and Onitsha areas.

    He said the governor had ordered over 1000 shuttle buses from Japan to cushion the effect of the ban on ” genuine motorcycle operators” in Awka and Onitsha.

  • IPOB: Court grants bail to Kanu’s co-defendants

    Cautions them against engaging in rallies, press interviews

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to four men charged with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu with the offence of  treasonable felony.

    Those granted bail are IPOB’s National Coordinator, Bright Chimezie; suspected  members of the group, Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Benjamin Madubugwu; and a former Field Maintenance Engineer seconded to the telecommunication company, MTN, David Nwawuisi.

    Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling on their bail application, agreed to allow them on bail on grounds of ill health and the number of years they had spent in detention awaiting trial.

    The judge said the defendants had spent an average of three years in custody when the maximum penalty for the offences they were charged with, if convicted, ranged from five to seven years.

    Justice Nyako observed that Chimezie had earlier been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Uyo in May 2017 but the Department of State Service which was then holding him in custody refused to release him.

    The judge said Section 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 made bail a right of every defendant unless the prosecution was able to prove why the defendant was not entitled to bail.

    She: “Taking all these into consideration consideration, I have not seen any reason why I should not grant bail to the defendants.”

    The judge attached to the bail granted the four defendants conditions similar to the ones she attached to the bail granted Kanu in April last year.

    He restrained them from granting any press interview, participating in any form of rally or found in the gathering of people.

    Read Also: Police return Kanu’s stolen $11,000

    In addition, Justice Nyako ordered them to produce two sureties each, for whom the cash sum of N10m should be deposited in the court’s account.

    The judge equally ordered them to deposit their passports with the court registry and must not travel out the country without the court’s permission.

    She ordered the defendants to report to the Commissioners of Police in their various states of residence every two weeks.

    The judge further ordered Chimezie to report to the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State; Onwudiwe and Nwasuisi to the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State and Madubugwu to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State.

    The judge said, “Let me warn you. There should be no gather, no welcome oyoyo (a reference to a welcome party).

    “Just take care of your health, spend time with your family. Don’t travel outside the country without the court’s permission. No press interview of any form.”

    Justice Nyako rejected the plea by Chimezie’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who also stands as Kanu’s lawyer, to substitute the requirement for cash  deposit with the signing of bail bond worth the same amount.

    Ejiofor had expressed  concern that it would be difficult for his client and other defendants to get N20m cash each.

    The judge however modified the condition to  allow the defendants to be released pending when they would get the cash.

    Justice Nyako added that she would impose another condition to guarantee that they would deposit the cash in the court’s account after being released.

    The judge adjourned to November 14 for the continuation of trial.

  • Woman murdered in Anambra

    A 30-year old woman was reportedly found dead opposite Saint Mary Catholic Church, Obieze village, Ifitedunu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State.

    The deceased, identified as Chinyere Okoli, was suspected to have been strangled to death by unidentified persons who abandoned her in the pool of her blood.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed (PPRO), confirmed the incident, saying the police was alerted by the brother to the deceased, Thankgod Okoli.

    Read Also: Teenage girl raped to death in Anambra

    He said the body of the deceased was almost decomposing with rag suspected to be used in committing the murder tied round her neck when the police arrived the scene.

    “Police detectives attached to Dunokofia division went to the scene, met the body of the deceased almost decomposing with rag tied round her neck suspected to be used in committing the murder,” he said.

    According to him, the corpse was later deposited at the Enugu Ukwu General Hospital mortuary for autopsy after it was certified dead by a medical doctor.

    Mohammed further disclosed that the case was under investigation, assuring that efforts were being intensified to apprehend fleeing suspects.

  • Umahi condemns renaming of Abakaliki street by Anambra govt

    Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum David Umahi, has condemned the alleged renaming of Abakaliki street in Awka, the Anambra State capital by the state government.

    The governor made his feelings known in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Emmanuel Uzor after the renaming of the street to ‘Club Street’ caused uproar on the social media.

    The governor while calling on the people to remain calm said he has contacted his Anambra counterpart, Willie Obiano with the aim of getting him to correct the action.

    Ebonyi and Anambra are in the Southeast region of the country together with Imo, Abịa and Enugu states which are predominantly Igbo speaking states.

    Read Also:Umahi suspends solid minerals development commissioner

    Umahi who noted that Mr. Obiano has every constitutional right to rename any structure,  be it road or any other infrastructure,  however pointed out that “in doing so,  what should come to mind should be the unity and perpetuation of legacies and sustenance of the sacred thing that holds us together as a people”.

    “While he condemns in its  entirety, Umahi has put everything in place to ensure that Chief Willie Obiano reverses the action of bringing back the Abakaliki street,  a name gazetted long time ago in the spirit of oneness in Igbo land”, said Mr Uzor.

    “There should be no part of Igbo land that should be discriminated upon. Ebonyi State has received the highest discrimination even from among her brother states and this is not healthy especially as we fight to unite our people and form formidable economic and political blocs”.

    “The Governor has put a call through to his brother Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on how best to resolve the conflict of interest especially as regards the social media claims that the street was taken away from Abakaliki people because they are not qualified to answer such name of a major street in Awka”

  • Mob kills alleged car snatcher in Anambra

    …police recover car, warn against unlawful acts 

     

    Irate mob numbering over 100 on Thursday night descended and kill a suspected car snatcher after a burial ceremony in Umudike village Ukpor, Nnewi south local government area of Anambra State.

    The state police command on Friday condemned the action of the mob, and warned the public to desist from taking laws into their hands.

    Confirming the incident on Friday to reporters in Awka, the state police public relation’s officer PPRO, Mr Haruna Mohammed, said the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary.

    He said the owner of the milk coloured Honda CRV Jeep, with registration number KJA-224-BJ, one Ifeanyi Obijiaku had raised the alarm that an unidentified person was driving his car before the mob descended on him.

    Read Also: Anambra Federal college gets provost

    He said they beat him to coma before the police patrol team attached to Ukpor Division arrived the scene and took the victim to Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital Nnewi, where he was confirmed dead.

    Haruna confirmed the owner of the car reported the incident to the police around 6.30pm, while he was beaten by the mob about 7.30pm.

    He said the identity of the deceased was yet to be ascertained,while the stolen vehicle and the fabricated master key had been recovered by the police.

    Meanwhile, the command had vowed to apprehend the perpetrators of of the ugly incident that took the life of another in such a crude manner, adding investigation of the case still on going

    According to him, “finally, the command has condemned in strongest terms actions of the public against taking laws into their hands and is determined to fish out perpetrators of this ugly incident in order to bring them to justice”

  • Chinese scholarship for 47 students

    Forty-seven students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka in Anambra State, have been offered scholarship by the government of China through its October 1st Chinese Ambassador Scholarship Award Ceremony.

    The beneficiaries were presented with N100,000 cash each by the officials of Chinese embassy, led by Charge d’ Affaires to Nigeria, Lin Jing, at the school auditorium.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, described the gesture as “remarkable in the annals of the university”, explaining that the beneficiaries were indigent students who put up best performance in their courses of study. According to the VC, the beneficiaries were students studying courses, including vocational education, technical education and entrepreneurial studies.

    Prof Ahaneku disclosed that it was the first time Chinese government would give scholarship to students of the university studying locally. He pointed out that over 200 students of the university are pursuing higher degrees in different universities in China through similar grant by the Chinese embassy. The VC thanked the Chinese government for its special interest in the university, expressing optimism that the partnership would grow in strengths.

    Jing, who represented the Chinese ambassador at the event, said UNIZIK had special attraction to China because of the establishment of Confucius Institute in 2008, which, he said, had opened a window of mutual opportunities for Nigeria and China.

    The scholarship, Jing said, was initiated to mark the Chinese National Day, which fell on October 1. He added that the embassy chose 47 beneficiaries to represent 47 years of diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and China.

    He urged the beneficiaries to be ambassadors of the two countries, while expressing gratitude to the university for promoting Chinese values through higher education.

  • Anambra delegation understudies Lagos counterpart

    A delegation of environmentalists from Anambra State has praised the “greening initiative” of the Lagos State Government

    Members of the team, led by Anambra State Leisure Parks & Street Beautification Managing Director, Mrs. Ify Atogu, said they were highly impressed with what they saw in the state.

    Atogu spoke as the delegation concluded a week-long tour of Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK). The visit was to understudy LASPARK’s activities. The delegation also joined its host in planting trees.

    Atogu said the tour was at the instance of Governor Willy Obiano, who directed them to come and study the way Lagos was beautifying its environment with a view to replicate same in Anambra, and improve the performance of their agency. She described Obiano as a man “with open mind to development; lover of beautiful environment”.

    Atogu,  who joined the LASPARK crew in its tree planting exercise in Imota Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu Division, Lagos with her team, said she had learnt so much from LASPARK, especially in the workers’ commitment and passion for the job. She promised to take the experience home and encourage her workers to imbibe same.

    The Imota tree planting exercise was part of the LASPARK’s tree planting initiative to aid the actualisation of the agency’s set target of planting 10 million trees in the state by 2020.

    The exercise, which was led by the Agency’s General Manager, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, said the event is part of the activities to usher in the annual tree planting campaign holding next month.

    She explained that the choice of Imota Local Council Development Area for the exercise was borne out of the fact that the area had been a strategic partner in the cause of propagating the culture of tree planting in the state. The LASPARK chief said the same exercise had been successfully launched in Ikeja and Epe divisions, adding that it is also to ensure that the local community takes active part in the state greening programme.

    “This project is vital to our collective survival because trees are life, therefore, the life of every tree planted in this community today counts. We must own them and see them as means to an end,” she said. According to her, the exercise was also in line with the millenium development goals (MDG 7), aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability.

    She noted some of the importance of planting trees to include oxygen production; balancing of eco-system; reducing the effect of flash floods; filtration, as trees absorbs and reduces pollutants, provides amenity, aesthetic value and historical continuity. Trees also increase the value of properties and undeveloped land by more than 30 percent.

    Adebiyi-Abiola therefore, urged  Imota community to take the survival of the trees as a challenge in order to ensure that all the ”efforts of today do not amount to futility’.

    Imota Local Council Development Area Chairman, Wasiu Agoro, assured the Agency that ‘all the trees planted will survive and animals will not eat them”.   He said the founders of the community knew the importance of trees; hence, it has become trans-generational to preserve tress in the community.

    The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) zonal co-ordinator,  who represented the state co-ordinator, Mr. Charles Obiakolo, urged all Corps members within Ikorodu, especially Imota to protect the trees.

    While the Babaloja of Imota market appreciated the agency for choosing the community for the exercise and promised the co-operation and protection of the trees by all members, the Iyaloja of Imota market, Mrs Saidat Taiwo also commended the agency for the exercise and assured the agency that trees planted within the community will be well protected till maturity.