The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • Awka: Residents say democracy has come to stay in Nigeria

    Some residents of Awka, Anambra State said on Tuesday that democracy has taken root in the country.

    The residents said this in interviews with our reporters as the country marked its 19th democracy anniversary.

    Among them, Chief Romanus Obi, State lawmaker representing Orumba North constituency said steady progress towards attaining democracy had been maintained in the period.

    Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) however, said that nothing much had been done in terms of fighting erosion in zones threatened by the menace.

    “People of Orumba North will experience democracy when the gruesome erosion sites in the area are addressed by the Federal government,” he said.

    He said that political development was yet to be achieved in the country in general as most politicians still see the game of politics as a “do or die affair”.

    “We still need to acquire skills that will make us see political governance as a dedicated service to the generality of the people and not just an avenue of wealth amassing,” he said.

    Read Also: Refugees in Akwa Ibom seek help

    He urged politicians in his locality to shun politics of character assassination but to work towards the peace and progress of the area.

    On her part, member representing APGA, Orumba South constituency, Miss Nikky Ugochukwu called on the Federal government to reciprocate the contributions made by well-meaning citizens of the area by upgrading the Federal College of Education Technical, Umunze to a university.

    The traditional ruler of Isiagu community in Awka South Local Government Area, Igwe Augustine Nwankwo said that the worst form of democracy remained a better option to autocracy and or military rule.

    Nwankwo said that democracy had allowed Nigerians avenues to express themselves freely and even challenged some policies of government in the court of law.

    ‘It is the beauty of democracy which is unequalled,” he said.

    He said that the agitations for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation was made possible by democracy, adding that the onus was on the federal government to heed the voice of the people

    Nwankwo said that there was need for the government to convene a constitutional review conference that would restructure the country to suit the interest of her diverse ethnic groups.

    He urged government at all levels to add value to the lives of the people through the provision of infrastructure.

    Other residents of the state including Chief Chiadi Chalas commended the Nigerians and political leadership for the country’s uninterrupted democracy for 19 years.

    Mr Christian Beluchukwu an Awka resident also called for a review of the country’s constitution to allow the different components in the country to develop at their own pace for lasting peace in the country.

    NAN

     

  • Anambra begins enforcement of ban on street trading

    The Anambra State Government has commenced enforcement of the ban on street trading in urban and semi urban areas of  the state.

    The enforcement started with the pulling down of what it called illegal structures creating obstruction to human and vehicular movement.

    Speaking with journalists in Awka on Thursday,  the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mike Okonkwo, warned that defaulters were liable  to pay  a fine of N10,000 and two weeks imprisonment for each offence on conviction.

    He said the government enforcement unit drawn from the Ministry of Environment had  been briefed  on its schedule of duty and urged  residents  to cooperate with it.

    Okonkwo said the team would tackle filthy, obstructive and dirty environment, adding   that the operation  would  focus on major cities such as Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi.

    He said that government had given the affected roadside traders  a long notice to vacate their structures.

    NAN

  • DSS seeks collaboration with tertiary institutions to achieve peace

    The Anambra state Director, Department of state Services DSS, Mr Yusuf Isyaku, has called on tertiary  institutions in the country to collaborate with  security agencies to achieve lasting peace.
    He spoke at the weekend in Awka, when he received the Management team of the Federal Polytechnic OKO, led by it’s new Acting Rector, Dr izuchukwu Onu.
    He  said the collaboration between tertiary institutions and government security organisations was imperative for the realization of security and peace in the country.
    However, he hinted that his office was particularly happy with the level of peace and security at the Federal Polytechnic Oko and would continue to partner with the management to sustain the tempo.
    Isyaku maintained that the Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, should be hailed for providing the condusive atmosphere in the state.
    He said Obiano was passionate about security and peace in the state, while urging the management of the polytechnic to share in the governor’s vision.
    He assured his visitors that his office would continue to support the institution in her drive to continue to make the institution secure and peaceful for learning.
    According to isyaku, “Federal Poly Oko is doing well in security and we will always support you’’.
     While briefing the DSS boss, the Acting Rector,  of the institution, Dr Izuchukwu Onu,said the familiarization visit was to appreciate the DSS for their supportive role in efficient security services in the polytechnic.
    He said,the school had zero tolerance to crime and any form of criminality,  adding that the visit was to consolidate the relationship between the institution and DSS in the state.
    Onu, and his entire, also visited Mr Sunday Ajayi, the Anambra State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission FRSC,where he solicited for such support.
    Ajayi, assured them of their preparedness to ensure that road users abide by the road safety codes to reducing crashes on the ways, especially in OKO.
    Onu, had  appealed to the FRSC Commander,  to help sensitize motorists plying roads leading to the institution to abide by safety code.
    Ajayi said,  “FRSC is willing to partner the polytechnic to further build the capacity of drivers of the school’’

  • Three kidnapped on Ondo road

    Kidnappers seek N5m ransom

     

    Deplorable situation of Akoko roads in the Northern District of Ondo state is aiding incessant robberies and kidnappings in the area.

    Roads like Owo-Ikare, Ise-Isua, Ipele-Idoani – Isua-Akunu- Auga have recorded such crimes due to its state of disrepair as potholes and gully erosion paved for armed robbers and gunmen to strike with impunity regularly.

    Last weekend, there were reports of kidnapping and robbery in two different locations in the area.

    ‘The Nation’ learnt that a commercial bus going to Onitsha from Ikare-Akoko around 5.am was robbed between the almost impassable Ise-Isua-Akoko road where substantial cash and personal belongings of the travellers mostly traders were seized.

    Sources said three of them were abducted and dragged into the bush.

    Two of the victims reportedly bolted out, after which one was reportedly shot at close range by the gunmen.

    He was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko.

    However, due to the ongoing joint medical workers strike at the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Owo,the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the State Hospital, Ikare-Akoko, Dr Wale Oguntuase refereed  the victim to University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo state.

    The second victim,a youth corps member serving in Anambra state, according to the Divisional Police Officer(DPO) lsua-Akoko,  Abiodun Ojediran trekked the bush for hours before he got to Ikakumo in Edo state.

    Similar incident happened around 4 pm on Saturday after APC ward congress between Ayegunle-Oka and Oba Akoko along the busy Owo-Ikare-Abuja road.

    It was learnt that the gunmen utilized the failed portion near Oba-Akoko to perpetrate the acts.

    An unsuspected commercial bus driver coming from Oturkpo,Benue state to Lagos came down to ease himself when the gunmen came out of their permanent hide-out near Oba-Akoko, where eminent people including Traditional rulers, Regent, Catholic Priests among others had been abducted in the past and kidnapped him.

    They eventually left his passengers inside the vehicle to remain stranded.

    The DPO, Oba-Akoko, Olakunle Fabolude said his men had swung into action to rescue the driver.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers were asking for N5m ransom from his family.

    The Police Area Commander for Akoko, ACP Razak Rauf assured that those abducted would be rescued alive by the police.

    According to him, all bushes and jungles are being combed by his men to arrest the culprits.

    A community leader in Ayegunle, Oka-Akoko,Gabriel Ariyo urged the Minister of Works ,Raji Fashola to dialogue with President Mohammed Buhari on how to fix the deplorable Owo-Ikare-Ibilo road, stressing that Akoko is the gate way to Ondo state from all parts of the country.

  • Ozubulu killings: ‘killers threaten to attack four more families’

    One of the witnesses in the Ozubulu Church killings in Anambra state, Chukwuemeka Obi, Friday told the court in Awka, Anambra state that those who masterminded the killings have threatened to carry out more attacks in four families in the community.

    Not only that, he also told the court that they equally threatened to carry out such attacks on other members of the community based in South Africa and Brazil.

    The revelation came at the Nnewi High court now sitting in Awka because of threats on witnesses, which is being presided over by Justice F I Aniukwu.

    It would be recalled that on August 6, 2017 unknown gun men stormed Saint Philip’s Catholic Church Amakwa Ozubulu and killed 13 persons, while 29 others were seriously injured.

    Obi, who was a witness from Johannesburg, South Africa,  revealed the threats by the suspects as  he was being led in evidence in Chief by his lawyer, Jay Jay Ezeuko SAN.

    According to him, “The killers have threatened to kill my father in Ozubulu, attack four families in Ozubulu; kill my younger brother who is living in Brazil and myself who is living in South Africa”

    “They are demanding one million dollars from us or they will wipe all us. We have been receiving strange phone calls from these people”

    “They accused me of being a betrayer because on one occasion, I traveled with Bishop (Aloysius Ikegwuonu) from South Africa to Nigeria; rode in his (Bishop’s) car from Lagos to Ozubulu”

    The witness further alleged that one of the suspects, Chinedu Akpunonu, who was equally standing trial in the matter, was working with two persons he called Gozila and Afam

    Both suspects, he said, were in jail in South African prison to terrorize the people of Ozubulu at home and abroad.

    Also Emeka Nzelu, another witness based in South Africa, told the court that another suspect standing trial in the case,  Onyebuchi Mbanefo, called him on phone  and threatened to deal with “bishop”(Aloysius Ikegwuonwu)  for abandoning him when he needed his help.

    According to Nzelu , “Mbanefo told me that he would now join forces with Akpunonu to deal with bishop for failing to assist him to foot his bill for bullet wound surgery, despite the fact that it was because of bishop that he sustained the wound”

    “He refused to accept all appeals I made to him to forgive bishop (ikegeuonwu)

    Asked by Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, who is the defence counsel, whether he reported that such threat to the police in South Africa or Nigeria, Nzelu answered in the negative.

    Rather, he said he reported the matter to the chairman of Ozubulu Development Union O D U in South Africa.

    However, after listening to the witnesses and their Counsels, the trial judge, Justice Aniukwu refused bail application for the four suspects standing trial in the August 6 killings.

    The Judge in his ruling said the risk of releasing the suspects outweighed their freedom.

    The Justice said, the suspects did not prove exceptional circumstance to warrant their bail.

    The suspects had stated in their bail application that they were innocent of the charges against them

    They maintained that before the law they remained innocent and entitled to bail.

    They also stated that they had health conditions that the prison health facilities could not handle.

    Agreeing that ill health was a ground to grant suspects bail in criminal matters, the judge said in his thinking since the prosecution was handling the matter expeditiously, it was better to keep the suspects intact to face their case than risking granting them bail where they might abandon the case or jump bail.

    Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Festus Keyamo, after the session, told reporters that he had got the brief of his clients to go on interlocutory appeal on the bail.

    The presiding judge, Justice Aniukwu, adjourned the matter to May 16th and 25th, June 8th and 22nd; and July 6 for continuation.

    Read Also: Ozubulu killings: Nnewi court relocates to Awka over death threats

  • ‘Policemen’ kidnap, extort businessman in broad daylight

    A Benin City based businessman, Uche Ezedike on Monday relived his horrible encounter with some patrol policemen at Onitsha, Anambra State, who kidnapped, extorted him of N130,000.

    Ezedike said the policemen, numbering about five, had stopped his vehicle around 11:30am at Upper Iweka Bridge, while he and his younger brother were returning to Edo State from their home town in Imo.

    Ezedike said the policemen, who were not fully kitted, flagged down their vehicle, asked where they were headed and where they were coming from, which he answered courteously.

    He said: “I told them we were returning to Benin City from Imo State. One of them demanded to search my boot, which he did and found just our clothes and shoes. “He then asked my occupation and I told him that I am a businessman and that I sell tyres. He said I was lying that I looked like a fraudster and instantly pointed a gun at me and pushed me into my car.

    “He called one of his colleagues to point a gun too at my younger brother, who was on the steering and demanded the car key from my brother. They dragged my younger brother to the back seat, handcuffed us together and sped off into Onitsha town.

    “While one of them took over the steering, the other pointed a gun at my brother and I, who were already handcuffed. The man driving drove for almost 10 minutes. I asked where we were going but he shut me up that I will know when we got to the destination.

    “I became afraid and asked him why he was not taking us to the police station. I was begging them and my younger brother was crying. The driver later stopped on a very lonely road and demanded that I pay them N1,000,000. I told him that I do not have. I continued to beg them and told them that I was rushing to see my pregnant wife, who was to undergo surgery to remove fibroid that was growing alongside the baby in her womb.

    “They threatened to kill my younger brother at the spot if I did not give them the money they asked for. The threat was much that I had to beg them to allow me call my family or friends. They allowed me access to my phone and asked that I put it on speaker, which I did.

    “I called a friend for money, who asked me what was happening but I could not tell him because the one at the back was pointing his gun directly at me. My friend said he had only N30,000. I then called my wife and asked her for money but did not tell her what was happening. She said the only money with her was the money I gave her as deposit for the surgery.

    “The amount was N116,000 in her account, they demanded the money be transferred including the one from my friend. I asked how and one of them said he would call for account. He called and it was a woman’s voice. An account number was sent through his phone and I gave it to my wife through my brother’s Whatsapp. I also sent the account number to my friend.

    “My friend’s N30,000 transfer came in first and within five minutes my wife transferred N100,000 into the same account they gave. Within five minutes again, the woman called and told them she has received alerts

    “They told me that God has saved my brother and I. The one at the steering drove off again and after five minutes, I saw an expressway and they showed us how to go to Benin. They stopped, removed the handcuff and asked my brother to drive off immediately. It was like a dream to me and I imagined what other people might have passed through.”

    Contacted, spokesperson for Anambra State Police Command, Nkiru Nwude appealed to the victim to report officially at the police division where the incident occurred so that an investigation can commence.

    Nwude said: “I am not aware of this case. I do not think it was officially reported at a police station. It is an allegation and it would be wrong for me to say the culprits are policemen or not. But I can tell you that cases of indiscipline by our operatives have reduced since Commissioner of Police Garba Umar took over.

    :The best thing at the moment is for the victims to report officially so that investigation can commence. Since there was a bank transaction, tracking the culprits would be a lot easier.”

  • CSOs urge eligible voters in Anambra to register with INEC

    Civil Society Organisations ( CSOs ) have called on eligible voters in Anambra to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) before the end of the current phase of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    The groups made the call in Awka during a one-day sensitisation workshop on Electoral Participation for youths on Sunday.

    Mrs Chioma Okeke, Coordinator, Shoulder for Gender Support and Development Initiative, decried the level of political apathy in Anambra and the South-East.

    Okeke called on the participants, mostly youths, to avail themselves with the window provided by the ongoing CVR and register.

    She said some of the identified challenges in registration of voters in Anambra include: absence of INEC registration officials at advertised venues, alleged extortion of those wishing to register by officials and non collection of Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ).

    “INEC has to do more to cover eligible voters in the ongoing registration process, while in some places, efforts are made to register people even up to going to their houses, here people go to designated places and the officials are not there,” she said.

    On his part, Mr Chukwuma Chukwura, Coordinator of Kingsfaith Development and Youth Empowerment Initiative, expressed concern that people could not take time off their daily routine to register or collect their PVCs at INEC office.

    He said the number of eligible voters said to have registered in Anambra was a far cry from the population of voters in the state.

    “It is a serious source of worry for us how our youths behave when it comes to politics.

    “They are very active on social media , posting all sort of things about Nigeria and some individuals but in practice, they are not doing anything; common registering to vote, they will not, for those that manage to register, go and get your PVC, no way.

    “Worse still, on the day of election you see them playing football and drinking at joints because they feel it is not their business, that is why very small per cent of them voted in the last governorship election in Anambra.

    “What we are saying is that INEC, the political class and communities should encourage those who have not registered to do so before the time is up,” he said.

    Addressing the participants, Mr Leo Nkedife, Head, Public Relations Department of INEC in Anambra , corroborated the CSOs’ observation that the turnout of people in the state for the CVR was poor.

    Nkedife urged the people to take advantage of the exercise to register, saying that registration was free.

    He urged the people to report any of the commission’s official(s) who demanded money before registering them.

    Nkedife disclosed that only 22 per cent of the 2.15 million voters in Anambra participated in the Nov. 18, 2107 governorship election, and that over 142,000 PVCs were still awaiting collection at the INEC office in the state.

    He said INEC had greatly improved in the conduct of elections as people’s votes now count.

    Prof Collins Okafor of the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, blamed the political apathy among the people on lack of confidence in the Nigerian electoral process.

    Okafor said apathy include; refusal to register, refusal to belong to a political party, refusal to vote and refusal to protest against rigging and other electoral malpractice.

    He said those who did not participate in politics contributed more to the political and economic crisis in the country.

    NAN

  • Anambra adds 16 new schools to feeding Programme

    The Anambra Government has concluded plans to extend the school feeding programme to the 16 new public schools established by Governor Willie Obiano in the last four years.

    Chief Olisah Nzemeka, Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), told our reporters in Awka on Friday that the schools, comprising 15 primary schools, and one model secondary school, are located in Anambra West, Ogbaru, Nnewi North and other parts of the state.

    He described the implementation of the school feeding programme in Anambra as effective and successful, adding that there had been tremendous improvement on enrollment level.

    Read Also: Battle for Anambra Government House

    He said: “We have directed our vendors to ensure that pupils in these schools are covered in the school feeding programme.

    “School enrollment has been high as always, I can’t say exactly if it is because of the school feeding programme or our natural disposition to western education, but the programme has been tremendously successful here,” he said.

    Nzemeka warned that ASUBEB would not waste time to sanction vendors who did not meet the standard set for the programme.

     

  • Anambra to establish Sports Commission – Commissioner

    The Anambra  State Government on Friday said it would establish a Sports Commission to manage and drive sports in the state.

    Mr Bonaventure Enemali, the Commissioner for Ministry of Youths Empowerment and Creative Economy in the state, made the disclosure in an interview with our reporters in Awka.

    The ministry until March 18, when Gov. Willie Obiano was sworn-in for a second term, was known as Ministry of Youth Entrepreneurship and Sports Development.

    The change of nomenclature makes sports to lose its status as an independent ministry in the state.

    Enemali said the development would enable sports to enjoy full attention from technocrats and administrators, and insulate it from the bureaucracy of civil service.

    “We are going to create a Sports Commission to handle all those things that pertains to sports more robustly than seen under the ministry.

    “The Sports Commission will be responsible solely for sports because under the ministry arrangement, sports is fused with many other things.

    “We shall still be having competitions, capacity building for coaches and training of athletes and facilities, its’ a very good decision.

    “There shall be massive investment in sports facilities through Public Private Partnership, we hope to build a sports stadium that will not only serve for football but all other games,’’ he said.

    Enemali said the new ministry had the mandate to ensure that the state bring out the best in the Anambra youths and empower them for economic independence.

    He said the government would explore opportunities in the film, agriculture and technology industries to empower the youth, adding that sports was a creative endeavor and would not be left out in the scheme of things.

    “This is to complement what the governor is doing on security because economic independence will curb youth restiveness, lessen corruption and reduce criminality.

    “Sports is part of what we do here because, it is creativity; we are going to develop the youth in line with their skills and talents.

    “We have already started, the Youth Economy and Creative Council has been inaugurated to serve as a think-tank to develop the blueprint and implement the ideas.

    “The programme will centre on film industry, agriculture and entrepreneurship, so, it will create film academy and technological hubs across the senatorial zones of the state,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • ICPC to monitor erring staff of federal institutions in Nigeria

    …inaugrates office in Okopoly in Anambra

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission ICPC, says it is set to checking and bringing to book erring staff of federal institutions in the country.

    The Commission spoke at the weekend  in the federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State,  while inaugurating the Anti-Corruption and Transparent Unit ACTU in the institution

    The Anti-graft agency was led to the occasion by the deputy Supritendent in the South East,, Dennis Okoro, with its resource person,  Mr Ikeolu Chukwuma.

    Chukwuma,the resource person in  his short presentation, advised institutions in the land to appoint credible persons in sensitive positions, especially where it involves finances to avoid misappropriation in the schools.

    For Supritendent Okoro, who led the south east team of ICPC to the institution, said their mission was part of the federal government’s decision to stamp out corruption in the institutions at the grassroots.

    He said the office of the Chairman was to last for three years in the institution, adding that ICPC had closely watched the activities of ACTU without any blemish in recent times.

    The newly appointed Acting Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Izuchukwu Onu commended the efforts of the (ICPC) in tackling corruption in tertiary Institutions across the country

    Onu,replaced the former Rector of the institution,  Prof Godwin Onu  in less than  one month now

    The  Acting Rector,noted that corruption had eaten deep into the fabrics of education system in the country,noting that the intervention of ICPC was quite timely and needed maximum support.

    “Education is the most valuable gift any viable nation can have. We need to put in our best to achieve maximum result in order to shape this country in all ramifications”

    “Unfortunately, there are some disappointing situations that had infiltrated and corrupted the system”

    “The intervention of ICPC in establishing and monitoring their outreach centres across institutions is a welcome development. Leaders of Institutions will now be mindful of their activities,”

    “Many countries are at war today because of corruption on the part of their leaders.  Merit is often sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. People who are qualified for certain positions are often denied the opportunity because they have no connection,” Onu said

    Onu charged the newly inaugurated officers to leave no stone unturned in unravelling any questionable situation in his administration and promised to keep a clean slate.

    The new ACTU chairman in the institution, Mrs. Tobechukwu Aniekwe in her inauguration speech tasked her officers to brace up for the work ahead.

    She said, “This is an immense responsibility and special trust for a determination and hard work to enable us plant our footprints in the sand of time”.

    She applauded the ICPC for its efforts in this fight of eradicating corruption in Nigeria, which according to her had remained an unparallel cankerworm eating up the country.