The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • CONJUSS: Anambra Judiciary workers dare Obiano

    CONJUSS: Anambra Judiciary workers dare Obiano

    Anambra State Judiciary workers have told the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano that they will not return to work until they are paid the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, (CONJUSS).

    Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had been on strike in the state for the past two months which had paralyzed activities in all the courts in Anambra State.

    During their rally Wednesday at the judiciary headquarters in Awka, the workers who came from all the 21 local government areas of the state said the condition given by the state government that it would implement the new salary structure when its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, improved was unacceptable to them.

    Chairman of JUSUN, in the state Mr. Mark Ifezue described as unfortunate, a situation whereby the state government attached the implementation of the salary structure to improvement of IGR.

    Furthermore, he argued that the state IGR had more than doubled in the last one year, and questioned where they kept all the money

    Ifezue stated that rather than keep the workers in suspense, government should make it clear what it wanted to pay.

    Again he recalled that the state government promised earlier that it would review their salary once the IGR improved.

    According to him, IGR has improved and government was still tying the welfare of the workers to further improvement of IGR.

    Some of the workers who spoke with The Nation said; “We are demanding our right and we are not concerned about IGR and its improvement. Anybody who is linking the implementation of CONJUSS with IGR is insulting us.

    “Many of our colleagues who retired from the service have become beggars in their villages because their entitlements have not been paid. We do not understand why Anambra State judiciary should be different from that of other states.”

    However, the workers argued that the state’s monthly IGR had increased from about N500 million to over 1.5 billion naira and wondered why the state government was still dragging its feet on the matter.

     

  • Fresh crisis hits PDP in Anambra

    Fresh crisis hits PDP in Anambra

    A fresh crisis has hit the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, despite the congresses conducted by the party last week in the state that produced a new chairman in Prince Ken Emeakayi.

    The Chief Ejike Oguebego faction came up with a subsisting court order Friday, given by the federal High court in Portharcourt in 2013, declaring that status quo antebellum be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

    Also, the faction presented a copy of the letter written by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signed by one Musa Adamu (the secretary to the commission, to (PDP) national chairman, dated 23rd October, 2014 recognising Oguebego and his group as a result of letters of court orders, rulings and consent judgments in which INEC was not a party.

    The letter by INEC was entitled “RE: current status of the leadership of the people’s Democratic Party in Anambra state” which was made available to reporters yesterday in Awka.

    The federal High case was between Ejike Oguebego, chief Gilbert Okoye as PDP chairman and secretary respectively and Hon Chuks Okoye, as legal adviser as plaintiffs, against PDP, Anambra state chapter, INEC, Ogonna .O. Ogonna and Osy Nsugbe (youth leader) as defendants.

    It was in suit no: FHC/PH/CS/213/2013 before Justice I. L Ojukwu, declivered on 31st day of May 2013 and Justice S A Aliyu delivered his own on 22nd day of August, 2013.

    The plaintiffs had prayed the court for interlocutory injunction restraining the 1stdefendant whether by itself, privies, agents, servants assigns or whatever name they may be called from holding out, recognizing, announcing the name of, dealing with or doing anything whatsoever through Ken Emeakayi as he was expelled from the party as the chairman of PDP, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons.

    Also, an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from doing anything with Emeakayi pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons.

    The plaintiffs were represented byJ.T.U Nnodum SAN, while PDP was represented by chief Tagbo Ike and INEC team of lawyers was led by Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN in opposing the application,

    But the court ordered as follows “that parties are hereby ordered to maintain “status quo antebellum” pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter”

    “That the parties especially the 1st and 2nd defendants are hereby ordered to comply and obey the orders of the court delivered on 31st day of May, 2013 by Hon justice I. L Ojukwu and 22nd day of August, 2013 by Hon justice S A Aliyu, forth with”

    “That the 1st and 2nd defendants are hereby ordered to recognize and deal with the plaintiffs in all election matters in Anambra state, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter”

    However, speaking further, Oguebego told reporters that the congress was a nullity, adding that their tenure was still subsisting until the order was vacated.

    Oguebego, further said that their tenure would end in 17th March, 2016, adding that until then, the PDP in the state would start thinking of a fresh ward, local government and state congresses in Anambra state.

  • Boko Haram: Protest paralyses Anambra community

    Boko Haram: Protest paralyses Anambra community

    Activities were paralyzed Tuesday in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state as traders, young and old trooped out to protest the dumping of alleged Boko Haram suspects in the prisons in the area.

    As early as 7.30am, placard carrying protesters, including some clergy and high chiefs and women marched through the Ekwulobia Street to register their grievances.

    All the shops in the Area were under lock and key as security operatives were deployed by the state commissioner of police, Hosea Karma to maintain law and order.

    The chairman of Aguata Local government area, Mr.Tony Umeoji, while speaking with reporters said the transfer of the Boko Haram prisoners to the place was politically motivated.

    He alleged that any attempt to interrupt the development of the South East from Anambra State, would be suicidal.

    According to the council boss; “I must tell you that this development will chase away intending investors to Anambra State, thereby setting back the wheel of progress of the state.

    ‘It is a situation that calls for concern because of the apprehension and restiveness among the people of Ekwulobia.

    “The people are scared and there is a general sense of insecurity in the place right now.

    “The Ekwulobia prison does not have minimum capacity and facility for such high profile inmates.

    “The prison is 80 bedded and there are already 133 in mates and you are adding another 43 in mates of the Boko Haram prisoners. That is too much and not healthy for human being,” he said.

    Also in his own reaction, the member representing Aguata II Constituency in state House of assembly, Ikem Uzoezie appealed to the authorities concerned and President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency relocate the Boko Haram inmates to a prison with maximum capacity and facility.

    He said; “this development calls for concern because the relative peace we have been enjoying has been interrupted.”

    Meanwhile, Uzoezie revealed that when the Assembly reconvenes, it would deliberate on the matter with a view to prevailing on the presidency to redress the issue.

     

  • APGA supports Jonathan, says Obiano

    ANAMBRA State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, yesterday reiterated the support of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 general elections.

    He spoke at the state Government House in Awka, when another none governmental organisation (NGO), under the name of G-7 Patriots International, stormed the Government House yesterday.

    Tagged one million –man match for Jonathan, led by Zeribe Ezeanuna, the group said all they wanted was for the president to declare interest for 2015 election.

    Obiano was represented by his Special Adviser on Administration, Dr. Samuel Nnana.

    Though security operatives did not allow the crowd entry to the seat of power, they were addressed outside the gate by Obiano’s representative.

  • APC informs of 1,973 extra polling units

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has informed voters in Anambra State of the 1,973 extra polling units, in addition to the existing 4,608 in the state, bringing the total to 6,581.

    In a statement in Benin yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said this information became necessary, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had failed to educate voters on the extra polling units – a development that could disenfranchise many voters.

    It said the need to alert voters was heightened by the fact that the extra polling units account for over 800,000 votes.

    “INEC, apparently to facilitate the accreditation and voting process on Saturday, has created these extra polling units from those that have in excess of 500 voters. This action in itself may not have diabolical undertone, especially because the extra polling units are expected to be located within the same place as the original ones and presided over by assistant presiding officers.

    “But in a situation where voters are not aware of this development, there is the risk that some dirty INEC officials could collude with unscrupulous and desperate politicians to move these extra units away from the location of the original ones for secret thumb-printing, thus disenfranchising over 800,000 voters and paving the way for the appropriation of such votes by vote thieves,” APC said.

    The party implored INEC to give the creation of the extra polling units the necessary publicity; alert voters to the fact that the extra units will be at the same location as the original ones; ensure the deployment of adequate officials to man the extra units on Saturday and make sure that enough voting materials are provided for them.

    “INEC must be proactive, because lack of adequate personnel and materials for these extra polling units will create chaos on Election Day. Therefore, adequate personnel must be trained to man the extra units, while voters must be educated so that they won’t be looking for where to vote on Saturday.

    “They must be told that the extra voting unit created from any polling unit will not be taken outside the location of the original one. If the location is different, then something is wrong,” it said.

    APC urged its members and supporters to spread the news of the creation of the extra polling units, as well as the fact that the extra units are located on the same premises as the original ones.

    “Every vote must count on Saturday, and every voter must be allowed to exercise his or her franchise. This is why we enjoin INEC to do everything possible to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised. We also urge voters, especially our members and supporters, to defend their votes,” the party said.

     

  • Obi’s wife woos voters in 14 councils

    Wife of Anambra State Governor Mrs. Margaret Peter Obi yesterday solicited votes from rural women in 14 councils in Anambra South, Anambra Central and Anambra North.

    Speaking in Awka North Local Government, she urged the rural women to vote for the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) candidate, Chief Willie Obiano and his running mate, Dr. Nkem Okeke, on Saturday.

    Mrs. Obi was accompanied by Chief Obiano; Dr. Okeke; the incumbent deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Sibeudu, and the member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Iyom Uche Ekwunife,

    Others are APGA’s Woman Leader Mrs. Nwokedi and the member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Mr. Emeke Nwogbo, among others.

    Mrs Obi described the duo as formidable. She said they have what it takes to continue the transformation agenda her husband started.

    Mrs. Obi remindedAnambra women that they were never abandoned during the eight-year rule of her husband.

    She enjoined them to ensure that their children were not used as thugs and that they should protest anytime anybody was found doing something wrong during the poll.

    Ekwunife, appealed to the women to ensure that APGA was voted into office again, as there was no alternative to the party in Anambra State.

    Nwogbo said with the support and love shown to the people of Awka North and South by the Obi administration, the election would be a walkover for Obiano.

    Mrs. Obi’s campaign train will today move to the remaining seven local governments to solicit votes for the APGA standard-bearer.

  • Candidates shun security debate

    CANDIDATES for the governorship election in Anambra State yesterday shunned a security debate.

    The debate was organised by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Bonangel Ltd, Gallop Polls Ltd and A–Services Ltd and was to hold in Awka, the state capital.

    The Nation learnt that the organisers had to cancel the debate since the candidates did not show up.

    The Local Organising Committee, in a statement by Chief A.O. Chigbo, regretted the inconvenience.

    The organisers gave inability to secure the commitment of the candidates to attend the debate as one of the reasons for cancelling it.

  • Police read riot act to vigilance groups

    Anambra State Police Command yesterday read the riot act to the over 10,000 vigilance groups in the state.

    It said they should disarm three days before the November 16 election.

    Also, the vigilance groups’ members were told not to put on their uniforms or move near the voting centres, unless when casting their votes.

    They were addressed at the Cana House in Awka by the Assistant-Inspector General of Police (AIG) and Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa.

  • Traders warn politicians

    Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, members of the Awka South Amalgamated Traders Union (ASMATU) have warned politicians to stop campaigning in markets.

    This, according to them, is to prevent what happened at the Onitsha Main Market in Awka.

     

  • 25 groups warn against rigging, violence

    Anambra State Youths Coalition, comprising over 25 youth organisations, yesterday warned the parties participating in the November 16 election to eschew violence and rigging.

    They said they would resist attempts by any party to manipulate the election in its favour and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure impartiality in the conduct of the poll.

    They said they have endorsed the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) standard-bearer, Chief Willie Obiano.

    The Coordinator of the coalition and a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi on Special Duties, Mr. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, spoke after their summit in Awka.

    He said they came to the conclusion after looking at the manifestos and candidates of the parties.

    “We are supporting APGA’s candidate, Obiano, having studied his manifesto and credentials. We deliberated and are pitching our tent with him. We agree with Governor Peter Obi that the next governor should come from Anambra North, precisely Omambala, because it has not produced a governor since the creation of Anambra State.”