The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • 2015: ‘Only Obiano, Umeh can deliver Anambra to Jonathan’

    •’Obi’s not JJJ Southeast coordinator’

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Join Jonathan Journey (JJJ), has said only Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, the All Progressives Grand alliance (APGA) National Chairman Victor Umeh and the group can deliver Anambra State to President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections.

    But the group denied the rumour that former Governor Peter Obi had been appointed the President’s campaign coordinator for the Southeast.

    The group’s Chairman Ben Obi addressed reporters yesterday at the JJJ office in Amawbia.

    He said that some people had been boasting that they would deliver for the President Jonathan in Anambra and other Southeast states.

    But Obi said only Obiano had the capacity to ensure the President’s victory in the state.

    He explained that altough the President inaugurated an evaluation and screening committee, Obi’s supposed appointment as the region’s campaign coordinator was unfounded.

    Ben Obi said: “APGA is not just a political party but a movement in Anambra and indeed, Southeast. Soon, we are going to launch JJJ in Imo, Abia and other states in the zone.

    “We have been getting calls from other parts of the country, such as Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara to launch the group, after its successful inauguration in Awka, the Anambra State capital, last Saturday.”

    The group also said Jonathan had done well for Ndigbo, adding that he should be supported for another term.

    It listed the major projects the President had given the Southeast as the Second Niger Bridge and Enugu International Airport, among others.

  • Anambra: Obiano files cross-appeal at Supreme Court

    Anambra: Obiano files cross-appeal at Supreme Court

    •Ngige, APC object

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has filed a cross-appeal at the Supreme Court, disagreeing with aspects of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which ruled in his favour, dismissing four petitions against his election.

    Senator Chris Ngige and All Progressives Congress (APC), whose joint appeal in the Enugu Court was dismissed on the same day with three others, had since appealed at the Supreme Court.

    The five-man panel of the Court  of Appeal, led by Justice Lawal Garba Mohammed, on July 26 dismissed the petition filed by Senator Ngige and the APC.

    In the cross-appeal, Obiano, apprehensive of the issue of qualification to contest as governor, is contending that the Appellate Court ought to have held that the only grounds to determine the issue of qualification for elections are those provided by Secton 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution.

    However, Senator Ngige and his party are contending through the Tribunal, to the Appeal Court and now the Supreme Court that Obiano is not qualified to contest the governoship election , having ‘submitted a forged document to INEC ‘ as part of his prequalification.

     

  • ‘Road completion cardinal to Anambra agriculture revolution’

    The Anambra State Government has assured residents  of quick completion of the ongoing Atani-Ekwusigo road project.

    The Commissioner of Works, Mr Callistus Ilozumba, told  reporters in Atani, near Onitsha, that the road was vital to its Agricultural Transformation Scheme meant to generate employment and boost food production.

    Ilozumba said  the 12-km road would link many farming communities that would participate in the agriculture programme.

    Speaking after inspecting the ongoing project, the commissioner said  three bridges meant for the road had been completed while the work was going on at a good pace.

    “Atani-Ekwusigo road is a focal road for us, especially as it would support the Agricultural Transformation Scheme since in this axis of the state, we have very fertile arable land.

    “It would assist our farmers to get their produce to major markets in Onitsha in order to get good bargain for them as well as help those that would like to buy direct from the farms.

    “It would be a useless venture, if after producing these tonnes of food items there is no good means of transporting them out of here and getting them to the market. “Government would ensure speedy completion of the road which will provide a quicker passage in and out of Onitsha,’’  he said. The commissioner stressed that the road would act as a good alternative by-pass to ease traffic jam at the Upper Iweka axis of the Onitsha-Enugu road. “The road, when completed, would also bring considerable relief to commuters using the Onitsha-Owerri road, as they would easily connect the Niger Bridge to Delta State through the road, instead of contending with the usual traffic jam at Upper Iweka through the Onitsha-Enugu road,’’ he said.Ilozumba thanked the people of Ogbaru council for the support they had given to the state government as well as contractor handling the project.

     

  • Anambra acquires 200,000 hectares for agric

    The Anambra Land Acquisition Committee said it had acquired more than 200,000 hectares of land for the state government’s agricultural transformation scheme.

    The Interim Chairman of the committee, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, said this in an interview in Onitsha.

    He said  the governor, Willie Obiano, was committed to investing massively in agriculture and had gone ahead to procure some of the needed input in furtherance of the scheme.

    “We have just too many lands and more; what is holding us back now is surveyors.

    “We need a lot of surveyors to come and survey the lands that had been given so that we can sign MoU (Memoranda of Understanding) with various communities that have donated land.

    “Because previously these lands were never surveyed. So this is exactly the situation we are in.

    “And by the time we finish surveying, the governor can have hundreds of thousands of hectares of land available for cultivation.

    “We already have more than 200,000 hectares.

    “The governor has just waved his hands and said any land that is donated would be cultivated.

    “He has already been able to secure 150 tractors, 15 million bundles of cassava cuttings and a lot of rice seedlings and fish fingerlings.

    “So, he is ready to invest in agriculture.That is what he had shown.

    “It is not only him investing, he is inviting international investors, local investors to come and he will give them land to bring in whatever they have to cultivate.“

    The chairman, who is also Chairman of Anambra Central Traditional Rulers Council, appealed to all communities in the state to key into the scheme  to wipe out hunger, unemployment, and crime in the state

  • Anambra community boils

    Agulu community, the home town of former Anambra State Governor, Chief Peter Obi is boiling, following protests by few youth against the leadership of their town union.

    The youth from over 20 villages, led by Mmaduagwu Eric and Aguluka Nnamdi as Secretary, threatened to wage war in the community if some people were not cautioned.

    Again, the Agulu Youth Empowerment Committee under Agulu People’s Union (APU), has mandated the President-General of the area, Chief Paulinus Aniagbaoso to drag the few people to court over alleged character assassination.

    About eight people staged a protest against Aniagboso over alleged misrule and high handedness.

    However, addressing reporters at the Agulu Town Hall, the Youth Committee led by Mmaduagwu said the people who protested in the community were non-indigenes of the area.

    He said they had alerted the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor and the elders of the land on the development.

    He said: “All these things are happening and the President-General, being a peaceful and quiet man, is just sitting and watching.

    “We the youth will not sit and watch because our town is sacred. Let the land not rise against us for abhorring evil.

    “We are going to show them that nobody has monopoly of violence. For every action aimed at undermining the hard-earned peace in Agulu, there will be equal reaction and it will be disproportionate.

    “Therefore, it is in their best interest to behave. We will even go further to take a pre-emptive action if we perceive any unholy plan,” the youth threatened.

    Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Chamberlain Ego, said such protest by some people were not planned or discussed, describing it as a shame.

    He, therefore, called on Governor Willie Obiano to wade into the problem in Agulu.

    Ego said the community which was in crisis for 12 years, would not want to delve into such again.

  • Anambra shines at Arts Expo

    Anambra shines at Arts Expo

    With the theme: African Arts and Crafts: tools for economic empowerment, the seventh edition of the African Arts and Craft Expo came to a close penultimate weekend with all its artistic and cultural thrills and frills.

    The exhibition, which was organised by the National Council For Arts and Culture, Abuja, featured exhibitors from the 36 states and other African and Asian countries. On display were rich and diverse African crafts, fashion and cultural designs, interior decorations, raffia works, leather designs, classical ceramics and pottery works, coral beads, textiles and fascinating jewelries. The fair provided great opportunities for effective and focused promotional marketing incentives for would be sponsors.

    Anambra State was one of those that shone during the week-long exhibition, winning three awards in Best Product and Brand Designs in Brass and Metal Works; Most Enterprising Exhibitor categories, and a third position as the Best in Pavilion Preparation category. The state’s pavilion had on display rich various African crafts, fashion and cultural designs, interior decorations, raffia works, among others.

    The fair was organised primarily to showcase some aspects of Nigeria’s rich culture, promote export and import business of arts and crafts to buyers worldwide, impact requisite knowledge of import and export guidelines to arts and crafts producers and marketers as well as sensitise investors on the need to invest in arts and crafts sector as a way of encouraging enterprise development and export-oriented production.

     

  • Anambra,UNN to partner on agric

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has expressed his administration’s willingness to partner with faculties of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to drive the agricultural programme of the state.

    The governor made the comment when he received the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, and other principal officers, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka.

    Dr Obiano said his administration would need the support of researchers in the university to generate improved rice seeds, cassava stems and other crops needed to fulfil the dream of his administration in making the state sufficient in food production.

    He also stated that the state would need the support of the Department of Film and Theatre Arts to revive Anambra culture and make the state a destination for tourism.

    He said: “We understand that nothing can be achieved without securing the state from armed robbery and kidnapping. The criminals are currently on the run; I am still pursuing them. Right now, people can walk around freely without harassment of security sirens.”

    Ozumba praised the governor on his determination to take the state to a greater height, citing the security summit organised by the government and deployment of drones for surveillance and agricultural mapping. The governor’s quick response to threat of Ebola virus in the state, he said, should be hailed.

    The VC informed the governor of the 54th Founder’s Day Lecture that will be organised by the university in October. The event, he said, will host the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as speaker and requested Obiano’s consent as Chairman.

    On the entourage of the VC were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Polycap Chigbu, his counterparts on Administration and Enugu Campus, Prof Edwin Igbokwe and Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, Registrar, Mr Anthony Okonta, Bursar, Mrs Chinenye Eze-Obi and her deputy, Dr Mercy Odukwe.

     

  • Mixed reactions trail PVC re-validation in Anambra

    Mixed reactions trail PVC re-validation in Anambra

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been hailed and decried, following the permanent voter card (PVC) re-validation in Anambra State.

    At Umuchu in Aguata Local Government, the Progressive People’s Alliance leader in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, hailed the timely response of INEC officials.

    But the former chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Pat Orjiakor, said it was regrettable that the INEC officials were not seen at Nibo community in Awka South Local Government.

    Ezeemo said INEC officials attended to people early on Friday, unlike in the past.

    He said during elections, they did not turn up in time or seen at some polling units.

    The PPA leader said if the officials continued with the spirit, they would restore confidence in the electorate.

    He urged the indigenes to make use of the opportunity offered by the re-validation to update themselves, so that they would be relevant at all times.

    Ezeemo reminded the electorate that the exercise was vital because it would enable them to elect who would govern or represent them at the state and national levels.

    He said: “Our voter card is our voice and power to elect leaders. It is our responsibility and one day will not be too much to sacrifice to obtain it.”

  • UNIZIK student is Mr. Anambra Universe

    Just in its second season, Mr Universe Anambra pageant is gradually becoming the biggest and most anticipated social event in Anambra State.

    A student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Ifeanyi Slami, has won this year’s edition of the pageant, which has the objective of supporting the youth in the state to become independent and development partner. The winner was presented with a new car.

    Ifeanyi beat 16 others at the event held at the Marble Arc Events Center.

    At the event were celebrities from the Nigerian entertainment industry, including Beverly Osu of Big Brother Africa fame, Chris Okagbue, Guilder Ultimate Man; Ken Erics, a Nollywood actor and Santiago Roberts, president of Mr Universe Nigeria Organisation.

    Others were Alex Akharume, pageant manager, Mr Universe Nigeria Organisation; Francis Egwuatu, winner of Mr Universe Anambra 2013; Divine Ezike, Mr Tourism Nigeria 2013 and Smith Asonye, Mr Universe Abia, among others.

    There were also government officials, businessmen and fashion designers.

    An artiste on the Mavin Record Label, Korede Bello, thrilled the guests and participants with the performance of the hit track, Dorobucci.

    By the feat, Ifeanyi will represent the state as a celebrity model at the Soweto Fashion Show in South Africa in November.

    Ifeanyi said winning the Mr Universe Anambra was a great achievement for him. “It was not easy for me despite my experience. I had great challenges from fellow contestants because it was a race that has the tag ‘survival of the fittest’,” he said.

    As a student of social science, Ifeanyi said he was able to accept and relate with other contestants peacefully. He said some contestants tried to pick offenses in everything he did in camp, but he kept them confused about his conduct.

    He said he knew he would win the pageant on the day he bought the form, adding that he never settled for less. When his name was announced as the winner, Ifeanyi jumped up and ran toward the stage to claim the prize.

  • Oyo residents, Anambra APC celebrate

    Oyo residents, Anambra APC celebrate

    News of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election was greeted with jubilation yesterday by All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Oyo and Anambra states.

    Aregbesola’s victory was the topic of discussion in many churches in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Mr Muyiwa Alaba, a teacher, said Aregbesola’s re-election represents victory for the masses.

    Oyo APC, in a statement by its Publicity Director, Olawale Sadare, said: “The world has seen champions of liberty in Osun people, who dared the odds of intimidation, harassment and inducement to exercise their rights to choose their leader. They have recorded a victory against the forces of oppression made up of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government and its agents in Yorubaland.

    “We urge the electorate to replicate this in Oyo and others states where the APC has delivered good governance.”

    Anambra APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, said: “There is something to take away from Osun by the rest of Nigeria, particularly in elections yet to come, about how the voting populace can  frame their view, nurture it, guard it and find courage to protect it against state-sponsored derailment before mid-wifing same to success.”