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Tag: Anambra

  • Anambra 2014: group calls for free, fair election

    Anambra 2014: group calls for free, fair election

    Abuja Ahead of the 2014 governorship election in Anambra state, a pressure group, Odimma Anambra Development Association has called for a free, fair and credible election.

    The group also urged all aspirants in the state to play fair during the election. It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to make sure that all votes count during the election.

    Chairman of the group, Okechukwu Asika addressed reporters in Abuja ahead of elections in the state, calling on everyone to vote wisely.

    Asika called on the people of the state to make a change in the history of the state with their votes in other to entrench good governance. “We want to quickly say that the election will be successful if the people of Anambra state themselves want it to be a successful election.

    The need and resolve to have a free, fair and credible election is a joint responsibility of the people of Anambra.

    “We urge INEC as an electoral umpire to ensure transparency in the conduct of this election and ensure there is a level playing ground for all candidates.

    “Let us remind the commission that elections have been very controversial in Nigeria. Their conduct and results that they produce have always been a source of conflict and acrimony.

    He also called on parents to regulate the activities of their children and ensure they are not used as political thugs. The group lamented the impact of godfathering in the polity of the state, this the group said, has plunged the development of the state backwards.

    “Gone are the days godfathering will ever take place in Anambra or anybody will stand up and say he/she will decide what happens in the state. We are ready to fight for good governance in the state.

    “Any person, no matter who you are that wants to disrupt good governance in Anambra state, we are ready to take it seriously with that person to any level.”

     

  • Recovered human heads: Obi demolishes hotel

    Recovered human heads: Obi demolishes hotel

    Anambra State Government yesterday announced the confiscation all assets belonging to the owner of the Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha, located at 8 Old Market Road, Mr. Bonaventure Mokwe, where fresh human heads were found Thursday.

    He is from Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area, Anmbra South Senatorial Zone. The building was bequeathed to him by his father.

    Governor Peter Obi, who announced this at the scene of the demolition of the hotel where three fresh human heads and two AK47 rifles with magazines were found, said his government would not relent in its effort to stem the upsurge of crimes in the state.

    Obi said the demolition of the building was in line with the policy of his administration to sustain the fight against crime and criminality.

    The Governor made it clear that government will not relent in its resolve to flush out hoodlums from all parts of the State and will continue to knock down property belonging to criminals.

    “I am aware some would rather want us to convert these property for use for public purposes, but I tell you, acquiring these property and knocking them down is psychologically more beneficial because the weight of the punishment is proportional to how much fear it engenders in people to run away from crime,” he said.

    In their separate speeches, the Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha North, Mr. Eddie Okosi and his Onitsha South counterpart, Mr. Ugochukwu Ezeani, said the government was already winning the war against criminals. They said that Onitsha had been rebranded by the governor’s good work and his ability to restore the lost glory of the town.

    Some residents of the area including Osondu Ugwu, Osita Akuma, Patrick ThankGod, Chike Nnevo and Chioma Nwokei, commented the courage and political will of the governor in liberating the state from the claws of criminals.

  • PDP to hold meetings on Ekiti, Anambra

    The National Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to meet the party’s leaders in Ekiti and Anambra states.

    A statement by Ambassador Umar Damagum yesterday in Abuja said the meetings, which will be chaired by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, would hold tomorrow at the Legacy House, Abuja.

    Members of the state Working Committee and governorship aspirants of the party are expected at the meeting.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • PDP urges support for Anambra chair

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given its support to Ken Emeakayi as the authentic chairman of its Anambra State chapter.

    This followed alleged moves by the PDP to ensure that Senator Andy Uba emerged as the party’s consensus candidate in the November 16 governorship election.

    A statement by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, yesterday said the party took the decision to back Emeakayi, following comprehensive consultations with major party stakeholders in the state.

    The statement added that the decision was borne out of the desire to have a strong and united party to effectively reposition the PDP for the election.

    “All members of our party in Anambra State are hereby directed to work with Emeakayi towards achieving victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state,” the statement added.

    Party sources said yesterday that the party hierarchy is being pressured to ensure the emergence of Senator Uba as a consensus candidate.

    The sources said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the arrow head of the consensus option, meant to favour his former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs.

    Obasanjo was said to have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan when the President visited Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to give Uba the needed leverage to emerge as the candidate.

    He was also said to have urged Jonathan to reach out to Uba for the purpose of mobilising support among various stakeholders.

    But Jonathan was said to have replied that there was need for the party to ensure a level playing field for all the aspirants and was quoted to have said the country was watching the unfolding events in Anambra.

     

  • Next governor must come from Anambra North -Obi

    Next governor must come from Anambra North -Obi

    Governor Peter Obi has once again reiterated his commitment to Anambra North to produce his successor, insisting it was necessary in order to maintain equity, fairness and justice. Governor Obi made this known while answering questions on APGA commitment that the next governor would come from Anambra North on Thursday during the town hall meeting at Onitsha North Local Government headquarters.

    “Our leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu died a man of honour and he fought the cause of justice till his last breath. Together with him, we made a firm commitment that after my humble self that the next governor of the state would come from Anambra North. During the electioneering in 2010, all the candidates promised to support Anambra North. I urge them to be honourable and keep their words,” Obi said. He also debunked the crisis in APGA insisting that the party was still one.

    On how a candidate would emerge, Obi said that the decision to give the state the best candidate was that of the people of the senatorial area and called on them to cultivate strength of character that would enable them remain focused and resist undue distraction from any quarter.

    Answering question on his resignation from politics, Obi said that he was not resigning from politics totally. He said what he has always said was that he would not contest any post again after 2014 to represent Anambra State, either in the senate or representing the state as minister.

    Commenting on the Second Niger Bridge, Obi said that he had lost count of how many times the issue was raised by the South-East and himself personally with the President and the Minister of Works, as well as other relevant stakeholders. He appealed to the people to thank the President as the project is on course.

  • Anambra to provide additional facilities in schools

    The Anambra State government has said it would put additional facilities in schools in the state to enhance their capacity to deliver qualitative learning.

    Governor Peter Obi said this during the inauguration of a renovated school hall and access road to Agulu Girls’ Secondary School, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA).

    “The additional intervention would be: provision of buses to all public secondary schools, mission and privately-owned schools in the state.

    “Providing more money for erection and equipping of libraries in all primary and secondary schools notwithstanding their owners.

    “Providing additional computers to secondary schools in the state as well as giving more money for rebuilding of schools,’’ he said.

    He expressed satisfaction that schools in the state were wearing new look through the state partnership with the mission.

    In another development, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, former Governor of the CBN said, “Governor Obi is a man of destiny whose disciplined and God-fearing life has ensured his success in life’’.

    Soludo said this during a memorial thanksgiving mass at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State .

    He thanked the governor for his achievements noting: “He has laid strong foundation for sustainable development which future administrations can consolidate on.

    “The state needs a credible successor to continue the good works embarked on by the present administration and also sustain other gains.’’

    He, however, expressed dislike for Governor Obi’s plan to retire from politics, adding that the country needed people like him especially during these trying times.

    In a remark, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, said the collaboration between Anambra government and the Church had made clear difference which other states should emulate.

  • ‘NNPP ‘ll produce next governor in Anambra’

    The chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has said the party will produce the next governor of Anambra State.

    He told The Nation that the party was not in rivalry with any political party, adding that it is platform to provide the leadership that would bring development.

    He said: “We have always been ready to go to elections and of course, you must know that I am from Anambra State, where election is due very soon. Every structure has been put in place to be part of it. We have just concluded our state congresses and we are making efforts to ensure that we produce the next government.

    “For now NNPP has a candidate that we will field for the election but then, we will ensure that if a better candidate that can win election in the state by 2014 comes up we will through our weight behind him.”

    Aniebonam however, advised those who see politics as a do or die affairs to have a rethink. He said it was wrong to play the politics of bitterness because politicians who really want to serve do not visit unnecessary pains on the people.

    Aniebonam said: “We don’t want to be part of politics with bitterness. I have listened to lots of people who have the intension of standing for election in Anambra but instead commending government for its effort so far, they try to bring them down as if they have done nothing.”

    He added that there is always room for improvement with a new government continued from where the former stopped. “I think anybody coming into Anambra State after we serve would only be talking of building from where we stop.”

    Assessing the Federal Government on its effort to fix the power sector, he said: “There is a concerted effort as far as energy is concerned to get the sector back on course, the little set back we might be having now has been explained away by the government that there are technical issues and in a short distance things will get better.

    “I can say that from my own vantage position electricity has improved tremendously. I live around Surelere, Lagos and I can say that we have light for most times.

    He enjoined to calling for the removal of every government that was facing administrative problem to review their stand.

    Aniebonam added: “Some of us cannot even maintain their homes but it is easy for them to open their mouth and say what they like so what is sinking and what is not sinking? It is very irresponsible for someone to say that Nigeria is sinking, sinking to where? Let us take from the issue of the security of the state, is it only in Nigeria that we have security challenges? Let us not talk as if we are coming from the moon. Insecurity is a global challenge as far as the whole world is concerned. What is important is the capacity of Nigeria to look at their own problem within their own peculiarity and see how they can solve the matter.

    He further explained that NNPP will not merge with any party. “Our party is a national political party and was not created to merge with any party. But that does not mean that we cannot enter into any agreement political association but for now we are not thinking of that and not in a hurry to do that.”

  • ‘Ngige is best man for Anambra governorship’

    ‘Ngige is best man for Anambra governorship’

    AHEAD of the Anambra governorship election billed for November, the spokesman for the Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Joe Igbokwe, has tipped Senator Chris Ngige as the best man to take over from Governor Peter Obi.

    Igbokwe hinged his recommendation on the need to sustain the tempo and raise the stake of good governance in the state.

    The ACN spokesman, who recalled how his preference for the incumbent over Ngige in 2010, pitted him against party members, explained that his position was informed by the trauma Obi went through to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by the Anambra people.

    He listed such hurdles as the denial of his well-deserved mandate, the controversial impeachment by the state Assembly and the tribunal/judicial battles he fought to before he was restored as governor.

    “I wanted Governor Peter Obi to get a second term because of all the troubles he went through to reclaim his mandate and all the troubles he suffered going through criminal impeachment and through courts and tribunals to reclaim his mandate,” Igbokwe explained in the statement.

    Though Igbokwe said the supporters of the senator reported him to former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, alleging that he was engaging in anti-party activities. He said Obi has justified his mandate with the landmark achievements of his administration.

    Igbokwe noted that those who took his case to Tinubu leveled the allegation against him in the presence of the party’s National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was then the Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

    According to him, the time has come for Ngige to take the mantle of leadership and add more value to the politics of the state.

    He said: “The rest is now history but it was an excruciating and daunting experience for me. I have never regretted it.

    “I will appeal that we put this matter behind us and move on. We have a target and that is to make 2014 a memorable year. We will join the teeming and enthusiastic Anambra voters to elect Dr. Ngige as the governor of Anambra State. So, let us all move forward with that spirit until victory is achieved.”

    He expressed confidence that the All Progressive Congress (APC), which will field a progressive candidate for the November 16 election will succeed Obi, whose two-term tenure of eight years expires next year.

    Igbokwe said: “All the energies at our disposal will be deployed to make this a reality. We will put our hands, our feet, our eyes, our brains, our strengths, our human and material resources to make the dream come true. “This support would not be based on flimsy grounds but the best interest of Anambra at heart. We will work hard to elect for ourselves a man best suited to continue the progressive march.”

    He noted that Ngige during his first stint as governor, was the architect of the historic liberation of Anambra politics from the shackles of godfathers and minions, adding that the liberty paved the way for Obi’s success.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, the template of Anambra renaissance we all are benefiting from today was set up by Ngige when he damned the hawkish demands of the godfathers to free Anambra and its resources for the people of Anambra,” Igbokwe said.

     

  • Succour for the weak

    Succour for the weak

    NGO treats hypertensive, diabetic patients in Anambra

    IT was a pleasant surprise to all of them. None thought help was coming when it did or that it would be so consequential to their health.

    Many suffer from high blood pressure; some are diabetic. But living in remote villages compounded their worries. They are financially weak, some even hopeless. Their situation looked precarious.

    The picture has changed. They have had free medical tests while drugs were distributed without charge.

    Things are looking good at Neni and its environs in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Their benefactor is the Hypertension and Diabetes Awareness Foundation (HADAF) which stepped up an awareness campaign on the two diseases. Their theme was saving life through early detection.

    Apart from the initial drugs earlier distributed to the patients, Nkechi Ogbuefi, organiser of the event, said the foundation spent over N100m to the programme.

    At the Dan Dollars filling station in Neni, more than 500 persons, comprising the young, old, male and female, the poor and needy, the physically challenged were all gathered to be tested while drugs were given to them.

    Newsextra gathered that it was not the first time such a thing was happening in the area, facilitated by an indigenous person, Chief Patrick Chidolue.

    Before now, the foundation was involved in free distribution of drugs to flood victims in 40 communities.

    Also, free tests and drugs had been distributed in communities in Nnewi and Orumba by the foundation.

    The director of the foundation who spoke with Newsextra, said more than 50,000 persons have received free tests and drugs since the foundation came into existence in 2012.

    The foundation visits communities with five medical doctors and over six nurses and nuns who assist in distribution of the drugs.

    One of the medical doctors, Dr. Obijiofor Timothy said they are assisting the foundation in reaching out to the communities in detecting diseases.

    He added that about five per cent was caused by a disease in the body system, explaining that before the tests and drugs distribution, the patients were engaged in more than an hour’s talk on the diseases.

    He spoke further: “They do not give signs and that is why we call it silent killers and the number of persons that attend our sessions had been awesome.”

    Mrs. Ojukwu Florence, a nurse, told Newsextra that the awareness has already solved the people’s problem.

    She said they check their blood pressure and level of sugar of the patients to help the medical doctors administer the right drugs.

    The foundation director, Ogbuefi said they did a similar thing in Abuja and its environs before coming to Anambra State.

    “We are not going to end here; the foundation plans to go round Anambra State and beyond in time to come to help alleviate the suffering of some homes.

    “This foundation which is a non-government organisation (NGO), found out that hypertension and diabetes are two of the silent killers in the society and if nothing is done many lives will be lost in the society.

    “So, what we are doing is not eradicating it but to reduce it by running free tests on those who cannot afford tests and give them drugs free of charge which will be a continuous thing depending on the resources available to us.”

    Some of the beneficiaries in the community relieved their experiences to Newsextra during the event.

    Mr. Uzochukwu Lawrence, 75, from Obeledu in Anaocha council area, hailed the foundation for the gesture and prayed that God would bless the organisers of the event.

    Also, Igwemadu Georgina, a 61-year-old housewife from Neni said: “We are happy with the exercise, we appreciate it and pray that other people will have interest in the less privileged like this foundation.”

    For Jacinta Iloegbene, 45, said: “Nobody expected this; we came to the venue because announcements were made in markets, churches and schools and when we came to the ground, behold it was true. God will protect those who came out with this idea for us.”

     

  • As countdown to Anambra guber poll begins

    SIR: The Anambra State governorship election has been scheduled to hold on November 16. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared August 13, as the kick-off date for the political activities towards the November election.

    Peter Obi, the incumbent governor, is widely seen as a prudent leader whose style of administration is devoid of profligacy. Even his die-hard critics have confessed that civility has triumphed in the governance at a time politics in the state had degenerated to dangerous dimension. He has truly transformed Anambra State in terms of infrastructure and social amenities. Roads, schools and hospitals have received a boost, Orient petroleum has been commissioned thereby making Anambra an oil producing state in Nigeria. Security has been beefed up with the latest supply of over 300 fully fitted security vehicles to all the communities in the state.

    Yet, an average citizen here still feels a sense of underachievement. The people are of the opinion that Obi should have performed better in view of his long tenure and the cash available to his government. They believe that to whom much is given much is expected, therefore, the available structures are below the expected standard. For instance, Anambra has no stadium despite producing national sports icons like Emmanuel Okala, Mary Onyali, and Michael Okpala etc. Onitsha seaport is still a mockery despite the endless promises from the government. Udoka Housing Estate, the only one built since 1992 is in shambles as civil servants report to their duties from Enugu daily. The state capital is in a terrible shape, some ministries are still using outdated cubicles including the government house itself.

    These are the deficiencies, which would be in the mind of the electorate as they prepare to cast their votes in November. But before going to the polls, let them ponder awhile and think deeply. They should know that Anambra is very important to Nigeria. She is arguably the economic hub of the South-east.

    Let the people carefully evaluate the history of Anambra state. Before making their choice, they should arm themselves with all those issues Peter Obi ignored and vote a responsible leader to fill in the vacuum. Let them know the value of their decision and how it will impact positively on the state. The burden of ruling Anambra state is enormous; the electorate should look beyond the craft and antics of Anambra politicians. Poverty is in the land, no doubt, but after collecting their rice and salt Greek gift, let them endeavour to vote in a leader with clear vision, someone with high moral standard with regards to their yearnings and aspirations. Let them know also that the people on parade now are merely pretenders; the real contenders would only emerge after the primaries of various political parties, which obviously may not produce more than four serious candidates.

     

    • Udeh Andrew

    Enugu