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Tag: Anambra

  • Atiku’s campaign council: Umahi denies rejecting appointment

    The Ebonyi State Government has debunked insinuations on social media alleging that the state governor, David Umahi, has rejected his recent appointment as the South-east coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign.

    A state official also said Mr Umahi has pledged loyalty to Mr Abubakar’s presidential campaign.

    Mr Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has selected a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as his running mate.

    Mr Umahi, who is also of the PDP, has in the past declared his fondness of President Muhammadu Buhari and recently criticised the mode of selection of Mr Obi; a factor that may have fuelled the rumour.

    The Ebonyi governor’s stance was explained after Friday’s State Security Council meeting.

    The government also denied speculations that the governor had concluded plans to distribute bags of Abakaliki rice branded with campaign pictures of Mr Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    Mr Umahi’s stance was declared by the Ebonyi State information commissioner, Emmanuel Onwe.

    He said the reports that the governor was working for any other presidential candidate other than Mr Abubakar and his running mate was false, wicked and malicious.

    Mr Onwe said his principal considers his appointment as the South-east coordinator of Atiku/Obi campaign organisation as a great honour and would discharge the duties thereof with immense commitment and dedication.

    Read Also: Peter Obi visits Ugwuanyi, Nwodo

    He urged the general public to disregard any other reports to the contrary, describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    The social media has been awash with reports alleging that the governor had rejected his appointment.

    The governor was said to have disclosed his rejection of the appointment during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

    But Mr Onwe said there was no time the issue of Atiku/Obi election or campaign was discussed during the meeting.

    “The governor never rejected his appointment as the Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organization for South-East”, he said.

    “The social media report to that effect is false and should be disregarded. I was at the exco meeting of yesterday, at no time was such thing discussed. The governor considers the appointment as a great honour and would discharge his duties in that regard with great commitment and dedication.

    “They also said that the governor has concluded plans to distribute bags of rice with the pictures of the presidential candidate of the APC; that is also not true.

    “The governor does not know any other Presidential Candidate except that of his party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi,” Mr Onwe said.

  • Succour for expectant mothers, others in Anambra

    The joy of residents of Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State knew no bounds following the donation of some medical facilities by a lawmaker from the area, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema.

    Okpoko is a densely populated community that lacks basic health institution to cater for the needs of the citizenry.

    Onyema, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, had renovated some primary health Centre in the area, one of which he handed over to the Anglican church in the area, as well as a brand new ambulance.

    The locals, particularly the pregnant women and those suffering from one ailment or another, were full of appreciation to the benefactor for providing quality and affordable medicare to them.

    A resident, Mrs Maria Ozofor, who lamented difficulties encountered by pregnant women at night, asserted that the gesture would reduce their sufferings.

    Another local, an aged mother, Mrs Chetachukwu Unamba, expressed joy that the facility had brought quality medical service to their doorstep.

    “We really thank God for the gesture. It will go a long way in reducing our stress including the long distances we trek to access medicare,” she said.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the center, at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Okpoko, the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, expressed appreciation to the legislator for being proactive in the delivery of quality dividends of democracy to the people.

    He said the sitting of the facility in the church would ensure its maintenance and protection against vandalism.

    The cleric said pregnant women and other patients would no longer encounter difficulties accessing medicare in the community, promising to make available a mobile phone number in the event of emergencies.

    He charged the management of the centre to make effective utilization of the ambulance in offering medical services to the citizens.

    He however cautioned against its abuse, stressing that it should be strictly used for the purpose it was purchased.

    “The ambulance shall remain standby for responses to emergency health cases and there won’t be any payment for its use,” the bishop said.

    Earlier, the lawmaker, Onyema, disclosed that the gesture, carried out in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, was targeted at attracting affordable medical health for the people of the community.

    “Okpoko is a rural area that comprises more of middle income and low income earners. We need a health centre where the sick would not be asked to pay any fee before they can be attended to,” he said.

    He also explained that the decision to hand over renovated and equpied health centres to the church, was to ensure they were managed effectively and efficiently.

    Onyema however regretted that most of the institutions given to local governments became moribund with time due to mismanagement.

    He said, “It was the immediate past governor of the State that initiated the practice of handing over schools and hospitals to churches and one can attest to the fact that these institutions have experienced a radical improvement.

    “I realized that when Mr Peter Obi partnered with the church in schools and hospitals, they picked up. So I decided to toe that line.

    “Normally, health centres are handed over to local governments and most times you find out that when those hospitals are handed over to the local government, the hospital facilities and vehicles end up being run down.”

    Expressing optimism of the churches’ ability to take care of the facilities without government’s supervision, the lawmaker maintained that the ambulance was purely for emergency cases within the community.

    On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the Primary Health Centre, Dr Ejikeme Okonkwo, hinted that the centre was in a deplorable state before the lawmaker’s intervention.

    He assured that the centre would provide 24 hours emergency services, including ultra sound scan machine, HIV clinic, maternal child healthcare, among others.

    “The people will now be happy as they will be coming to a cleaner, cheaper and better equipped healthcare centre,” he stated.

    Photo: the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, cutting the tape for the commissioning of the health centre in Okpoko.

     

  • 11 trapped as three storey building collapse in Anambra

    No fewer than 11 persons were trapped under a three storey building which collapsed in Nnewi, Anambra in the early hours of Thursday.

    The building was located in Okpuno, Otolo, in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

    According to SP Mohammed Haruna, Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) who confirmed the incident, said the building belong to one Collins Avoyi.

    Haruna said nine of the trapped persons have been rescued and taken to hospital while effort was on to get the remaining two out of the rubbles.

    He said the trapped workers included foreign masons from the Republic of Togo.

    “A three storey building belonging to one Mr Avoyi Collins ‘m’ collapsed at Okpuno Otolo in Nnewi North LGA of Anambra.

    Read Also: Notorious cultist, another killed in political gathering

    “Police Patrol rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to prevent looters from taking advantage of the situation to steal.

    “So far, nine of them were rescued alive from the collapsed building while efforts are ongoing to rescue two others who are still trapped inside the debris.

    “Meanwhile, the rescued victims were rushed to the Community Health Center, Okpuno for medical attention and investigation is ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident,” he said.

  • Ohanaeze youths raise reconciliation committee

    The Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide yesterday raised a reconciliation committee to interface with aggrieved Southeast leaders, who felt sidelined in the selection of former Anambra Governor Peter Obi as running mate.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the weekend named Obi as his running mate in the presidential election.

    Leading other stakeholders in the zone after a meeting at the weekend, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu said they were not aware of the selection of Obi as Atiku’s running mate.

    They said they were not consulted before the selection in line with agreement they reached with Atiku before he clinched the party’s presidential primaries.

    In a statement yesterday after its meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the youth wing of Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze, led by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said it has a plan to liaise with all parties involved to reach an amicable resolution.

    The group said it has appointed a renowned academic and London-based scholar, Obinna Ukpabi, to spearhead the reconciliation efforts and to ensure that peace returns to the Southeast over Obi’s choice.

    In the statement, Isiguzoro appealed to the governors to see the process that threw up Obi as Atiku’s running mate, as a divine.

    He urged other aggrieved Igbo leaders to rally around Obi and unite for the challenges ahead in order to ensure that Southeast is 100 per cent PDP in the forthcoming presidential election.

    The statement reads: “OYC asks those who lost out in the bid to become Atiku’s running mate to allow the collective interest of Ndigbo to thrive above personal interests and support Peter Obi to deliver the zone in the forthcoming presidential election.”

    The group dismissed insinuations that the Southeast is divided on Obi’s choice as Atiku’s running mate and that it will affect the fortune of PDP in the Presidential election.

    It said: “This is false and untrue as Southeast is solidly behind the choice of Peter Obi as running mate to Mr Atiku’s.”

    “We implore our leaders to be mindful of their resolutions before the public as it can be misunderstood by other tribes and zones that Igbos cannot manage their successes and electoral fortunes which had been the bane of our progress since 1999.”

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths (Worldwide) commended the PDP and the former vice president for choosing an Igbo son as the vice presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.

    The commendation was given through a statement issued in Owerri yesterday by its Acting National President Dr. Kingsley Dozie and Emeka Odom, its Assistant National Legal Adviser.

    It said that Igbo youths would make themselves available to advice the PDP for choosing Obi.

    The group said it had already started discussing and liasing with youths of other ethnic nationalities on how to have a productive and people-oriented election.

    It said: “To restructure Nigeria is our priority now and we’ll get it right this time. The choice of the former governor, Peter Obi is great. He was not wasteful in the management of resources while serving as governor.

    “Peter Obi is a good choice. He will bring business intelligence into governance. He is not corrupt and as a governor, he was not wasteful. Igbo youths are very happy.

    “Obi’s success story as a businessman would help in reviving the nation’s economy if elected in 2019. The decision to pick him, we believe, is based on his outstanding performance as governor of Anambra state.”

    The group said that Obi, as a successful businessman, will be expected to translate his wealth of experience into good governance for the nation.

    They expressed optimism that the former Anambra State would not disappoint Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria at large.

    The group had earlier commended the PDP for electing Atiku as its presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.

    Its leader, Dr Kingsley Dozie, described the former vice president as an apostle of restructuring.

    He promised that his group would liase with its parent body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, alongside “our brothers after our consultations and get it right this time.

    “The party’s primary was free and fair and the most credible presidential primaries. Igbo youths are pleased with the party’s style of leadership and particularly the restructuring agenda of its candidate which placed him first in the race.

    “Consequently, the leadership of Igbo youths, led by Kingsley Dozie, shall mobilise all Igbo youths, home and abroad, to ensure that a better candidate who places our interest as a priority and who will genuinely restructure Nigeria emerged as the president of Nigeria come 2019.”

    Dozie said that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing was now out to protect, preserve and promote the welfare of Ndigbo through massive mobilisation of the youths to vote for a preferred, detribilised and someone who would put smiles on the faces of people in the forthcoming presidential election.

    He urged the youths to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying doing so remained the surest way to electing credible candidates.

  • Police rescue woman from ‘one chance robbers’

    The police in Anambra State at the weekend rescued a middle-aged woman from suspected ‘one chance’ robbers.

    The Nation learnt that the incident occurred at Uru-Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government.

    The victim, Ifunanya Perpetual, was said to have been robbed of N60,000 and other valuables after boarding the suspects’ vehicles about 6:30pm, on Uruogidi road.

    It was gathered that the suspect, Emeka Ewuike, 25, from Umuota village, Obosi, in Idemili South Local Government, together with his accomplices, robbed the victim and pushed her out of the moving vehicle before they were arrested.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said one of the suspects was arrested, adding that his accomplices escaped.

    He said the suspect was nabbed by the police patrol team attached to IGP X Squad, Awka after a pursuit.

    “They pushed out Ifunanya Perpetual, female, of Abba village, Nimo from a moving Toyota Corolla car, blue in colour, registered as Anambra NZAM- 533-LK after robbing her of N60,000, a phone and other valuables,” Mohammed said.

    He said the victim fell on the road and sustained injuries on the head, legs and waist, adding that she was taken to Iyienu Hospital.

    “Exhibits recovered from the suspect include the stolen items and the car used in committing the robbery.”

    Mohammed said the case was being investigated, noting that efforts were on to apprehend other fleeing accomplices.

  • FG to commence N5000 cash transfer through NIPOST in Benue, Anambra, Nasarawa

    The Federal Government would soon commence payment of N5, 000 to vulnerable Nigerians in three states using the newly introduced financial services of the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) for the cash transfer.

    The government said the package is under the present administration’s social welfare programme to help the poor and the needy in the society.

    Under the new contract, NIPOST is expected to dispense the N5000 cash to the poor in three states including Nasarawa, Benue and Anambra.

    The Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST , Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi made these disclosures  in Oyo town during the 2018 World Post Day celebration.

    He said NIPOST was able to win the contract due to its innovative programme and use of technology to advance its services to the people across the country.

    He said: “For instance, the National Cash Transfer Office which caters for the vulnerable, the poor in the society awarded NIPOST the job to transfer cash to the poor.

    “They give them N5000, every month and because NIPOST has transformed and leveraging on technology, we were awarded the cash disposal of N5000 in Benue, Nasarawa and Anambra.

    “Who are we serving, we are serving the poor, the post is ready to deliver the goods to bring happiness.”

    Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi commended NIPOST for its giant strides in recent years, describing the event as very significant in the history of the agency.

    Speaking through his representative, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Adeyemi said NIPOST has remained the only agency that has continued to connect the people, facilitating communication and enabling the people to stay in touch.

     

  • Anambra flood: IDPs camps record 17 births in 3weeks

    No fewer than 17 child births were recorded at various  Holding Centres provided by the Anambra State Government for people displaced by floodwaters over the last three weeks.

    Health Commissioner  Joe Akabuike, announced this while receiving a team of medical doctors from Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, who were on medical outreach at Aguleri and Atani Holding Centres.

    He said of two of the six women were delivered of their babies through Caesarean Section (CS) at the Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC), Atani.

    Akabuike added that government had installed adequate measures to care for pregnant women and others at various centres.

    Also speaking, the State Hospital Administrator, Dr Richmond Achugbu, during a confirmatory visit to the centres and medical facility, said 11 nursing mothers were quartered at Central School Odekpe holding centre.

    He added that they all had Spontaneous Vatex Delivery (SVD), noting, that they and their babies were doing fine.

    According to Achugbu, pregnant women at the holding centres with health challenges are receiving Medicare at Comprehensive Health Centre, Atani.

    He added that a team of medical personnel had been assigned to offer assistance in different areas of needs at the centres.

     

  • ‘Obi’s choice as VP a great honour to Ekwueme’

    The People Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra chapter has described the choice of Chief Peter Obi as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a great honour to one of its founding father, late Dr Alex Ekwueme.

    Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, Chairman of PDP in Anambra said this while reacting to the announcement of Obi as Atiku’s running mate in an interview in Awka.

    Nwobu said the nomination was a ’round peg in a round hole’ as Obi possessed all the requisite quality to occupy the position having been a successful governor and a seasoned technocrat.

    He said the state chapter was happy that the PDP hearkened to its call that Anambra be given the slot as it had plethora of individuals who could partner with any president to chart a new course for Nigeria.

    “It is a welcome development, the choice of Obi is that of a round peg in a round hole, a governor he set Anambra on a pedestal for economic growth and left huge dune of money for future generation.

    “During the campaigns, we told the aspirants that they should consider Anambra strongly for the slot of Vice President as a sign of appreciation to Late Dr Ekwueme who for his great work as a founding father of PDP.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku picks Peter Obi as running mate

    “For the chapter here in Anambra, we are happy that Obi was picked and we are fully of confidence that the Atiku/Obi ticket is the magic wand Nigeria needs in all sectors especially economy,” he said.

    Nwobu said the PDP through its primary had shown that it was the custodian of Nigerian democracy and had set great example which other political parties could learn from.

    Also reacting, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Anambra governorship aspirant of the PDP in 2017 congratulated Atiku on picking Obi, saying he made the right choice.

    Obaze, a diplomat, said it was a hard headed decision which was best in the interest of the country at this point in time.

    “His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar has made the right choice in picking Peter Obi as his running make.

    “Atiku has just the exhibited the ability to make hard-headed decision required of purposeful leaders.

    ”Let’s get Nigeria working again, God bless Atiku, God bless Peter Obi, and God bless Nigeria,” he said.

     

    NAN

  • Anambra Flood: IDPs camps record 17 births in three weeks

    No fewer than seventeen child births were recorded at various designated Holding Centres provided by Anambra State Government for people displaced by floodwaters over the last three weeks.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike, announced this while receiving a team of medical doctors from Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, who were on medical outreach at Aguleri and Atani Holding Centres.

    He said of two of the six women were delivered of their babies through Caesarean Section (CS) at the Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC), Atani.

    Akabuike added that government had installed adequate measures to care for pregnant women and others at various centres.

    Also speaking, the State Hospital Administrator, Dr Richmond Achugbu, during a confirmatory visit to the centres and medical facility, said 11 nursing mothers were quartered at Central School Odekpe holding centre.

    He added that they all had Spontaneous Vatex Delivery (SVD), noting, that they and their babies were doing fine.

    According to Achugbu, pregnant women at the holding centres with health challenges were receiving Medicare at Comprehensive Health Centre, Atani.

    He added that a team of medical personnel had been assigned to offer assistance in different areas of needs at the centres.

    The names of the women quartered at Atani Holding Centre in Ogbaru (LGA) who were delivered of their babies are Onyechi Okenwa (CS), Chidinma Chimaobi (SVD), Joy Okolo (SVD), Baby Kelechi (SVD, twins), and Chineye Azuka.

    Women who were delivered of their babies at Central School Odekpe, Ogbaru Council Area are Celestina Ifeanyi, Chisom Ozah, Joy Christian (SVD), Esther Innocent, Oluchi Eden, Elizabeth Emeka, Oluchi Ogbede and Assisi Iyabo.

    Others are Promise Daniel, Chizoba Obene, Angela Udoji, and Chioma Sunday (SVD).

  • Sickle cell patients protest members’ detention in hospitals

    *issue 2-month immediate release ultimatum

    People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (PLSD) in Anambra state, on Friday protested detention of their members in hospitals across the State over outrageous bills incurred in course of their admission.

    The group also issued a two- month ultimatum to the concerned hospitals to immediately discharge the patients or risk their names being published.

    Addressing newsmen in Nanka, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State, National Coordinator of the group, Mrs Aisha Edward, described the actions as illegal, inhuman and callous.

    She disclosed that no fewer than seven of its members were currently being detained in various hospitals in the state over inability to pay their bills.

    “We are giving them from now till December 1 to immediately discharge the patients or we will be forced to publish their names and take up a legal action against them,” she said.

    Read Also: Abandoned baby found opposite Anambra church

    Edward wondered why a trained medical doctor would not discharge a patient after managing him and wait for payment later.

    She said, “I visited a hospital here in Aguata to check on one of our members who was on admission and found out that three of them were being detained against their will due to huge hospital bills they incurred.

    “The visit prompted me to probe further and in the process, I discovered that another hospital in Onitsha which has over four of our members who are being detained.

    “This are just the few ones we know. But I’m sure there will be many others still being held in other hospitals.

    “People have taken undue advantage of people living with sickle cell anaemia for too long, and we will not tolerate this latest discovery.”

    Edward revealed that one of the patients (names withheld) who was abandoned by her family, was given a bill to the tune of N1.2million for her treatment.

    “The patient told me in confidence that she was told by the hospital management that she was being detained ahead of Christmas period when philanthropists throng the hospitals to clear their debts,” she decried.

    The National Coordinator, who refused to disclose the names of the hospitals, regretted that most of the affected hospitals were those owned by the church.

    “It is more painful that the hospitals are mission hospitals. The church has been infiltrated by corrupt minded people who now use people’s health condition to defraud other people, and we will not let this happen because the church, not judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” she added.

    She further alleged that some of the patients, including orphans, have spent over six months, while the longest serving of them, has been kept in detention for one year and four months, with a strict warning not to escape or face the consequences.