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Tag: Awka

  • UNIZIK Chinese community marks Spring festival

    Chinese Community of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has marked the start of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New year or the Spring Festival.

    Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State,  also celebrated the festival.

    Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board, Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, expressed his gratitude for the partnership between Nigeria and China.

    He drew a line of similarity between Nigerian culture and its Chinese counterpart.

    Ahaneku continued: “The Chinese New year is similar to what Ndigbo has in Ofala or the New Yam Festival”. He added  that the synergy between the university and the institute is of great benefit.

    “The idea of Confucius Institute is in line with the Nigerian dream, the African dream to redefine and make ourselves useful globally. The benefits are enormous, bordering on technology, job creation, science and entrepreneurship.”

    At the event were the Director (Nigeria) of Confucius Institute, Prof. Charles Esimone;  the Director (Chinese) Prof. Job Yu; Director, Confucius Classroom & International Linkages, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Walter Ezenata; the Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu and the Director of Infrastructure and Development, Prof. Godson O. Okafor, among others.

    Highlight of the event was the Chinese opera by the students. Other performances include: karate, martial art performance, dance, and recognition and certification of different levels of HSK and HSKK students.

    The Chinese/UNIZIK synergy started since 2008 and has been very rewarding to both communities.

  • Massive voting key to checkmate rigging – Cleric

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has urged Nigerians to turn out en masse on Saturday to cast their votes and ensure their votes counted.

    He identified massive voting as one sure way to checkmating election rigging and manipulation of results in the country.

    The Prelate who spoke Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, advised Nigerians to vote according to their consciences to ensure the emergence of credible leaders.

    He cautioned against vote-trading, insisting that such vices were inimical to the electoral process.

    “Vote buying and selling can only produce leaders who are not the collective wish of the people,” he said.

    Read Also: Vote buying will entrench poverty, says Cleric

    Ezeokafor further asked politicians and their supporters to respect the constitution and play by the rules, stressing that election was not a do-or-die affair.

    He said, “Desperation and quest for political power should not be the primary reason for participating in an election but a desire to improve on the status quo if elected to serve the people.

    “Politicians should refrain from foul-languages, hate-speeches and campaigns of calumny but emphasize more on practical issues of development especially as it concerns poverty alleviation and job creation.”

  • Police confirm seven dead in Anambra petrol tanker fire

    Police in Anambra State have confirmed seven persons dead following a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday night at Amawbia Roundabout.

    SP Haruna Mohammed, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Awka.

    ”So far, seven persons were certified dead at various hospitals by medical doctors while the only surviving victim was admitted at Intensive Care Unit of the University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi”, he said.

    According to Mohemmed, three of the bodies were deposited at Amaku General Hospital morgue,  Awka, two at Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka and another two at Piston Hospital morgue, Awka.

    He added that postmortem examination would be conducted to ascertain exact cause of their deaths.

    Read Also: Anambra markets stand still for Atiku, Obi

    NAN reports that sympathizers are still thronging to the scene of the incident to catch a glimpse at burnt vehicles, buildings and other valuables affected by the fire as at press time.

    An eye witness, Mr Ilu Ali, a vegetable dealer in Awka, told NAN at the scene that six of the dead victims were known to him.

    “Six persons who died as a result of the fire are northerners, and I know all of them, we were together before the fire started on Saturday night.

    ”Those killed were Sabo Jigawa, Hamza Jarowro, Adamu Mohammed aka Janari, Dansoho, Malam Malam,  and Jinjiri (from Garzawa, Kano),” he said.

    Ali said that apart from the dead, four other victims who sustained injuries were at Amaku Teaching Hospital, Awka and a private Hospital, Felly in  Amawbia area.

    He told NAN that the victims were affected because the petrol from the tanker flowed through the water channel to a spot where they were roasting suya meat.

    NAN

     

  • ADC joins forces with 61 others to oust APC

    The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, has announced that the party was collaborating with about 61 political parties to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government.

    Nwosu made the disclosure in Awka while handing over the party’s flag to the candidate, Engr. Tony-Uche Ezekwelu, saying the party would offer quality and people-oriented representation.

    He described Ezekwelu as most qualified and prepared, noting that he has all it takes to represent the senatorial district.

    “Our candidate is youthful, educated, exposed and experienced. He will do well as a senator because he understands legislative business.

    Read Also: Era of accidental leadership is over – ADC

    “We picked him because he is neutral. We are tired of these set of people parading themselves angling to represent us.

    “Our party will join other political parties who mean well for the country to wrestle power from the incumbent,” he said.

    Nwosu said the forthcoming election would be a referendum, instead of boycott of the elections as the secessionist groups.

    Earlier, the party’s senatorial candidate, Ezekwelu urged the people of the zone to say no to old politicians who, he described as perpetual failure.

  • PDP coming to put smile on faces of Nigerians — Obi

    Mr Peter Obi, Vice-Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), says that his party will bring back smiles to the faces of Nigerians when it wins the Feb. 16 presidential election.

    Obi said this while addressing newsmen before embarking on a roadshow in Awka on Tuesday.

    He said PDP would restore the country’s days of economic prosperity which had suffered set back under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    He said voting back the APC meant “prolonging the suffering in the land”.

    According to him, the country is collapsing under the watch of incompetent and incapable people; come out en mass on Feb. 16 and vote out this the APC controlled-government.

    “Nigeria has the highest number of poor people in the world today where about 90 millions are poor that is half of the population.

    “About 21 million youths are unemployed, nobody is happy with situation in the country today and any person that is happy with the situation is not a normal human being.

    “PDP is coming back to restore happiness and lessen the sufferings of the people,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Chairman of Atiku-Obi Presidential Campaign Council in Anambra, said the PDP was coming with positive ideas on how to rebuild Nigeria.

    Obaze expressed confidence on the chances of PDP to win the presidential election, saying Nigerians need a new lease of life.

    Read Also: ‘Only PDP candidates can attract development to Bayelsa’

    “PDP findings show that Nigerians are not happy with the present government of APC and re-electing them will worsen the sufferings of the people.

    “If you vote for the present government to return, things will be worse than we had in the last three years and half.

    “They made several promises in 2015 and they have not fulfilled any, we want to restore the economy and human dignity in the next four years,’’ he said.

    Obaze said there was nothing to show that PDP governors in South-East were against the Atiku/Obi ticket as no one had come out openly to say he was not supporting it.

    “The PDP governors in the South-East are solidly behind Atiku-Obi ticket, so there is no need to worry about,’’ he said.

  • ‘Media is key to credible polls’

    Dr Uche Ebeze, the Head, Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, says the media is key to credible, free and fair elections in the country.

    Ebeze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Awka that the media should be objective and avoid reporting fake news that could jeopardise the 2019 general elections.

    “The media are supposed to be objective, balanced, fair and critical in its analysis of issues. The issue of fake news is everywhere and the media should be careful not to use such stories,’’ he said.

    The don, however, said that some media organisations were doing well in election coverage by refusing to be partisan.

    “There are some media organisations that are doing well and have remained objective. In this election, the media should be balanced, objective and fair to expose any activities that will mar the process.

    “ This process will make our democracy grow,” he said.

    Ebeze said that the people are relying on the media for balanced information to judge the government and ensure the success of our democracy.

    He also advised election observers not to compromise their reports.

    “The observers should help the media to tell the observers the truth and be objective in their reports. When they (observers) are here, they appraise the elections to be free and fair.

    “When they leave the country, they say otherwise. They should be bold to say the truth,’’ he said.

    Ebeze called on the observers of the forthcoming to assist the press with objective reports to enable them report facts.

    NAN

  • Anambra hotel loses over N5m to fire

    Property worth millions of naira was on Saturday destroyed by fire at the bush bar section of the King David Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.

    The fire which started around 11.30 pm was said to have completely razed down the bar.

    The Nation gathered that the fire was caused by electric spark that touched the roof of the hotel’s thatched bush bar.

    The Senior Supervisor of the Hotel, Mr. Peter Uga, described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said the hotel lost over N5million to the inferno.

    Read Also: Woman ‘killed’ after sex in hotel

    Reacting, Director and Chief Fire Officer of the State, Engr. Martin Agbilli said he quickly mobilized his men to the scene following a distress call.

    He said, “I received a distress call from a spirited Nigerian who is not a staff of the hotel that the hotel was on fire.

    “I immediately mobilized and rushed to the place and we were able to put off the fire.”

    He advised residents to always cut off bushes 10meters away from their buildings, while the thatched roof in hotels or houses should be kept wet regularly to avoid cases of fire outbreak.

  • Court sacks Anambra APC chairman

    A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra on Thursday nullified the election of Mr Emeka Ibe as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Chief Uzochukwu Onyekwere, a member of the APC in Anambra and chairmanship aspirant had gone to court to contest the May 19 state elective congress that brought in Ibe, over unlawful exclusion.

    Defendants in the suit were Okey Ezea, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, Chairman of the APC Congress Committee in Anambra, Ibe, the acclaimed winner and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Onyekwere prayed the court that he was a bona-fide member of APC and was entitled to aspire for the office the party’s chairman in Anambra.

    He sought declaration that the exercise was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 20 of the APC constitution 2017 as amended.

    He said the intendment of those provisions was that all elections would be through democratic voting and that the exercise fell short of it.

    Ibeh sought a declaration that he would not be punished after seeking justice through the court and that the May 19, 2018 Anambra APC congress be set aside.

    In his over two hours ruling, Justice Bature Gafai dismissed the counter affidavits of defendants which contended that the court did not have jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal party affair.

    Gafai said the plaintiff being a bona-fide of the party and having paid the mandatory nomination fee had the right to fair contest.

    Read Also:Lagos commissioner resigns from Exco, APC

     

    He nullified the election into the APC chairmanship position and ordered a re-run which INEC should supervise.

    The judge who did not grant the damage of N100 million sought by the plaintiff however, did not give that for the repeat of the election.

    But in a swift reaction, Chief Tagbo Ike, counsel to the petitioner applauded the court for the judgment and speedy dispensation of justice.

    Ike, who described the election as a `sham’ said it was sad that a few people sat and produced their stooges as consensus and harmonised candidates and forced them on the people.

    Ike said he would convey judgment to the party hierarchy for appropriate action.

    The plaintiff, Onyekwere also lauded the court adding that he had been vindicated.

    Onyekwere said he would go back and prepare for a congress election that would reflect the minds of the generality of party faithful.

    “I thank God, if you must go to equity you have to go with clean hands, I have maintained that there was no congress in Anambra and the court has confirmed it.

    “I will go and prepare, if I win, I win and if I lose I will be happy that justice has been served,” he said.

  • Man nabbed with human parts in Awka

    A 19-year-old man, Sunday Owo, was on Thursday apprehended with fresh human parts at a healing home in Awka, Anambra.
    Owo was caught the genital organs, fingers and blood-filled bottle of a child suspected to have been killed by the man.

    The suspect, who was apprehended at the instance of the Proprietor of the healing home, Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Ilonzo, told newsmen that he hailed from Ohaukwu in Ebonyi.

    He said he was asked by one Blessing to get the human parts and bring them to a natural healing home in Awka for money ritual.

    He said that he paid Blessing N50, 000 for connecting him to the healing home.

    Owo confessed that the victim whose parts he had was about four years and that he killed him in a stream in his town and threw the head and other parts into the stream.

    “She brought me here two days ago and said that madam instructed her to tell me to bring these body parts that I will have money.

    “Her name is Blessing; she is also from Ebonyi state, but she said we can’t get these parts here, so we went back to Ebonyi state where I got it and brought it here.

    “I don’t know where blessing is now. I paid her N50, 000 for linking me up,” he said.

    Read Also:One killed, six injured in Awka auto crash in front of Govt. House

    But, Ilonzo, owner of Centre for Psychic Healing and Administration (CEPHA), Awka, said that she invited the media and the police on seeing such strange thing.

    “I and my staff were on ward-round after morning prayers when we saw the man with the human parts. He said he was looking for me as he had brought the items.

    “When the content of the black bag was opened, l instructed my staff not to let him go and invited security agencies and the media to witness what we saw.

    “One Blessing Eze had come for healing of fibroid and l gave her prescription after which she left but had not returned.

    “Eze’s consultation card bears Ifite-Awka as her address. This is some of the suspected frame-ups by people who wish to undo me.

    “I had witnessed such attempts in the past, including failed efforts to take my life,’’ she said.

    Ilonzo urged the Police to identify the owners of the child that was murdered and the Blessing working as his accomplice, saying that human life was sacred.

    The police at the scene arrested the man, and the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra command, SP Mohammed Haruna, said that investigation in the matter had commenced

    NAN

  • Buhari’s commitment to human rights unparalleled – Minister

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to respect to human rights and entrenching rule of law in Nigeria as unparalleled.

    Malami stated this in Awka, Anambra State during a visit of members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to the Nigeria Prisons Service, Amawbia.

    The Attorney General, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. William Alo, said the visit was primarily to identify and subsequently recommend inmates who were deserving of presidential pardon.

    He said, “The committee was inaugurated on August 28, 2018, to help President Buhari in the discharge of his responsibility of granting pardon to deserving convicts and ex-convicts as provided under Section one seven five of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He further explained that the committee was expected to be guided by rigorous criteria in ensuring that only deserving persons were considered for pardon.

    “The committee may also recommend a less severe form of punishment imposed on a convict for an offence among other mitigating measures as provided under the constitution,” Malami added.

    Read Also: How we plan to win 2019 election, by Buhari, Atiku

    On her part, Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice Barrister Uju Nwogu, lauded the compassionate disposition of the Buhari-led government, particularly in the periodic pardon of prisoners across the country.

    She disclosed that the state governor, Willie Obiano, had at the last Independence Day, granted pardon to seven prisoners, adding that such gesture were carried out four times in a year.

    “What you came here to do is in tandem with what the present administration in the state was doing. Governor Obiano exercises his power of prerogative of mercy four times yearly,” she added.

    Nwogu further praised the commitment of prison officers towards the cleaniness of the prison environment which had reflected on the neatness and healthy appearances of the inmates.