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Tag: Chief Osita Chidoka

  • Stop killings, kidnappings, embrace peace, Chidoka tells Igbo youths

    Stop killings, kidnappings, embrace peace, Chidoka tells Igbo youths

    Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has called on Igbo youths to put an end to the rising cases of killings and kidnappings in the region and embrace peace.

    Chidoka made the appeal in Achina, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, during the 4th Ofala festival of the community and the 14th anniversary of its monarch, Igwe Nnaemeka Obiora, on the throne. 

    The occasion also saw the traditional ruler bestow chieftaincy titles on 18 individuals, including President Bola Tinubu’s ally, Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, who was honored with the title of “Enyimba” (The People’s Elephant).

    Speaking as the chairman of the event, Chidoka expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of violence in the region, particularly in Anambra State. 

    He lamented that the Igbo, known for their entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, are now being overshadowed by acts of violence.

    Prominent figures, including former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, attended the ceremony, further highlighting the significance of the event.

    Chidoka emphasised the need for unity and a return to the values that define the Igbo people, urging the youth to focus on building their communities rather than engaging in destructive activities.

    “Culture is not static but dynamic as we learn from other cultures and will continue to be civilised. Igbo have a rich cultural heritage, glorious past and rich future as true democrats.

    “We believe in freedom, not on holding people hostage. I want to urge you to sustain the tempo. This will bring a lasting solution, and development.

    “The insecurity in southeast has become worrisome. The Igbo were not known for killings but as industrious, peaceful, accommodating and lovely. 

    Read Also: Osita Chidoka quits PDP

    “Tell your brothers and sisters that we are hardworking people. We are not known for killings and kidnapping. There is no home of community in Igbo land you will come today and they will show a successful retired kidnapper, killer or criminal.

    “We make money through hardworking. But you can see the house or someone who retired as a successful business man or civil servant.

    “Let us renew our commitment in building a successful society where love, peace and unity will rule forever by joining hands in fighting insecurity. 

    “That is the only way Igbo land will be save for us. You remember that when someone is pursued at the foreign land, he will return to his home country. If we don’t fight kidnapping, killings and other Criminalities, where would will run to as homes when we are pursued abroad?”

    The monarch praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for driving development in the Achina community through extensive road infrastructure projects and efforts to combat the erosion menace.

    KC Ezeanyika, a lawyer and the traditional Prime Minister of Achina, noted that the individuals honored had distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the community and society, making their selection deliberate and well-deserved.

    Among the prominent chieftaincy title recipients were Chief Emeka Dimude, Chief Sebastian Ezechukwu, Chief Kenechukwu Obieli, Engr. Cletus Ezenwa, and Cyril Okpala.

    Goodwill messages to Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, one of the honorees, came from notable figures, including Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd), Babatunde Fashola, SAN, former Lagos State Governor, Sen. Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment, Femi Adesina, former Presidential Spokesman, Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, Justice O.O. Fadipe, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Nigeria’s former diplomat, and Catholic Pontiff Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, among others.

  • Anambra 2017: Chidoka emerges UPP candidate

    Anambra 2017: Chidoka emerges UPP candidate

    A former Minister Of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP) in Anambra.

    Chidoka beat his opponent, Chief Chudi Offodile in the primary congress held in Awka on Saturday.

    Announcing the result, the Chairman of UPP National Congress Committee, Chris Uche, said Chidoka polled 1,222 votes against 87 polled by Offodile from total 1,309 valid votes cast.

    Uche, who is deputy Chairman of the Party (South) described the exercise as transparent and successful.

    “Based on this figures from this transparent exercise held before all of you here, we declare Chief Osita Chidoka winner and return him as the gubernatorial candidate of UPP in the Nov. 18 election in Anambra,’’ he said.

    Uche, however, announced that Offodile withdrew from the primary election before voting commenced.

    “And to put it in a simple way, Offodile withdrew this morning even when he was with us last night and earlier today,’’ he said.

    In his acceptance speech, Chidoka lauded the members of the party for believing in him, while promising to make UPP the ruling party in Anambra in the next administration.

    He called every member of the party to eschew bitterness and join hands with him in the task ahead.

    “I most sincerely thank members of our great party, delegates, primary committee and all the officials.

    “I am extending hands of fellowship to everybody, including those that pulled out in the last minute; I am calling on them to join hands in the task of the election.

    “Democracy is all about dialogue and negotiation, but as you can see 1,400 delegates out of 1, 630 coming to be accredited shows that the election has been very successful.

    “Our members at the grassroots are united in one accord to nominate a candidate truly represent the party and give it the opportunity to form the next government in Anambra,’’ he said.

  • Chidoka dumps PDP for UPP

    Chidoka dumps PDP for UPP

    A chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Osita Chidoka, said he would defect to another political party to enable him to realise his governorship aspiration in Anambra.

    Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday and said that he would dump PDP for United Progressive Party (UPP) on Wednesday.

    The statement by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Mr Bright Nebedum, said Chidoka would declare for the UPP in his hometown, Obosi.

    It explained that Chidoka’s decision to move to another political party was in furtherance of his political aspiration.

    It said that the declaration, the former minister would unveil his plans and vision “towards redirecting the fortunes of Anambra and restoring its lost political and economic glory’’.

    The statement added that Chidoka stood out with his reputation as a forthright administrator and manager of resources and had never failed in any assignment.

    It noted that before becoming minister in 2014, he showed his mettle as the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

    It said that the Chidoka already commanded overwhelming support from various segments of Anambra citizenry.

    “Chidoka already commands overwhelming support from various segments of Anambra citizenry on which we will leverage to run a robust, all-inclusive and broad-based governorship election campaign,” the statement said.

    The governorship in Anambra has been fixed for Nov. 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     

     

  • Obasanjo to youths: Don’t wish us dead, you still need our mentoring

    Obasanjo to youths: Don’t wish us dead, you still need our mentoring

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday pleaded with the nation’s youth not to wish elders in the country “dead”, saying they need them as “mentors” and “advisers” in their journey of life.

    Obasanjo who stated that his “greatest fear about Nigeria” today remained the “anger and frustration of the youths,” said if not managed, it could lead to “youth explosion.”

    He lamented that Nigerian youths are not getting help either from the government or anybody.

    The Ebora Owu who spoke during the Youth Governance Dialogue organized by the Youth Development Centre arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said while his generation had “limitless opportunities but no facilities” in their time, the youth of today have facilities but little or no opportunities.

    He cited the insurgency in the North East, the separatist agitators in the South East and militancy in the Niger Delta region as manifestations of anger and frustrations from disillusioned youths, warning that should youth explosion erupts, there may be no limit to the extent it can spread.

    He appealed to them to work hard to help themselves and be ready to pay the price for the right cause they believe, saying in spite of all odds, the youth still remained his greatest hope for Nigeria.

    Obasanjo noted that when he left secondary school, he received letters of appointments from five establishments and wondered whether any Nigerian university graduate could have such opportunities today.

    “Don’t wish us dead, don’t wish us to disappear because you will need us. You need us mentors and advisers to mentor and prepare you for the future. You need our experience and assistance of some of us to guide you through life.

    “You should not lose hope, you should not feel frustrated. Whenever I go, they always ask me what is my fear about Nigeria and Africa. And I said my greatest fear is youth anger, frustrations and youth explosion which have no bound.

    “We have the Boko haram in the north, the MASSOB and IPOB in the South East, the militants in the Niger Delta and the Oodua Peoples Congress in the Southwest. All of these are expression of anger and frustrations.

    “We have what it takes to be great as a nation and we can’t transform this country without the youths. My greatest hope in this country is also the youth. You the youth should work to help yourselves. You must be ready to pay the price for what you stand for,” Obasanjo said.

    The lead speaker at the occasion and former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka while speaking on the theme “Towards a Guiding Political Philosophy for a Democratic Nigeria,” advised that the nation’s leaders should build a society that harness human and material resources effectively, provide equal opportunities and develop capacity for innovation.

    Chidoka also proposed a new Charter for the country, saying the Charter should contain reasons for the country’s unity, and which guarantees the basic rights, privileges and obligations of citizens.

    “Our national aspirations should inspire the next generation and provide them with the existential meaning of Nigeria. A meaning that transcends geography, natural resources and ethnicity.

    “Our political parties can then build their ideologies around the strategies for the achieving our national goals,” he said.

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal also attended the conference.

  • Fuel scarcity: More domestic airlines cancel flights

    Fuel scarcity: More domestic airlines cancel flights

    The scarcity of aviation is biting harder as more domestic airlines cancel flights.

    At the general aviation terminal of Lagos Airport passengers remain stranded as airline officials run around to scout for fuel.

    DANA Air yesterday said it was cancelling its flights due to the scarcity of Jet A- One.

    A statement by the airline reads: ”Dear Esteemed Guest, due to the current scarcity of Jet-A1 fuel, we regret to inform that our flights cannot operate as scheduled. Visit www.flydanaair.com or contact the call centre and airport offices for updates.

    We sincerely apologize for all inconveniences this might have caused you and wish to assure that normal operations will resume as soon as aviation fuel is available. Thanks for your understanding and patronage.”

    Speaking at forum yesterday minister of aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka said there is need to work a permanent solution to the problem of fuel .

    He said Nigeria with its huge potentials should not have problems with fuel supply when countries like Ethiopia without crude oil has fuel to run its airlines.

  • ‘Aviation requires $50b investment to grow’

    ‘Aviation requires $50b investment to grow’

    Aviation Minster, Chief Osita Chidoka said yesterday that the aviation industry requires about $50 billion investment to grow the sector in the next 28 years.

    Chidoka said that the aviation sector which currently contributes less than one per cent to the gross domestic product, is under-performing because of insufficient funding , weak regulatory institutions, poor performance by domestic airlines, as well as huge indebtedness.

    He spoke at one day Aviation Executives Business Forum ( AEBF), in Lagos.

    He said that Nigerian aviation sector would not grow, owing largely to low direct investment , funding deficiencies, untapped regional opportunities for domestic airlines, weak corporate governance, under-utilised bilateral air services agreement, poor incentives for private sector participation and under financed domestic carriers.

    Chidoka said the aviation industry could only grow if there are appropriate policies, financial incentives , increased foreign direct investment, stimulation of local direct investment, reduction of industry risks , as well as expansion of aviation financing by banks tailored for the sector’s requirement.

    He listed equity investments through attractive and competitive incentives across the aviation value chain , facilitation of government intervention and guarantees to boost industry performance, a some of the ways out of the situation.

    Chidoka said the industry would improve if airline operators and other investors improve corporate governance and enterprise risks of industry operators , liberalisation of airspace through the implementation of regional initiatives, including the Yamoussoukro Decision , revision of intervention fund model as well facilitation of more robust sector financing framework.

    He said: ”We have to stimulate the volume of aviation finance to drive the next level of industry growth.

    Chief Osita Chidoka, Minister of Aviation said that the aviation industry contributed $0.7 billion (N137.9 billion) in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

  • Chidoka orders probe into aircraft damage at Lagos Airport

    Chidoka orders probe into aircraft damage at Lagos Airport

    Minster of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka has ordered  that the destruction of the wind shield of three DORNIER Jets parked at the apron  of the old domestic wing of the Lagos Airport  be investigated.

    The minister said the probe would ascertain the cause of the incident.

    Chidoka said he received complaints from the aircraft owner, who is disturbed over the state of security at the airside.

    He said it was too early to establish sabotage as the reason for the destruction of the wind shield of the three aircraft  as alleged in some quartets .

    Chidoka said he had_General of the Department of State Services ( DSS ) , which officials have begun investigations to fish out those behind the act.

    The minister said: “The ministry has received complaints from the Chairman of Air Peace over the destruction of the wind shield of his three DORNIER Jets parked at the apron of the old domestic terminal of the Lagos Airport.

    He is very worried over the unfortunate development and is suspecting sabotage . I have assured him that we will find out what happened,  because this is unacceptable.

    I have reported the matter to the director general of State Security Services,  I can assure you that the matter is being investigated. “

    The minister also spoke of plans to improve security at airports, urging security personnel and others to step up measures to improve access control.

    He said security agencies including the Nigeria Air Force are assisting to implement new measures at airports.

    Last  month, the minister ordered a review of the state of security at all airport terminals.

    Chidoka noted that the FAA Category 1 status has provided the ministry opportunity to review all its security details and ensure safety of air passengers, saying he has ordered all the airline operators and airport officials to comply with the modus operandi.

    Acknowledging the remodelling of the airport terminals by the former Aviation Minister, Stella Odua, Chidoka said all resources would be deployed to upgrading of security at the airport and ensuring safety of passengers, in line with global standard.

    He said: “That is why I have ordered a total review of security at the airport with a view that they meet global best practices.

    “My predecessor has already focused on the remodelling of the terminal building, so there is nothing much to do about that, except to finish what is being done, so we need to move away from that and focus on the security and safety of passengers.

    He noted that the ministry is making sure that there is an alignment between the safety on air and security of passengers at the terminal building.

    “While we want the passenger to move in more comfortable manner, we don’t want to compromise the security of the airport, so our major strategy is to begin to look into the security component of our work.