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Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu ex-deputy governor seeks reinstatement

    Impeached Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, has filed a suit before an Enugu State High Court challenging his impeachment.

    He is  asking the court to declare his removal from office by the Enugu State House of Assembly as illegal, null and void.

    To argue Onyebuchi’s case is a group of five senior lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Femi Falana.

    In the Suit no E/373/2014 filed on September 30, 2014, the former deputy governor is asking the court to determine whether the State Assembly could initiate removal or impeachment proceedings against him for the purposes of removing him from office when he had not committed a gross misconduct in the performance of  his functions as the state Deputy Governor.

    The Speaker of the State Assembly, Eugene Odoh, 23 lawmakers, the Enugu State House of Assembly, and the new Deputy Governor, Pastor Ifeanyi Nwoye were listed as defendants.

    In the originating summons, Onyebuchi contends that having regard to the clear provisions of Section 188(2) and Section 188 (11) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation (as amended) and the momentous decision of the Apex Court of the land in INAKOJU AND ORS VS ADELEKE AND ORS (2007) 4 NWLR ( Pt. 1025) 423, his purported impeachment was illegal, null and void.

    Questions for determination in the suit are: “Whether the Enugu State House of Assembly could initiate removal or impeachment proceedings against His Excellency Sunday Onyebuchi, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State for the purposes of removing him from office when he had not committed a gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Enugu State.

  • Enugu rehabilitates UNTH roads

    Enugu rehabilitates UNTH roads

    The Enugu State Government is extending its massive road reconstruction to federal institutions. It has begun the construction of roads within the Federal Government-owned University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla.

    The internal roads at the UNTH are about 5.6 kilometres while the contract sum was put at N680 million. The rehabilitation would include drainage and culverts where necessary.

    The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Godwin Madueke, who spoke on behalf of thr government at the flag-off ceremony, said the state government would not relent in its effort to positively touch the lives of the people through the provision of basic infrastructure and social services.

    The commissioner further explained that the government was prompted to intervene in the rehabilitation of the UNTH roads as a result of several requests and complaints about the unpleasant condition of the roads by patients and staff of the hospital.

    According to him, the UNTH is not the first institution to benefit from the state government’s roads reconstruction programme. He added: “We are working on the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State College of Education and University of Nigeria, Nsukka roads.

    He said the government’s decision was informed by the needs and yearnings of the people in the state, despite the fact that some of the institutions belonged to the Federal Government.

    The Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Dr. Christopher Amah expressed gratitude to the state government for coming to the aid of the teaching hospital. “Our joy knows no bound,” he said.

    The Managing Director of Zarcus Nigeria Limited, the construction firm handling the rehabilitation project, Mr. Shuaib Adu Ojo promised to deliver according to specification. “I want to say we are credible. All things being equal, we can beat the deadline.

    Members of the community hosting the UNTH, staff and patients who were present during the flag-off narrated ugly ordeals while plying the roads. They said at every portion of the roads, one had to make a halt even with patients who require urgent attention.

    “The roads had been terrible and embarrassing. They affect the efficiency of services at the hospital,” said one member of staff of the hospital.

  • Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    •Chime: I didn’t anoint Ugwuanyi  

    •Enugu PDP ratifies consensus candidate

    The caucus of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over its consensus candidate.

    But Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been accused of masterminding the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives member Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s consensus candidate, has denied any wrongdoing.

    Many prominent members of the party boycotted last Saturday’s caucus meeting to show their disapproval of what they called a brazen attempt by one man and a few people around him to impose an unpopular candidate on the party.

    Among the party’s stalwarts who stayed away from the meeting are: Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jnr, former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia and Senator Ayogu Eze, who has been insisting that the party should hold a primary instead of ratifying a consensus candidate.

    Others include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who was said to be away in the United States, and several prominent members of the caucus.

    It was learnt that Chime tried to convince opponents of consensus to attend the meeting, calling them severally on his phone.

    Some of the leaders reportedly said they would not allow the governor to use them as the rubberstamp to his “handpicked candidate”.

    They wondered why the governor suddenly began to show them affection, after allegedly alienating them for about eight years.

    “The governor never took the call of any leader of Enugu State for nearly eight years. I will be a fool to fall for this emergency love. It’s a Greek gift,” one of the party’s chieftains, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter.

    It was also learnt that the governor changed his “usual” authoritative voice for a conciliatory tone to persuade the members to toe his line.

    Some of those at the meeting said they were surprised by the haste with which it was conducted.

    They also alleged that nobody was allowed to comment or move the motion on the consensus controversy.

    Some of the party’s stalwarts said they would not attend the meeting because the consensus candidacy violated the party’s constitution.

    “There is no way I would have joined them to flout the instruction and guidelines of the party. No way! The PDP constitution is superior to any individual in the party, no matter how highly placed,” another party chieftain said.

    But Chime denied the allegation that he masterminded Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the consensus candidate.

    The governor addressed reporters at the weekend after the caucus meeting of the PDP, saying members of the party chose the lawmaker.

    Chime, who gave a rundown of how Ugwuanyi was endorsed by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship is zoned to, dismissed insinuations that he imposed him on the party.

    The governor said party members from the three senatorial zones chose Ugwuanyi.

    He said: “I was there as the umpire; I didn’t participate in the deliberations. Mine was to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak was given the chance to speak.

    “All those who indicated interest one way or the other were there. All elected officials – government, public officers, state and national – were there. Past and present leaders were there. So, we met and, unanimously at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion. Many of the aspirants stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    “Those who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to just endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. “Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons who moved and supported the motion were actually contestants who stepped down. Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former Deputy Governor Okey Itanyi. The motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it.

    “When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single person raised his hand. So, they all endorsed it.”

    Chime explained that marketing his preferred candidate would not be difficult because of what he called his wide acceptability.

    The governor said his hope and prayers were to make history as the first governor whose successor emerged through a consensus.

    He stressed that it would be fool-hardy for anybody to challenge the lawmaker, either at the PDP primary election or at the general election next February.

    On the statement by the party’s national leadership, warning state chapters against endorsing candidates, Chime noted that instead of the warning, the party should pat states on the back for having consensus candidates through dialogue.

    He said: “The party cannot and will never be against the party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, is if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here, people are free to buy forms. We endorsed the President as a consensus candidate. It won’t stop him from going for the primaries.

    “But it will be a mere formality. Any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken. But it can’t stop anybody from buying form constitutionally.

    “That we have endorsed him (Ugwuanyi) is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken. But if you like, the party wants to make some money. If you like, you can pick your form. Nobody will stop anybody from buying forms. Buy your form and go for the primaries. What you find, you will take. Nobody is going against the party directives.

    “I’m not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from contesting.

    “Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja. Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms. If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat, for coming together to say this is our choice.”

    According to him, almost all the aspirants, who initially indicated interest to run for the governorship seat, have backed Ugwuanyi, who represents Udenu/Igboeze North in the National Assembly.

    Chime described the development as a major feat and an example for other states to learn from.

    “All of them (aspirants) have queued behind him, as far as I know. If it had not been by a consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. As at today, it is only Senator Ayogu Eze who is opposing the arrangement, for reasons best known to him,” he said.

    Also, the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has approved Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate.

    Rising from a special meeting yesterday at the Government House in Enugu, the caucus reviewed the series of endorsements for Ugwuanyi by the three senatorial districts’ caucuses.

    The motion for his adoption was moved by a House of Representatives member, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by a former PDP National Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rex Onyeabor.

    The caucus assured Ugwuanyi of its support to win the election.

    The party said it had not barred any aspirant from contesting the governorship election, if such a person insists on participating in the primary.

    In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, the party explained that the clarification was necessary because of the “erroneous impression” in some sections of the media through an aggrieved aspirant.

    The party said the aspirant claimed that he was denied the right to participate in the governorship primary election.

    It stressed that the PDP in Enugu State had always resolved its matters through dialogue and consultations with the people.

    The Enugu PDP said such approach had always worked for the party, adding that it had never stopped other aspirants from participating in its primaries.

    It wondered why a major beneficiary of the process was raising what it called a false alarm to whip up negative sentiments against the party.

    The party stressed that the choice of Ugwuanyi did not foreclose the planned governorship primary or prevent other aspirants from taking part.

    It said Ugwuanyi would still go through the primary election to be voted for by the delegates, with other aspirants who insist on contesting.

    At the meeting were Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Governor Ralph Nwoye, State Chairman Vita Abba, Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly took permission that he was out of the country and would abide by the outcome of the meeting.

    Other apologies were said to have been received from Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia and Senator Fidelis Okoro.

    Ugwuanyi is expected to be presented to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party this week for final endorsement before the governorship primary.

  • Enugu’s troubled consensus

    A contradiction is playing out in Enugu State following the adoption of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming elections. Reports had it that Ugwuanyi’s emergence was the outcome of a stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Sullivan Chime for all governorship aspirants from Enugu North senatorial district where the governorship was zoned. In that meeting, many of the aspirants were said to have stepped down for Ugwuanyi culminating in the adoption of a motion to have him as the sole candidate of the party in the 2015 elections.

    But the matter did not go down well with one of the leading aspirants and Senate’s works committee chairman, Ayogu Eze who was also at the meeting where the consensus was purportedly arrived at. Eze has alleged that he was invited to the meeting without being privy of its agenda and questioned the process that threw up the so-called consensus candidate. He had contended that the meeting was arranged to produce a pre-determined outcome leaving other aspirants without any choice and vowed to pursue his governorship ambition to its logical conclusion.

    Eze further questioned the democratic credentials of such a kangaroo arrangement that did not seek the views of all the aspirants before the final decision was taken.

    Since then, accusations have been levied from the camps of those opposed to the consensus arrangement and its supporters. A pressure group in the state condemned it on the grounds that it is a “desecration of democratic norms and internal democracy”.

    But some others have sought to fault Eze arguing that the process was democratic as it is in tandem with the PDP constitution 2012, as amended. One of such persons was Justina Eze, a member of the Board of Trustees BOT of the party. The BOT member feared that the chances of the zone producing the governor could be imperiled if Senator Eze continues to vilify the process leading to the consensus.

    As things stand, the Enugu East caucus of the party has also in a meeting at Government House endorsed Ugwuanyi as the consensus candidate with the West senatorial zone about to cue in. Despite the issues raised by Eze, all indications are that Ugwuanyi’s adoption is a fait accompli. It does not appear there is much Eze can do as Chime who is driving the process will likely have his way given the much abused incumbency factor. Soon, we may begin to see all manner of hurdles placed on the road to the ambition of Eze for daring to challenge the decision of the incumbent.

    But the issues that have been thrown up by this singular exercise cannot be wished away despite whatever merits there is in the consensus option.

    Inherent in them are posers as to the justification for a consensus contrivance that does not really offer any choice to other candidates because the processes leading to it were shrouded in secrecy. To what extent then can we rightly argue that such an option approximates the pristine tenets of representative democracy when it is deliberately manipulated to produce a known outcome?

    It would appear that is the point Eze is making. He does not seem to be against consensus as a policy. He is not particularly against Ugwuanyi as a person. He is against the absence of rigorous negotiations before the meeting where Ugwuanyi was adopted was convened. Had such discussions been in motion and invitees to the meeting told its agenda, the current controversy would have been minimized.

    It would appear to me that the senator reacted the way he did because the decision took him unawares. He may have put in so much in the pursuit of his ambition with high hopes to sail through. He may also have made plans the next day for the same purpose. For such an aspirant to attend a seemingly innocuous meeting, only to have his ambition dashed in one fell swoop is definitely bound to ruffle shoulders. His predicament should be appreciated. What it has brought to the fore, is the conflict we trigger off when we abridge that freedom of choice that stands out democracy as the most admired form of governance framework. It is for the same reason that some people constantly pick holes with the issue of zoning.

    Before now, we have been told of the array of choices which democracy promotes. If it is executed in its pure form, it will have no room for the contrived consensus that was the outcome of the Enugu North caucus meeting. It will also not admit the zoning of the governorship position to that zone. Zoning and the consensus option have their limitations when democracy is conceived in its pure form. But they are not entirely out of place within the democratic process. The issue is not just a rejection of consensus or zoning, but the logic, fairness and equity of the processes that produce them.

    The raging controversy in the Enugu case should be seen in this light. It is not a vote of no confidence in those options but a demand for them not to be turned into a tool by those in authority to subvert the collective will of the people. After all, Eze accepted the zoning of the governorship slot to the north without raising eyebrows. His opponents may finger a contradiction in his accepting zoning with one hand and rejecting consensus with the other. They may also raise questions regarding his silence when the two other zones were shunted out of the governorship race just to allow the north which has not had a shot at it take their turn. That issue can be raised. And the argument can go on and on. But the fact that the zoning of the governorship post to the north commanded general acceptance showed it was considered fair and equitable. There was sufficient evidence to support such a proposition. Same was not the case with the consensus option. The process ought to have been preceded by weeks of negotiations among the aspirants and their leaders. Apart from preparing their minds that primaries are likely to be streamlined, it will save them the energy and huge expenditure that have become part and parcel of electioneering campaigns on these shores.

    Moreover, if all of them had been taken into confidence, those who considered their chances slim, may have chickened out of the race leaving the most serious ones who can then be engaged in the consensus discussions.

    It is true that consensus may not satisfy all, just as direct primaries will leave a lot of casualties in its trail. But serious efforts must be made to build such consensus in both word and deed. We cannot build consensus when a behemoth somewhere sits in his bedroom and decrees his anointed person as the candidate. That is the issue that played out in the Enugu case. And that is why it is generating so much heat. Chime may have his way after all. But those whose ambitions he dashed in that abrupt manner are also within their rights to impugn the process.

  • Enugu East PDP backs Ugwuanyi

    Enugu East PDP backs Ugwuanyi

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu East Senatorial District has endorsed House of Representatives member and the party’s candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for next year’s governorship election.

    The Enugu State chapter of the PDP zoned the governorship ticket to the North Senatorial District because it had not had a shot at it since 1992, when Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was governor.

    Ugwuanyi has one senatorial district to endorse him to become the consensus candidate.

    Governor Sullivan Chime and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu hail from Enugu West.

    Chime, who was in company of the party’s State Chairman Vita Abba, briefed members of the caucus on the emergence of Ugwuanyi at last Friday’s meeting.

    The governor said the meeting was meant to present the candidate to the caucus for their assessment and possible endorsement.

  • Ugwuanyi emerges Enugu PDP consensus candidate

    Ugwuanyi emerges Enugu PDP consensus candidate

    •Eze: I’m aspirant for Enugu governorship seat  

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus candidate for Enugu State in the 2015 governorship election.

    But his endorsement, which elicited a lot of excitement among the residents at the weekend, has aroused bad blood between him and another aspirant, Senator Ayogu Eze.

    It was learnt that the Enugu North Senatorial District Caucus of the PDP met with the aspirants to agree on a consensus candidate.

    A source said Governor Sullivan Chime spearheaded the meeting to reduce bitterness among the aspirants.

    When the meeting ended, party faithful reportedly cheered up Ugwuanyi,  singing victory songs and praises.

    The crowd was ecstatic that Ugwuanyi (aka Gburugburu) was adopted.

    One of them, Jude Eneh, described Ugwuanyi as a humble and peace-loving gentleman, who would build bridges, sustain the development in the state and keep the PDP intact.

    Also, there was jubilation in the six local government areas in the zone when the news of the endorsement filtered in.

    Before the endorsement, a source at the meeting had told our reporter that Ugwuanyi would be chosen because the governor had pleaded with the caucus that he preferred a candidate who would unite the party and sustain his administration’s development.

    Chime reportedly advised the members of the caucus to lay out a plan to bring out a consensus candidate who would be presented to the other zones before the state caucus and the State Executive Committee of the party for endorsement.

    Following the governor’s intervention, it was learnt that the state chairman, who was also an aspirant, Vita Abba, addressed the caucus and stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    Abba was quoted to have said that Ugwuanyi was the most suitable aspirant since he possesses the virtues the party expected from its candidate.

    After the chairman stepped down, nine of the other 11 aspirants also stepped down.

    The caucus requested that a motion be moved for his adoption as the consensus candidate.

    It was moved by Fidel Ayogu and seconded by the former Deputy Governor Okechukwu Itanyi.

    Before the motion was adopted, the governor reportedly asked the aspirants if any of them opposed the motion. The motion was unanimously adopted by a voice vote when there was no objection.

    Those who stepped down for Ugwuanyi are Abba, Eddy Ugwu, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, Pat Asadu, Prince Mathew Agu, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, Prof. Osita Ogbu, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and Dan Onyishi.

    Chime advised Ugwuanyi to mend fences with those who refused to step down for him.

    Ugwuanyi has reportedly visited one of those who declined to step down, Eugene Odo, the House of Assembly Speaker. He held a closed-door meeting with him.

    The outcome of the meeting was not made public last night.

    Ugwuanyi is billed to meet other stakeholders in the next few days.

    Also, Eze, who chairs the Senate Committee on Works, has said he remains an aspirant in the race for next year’s Enugu State governorship seat.

    Eze made the clarification yesterday to oppose the alleged endorsement of Ugwuanyi.

    In a statement in Abuja, titled: I am Still the Candidate to Beat for Enugu Government House 2015, the senator said he would not step down for any “anointed” candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the consensus candidate of various interest groups in the state should be allowed to test their acceptability at a primary election to determine who flies the PDP flag for the governorship election.

    The statement said: “I’ve been inundated by calls and personal visits by my supporters, who have expressed worry and outrage about reports purporting that a consensus candidate has been anointed for Enugu State 2015 governorship election. My supporters are particularly worried by the aspect of the story claiming that I have stepped down for the anointed candidate.

    “I wish to state clearly and unambiguously that I have not and will not step down for any anointed candidate. I’m still squarely in the race for the Enugu Lion Building in 2015.

    “I was invited to a meeting of a gathering of the people of my senatorial district, presided over by the governor at the Governor’s Lodge in Enugu on Friday, September 26, 2014.

    “Prior to our arrival at the Government House, the agenda of the meeting was not circulated; neither was the criterion for selecting those attending the meeting made known to me.

    “At the meeting, I pointedly stated that although I was in their midst in a sort of an ambush, I was not bound by their decision, to which I believe they were entitled. It is their inalienable right to choose a consensus candidate in the same manner that to my supporters and well wishers I’m also a consensus candidate.

    “I look forward to all the consensus candidates of the various interest groups meeting in the field at the PDP governorship primaries on November 29, to test who, among the various consensus blocs, is numerically stronger.

    “Democracy is about elections and the will of the people. Those elements of democracy will be put to test when we arrive on the field for the primaries.

    “I’ll gladly accept the outcome of the primaries and go the extra mile to work for the party with resources and whatever it will take to give the opponents of the PDP a run for their money.

    “Let me state categorically that my respect for the governor and leader of PDP in Enugu State is not diminished in anyway by this development. My loyalty to the party is also unalloyed.

    “I urge the party to do the right thing by providing a level-playing field for all legitimate aspirants and consensus to express themselves in a truly democratic and fair manner…”

  • ‘Enugu to deliver best diagnostic centre’

    Enugu State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Goddy Madueke, has said the Sullivan Chime administration will deliver one of the best diagnostic centres in the country on a one-stop complex.

    The commissioner spoke in Enugu when he conducted reporters round the complex, which is under construction.

    He said the project “is part of the vision of Governor Chime to deliver a comprehensive health care system for the people before he vacates office”.

    Madueke said the project was conceived to be one of the best in structure, equipment and medical facilities.

    The commissioner said the governor yearned for an all-round improved health system, adding that a better treatment starts with a good diagnosis.

    He said this prompted the administration to establish the world-class diagnostic centre.

    The four-storey complex, which is located at the former temporary site of trade fair ground, was vacated by the State Chamber of Commerce.

    It is located on Abakaliki Road and is expected to be completed by next January.

    Madueke said: “Apart from providing a big structure, we are going to provide the latest and best equipment from renowned manufacturers in the world. We are also making sure that those who are going to manage the facilities are well trained to realise the aim of the project.

    “Enugu state will be the destination point for diagnostic demands of Nigerians when the facility becomes fully operational.”

  • Enugu declares work free day for Jonathan’s rally

    The Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime has declared Thursday, 25th September, 2014 a work free day in Enugu State.
    A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chuks Ugwoke said this was to enable Enugu State citizens and other residents to participate fully in the rally in honour of President Goodluck  Jonathan, organized by the Enugu State Movement for the Re-election of President Jonathan (EMJ).
    The grand rally will hold  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu by 10 am
    According to the Statement, all schools, markets, banks and other financial institutions in Enugu State, will be closed on that date as
    a consequence of the work free day.
    It further advised relevant authorities are to take note of this directive while urging Enugu citizens to honour the President by
    turning out en-masse at the rally.

  • Auto firm to open in Enugu

    Tetralog Nigeria Limited will  today open a shop for Mercedes-Benz customers as it opens  its ultra-modern sales and service centre  at the high- brow area of Enugu City, on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu State.

    The sales and service centre comprises a showroom for new Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a workshop for maintenance of Mercedes-Benz  vehicles.

    According to the Managing Director of Tetralog Nigeria Limited,  Onuorah Nnabugwu, the centre “is still work in progress”, adding that it will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to meet the needs of the firm’s customers.

    He said what was being inaugurated was the first phase of the project, and that arrangements had been concluded in line with the Federal Government’s new automotive policy to produce locally automobile  superstructures, such as water/fuel tankers, troop carriers, refuse disposal vehicles, closed steel body.

    He said the completion of the project would create employment  for the citizens, especially for the youth in its host community.

    Head, Sales,Tetralog Nigeria Limited, Gabriel C Ndu, said  prominent transporters and other dignitaries were being expected at the ceremony.

     

  • Robbers kill couple, police orderly in Enugu

    A couple planning to wed last Saturday in Enugu was killed on Friday night by unknown gunmen.

    Three others, including a police orderly, were said to have been killed by the robbers.

    The couple, it was learnt, intended to wed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

    Police spokesman, Ebere Amarizu, said the gunmen robbed a filling station in the area and killed its manager.

    The groom was identified as Uzochukwu Eze.

    He was said to be in company of his bride when the robbers killed them at the filling station.

    Eze was said to have his wife-to-be in the car with the intention to drop her off at her home.

    When the robbers were escaping through Nike Lake Resort Road, they killed the police orderly attached to the wife of the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area.

    The police orderly was said to have alighted from the vehicle to ease the traffic at the Timber Market end of the road when the hoodlums disarmed and killed him.