The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Laz Ekwueme

  • Erosion: Buhari to declare state of emergency in Anambra

    The people of Orumba North and Orumba South in Anambra have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency to the unending erosion disaster in the federal constituency.

    They made the request in Abuja on Friday when the traditional and town union leaders, led by the member representing the federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep Ben Nwankwo, visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The lawmaker told State House Correspondents after the meeting that the disaster was beyond the capacity of the affected communities and the state to handle.

    He said that the disaster required urgent intervention of both the federal government and international agencies.

    “We are here on a triple mission; the first is to commend the federal government of Nigeria through the Vice President on their very gargantuan input toward the burial of (late) Dr Alex Ekwueme.

    “The second mission is to notify them of the war going on in Orumba North and South between erosion and the people as to who owns the land.

    “While there is Boko Haram in the North East there is `erosion Haram’ in the South East particularly in Anambra state.

    “The Agulu-Oko-Nanka, down to Umunze is the deepest gully erosion in the country and we have notified the Vice President of this situation; about 100 houses have caved in and hundreds of people rendered homeless.

    “They are squatting at various places and we are asking for international intervention especially in the area of survey, risk assessment, mapping and ecological engineering.

    “But most importantly, the site in-toto should be declared ecological emergency to give it the attention it rightly deserves so that the international community should be able to come into it, otherwise the next two years there will be more disaster.’’

    Nwankwo said that the third plea was to ask the federal government to upgrade the two federal institutions in the area to degree-awarding institutions.

    They are the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Orumba North and the Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze in Orumba South.

    He explained that the request was to ensure that both institutions did not continue to produce manpower that would not be utilized by the industry.

    The lawmaker stated that the request was trendy and international adding that more than 13 countries had such polytechnic universities.

    Nwankwo commended the President in the onerous task of fixing Nigeria.

    The Rep said that the declaration of the erosion emergency was not essentially a legislative process but one that could be started by the executive.

    He said the communities had properly situated it with the executive domain and promised that when the leadership tabled it before the National Assembly, it would receive positive attention.

    Nwankwo said that the legislative instrument that would back the request was already before the National Assembly.

    The traditional ruler of Oko, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, added that the erosion situation in the region had continued to grow worse with every rain and called for urgent help by the federal government.

    “We are pleading and praying and urging the government to do everything possible to start work on it with international help.

    “It is beyond the community, beyond the state even beyond the federal government but it can initiate the process of getting outside bodies to assist.

    “We are in the great danger of losing the whole communities and beyond; whatever the media can do to help to urge everybody to come to assist and to save our souls we will appreciate it,’’ the monarch said.

    NAN

     

  • Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday described late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as fearless and an epitome of integrity.

    He said this in his remarks at the Service of Songs and Night of Tribute in Abuja for the late Second Republic Vice President who died in a London Hospital on November 19, 2017 at 85.

    Osinbajo noted that Ekwueme was the most remarkable person to serve the nation and believed in its indivisibility.

    He said that while alive, the late octogenarian possessed profound humility that came from the understanding of how much there was to learn and demonstrated it by his evident willingness to listen and learn always.

    “As Vice President, he set an excellent example of loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation.

    Read also: All for Ekwueme

    “He was fearless and with the courage of his convictions, he led the G-34, the group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history.

    “He contributed significantly to the return of democracy in 1999,’’ he recalled.

    Osinbajo stated that in national and international discourse, as an elder in ECOWAS even on the most emotive subjects, the deceased spoke truthfully and ensured that his words built rather than destroyed.

    He also said that late Ekwueme worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines by many through the years.

    “He never for once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria,’’ the vice president said.

    He recalled the late vice president’s incarceration for about 20 months after the Shagari administration was toppled but that he was cleared as having never abused his office.

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme’s principled and fearless leadership in confronting the military dictatorship of late Gen. Sani Abacha, especially when it chose to succeed itself, was unequalled.

    According to him, the late Ekwueme had principled interventions in many national debates and in all, he epitomised impeccable integrity, courage and selflessness.

    “His values, like himself, remain relevant in every age and time.’’

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme had remarked that he would like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered it selflessly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other dignitaries, including the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, paid tribute to the late octogenarian.

    Nwodo said he was not mourning Ekwueme, but was rejoicing because God gave Nigeria such a man.

    For Ngige, Ekwueme was a political master who did not disappoint the nation during the 1994/1995 Constitutional conference.

    Former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, represented by his son, Aminu Shagari, in a tribute said he would continue to relish the memorable time he had with his late former Vice President.

    “He lived a simple and uncomplicated life,’’ he said, adding that he nominated to run with him twice because of his high level of discipline and integrity.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Prof. Jerry Ghana, Prof Uzodimma Nwala, and the deceased’s younger brother, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, extolled his virtues.

    A representative of the Ekwueme’s Community, Oko, Anambra, Mr Handel Okoli, thanked the Federal Government for putting all structures in place for the burial of their son.

    He, however, requested that the late former vice president’s name should be immortalised for his vision of nationalism and patriotism to be exemplified.

    NAN

  • Ekwueme is alive, responding to treatment – Hospital

    Ekwueme is alive, responding to treatment – Hospital

    Contrary to the rumoured death of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme in the social media, an official of Memfys Neurological Hospital, Enugu, and his younger brother have debunked the report.

    An official of the hospital who on condition of anonymity in Enugu on Tuesday said that ”Ekwueme is still in Memfys Hospital.

    “Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, is alive, stable and responding to treatment.’’

    The official further said that Ekwueme was receiving the best attention from the hospital.

    The official maintained that though the hospital would not give out information about its patients, “the rumour that he is dead is false.

    “He is recovering and doing well; people should not spread false information.

    “The family members are always here,” the official said.

    Similarly, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Oko community in Orumba North Local Government of Anambra, corroborated the hospital’s position.

    The traditional ruler, who is also the younger brother of the former Vice President, said in a telephone interview in Awka on Tuesday that people had bored the family with phone calls.

    “You people should stop disturbing me with all these calls. Ekwueme is alive and recovering, please,” he said.

    It would be recalled that barely a week ago, Ekwueme was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu.

    Due to his critical condition, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his treatment abroad.

    Meanwhile, the family has described the rumour of his death as “wicked”.

    NAN

  • My life in danger, says Igwe Ekwueme

    My life in danger, says Igwe Ekwueme

    TRADITIONAL ruler of Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Laz Ekwueme, has said his life is in danger.

    Igwe Ekwueme, who appeared for the first time yesterday after the April 19 crisis, met with his council of chiefs.

    The council called on Governor Wilie Obiano to probe the mayhem in Oko, which led to the torching of three vehicles belonging to Igwe Laz Ekwueme.

    The ruler alleged that the crisis was fuelled by the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, Prof Godwin Onu.

    But the rector has always denied being a party to the crisis in the coimmunity.

    The ruler speaking for the first time since the incident, said his life was in serious danger and appealed to the Governor Obiano to provide him with security.

    Igwe Ekwueme alleged that some leaders were beaten up by the army, allegedly hired by youths suspected to have been sponsored to unleash violence on the town.

    He said things went awry when 13 indigenes insisted on flouting a resolution banning masquerades at the Afia Olu celebration.

    Igwe Ekwueme said ‘’when the outlaws overwhelmed the police, soldiers were brought in and one of then was injured when they dared the soldiers and attacked his palace.

    ‘’From then, hell was let loose, as they destroyed properties of persons they suspect to be on the side of the monarch.

    It was learnt that protesting youths stormed the Government House in Awka to protest against the monarch.

    Governor Obiano was not avaialble, but the protesters were addressed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Media, James Eze.

    Eze urged the youths to return tomorrow.

  • Angry youth sack Anambra monarch

    Angry youth sack Anambra monarch

    •Palace set ablaze as soldier kills masquerade
    •Army, Police take over community

    The annual Afia Olu festival turned bloody yesterday in Oko, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State.

    One of the soldiers, allegedly invited by the paramount ruler of the community, Prof Laz Ekwueme, to stop youth from observing the festival killed a masquerade.

    It was gathered that the paramount ruler had ordered no masquerade should perform during the festival, which did not go down well with the youth.

    The dissenting youth confronted the soldiers mobilised to enforce the order, resulting in a violent clash.

    Eyewitnesses said the soldiers shot at the rampaging youth, killing one of them in masquerade cloth.

    Several others were reportedly wounded.

    Sensing defeat, the protesting youth, it was gathered, retreated and reinforced.

    They besieged the mansion of Igwe Ekwueme, setting his vehicles and belongings on fire.

    Residents said they also sacked the monarch, whose whereabouts remained unknown as at the time of this report.

    The irked youth also burnt the motorcycles, houses and property of other town chiefs and leaders suspected to have sympathies for the monarch.

    When contacted, the President General of the community, Cyprian Nwanmuo, confirmed soldiers shot at the youth but denied anybody died.

    He also confirmed the monarch was attacked with his house and belonging sets on fire.

    Nwanmuo stated that he ran for his dear life, claiming the crisis was a snowball of the faceoff the community had with current Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu.

    According to him: ‘’Nobody is dead yet. Igwe banned masquerades but that small group against the community in the sponsorship of the ‘man’ went ahead and insisted masquerade must be part of the festival and fought the Army brought to maintain peace and order when police was overwhelmed.

    “The soldiers defended themselves. They are burning Igwe’s palace now and his vehicles and Igwe has not been rescued but I have left for Awka now.”

    The Oko Youth leader, Evangelist Hilary Ezeokafor and the Assistant National secretary of Oko town union, Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka could not be reached.

    Efforts to contact the monarch, Igwe Laz Ekwueme , who is younger brother of the former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, also proved abortive, fuelling speculations about his safety and whereabouts.

    But a youth in the village, who is also Commander of Arms Federal Polytechnic Oko, Nnolim Sunday, told our correspondent that he was in Ezira with the Rector.

    He blamed Ekwueme for the crisis, wondering why he invited soldiers to stop a festival they have performed from immemorial.

    Sunday frowned at the positions the Igwe has taken on some issues affecting the community lately.

    When contacted, the new Commander 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col Jibrin Fagge, confirmed he heard about the incident around 8pm.

    He said investigations were on, asking for time to take stocks before making official statement on the issue.

    As at the time of going to press, over 20 trucks of soldiers and policemen were sighted moving into position in Oko.

    Residents said several community leaders and youth have scampered away to safety.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka DSP, confirmed the report.

    He said policemen were in full control of the matter to avoid further collateral damages.