The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘New chair

  • Abia APC gets new chair Emma Ndukwe

    An Abia High Court sitting at Okpuala Ngwa and presided over by Justice C. U. Okoroafor has sacked the executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Donatus Nwankpa.

    Nwankpa is replaced by Dr Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe.

    The suit was brought by Fabian Okonkwo, Chris Okpechi and Onyebuchi Igodo against APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Donatus Nwankpa and three others.

    The order asked APC, Odigie-Oyegun, Alh. Mai Mala Bunu and Dr Muz Banire to stop dealing with the Nwankpa and Menyechi Onuoha and other members of the Abia executive pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The order said: “The first to fourth respondents are restrained from dealing with the factional list of state, LGA and ward delegates sent to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja by Nwankpa led state Exco in any manner until the substantive suit is determined.’’

    Ndukwe accused Nwankpa of allegedly collecting funds from moneybags in the state in the name of the party and thereafter making leaders against the rules of the APC.

    He said: “In view of his actions which are against the party, the party met on November 25, 2017 and suspended him and later went to court, which granted an order restraining the national office of our party and others to stop recognising him as Abia APC chairman”.

    “By this court order which is in our possession we are now the authentic and recognized Exco of APC in the state until the court order is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

    On the question about the APC rally in the state where Nwankpa was recognised as the state chairman, Ndukwe said: “We are a law abiding party even when the national office was deceived to condone illegality, which we allowed as we don’t want to be seen as a divided house.

    “However, that supposed rally you are talking about was not a rally as to us it never took place, how many national officers were there, to us there was no such rally as it was never in our history that such a rally ever took place in our state.

    “Before now, after our harmonisation the two sides were asked to produce officers and Nwankpa’s side brought him as chairman while I came in as secretary and I am supposed to be the engine room of the party but was never allowed to function.

    “Nwankpa hijacked the part structure and started holding meetings with people who are not members of our party and whose names do not appear on any party register and he has also been holding meetings with ward chairmen of the faction that produced him.

    “We are going to hold our NEC meeting today, which I will attend as the state chairman and any attempt to stop me from being there as the state chairman will mean contempt of court, which is a liable offence.”

    Ndukwe observed that the order will not divide the party, rather it has brought unity, and it’s an impetus to work harder and take the state in 2019.

    He noted that since the court judgment on March 18,  “there has been jubilation within and outside the party as most members have been very uncomfortable with the high handedness of the former chairman”.

  • New chair for VCs’ committee

    The Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) has appointed Prof Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), as its chairman.

    A letter conveying the appointment  signed by Secretary-General  of the committee, Prof Michael Faborode, reads in part: “I hereby write to inform you formally that at the special meeting of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CVC) held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 members unanimously appointed you as the new chairman, and by extension, the Chairman of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities comprising Vice Chancellors of federal, state and private universities in Nigeria.

    “In line with the tradition of CVC, your appointment takes effect from August 18, 2015 when the serving chairman and his alternate, Professors Joseph Ajienka and Abubakar Rasheed would have completed their tenures.”

    This appointment confers on Daramola the authority to represent both the CVC and the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU)   in all important meetings, functions and engagements that require the attention of the two bodies.

    Faborode has also congratulated Daramola, assured him of the cooperation and support of the secretariat in ensuring the accomplishment of his vision during the period of his stewardship.

  • New chair for Nigerians in UK

    An insurance expert, Mr Babatunde Loye, has emerged the chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK).

    Loye, 44, is the immediate past assistant social secretary of the association.  In the second round of voting  at the Nigerian High Commission into the executive of the association, he polled 46 votes to defeat his main rival Mr Boma Douglas, who got 44 votes.

    The two candidates previously tied at 39 votes while the third candidate Mrs Ronke Udofia got 16 votes.

    Speaking on his victory, Loye expressed gratitude to the voters and pledged that his administration would raise funds to pursue the programmes of the association.

    He said his administration would positively project the image of Nigeria in UK and beyond.

    CANUK was established to serve as the umbrella body of Nigerians living in the UK.

    Its mission is to protect, unify and empower the Nigerian community towards contributing to nation-building in the UK and Nigeria.

  • ‘New chair’ll transform AshakaCem’

    Shareholders have expressed optimism that the appointment of Mallam Suleiman Yahyah as the new Chairman of AshakaCem will add great value and lead to a revolutionary transformation in the cement company.

    President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria – Nigeria’s biggest shareholders association – Mr. Sunny Nwosu, said the appointment of  Yahyah is commendable, describing him ‘’as a man of groundbreaking record in managing quoted companies.”

    “He has a big heart. Even when you have a problem with him, he will call you and say let’s settle.  He also understands the yearning of shareholders,” Nwosu said in a statement.

    In a statement, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, chairman, Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, commended the Board and management of AshakaCem, saying: Yahyah has a record of innovative achievements as chairman and director in other companies. The statement reads in part: “We have seen his patriotic zeal, his commitment, selfless services and acumen for transforming businesses within a short time.”

    The shareholders said: “Yahyah’s appointment will definitely bring tremendous benefits and the much needed repositioning for greater efficiency in production, human resource management and marketing.”

    The statement added: “Suleiman Yahyah will assist in reviving AshakaCem Plc through his effective and exemplary leadership style.”

    Also expected to bring on board their wealth of experience are Mr. Anders Kristiansson, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa and Alhaji Rabiu Abdullahi Umar.

    Mallam Yahyah-a First Class Economics graduate- takes over from Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga. AshakaCem is a subsidiary of the Lafarge Africa Plc.

    He is also the chairman of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Rosehill Group, Asokoro Island (AIL) and director in other companies in the country.

    AshakaCem Plc, in its notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) stated: “The Board of Directors has appointed Mallam Suleiman Yahyah OON as the Board chairman effective from March 12, 2015.”