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Tag: Nnamdi Azikiwe

  • 2019: Coalition backs Odoh, ex-Ebonyi SSG for Governor Election

    A coalition of 10 registered political parties in Ebonyi has endorsed Prof. Bernard Odoh, former Secretary to State Government (SSG) to contest for 2019 governorship election in the state.

    The coalition disclosed this in a 10-point communique read by its state Coordinator, Mr Cletus Ukpabi in Abakaliki on Monday.

    Odoh is among the major contenders for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

    The News men recall that the former SSG, who was appointed by Gov. Dave Umahi on May 29, 2015, resigned his appointment on April 2.

    The group said that its support for Odoh’s emergence as the flag bearer of the APC in the Ebonyi governorship election was predicated on its conviction that he was most qualified among the other aspirants.

    The group said that Odoh‘s political support base spread across a broad spectrum of the electorate, including the academia , youths, artisans, civil servants, pensioners and market women.

    The coalition urged APC to consider the former Nnamdi Azikiwe University lecturer, whom it said possessed the needed intellectual, political and adminon the APC governorship ticket.

    The group said that the political parties in the coalition were aligning with APC to produce the next governor of the state stressing that it had endorsed Odoh as its sole candidate in the election.

    It said the decision to endorse Odoh was reached after the executives and members of the political parties in the alliance voted unanimously to back him for the governorship race as their preferred candidate.

    Read Also: Ebonyi SSG, Prof Odoh resigns

    The group said: “That party executives and members of the coalition, after an exhaustive meeting, resolved to endorse Odoh as our sole candidate and recommend him for APC to consider as its gubernatorial candidate.

    “That a discreet opinion poll conducted on all other aspirants from the various political parties revealed that Odoh has more support base and general acceptability.

    “That based on the general acceptability of Odoh’s candidature by a broad spectrum of the electorate, we have resolved to endorse him as our choice candidate and urge his party to equally endorse him as a preferred choice

    “That coalition of political parties in Ebonyi will have political miscarriage if APC denies Odoh the governorship ticket as their sole candidate for 2019 election.

    “That it is crystal clear from our observation that Odoh remains the most generally acceptable, credible, result-oriented and most qualified aspirant.

    “That we have accessed him as the only credible aspirant in APC that has the capacity to defeat the incumbent Gov. Umahi, in a free and fair election.”

    The group urged eligible voters who were yet to collect their voter cards to go and get them to qualify to vote in the 2019 general elections.

    The News men report that Odoh is from Ebonyi Central Senatorial District where the immediate past Gov. Martin Elechi hails from.

    Odoh will battle Dr Paul Okorie, a two-time commissioner in the state, Sen. Soni Ogbuoji, Dr Edward Nkwegu, and Austine Edeeze among others for the APC governorship ticket for the 2019 election.

    Political parties in the coalition are: African People’s Alliance (APA), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Conscience Party (NCP), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), and Fresh Democratic Party (FDP).

    Other is; Democratic People’s Party (DPP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the United Democratic Party (UPP).

  • ‘Nigeria’s leadership is the missing link in Africa’s greatness’

    …SOTA advocates for coalition of alternative political parties and aspirants

    Renowned Kenyan legal scholar, Professor Patrick Lumumba, has noted that Nigeria is the missing link in Africa’s greatness.

    He made this known in his keynote speech at the Summit of The Alternatives (SOTA) held in Abuja on the 15th and 16th August, 2018.

    According to him, “Until African politicians, and by extension, the people get its politics right, Africa cannot realize its potential.

    “Chinua Achebe in his book The Trouble With Nigeria, explained that the problem of Nigeria is simply that of leadership.

    “I remember so vividly in 1963, when African leaders assembled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, they were as passionate as they were correct; they were all envied in the early days…they all made sense.

    “When one listened to Nnamdi Azikiwe, he made sense. When one listened to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, he made sense. When one listened to the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, He made sense. A lot of other Africa leaders made sense.

    Read Also: Anti-graft war: Lessons from Singapore

    “We soon began to see a new breed of coup d’état leaders; the men in arms in the political arena.

    “That was when the rain started to beat us as a Nation.”

    He further added that: “Nigeria occupies such an important place not only in Africa, but in the world.

    “Nigeria is a leader when it comes to producing some of the greatest thinkers in Africa.

    “What continues to hold Nigeria down are the political elites; the politics of money. They should realize that when they lead Nigeria, they are also leading Africa.

    “When Nigeria sneezes, Africa catches a cold. Nigeria should realize that she should be the political mecca where African leaders pay pilgrimage.

    “Nigeria must improve agriculture, health, so that our president does not sojourn abroad for medical tourism.

    “Nigeria is blessed with everything you can think of but leadership; Nigeria has showed its leadership position in the African region through various peace keeping operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone and mention it, Nigeria is the only link to Africa’s success.”

    Global speakers and regional representatives joined participants at The Summit of The Alternatives (SOTA) to call for young, gender sensitive, competent, capable and credible leadership through the 2019 elections in Nigeria, as the two-day event focused on shaping narratives to redefine Nigeria’s political landscape through a coalition of credible alternatives.

    Giving the welcome address, the convener of the Red Card Movement, Dr. Oby Ezekwensili extensively introduced the idea behind the Summit of The Alternatives.

    She emphasized on the need for a new Nigeria of our dream and the economic implication of having a visionary leadership, with character, competence and capacity.

    The summit comprised of influencers and thought leaders that have demonstrated model character, competence and capacity in their various fields, with a strong desire to build and remodel through active engagement in Nigeria’s political space.

    The first day kicked off with a keynote speech the ‘A Rallying Cry for an Alternative’, as speakers and partners made presentations that centred on the need for Nigeria to get it right and insist on leadership criteria of character, competence and capacity.

    The event also included panel discussions to further drive the new agenda for a new Nigeria. Campaign/Party Finance; Cultivating Grassroots Movements; Media Approaches to Elections; Nuances and Metrics of Youth and Women Inclusion in today’s Democracy; INEC: An Overview of Electoral Preparations in the areas of hardware, software and process; Youth Inclusion and Building a Political Brand.

    The second day of the event had alternative political parties and presidential aspirants such Sowore Omoyele, Fela Durotoye, Dr Elishama Ideh, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Emmanuel Etim, Dr Thomas- Wilson Ikubese, Engineer Martins Onovo, and Tope Fasua who addressed citizens on topical issues centred around the new Nigerian of our dream. These aspirants and political parties considered the need for a coalition of the 89 alternative political parties that will further strengthen the objectives of the summit.

    SOTA is a collaborative idea of different groups such as Red Card Movement, Centre for Democracy and Development, Yiaga Africa, Nigeria First Project, BudgIT, EiE Nigeria and passionate citizens Framing the New Nigeria of our dream.

     

  • APGA chieftain urges Igbo, Yoruba to unite for Nigeria’s liberation

    A former secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) Mr Okoli Akirika has called for unity among the Igbo and Yoruba to liberate Nigeria from its present predicament.

    He described the two tribes as progressives with the capacity of building an ideal marriage capable of liberating the country from what he called political captivity and bondage.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka, on Sunday, Akirika asked both tribes to bury what he called the ancient grudges that existed between the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo and form the desired synergy to save the country from doldrums.

    He said, “In the Nigerian political system, the Igbo and Yoruba are progressives. Igbo and Yoruba think alike because of their level of education.

    ” The bane of their unity has always been the political rivalries between the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He also urged the two tribes not to allow themselves to be deceived that an alliance between them would not work, saying “the first and only time a Nigerian leader intentionally paid the supreme prize was when a Yoruba man ( Fajuyi) died for an Igbo, Aguyi Ironsi.

    ” Fajuyi was a collateral damage. He refused that his boss, friend and brother, Aguyi Ironsi should be killed in his domain; so he staked his life and he was killed for no sin of his.

    “So what other proof do we need to affirm that the two tribes have consanguinity and affinity.

    ” If a Yoruba man at that point in time could pay that prize with his own blood, I don’t see why the present day southeast and southwest cannot face a common political destiny in making sure a good government is elected.

    Akirika added,” Rising beyond what happened between Zik and Awo, we should not allow ourselves to become captives in our own land”.
    On the recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari to assist the Igbo to become president of Nigeria at the appropriate time, Akirika described it as an “infantile deceit”.

    He said the Igbo should not give such comment any atom of consideration.

    He said, “We need to elect an alternative president that will see Nigeria as his primary constituency; a president who will arise above clannish thinking; who will rise against the current order of predicating appointments on acquittance , religion and tribe.“

  • French Govt helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram, says Ambassador

    … As Minister confers Macron honorary citizenship of Abuja 

     

    French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, on Tuesday said French President Emmanuel  Macron’s government has been partnering with Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram sect.

    Gauer said this in Abuja during the first visit of Macron to Nigeria since his election in May 2017.

    Presenting the Key to the City of Abuja to President Macron,  the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello stated that it demonstrates the strong friendship and cordial relationship between the people of Nigeria and France.

    President Macron’s Boeing 777 Republique Francaise aircraft touched down in the Presidential Wing of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,  at exactly  15.09 hours local time.

    He was received upon arrival by the Nigerian  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

    Read Also: Dialogue is solution to Boko Haram, says Turaki

    Speaking to newsmen on the visit, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, stated that the visit underscores the very strong relationship between  France and Nigeria.

    According to the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, to the FCT Minster,  Mr. Cosmas Uzodinma, Gauer said that France has ongoing security  and political partnerships with Nigeria especially in the fight against  Boko Haram.

    He however noted that the current visit would focus on economic and cultural cooperation. He would also dialogue with Nigerian youths.

    To this effect,  the French President after his meeting with the Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, would proceed to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital for other aspects of the visit.

    In his words, “France has had strong security cooperation with Nigeria with regards to Boko Haram insurgency but the current visit would focus on culture  business and youth. He hopes to dialogue with Nigerian youths.”

    President Macron, it could  be recalled, has been to most francophone countries as well as Ghana.

    Nigeria is the second anglophone  country he is visiting.

  • Strike: FG cautions JOHESU members

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has cautioned that striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have no constitutional right to harass other health workers not on strike or lock government facilities.

    The minister gave the caution in a statement issued by Mr Oshundun Olajide, Deputy Director, Media and Public Relations of the ministry, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Olajide said the minister said this while reacting to a news briefing by the President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr Ugochukwu Chinaka.

    He noted that the resident doctors accused JOHESU members of harassing and molesting members of NARD and other medical officers at their respective duty posts.

    According to the statement, the minister was also informed that JOHESU members were accused of locking-up government health facilities to prevent access to those who are not on strike.

    Olajide also quoted the minister as saying that the federal government would not accept nor condone any act of irresponsibility and disobedience to constituted authorities.

    The minister also directed that all locked health facilities should be re-opened immediately to enable them provide required services while negotiation continues.

    It added that Adewole re-iterated that all heads of medical institutions should urgently provide adequate security for the working members of staff.

    It warned that any person found disturbing the peace in any health facility should be made to face the law.

    Recalls that the First Vice President of NARD, Dr Ganiyu Ahmed, had earlier accused JOHESU members of becoming increasingly aggressive towards other health professional particularly doctors, who are not on strike.

    Ahmed told newsmen on April 28 that JOHESU members at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Awka, manhandled a resident doctor on duty.

  • Breaking: Melaye jumps out of SARS vehicle, injured

    Senator Dino Melaye injured himself after he reportedly jumped out of a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) vehicle conveying him to Lokoja, Kogi State capital, on Tuesday.

    Melaye surrendered himself to the police on Tuesday morning.

    Melaye

    Read Also: Police fail to parade Melaye

    He was being taken  to the Kogi State Police Command headquarters for questioning when the incident happened.

    Details later…

  • Enugu pledges to focus on grassroots sports

    Enugu pledges to focus on grassroots sports

    Enugu State Government says it will focus more on grassroots sports to fish out talents that will win laurels in national and international competitions.

    The Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor on Special Duties, Uwakwe Azikiwe, made the disclosure in Enugu on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi football tournament tagged `Gburugburu All Public Secondary Schools Football Championship’.

    Azikiwe who stood in for the governor at the event expressed dismay at the dearth of athletes and footballers across the country.

    The special adviser said that the government would keep organizing the championship annually to fish out young people that were talented.

    According to him, it was through grassroots sports that the likes of Jay-jay Okocha and Innocent Egbunike were discovered to play at international levels.

    “We are also going to accommodate other sports as the time goes on,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo to contest Enugu guber

    Azikiwe commended organizers of the tournament for a job well done and appealed to the private sector to support sports development in the state.

    Our reporter,  reports that the 2017/2018 championship which was played at the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu kicked off in September, 2017.

    The National Grammar School, Nike emerged champions of the male football tournament by trashing Maryland Secondary School, Agbani 4-0.

    The Rosary High School, Awgu defeated Community Secondary School, Okpanku 2-0 to win the trophy in the female category.

    The championship was organized by the state’s Ministry of Youths and Sports in conjunction with Post Primary School Management Board and Science Technical Vocational Schools Management Board.

    NAN

  • Court remands woman, 11 others over Ikeja kidnappers’ den

    Court remands woman, 11 others over Ikeja kidnappers’ den

    Twelve suspected kidnappers including a woman, arrested by the police in connection with a kidnappers’ den at Ile-Zik Bus Stop in Ikeja, were on Friday remanded at Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of a Lagos magistrate.

    Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias said the accused are to remain behind bars pending a legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    The “Ile Zik 12 men” were brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, attempted kidnap and possession of arms and ammunition.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bus stop is named after a four-storey building built by the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    Barely a week before, another kidnappers’ hole was discovered at Ijaiye area on the Oshodi-Sango-Abeokuta Highway.

    The accused are Hakeem Ogundele, 32; Noah Samuel, 25; Ayomide Olatunji, 44; Felix Matthew, 34; American Obodoyibo, 42; Shola Elemo, 32; and Adijat Mudashiru, 32.

    Others are Tunde Akanji, 41; Adeoye Adekeye, 38; Patrick Onwubufor, 65, Samuel Iyede, 50; and Bright Amankwa, 36.

    Earlier, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin, the police prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 10 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at Ile-Zik Bus Stop near Ajayi Farm in Ikeja on the Oshodi-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway. According to her, the 12 accused had conspired to kidnap some students of a nearby Girls Junior High School, but they luckily escaped.

    “Some school uniforms and notebooks of the students were found in possession of the accused.”

    Omisakin said one live ammunition, nine empty shells of expended ammunition, one kitchen knife and road maps were recovered from them.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences which contravened Sections 22, 330 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    NAN also reports that kidnapping and other related offences carry life imprisonment or capital punishment.

    The case has been adjourned until Aug. 22.

  • Daily Times to celebrate heroes, heroines

    The country’s foremost newspaper, The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), on Friday said it would begin its 91st anniversary with honouring some eminent Nigerians and an exhibition on May 16.

    DTN, regarded to as the nation’s heritage newspaper, will honour three Presidents, including Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Nana Kufo-Ado of Ghana and former President Goodluck Jonathan also of Nigeria.

    The Publisher DTN, Mr Fidelis Anosike and Chairman, Anniversary Organising Committee, Aremo Olusegun Osoba said in a joint statement that the event and the AA top level National and Historic Exhibition on Nigeria would hold at the Abuja International Conference Centre.

    President Muhammadu Buhari will be awarded with Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award; President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana with Babatunde Jose Leadership Award and ex-President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan with Ernest Ikoli Leadership Award.

    The Nigerian Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, will be confined with the Politician of the Decade Award and Abia Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu with the Good Governance Award alongside seven Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe).

    Others are Bindo Jubril (Adamawa); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Willie Obiano (Anambra); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), who are also billed to receive the Good Governance award at the event.

    Gov. Dankwabo of Gombe will also be honoured with the Governor of the Decade Award.

    In the private sector, business icon, Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holding and UBA, will be crowned with Man of the Decade Award.

    Other awardees are Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank Plc, who will be conferred with Woman of the Decade Award, while Pastor Paul Adefarasin, will bag Life Impact Award.

    The publisher, Pinnacle Communications Ltd., Nduka Obaigbena, and other Nigerian Media icons such as John Momoh, Linda Ikeji, and Chris Ubosi completed the list.

    The theme of the exhibition, “Nigeria through the Times’’ will be hosted at the foyer of the Abuja International Conference Centre on May 16, 2017 from 3 p.m. till 6 p.m.

    “The exhibition will also be hosted in Lagos at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island Lagos, from June 1 to June 6.

    “The exhibition is aimed at bringing back to our memories, the vision and struggles of our founding fathers who laboured vigorously for the Nigerian Independence.

    “The exhibition is exclusively documented by The Daily Times and retained in its very rich archives.

    “The historic event shall showcase the history of Nigeria viz-a-viz the colonisation era.

    “The rise of Nigerian nationalism, pictorial exhibitions of historic constitutional conferences, emergence of political parties, the Nigerian independence pictures,’’ the statement said.

    It added that “The Daily Times first issue of June 1, 1926, the Daily Times independence edition, October1, 1960, landmark editorials of the Daily Times will be displayed.

    “Also, Photographs of the editors of The Daily Times publications and memorable front pages from Daily and Sunday Times are features of the exhibition.

    “The Times Heroes Awards 2017, which comes as icing on the anniversary cake, will hold at the Abuja International Conference Centre Conference Hall from 6.30 p.m. on May 16, 2017.

    “The Awards are instituted to honour deserving heroes who have distinguished themselves in various endeavours and whose activities have positively impacted lives,’’ a legacy the Times Nigeria has canvassed over the years,’’ it said.

    DTN said that the anniversary planning committee noted that the 2017 anniversary was consolidated because the last awards by the Daily Times was in 1996 when the organisation marked its 70 years anniversary.

    “Henceforth, the Times Heroes Awards will now be an annual award.

    “Notable icons of the Daily Times are Sir Adeyemo Alakija, Ernest Ikoli and Alhaji Babatunde Jose.

    Others are late Chief Innocent Oparadike; Araba Tola Adeniyi, Tunji Oseni, Onukaba Adeniyi-Ojo and others.

    “The event, expected to attract people from all walks of life aims at the promotion of humanitarian cause, such as the issues of the Internally Displaced Nigerians (IDPs),’’ the anniversary committee added.

     

     

  • Obiano to unveil new book on Anambra light bearers

    Gov. Willie Obiano is to unveil a new book in Awka tomorrow, detailing the light bearers of the state, including some of the current 1,500 billionaires in the state.

    The book, entitled “Icons of Anambra State,’’ was written by a researcher and biographer, Mr Uchechukwu Elugu.

    The 317-page book, details the lives and times of some remarkable men and women, who made the difference to make Anambra the leading state in the South East.

    The publication, sponsored by three leading banks, traces the resilience and enterprise that made the state to produce the highest number of achievers in Nigeria since the 20th century.

    Anambra, which prides itself as “The Light of the Nation’’ currently has the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria with a Gross Domestic Product of $11.83 billion.

    The state’s per capita income currently stands at $1,615, according to official records.

    Notable personalities discussed in the publication are Prof. Chinua Achebe, Africa’s most famous novelist, Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a leading historian and first African Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university at Ibadan.

    Others are Cyprian Tansi, Dr Pius Okigbo, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Chief Jerome Udoji, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the first black Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

    Also discussed in the publication are Lt.-Gen. Isaac Obiakor, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prof. Lawrence Dim, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Mr Oscar Onyema, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr Olisa Agbakoba and Mrs Oby Ezekwesili.

    Other Anambra icons include Prof. Alex Animalu, Prof. P.N. Okeke, Prof. Elo Amaucheazi, Dr A.B.C. Orjiako, Dr Emeka Okwuosa, Mrs Uju Ifejika, Prof. Charles Soludo, Chief Chris Ezeh and Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi.

    The others are Mr Otis Anyaeji, Chief Simon Okeke, Chief Fabian Nwora, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Mr Peter Obi and Mr Allen Onyema of Air Peace Airlines.

    The publication also lists Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, cited as the most famous pan-Africanist of the 20th century and Dr Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s second republic Vice-President.

    Among other pacesetters mentioned in the publication are Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the billionaire father of Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

    Other outstanding achievers celebrated in the compendium are Sen. Nwafor Orizu and Prof. Chike Obi, a leading mathematician.

    Obi, who was famous for his work on non-differential equations also developed a special solution for Fermat’s Last Theorem.