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Tag: Nsukka

  • Behold the First Class women

    Behold the First Class women

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State have inducted pharmacists. Two women – Mrs Janefrances Okafo-Ofomata and Miss Chinasa Ofondu – emerged the best graduating students, winning coveted academic prizes at the ceremonies. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO (UNIZIK) and SAINT EKPALI (UNN) report.

    They have never met,but they share some things in common. Apart from studying the same course in schools that are miles apart, Mrs Janefrances Okafo-Ofomata and Miss Chinasa Ofondu are women of excellence. They surmounted life challenges with sheer willpower to achieve distinction in pharmacy.

    With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.90, Chinasa became the Overall Best Graduating Student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) – a feat, she said, was propelled by her father’s death. She was also the best in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

    In a class of 76 students, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata, a young mother of one, was the Overall Best Graduating Student of the 2016/2017 graduating set of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State.

    Chinasa, who hails from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, said her father’s death almost terminated her academic career, but added that she never despaired despite the challenges she faced during the period.

    Chinasa said the death of her father encouraged her to strive towards achieving life goals.

    She said: “The death of my father came as a rude shock to us and I had thought that would be the end of my education. But, rather than being discouraged, it served as a source of motivation for me while I struggled to go to school.”

    Chinasa’s strength of mind to get education earned her a scholarship from the late Bishop Eke Obiefule and Valerian Okeke, who were astonished by her brilliance and determination.

    After graduating with a First Class in pharmacy, Chinasa said: “I was not the one who read the most in the class. A good number of colleagues read far more than I did, but I read smartly. I knew exactly what to read in all the courses.

    “I aimed to be the best graduating student in my faculty, but being the best in the whole school was what kept me awake at night. Achieving this feat is like an icing on a cake. This is evidence that God never abandons his children.”

    Chinasa said she did not expect to be the school’s valedictorian, having engaged in extracurricula activities. She was a strong member of the National Fellowship of Christian Pharmacy Students, in which she served as Vice President, Music Director and Academic Director at different times.

    She said: “In the midst of my academic and extracurricular demands, I devised a formula which is rooted in hard work, smartness and fervent prayer.”

    Chinasa expressed gratitude to the late Bishop Obiefule and Okeke, saying: “The scholarship they gave me laid the foundation for my academic excellence and future.”

    Sharing her story with CAMPUSLIFE, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.72, described her academic journey as one “riddled with sleepless nights, disappointments, struggles, failures and pains”.

    She said: “I didn’t always keep to my study timetable, because we always had tight class activities. But, whenever I read, I assimilated faster. This worked well for me.”

    Mrs Okafo-Ofomata explained that she had always wanted to study pharmacy, but she was disappointed when she was offered admission for Pure and Industrial Chemistry at the UNN. After graduating with a Second Class (Upper Division) in Pure and Industrial Chemistry, she sat for another Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and applied to study pharmacy at the UNIZIK. After two attempts, she was admitted for pharmacy in 2013 through Direct Entry.

    Mrs Okafo-Ofomata got married to Mr Franklin Ofomata, as a student, and had her baby in 2016. She described this period of her life as “scary”, saying she juggled between taking care of her family and attending to demands of academics.

    At UNIZIK, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences runs a strict system which requires a high level of concentration from students.

    Despite all odds, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata studied hard to become the best in the faculty. At the induction held for graduating pharmacy students, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata went home with 10 awards and a cash prize of N500,000.

    Appreciating her lecturers for the knowledge imparted on her, she said: “We take pride in knowing that we have a set of intelligent, dedicated, updated and hardworking lecturers who have given us the confidence to touch the lives of others. We have been taught to act true to our calling in saving lives and not take them. These values inculcated in us would open doors for greater achievements in the future.”

    Congratulating the inductees earlier, the UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof Charles Esimone, reminded the graduands of the need to guide their professional practice by the oath they took.

    He urged them to always remember the school’s values of discipline, self-reliance and excellence. He said the university would continue to encourage staff and students of the faculty by providing the infrastructure needed to facilitate teaching and learning, including classrooms, laboratories and hostels, among others.

    Administering the oath on the graduands, Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Mr N.A.E Mohammed urged them to be acquainted with the code of ethics which prescribed the professional and moral responsibilities to patients, colleagues and the public.

    He urged the graduands to maintain strict compliance to the ethics, noting that a stringent penalty awaited anyone who engaged in unprofessional practice.

    UNIZIK’s Acting Dean of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Prof Ikemefuna Uzochukwu said the university has contributed 431 pharmacists to the profession since inception in 2006. He disclosed that the school was working hard towards implementing the PharmD programme which had been approved for implementation in all universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), beginning from the 2019/2020 academic session.

  • Convention: Don urges PDP delegates to elect people of integrity

    Convention: Don urges PDP delegates to elect people of integrity

    A Don, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, has advised delegates at the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Abuja, to ensure the emergence of people of integrity as national executive of the party.

    Okolie, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka gave the advice in an interview in Nsukka on Tuesday.

    He said the quality of executive that would emerge from the convention would determine the future of PDP.

    “The type of national executive elected by PDP on Saturday will make or mar the party’s progress and its ambition to reclaim power at the centre in 2019.

    “The party should ensure that those that will be elected are men and women of integrity that have enviable past track records,” he said.

    He also urged delegates to “resist attempt by some political money bags to buy their votes’’, adding that “such will spell doom for the party.’’

    “I advise delegates to place the interest of the party first as that will help the party to enthrone dedicated, transparent and focused leadership.

    “If the delegates have the interest of the party at heart, they must shun all forms of financial inducement and vote according to their conscience.”

    Read also:  PDP convention: Atiku backs Adeniran for chairman

    The don also said the character of whosoever emerged as the PDP national chairman would determine the level of discipline and internal democracy in the party.

    “For any political party to survive as well as remain relevant there must be discipline and internal democracy that will give hope to aspirations of party members.

    “Absence of disciplinary and internal democracy have ruined many political parties and resulted in some members acting with impunity as if the party is their personal enterprise.

    “Saturday’s convention is an opportunity for PDP to get it right and correct its past mistakes, this will strengthen and reposition the party.”

    NAN

  • Crisis rocks UNN Students’ Union

    Crisis rocks UNN Students’ Union

    A crisis is brewing among members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG), following the impeachment of its president, vice president and director of Transport for alleged misappropriation of funds and embezzlement. The impeached students’ leaders were on an official trip to Sweden when they were removed. The development has generated misgivings among students. Some believe due process was not followed. Others support the impeachment. JAMES OJO (Mass communication) reports.

    A crisis has hit the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG), following the impeachment of its President, Joshua Ezeja, Vice President Janefrances Chukwu, and Director of Transport, Kene Anumba.

    The three members of the executive arm of the union were removed last weekend by members of the Student Representatives’ Council (SRC) – the union’s legislative arm – following allegations of financial misconduct and embezzlement against them.

    Some members of the union have condemned the impeachment, describing it as an hasty decision” and an “abuse of constitutional procedures”. The affected officers, the antagonists of the impeachment said, were not given the opportunity to defend themselves on the allegations against them before the impeachment was carried out.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the embattled union leaders were on an official visit to Sweden when the impeachment was carried out.

    Was the impeachment justified when the affected officers were not allowed to defend themselves? This is the puzzle students want the SRC members to explain.

    The union has two legislative houses – Senate and the SRC – but the power to remove any member of the executive is vested in the latter.

    The impeached union leaders, it was alleged, did not follow due process in making withdrawals from the union’s account before embarking on the European trip. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the development was being seen as “envy” on the parts of some union members, who were not selected for the trip.

    In a statement, the SRC Speaker, Kenneth Tabugbo, announced that the decision to impeach the union leaders was reached during a sitting of the legislative arm’s members.

    The statement reads: “This is to bring to the notice of all that the legislative arm in its sitting held on October 30, 2017, upon deliberations on the allegations of financial misappropriation, embezzlement of union funds and gross incompetence brought against the President, Vice President, Director of Transport; the House has come to the following conclusions.

    “Having had before the House, indubitable evidence of embezzlement of funds to the tune of over N4 million by the SUG President; the president stands impeached.

    “On the grounds of financial misappropriation, embezzlement of union funds, denigration and complete disregard for the House, the Vice-President stands impeached.

    “Having been found guilty of financial misappropriation, commercialisation of union properties without the consent of the House, crass negligence and ineptitude; the Director of Transport stands impeached.

    “All impeached officials are forthwith, denied all privileges of membership of the executive council and mandated to return all properties of the union to the General Secretary within seven days.”

    Controversies have trailed the impeachment, with students alleging that the process did not follow constitutional procedures.

    The union’s Senate President, Izuchukwu Asogwa, told CAMPUSLIFE that the SRC did not follow constitutional procedure for the impeachment.

    He said: “The 2016 Constitution of the union makes provisions for the process of impeaching any official of the union. The relevant sections of that constitution are Sections 112 and 113. Section 112 requires that a notice of allegation against an officer in writing must be signed by no less than one-third of members of the House and presented to the Speaker, stating the misconduct against the officer.

    “A copy of the notice must be served on the officer within seven days by the Speaker, who is required to also serve each member of the House a statement made by the officer in response to the allegation. Afterwards, the House must resolve by a motion within 14 days whether or not the allegation needs be investigated.”

    Izuchukwu said the motion would only be valid if it is supported by no less than two-thirds majority of all members of the House present. Within seven days of passing the motion, the Senate President said the union’s Chief Judge needs to appoint persons of impeccable character at the request of the Speaker to investigate the allegation. He said any officer being investigated must go on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.

    He said: “Section 113 provides for a panel that will investigate the allegations and report to the House within 21 days. Where the allegation was not proven upon investigation, the matter dies a natural death. But where it is proven beyond doubt, the House must consider the report within 14 days.

    “If the report is supported by no less than two-thirds majority of all members, then the investigated officer shall stand removed. The proceedings of the panel or House in this regard cannot be entertained in any court.  A bye-election is, therefore, conducted within two weeks after the office becomes vacant.”

    Izuchukwu said the spelt out procedures were not followed in the impeachment of the President, Vice President and the Director of Transport.

    He said: “This is why the impeachment is null and void, and it is clearly unconstitutional. It is crystal clear, audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that the dictates of the constitution were not followed by the House.

    “The issue of embezzlement, corruption and financial mismanagement is not something anyone jumps into. Whether he actually did it or not is a matter that must be investigated by a panel. It is not what the House members can justify without evidence.”

    The Senate President dispelled opinion that there was friction among members of the union over the European trip, urging the students to disregard the rumours.

    An executive member of the union, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “The president and others impeached were not served letter of impeachment neither were they given fair hearing. For God’s sake, all these happened when they were in far away Sweden.”

    However, a member of the SRC, who did not give his name, said the impeachment was in order. “Though it may contradict provisions of the constitution, such decision should be seen as law of emergency that will promote accountability in the union,” he said.

    At the time of the report, the impeached officials were in Sweden for official engagement. When contacted, Joshua pleaded with our reporter to allow him return to the country before making statement about what he called “purported impeachment”.

    Asked if the allegation of embezzlement against him was true, Joshua simply said: “Do you believe that?”

     

     

  • Row over ‘bloody’ eviction at UNN

    Row over ‘bloody’ eviction at UNN

    A student of Agriculture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was injured during the eviction of students from one hostel by the school security personnel, in preparation for the fumigation of the Halls of Residence. JAMES OJO (Mass Communication) reports.

    What could have been a hitch-free relocation of students from one hostel to another ended in a bloody row at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, last Thursday. A female student of Agriculture whose name was given as Ify was left with a bleeding head when the school security personnel carried out an eviction order by management, to prepare for  the  fumigation of the hostels.

    It all happened one evening at Isa-Kaita Hall, one of the female hostels. For the occupants, the incident will linger in their memories for long.

    The evicted students, who are on teaching practice, were allegedly forced out of the hostel without prior notice by the school’s security department.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the injured student hit her head against the sharp end of a wall while she was being forced out of the hostel by the officers.

    Reliving the incident, an occupant, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Most of us had returned from our respective places of teaching practice when the hall warden arrived in the evening. The warden came knocking on our doors to vacate the hostel immediately, telling us they wanted to fumigate the hostel. But they never gave us prior notice. Most occupants were not happy about the development. So, we protested, insisting we should be given enough time to pack our belongings.

    “But the hall warden got annoyed and said he would call the school security department to forcefully eject us. Before we knew what was going on, we saw the security officers arrive the hostel and started assaulting us. They forced us out without giving us any alternative place to stay in the night. In the process, one of us was injured.”

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE on telephone, Director of Welfare of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Victor Udeogu described the incident as a “misunderstanding between the students and the security officers”.

    He admitted that the students were forced out of the hostel, but said the activity was not planned to hurt anyone.

    Victor said: “The truth is that, they (students) were forcefully evicted from the hostel. It was an order from the former Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Uju Umo. We have a new dean now. But, the eviction was not planned to hurt any student. It was just for the good of every occupant of the hostel. The students were asked to leave the hostel so that fumigation activity could take place. But, there was a misunderstanding between the security personnel and the students.

    “None of the parties had the intention to hurt the other. The security probably stepped beyond their work limit which eventually caused injury sustained by one of the students in the process.”

    Victor said he got a distress call from the students during the eviction, prompting him to inform Prof Umo about the development. The Dean, he said, denied sending the security officers to evict the students from the hostel.

    The SUG leader said the Dean apologised to the affected students and relocated them to Awolowo Hall of Residence. Afterwards, Victor said the SUG leadership met with the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, who, sympathised with the injured student and promised to address the matter.

    The union Welfare Director dispelled reports that the security officers deliberately attacked the students for protesting their ejection.

    “It is unfortunate that most of the bloggers who carried the story online cooked up their stories about the development. Most of them were not even in school,” he said.

    A fresh row was averted last Monday between the ejected students and the security officers. Barely four days after they were relocated to Awolowo Hall, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the students were again evicted from the hall.

    When our correspondent visited the Awolowo Hall on Monday, some of the students were seen standing in groups, discussing the development in hushed tones.

    One of them said: “We are going nowhere. We paid for hostel accommodation and we have a right to live in it. We have just been told this morning to vacate the hostel. This is not fair.”

    Struggling with her luggage, a student of Animal Science, who simply identified herself as Gloria, could not hide her feelings.

    She said: “We don’t know what to do again. We woke up on Monday morning only to be informed that we are to vacate the hostel by 10am in the morning.”

    Another student of Crop Science, who simply gave her name as Precious, said the new quit notice was uncalled for, saying it would endanger some of them who had nowhere to go.

    She said: “When the incident happened last week, we were not informed. It took many of us by surprise. But, this time around, they told us on Saturday that everybody should pack out by Monday morning. Most of us stayed back because we don’t have alternative. So, it is not true that we were not informed beforehand.”

    Most of the affected students are from the Faculties of Agriculture and Education, who are on internship and teaching practice. They need to remain on the campus for the exercises.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered the fumigation of hostels is part of the management’s measure to keep the hostels healthy before students resume for 2017/2018 academic session.

  • UNN postpones post-UTME test

    The post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which was scheduled to hold this week, has been postponed indefinitely.

    A statement by the Registrar, Mr Chris Igbokwe, said the exercise was shifted because of logistic challenges. He noted that candidates, who scored 200 and above in the UTME and made UNN their first choice, had been experiencing difficulties in generating invoice from the school’s website, noting that the postponement would afford the candidates an opportunity to prepare for the test.

    The registrar urged the post-UTME candidates to regularly check the university’s website for updates about new date for the test. He added that an updated timetable for the rescheduled test would be released later.

  • UNN seeks partnership to boost agric

    UNN seeks partnership to boost agric

    The management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has reinstated its commitment to partnering relevant agencies to promote agriculture in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

    Director, UNN Consultancy Services Limited (UNN CONSULT), Prof Obi Njoku, said the university had been carrying out various projects aimed at enhancing agricultural development and encouraging students’ participation.

    He made this known during the inspection of agricultural projects by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba.

    Highlighting some of the projects, Njoku said: “The UNN CONSULT is partnering Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Vocational Teaching Education (VTE) to revitalise the university’s agriculture farm at the instance of the VC. Some of the ongoing projects include dairy farm, snail farm, fish farm with about 32 pounds, cassava flour project and feed mill for the poultry farm. The cassava would form part of the feed for our diary projects. We are going to have different types of flour, both for industrial use and domestic consumption. Currently, the snail farm has about 500 snails from different locations in Nigeria and outside the country.”

    Besides, the UNN CONSULT boss said the school had started to tackle the erosion problem on the campus.

    He added: “We are working on fabricating and installing a green house which would be a research building at the Faculty of Agriculture. The project has started. It is expected that in the next one month, the feed mill, the flour mill will be operational. This project is in partnership with the faculties of Agriculture and Bio-resources Engineering, which are carrying out the fabrication and installation of most of the equipment, such as cassava drilling machine, cassava grater and flour hammer mill.”

    Njoku explained that the partnership was informed by the VC’s concern over some facilities that could turn around the fortunes of the institution but have remained moribund in the past. He said that the efforts were in line with the government’s goals to develop the agricultural sector.

    He said the firm would continue to live up to its mandate in bridging the gap between town and gown and to embark on academic research that would be geared towards improving farming for industrial and commercial purposes. This, Njoku said, is the school effort at harnessing its landmass to enhance agricultural development.

     

     

     

  • UNN to emerge among 10 best global varsities–VC

    UNN to emerge among 10 best global varsities–VC

    Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, the Vice-Chancellor of  University of  Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), says the institution is on the threshold of being among the best 10 universities in the world.

    Ozumba, who assumed office in 2014 as the vice chancellor of the university, said this  in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Saturday.

    The vice chancellor said he was happy that the institution was working according to the dream  and vision of its founding father, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    “His dream was for UNN to have the best professors, best library and best academic environment for teaching and learning so as to restore the dignity of man.

    “I am happy that the institution is realising the dream  and vision of its founding father through academic excellence and quality research work.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that in no distant time,  UNN will be among the best 10 universities in the world,” he said

    He said that under his administration,  the university had received global recognition as number one institution  in research among Nigerian  universities.

    ” I am happy that UNN under my watch has received global recognition as the best research university in Nigeria for two consecutive years .

    “ This was according to World Webometric that assesses  universities in the world based on  quality research work,’’ he said.

    Ozumba attributed his achievements in the institution to God’s wisdom and hard work .

    He had also won the award of excellent leadership of the university’s Institute of African Studies.

    “I see any award given to me as a challenge to do more  so that I will not disappoint those who have confidence in me by giving  me the award.

    “My achievements are because of God’s favour  and hard work,

    “Like William Shakespeare says, the achievements of great men were not recorded in sudden flight but they work while others are sleeping ,” he said.

    The vice chancellor said his administration in 2016 hosted the West African Universities Games which participants described it as  one of  the best.

    “I commend my management, staff and students of  UNN because without their cooperation and support,  all these achievements will not have been possible,” he said.

  • Ugwuanyi’s day at Nsukka

    Ugwuanyi’s day at Nsukka

    William James’ philosophical musing that “the best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life” aptly applied to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State when a grand reception put together for him by the natives of the university town of Nsukka, the second largest urban area in the coal city state, took residents by storm. It was a day both the indigenes and other residents of the town rolled out their drums of honour to salute the governor, a man who to them, came with a Midas touch after decades of official neglect that left the area in a rustic state, making the town a ridicule of an ideal university city.

    The governor’s speedy transformation of the town in less than two years has certainly struck the people like a pleasant dream situation. But it is a reality that the roads infrastructure delivered to the people by the Ugwuanyi administration certainly meets every international standard. The state of the arte dual carriage way coursing from Opi Junction through adjoining Ede-Oballa community through the varsity town has been decked with street lights just as the various roads delivered by the magical hands of the governor are beautifully garlanded with novel pedestrian walkways.

    The people’s joy knew no bounds at Ugwuoye Primary School, the modest venue of the grand reception. They expressed it with various cultural dance performances and effusive speeches. In solidarity with the governor on that Tuesday were personalities such as Prof. Uche Azikiwe, wife of the late first president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, deputy governor of the state, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, representing Enugu North Senatorial zone in the Senate and president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, among others.

    Chief Donatus Chinweaku is the president-general of Nsukka Town Union and spoke generally collectively for the grateful people of the four autonomous communities that make up Nsukka town. Addressing Ugwuanyi as the people’s governor, he stated that “this great occasion could not have taken place at a time better than now as our people have

    longed for a day like this”. He informed that the reception was “organized by the entire people of Nsukka town to appreciate in a very special way our own son with whom we are well pleased”.

    He further capped the people’s appreciation thus: “Your Excellency, we lack words to express our immeasurable joy for having a brave and courageous Lion like you. Today Nsukka history will never be complete without mentioning you in a special way. This is

    because what the town had been yearning for has been made real, physical and evidence-based in terms of getting commensurate democratic dividends. You have not only given a new look to Nsukka town, but equally a new look to our economy, a new look to our peace and unity, a new look to our dignity and most importantly a new look to our political status”.

    The people of the area also set the tone for what turned out a general political stocktaking by the people of the state that eventually resulted in an overwhelming approval of the governor’s profound and legendary style of stewardship since he assumed office on May 29, 2015. In their speech as delivered by Chinweaku, they had also told Governor Ugwuanyi that “You have restored hope to our people and also presented yourself as an epitome of undiluted

    democrat through your wide consultations, peace-building and people-oriented projects executed with prudent management of scarce resources.

    “You have proved your mettle by dwelling on the height of recession to break the ice of impossibilities. You have set an unbeatable standard in good governance that constitutes threat to your detractors. Remain focused”, they told the governor whom they also assured that campaigns for his re-election come 2019 have already been consummated.

    Governor Ugwuanyi had during his inaugural address pronounced his grand plans to transform the university town of Nsukka, a city founded over 50 years ago, into an ideal urban area, especially to come at par with other first generation university towns elsewhere in Nigeria. He never minced words. He later promptly secured the approval of a very expanded meeting of stakeholders of the state held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu to go ahead to develop Nsukka Urban in line with one of the four-point agenda of his administration to create new urban centres to drive sustainable development for the state.

    Hence, the event offered a huge opportunity of scoring high political points for the governor whose popularity rating has continued to grow in leaps and bounds within and beyond Enugu state. Among those who urged him to continue with the current tempo of development that now touches all 17 local council areas of the state in a manner never experienced before now in the history of the state were Senator Utazi, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba and Hon. Nkechi  Omeje-Ogbu of Enugu State House of Assembly, various groups, industrialists, among others.

    In fact, Senator  Okoro, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former three-time member of the senate representing Enugu North zone in the senate capped the plethora of calls on the governor  not to bother to return to campaign in the town he has so transformed come 2019. Okoro told the governor that he has been governor for all and that if in 2019, the people want him to get his second term in office, he (Okoro) would not be found wanting in offering his own support.

    For the apparently elated governor who had to manage the deluge of encomiums and sundry kind words in acknowledgement of his outstanding performance so far, it was also an opportunity to thank the people for their show of love. Yet, he also used the occasion to assure the people that his administration has never tampered with funds belonging to the local councils in the state while executing all the projects across the state.

    “I use this occasion to state clearly that Local Governments in the State made no financial contributions or commitments whatsoever, towards the execution of state government projects,” he said. “We have relied solely on federal allocations, grants or loans as well as our internally generated revenue”.

  • Group condemns masquerades’ attack on Catholic priest

    Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for the prosecution of masqueraders, who attacked a Catholic seminarian in Nsukka on March 29.

    A Catholic seminarian, Lawrence Ezeugwu, was attacked by masqueraders in Nsukka, and was beaten to coma at Ugwuoyia, Nsukka, Enugu State.

    The group, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the exhibition of religious extremism by traditionalists, describing it as crude.

    Akintola called on the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure that those who carried out the attack are fished out and punished.

    “We call the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the excesses of traditionalists, particularly in Southern Nigeria.

    “Even in the South-West, the Oro cult worshippers behave as if they are above the law.

    “Traditionalists impose illegal curfew without being challenged by the authorities.

    “A good example is the curfew imposed by Oro cultists in Ikorodu, Lagos State, during the last Ramadan season, which nearly caused a violent clash between Muslims and traditionalists.

    “It is well known that Muslims shuttle between the mosques and their homes day and night during Ramadan.

    “The imposition of a curfew during such a period was not only illegal but also provocative.

    “Although the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 38 (i) & (ii) guarantees freedom of religion, thereby empowering traditionalists to freely practice their faith.

    “It does not allow one group to laud it over another.

    “The right of traditionalists to religious freedom stops where it begins to encroach on others’ rights and vice versa.

    “For genuine and enduring peace, Nigerians must learn to respect one another’s rights.

    “This country has witnessed too many human and material losses as a result of religious crisis.

    “And the only way to guard against recurrence is for the authorities to strictly apply sanctions against those who violate the sanctity of religious freedom,” the group said.

    MURIC also advised state and local governments to ban illegal proclamation of curfews by cultists.

  • Don applauds Ndume’s suspension

    Prof. Aloysius Okolie of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has applauded the Senate for slamming a six-month suspension on Sen. Ali Ndume for bringing the upper house into disrepute.

    Okolie, of the Department of Political Science, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Friday.

    He said it was wrong for Ndume to call for the probe of his colleagues in the senate based on what he read in the newspapers without verifying the facts.

    “As a distinguished senator, he should not talk like ordinary man on the street; he must have facts and figures before casting aspersion on anybody.

    “He claimed he read about the alleged certificate forgery of Sen. Dino Melaye and importation of bullet proof Range Rover SUV by the Senate President in newspapers.

    “That is not enough to blackmail the Senate.

    “Ndume should have gone further to carry out a personal investigation to verify if the allegations are true or false before jumping into conclusion,” Okolie said.

    According to him, the Senate followed due process by investigating the two allegations through its Privileges and Ethics Committee before bringing its sledge hammer on Ndume.

    “If the two allegations are true, Nigerians and the world would have celebrated Ndume as one who brought the issue to the floor; but now they are false, so he should also bear the consequences.

    “This is good lesson for whistle blowers; there is nothing wrong in blowing the whistle, but you must ensure you have facts and figures of what you are saying.

    “It’s unfortunate that Ndume’s suspension will deny Borno South Senatorial District a voice in Senate for six months.

    “But it will also provide opportunity for his people to assess if he has given the district effective representation,” he said.

    On the call by the upper house on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, Okolie urged the president to nominate a replacement for Magu.

    “If I am Mr President, I will nominate another person as EFCC chairman and give Magu another appointment to avert further row with the Senate,’’ he said.