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Tag: Obi

  • Lawmakers, Obi ‘shun’ Obiano’s meeting

    The three Anambra State senators and House of Representatives members may have boycotted the stakeholders’ meeting organised by Governor Willie Obiano at the weekend.

    Senators Andy Uba, Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah, as well as former Governor Peter Obi, oil mogul Sir Emeka Offor, Dr. ABC Orjiakor, did not attend the meeting.

    But  other important personalities like former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prince Arthur Eze, Senator Chris Ngige, and Senator Annie Okonkwo, were present.

    It was gathered, however, that the lawmakers, Obi and others absent at the meeting were allegedly not invited.

    The Nation learnt that the Senators and other political big guns were not comfortable with Obiano’s leadership style because, according to them, he undermined Obi’s legacy.

    The meeting, held at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, attracted the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faithful, including its National Chairman, Victor Oye and former National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh.

    Obiano praised his predecessor, Peter Obi for his achievements. He said the strategic plan laid by Obi made him launch a war against crime with the inauguration of “Operation Kpochapu”, which was a joint taskforce to restore the dignity of Anambra.

    His words: “Our onslaught was so clinical that in a short time, we wiped out their weapons supply lines, pulled down their command and control centres, and inflicted a psychological trauma on them by razing the warehouses where kidnappers kept their victims.

    “This led to the arrest of Alphonsus Ngwu, the notorious arms dealer who supplied most of the weapons used by the criminals and beyond, and Okechukwu Nnaegbo, a kidnap kingpin.”

    The governor said all hands must be on deck to make the dream of lifting Anambra a reality.

    He said the fifth pillar that focuses on Anambra becoming the logistics hub of Nigeria and West Africa was being developed.

    “This pillar will leverage our natural advantage of being a gate way to the Southeast and Southsouth and our position as one of the most established trading centers in West Africa,” Obiano said.

  • Obi marks birthday with pupils

    Obi marks birthday with pupils

    Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has celebrated his 54th birthday with primary and secondary pupils in the state.

    Speaking at the Holy Spirit Secondary School, Ebenebe, Obi said he was fulfilled celebrating with the pupils, describing them as the future of the society. He said they needed inspiration to make them aim for greatness.

    Obi visited St. Anthony Secondary School, Ikenga and Holy Child Nursery and Primary School and donated N1 million to each.

    The former governor said of the 50 schools he planned to assist, he had got the money to cover 20. He then appealed for financial support to reach others.

    He admonished the pupils to be of good behaviour and take their studies seriously since, according to him, “education remains the most portent currency for competition in the world”.

     

  • Fayose, Obi hail Assembly leaders

    Fayose, Obi hail Assembly leaders

    The Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has hailed the leaders of the National Assembly.

    Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said: “In particular, the emergence of Hon Yakubu Dogara as the House of Representatives Speaker is a lesson of life that what goes round will definitely come round.

    “Today, Nigerians demonstrated to the entire world that our country has come of age democratically.

    “Also, President Mohammadu Buhari, by not interfering in the process through which the National Assembly leadership emerged today, further demonstrated that as he said in his inaugural speech, he is indeed for everybody, and he is for nobody.

    “I congratulate Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun for this well-deserved victory and I urge them to see their election as a call to the service of their fatherland.”

    Obi reminded them that their positions were meant for service and urged them to see it as such.

  • Jonathan is a brand –Obi

    Jonathan is a brand –Obi

    Former Anambra State governor and Deputy Director (South) of the PDP National Campaign Council, Mr. Peter Obi, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a brand when it comes to governance.

    He said this yesterday during the PDP Presidential Campaign at the Awka-Ibom Stadium, Uyo.

    Obi said that just as every brand of any particular product had its selling points, that today in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has strong selling points that were compelling reasons while Nigerians should return him for another four years.

    On those selling points, Obi referred to his respect for democratic dividends, his transformation of the airports in the country, his ability to put back the trains back to tracks after more than 30 years, his transformation of the agriculture sector, his imprints on education, his belief in the unity of the country, among others.

    According to Obi, “His records are available for all to evaluate. He has an enviable past that holds a bright prospect for a far better future. I say this because in leadership, it is good to retrospect into the past of those seeking different positions so as to have an idea of what the future will be.”

    Reacting to the fall in the value of the nation’s currency, Obi said that the global fall in oil prices was affecting many nations of the world, especially those that export petroleum. He said that comparatively, Nigeria was one of the least affected among oil-producing nations, which, according to him, was of proof of Nigeria’s sound macro economic management.

  • APC mandates Obi’s ex-aide to deliver Anambra

    APC mandates Obi’s ex-aide to deliver Anambra

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed former Governor Peter Obi’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Chima Okafor, as the coordinator for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in Anambra State.

    He is mandated to ensure that the party is not defeated.

    The Nation learnt yesterday that former local government chairmen and ex-speaker of the House of Assembly are about dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

    Okafor, The Nation gathered, would relocate to Anambra State today to carry out his task of selling APC and its standard-bearer to the people.

    The grassroots politician said he had been appointed Gen. Buhari’s campaign coordinator.

    He said: “Our mandate is to make sure that APC takes its pride of place in Anambra State during the elections.”

  • Obi’s community denies endorsing candidates

    Obi’s community denies endorsing candidates

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s community, Agulu, has warned parties and candidates not to allow anybody to deceive them that the area has endorsed them.

    In a statement yesterday by the Youth Empowerment Committee, under the aegis of Agulu Peoples Union (APU), signed by the Chairman, Maduagwu Eric-Kenny and Secretary, Aguluka Nnamdi, the community denied endorsing candidates for the elections.

    It reads: “We wish to state that neither the town union nor the youth of Agulu have endorsed any candidate for the elections.

    “The decision to give every politician a level-playing field and every Agulu indigene freedom of association should not be abused.

    “Constituted authorities’ and the town union’s decision must be respected, not minding whose ox is gored.

    “Politicians should concentrate on issue-based campaigns and avoid scoring cheap political points, which will undermine their ambitions.

    “We advise parents to monitor their children now that the elections are approaching, so that desperate politicians will not lure them with money.

    “The town union will not hesitate to sanction any youth found associating with the Agulu Youth Movement’s national executives.

    “We use this medium to inform the public that the national executive of the Agulu Youth Movement has been suspended indefinitely by the highest decision- making body in Agulu.”

  • Obi, Nwobodo for UNN lecture

    The Faculty of Arts of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) will, on Monday, hold an African Leadership Forum  on crisis resolution. The event will be held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium.

    According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Patrick Okpoko, the lecture is designed to discuss the causes and dynamics of leadership crises in Africa, using Nigeria as a case study. He said the event was timely, taking into cognisance the fact that the nation is entering an election period.

    Prof Okpoko said the forum was the faculty’s way of contributing to national development and restoring dignity to governance. He added that the lecture would provoke thoughts on leadership questions and related matters.

    The lecture with the theme: Leadership issues in Nigeria, will be delivered by the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, while Dr Jim Nwobodo, the first executive governor of old Anambra State and former Minister of Youth and Sports, will chair the occasion.

    The Dean said diverse thoughts on leadership travails in Africa would be brought to the fore at the forum, hoping that contributions from participants would help to chart a better future for the black continent.

    He said: “It is my vision to create an enabling environment for teaching and research that will not only be knowledge-based, but also technologically-driven. To accomplish this task, we need to engage our students in effective mentoring and workshops to develop their potentials in leadership and knowledge by creating a platform for them to meet experienced scholars.  I believe this can help repositioning the faculty.”

  • Mancini hails Obi

    Mancini hails Obi

    Roberto Mancini praised Joel Obi and the rest of his Inter team, despite the Nerazzurri losing a friendly with Paris Saint-Germain.

    A second-half goal from Yohan Cabaye gave the French champions the win, but the Beneamata coach saw some positives in the performance.

    “I liked the attitude of the team, which was good,” Mancini told reporters in the aftermath of the game.

    “Friendly matches are used to do experiments and get players back. For example, today we got Hernanes back, I saw he was fit enough to start the game.

    “Some players played in different positions. There were some good things, and some not-so-good things, but that’s ok.

    “What did I not like? We gave away two or three scoring chances too easily, we have to avoid that.”

    Obi played the whole of the second half as Mancini made sweeping changes following a dour first half.

  • Why Pope honoured Obi, by cleric

    Why Pope honoured Obi, by cleric

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Okeke, said the Universal Church, through Peter Obi’s local Diocese of Awka, honoured the former Governor and the Commissioner for Works, Callistus Ilozumba, an architect, with the Papal Knighthood of St Sylvester, for the work they did in Anambra State.

    He spoke yesterday at Obi’s investiture at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka.

    The Bishop said: “God is willing to use us as His instrument, provided we cooperate with Him as Virgin Mary cooperated with him.”

    Citing Obi as one person in the position of power, who allowed himself to be used by God for the betterment of the society, the Prelate said before him, it was as if Anambra State was abandoned to barbarians, adding that with the coming of Obi, things improved.

    He said as a Governor, Obi was exemplary in many ways, including those little things that made a great difference, such as staying at the back when he came late to church, not using siren, not travelling with many aides and mingling with everybody without showing the consciousness of one who was in power.

    The cleric, who said Obi was a good example that the relationship between the church and the state should be that of mutual benefit and not antagonism, hailed his prudence, sense of propriety and insistence that things must be done properly, saying they were qualities, which helped him to succeed and would help anybody desirous of success. “When he was busy safeguarding the state’s money, insisting on prudence, some people said he was frugal, but today, the beauty of what he did in the state are being appreciated by everybody,” Rev. Okeke said.

    On the fruits of his good governance, he said besides having one of the best and functional health care in the country, “Anambra comes first in external examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) because of Obi’s efforts.”

    President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Senator Ben Obi, said the honour confirmed that the Federal Government did not make a mistake in ensuring that Obi remained part of them in many ways.

    Obi, who thanked those present, dedicated the award to Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, his wife and people of goodwill.

    Prominent Nigerians, including former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, Prof. ABC Nwosu, among others, attended the event.

  • Supports to institutions give me Joy –Obi

    Supports to institutions give me Joy –Obi

    FORMER governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that offering support to institutions that help in the training of young ones is what gave him joy and peace of mind.

    Obi made the remark yesterday when he visited the Rosary College, Awgwu, Enugu State. The former governor, who presented a cheque of N2 million to the school to, called on wealthy Nigerians to imbibe the culture of giving back to the society.

    Describing contributions to worthy societal causes as a corporal work of mercy, Obi said that there are much joy and peace derivable from such acts than using the money to engage in conspicuous and wasteful expenditure. Speaking on behalf of the proprietor of the school and the Catholic Bishop of Awgwu, Most Rev. Dr. John Okoye, the Manager of the School, Rev. Fr. Titus Udeh, said the entire Diocese was grateful to Mr. Obi for the revolution he engendered in the state when he returned schools to the church.

    He said that Obi’s commitment to good governance in all its ramifications is a challenge to Nigerians on the practical exemplification of patriotism.