The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obiano

  • Multiple registration suit against Obiano dismissed

    Multiple registration suit against Obiano dismissed

    The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has dismissed a suit on alleged multiple registration against Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano.

    The matter was brought by an Onitsha human rights lawyer, Jezie Ekejiuba, seeking the disqualification of Obiano as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate.

    The plaintiff also sought the nullification of the November 2013 governorship election, which gave Obiano victory, for alleged discrepancies in his voting documents during the election.

    Other defendants are Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The plaintiff claimed the first defendant (Obiano) allegedly submitted a fake voter card in his INEC Form CF001 sworn affidavit, contrary to Section 31 (1) to (6) of the Amended Electoral Act, 2010.

    Delivering judgment yesterday in Awka, Justice Isah Gafai dismissed the suit for lack of merit and inconsistency in the reliefs sought.

    He outlined three issues for determination in favour of the first defendant’s lawyer and one in favour of the plaintiff, describing the plaintiff’s matter as a misconception, speculation and a non-issue.

    He said: “The first defendant, now Governor Obiano, through his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), asserted that he registered as a voter in Lagos and participated in elections there in 2011, and when it became apparent he would seek nomination as APGA candidate, he went through the proper transfer process of his voter card registration and won the poll.

    “It is self-contradictory to claim act of double or multiple registration against the first defendant and on the other hand, claim his (plaintiff’s) case is neither one of double registration or criminal matter.

  • Obiano under pressure to join PDP

    Obiano under pressure to join PDP

    ANAMBRA State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is under serious pressure to dump the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it is learnt.

    The nation gathered yesterday that his Aguleri community met recently to advise him on the implication of remaining in APGA, especially, when there are forces against him in the party.

    However, the Vice President of Aguleri, Chief Emmanuel Ikem, has described the allegation as untrue, saying it is the work of mischief makers. Speaking with The Nation, yesterday in Awka, Ikem said that his people were planning to build an APGA House in their community, adding that Obiano was an unrepentant believer in APGA.

    “I want to further tell you that the greatest son of Aguleri in the (PDP) is Chief Chriscato Ameke who has just defected to APGA. So, whoever is peddling the rumour is not serious.” Meanwhile, a source who spoke with The Nation on condition of anonymity, said the leaders in the PDP want Obiano to leave APGA because of the seeming intractable problem in the party

  • Obiano pays salary arrears

    Obiano pays salary arrears

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has paid the salary arrears owed workers of the Water Corporation and Anambra Sanitation and Environment Protection Agency (ANSEPA) by previous administrations.

    The ANSEPA workers were sacked by the past administrations, but are seeking reinstatement. Judgment is yet to be given on the matter.

  • Mark, Obiano, Umeh, others team up with Rehab Centre in Anambra

    Mark, Obiano, Umeh, others team up with Rehab Centre in Anambra

    THE Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled, Old and Tramps (RECDOT), Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State will mark its 15th Year Anniversary and Fund Raising before the end of October, 2014. Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh will team up with the inmates of the centre on the day.

    The founder of the home, Mrs. Rosemary Odunukwe said yesterday that the desire to remove children from the streets so as to give them the love of a mother began through the adoption of an abandoned child who was left in a refuse dump was the reason for its establishment.

    The Rehabilitation centre, according to her had one hundred and sixty persons (160) as against nine when it was established. She said the home was targeted at bringing God’s love to the needy by not only providing them with basic needs of life but to also give them formal and vocational training as their abilities permit for them to understand that there was ability in disability.

  • Jonathan, Obiano, Ngige, Obi condole with Senator over sister’s death

    Jonathan, Obiano, Ngige, Obi condole with Senator over sister’s death

    PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige and former Governor Peter Ob all paid tributes during the burial of Senator Ben Ndi Obi’s younger sister, late Prof. Josephine Obiananma Anagbogu, yesterday in Awka, Anambra State. Obiano, who read the message from Dr. Jonathan, prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The church service, which was conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, held at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith in Awka. More than 50 Priests were in attendance, including prominent men and women in the society.

    There was heavy traffic, while security operatives had hectic time clearing the way for easy movement. Also in attendance was oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, who gave the church the sum of N5 million. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, was also attended the event.

    Other dignitaries included the Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, members of the state executive council, senators and House of Representatives members. In his Sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Rt Rev. Alex Ibezim, told the congregation that this was the right time to seek the face of God.

    He said that people live their lives today as if nothing would happen. Ibezim, however, prayed for the repose of the departed, adding that God would guard the family to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Academics urge Obiano to repair roads

    Academics urge Obiano to repair roads

    Over 50 professors and doctors, who reside at Esther Obialor Estate in Awka, the Anambra State capital, have urged Governor Willie Obiano to repair the roads in the estate.

    They said all the roads in the estate had become impassable, especially during the rainy season. The residents accused the government of abandoning the estate.

    The contract for the roads’ repair was reportedly awarded by former Governor Chris Ngige.

    Although work started on the roads before an Appeal Court sacked the administration in 2006, the roads have been abandoned since then.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Awka, Prof. Nonso Nnabuife, a former dean in the Faculty of Agriculture and Chairman of Agu Awka GRA Residents’ Association, said they were tired of doing palliative work on the roads.

    He urged Obiano to give the roads urgent attention, adding that the residents had been parking their vehicles outside their homes because of the sorry state of the roads.

    Another resident, Chief Joseph Nwakpadaolu, told reporters that he had spent N1 million on one of the roads to make it passable.

  • Obiano okays Gulder’s new look

    Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano has described as creative the new packaging of Gulder.

    He spoke when a delegation from the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, manufacturers of the beer, visited him at the Government House, Awka.

    He said the brand’s new look made it distinctive from other beers. He said: “This new Gulder bottle makes the beer stand out from other beer bottles. I have seen the new bottle and what you have done with the new packaging is really creative. It’s really good.”

    Obiano further described Gulder as an innovative beer, hence its wide acceptability in the market. He said: “I must say I am not surprised that Gulder beer is doing well in Nigeria. The brand is a case study at the Lagos Business School. Let me also use this opportunity to commend the Brand Managers working to ensure Gulder’s success. They are doing a great job of promoting such a great drink.”

    He added that many people in the East, including Anambra, patronise Gulder as well as other Nigerian Breweries brands.

    Obiano noted: “We have the population that enjoys beer here. If there is a segment in Nigeria, so concentrated that enjoy drinking beer, you find that in Anambra State.”

    The new Gulder bottle has several revolutionary attributes, such as a premium Staniol with the gold neck seal with a conical-shaped neck.

    The bottle also has a strong masculine shoulder with a distinctive metalised label.

    The rich metallic front and back labels add to Gulder’s premium look and feel. The new look bottle was unveiled on September 6.

     

  • Anambra: Obiano files cross-appeal at Supreme Court

    Anambra: Obiano files cross-appeal at Supreme Court

    •Ngige, APC object

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has filed a cross-appeal at the Supreme Court, disagreeing with aspects of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which ruled in his favour, dismissing four petitions against his election.

    Senator Chris Ngige and All Progressives Congress (APC), whose joint appeal in the Enugu Court was dismissed on the same day with three others, had since appealed at the Supreme Court.

    The five-man panel of the Court  of Appeal, led by Justice Lawal Garba Mohammed, on July 26 dismissed the petition filed by Senator Ngige and the APC.

    In the cross-appeal, Obiano, apprehensive of the issue of qualification to contest as governor, is contending that the Appellate Court ought to have held that the only grounds to determine the issue of qualification for elections are those provided by Secton 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution.

    However, Senator Ngige and his party are contending through the Tribunal, to the Appeal Court and now the Supreme Court that Obiano is not qualified to contest the governoship election , having ‘submitted a forged document to INEC ‘ as part of his prequalification.

     

  • ‘Obiano not for PDP’

    ‘Obiano not for PDP’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Pat Ogochukwu Egolum, has debunked a speculation  that Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano may join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the party was intact.

    Egolum spoke yesterday in Awka while briefing reporters on the purported defection of the governor to another party.

    The politician, who is contesting Anaocha I Constituency next year, said he was in the race because his people were in need of development.

  • Obiano orders rebranding of agency

    Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has ordered the rebranding of Anambra State Traffic Agency (ASTA), even as he suspended the activities of the agency in Ihiala, Nnewi, Onitsha and its environs, except Awka.

    The agency will now bear Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ATMA).

    This was revealed in Awka by the Commissioner for Transport, Chuma Mbonu, while he led the traffic decongestion team at Aroma during the gridlock.

    According to him, the bad eggs in the old agency, which had been identified, would be sacked after what he described as rescreening of the workers.

    Mbonu said: “We are re-organising and re-branding the agency. It will come in a new form and new shape for greater efficiency as ordered by Governor Willie Obiano.

    “Those of them who are good will be retained after the re-screening exercise while the bad eggs will go. We have the data of all of them.

    “Already, we have suspended their activities in areas such as Ihiala, Nnewi, Onistha, Ekwulobia. We have retained their services in Awka for close supervision.

    “The new agency will be made up of men and women of integrity. You know their reputation before now had not been wonderful. Obiano has a passion for road transport matter,” Mbonu said.

    Again, he said the state government would rely on additional information from the public to act accordingly, adding that Anambra State was no longer for miscreants.