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Tag: Peter Obi

  • Governor, Ministers, stakeholders hold dialogue poverty

    Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, the Minister for National Planning, members of the national assembly, heads of government parastatals with mandate to address poverty and activists will on Tuesday, March 12 gather in Abuja for a high level national policy dialogue on poverty.
    The National Dialogue on Poverty, according to the orgernisers , ActionAid Nigeria,  is in response to” the obvious need for a rethink of the current response to poverty in Nigeria”.
     “The current Nigeria poverty profile, which incidentally is produced by a government agency, has shown that in spite of the many government policies and interventions on poverty, the incidence of poverty in Nigeria has worsened,” the Policy and Campaigns Manager of ActionAid Nigeria, Tunde Aremu stated.
     
    The worsening situation of poverty in the country, according to Aremu is a paradox given the fact that “in the last quarter of 2012, Nigeria’s GDP growth rate was put at 7.1 per cent.”
    “This is a feet none of the top economies in the world achieved at that time. In spite of its wealth, infant and maternal mortality index in the Nigeria is among the poorest in the world”
     
    This situation according to the anti-poverty agency though may not be as a result of lack of will on the part of government and its agencies to address the state of poverty in the nation, there is still an urgent need for a critical look at interventions currently in place.
    According to Aremu, “No doubt a lot of progress have been made in terms of development in the country, but it is important that there is an appreciation of the level of progress if the country must meet the goals of the MDGs and in a broader context achieve its Vision 20 2020.”
    The poverty dialogues according to ActionAid is therefore organised to “take a critical and result-driven look at the issue of failure of several interventions in poverty eradication and development in general.
    “It will also build consensus on what should constitute the appropriate strategy to deal with poverty in the country, while providing a platform for discourse on the challenges and realisation of the MDGs as it still presents one of the most encompassing framework for development”
    The poverty dialogue will feature a public discourse which  will  be led by an international specialist, Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, the Director of the UN African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP).
     
  • Jonathan to miss AFCON final

    Jonathan to miss AFCON final

    President Goodluck Jonathan will not be available live in South Africa to cheer the Super Eagles when the team takes on Burkina Faso in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

    Instead, the president will send a delegation to represent him in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the epic soccer duel, futaa.com reports.

    The president had promised the players and officials of the Super Eagles that he would be in South Africa if they qualified for the finals of the tournament, but that is not to be anymore.

    This was confirmed by the Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, who tweeted that the president will be in London and Paris for other official engagements, but has sent representatives to cheer on the team.

    Abati also revealed that members of the Super Eagles will be hosted to a dinner reception on February 12 in Abuja.

    He wrote: President Jonathan sends high-powered delegation to South Africa to support the Super Eagles ahead of AFCON final on Sunday.

    “The delegation that will be led by Senate President David Mark includes Governors Peter Obi and Isa Yuguda of Anambra and Bauchi States, Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Prof. V. Onwuliri.

    “President Jonathan due to official commitments in London and Paris will not be in Johannesburg to lead cheering for Super Eagles as he would have wished.

    “He has charged the delegation to ensure the Super Eagles are properly motivated and in best possible spirits to record a resounding victory on Sunday.

    The President will host the team to a dinner reception on Tuesday, February 12 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja by 7 pm.”

     

     

  • Dead bodies found floating on Anambra River

    Dead bodies found floating on Anambra River

    Residents of Amansea Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State woke up on Saturday  to find about 30 dead bodies,all of them men,floating in the Anambra River.

    The river has its source at Agba Ogwudu, Enugu State, a boundary town between Enugu and Anambra States.

    The bodies are decomposing  and the stench emanating from them envelopes the neighbourhood.

    No one could say how they bodies got there,who killed them or identify any of them.

    Residents were seen in groups discussing the development in hushed tones.

    Governor Peter Obi was out of town,but government sources said he had been notified and was monitoring the situation through his commissioners and local government officials.

    The traditional ruler of Amansea Community, Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo, was dumb founded.

    The river which is now polluted by the dead bodies serves the five communities Amansea, Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Ugbene and Oba-Ofemili .

    The State government dispatched a delegation led by the commissioner for local government ,Lady Azuka Enemo and Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in the state,Mr. Dazza Udozor to assess the situation.

    Enemo described what she saw as terrible and unfortunate.

    “We have not seen this kind of thing before, it is a horrible sight,” she said, adding:“we have seen a lot of dead bodies numbering about 14.May be we have not seen the last of it because they are still floating in the water down to Anambra river.

    “When we were informed, we also duly informed the security agencies and we believe they will carry out investigations to tell us actually what transpired.

    “Also, we have contacted our neighbour state, Enugu Government, because this is a waste of human lives. We cannot fold our hands claiming that nothing could be done”

    The traditional ruler of Amansea community said the development remained a mystery to everybody.

    The state Police Command pledged to unravel the mystery behind it.

     

     

  • Obi, Igwe Laud MTN at Ofala Nnewi Festival

    Obi, Igwe Laud MTN at Ofala Nnewi Festival

    Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has commended Telecommunication giant, MTN, on its contribution towards the development of indigenous culture across the country.

    Speaking at this year’s Ofala Nnewi Festival held recently at the Palace of HRH Igwe Dr K.O.N Orizu III, the governor noted that the value of any society lies in its rich cultural heritage, since no society exists without a culture.

    “One of the reasons for the breakdown of laws and regulations is because of the lost of cultural values. A society that seeks to grow in values and morals maintains and celebrates its culture. This is what the people of Nnewi are doing with the Ofala Nnewi Festival and it is quite commendable to have a brand like MTN support the festival. This only shows its commitment towards identifying with the interest of the community where it operates,” Obi  stated.

    The Igwe of Nnewi also thanked  the telecommunication company for its sponsorship in the last six  years. “Over the years’ MTN through its contributions has elevated our Ofala Festival to a much higher level of attraction,” he remarked.

    Expressing MTN’s commitment to the development and promotion of indigenous culture, Dan Nwankwo, the Regional Marketing Manager, South East stated that the “MTN is committed towards enriching the lives of its customers”.

    “And how do we do this? By identifying and connecting to their passion points. Ofala Nnewi is one of the cultural heritages, that is, very dear to the good people of Nnewi. MTN sponsorship of the event is to enable Nnewi indigenes do more of what they love especially as regards the Ofala Nnewi festival. This is in line with our theme which is Talk more, Laugh more and Love more.”

    The 49th annual Ofala Festival recorded a large turnout of top government officials within the state alongside highly placed industrialist in the state, among who include Dr Obinna Uzoh, CEO Gocuz Group.

     

  • Chidi Offodile battles Peter Obi

    There seems to be no-love lost between Hon. Chidi Offodile, a former member of the House of Representatives and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. A few days before the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Anambra State about three weeks ago, Offodile had called on the president not to inaugurate SABmiller, a brewery giant located in Onitsha. The company was one of the projects that the president commissioned during his state visit. Offodile’s grouse, according to findings, was that the governor allegedly used state funds to construct the multi-billion project, of which he is alleged to own substantial stake. Though Obi had his way by getting the project opened, sources disclosed that Offodile is not giving up about dragging the governor to the court of public opinion.