The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Willie Obiano

  • Obiano mulls allowance increament for NYSC members

    Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano had disclosed his government plans to increase the allowances of serving corps members posted to rural and hard-to-reach areas of the state.

    Obiano made the disclosure while addressing 2018 Batch ‘C’ corps members in Umunya Temporary Orientation Camp, Oyi local government area of the state.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwelobelu, the governor said the incentive was to raise the corps members’ morale for more commitment in the discharge of their duties.

    He said, “We note with pride that Anambra state gives the highest remuneration to Corps members posted to the state.

    “We are working out modalities to offer differential payment of allowances in their favour in order to further encourage those in the rural/hard to reach areas of the state.”

    He further charged the NYSC members to abide by the electoral laws and refused being used by desperate politicians for their ulterior motives ahead 2019 elections.

    “You must emulate your predecessors who were unbiased umpires in previous elections. You must not fail the nation which reposes lots of confidence in you” he said.

    Obiano restated his continued provision of adequate security and welfare to the corps members during the elections and the remaining part of their service year.

    He also reassured the readiness of the permanent orientation camp site before the end of the year to enable the next batch have their orientation course in the new site.

    Earlier, NYSC Coordinator in the state, Kehinde Aremu, said prospective corps members who were supposed to serve in the state were moved to Ebonyi and Imo states due to insufficient camping facilities.

    He regretted that the present site owned by the Anglican church had become grossly inadequate considering the number of prospective corps members posted to the state.

    Read Also: Obiano’s wife admonishes parents on girl-child education

    He said, “Sadly, corps members deployed to Anambra will be holding their orientation course in Imo. Earlier this year, Anambra corps members were dislodged to Ebonyi and Imo states.

    “This is because Anambra is the only state in South-East of Nigeria without a permanent orientation camp.

    “I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to the vibrant private sector in Anambra to complement the efforts of the state government towards delivering the orientation camp in Umuawulu/Mbaukwu for 2019 Batch A.”

    Aremu explained that posting of the corps members was guided by the scheme’s policy and requests from deserving employers which fitted into the human capital development strategy of the state government.

    He said the corps members had been trained with fitness drill and entrepreneurial skills as well as the culture of the people to enable them to contribute maximally to the communities they were posted for primary assignment.

    The coordinator also thanked the state government, the Anglican Church and other partnering agencies for their support and success of the orientation course.

  • Buhari departs Paris

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday morning departed the Le Bourget Airport in France for Abuja.

    His plane Nigerian Air Force 001 took off from the airport around 11.50 a.m

    He had arrived Paris, France last Friday night to attend the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum scheduled for 11th to 13th of November, 2018.

    The Forum, which was organised by the French Government and a number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), was based on the idea that international cooperation was key to tackling global challenges and ensuring durable peace.

    Buhari had joined over 70 world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in discussing contributions towards global peace and underscoring the imperative of collective action.

    He also joined them to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the Armistice signed on 11th of November, 1918 between the Allied Forces and Germany in the forest of Compiegne in France to end the First World War.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo lash out at restructuring advocates

    Apart from attending a luncheon hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France in honour of visiting heads of delegations on Sunday, Buhari on Monday had an interactive session with the Nigerian Community in France.

    He left Paris with Governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), President’s Aide De Camp, Lt. Col Ml Abubakar, among other top government officials.

    Those who bid the President farewell at the airport included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; and the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) among other top government officials.

  • Buhari leads Nigeria delegation to Paris Peace Forum

    President Muhammadu Buhari is to attend the first ever Paris Peace Forum schedules to hold in the French capital between November 11 and 13, 2018 aimed at discussing issues of global peace.

    The Paris Forum is Organised by the French Government and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), based on the “simple idea that international cooperation is key to tackling global challenges and ensuring durable peace.”

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said in a statement that the Nigerian President will join the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and other world leaders in discussing contributions towards global peace while underscoring the imperative of collective action.

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari must keep his word’

    Adesina said that while in Paris, President Buhari will also join other world leaders to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the Armistice signed on November 11, 1918 between the Allied Forces and Germany in the forest of Compiegne in France to end the First World War.

    He said further that President Buhari will also attend a luncheon hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France in honour of visiting heads of delegations and attend an interactive session with the Nigeria community in France before returning to Abuja.

    President Buhari is accompanied on the trip to Paris by Governors Aminu Masari, Willie Obiano and Kayode Fayemi of Katsina, Anambra and Ekiti States, respectively. Others include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar.

     

  • Traders protest planned demolition of shops

    Traders at Agbo-Edo market, Nkwo Nnewi, Anambra State, on Friday protested attempted plans by the state government to demolish marked out 320 stalls in the market.

    The traders also called for the immediate suspension of what they called “over taxation” by their market leaders.

    The protesters, who shut down the market, marched round major streets in the industrial community to press home their demands before culminating at the palace of the Nnewi traditional ruler, Igwe Kenneth O. Orizu III.

    The traders, led by Mr Ernest-Mary Ezenwa, alleged high-handedness of the market leadership, under Mr Christopher Osuchukwu.

    They also accused the leadership of collaborating with the state government to demolish traders’ stalls and impose high stall levies.

    The traders said, “Notices of demolition of 320 stalls from the State Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation in agency with Star-Unic Enterprises Limited were pasted at their shops on a Sunday without any arrangement for the affected traders relocation.

    “The Anambra State government imposed a stall age levy of N12,200 per shop in the market and the leaders increased the levy to N13,200.

    “We will not pay anything above what government stipulated.”

    Some of the placards displayed by the traders read: ” No more imposition of illegal levies in Agbo-Edo market, no more structures in our market, we don’t need building of more shops, among others.”

    They called on the Governor, Willie Obiano to intervene in the ugly situation to avert impending crises.

    Addressing the protesters through the Crown Prince, Obi Orizu, Igwe Orizu III called for calm, assuring that their complaints would be given the attention it deserved.

    The monarch promised a meeting with Nnewi North council chairman, Nzuko-Ora (Nnewi town union), other stakeholders including the traders themselves to look into the matter.

    Reacting, chairman of the market association, Mr Christopher Osuchukwu said the traders were served three months notice, which he said, was meant to remove illegal structures in the market, construct drainage and create access roads.

    He however denied any difference from the N12,200 government asked traders to pay, challenging those who accused his leadership of illegal levy to produce a receipt to back up their claims.

  • ‘Obi, Obiano, two greatest leaders in Nigeria’

    …says country needs leaders with vision, compassion

    The incumbent governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, have been described as two of the greatest leaders in Nigeria.

    This was the opinion of specialist in pain management in Las Vegas, United States of America, Prof Godwin Maduka.

    He said what the country needs now are leaders with vision, compassion, drive discipline and confidence.

    Maduka, who was the chairman during the recent retreat and book launch, organized by the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA at Finotel hotel resort in Awka, Anambra state.

    He said the party had been able to thrive in the state and indeed Nigeria because of the leadership qualities of former national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, the current national chairman, Dr Victor Oye and Governor Obiano.

    According to him, “Political office seekers who promote mischief, violence or brigandage as instruments of political competition must be held accountable for their actions”

    “What Nigeria needs now more than ever is high quality leadership intuned with vision, drive, discipline, confidence, and most of all, compassion”

    “I have absolutely no doubt that you the aspirants in this hall, distinguished and respected personalities are poised and prepared to rise up and embrace the challenge”

    “It only requires seriousness and sincerity as well as a strong commitment and revolutionary mindset”

    “All full blooded and convinced citizens of Nigeria, we must strive towards inventing a meaningful Nigerian nation that fulfils the promise that Nigeria holds out for all of us here, for all Nigerians in the Diaspora as well as the rest of the world”

    Read Also: Obiano doles out N.3billion to mission schools

    “You the potential representatives of our people are the human treasurers of this dream. You are now presented with a magnificent opportunity to challenge and correct malgovernance across all sectors”

    “For Nigeria to be great, those whom aspire to lead must bear in mind the fact that they are servants and as such cannot ever be greater than the people, their masters”

    ” A leader must never allow his high office to separate him from the people. He should symbolize good government. He must have physical and moral courage and most importantly, he must possess the ability to inspire the people out of despondency”

    “A leader who serves his people will be enshrined in the hearts and minds of his people. This is his only reward in his lifetime”

    “I commend the Governor of Anambra State Chief (Dr) Willie Obiano, for living up to these ideals and for making Anambra State an international showpiece of good governance”

    “APGA is a party that can boast of some of the most visionary Governors Nigeria has ever produced in the persons of Mr. Obi and Chief Willie Obiano,” Maduka said.

  • Security: Anambra to move beggars, lunatics to rehab centre

    Anambra Government says it will soon take lunatics and beggars off its streets to a rehabilitation centre at Nteje to maintain a high level of security for its residents.

    Mrs Ndidi Mezue, the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka on Wednesday.

    Mezue said that the move became necessary because most of the people seen on the road fake various diseases and deformities to defraud unassuming members of the public.

    “We need to do a check and stop the trend,” she said.

    She said that those genuinely sick would be treated and offered useful skills that would help them to become productive members of the society.

    Read Also: Anambra community gets monarch after 34 years

    The commissioner said that Anambra as the “Light of Nation” needed to be clean for investors and the residents at all times.

    “Gov. Willie Obiano in keeping with his promise of a safe and clean environment has concluded plans to partner with an international donor agency to offer beggars relevant skills acquisition programmes.

    “The lunatics will be taking to rehabilitation center in Nteje Oyi Local Government area of the state and will be treated until they regain sanity to rejoin their families,” she said.

    She said that six of the mentally sick who were rehabilitated at Nteje had regained their sanity and had been be released to their families.

  • Obiano doles out N.3billion to mission schools

    Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has donated the sum of N357,136,875 to no fewer than 729 mission schools belonging to the Catholic and Anglican churches in the state.

    While N211,168,125m was given for the reconstruction of 433 schools handed over to the Catholic Mission, N145,968,750m was given to to upgrade 296 of infrastructure to schools belonging to the Anglican Church.

    Presenting the cheques at different occasions in the state, Obiano described basic education as fundamental for the complete formation of the child.

    He revealed that the money was given according to the number of schools handed over to the missions, promising sustaintance of the donation to the mission schools throughout the duration of his tenure.

    While commending the churches for the judicious utilization of funds released initially by his government, the governor urged them to focus on schools in the rural places under the present phase,

    “The partnership with the Church in the area of education is yielding the desired result as the funds released have been put to good use.

    “We are also focusing on teacher’s welfare to complement the efforts in infrastructural development,” he said.

    The Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha said the partnership of government with the Church would help the state achieve its vision of availing students in the state globally competitive education.

    The Archbishop and Metropolitan, Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, and the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Chukwuma, received the cheques on behalf of the Catholic and Anglican churches respectively.

  • PDP to APGA: Obiano is your last governor in Anambra

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has asked the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) to forget about fielding any candidate in the next governorship election in the state.

    The party said the incumbent governor of the state, Willie Obiano would be the last governor the party would produce in the state.

    The leader of PDP reconciliation committee in the state, Mr. Ngozi Agudozi, who stated this on Friday at Nnewi South council area of the state during a meeting with different factions of the party, described the state as PDP’s birthright.

    The PDP chieftain regretted the 14-year old internal crises of the party in the state, which he said APGA took advantage of to wrestle power from her, vowing to reclaim it at the expiration of Obiano’s tenure.

    He said, “APGA is like a faction of PDP in Anambra state. Today, they are claiming to have won 21/21 in the last polls which most of them can’t explain how it happened.

    “By the time I am through with this mission, we are going to say bye bye to APGA in Anambra State. I’m not boasting. Obiano will be the last governor of APGA in Anambra State. After Obiano, there won’t be any other APGA governor in Anambra.

    “Take it from me, this state belongs to us. There is no man, big or small in the state that have not drank from the milk of PDP.”

    Agudozi however denied being sponsored by certain stalwarts in the party, describing his mission as simply divine.

    Read Also: You can’t remove Saraki, Ekweremadu – PDP

    “Nobody is backing me. A lot of people don’t even like me because I say the truth the way it is. I’m convinced in this project because it is a divine mandate that I should go and reconcile my people so that our party can win elections.

    “I saw the crying and pains of party members at the grassroots. They are seeking for someone to give them sense of direction, which I will provide. That’s why they are embracing it.

    “I only consulted my leaders from the state in Abuja and I told them I’m going on this mission. Olisa Metu, Peter Obi and Chris Uba are my political leaders, but none of them sent me here. I’m here based on the interest for the state. And all of us are working together,” he stressed.

    A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and a chieftain of APGA, had, during last year’s gubernatorial electioneering campaign, boasted that APGA would rule Anambra State for 50 years.

    He said his prediction was informed by the developmental indices the party leadership had provided in the last twelve years the party held sway in the state.

  • Rescue flood victim dead or alive – Obiano urges NSCDC, others

    Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has directed the commencement of search and rescue of the body of Mr. Ugochukwu Ofiaeli reportedly drowned in a flash flood at Nnewi.

    The 45-year old man, from Egbu-Umuenem, Otolo Nnewi, was said to have been carried away by flood last week along Okwuani- Ezi Ogwugwu road, Nnewi and had not been seen since then.

    Obiano who had earlier commensurated with the family during a visit, reassured them that government would find the missing person dead or alive.

    Speaking later when he visited the scene of the incident, the governor said a joint team comprising men of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) brigade, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the State Ministry of Works would join in the search.

    Read Also: Flood: Obiano urges Fed Govt to pay 2012 victims

    He also directed the Ministry of Works to redesign the road and create appropriate water channels to forestall a recurrence of such incidents.

    The governor also paid condolence visit to the family of Pastor Salvation Samuel of Amawbia community who lost their 14-year old daughter, Ebubechukwu in a flash flood in the town.

    While appealing to residents to exercise caution and restraint at flash flood areas by patiently allowing it to subside, regardless of its size, Obiano stressed that it was more profitable to lose time than lives.

  • Corps members take oath amidst rain in Anambra

    About 2,364 Batch ‘B’ stream I corps members posted to Anambra state for their national service, on Friday made good their ‘under the rain’ pledge, as they took oath of allegiance amidst rain at the orientation camp, Umunya, Oyi local government area of the state.

    The NYSC members, comprising of 1376 females and 988 males, filed out as early as 9am in readiness for the swearing-in ceremony, defying the rain which had persisted in the state for three consecutive days.

    The State Coordinator, Aremu Kehinde, said the patriotism and resilience demonstrated by the corp members since they reported to camp was a clear testimony that the NYSC anthem recited each day was not mere lip service.

    He said he was not surprised at the way they stayed put as the rain came in course of the occasion.

    “As soon as they reported to camp, they started learning the NYSC anthem as well as that of the state and the nation. You know one of the lines of our anthem is ‘building our nation high under the sun or in the rain’.

    “Since it’s what they’ve decided to do, it was not surprising that they didn’t run from the rain when it started,” he said.

    Read Also: Orphanages not for profit, Anambra cleric warns

    The Coordinator also expressed optimism that majority of the corps would not seek redeployment after the orientation course in view of the level of security and job opportunities existing in the state.

    “Those factors that drive corps members away, including lack of security, infrastructures and opportunities are very much present here.

    “I believe 95% of the corps members would not only stay back for their primary assignment, but would even decide to work here after their service,” he added.

    Earlier, the governor of the state, Willie Obiano had assured the corps members of enabling environment to maximize their potentials of self-realization and self-sufficiency.

    Obiano who was represented by the commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Bonadventure Enemali, urged them to take advantage of the training to equip themselves for job creation