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Tag: Willie Obiano

  • Anambra poll: Voting starts in Aguleri, other polling units

    Anambra poll: Voting starts in Aguleri, other polling units

    Voting has started in some polling units in Anambra while accreditation of voters is still ongoing in other places.

    In Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Aarea, the materials arrived at few minutes past 8 a.m.

    At Aguleri Ward I, where the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is expected to vote, voting and accreditation of voters commenced on schedule.

    At Nsugbe ward I where, APC governorship hopeful, Dr Tony Nwoye, is expected to vote, the polling officials are yet to arrive.

    But , in Onitsha, electoral officials arrived ahead of the 8 a.m voting schedule, but there was no voter as at 8:30 a.m.

    The presiding Officer, Miss Peace Onah said they slept at the unit.

    She said that unit 005 Metroploitian Secondary school ward 4 in Onitsha North, had three voting points.

    “INEC officials are ready, but no voter has shown up as at 8:30 a.m,” Onah said.

    At Unit 008 and 014 in Ado Girls Secondary School, Inland Town, Onitsha, materials and officials were yet to arrive.

    A voter, Mr Bernet Ezewudo, said he arrived by 8 a.m., but “you can see that every where is still under lock and key”.

    Also, in Awka South, the process had not started and the presiding officer, Mr Richard Ogbuji, told NAN at 8:22 a.m at Real Estate Primary School  II that they were setting up table to start.

    At unit 005 the presiding officer, Mr Jude Anukam, attributed the late starting to transportation difficulties and appealed for patient and understanding,

    Also, the presiding officer, Miss Nkechi Sucuon, at Permanent Site Market 2 corroborated Anukam that the restriction of movement affected them.

    At Oyi Local Government accreditation of voters had started in Umuduru ward 4.

    The presiding officer, Anthonia Ugwunebo, said that the materials arrived at 8:24 a.m, while accreditation and voting began at 9 a.m.

    NAN

  • Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    The Senate on Wednesday directed the Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris to restore security aides of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra within 24 hours.

    The directive was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha during plenary in Abuja.

    The Upper Chamber also directed the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim to ensure that the order was carried out and report back to the Senate on Thursday, Nov. 16.

    It can be recalled that the IGP had on Tuesday withdrawn Obiano’s security aides on the excuse of providing level playing ground in Saturday’s governorship polls in the state.

    Bwacha described the withdrawal of the governor’s aides as unjust.

    “As a senator, I know that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. If we don’t arrest the matter the President may be made hostage unknown to him.

    “If we allow such cabal to grow and are not tamed, the Federal Government may be brought down to its knees.”

    He said as members of parliament they had a duty to ensure that “What happened in Anambra did not happen anywhere again.

    “Candidates should be allowed level playing ground but nobody should do a thing as crude and shrewd as what happened in Anambra. This was wrong.

    “I will make attempt to try and reach the President that some of his aides are been over zealous in discharging their constitutional duties; this is not good and it is uncalled for.”

    In his comment, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the development as unfortunate, but said the Senate would not debate on the matter as it was brought under an order not debatable.

    Rising under Order 45 and 52, Deputy Minority Whip, Sen. Biodun Olujimi said the whole idea of the Point of Order she raised was for the lawmakers to be allowed to make contributions on the matter.

    “The issue is very important to Nigerians and democracy. It is a nascent democracy and there is a need for us to nurture it, to ensure that we don’t truncate it easily.

    “The action of the IGP in taking over the aides of a sitting governor means that in 2019, even the Senate President will lose all his aides,’’ Olujimi said.

    She added: “every governor regardless of his political party is entitled to security and as chief security officers of their states they are entitled to security.

    “It is unimaginable that the IGP will say because he wants to provide level playing field because there is an election, he will withdraw the ADC of a governor so that he goes without his retinue of aides. That is wrong”.

    NAN

  • Anambra guber poll: Group adopts Obiano as candidate

    Anambra guber poll: Group adopts Obiano as candidate

    The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a socio-political organisation, says it has adopted Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, as its candidate for the Nov. 18 gubernatorial election in the state.

    The declared its support for Obiano in a statement jointly signed by the President and Secretary, Comrades Augustine Chukwudum and Chinedu Onyebuch respectively in Enugu on Friday.

    The forum said that it decided to adopt the incumbent after scrutinising the manifestos of the major candidates in the poll during its monthly meeting.

    It scored Obiano’s administration high on security, saying that prior to his assumption of office Anambra was one of the most insecure states in the country.

    According to NUF, no week passed in the state then without news of high profile kidnapping.

    Read Also: ‘ Obiano does not deserve second term’

    It said: “This fear of kidnappers forced many prominent sons and daughters of the state to relocate out of the state.

    “Gov. Obiano, through his pro-activeness, has not only stemmed the tide of kidnapping in the state, but also sanitised activities in the then notorious Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha.

    “On education, it is evident even to Gov. Obiano’s opponents that education has recorded a giant stride under the present administration.”

    The group said the present administration in the state had rebuilt the dilapidated infrastructure in the schools across the 21 local government area of the state and ensured the welfare of the teachers.

    The forum said that the administration built three flyovers in Awka, the state capital, and rehabilitated roads, including the Ekwulobia-Ezinifite road, Neni-Adazi Nnukwu-Akwaeze-Igboukwu road and Aguiyi by-pass, among others.

    It said the four pillars of development formulated by the governor which placed premium on oil and gas, trade and commerce and industrialisation and agriculture had helped in growing the economy.

    According the group, Anambra is the fourth largest economy in the country.

    “We therefore call on the good people of Anambra to ensure that Obiano is re-elected on Nov. 18,” the forum said.

    Read: ‘  Anambra ‘ll vote for Obiano ’

  • Anambra to increase cassava production by 2018 – Obiano

    Anambra to increase cassava production by 2018 – Obiano

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra says his administration will increase cassava output and processing by 2018.

    The governor said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of an ultra-modern Cassava Processing Centre and Farmers’ Business Forum at Anambra State Polytechnic ( ANSPOLY ) in Mgbakwu.

    The processing centre is a joint project executed by the institution and Harvest Plus, an organisation that improves nutrition and public health via production of bio-fortified food crops.

    Obiano said that the new strategy for improved cassava production and processing would be in full operation by 2018, adding that “Anambra Garri’’ would soon saturate the markets.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afam Mbanefo, said that the state was already a leading producer rice and exporter of vegetables.

    Obiano, who commended Harvest Plus for donating the machines for the project, said that prototypes of the machines would be installed in communities across the state during his second term in office.

    In his remark, Dr Paul Iluno, the Country Director of Harvest Plus, said that the company was partnering with the state to develop efficient farm managers, who would assist farmers in their efforts to achieve good yields.

    Iluno said that the machines of the processing centre had the capacity to process five tonnes of fresh cassava tubers of cassava or one tonne of garriper day.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, urged cassava farmers to take due advantage of the processing machines to boost their production.

    The Acting Rector of ANSPOLY, Mrs Nneka Mefor, commended Obiano for upgrading the institution from a college of agriculture to a polytechnic.

    She said that the processing centre would expand the knowledge of students, lecturers and farmers in practical aspects of agriculture.

    NAN

  • Anambra best in SDGs projects in Nigeria – Obiano’s aide

    Anambra best in SDGs projects in Nigeria – Obiano’s aide

    Mr Geoffrey Uba, the Senior Special Assistant ( SSA ) to the governor of Anambra on Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), says Anambra is one of the best in the implementation of sustainable development goals projects in Nigeria.

    He said the state was also among the best three in the country in terms of security, road networks, economic development, and collaborations with international donor organisations.

    Uba in Awka on Monday that Anambra which was listed among the educationally disadvantaged states in the South-East now ranked the first in education.

    The governor`s attributed the successes recorded in the state to the well articulate manifesto of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) and prudent management ability of Gov. Willie Obiano.

    Uba, however, dismissed the rating of APGA by some people as a one state party, saying “APGA is a national party.’’

    “ Let me emphasize that APGA is a national party. It is not a one state party. We have elected members at the state and national assemblies. In Abuja, we have a mayor of APGA extraction,” he said.

    Uba, a chieftain of the party, said that Nigerians should remember that Imo used to be an APGA state before it joined the All Progressives Congress.

    He said that the party was proud of the achievements of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra in three and half years.

    “APGA has achieved a lot in Anambra state. Anambra used to be ranked as one the backward states in the country.

    According to Uba, Gov. Obiano has used the party`s platform to take the state to greater heights and will do more if re-elected on Nov. 18.

    “These are the core democracy dividends and Anambra people are very happy and we will demonstrate this happiness on Nov. 18 election.

    “Anambra state under Willie Obiano has demonstrated so much passion for the welfare of the people,” the SSA said.

    NAN

  • Gov. Obiano reiterates commitment to youths’ empowerment

    Gov. Obiano reiterates commitment to youths’ empowerment

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has reiterated his resolve to empower the youths through skills acquisition, which he also said would reduce crimes and boost national growth.

    Obiano spoke on Tuesday at the 2017 2nd Synod of Cathedral Church of St. Silas, Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.

    The synod with the theme: “Whom Shall I Send, And Who Will Go for Us’’, was attended by Anglican clergymen, lay faithful and invited government officials.

    Obiano said that his vision was that every youth should be meaningful engaged in order to reduce the involvement of youths in anti-social activities and criminality.

    “Before I became governor, security situation was bad; several youths were seen idle on the streets.“But today, I have tackled insecurity by engaging the youths imeaningfully in different skills and agriculture.

    “We are doing this to transform the lives of our youths positively,” he said.

    Earlier, the Anglican Bishop of Ihiala Diocese, Rt. Rev. Israel Okoye, expressed regrets that some politicians only empower youths by engaging them as thugs.

    Okoye noted that such negative conduct of politicians would hamper the future of youths and the nation.

    “I am not satisfied with the style of some politicians who have deviated from positive things, but engage the youths as thugs and also engage in campaign of calumny..

    “Many youths are lured into criminality because of unemployment, while some politicians cash in on the unemployment situation to engage them as thugs,” he said.

    Okoye said the Diocese plans to establish the “All Saints Skills Acquisition and Invention Centre”, for the training of youths on various skills.

    The Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, who also spoke, urged Obiano to sustain the security apparatus that he put in place.

    He said that the improved security had promoted investments, especially in the agricultural sector.

    NAN

  • Anambra to pay accumulated leave allowances in November – Obiano

    Anambra to pay accumulated leave allowances in November – Obiano

    The Anambra Government says it will pay the accumulated arrears of leave allowances owed its workers in November, 2017.

    A statement made available in Awka on Tuesday stated that Gov. Willie Obiano made the promise at the inauguration of Queens Convent Secondary School, Ifite-Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.

    “You will start receiving your leave allowances from Nov. 10, 2017. This is to enable you enjoy the Christmas celebration like other Nigerians,’’ he said.

    The governor further announced that every worker would receive a bag of rice among other benefits before the Christmas.

    “Next year, there will be general increment in salaries of Anambra workers. We are doing all these to promote the welfare of workers in the state,’’ he said.

    Obiano said that the first and second batch of promotion of workers in the state would soon be released.

    He said that teachers and other civil servants would equally get their due benefits alongside other workers.

    The governor said that he would not relent in his fight against malpractice and other social ills, which according to him, has crippled the education system.

    “The primary and secondary schools are basic foundations which determine the future of people and the society and we must get it right for our nation to develop,’’ he said.

    Obiano explained that the essence of handing over schools to missions in Anambra was to give proper orientation and re-orientation to the younger generation.

    He said that previous generations embraced corruption and impunity due to lack of proper orientation.

    “Mission schools will instill morals and effective standard of living. Those trained by missionaries have morally-defined characters that depict excellence and high level of virtue.

    “I will continue to provide every facility that will encourage learning,’’ the governor added.

    He appealed to private individuals to invest in education in order to sustain the tempo of learning in the state.

    The Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, said that the essence of establishing the school was to ensure proper moral upbringing of the youths.

    NAN

  • ‘Obiano spent N44bn on 101 inherited projects’

    ‘Obiano spent N44bn on 101 inherited projects’

    Mr Mark Okoye, the Anambra Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, has said that the Gov. Willie Obiano’s administration had spent N44 billion on projects inherited from his predecessor.

    Okoye made this known in Awka on Friday that Obiano, who assumed office on March 17, 2014 inherited 101 projects from the former Gov. Peter Obi’s administration out of which 51 have been completed.

    He said it was not true to say that the current government in Anambra was not doing anything on capital projects.

    “N44 billion has been spent on inherited projects, there are 101 of them and 51 of them have been completed.

    “Another N30 billion was spent on projects initiated by this administration and are at various stages of completion. It will be unfair to say that we have not done anything on infrastructure.

    “You cannot keep the over 48, 000 civil servants both at the state and local government levels hungry because you want to build infrastructure alone,” he said.

    The commissioner said Obiano deserved second term because “he had done noble’’ by ensuring that the economy of Anambra remained viable and did not go into recession.

    He said there had been steady increase in the Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) of Anambra since the inception of Obiano administration which he attributed to the economic policy direction of the governor.

    Okoye said that it was not true that the government had spent over N400 billion cumulatively in the budget proposal from 2014 till date.

    He said the total expenditure for the period was about N270 billion as budget implementation for any fiscal year had not exceeded 65 per cent.

    “There has been steady growth in our state economy.

    “In 2013, our GDP was N2.8 trillion, in 2014 when this administration came in, it was about N3.2 trillion; it rose to about N3.7 trillion in 2015 and to N3.8 trillion in 2016; it means Anambra did not go into recession.

    “This is possible because of the economic policy implemented by the Willie Obiano’s administration through his developmental agenda.

    “A budget is essentially a proposal which is sent to the legislature for approval and if accepted it subjected to implementation.

    “Implementation is driven by revenue which is sourced internally and externally, and in these years, maximum budget implementation was 65 per cent and if you discount 35 per cent from that figure you will see that the total expenditure is between N260 billion and N270 billion.

    “Half of that expenditure goes into recurrent expenditure like payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions. About 120, 000 school children between primary one and primary three are being fed daily by the government.

    “We are not where we want to be yet, but we are on the right path,” he said.

    Okoye said the ongoing Anambra International Trade Fair was a good testimony of the productive capacity of Anambra as it was featuring largely locally made goods.

    “You can see the effect of what we are doing in the trade fair where most of the products on exhibition are locally made, they are harvested, processed and package in Anambra State and it was not like that four years ago.

    “You will agree with me that if re-elected, Gov. Obiano will transform the fortunes of Anambra beyond imagination in the next four years.

    “Our people will be happy because they would have seen that state economy had been fully diversified from oil,” he said.

    NAN

  • Anambra governorship: INEC names Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye, 34 other candidates

    Anambra governorship: INEC names Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye, 34 other candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday in Abuja said 37 political parties would be presenting candidates in the Anambra governorship election scheduled for Nov. 18.

    The Commission, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, released a list of the candidates, with five women vying for the governorship seat.

    The list also have eight others vying for the office of Deputy Governor.

    The candidates included Mr Willie Obiano, the incumbent governor, with his deputy Nkemakonam Okeke, vying under the flag of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Also on the list are Mr Oseloka Obaze of the PDP, with Chidi Onyemelukwe, a woman, as his running mate.

    It also has Mr Tony Nwoye of the APC, with Dozie Arinze, a woman, as his running mate.

    Others on the list are Nwezi Amechi and his running mate Okeke Njideka, a woman, for All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP).

    Oby Okafor and her running mate Onyekwuluje Uzoma as candidate for Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) also made the list.

    Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, is also carrying the flag of United Progressive Party (UPP), with Okeke Ogbonnaya as his running mate.

    The rest of the political parties with candidates on the list include Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    Others are APDA, African People’s Party (APP), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Kowa Party.

    The Labour Party (LP), as well as Masses Movement Of Nigeria (MMM), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) also have candidates.

    Candidates of National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP) and People for Democratic Change (PDC) were also successful.

    Also listed as parties with candidates are the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and United Progressive Party (UPP).

    The rest are Young Democratic Party (YDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

    The Commission, in the statement, also disclosed that it had approved the applications of 44 observer groups, comprising 38 domestic and six international groups, to observe the election.

    The international observer groups are the British High Commission, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), American Embassy Abuja, European Union, High Commission of Canada, and African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council.

    The domestic groups include African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Centre for Credible Leadership, Citizens Awareness, and the Initiative for Promotion of Civic Obligation Sustainable.

    Similarly, the Commission approved the change of name and adjustment of logo of the All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) to AGAP.

    The Commission added that it had also approved the issuance of a Certificate of Registration in the name of AGAP to the party.

    Meanwhile the Commission has fixed Thursday for a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Sept. 29 for the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Securities (ICCES) meeting.

    Similarly, the Commission would meet with leaders of the political parties on Tuesday and conclude its series of meetings with the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meetings are normally held to brief all critical stakeholders on key activities of the Commission.(NAN)

  • I didn’t demand N7bn from Obiano – Peter Obi

    I didn’t demand N7bn from Obiano – Peter Obi

    A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, said on Wednesday he did not demand for N7billion from his successor, Willie Obiano.

    The ex-governor said he left about $156million in bank, N25billion cash and N25billion in local investment for his successor.

    Obi said he has never supported any candidate for personal benefits.

    He also denied nursing ambition to be the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

    Obi, who made the clarifications in a chat with journalists in Abuja, asked Governor Obiano to join him in church and swear an oath on the N7billion controversy.

    He said: “Let me ask a question, you all are educated and it is on record in this country and documented, I can prove it with every clear documented evidence that when I left office , I left over N25billion in local investment for Anambra State. I left over N25 billion in cash in the bank. I also left $156 million in the bank in Nigeria. Do you think anyone can leave such money and go to beg the person he is handing over to give him N7 billion when I left over N75 billion?

    “I would have taken the N7billion first, then give them the balance and I will still be in good shape. Let me use the dollar as example. Nobody has ever left $1 in any state in Nigeria. I left $156 million. About  $30million alone is over N7billion. If I had taken chances and left $120million, I will still be a champion. So why will I leave that one and go begging for peanut?

    “Why would I need the money and then go to beg the person I handed over to give me N7billion?  I would have taken it. Let us be rational about all these.

    “What is the idea behind this? It is sheer madness for anybody to do it. Not even in a family business, I cannot leave money and then go back to beg my brother talk less of handing over to somebody who is not my brother and who can change tomorrow.

    “So, it is sheer blackmail, I have never and I am a Christian.  I am not supposed to swear but I can put my hand in any form of oath to say I have never discussed with anybody to be paid any amount. Let Obiano himself come, let us go before hierarchy of our church or anything to swear. I have never done that and I will never do it.

    “At this stage of my life, I cannot support anybody’s political aspiration for personal benefits. I have passed that stage. God has been very gracious to me. I did not go into politics in need. I was already a director in three financial institutions, a director in four other major companies out of which it was by the virtue of my investment I was running a successful family business.”

    “If anything, going into politics made me poorer but I won’t question anything because that is where God wants me to be.

    “Whatever happens to me is God’s design and I respect that. For me, all I want is for us to have a better society; caring for the poor, caring for the people.”