₦airaland Forum

Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu on Monday paid a visit to the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody in Abuja, ABN TV reports.

Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North said he and Nnamdi Kanu discussed as brothers during the meeting where he encouraged him to consider certain comments and actions for sake of the people.

In a Facebook post on his verified page, the former Abia governor while revealing that he met Nnamdi Kanu in good health recalled how the family has been close to him after he made his (Nnamdi) father, late Eze Israel Okwu Kanu the traditional ruler of Akwara Ukwu during his day's as Abia governor.

"This afternoon, I visited my brother, Maazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody , Abuja . I met him in good health and care and we discussed as 'Umunne'. In 2001 when I was Governor, I made his father Eze Israel Okwu Kanu traditional ruler of Akwara Ukwu and since then the family has been very close to me .

"I understand that Nnamdi has an insane amount of people rooting for his back home and I encouraged him to consider the consequences of certain actions and utterances for the sake of the same people" he said.

According to the lawmaker, even though he shares a different ideology with the IPOB Leader, he owes him and people of Nigeria good counselling irrespective of whether such is accepted or not.

"Even though, my ideology and his ideology are totally different , God has made us brothers and we can't run away from each other. I owe him and Nigerians good counseling ...Whether he and his family listens to me or not, I will continue counseling him as I have always done in the past. What we need most is a peaceful and secured society" he added.

Following claims that SETRACO Construction company is carrying our some construction and reconstruction works in Umuahia the Abia State capital and other cities in the state, a chieftain of the opposition APGA, Sir Chikwe Udensi has challenged the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to show the areas where construction works are being carried out.

This is even as the Interpol Systems Consultant says he cannot stoop low to give a response to the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Eze Chikamnayo who had alleged that he (Udensi) is not a security expert as he claims but a walkie-talkie dealer.

He insisted that Chikamnayo's antecedents show that he is known for castigating even those that have favoured him, including former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, Sen. T.A Orji and others, saying he is not surprised at the Commissioner's comment.

Speaking on a radio programme, Open Parliament on Family Love FM Umuahia monitored by ABN TV on Wednesday, Sir Udensi urged the Commissioner to be a refined gentleman and speak to issues and not personalities.

"If he wants to find out who I am, he should ask Interpol who I am, he should ask Nigerian Police who I am, he should ask the SSS (DSS) who I am.

"I have 18 security certifications from Interpol, we are talking about 194 countries so I don't want to go replying Chikamnayo.

"But let me say this very clearly, we in Abia are very concerned about Chikamnayo, we are very concerned about his use of language, Commissioner for Information in this clime, 21st century must be a refined gentleman.

"But when you look at the antecedents of people, you tend to find out why they do things they do. When he was with Orji Uzor Kalu, during his tenure as governor, people have called my attention to what he said then. Immediately Orji Uzor Kalu left, people showed us what he said after he left.

"He talked so much about T.A Orji then and when T.A Orji left, we also heard about what he said. It is unfortunate about this kind of flow.

"My concern and sympathy is for the governor. I have more sympathy for the governor than blame because he is going to feel the impact of what the commissioner of saying" he warned.

Sir Udensi further alleged that governor Ikpeazu is being fed with lies by those around about construction work going on in Umuahia and surrounding cities, insisting that there is nothing like that.

Udensi said he has made inquiry in the four corners of Umuahia but could not see where construction work is going on.

Recall that NBA Aba branch had called off an earlier planned protest over state of roads in Abia following an assurance by the state government that efforts are being made to put the roads in order.

Udensi however insists that protest is not the solution but getting the right people to take up leadership position in the state.

Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu on Sunday held a closed door meeting with former governor of Borno state, Ali Modu-Sheriff, AbN TV reports.

Modu-Sheriff had paid Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North a visit at his Abuja home where the meeting took place.

Unlike his earlier meeting with former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, Sen. Kalu did not disclose the agenda of the meeting.

In a social media post sighted by ABN TV, he wrote, "Received in audience this evening, former Governor of Borno State and contender for National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) H.E Ali Modu Sheriff"

The meeting may however not be unconnected with the lingering national congress of the ruling APC where a new leadership is expected to be elected.

Modu-Sheriff, an aspirant for office of the National Chairman of APC may have visited Sen. Kalu, seeking for his support in the upcoming elective congress.

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Abia State Rep. Sam Onuigbo has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Climate Change Bill, which he sponsored into law.

The Bill earlier passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, now an Act provides a legal framework on which the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts will be based on.

ABN TV recalls that the President had on Thursday signed the Climate Change Bill into an Act along with AMCON (Amendment) Act, making them parts of the country's constitution.

In a letter of commendation to key stakeholders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari for making the Bill an Act, he said it makes provisions for the constitution of a National Council on Climate Change headed by the President, with members including Ministers of relevant Ministries, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, President of ALGON, National Security Adviser, representatives of the youths, Persons Living with Disabilities, women, climate-related NGOs, the private sector, etc.

Hon. Onuigbo further stated that the all-encompassing nature of the composition of the Council is to ensure that the voices of all is heard, adding that the high-level nature of the Council was intentional.

He insisted that Climate Change is a serious issue which demands the highest level of attention— the type that will elicit serious responses.

In a release obtained by ABN TV on Friday, Hon. Onuigbo said, "The Act further sets up the Climate Change Fund to be administered by the Council. This fund will be channeled towards adaptation efforts, support for innovations that will lead to decarbonization, investments into green economy, support for nature-based solutions such as REDD+ and the Great Green Wall Initiative, and many more. It also sets a net-zero emissions target for the country while setting up five-yearly carbon budgets and annual carbon targets. There are also provisions for proper oversight on Nigeria’s Climate Change efforts by the National Assembly and a communication process that is time-bound, and public.

"The first part of a very important journey has been done. Proper implementation demands full attention and action by all of us. Together, and only together, can we realize our objectives and set our country on the path of an important transition to a green and sustainable economy. Make no mistakes about it, the world is transiting and we must join or wake up in a few decades, an impoverished and uninhabitable country.

"I will like to thank His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for exhibiting selfless and precocious leadership. Worthy of commendation are also the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, all members of the National Assembly, the incomparable Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, the Attorney General of the Federation, and Honourable Minister of Justice, Hon. Abubakar Malami SAN, my colleagues in Climate Parliament Nigeria and GLOBE Nigeria, members of the diplomatic mission especially the British High Commission and the U.S Embassy, climate activists in the country for consistently pushing for this, the technical team of professionals who worked with me on the Bill, members of the media, and others."

Abia state police command has arrested 40-year-old Appolos Ndubuisi along with his co-conspirator, Rose Godwin Chinweikpe, 66 for selling a baby boy belonging to one Deborah Onukaogu, 24 a supposed wife of Appolos Ndubuisi, ABN TV reports.

Commissioner of Police Abia command, CP Janet Agbede while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters on Thursday said Deborah Onukaogu in 2020 became pregnant for Appolos Ndubuisi, a native of Umuariaga village in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNhcT-6Rufo
The CP said Onukaogu told the command that Appolos Ndubuisi did not observe the traditional or Christian marriage to make his legally married wife.

Appolos Ndubuisi was said to have taken Onukaogu to one unlicensed Maternity home at Owo-Ahia-afor in Obingwa Local Government of the state, owned and operated by one Rose Godwin Chinweikpe, the second suspect.

Onukaogu was said to have delivered a baby boy on 26 June, 2021 which the suspects conspired and claimed that the baby died.

The police boss stated further, "The complainant Mrs. Deborah Onukaogu accepted the story in good faith and subsequently became pregnant to same man Appolos Ndubuis.

"According to her, Appolos suggested that she should go to the same purported maternity home where she had the alleged stillbirth. The complainant objected but the supposed husband Appolos Ndubuisi insisted telling her that they will sell the unborn child on delivery.

"This statement heightened the suspicion of the complainant on what must have happened to the previous child which they claimed died on delivery and she immediately reported to the Police.

"Investigation revealed that the purported stillbirth was a deceit to the complainant. This is because the complainant delivered a baby boy on 26 June 2021 but the suspects conspired and sold the child for the sum of Three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N350,000.*).

"Further investigation revealed that the sum of Three hundred thousand naira (N300,000.00) was given to Appolos, the presumed husband to Deborah while the balance of Fifty thousand naira (50,000) was taken by Rose Godwin as her delivery expenses".

Following the alleged refusal of Abia State Government to grant him access to Abia pensioners list, a philanthropist and Interpol Systems Consultant, Sir Chikwe Udensi has finally revealed how he got the list, ABN TV reports.

Sir Udensi who had earlier expressed concern over the suffering of pensioners in Abia due to the alleged unpaid backlog of pensions had assured that he would intervene to put a smile on their faces.

He insisted that as senior citizens who have served their state and the country, they ought to be treated better.

Speaking on a radio programme, Open Parliament on Love FM Umuahia, monitored by ABN TV, he said following the refusal of the state government to avail him the list, he deployed his security systems and strategies to obtain a list which he said is authentic.

He said so far, details of pensioners in four out of 17 local government areas of the state have been obtained.

"I am a security consultant. I have ways of getting my information and I insisted on having authentic pension list.

"Let us look at those who have contributed in service and require some love. So we used our systems and strategies in obtaining our data" he said.

He listed the local government areas available so far to include, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Aba North, and Isuikwuato.

While promising that in no distant time, he would reach out to every pensioner in Abia, Sir Udensi, Arochukwu born security consultant vowed to express optimism that his efforts to obtain the data of other local governments will soon bear fruits.

Udensi who had earlier met with 15 representatives of the pensioners in Umuahia assured that he would give them something meaningful to bring succour to them out of love and care.

Abia State government has said the federal government did not at any suspend work at the lingering Osisioma Flyover, dismissing online media reports as fake news.

According to the commissioner for Information and Strategy Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, the report is fake and malicious, describing it further as devilish wishes of the proponents.

He says those flying the news do not wish to see the project completed.

The Commissioner called on opposition politicians to desist from what he called infantile antics.

He urged them to appreciate the efforts of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu on actively rebuilding Abia State for posterity in ALL Sectors.

He also described the news of a rift between the Governor and Speaker, as existing only in the imagination of those peddling the fake news.

He urged Abians to ignore fake news and not allow themselves to be misled by irrelevant opposition elements who are desperately gasping for breath in a vain attempt to resurrect the carcass of their dead political Party in Abia State.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has called on Abia State University Uturu to seek possible ways of adjusting its curriculum to address present-day challenges confronting the Society.

Governor Ikpeazu made the call while speaking at the 27th and 28th combined Convocation Ceremonies of the Abia State University held at the institution's Convocation Pavilion at the main campus, Uturu.

He said there was a need to seek current knowledge in areas such as Agriculture to address the current food shortage prevalent in the country today, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the governor said in a statement obtained by ABN TV.

To that end, The Governor challenged the institution's Faculty of Agriculture to embark on more research on ways of grooming local goats as an alternative to cow meat.

He commended the lecturers of the institution for their resilience and requested them to continue to hold on even as he assured that he will meet with their leaders before the end of the year to discuss on how best to address the challenges confronting the university, the statement added.

It continued, "Governor Ikpeazu pledged the continuous support of his administration to the institution and congratulated the graduands on the milestones they have attained.

"While expressing confidence that the graduands will make great impact in the outside world, he reminded them that while their certificates are keys that will open the doors, he reminded them that they still require humility, doggedness, and resilience to succeed.

"In their separate addresses, the Chancellor of the University, Tor Tiv and Chairman Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, Professor James Ortese Ayatse and the Pro-Chancellor Senator Adolphus Wabara thanked Governor and visitor for his tremendous support to the institution.

"They called on all stakeholders to support the new Vice-Chancellor and management to move the University to greater heights.

"In an address, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Onyemachi Maxwell Ogbulu thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his untiring efforts in keeping the university afloat since the inception of his administration and ensuring that the university enjoys uninterrupted academic calendar.

"Professor Ogbulu promised to adopt the time tested business model in driving the affairs of the university by creating and expanding value for staff and students and other stakeholders in harnessing resources and installing key processes and procedures befitting a 21st-century university and announced automatic employment for the overall best graduating students of 27th and 28th convocation, Ezeigbo Chukwuemeka from the Department of Architecture and Dike Emmanuel from the department of Biochemistry.

"In a valedictory speech on behalf of other graduating students, Dike Emmanuel who made a First Class from the Department of Biochemistry thanked the education-friendly disposition of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Abia students and their lecturers for nurturing them to greatness and pledged to uphold Excellence and Service which the university is known for.

"The ceremony which featured the convocation of a total of 5712 graduands including the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu who bagged Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management, the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Abia State House of Assembly Sir Johnpedro Irokansi among others also featured the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on deserving members of society including a former INEC Commissioner in charge of the East and widow of the late former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Dame Gladys Nwafor, Chief Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace and Dr. Nnamdi Ezeigbo, the CEO of SLOT.