By Olisemeka Obeche
Embattled national chair­man of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiom­hole over the weekend expressed concerns over meddlesomeness of the State Security Service on the controversies trailing the party’s primaries.
The disclosure was made days after it was speculated in certain media that the former Edo gover­nor allegedly fled the country af­ter being detained and quizzed by the secret police over allegations that he pocketed billions of Naira through the controversial prima­ries across the country.

Oshiomhole who told select ed­itors in Lagos on Saturday that he was questioned by the secret police last weekend in Abuja on issues bordering on the party’s recent primaries, stressed that the SSS was not the appropriate agency for such interrogation in a constitutional democracy, rather an anti-corruption agency.

Hear him: “The conversation centred around APC primaries. The question now is whether or not it is the DSS (SSS) job to interfere in a political party’s issues. And if there is an allegation of corruption, it is the responsibility of EFCC and ICPC,” Oshiomhole said.

The former national chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also said he drove himself out of the SSS facility following interrogation, denying he was collected by Governor Yahaya Bel­lo. He further disclosed that he traveled out of Nigeria on Tues­day, and responded to an alarm raised by the opposition People’s Democratic Party that he had ab­sconded. The party also urged the Interpol and other security agen­cies to launch a manhunt for Os­hiomhole.

The former governor accused the opposition party of being petty, saying it would not have tolerated its leaders being grilled by secu­rity agencies like he was made to endure.
Oshiomhole’s meeting with the editors comes a day after he re­turned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, where he met with Bola Tinubu, a leader of the ruling par­ty who had been undergoing treat­ment for undisclosed ailments in London.

Oshiomhole was reported to have been questioned by the SSS for nine hours on suspicion he had taken humongous bribes from APC politicians to manipulate the party’s primaries in favour of persons he preferred. The exercise held between September and Oc­tober, producing the party’s can­didates for presidential, governor­ship and legislative offices.

Several APC governors whom Mr. Oshiomhole apparently trun­cated their plans to nominate suc­cessors have been publicly fuming with the party chairman.
Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha and his Ogun state counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, have been particularly furious, publicly accusing Oshiomhole of disregarding the party’s constitu­tion in the conduct of primaries and demanding his immediate re­moval. Messrs. Amosun and Oko­rocha believe Oshiomhole had the backing of Mr. Tinubu, whose in­fluence over party affairs is wide­ly acknowledged even though he does not hold a formal position.

Mr Oshiomhole has denied alle­gations of fraud against him, and challenged those who have issues with his leadership to leave the party. But law enforcement and intelligence sources have said Oshiomhole has become a person of interest in recent weeks. “We have received strong new mate­rials which suggested him as an interesting individual who should be thoroughly investigated,” an intelligence source said. “We have commenced work in that regard.”
Oshiomhole, who became the party’s chairman amidst contro­versial atmosphere in June, has been accused of taking bribes through political allies and blood relations to admit some politicians as the party’s candidates in 2019.

Some of his alleged proxies have been identified by law en­forcement officers but the political undertone of the probe has made it difficult to determine when they would be called in for questioning, especially as it would require ap­proval up to the presidency level to move against those involved, sources said.

By Phil Okose,
Onitsha
In its bid to recover what it said belonged to it, Bishop Crowther Memorial Pri­mary School, Onitsha, the An­glican communion, Diocese on the Niger, Onitsha, Anambra state, has allegedly dragged the Anambra state government led by Governor Willie Obiano to court.

This disclosure was made by the chancellor of the diocese and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kpajie Nnamdi Ibegbu, who said that the church had filed three different suits against the Anambra state government in connection with the disputed Bishop Crowther Memorial Pri­mary School.

Ibegbu, who did not give de­tails of the suit, expressed con­fidence that the pendulum of victory would swing in the direc­tion of the church at the court. According to him, “with all the documents we have and the facts we have, no reasonable tribunal will enter judgment against us”.
He traced the origin of the school to 1927 when one Lady Anesthesia Modebe leased the land located at the Nkisi road to Church Missionary Society (CMS) now Niger Diocese. He said a school named after Bish­op Crowther was much later built on the land but the Local Authority equivalent of local government area, wanted a school they would aid.
Hear him: “The Church grant­ed them the school but in 1970 the East Central State adminis­tration under Ukpai Asika, took over the control, management and administration of all the schools in the defunct East Cen­tral State. However, in 2012, Mr. Peter Obi as the governor of Anambra state due to the dis­putes and false claims of own­ership by the Roman Catholic Church of some schools, set up a committee on the resolution of disputes, over takeover of schools by the then East Central State.
“The report which was sub­mitted to Obi in Page 43 no 43 clearly stated that the school belongs to the Niger Diocese”. In the report the committee head­ed by a former chief judge of the state, Justice G. U. U, Ononiba with Pastor.Azubuike. Nkalagu, a deputy director, administra­tion as secretary said, “evidence of the inquiry showed that Bish­op Crowther Memorial Primary School is an Anglican Primary School built in 1956. It should be given to them”.

Although the report was sub­mitted on September 28, 2003 and the government failed to implement its recommendation till date, a new twist, however, emerged last September when the Internally Displaced Per­sons (IDPs) from the flood prone areas of the state were accom­modated in the facility.
According to Ibegbu, the Obia­no-led government saw the lodg­ing of flood displaced persons at the facility as an opportunity to drive the Anglican faithful wor­shipping there out of the place, as persons acting on its behalf allegedly pulled the structure down and desecrated the church altar.

“They immediately fenced the entire place and chased the Di­ocese on the Niger out. So, that is the position we are faced with but we won’t relent”.
The chancellor lamented that government was clearly aware of this report but they have sym­pathy or leaning to the Roman Catholic Church.

Orient Daily recalled that the Anglican Church, which has continued to accuse the state government of playing the scripts of Catholic Church in the lingering land tussle, last week dispatched their clergies to Government House at Awka to protest the continued siege of the school by security oper­atives and prevention of the Anglicans from having access to the worship place. The pro­testing priests who spent almost an hour, sitting in front of the government house and awaiting Governor Obiano to personally address them, left disappointed as the governor failed to show up. Days later a counter protest was staged by a group under the aegis of Concerned Christian and Non-Christian Citizens of Anambra state, at the Anambra state police headquarters.

Brazil’s infamous Miss Bumbum pageant ended in a shambles after contes­tants resorted to violence on stage following cheating allegations.

The fight was sparked by one contestant accusing the other of having a surgically enhanced bum. The eye-popping scenes un­folded last Monday shortly after Ellen Santana was crowned the winner for Miss BumBum 2018.

The 31-year-old model and dancer was representing the northern Brazilian state of Rondônia in the competition. But moments after she was declared the winner, she was physically stripped of her winner’s sash by fellow contestant Aline Uva from Rio Grande Do Sul, in the south of Brazil.

Uva, a 27-year-old massage therapist, was heard shouting that the competition was a farce and claiming that the winner’s butt was surgically enhanced. She added: “I fulfilled all the rules of the game, my butt is real, but her butt is plastic!”

“Miss Bumbum is a farce. Today I could prove all this.”

Organizers of the annual com­petition were forced to intervene to calm the frantic scenes and ensure the winner’s sash was handed back to Santana. The Miss BumBum competition has been held annually in Brazil since 2011. It was founded by journalist and entrepreneur Cacau Oliver and aims to crown the best but­tocks in Brazil.

Commenting on the fracas, Oliver said the drama was “part of the contest.”

The televised competition has 27 contestants who represent the country’s different states, with 15 women making it to the finals. The winner receives 50,000 Brazilian Reals (about $13,300) in endorsement deals and instantly becomes a celebrity in Brazil.

This year’s competition saw the inclusion of two trans women for the first time, although this wasn’t accepted by all the participants. Paula Oliveira, 27, said that her rivals were just afraid to lose to someone born a man.

She told The Sun: “I’m not of­fended by what they said, because it’s clear they want me out be­cause I’ve got a much sexier. They are feeling threatened because they are seeing a trans who is more beautiful than them.”

Her rivals are reported to have questioned how the competition could be open to “bottoms which are men’s bottoms… whichever way you look at it”.

As the 2019 Imo gubernatorial poll draws near a youth group under the aiges of Nigeria young stars NYS Imo state chapter have tasked electorates in the state to do their best and ensure they vote in the right candidate.

The group who presented top four candidates and political parties in the race said Hope Uzodinma of APC, Ejike Chukwu of ADC, Emeka Ihedioha of PDP, and Ifeanyi Araraume of APGA should be the focal point of any right thinking electorate.

According to Chigozie Nwaiwu the Imo state coordinator of the group, thorough evaluation of the following men have revealed that if any of them is voted, the current dark age of Imo will be a thing of the past.
He however tasked them to rally round this four political parties and their candidates to ensure that one of them becomes the governor come 2019 in the best interest of all.

By Ifeoma Maduka

Gunmen attacked a 165 Lodge located at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo front gate. The attack resulted in serious injury to a 200 Level student of the university’s department of electrical engineering, simply identified as Charles.

Orient Gist gathered that the injury led to the loss of blood by Charles and that he was transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital for medical attention.

According to Gozie Ifeanyi, an eyewitness, “the incident is not the first time AE-FUNAI students are being attacked by gunmen.

“Just last week, an armed robber was apprehended by some students after he missed his shot on a student. The students gave him the beating of his life before handing him over to the security personnel”.

Francis Njoku, the students’ union government president, expressed total displeasure over the incident and assured the affected students that the union would liaise with Nigerian Police and the Community Security Network in the town to ensure that the perpetrators of such heinous crime were brought to book.

By Gabriel Chy Alonta

A lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state and clergyman of Roman Catholic order, Rev. Fr. Dr. Chika Okpalike, has said that there is no education in Nigeria, describing the current state of education in Nigeria as a pitiable child’s play.

Okpalike, who made this observation in a chat with Orient Education at the Communion Sanctorum Ministry, Awka, Anambra state, said that the prevailing situation in Nigerian schools is western education which, according to him, “was not aimed at improving our immediate environment”.

His words, “As far as I am concerned, there is no education in Nigeria, because before we can to talk about education, we will first of all situate our education to be a Nigerian brand of education.

“We all know that what we are doing in the schools is western education and unfortunately the scheme or curriculum of that same education is not aimed at the improvement of our own environment, rather it is only suitable for graduating people to be employed by the colonial government to work for them.

“Unfortunately since after independence, we have not tried to change this philosophy. So, as far as I am concerned it is not about investing money in education or not, not about graduating people who are suitable for labour market or not, it is about revising the idea of education itself to suit an environment in which that education happens so that education becomes functional in that environment”, the clergyman stated.

Okpalike, who is also the special adviser on academics to the UNIZIK vice chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, argued that any amount invested in education in Nigeria would still impoverish it, remarking that the education was not aimed at the improvement of Nigerian environment.

He said that the purpose of education would remain in shambles if it continued to be alien, noting that Nigerian education should also recognise the social and cultural needs of the child.

“We have civic education, but what does it cover? We don’t tell our history and if you don’t have a history, you don’t have a past, and there will be no future. So, our education is misrepresenting the whole idea of education”.

“If we want our people to be educated, we must go back to the drawing board and evolve the philosophy of education that is suitable for Nigerian people and, through the philosophy, begin to draw a curriculum for education.”

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has resolved to work for the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubarka and Chief Peter Obi, the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively in the 2019 elections.

The party said this in a communiqué read after the stakeholders meeting of the party in Awka on Friday.

In attendance at the meeting were the former governor, Obi, Amb. Oseloka Obaze, former gubernatorial candidate, members of the party in the National and state Assemblies from the state.

Others were members, State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Anambra, led by Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, and other high-powered stakeholders of PDP in Anambra.

A member of the communiqué drafting committee, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, read the communiqué on behalf of the party.

The PDP congratulated Obi for his nomination and thanked Abubarka for finding one of their own worthy to be his running mate.

They restated their full loyalty and commitment to the Atiku-Obi ticket and resolved to mobilise and work assiduously for their victory and that of the party’s candidates in all contested positions.

It announced the constitution of contact and mobilisation committee to help actualise victory of the party in the state. The PDP said it was also reaffirming full confidence on the Nwobu-led State Executive Committee.

The stakeholders urged the party caucus to reach out massively to members and the entire Anambra people to ensure its success. (NAN)

By Praise Necherem

A manager of a petrol station in Okpuno, Nnewichi, Nne­wi, in Nnewi North local government area of Anambra state was on Thursday report­edly killed by his employer over alleged disappearance of the sum of N40,000.

The deceased, whose full iden­tity was not verified at the time of filing this report, was said to be a member of Aghazu family in Nnewichi.

Orient Weekend gathered that the suspect (name withheld) had asked the deceased to provide the money which he claimed was missing from the company’s purse.

A resident of the area who preferred anonymity said the suspect rejected the deceased’s plea that the money be deducted from his monthly salary. “The manager begged his employer to bear with him and deduct the said sum from his November salary but the director declined, insisting that the money had to be provided instantly.

“The suspect, in a desperate move to recover the said money, stabbed the deceased several times with screw driver before he collapsed,” he said.

The man further revealed that the deceased was rushed to the Rose of Sharon Specialist Hospital, Nnewi where he was confirmed dead. “The suspect disappeared from the hospital immediately his employee was pronounced dead,” the man added.

Our correspondent learnt that the body of the deceased was later taken to an undisclosed destination by police operatives in Nnewi.

The state police spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident but said the head­quarters was yet to get full details of it.

By Olisemeka Obeche & Sunday Agbo

The Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi has raised alarm over the new minimum wage of N30,000.00, warning that the new pay rise could trigger off hyper inflation in the country.

Umahi, who gave the warning while inaugurating his campaign organisation, the Divine Mandate Organisation, said, “we are approaching this issue of minimum wage wrongly.”

He noted that the N30,000 new minimum wage was not enough to carter for workers’ welfare, urging civil servants to look beyond the new pay rise.

“If what we are being told is correct and some states are using up to 90 per cent of their resources to pay salaries, if what we are told is correct that ASUU is going on strike because ASUU is saying that the budget for education is only 7 per cent against 20 per cent. So, if you put these two sections together, it is 110 per cent. We are just talking about this section alone- education, other sectors are there, health, security votes, water, light and so on. We are just talking of education and workers’ salaries alone.

“The two cannot mix; they cannot work until we are able to sit down and think how we can run this country. I do not believe that all the resources of this nation are correctly collected. I believe that if we collect in honesty the resources of this country, we will have enough to take care of our workers and we will have enough to take care of our heath, education and others.

“Civil servants should look beyond minimum wage component. Even the minimum wage of 30,000d what can it do? It will cause inflation and that inflation is going to sweep out whatever gain you think you have.

“Till we sit down in this country and look at all sides and agree that this is how we are going to do it otherwise, we will ground this country”, he stated.

Umahi, however, said he was not afraid to contest with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

“If I were in the opposition, I will be afraid to say I am contesting election because considering the type of structure we have on ground, no ordinary man will be able to build it. It is God and Holy Spirit that made it possible.

“The people that say they are contesting election, some of them cannot define budget, they don’t even know what GDP is. They make promises like making a cross without ground,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared his government’s readiness to work towards implementing the new national minimum wage agreed by the tripartite committee.

Buhari gave the assurance shortly after receiving the report of the National Minimum Wage Committee set up to recommend a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers on 27th November 2017.

“I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas. Our plan is to transmit the Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has declared that the federal government has a cordial working relationship with labour unions in the country.

Mohammed, who said this in Abuja Tuesday, said the federal government and the organised labour had been able to amicably address the recent stalemate arising from the implementation of a new minimum wage for workers.

By Gabriel Alonta & O’star Eze

Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has said that Nigeria would remain in shambles if the federal government fails to restructure the country’s federal system.

Soludo further argued that Nigeria would remain a work in progress, devoid of peace, security and prosperity if the late Igbo nationalist, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was not given its place in the national polity.

The former CBN boss stated this during the maiden edition of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu memorial annual lecture by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Monday.

Describing Ojukwu as an encyclopaedia whose contributions to Nigeria will indelible on the sands of time, the renowned economist said his memory lives on, calling for celebration of living heroes, who have also lived a life of legacy.

According to him, “If you don’t know him, have not heard or debated about Ojukwu and what he represents, then you are either not a Nigerian, not living in Nigeria or don’t think about Nigeria.

“Ojukwu remains the key to our unfinished business about restructuring to get Nigeria going through prosperity. You cannot have that without going to what Ojukwu represents and continue to represent. Ojukwu will continue to live so far as Nigeria remains a work in progress”.

Thanking the university management, staff and students for finding it fit to organise the lecture in honour of late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, he said that Ojukwu remains an enigma, whose legacy would continue to live on.

Delivering a lecture themed, “Between Force of Reason and Reason for Force: Legacy of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu”, the guest lecturer, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, said there was need to promote and sustain the lecture series.

He thanked the state government for naming the university after the late hero, stressing that younger generation would continue to learn.

Odinkalu maintained that the legacy of the late hero cannot be monetarily equated, but were based on patriotism, justice, good leadership and sacrifice, enjoining leaders who occupy public offices to emulate him rather than amass wealth for themselves.

He lamented the incessant killings in Nigeria as a result of marginalisation, stressing that a nation that massacres her citizens without remorse cannot have peace.

The guest lecturer, who said that Nigeria would never make progress if the killing was not stopped, called on the leaders to be alive to their responsibilities by protecting the interest of the masses.

“Igbo leaders should fight for citizenship and not true federalism because no amount of federalism will save us. The late Ojukwu’s call was not that of territorial but for greater welfare of all Igbo sons in any part of the country they find themselves”, he stated.

In a remark, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, represented by the Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, lamented that the Igbo race lack people of Ojukwu’s might, noting that it is such enigma that would pilot the affairs of the race to greater heights.

Obiano enjoined all to live a life of legacy by doing what is right and shunning evil.

He thanked the university management for instituting the lecture series in honour of the late hero.

Earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Greg Nwakoby, said that it became imperative that he introduced such academic activity in the university calendar, describing Ojukwu as an illustrious son of Nigeria, an Igbo character and integrity who loved his country.

Nwakoby, who said that the essence of the lecture was to always keep in mind and refresh the memory of what Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu stood for, disclosed that the lecture would be done annually, every 4th of November.

By Joseph Kingston,

Calabar

The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, Mr. Victor Dan Udu, has described the growing spate of killing of practicing journalists in Nigeria as unacceptable. According to him, one journalist is killed every four days and in nine out of 10 cases and the killers go free, and over 1,010 journalists have been killed in the last 12 years worldwide.

Udu, who decried crimes against journalists universally, spoke in Calabar at the weekend in an event to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

He said: “We call on governments all over the world to promote a safe, conducive and an enabling environment for journalists to perform their duties independently and without undue interference.

“We’re reminding government of their responsibility to ensure that crimes against Journalists do not go unpunished and we urge them to ensure that Journalists work in safe conditions which allows for free press to flourish.

“We join the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, to call on journalists to continue to do their work in spite of intimidation, threats, attacks, detention, political pressure, censorship, persecution, harassment and even the unwarranted killing of our members.

“There is nothing wrong with reporting or in doing the job of serving the masses because we are their voices, but there is everything wrong when we fail to do the job. When a journalist is attacked, the whole society is under fire. Free Journalism is the backbone of free society, undermining it means undermining our own freedom.”

He condemned the killing of the Vice Chairman of NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, Samuel Nweke, last month by robbers on his way from the national conference of the union in Abeokuta.

“We have people like Samuel Ogundegbe of Premium Times, Samuel Nweke and the late Dele Giwa and many more. We don’t know who will be a victim tomorrow, but we are citizens and we have the right, just like everyone else. Government should do everything, I mean everything, to protect us,” he said.

By Damian Duruiheoma

Owerri

Embattled Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has claimed ownership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State as well as South East geopolitical zone despite finding himself being edged out of the latest power contest in the party.

Okorocha also boasted that he would never quit APC, a party he built, for his political rivals.

“Nobody builds a befitting house and abandons it for those who are facing criminal charges for issuance of Dud Cheques and failure to declare their assets”, the governor declared through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.

“Rochas Okorocha is the landlord of Imo APC in particular and that of the South-East in general. And he has the onerous task of ensuring that those recruited to destroy the party in the state and indeed in the South-East do not have their way”.

The declaration followed rumours in various quarters that the outgoing governor and his son-in-law, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu had perfected plans to decamp to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to actualise the dream of making Nwosu his successor in 2019.

Okorocha also accused those he called known fraudsters in Imo politics for sneaking into Imo APC and coming “up with the cheap and unfounded rumour of Governor Rochas Okorocha and Ugwumba Uche Nwosu leaving APC for SDP. Their first claim was ADC.

“Like we had intoned, this baseless rumour was manufactured by these fraudsters and been marketed by their agents on the social media”.

The statement further claimed that with the facts on ground, Uche Nwosu is the only one that has a valid claim to make regarding the governorship candidate of APC for Imo State. “And nobody would expect such a person to leave the party for someone who has nothing tangible to hold unto. Those who are still in doubt about what the situation should be in the case of Imo APC, should read INEC’s decision on Ogun State PDP candidates’ list.

“For the cock and bull story of SDP or ADC, people should disregard such weightless and unfounded social media creation. There is no cause for alarm”.

By Damian Duruiheoma

Owerri

Embattled Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has claimed ownership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State as well as South East geopolitical zone despite finding himself being edged out of the latest power contest in the party.

Okorocha also boasted that he would never quit APC, a party he built, for his political rivals.

“Nobody builds a befitting house and abandons it for those who are facing criminal charges for issuance of Dud Cheques and failure to declare their assets”, the governor declared through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.

“Rochas Okorocha is the landlord of Imo APC in particular and that of the South-East in general. And he has the onerous task of ensuring that those recruited to destroy the party in the state and indeed in the South-East do not have their way”.

The declaration followed rumours in various quarters that the outgoing governor and his son-in-law, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu had perfected plans to decamp to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to actualise the dream of making Nwosu his successor in 2019.

Okorocha also accused those he called known fraudsters in Imo politics for sneaking into Imo APC and coming “up with the cheap and unfounded rumour of Governor Rochas Okorocha and Ugwumba Uche Nwosu leaving APC for SDP. Their first claim was ADC.

“Like we had intoned, this baseless rumour was manufactured by these fraudsters and been marketed by their agents on the social media”.

The statement further claimed that with the facts on ground, Uche Nwosu is the only one that has a valid claim to make regarding the governorship candidate of APC for Imo State. “And nobody would expect such a person to leave the party for someone who has nothing tangible to hold unto. Those who are still in doubt about what the situation should be in the case of Imo APC, should read INEC’s decision on Ogun State PDP candidates’ list.

“For the cock and bull story of SDP or ADC, people should disregard such weightless and unfounded social media creation. There is no cause for alarm”.

By Joseph Kingston

Calabar

A man identified as John Akpama has been shot dead by his friend, Enang Onun Itam, while testing the potency of a bullet-proof charm they reportedly drank during the annual new yam festival of Assiga community in Yakurr local government area of Cross River state

Reports say Itam, a secondary school teacher, and his friend, Akpama, had taken days to prepare for the new yam festival and had drunk a bullet proof concoction and good quantity of local gin to enhance their performance of the war dance at the festival.

On the festival day, the duo adorned their traditional war dance attire and headed for the venue of the festival but unfortunately, the story which emanated from the festival venue was the death of Akpama.

Sources at the venue said that, as soon as they started acrobatic display to the admiration of spectators, Akpama volunteered to be shot at to prove his invincibility. Itam, accordingly, loaded the hunting rifle he was carrying and shot Akpama, killing him on the spot.

This led to commotion and motorists, cyclists and indeed all the spectators scrambled out of the venue. In the process, many reportedly sustained injuries. This completely ruined the popular festival.

Akpama’s body, it was further learnt, was taken away as friends and family remained in shock, wondering why such tragedy should befall them. Sources said most of the natives feared that ending the festival abruptly and the killing at the very venue of the festival could spell disasters unless some rituals were carried out to appease the gods.

Bouygues Construction Nigeria Limited (BNL) the firm handling the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Mausoleum, says work is completed on the project.
Mr John Ameh, the Project Manager of the firm made the disclosure in an interview in Onitsha on Monday.The project initiated by Federal Government in honour of the first president of Nigeria came to completion, 22 years after its initial commencement.
Ameh said that the project was ready for handover.

NAN reports that Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, in May told the contractor to ensure completion of the project before the end of Oct.
The minister had expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work and threatened to revoke the contract if the contractor failed to deliver on schedule.
Ameh however said that “It was actually completed towards the end of Sept.

“We met the minister’s deadline of Oct. ending, but because the client has not taken over we cannot just lock up the place and leave for security reasons.
“We wrote on Oct. 11 notifying them to come and take over the project. They are likely to visit this week.”

He described the Mausoleum as a “land mark project’’ for the people of South-East and the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.
According to him, it is a project that has spanned so many administrations before it was awarded to BNL in 2014 while work started in 2015.
“This administration was courageous enough to take it to competition and should be commended,” he said.
Zik as fondly called was also the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). (NAN)

The Buhari support organization in the south East has attacked Mr Babatunde Fashola, the minister for works over his comments on the 2023 presidency.
The group in opposition to Fashola said it wishes to state categorically clear that the 2023 would be the turn of the South East geopolitical zone to produce President of Nigeria. The caucus of the BSO South East Zone which met in Enugu from Saturday to Sunday, after exhaustive and detailed analysis of the zoning and rotation of president convention from Southern to Northern Belt in 1999 to date; came to the inevitable conclusion that it would be the turn of the South East to produce President of Nigeria from Igbo extraction.

In a statement endorsed by Rt. Hon Stanley Ohajuruka and Mr. Godwin Onwusi as coordinators of the group said “Our proclamation is hinged on the truism that the rotation convention was introduced in 1999 for equity, justice, peace and unity of our dear country. “That the rotation convention is meant to erase the fears of marginalisation of any ethnic nationality, hence implant sense of belonging to all Nigerians.

“We are also witnesses on how His Excellency, Dr Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory was shoved aside from a party he co-founded, in order to appease the South West, and His Excellency Ogbonnaya Onu was also in the same manner shoved aside, hence the commencement of the rotation of president from the South West in 1999.
“That in spite the shoddy manner Ekwueme was treated at the Jos Peoples Democratic Party convention and Onu at the defunct All Peoples Party convention at Kaduna, Ndigbo still went ahead to vote along the agreed rotation convention.

By Phil Okose

Onitsha

The founder and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), otherwise called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike says the new Biafra nation he was championing would be a decentralised country that would guarantee equal opportunities and adequate protection of protect lives and property of its citizens. According to him the new Republic must have a weak centre and component units stronger to ensure that the units come together without encumbering the other and each allowed to grow at its own pace, depending on its own resources and its ability to explore and exploit them.

“The new Biafran nation will not be like the Nigerian nation where self-centred people rule by killing innocent citizens and perceived enemies but will be where only noble men of unassailable character aspire to lead at the centre. No responsible nation will sit down and watch as precious human lives are wasted on daily basis by Boko Haram insurgents, armed Fulani herdsmen and Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP)”

In the light of this, he explained that, “the emerging new Biafran government will allow the federating units to take 100 per cent control of their God-given human and material resources while making contributions agreeable to take care of the less bogus central government”.

In a press statement which was presented to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra state, yesterday, Uwazuruike spoke through somebody described as his director of information and personal assistant on media and publicity, Mazi Chris Anierobi Mocha, during a general meeting of MASSOB-BIM held in Calabar, the Cross River state capital weekend. He assured all Biafrans and stakeholders that in the emerging new republic, federating units or regional governments or the ethnic nationalities making up the United States of Biafra (USB), otherwise called “the new Biafra,” reserved the inalienable rights to de-federate or move away whenever they choose.

By Phil Okose

Onitsha

The founder and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), otherwise called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike says the new Biafra nation he was championing would be a decentralised country that would guarantee equal opportunities and adequate protection of protect lives and property of its citizens. According to him the new Republic must have a weak centre and component units stronger to ensure that the units come together without encumbering the other and each allowed to grow at its own pace, depending on its own resources and its ability to explore and exploit them.

"The new Biafran nation will not be like the Nigerian nation where self-centred people rule by killing innocent citizens and perceived enemies but will be where only noble men of unassailable character aspire to lead at the centre. No responsible nation will sit down and watch as precious human lives are wasted on daily basis by Boko Haram insurgents, armed Fulani herdsmen and Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP)"

In the light of this, he explained that, "the emerging new Biafran government will allow the federating units to take 100 per cent control of their God-given human and material resources while making contributions agreeable to take care of the less bogus central government".

In a press statement which was presented to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra state, yesterday, Uwazuruike spoke through somebody described as his director of information and personal assistant on media and publicity, Mazi Chris Anierobi Mocha, during a general meeting of MASSOB-BIM held in Calabar, the Cross River state capital weekend. He assured all Biafrans and stakeholders that in the emerging new republic, federating units or regional governments or the ethnic nationalities making up the United States of Biafra (USB), otherwise called “the new Biafra,” reserved the inalienable rights to de-federate or move away whenever they choose.

By Kosiso Anokwuru

A riotous uproar broke out in Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) recently, as agitated students inflicted pain on an unknown robber following the failed murder attempt on a student.

In the incident, which occurred in the evening of Wednesday, October 24, students engaged in jungle justice due to the incessant robbery within and outside the university community.

According to reports, the robber was said to have been apprehended while trying to escape in a tricycle at the schools’ entrance gate (take-off site).

It was also gathered that, during this period, the gun man, while trying to evade his pursuers (students), pulled the trigger but unfortunately missed the target as he was knocked down and pummeled by the students.

Narrating the gory incident, one of the students of the university narrated his experience thus saying that “what I passed through this evening is indeed a sad story. On my way home from school, I and six friends of mine were stopped by two armed men. But unfortunately, two persons from the group were robbed of their belongings.

“Due to what occurred, we gathered courage and followed them from the point we were stopped, around the schools main gate (permanent site), till we arrived at the other entrance gate where one of us identified one of the robbers trying to escape in a tricycle. Then, alarm was raised and we chased him for our belongings.

“In the process of a struggle, a gun shot was fired at me but luckily the target was poor. As he tried another attempt, I and my friends got hold of him and decided to proceed to the SUG office to resolve issues. But unfortunately, when students got wind of what transpired, they became agitated and pummeled the robber to the ground,” he said.

He further bemoaned the poor security measures around campus and questioned the security levy paid by students which doesn’t guarantee one’s safety.

His words: “What is the point of having security officials and security levy when students are still threatened at gun point?”

Meanwhile, to ease tension on campus, the Student Union president, Comrade Njoku Francis, calmed the nerves of the students as he assured them that the perpetrator will face the wrath of law and won’t be handed to Ikwo police division but to SARS operatives for further investigation.

By Damian Duruiheoma Owerri .

The zonal controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Imo State, Mr. Olusemire Kayo­de, has said smugglers have devised new means of conceal­ing and transporting smuggled rice and other contrabands in cement trucks and containers.

Olusemire stated this week­end in Owerri while briefing journalists on the seizure of 2,430 bags of 50kg bags of smuggled foreign rice including 430 bags concealed with cement bags in a cement truck made by men of the service.

Also confiscated included 563 bales of second-hand clothing, used tyres and soap, second hand foot wears, used fridges all bearing a duty paid value (DPV) of over N75 million.

Comptroller Olusemire also displayed a black coloured Avalon (Ship) saloon car with registration number Lagos BDG 266 EE loaded with 21 sacks of cannabis sativa (aka Indian hemp) and concealed with wed­ding gift wrappers which men of the unit impounded at the Onitsha Head Bridge following a tip-off.

According to the Customs boss, the smugglers were intercepted in various locations within the FOU Zone C partic­ularly, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba and Port Harcourt axis of the unit, using trucks belonging to a cement company to conceal the contraband.

He explained that the driver of one of the cement trucks had loaded his truck with 430 bags of rice and covered it some bags of cement and with tarpau­lin to disguise it as a cement consignment.

Olusemire added that the customs men, who had got the hint of their illegal activities through intelligence, intercept­ed the truck coming out from the creeks of Port Harcourt.

On how his men apprehended the Avalon car loaded with In­dian hemp, Olusemire said the vehicle which was impounded at the Onitsha overhead bridge had, prior to the arrest, regu­larly plied the Owerri/Onitsha road daily around 4pm with the exhibits.

“However, acting on a tip-off, our men trailed the vehicle, snapped the number plate and nemesis eventually caught up with the driver who quickly jumped out of the vehicle and took to his heels upon a hot chase at the Onitsha overhead bridge where the vehicle was seized”.

Olusemire who displayed other seized items at the Enugu premises of the NCS, reiterated the service’s readiness to tackle smuggling activity in the zone and cautioned Nigerians still engrossed in the illicit business of smuggling to desist forth with.

He said his men were now set to raid warehouses in markets across the zone to fish out smuggled goods that evaded arrests. “Henceforth, we’ll begin to raid warehouses and markets because we cannot continue to allow smuggling to thrive because of its adverse effect on the nation’s economy and individuals whose goods were seized. You can see the number of vehicles that we seize in the course of this job. We don’t feel happy doing it.

“People should know that smuggling is not a decent business and that it has adverse effect on our economy. We are ready and prepared to deal with all those who have stubbornly refused to purge themselves of this because we are now better trained, equipped and mobilized to neutralize their antics.

“It is disgusting, morally em­barrassing and obscene for any Nigerian to indulge in smug­gling because of the obvious adverse effect on our economy. Most of the items being smug­gled in can be produced here locally to boost our economy” he stated.

Comptroller Olusemire was particularly worried that the continued smuggling of second hand clothings had continued to stifle the growth of local in­dustries including textile mills across the country. He said that 3 suspects arrested in connec­tion with the exhibits had been charged to court and had been granted administrative bail.
The smugglers are losing daily and we have been advising and sensitizing people about the adverse effects of smuggling.

By Joe Akwarandu,
Umuahia
The senator representing Zamfara Central Sen­atorial District, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kabir Marafa, has endorsed the Gov­ernor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the People’s Demo­cratic Party (PDP) for a second term in office as governor.

The outspoken APC senator, whose party produced two gov­ernorship candidates in Abia State from parallel primaries, in the persons of Chief Ikechi Emenike and Mr. Sampson Ogah, commended Ikpeazu for his achievements in Abia and wished him well “in the remain­ing four and half years you have ahead of you as governor of Abia State”.

Marafa, who is also the chair­man of Senate Committee on Pe­troleum Downstream, spoke at the Government House, Umuahia when he led members of his com­mittee on a courtesy call to Gover­nor Ikpeazu, described Abia as an emerging new Nigeria.

He said: “I want to rejoice with you over the development you have been able to put in place, despite the tight budget you have and the other challenges before you.

"On our way to the depot, I saw the wonderful job, the fly­over you are constructing, I am told it is the first in Abia State. I will only say more grease to your very powerful elbows and may God see you through the re­maining four and half years you have ahead of you.

"I am sincerely very proud of you and I think, more than ever before, I can now boldly call you a friend".
The Marafa-led Senate Com­mittee on Petroleum Down­stream was in Abia State on oversight duties at the Osisioma pipeline explosion sites.

By Damian Duruiheoma
Owerri
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has urged Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari and the National Working Commit­tee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole not to give Senator Hope Uzodinma the party gover­norship ticket for the state, saying that the senator would leave the party in 2019 if the president loses the general election.

Instead the governor wants the NWC to submit the name of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as the Imo APC guber candidate for the state.

Okorocha told journalists in Ow­erri on weekend that almost every politician who joined the APC in the last two months would leave the party the next day if Buhari loses the 2019 election, describing them as political opportunists.
He said, “90 per cent of those who have joined APC in the last two months are doing so not because they love APC, they can never go to an election without federal might and per adventure President Bu­hari loses this election, the next day they will leave the party.

“So, this set of people are simply called ‘political opportunists’ who are not with the people, but always want to grab victory through the use of gun. But I think this has to stop, why should our party promote this and I warn they should stop this”.
Okorocha, who insisted that handing the ticket to another per­son in Imo state other than Nwosu would amount to injustice, said: “We elected Oshiomhole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him.

“He must live that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiom­hole prior to his being elected as the national chairman, anything short of that will reduce his value com­pletely in this country, he should do the right thing and be simple.”

“I think people are trying to change the narratives, some people are trying to upturn the truth they want to cover the truth by leaving the main to discuss frivolities. The truth remains that a certain Ahmed Gulak with a sinister mission came here and disappeared with result sheet by 4:00am on the day of the proposed election.

“The NWC of our party disband­ed that committee, despite the fact that eight members of the commit­tee, including the secretary, stayed back and conducted the election and declared Uche Nwosu winner. Despite the fact that Uche Nwosu won the election, the National Working Committee disbanded that Committee and called for fresh election.
“This fact is known to everybody and the second election which they came to conduct on October 6. The same Uche Nwosu won. Now how could the man who is supposed to be facing charges of criminal con­spiracy turn around and say that the election he disappeared with result sheet is genuine.

“It makes a mockery of this country but one fact remains that President Muhammadu Buhari is known for justice and fairness. That is the image he has and let no one or the party destroy this image which has given us victory and that is why we are here today as APC members.
“So, it is not a question of who is a good or bad loser, the issue is that people are trying to change the narrative to cover the truth, it is di­versionary as far as I am concerned.

“How could you, for God’s sake, somebody won in the first election, the results are clear and signed by the members of the Committee.

“Same person won the second election signed by all the members, even when you cancelled the first election and then you have the Police and INEC reports confirming the election and you have a letter from the NWC disbanding that Gu­lak Committee and you also have a letter from the NWC confirming that Uche Nwosu is the candidate of the party and again you have forms given to him from INEC for his name to be submitted.

“I don’t understand what is happening but I think this issue of semantics and sentiments being poured cannot cover the truth. The truth is that APC holds it as a point of duty and honour to declare win­ners of election and anything short of that will not go down well with the people and the history of APC in Nigeria and I beg to disagree with those who try to change the issue from what it is.

“I mean what can you say to the whole world that Gulak didn’t disappear with result sheets or that election was not cancelled or that Uche Nwosu did not win I don’t just understand what is happening.
“So, people are trying to change the truth but that is not going to work. APC must remain APC and our party’s NWC holds it as a point of duty to defend the integrity for which APC is known, anything short of that will amount to self destruction of the party”.

On the alleged plot against the national chairman, he said, “talking about Oshiomohle’s removal is not an issue. It is not important. We elected Oshiomhole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him.

“He must guard that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiomhole prior to his being elected as the national chairman. Anything short of that will reduce his value completely in this country. He should do the right thing and be simple. I mean we are democrats and this is our party.

“This is APC and the right thing must be done so when people try to change the narrative and to say governors are bad losers, the gover­nors want to impose people, excuse me, democracy is about the people.
“If the people have spoken, who are you to change what the people have said.

“Buhari is a President today because the people spoke and if Buhari can be a President because people spoke, then the party must respect that and allow the voice of the people to prevail in whatever election and avoid sentiments.
“The campaign they try to put forward is that Uche Nwosu can’t go because he is Okorocha’s son-in-law and I say to them, has Uche Nwosu gone contrary to any section of the Nigerian constitution? Nobody has been able to give an answer to that.

“Nobody has come forward to say that the young man is a criminal or that he is corrupt or does not have capacity. It is not enough to sit back in Abuja and be talking. They should come to the state to under­stand the feelings of the people down home.

“That’s the point am making so my advice to our party, is that our party should sit up and do the right thing and not allow the people get misled.

“And if you are talking about morals, what is the morality in somebody that joined the party in less than two weeks to be given the number one job by Abuja and not the people, how is he going to win.

“So, I want to advice those behind this to stop forthwith and it is a directive that they should stop forthwith so that this party can enjoy that name that it is known for as a party of justice, equity and fairness if not there is no difference between this party and any other party in Nigeria.

On the likelihood of leaving the party, the governor noted that, the option of leaving the party has not come to his mind.

“APC is my party in 2011 when this party was called Boko Haram and Islamisation party. Where were these people? Nobody gave us a chance that APC was going to win the 2015 election.

“So, what makes you think that we are going to leave the party for those that came through the back door and are being given a voice by the national chairman of our party.

“All you hear is rumour. Every­where that they are backed by the Presidency that Rochas should take one position and leave the other one as if we are sharing ground­nut, but I tell them I have met the president and he told me he never said to anybody to impose a wrong candidate or to remove the name of anybody and change it with anoth­er in whatever guise.
“I think they want to make Mr. President a liar. So, what they are doing is wrong and unacceptable so they should stop”.

President Muhamma­du Buhari’s govern­ment inherited $63 billion debt and has borrowed $10 billion since 2015.
Vice President Yemi Osinba­jo said that the nation’s debt now stood at $73 billion.
He made the disclosure in Ibadan on Saturday during the 9th Public Lecture of Sig­ma Club at the International Conference Centre, Universi­ty of Ibadan.
Osinbajo delivered a lec­ture entitled ‘Developing the Nation Through Youth Empowerment.’

“In 2010 our debt was $35 billion, $41 billion in 2011, $48 billion in 2012, $64 billion in 2013, $67.7 billion in 2014, $63.8 billion in 2015, $57.8 billion in 2016, $70 billion in 2017 and $73 billion in 2018.

“The nation’s debt as at to­day was $73 bilłion, an incre­ment of $10 billion from the $63 billion inherited in 2015,” he said.
Osinbajo revealed that from oil, the nation earned $119.8 billion from 1990 to 1998, $481 billion from 1999 to 2009 and $381 billion from 2010 to 2014, while present adminis­tration has only earned $112 billion from June 2015.
“The earnings from oil from 2010 to 2014 were the highest recorded in the history of the country. This is a period when the price of oil per barrel sold from $100 to $114.

He said that the most im­portant drain on the nation’s public purse was grand cor­ruption, saying the nation would earn more revenue if such was addressed.
“In a 2015 transaction met by this administration, a sum of $67 million was made with­out a purpose for it. So also is another $292 million,” he said.
The Vice President also list­ed lack of commitment to di­versification of the economy as one of the problems which affected the economy.
On restructuring, Osinbajo said that some of those clam­ouring for it were those who opposed their efforts on re­structuring years back when they were in government.

“Let me explain my position clearly. I am not just an advo­cate of restructuring, there is no other government in Nige­ria that has actively pursued restructuring such as we did when I was Attorney General in Lagos State.
“People talking about re­structuring, if you ask them what they meant by restruc­turing? They won’t even know what it means and that is the problem we have to face,” he said.

The vice president narrat­ed how he pursued issues of restructuring to the Supreme Court when he was the Attor­ney General in Lagos State.
According to him, “We start­ed with fiscal restructuring, which is more of resource control. Should states control their own resources? We went to the Supreme Court. They argued that each state should control its own resources.”
“The states that argued in favour of autonomy for states to control their resources were the oil producing states in the country and Lagos State, while some others argued on the other side because they want to share oil money.

“We lost at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said no, that you cannot con­trol your resources. If you are an oil producing state, take 13 per cent extra, which is derivation.”
He said that Lagos State further argued that it had ports and the ports served the entire nation, so the state should also take 13 per cent derivation which the Supreme Court objected.

Osinbajo said that further argument led to the introduc­tion of onshore and offshore law, which enabled the state to share from onshore resources.
“All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, in­cluding the presidential can­didate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring, was the vice president then.
“They opposed every step we took. Of course, we were tak­ing the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step.
“The next thing we did was that the states should be able to create their own local gov­ernments, which is autonomy of states.

“So, we created 37 new lo­cal governments in Lagos. The president then, Chief Obasanjo, seized our local government funds and said we could not create new local governments,” he said.
He also narrated how they challenged the seizure at the Supreme Court and the court ruled in their favour. “If you ask those people now talking about restructuring, none of them has done anything com­pared to what we have done. So, I am not a latter day con­vert to restructuring.
“I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring,” Osinbajo added.

Nigeria is a country that is unimaginably strategised and divinely positioned to stand the test of time. Viewed from any perspective, our country Nigeria is blessed by God and counted among the few countries mandated to put smiles on the faces of its citizens, as well as provide for the less-privileged in our midst.

The problem with us is not too far from us, especially as one realizes that everything that is needed to run a stable government is visibly manifest in our country. We are blessed, we are destined for greatness, we are specially packaged, we are divinely empowered, we are resourcefully equipped, we are naturally endowed.

Yes, we are tremendously destined in order to be a light to other countries, but alas, we are still very far from achieving our dream, and this is very unfortunate; very appalling; very disheartening!

It is imperative to note here that one of the things that has continued to pose a threat to our growth and progress as a country is our inability in realizing our wretchedness, as well as looking for a way out of our predicament.

Truly, no one defeats his or her challenge without first realizing that he or she has a challenge.

Chief Ogbeni Rewane pointed out that:

The progress of any community is a function of the capacity of its leaders for sacrifice and selfless service.


Things must be handled with the view to bring a lasting solution to our problem and this must begin with our leaders, at all levels of government.

Those who have been given the mandate to represent us at various levels must appreciate the fact that we are all looking unto them to show us the way.

Again, those whose ideas are considered at different levels must not fail to realize the fact that until they begin to look deep into our collective problem, things will continue to go bad.

According to the confession of Nat Turner:


These are bad times and bad they will be, until men are better; for they are bad men that make bad times. If men therefore would mend, so would the times.

It is a folly to look for good days so long as sin is so high and those that study its nourishment so many and there is no opposition.


A careful study of the above assertion and confession of Nat Turner, will go a very long way in convincing anyone who cares to know that, of a truth, Nigeria is still far a way from finding solution to her problem.

I have made the above point because I am fully certain that severally we have witnessed the negative imagination of our predicament, occasioned by the fact of our leaders incompetency and infidelity.

Those who lead us must appreciate our vulnerability and sincerely determine to give us hope. They must view our problem from the angle of our national necessity, as well as handle it from that perspective.

Until bad people realize that they are bad and begin to seek for ways to become good, bad things will continue to surround us as a country.

The journey to the Nigerian greatness begins with all those who have been given the mandate to make things right. Yes, the road to our greatness, without sounding immodest, cannot be smooth unless we tell ourselves the truth and get ready to put our common sense into existence.

It is a national calamity to realize that we have abandoned the testimonies of our identity and have decided to pursue our personal interests, at the expense of the happiness of our unborn children.

Furthermore, it is an eternal disaster that our leaders are willing to sacrifice our collective progress on the altar of selfishness and self-glory.

It is unfortunate that nobody is talking about morality and integrity today, as far as politics and politicking are concerned. Yet, more appalling is the fact that today, none of us, is willing to put off our pride, in order to build a sustainable and dependable legacy.

Suffice it to say that our collective limitations are in us and not in our stars, hence, unless we begin to look beyond our personal and individual interests and decide to work together for the good of the downtrodden, then our ambition as leaders remains suspicious.

In the words of the great American music songstress and artiste, Dolly Patron:


If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are an excellent leader.



In leadership, one must be willing to reflect true sportsmanship, patriotism and commitment, especially in the over-all execution of the vision and mission, as enshrined in his or her manifesto.

This way, such leader will be able to carry his or her people along and give everyone a sense of belonging.

I was personally and passionately challenged when I read the full text of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s speech, during the visit of the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency, Atiku Ababakar, to Abeokuta, the home of the former, on Thursday October 11, 2018.

Of a truth, Obasanjo’s speech re-awakened the consciousness in one that, indeed, all we need as a country, at a time like this, are leaders who not only understand our situation, but leaders who are abundantly passionate in their mission to enthrone one nation, united by one God, under one umbrella. Nigeria, at this time, needs leaders who will go the extra mile to see themselves as servants, who have received the mandate to serve even the lowest of her citizen.

Believe it or not, Obasanjo’s speech on Thursday October 11, 2018, brought to bare the reality that our leaders are actually equipped with the ability to take us to the level that God has in mind for us, but the only problem is that many of them are selfish, as they are working towards enriching themselves alone.

The last four paragraphs of Chief Obasanjo’s speech touched me the most and I crave your indulgence to highlight those paragraphs here, verbatim, just as they are:

[b]…And when you become Nigerian President which, insha Allah, you will be, remember what we did together in government – we ran an administration by Nigerians, for all Nigerians where merit and performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith or kin. Although some time and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start from where we stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time.

Please uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight corruption, crimes and insurgency.

The fundamental law of the land, our constitution must be scrupulously defended.

I make one demand on you today: I need you to say before God and man that you will always remain irrevocably committed to upholding ALL the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the whole country will remain your single indivisible constituency.

Constitutionalism, popular participation and inclusiveness are pre-conditions for reversing the deficits of the past three and half years.

They will ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and faith in the survival of all against none.

The fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress are hard and soft infrastructure.

Remember to always give adequate places in your administration to our youth and women.

All the authorities involved with the preparation, all processes and conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

My distinguished brothers and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen. I will now count on you to encourage all hands to be on deck to take Nigeria to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level.[/b]

This is the spirit! We must have the interest of our country at heart, as well as work together towards achieving our collective goal.

Our leaders must rise to the responsibility of being at the fore-front of championing the cause of our country and making us indivisibly one.

By Phil Okose , Onitsha

Irked by the speculation that his son, Master Chinedu Philip Oguaju, aged 29 years, a 400-level student of Nwa­for Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, commit­ted suicide over school fees last month, Mr. Ambrose Mbanefo Oguaju, has denied the specula­tion, describing it as false, untrue, deceitful and antics employed by the perpetrators of the dastardly act to create the impression that he committed suicide over school fees.

Urging the police and Governor Willie Obiano to fish out the per­petrators, Oguaju buttressed his point saying that, “his legs were broken by the attackers and the broken legs were on the ground as if he was kneeling down when he was tied to the ceiling fan in his room.

“Again, his eyes were supposed to turn white and open instead of being closed while being held by the rope tied to the ceiling fan. For a suicide of that nature to take place, the dead body will be dan­gling in the air but this one had his two legs on the floor, kneeling on the ground, as the rope was tied from his neck to the fan, just to give the impression that he committed suicide with the rope when he did not.

“The school fees they were talking about that was increased, the college did not increase any school fees and he was in teaching practice in one of the secondary schools in the area. Those in teaching practice do not pay school fees instead they are the one given money sometimes where they are teaching.

“So, there was no time it was be­cause of non-payment or increase in school fees that he committed suicide and moreover, he is a final year student. So, how come that all these years he did not commit suicide until now that he has almost completed his educational career in the institution and I can pay his school fee three-fold,” he queried.

Pleading with Governor Willie Obiano and the police to help fish out the killers, he said, “it is heart­breaking that the killers of my son did it to wicked me but God will revenge. I do not wrong any­body. They just wasted him and labelled it that he died because he could not pay school fees. What is important to the killers is not only killing him but also to give the impression that he committed suicide.”

Recalling how it happened, Oguaju said that “on the fateful day, his roommate called the phone number of my wife because I was not around and told her to come to their house, he was living off campus. When she came, she saw the corpse of my son tied to the ceiling fan.

“The roommate had reported the incident to the ’33’ police station and when the police team came, they took photogragh of the corpse and then deposited it at Apex hospital”.

“On that fateful day, at about 4.30pm, he returned from the teaching practice, took his food and was reading the Bible when the attackers struck at about 8.30pm”.

Confirming the incident, last Wednesday shortly after Oguaju briefed newsmen in Onitsha, the Divisional Police Officer incharge of ’33’ Police station, Mr. Sunday Irek, declined further comment and referred the newsmen to the State Police Public Relations Offi­cer (PPRO), Mr. Haruna Moham­med, adding that he (PPRO) had earlier issued a press statement on the incident.

…Buhari and Atiku cleared by INEC

President Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president Atiku Abubakar and 74 others have been named as contestants for the 2019 presidential poll in the provisional list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A total of 76 political parties will contest for presidency in 2019 general elections, according to the INEC publication.
The list, released, yesterday, in compliance with Section 31 (1 and 3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), also named Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, former governor Sam Egwu, Victor Umeh, Stella Oduah, Uche Ekwenife, and others as candidates for the National Assembly in their various states.
In Anambra Central Senatorial district, the published candidates are Charles Odunukwe of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), Chief Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Mrs. Ekwunife of All Progressives Congress (APC).
In South Senatorial district, a serving senator, Andy Uba of the APC, Chukwunedum Ubah of the PDP and Nicholas Ukachukwu of APGA made the list.
For North Senatorial district, a former senator, Margery Okadigbo of the APC, Mrs. Oduah of the PDP and Chinedu Emeka of APGA made the provisional list.
In Ogun State, only the list of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the APC and that of the ADC were available at the INEC office in the state.
The list of PDP National Assembly candidates, was however, not available as at press time last night.
For the ADC, the senatorial candidates on the INEC list include the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Titi Oseni-Gomez as candidate in Ogun Central, Adedeji Ashiru, Ogun East and Babatunde Ogunnola, Ogun West.
For the House of Representatives, ADC would field Fasasi Oyemade, Remo Federal Constituency, Olaifa Aremu, Egbado North/ Imeko-Afon, Abiodun Akinboyede, Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Gabriel Omolaja, Ijebu Ode/ Ijebu North East/Odogbolu, Ogundimu Akande, Abeokuta South, Olude Adewale, Egbado South/ Ipokia, Omoleye Olabode, Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode/Odeda and Jenriyi Oshinowo, Ijebu North/ Ijebu East/ Ogun Waterside. The candidate for Ifo/ Ewekoro Federal Constituency was not published on the INEC list.
Those to fly the APC senatorial flag are Lekan Mustapha, Ogun East, the incumbent Chief of Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Tolu Odebiyi, Ogun West, while Governor Amosun would vie for Ogun Central.
For the House of Representatives, Jimoh Ojugbele, Kayode Oladele and Ibrahim Isiaka would slug it to be returned to Ado-Odo/Ota, Egbado North/Imeko-Afon and Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituencies, respectively.
Others include: Biyi Otegbeye, Egbado South/ Ipokia, Biyi Ismail, Ijebu North/East/Ogun Waterside, Olumide Osoba, Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/ Odeda, Olanrewaju Edun, Abeokuta South, Adewunmi Onanuga, Remo federal constituency and Osunsanya Akorede, Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North and Odogbolu federal constituency.
Head of the Public Affairs Department of INEC in Lagos, Femi Akinbiyi, revealed that 50 candidates would contest for the three Lagos Senatorial seats on the platform of 25 political parties and 249 candidates across 30 political parties would contest the state’s 24 seats in the House of Representatives.
Lagos West Senatorial District has 22 candidates, Lagos East and Lagos Central 15 and 13 candidates respectively.
For the House of Representatives election, only the PDP, APC and ADC fielded candidates in all the 24 federal constituencies.
Ebonyi, Kogi, Oyo
Top on the list of candidates displayed as eligible to contest the National Assembly seats in Ebonyi State on the ticket of the PDP are Dr. Sam Egwu for Ebonyi North and his counterpart for Ebonyi Central, Senator Obinna Ogba.
In the APC, a former senator and pioneer speaker of the state, Julius Ucha made it for Ebonyi Central.
It could not be confirmed whether former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Chief Godwin Ogbaga eventually made the list as APC candidate for Ebonyi North.
In Benue, INEC’s State Public Relations Officer, Terka Andya, said the list will be posted in all the 23 local government headquarters of the state.
Andya in a telephone chat said that already, the list had been posted in zones A and C of the state while staff of the Commission are working assiduously to ensure that the list for zone B is posted before midnight to meet the deadline given by the INEC chairman.
He assured that by today, everyone would have access to the list which would be pasted on the notice boards in all the local government offices of INEC across the state.
The Kogi State office of INEC only published the list of all the presidential candidates. It was gathered that a comprehensive list of all the candidates will be published on or before Saturday.
The situation was not the same in Enugu State when Daily Sun visited the Independence Layout office of the commission by 8pm; as the list was yet to be displayed.
Attempts to reach the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Emeka Ononamadu was not fruitful.
The REC for Oyo State, Mutiu Agboke, led a delegation of INEC officials to paste the list of presidential candidates and photocopies of their credentials at the state headquarters of the commission.

He said the lists of candidates for Senatorial and House of Representatives would be pasted today at local government offices of the commission across the state.

Head of Voters Education and Publicity in Zamfara State INEC office, Garba Galadima, said the office was yet to receive the list.

He said the most recent list the office received from the INEC headquarters was the claims and objectives list of all the Senate and House of Representatives aspirants in the state.

“The new list we have is those pasted outside the gate”, he said.

The list pasted outside the Zamfara INEC office is stamped and dated October 17, 2018.
However, if INEC follow through its threat, APC might not field candidates for any of the position owing to its failure to conduct primary elections.

By Sunday Agbo, Abakaliki

Mixed feelings have continued to trail the decision of Ebonyi state government on the ongoing demolition and reconstruction of the regional market and motor park located at the popular Spera-In-Deo junction in Abakaliki, the capital city of the state.

Orient Weekend reports that the regional market is a conglom­erate of both business activities and sex trade, such that both the traders and the sex workers are now stranded and thrown out of their shops and homes.

Investigation by Orient Week­end reveals that some of the affected traders and sex workers were displeased with the state government policy of demolition and reconstruction, since there was no compensation from the state government.

Some of them told Orient Week­end that the Abakaliki local gov­ernment area had leased the land to them for 30 years, even as one of them stated that the N45,000 rent paid for each of the over two hundred shops had not elapsed.

They appealed to the state gov­ernment to cushion the effects of the demolition by providing them with alternative places pending when the reconstruction was completed.

One of the traders, Jimoh Abu, who spoke to Orient Weekend, alleged that the state government never gave them prior notice to quit. According to him, the traders were losing money running into millions of naira, adding that they had no place to run to.

“I have a beer parlour and other shops and provision shops here. For me, the demolition of the regional market is uncalled for. They did not give us quit notice and this is a season when we record high sales. Where are we going to pack our goods to? They did not make provision for that. We are helpless and handicapped because anywhere we take our goods to, we are rejected.

“We have paid for rent till May next year; some of us even paid for upward of two years. Abakaliki local government area allocated shops to us and we paid N45,000 for each shop in March this year and they have not refunded the money. For me, I do not know what the government is doing.

“The government told us to submit our documents; that is, if you have a shop here. We were asked to submit it to the minis­try of lands, housing and survey which we did. They also promised us to call for a general meeting, but they did not. The commis­sioner for works, Engineer Fidelis Nweze, said he was going to call for a meeting, but he did not do that.

“What we saw was the com­missioner for special project who came and told us that we .should be prepared to leave this place in the next two weeks. We took it as a joke. But he came again on Tuesday that they were coming to­morrow to demolish this market. We took it as a joke. What we saw yesterday was bulldozers destroy­ing everything.

“I wish they give us till January to enable us relocate to another place, it could have been a differ­ent ball game. But, they took our documents without compensation. It is bad.

“We are losing millions of naira. We have over two hundred shops being destroyed. Each shop cost N60000 per annum. If you calcu­late it, you will see that it is run­ning into millions of naira. Look at everybody; we have no place to go now”, Jimoh cried out.

Another trader who deals in li­quor and gave her name simply as Maureen said she was stranded and appealed for assistance from the state government. She said, “I am very, very stranded. I do not have anywhere and place to go. You can see that I am confused and stranded. I have lost so much money.

“I want the state government to help me. The state government should have sympathy on us and provide us a place to stay before the reconstruction of the market. They should find us a place to stay”, she stated.

Chukwuemeka Iruah, a trader who was attacked by hoodlums who cashed in on the demolition said he was dispossessed of his money and refrigerators. “I was here last night when ‘area boys’ besieged me and collected my money from me. They collected three hundred and fifty thousand naira (N350,000.00) from me.

“I was just passing within the market when they attacked me and collected my money. They also collected my two fridges from me. I sell drinks in the regional market. When they came I did not say anything to them. I have not reported to the police yet”, he lamented.

Meanwhile, a restaurant manager, Mrs. Chinwe Ekuma, who differed in her opinion about the demolition and reconstruction of the market, said she was not against the state government. She appealed to governor Umahi to assist the embattled traders with fund to enable them relocate to another place.

“I am not against the govern­ment moving us from this market. I am not angry that we have been asked to go away, but the problem is that we do not have money to go and acquire new shops. I packed into this place recently and I am yet to get established. After a while, they said we should relo­cate. I am not against it because it is part of development.

“The government should have given us some compensation, no matter how little it is, to enable us look for another place for us.

“Since I became an adult, I have never voted for anyone but during last election, I voted for Engr. David Umahi. I went to Nkaliki, waited and voted for him, stayed there until the votes were count­ed.

“I will still vote for him in the 2019 election. Anytime I spot him passing in front of my shop, I always come out to hail him. He should come by himself and give us money no matter how little it is, we will use it to get new shops.

“We are relocating in tears. I am married to Ebonyi state man. I will not pack these goods back to my place. He should assist us. Look at how my wares are scattered as if I am a mad woman. I do not know where to start. If I steal, they will kill me and if I ventured into prostitution, my people will disown me. He should come; I will support him in 2019. I will pack out, but I am stranded”, she said.

A retired prison officer, Chikezie John, said all the money paid to him by government as benefit was invested into business in the market before the demolition.

“I used the money paid to me by government as a retired prison service officer to pay for one year rent. After that, I started a small business here. Now, I have lost everything since the government did not pay compensation to the landlords.

“There is no way I can go and meet the government to refund the money I have paid. We were not given any notice. We only saw them yesterday demolishing shops here. There was no service of notice.

“This place has existed for a long time. I learnt it was con­structed during the regime of Jim Nwobodo. Last month, the local government chairman came and collected money from the landlords for 30 years as lease. Since they know this place will be demolished, they should not have extorted money from the landlords.

Ikeagwu Emmanuel, who though commended the Ebonyi state government for embarking on the demolition and reconstruc­tion of the regional market, said there was confusion initially on the shops to demolish.

“They said they wanted to expand this place to the garage. I am one the landlords. I have 30 shops here. The shops were marked with numbers. They said some of the shops were not includ­ed. After sometime, they came back and marked that line again, delete the marking and later came again.

“They said all the shops marked with black paint would be demol­ished. Different people came say­ing different things. We became confused and did not know the one to follow but we are obeying government.

“The Bible in the book of Ro­mans 13 told us to respect those in government. The leaders are doing the work of God. I am affect­ed. Look at this building; I spent over two hundred thousand naira at the beginning of the building. I have not stayed here up to two weeks. The rent of most of the buildings here will expire 2019.

“I have never heard of any plan by government to compensate anyone. I will not die because my shops are being demolished. I am an adult, and can still look for something to do. To me, the government is doing what it is supposed to do because without such demolition, there would be no development. I like the gover­nor”, he said.

In an interview, the Ebonyi state commissioner for lands, housing and survey, Professor John Eke, said the decision was taken by the state government to uplift the infrastructures of the state.

According to him, the trad­ers agreed with government on demolition and reconstruction of the market without state involve­ment.

He said, “It is wrong to call it demolition. It is demolition and reconstruction. We are uplifting the standard of infrastructure of the state. The government met with the traders in the park and landlords of their shops. We held several meetings with them. They pleaded with the government that they should be allowed to recon­struct the market.

“In a way, they are the one demolishing the market because they wrote us and signed an undertaking that we should allow them to reconstruct the market. There is no compensation because they have to retain their shops.

“They have their own commit­tee to make sure they do the right thing. We have given them the design. They are arranging the money by themselves. Our task is to maintain standard.

“Though, we know there will be inconveniences for a while because for them to get a better shop, one has to pack out. The work is being done at a very fast pace.”

By Gabriel Chy Alonta

Students of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra state, are protesting the deadline given by the management of the institution to pay their school fees or risk missing out in the school-wide quizzes.

The students were reported to have deserted the classroom on the arrival of a lecturer who had come for a quiz session. They claimed to have done this in solidarity with their colleagues locked out for not paying their fees.

Orient Gist learnt that the university management had in a meeting mandated all lecturers to give university wide quiz from 23rd to 26th October, 2018 and the students were expected to have paid their school fees.

However, this development did not go down well with most of the students, among who were those who were both those who had complied and the defaulters.

The mass communication students of the college, for instance, unanimously decided to boycott quiz on the course, ‘MAC 303: New Techniques in Book Publishing’, taught by Dr. Chinwe Ezeoke.

According to the students, who spoke with Orient Gist on confidence, “We are not happy the way the new administration is going about school fees payments. They are not just considerate given the untold hardship that our parents have to contend with.

“We just resumed schools on the 3rd of September, 2018 and, barely a month after, the vice chancellor, Prof. Greg Nwakoby, had issued warning and threats on the students who are yet to pay their school fees. He should rescind this decision because the students are aggrieved”.

The students further cried foul over current happenings in the campus, urging the vice chancellor to tread with caution.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the university Students Union Government (SUG) after a closed-door meeting with the management, said the university-wide quiz and payment deadline had been shifted.

Part of the statement released by the union in the official website ‘©ANSUGIST MEDIA’ reads, “After due consultation and strategic meeting between the SUG and the university management as regards quiz/payment of school fees, the union wishes to announce that the university wide quiz stands suspended and a grace of one week given for students to scout for funds for their fees.

“All quiz exams are hereby shifted by one week from today, 24th of October, 2018, so as to enable the students to pay their school fees. This was prompted by the rising anxiety in the student community and need to maintain balance of peace in the university”.

The union, however, appreciated the patience and solidarity of the students during the disturbing hour, assuring their commitment in protecting the interest of the students at all times.

By Phil Okose
Onitsha
Residents of Ogidi, Ide­mili North Local Gov­ernment Area head­quarters of Anambra state are now living in fear fol­lowing the invasion of the area by suspected cultists who carry out their activities brazenly.
Orient Daily learnt that shop owners were robbed at gun point over the weekend resulting in closure of shops in the area. Ar­eas mostly affected include the Old Onitsha/Ogidi/Enugu road, around St Philip’s Anglican Church.

According to a victim, who pleaded anonymity, “we now close our shops once it is 7.00pm because of suspected cultists who now prey on us. They rob us daily. Few days ago, the en­tire shops along this road within this St Philip church axis were robbed by the cultists.
“They were up to 150, they emerged from nowhere, divided themselves into two groups, one went towards the Ugwunwasike side while the other went to­wards the Ekenweje side. They robbed as they move and beat up whoever they saw, collected his possessions and before you know what was happening, they have left the place for other places.

“Cries and wailing trailed them as the victims would not have the gut to get close to them. We heard reports of how they also robbed people along the Ugwunwasike/Abatete road, in Ogidi the same day.

“One of the people robbed, a girl, had lodged the complaint at Ogidi police station. Her GSM handset and money were col­lected at gunpoint, as she tried to resist the three-man cultists that were riding on a bike who robbed her, she was hit with their gun butt which made her hands to swell,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Haruna Mohamed, said that five of the cultists have been arrested and transferred to the Special Anti Cultism Squad (SPACS), of the state Police Command.

A former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has reiterated his commitment to the unity and oneness of Nigeria.
Gowon made this assertion on Tuesday at an exhibition in honour of one the country’s fore­most physician, Emeritus Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhi­bition was held as part of the activities to celebrate the 85th Birthday of the renowned phy­sician.
Gowon, while speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the event held at the Univer­sity College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that peace and unity of the country was not ne­gotiable.

While commending Nigerians for their resilience in the face of untold hardship, he urged them to strive toward maintaining the oneness of the country as a single entity at all costs.

“You are all aware of my strong desire and commitment for the peace and unity of our nation.
“I want to further add my voice to the call for peace and national unity.

“I want to reiterate in the strongest term that the peace and unity of Nigeria is non-ne­gotiable.
“I will continue to work at achieving the much desired peace and unity that we crave daily for our country.
“I am strongly of the belief that for the future of our nation to be assured, we must strive to build legacies of peace and uni­ty,” Gowon said.
He advocated more tolerance and understanding among Ni­gerians to put an end to the spate of killings in the country.

Gowon also advised Nigeri­ans to stop killing one another for no just cause.
According to him, under­standing, brotherliness, accom­modation and patriotism must be exhibited to restore peace across the country.

He then described prayers as a formidable weapon that could solve the nation’s many chal­lenges faster.
Gowon, while extolling the virtues of Akinkugbe, said that the professor ranked first in role modelling and was worthy of recognition in the health sec­tor.

He tasked the upcoming medical professionals to see Akinkugbe’s life as a yardstick to measure the quality of their contributions to the profession and national development.
“As a university and hospital administrator, his works will continue to speak for him in all the institutions, countries and continents where he has served.

“His membership and fellow­ship of international profes­sional organisations and soci­eties attest to the quality of his expertise,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman, UCH Board of Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Shetimma, noted that the history of Nigeria would have been different if not for the contributions of the fore­most physician’s intervention.
He recalled that when the economy of the country nose-dived, it was people like Prof. Akinkugbe that came to the rescue before the challenge could be surmounted.

Also, the UCH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Temitope Alonge, in his remarks, said that there was no gainsaying the fact that the country was blessed with talents and icons in various en­deavours of daily lives.
According to him, there are some who are inherently out­standing without doubt.

“For 50 years, the elegant figure of this gentle giant has straddled the length and breadth of Nigeria in many ca­pacities including terrains that were exclusively for the arts and social sciences.

“Today, the medical world stands in admiration as it re­counts the contributions and selfless services provided by the Prince of Ondo Kingdom and a man with chieftaincy titles from within and outside the shores of his native land.

“Emeritus Prof. Akinkugbe has rubbed shoulders with the high and mighty in his gener­ation, not minding his humble beginning; he has made his mark in medical practice to the admiration of all to see.
“He has taken so much plea­sure in transnational medicine and has mentored grandfathers and fathers of various medical specialties in our country,” he said.

According to him, Akinkugbe has championed the dangers in­herent in the neglect of commu­nicable diseases and the men­tion of his name automatically brings the 10 common causes of hypertension and renal diseas­es to one’s lips.
(NAN)

By Sunday Agbo
Abakaliki
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Pres­idential candidate in next year's general elec­tion, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that the people of the southeast geo­political zone are tired of being marginalised in the country.

Obi, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State governor, Da­vid Nwaeze, pointed out that his nomination had created an opportunity for the people of the zone to start thinking on how to start rebuilding it.

He explained that southeast leaders were not against his emergence but against the pro­cess which he said had caused disaffection between some southeast leaders.
He said that his visit was for him to receive the blessing of Governor David Umahi as the chairman of the Southeast Gov­ernors' Forum.

“For me this is a home. But I am coming today to see you as the chairman of this zone be­cause I do not have the oppor­tunity of paying my courtesy call after my nomination as vice presidential candidate from our zone which you know was pos­sible if not for you in particular and other PDP leader.

“It was your leadership that made the candidate to start thinking of southeast person. If you did not bring the PDP family together, that would not have been possible. So, these are proofs of your leadership. I, for one, never thought this would happen to me. I have never dis­cussed with anybody and how it happened, to me is only God can explain.

“I need to come home to as­sure people like you that that nomination is not personal to me. It is from the southeast and cannot be successful without blessing from your kind person as the chairman of the zone.
“As the chairman of the zone, it is you singularly working with other governors and all PDP members that will make that nomination worthwhile. Any other thing will be opposite and unsuccessful.

“Of course, since after the nomination, there have been is­sues where people have put all of us in dispute. But I have called and severally maintained that never at anytime did the leaders of this zone disagreed with my nomination; they disagreed with the process.

“But of course, we now live in an era where the social media controls every sense of news and every type of news. This journey will not be successful without your leadership and that is why I am here to solicit for his con­tinue leadership of the zone and PDP as a party is desirable of re­turning to power.

“Not just we want to return to the centre, it is because we have seen a mismanagement of our country Nigeria. Every indices of development in Nigeria today is very low. Even in the fight against corruption, we have moved from 26 to 48. Everything is very bad. We cannot continue that way.

“So, PDP wants to come back and continue with building the nation. We are tired of marginal­isation. This is an opportunity to start rebuilding the entire zone, and it could only happen with your leadership. That is why I am here for your blessing. Be rest assured of my loyalty and availability always.
Responding, Governor Umahi expressed joy over the nomina­tion of Peter Obi.

He said he had never had dif­ferences with him, noting that both of them were misinterpret­ed badly.
“Like I have said severally, nobody appoints the deputy. If somebody imposes your deputy on you, it will not work. It is like a marriage. So, nobody is angry for anybody selecting anybody.

“You have already said that the Igbo leaders are not angry with you. But I have said that I cannot repent of what I have said before. I had said it sever­ally that the process is not okay with us.

“I have fought the battle be­fore now and I am still fighting it. And that created some illusion in our minds. Some Igbo leaders understood it and those who did not understand they have the right not to because my fear is that if this is happening without explanation, I do not know what will happen when we go to the poll. Because we just went to the poll and came back and this is what we are getting.

“That you nominated our son is our right because in every meeting I said that we will sup­port the candidate who is ready to give us the vice presidential candidate. It must also be un­derstood that southeast has so much been frustrated and mar­ginalised. We have been chased out of all our rights and posi­tions”, Umahi reiterated.

By Praise Necherem
The Anambra State gov­ernment has refuted re­ports that two persons from the Republic of Togo died in the recent collapsed building in the state.
The Commissioner for Hous­ing, Mr. Emeka Ezenwanne, who made the clarification at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where victims were receiving treatment, said the second Togolese rumoured to be among the dead was alive.

A 3-storey building under con­struction at Okpuno Otolo, Nne­wi had on October 17, collapsed, with two deaths recorded while 11 others trapped in the building were rescued alive.
The commissioner regretted that the false death of the for­eigner went viral on the social media, insisting that one of the victims was a Nigerian.

"He was seen on his bed but still groaning under severe pains along with some other survivors from the building collapse," he said.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ezenwanne, who visited the site of the collapsed building with his entourage, said the visit was to encourage the survivors.

He prayed for their quick re­covery and pledged financial support for their treatment, just as he sympathised with rela­tives of the deceased.
The surviving Togolese, sim­ply identified as Mr. Collins, thanked the commissioner for his visit and support.

The nurses on duty at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital, disclosed that seven other survivors, who sus­tained minor injuries had since been discharged after receiving treatment.
Two other survivors at the emergency unit receiving treat­ment, Samuel Chukwuemeka and Ebuka Dunu, sustained leg injuries multiple injuries on their hand, waist and legs.

Dunu, who was still groaning under severe pains, said the ex­perience was traumatising.
Commenting on the inci­dent, building experts from the Anambra State Ministry of Housing, Awka, Ikenna Okpa­la and Nweke Kingsley Obiora said that building collapse had become too frequent and worri­some in the state.

Okpala identified some of the causes of collapse to include, use of quacks by clients, badly set foundation, poor supervision, absence of good reinforcements and bad concrete mixing.
On his part, Obiora called on clients to employ only profes­sional builders whose expertise would be relevant in all stages of the construction.