NIGERIAN NOTCH

In a very colourful ceremony at the Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, the man of the moment and foremost industrialist and philanthropist, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo (Overdose), CEO Wichtech Group, officially informed members of the State Working Committee, Party Officials and Stakeholders across the 21 LGAs of his intention to vie for the party's governorship ticket in the forthcoming APC governorship primary scheduled for June 26th, 2021. In his welcome remarks, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Chief Basil Ejidike (Ikwelle Nnabuenyi) welcomed all to the epoch making event and briefly explained the reasons behind the choice of Marble Arch Hotel for the declaration instead of the Party’s Secretariat at the Glass House. According to the Chairman, the change in venue was in deference to the good people of Awka who are currently celebrating their annual IMO AWKA FESTIVAL. He therefore appealed for the understanding of party men and women.   The Chai...

BY LEVINUS ANYANWU “May, 30 2021 was just like every other day, but little did we know that some enemies of the land has something up their sleeves. They murdered sleep, the brought sorrow, pains and forced a peaceful family into sorrowful and mournful mood…. Gulak is no more.. One can imagine how traumatic and shocking the news was to the family, friends and associates and by extension his Former colleagues, Nasarawa state, the entire North and Nigerians at large. Allah knows the best. A cursory look at the Scenes that played out behind the scenes before his murder the PLAYERS and Roles Rochas Anayo Okorocha got in touch with Gulak and made some very uncomfortable statement and I quote ” For what you did to me, I’ll not forgive you*” on a camera look; could this be as a result of Gulak’s role during and after APC primaries that produced Imo current governor? Or is there any other thing aside the above? Let’s concern ourselves with His roles in the APC primary elections in Imo. Recall,...

The Catholic church has banned Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), from commenting on partisan politics. In a letter to Mbaka, a copy of which was obtained by TheCable, Callistus Onaga, Catholic bishop of Enugu diocese, also converted the adoration ministry to chaplaincy. Unlike in the past where Mbaka solely oversees the activities of the ministry as its spiritual director, making it chaplaincy brings it under the control of the Enugu diocese and gives the bishop the power to appoint a chaplain to oversee its operations. Although the bishop said Mbaka still leads the chaplaincy, he added that he (bishop) can appoint any ministerial officer “to assist the chaplains to oversee the pastoral activities of the ministry.” “There shall be no partisan politics either by way of active engagement or by prophetic naming of candidates for position of power,” he said. The letter, which is dated June 3, contains the diocesan directives and guidelines for th...

The Nigerian government suspended all Twitter operations in the country on Friday.  Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Nigerian minister of information and culture, said the decision stemmed from citizens using the platform for activities "capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence," according to a press release.  The move follows Twitter's decision to remove a post by Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish those responsible for recent attacks on electoral offices and police stations, and referenced the country's 1960s civil war that killed 1 million people, Reuters reported. "Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand," Buhari said in a tweet before Twitter removed the post for violating its "abusive behavior" policy. Nigerian citizens have been protesting against the country's Special Anti-Robbery Squad police unit, known as SARS, since lat...

...a tale of planted seed of destabilization! The unpleasant security challenges facing Imo State in this present day living, has been cashed in on my agents of darkness in human form. They seek to disconnect the people from the truth just so as to win their sympathy. Lies are spreading like wild fire catalyzed with combustible liquid.  In the end, the aim lies on extreme political vendetta for an actualization of selfish desire but, in the beginning little did the cheering masses knew that casualties of war dominate on the side of civilians. Albeit, the tactical attack on security agencies and agents has kept the outcome on the opposite in this case of Imo but quite unfortunate, the mongers are having a swell day selling false news to susceptible members of the public. Ever since the heightened security challenge in the state, the media has been inundated with stories of innocent civilian bodies flooding the Morgue of Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri. These random messages purp...

Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) frontline aspirant has held what can be said to be a ground breaking town hall meeting with PDP delegates and state leaders ahead of the November 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, as he hit a new high with the town hall meeting of party leaders at the state, local government, and ward levels.  The well-attended event which was held at Emmaus House, Awka, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, attracted PDP State Executive Committee members, LG Chairmen and Executives, PDP Statutory Delegates, Ward Chairman, and Vice-Chairmen.  While speaking to party leaders and kingmakers in the PDP, Mr Ozigbo described the forthcoming gubernatorial election as 'an opportunity to decide their destinies'. Ozigbo, who is the immediate Past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, stated that Anambra's election is highly crucial and demands a different approach from previous elections.  "This is not an election to be treated with laxi...

....... SAYS CALL FOR UZODINMA's  RESIGNATION FRIVOLOUS, LAUGHABLE AND DELUSIONARY. The All Progressive Congress in Imo state in a press release made avaliable this evening to Nigerian Notch, says that the opposition political party in the state, the PDP has vindicated the earlier position of Governor Uzodinma on the issue of insecurity in the state.  The chairman of APC in Imo state, Prince Marcillinus O Nlemigbo in the release however stated that "The attention of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Imo State chapter has been drawn to the press release of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) Imo State, being a text of their press conference held today June 3, 2021 wherein they amongst other things called for the resignation of the Executive  governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, following the current security situation in the state. Nlemigbo however said that after preliminary analysis of the said press statement which is curre...

The Federal Government has berated Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, over his fake tweet and misinformation on the death of the Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Godswill Obioma. Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission had tweeted that Obioma was strangled to death contrary to what the family of the deceased said. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Odinkalu acted irresponsibly by the fake tweet. “Without mincing words, the action of Prof. Odinkalu is the height of irresponsibility that is at variance with someone of his pedigree. “His tweet is a clear case of fake news that could have caused a breach of public peace. “And I am told this is not the first time he is engaging in this kind of action, just like many others like him,   “It was reported that the police, the family and NECO confirmed that Obioma died after a brief illness, contra...

Recent events in Imo State should raise some posers to the minds of everyone. By every ramification, Imo people are peace-loving and hardworking. The people are also not known for any form of violent extremism.  Suddenly, the peace of the state was just broken in one fell swoop. It is good to know where the rain began beating us, and why we have sunk so deeply into the murky pool of violence. The new sites of violence now are security formations most of which are basically manned by Ndi-Igbo themselves. In this orgy of violence, our people are exterminated, and scores rendered fatherless and even homeless.  Now, whenever any act of violence is perpetrated, the economy suffers as business premises around the areas also receive the bite of insecurity.  Out of desperation, some seen and unseen forces in the state are trumping up conspiracy theories aimed at denigrating the government of the state.  These forces cook up narratives that deconstruct the many notable effort...

The police in Zaria has foiled an attempt to kidnap the Catholic Bishop of Zaria. In a press release made avaliable to media House, the force PRO Frank Mba stated that, following the ongoing implementation of a robust security action plan to protect citizens and critical national infrastructure across the country, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, have arrested a total of eighty-four (84) notorious criminal suspects within the past one month. A total of forty-five (45) sophisticated firearms and ammunition including 1-GPMG, 1-LAR rifle, 17-AK47 rifles, 2-Pump Action rifles, 20- locally fabricated firearms, 3-single barrel guns, 9899- live ammunition of different calibres, 80-fake vehicle number plates, 1- Toyota Camry with Reg. No. AA 792 HJA and 1-Toyota Corolla LE with Reg. No. QAP 622 AA, were recovered from the suspects in the operations.     The suspects he said, were arrested for their involvement in series of violent crimes including terrorism, banditry, kidn...

Ketron Investment Limited, a Nigerian company owned by a group of local investors led by property firm Persianas Investment Ltd, has completed the acquisition of Shoprite Holdings Limited. With the acquisition, Shoprite, Africa’s largest food retailer, has completed exiting the Nigerians market 16 years after it opened its first outlet. Ketron in a statement said Shoprite is changing its strategy “from an ownership model to a franchise model. The acquisition has been approved by Nigeria’s federal competition and consumer protection commission. “We look forward to building an even stronger company following our acquisition,” said Tayo Amusan, Ketron’s chairman. Shoprite, which operates 2,843 supermarkets in 15 countries, serving 35 million customers in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, has struggled with supply-chain disruptions and repatriation of funds – both familiar problems to foreign businesses in the Nigerian market. In August 2020, Shoprite hinted that its business in Nigeria...

Imo state government has reacted to the supposed mischief been schemed by former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani Kayode. In a statement made available to Nigerian Notch by the Chief Press Secretary to Senator Hope Uzodinma, where he lambasted the former minister who he said wants to use the unfortunate incident of Ahmed Gulak's death to his own advantage.  The statement reads thus "From the look of things, it seems former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode wants to make capital of the unfortunate gruesome murder of former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak in Imo State weekend." Gulak was killed on Sunday morning around Ngor Okpala on his way to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo airport The statement further stated that, the Police have risen to the occasion, killing some members of the IPOB/ ESN they said were behind Gulak's  murder and progressing positively in their investigation on the matter to unravel others. ...

Imo is a state known for her serene and peaceful environment where many people of different works of life troupes in to cool off the stress as a result of Hustles and Bustles especially during the weekends.  Owerri her capital city is known as a home for all where all that matters to the inhabitants are how to make ends meet. People from far and near sees Owerri as the only place one can be and enjoy while having some positive engagements.  The hospitality level of the state can't be compared to any other state in Nigeria. Many state became jittery and their leaders embarked on replicating a mini Owerri in their respective states thus making IMO a model to look up to. Politically, Imo state is rated among the top four (4) of most politically advanced and informed state, the reason is not far fetched because it can be traced to the level of exposure of her citizens in different spheres of life.  Recall, aside Ekiti state, Imo is the only state with the highest number of pr...

The Federal Government says the security challenges facing the country are ephemeral and will not define the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of a documentary showcasing the achievements of Buhari’s administration. “I want to state emphatically that while more attention has been given, especially in recent times to the security challenges facing our country, those challenges are fleeting and will not define the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari. “Let me say that President Buhari’s legacy is assured, and will be defined by his massive achievements in office. “The roads, rails, bridges, mass housing, port development, improvement in power supply and other massive infrastructural development will last for generations to come and will help propel economic growth and national development,’’ he said The minister reiterated that never in the history of the country had any...

U.S. President, Joe Biden, has honoured 7, 036 Americans who died fighting in the nation’s service. Biden, in his speech to commemorate the Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, said America’s fallen heroes defended “vital, beating heart of our nation.’’ The U.S. president said walking though Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery; he was reminded of the cost of war.   “Hundreds of graves are here from recent conflicts. Hundreds of patriots gave their all … each of them leaving behind a family who live with their pain in their absence every single day. “I want to assure each of those families – we will never forget what you gave to our country. We will never fail to honour your sacrifice.”   Biden said as vice president, he began to carry with him in his pocket the number of troops who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, he said, that number stands at 7,036. “7,036 fallen angels who have lost their lives in these conflicts and on this Memorial Day, we ho...

Senate President Ahmed Lawan and the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume, have urged communities to monitor constituency projects. Lawan and Akume made the call when they joined other stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja, to brainstorm on ways to ensure adequate monitoring, verification and evaluation of constituency projects nationwide. Akume said the interactive forum was aimed at briefing stakeholders of the critical roles expected from MDAs.   He added that if constituency projects were properly executed by the various representatives, it would go a long way to reduce poverty, unemployment among others in Nigeria. Akume explained that the meeting will provide guidelines on effective monitoring, evaluation and verification for payment of zonal intervention/constituency projects across the country.   According to him, his ministry, being saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of zonal projects among othe...

  The House of Representatives on Tuesday gave the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation/reconstruction project May, 2022 ultimatum to complete both the road and bridges. The House of Representatives Committee on Works, led by its Chairman,  Alhaji Abubakar Kabir, gave the deadline during an oversight of roads in Lagos and the South West on Tuesday. The lawmakers decried the delay in the completion of the project, which started in 2013 but promised to resolve the funding issues slowing down the project. The lawmakers insisted that the bridges added to the original road project in 2018 must also be completed by 2022. The committee’s chairman said the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was one of the projects funded through the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and assured of increased funding. Kabir said the contractors had achieved significant progress to be able to meet the completion deadline because the Buhari rigime was exploring various funding ...

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has asked the Federal Government to recognize May 30 as a national public holiday. The group made the call while reacting to the compliance level of the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. OYC noted that the order witnessed the highest level of compliance ever. Speaking through a statement by its President-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the OYC said the compliance level was another indication that the people were feeling so sidelined and rejected by the current federal government. Okwu said "the Government has had several opportunities to win back the confidence of Ndigbo but it threw it away. One of such opportunities was the appointment of Army Chief, which the Government could have used to right wrongs but it never did. "However, we call on the Buhari Government to declare May 30th as a national public holiday in honour of over 5 million Biafrans killed during the civil war.  "Since the Government re...

The unexpected victory of Chelsea over Manchester City in Saturday's final of the European Champions League has exposed the power in self-belief which Nigerians can imbibe to surmount their current challenges, Valentine Ozigbo, a Nigerian business mogul and international sports promoter has said.  Last Saturday, May 29, 2021, Chelsea defied expectations to inflict a third consecutive defeat on their more undaunting opponent, Manchester City, to win this year's Champions League, the final of which took place in Porto, Portugal. Speaking on the significance of Chelsea's victory, Mr Ozigbo, the frontrunner on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, in the upcoming November gubernatorial poll, said it showed that with determination and self-belief, anyone could decide their destiny. Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, said it was particularly applicable to the Nigerian situation where hardship occasioned by incompetent and...

On 30/5/2021 Sequel to the killing of Ahmed Gulak by Some criminals who suddenly came out to block the Imo Airport road at Obiangwu Junction at Ngor~okpala LGA of Imo state.  The Driver of the Vehicle conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport was immediately interviewed and he described the Vehicles the Hoodlums were using as One Toyota Camry 2005 Silver color, Toyota Sienna 1998 Model Gold Color, Toyota Hilux White color, Lexus RX 330 Gold Color.  Police teams from the Special forces,PMF, IRT, IMO State Command Tactical Units who have all reached the Scene of the killing were directed to immediately Proceed on Patrol and look for those Vehicles.  Fortunately at Afor Enyi Ogwgu junction in Same LGA the Police Teams came in contact with the Hoodlums with same Vehicles mentioned by the Driver, The Hoodlums have already confiscated a trailer loaded with Onions from the North and were busy sharing the onions to the local Population as they also took positions to Protect themselves...

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed outrage and disgust over what he called "the heinous murder of Adamawa politician Ahmed Gulak in Owerri, Imo State by yet to be identified gunmen." Reacting to the development on Sunday, the President said: "I'm repulsed by such premeditated and gruesome murder of Gulak by evil people who are determined to undermine the peace, unity and territorial integrity of our country. "Let me warn however that nobody or group of people who engages in such despicable acts should expect to go free. We will deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that such callous and criminal elements are brought to justice.” Finally, President Buhari expressed his “deep condolences to the family of the deceased, the people and government of Adamawa State as well as his friends and associates all over the country. 

  Ahmed Gulak the Former Presidential aide to Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly been assassinated yesterday in Owerri,Imo state capital. Nigerian Notch however gartherd from a close ally of the supposed slain politician, who was also his classmate, Dr Umar Adro who said " I just confirmed the sad and gruesome murder of my friend and classmate, the former special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan." According to Adro, he was killed by yet to be known gunmen in Owerri. He was a one time speaker of the Adamawa House of Assembly.  Ahmed Gulak later joined APC and was emmeshed in the controversy that rocked Imo APC as who was the right candidate of the party for the 2019 gubernatorial election.  When contacted the PPRO for Imo SP Bala Elkana said he was yet to confirm the incident, but would give an official statement later.