NIGERIAN NOTCH

Obowo Decides Group- An independent research think-tank group based in Nigeria has concluded  arrangements for LIVE DEBATE for Imo State House of Assembly  Candidates. According to the Press Release made available to Newsmen by Obowo Decides Organizing Secretary; Deacon Chuka Obaego. It states as follows; "Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) Imo State Chapter in Partnership with International Human Rights Commission IHRC is organizing a Debate for  Imo State House of Assembly Candidates In Obowo State Constituency. "OBOWO DECIDES LIVE DEBATE would be the first of it's kind in the history of Obowo Politics.  We are thrilled at the response of the electorates as we head into the electoral year" “We are glad to launch OBOWO DECIDES, a Non Governmental, non-profit and independent research think-tank. We are conducting opinion polls on matters of public policy, like public engagement and participation in democratic exercise,”  He avarred  t...

The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has hailed the Federal High Court ruling which vacated the interim forfeiture order against a former Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. It could be recalled that Justice Inyang Ekwo had while vacating the order, said the Court discovered that it was fraudulently obtained by the EFCC.  Reacting, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the EFCC should hide its face in shame.  He said the latest order of the court was a vindication of its earlier stand that the EFCC was carrying out a vendetta on Ekweremadu merely because he is an Igbo man.  “How else can one explain a situation where the same EFCC that wrote the United Kingdom Court against the release of Ekweremadu, sneaked into a Federal High Court in Nigeria and asked the lawmaker to show why his properties should not be forfeited.  “It was the heig...

The National Peace Commission (NPC) yesterday subjected presidential candidates and their political parties to fresh commitment to the peace pact they earlier signed ahead of the polls. This is just as co-chairman of the peace committee and former head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, implored the 18 presidential candidates to stop overheating the polity and causing tension in the country. The former Nigerian leader stated this yesterday during a one-day roundtable meeting of the peace committee with the leadership of the nation’s 18 registered political parties and their presidential candidates. Abdulsalami had on Wednesday told politicians to restrain from their utterances in order not to incite violence in the coming general elections. Abdulsalami who spoke in Kano where eight political parties and their candidates signed a peace accord noted that Nigerians are disturbed over the likely outcome of the forthcoming 2023 general elections due to their fear that the polls might be in...

... CALL FOR DISBANDMENT OF EBUBEAGU SECURITY OUTFIT, DIVERSIONARY, IRRESPONSIBLE AND ILLOGICAL The All Progressive Congress in Imo has frowned at PDP's call for a state of emergency in Imo state as unpatriotic, and the disbanding of Ebube Agu Security outfit as irresponsible. The All Progressive Congress in a press release made available to this newspaper on Friday (yesterday) stated that it's attention has been drawn to a press statement credited to the wobbling, disoriented and unstable opposition People's Democratic Party, PDP,  in the state, calling for the declaration of A state of emergency in Imo and immediate disbandment of the EBUBEAGU SECURITY OUTFIT, following the unfortunate and regrettable incident that took place at the residence of the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ideato North/ Ideato South Federal Constituency, Mr. Ugo Ugochinyere. The party in its press conference under reference,  as usual,  made other irresponsible, careless and thoughtle...

There are clear indications that the efforts being made by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) in curbing activities of vandals across its network through the effective engagement of its stakeholders, is yielding the desired result. This is evident as most communities are now more vigilant in protecting the electricity installations within their domain. The Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, who affirmed this today in Enugu, commended the efforts of the various vigilante groups in heeding to the call by EEDC to ensure that activities of vandals is reduced drastically. He acknowledged that there is no way EEDC can take on the fight against vandals all by itself, which is why it is depending on its stakeholders for collaboration and support. According to Ezeh, yesterday at Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Central Vigilante apprehended a 27-year-old vandal suspect identified as Chidiebere Agbalusi, a native of Awo village in...

There are indications that as the 2023 general election inches closer, elders from the northern part of the country are in a fix over their choice among the presidential candidates. The presidential poll billed to take place on February 25, 2023 has Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the four leading candidates Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is the reason why the elders are yet to announce their choice among the presidential hopefuls. The group had supported President Muhammadu Buhari to win the 2015 election but later worked against his reelection in 2019. NEF had in September last year said it would subject candidates of various political parties seeking northern votes to a rigorous interrogation exercise until they are convinced about who has the capacity to fix the country. Spokesman of the forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ah...

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians to use their votes wisely and elect good leaders in the forthcoming general election scheduled for February and March this year. The Sultan gave the advice when he addressed participants at the 29th regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources in Sokoto. His Eminence regretted that many negative things were being said about Sokoto and the North in terms of the security situation. “You who are here in Sokoto are living witness that the state is peaceful, with a very quiet and stable environment. Sokoto State is home to all; we don’t have non-indigenes, but rather resident communities. We are One Big Family. “Let’s put ethnicity aside if we want our country Nigeria to progress as a nation. Nigeria is far better than many countries of the world in terms of security. “Resident communities in Sokoto are not paying school fees for their wards in all public schools across the state. “God has adequate reasons ...

By Christian ABURIME Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has urged the United States Consul to partner the state on development of export emporium. Governor Soludo made the call when the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Mr Stevens Will paid him courtesy visit at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia. According to the Governor who addressed the media shortly after a closed door session with his visitor, said their discussion centered on opportunities which abound in trade investment and technology innovations. "Nigeria and the US have enjoyed very long beneficial relationship, spanning decades. "We reviewed the kind of partnerships and programmes with Nigeria and state in particular and for us to explore further areas of corporation, especially in the areas of trade and investment. "We had fruitful conversations around those areas of technology and innovation. We are developing an export emporium, to which we need a strong partnersh...

  Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has warmly congratulated Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCVO, CFR, CON (Adazie Obosi), former Commonwealth Secretary General who clocked ninety (90) years of age today, January 18, 2023. Governor Soludo in his congratulatory message described Chief Emeka Anyaoku as an astute and experienced diplomat who has demonstrated immense capacity to duty with outstanding achievements worthy of commendation. The Governor noted that attaining the age of 90 years was worthy of celebration and deserving of immense gratitude to God Almighty for His grace and protection. He added that the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth has remained a reliable and dutiful man who has meritoriously served both at the global stage, the nation and his immediate community. Governor Soludo further recalled the various developmental programmes executed during his tenure as the Commonwealth helmsman, particularly the exceptional roles he played in the...

In what can be described as the mother of all rallies pulled by the APC women in the Southeast is the APC South East women Presidential rally for the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima which was held in Owerri, the Imo State capital today which had in attendance the First Lady of Imo State and Coordinator, Southeast Tinubu/Shettima women campaign team, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma, Sen. Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, Hajia Nana Shettima, APC women leader, Mrs. Betty Edu and the host of other personalities across the zone and Nigeria. Addressing the mammoth crowd of women, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma recounted that the Southeast women had gathered in their numbers in October last year when they held a One Million rally for Tinubu/Shettima and today’s presidential rally expresses the desires of Southeast women that in APC and her presidential candidate, Southeast will be carried along in governance at the centre. She reinstated that th...

  ...the violence in Imo and Nigeria is unimaginable, let's be peaceful and not worsen it All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri zone) in the February 25th National Assembly election Mr Chyma Anthony has made it abundantly clear to all, that neither physical attacks nor kidnap attempts on his supporters could stop his victory at the polls or his unwaivering commitment to peace and orderliness. Chyma Anthony popularly known as Odiuko was reacting to a recent attack and attempted kidnap on two of his supporters who were pasting his campaign at Orji Flyover in Owerri last week. The Rights Activist and Development expert told journalists that two of his supporters were at Orji Flyover to paste his campaign posters over the weekend when armed men in vehicle attempted to pick them up, leading to the fleeing of one of them. According to Chyma Anthony, "the second person having bundles of his posters was unfortunate, as he was eventua...

The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the false news making the round that its operatives invaded the Central Bank of Nigeria and arrested its Governor, today 16/1/23. This is fake news and quite misleading. In a similar development, the CBN in a release this evening by Osita Nwanisobi, it's Director, of Corporate Communications stated that, the CBN Governor Emefiele has Resumed Duty After his Annual Leave It reads thus, "The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Mr. Godwin Emefiele has resumed duty after his annual vacation abroad.  Mr. Emefiele who proceeded on leave in December 2022, resumed work today, Monday, January 16, 2023.  The Governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023.  Mr. Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muham...

It could be recalled that Mbaka, who was sent to the monastery for several months, is back to his Adoration Ministry, Enugu.  In a statement made to journalists on Monday, the National President of the youths  organisation, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said Mbaka’s return at this time was heartwarming. Okwu, however, said Mbaka’s voice was missed during the days of killings in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.  “It was a period we will never forget, with several natives gruesomely murdered by Fulani herdsmen.  The absence of Mbaka was evident; his loud voice on issues of that nature was greatly missed during that period of carnage. We know that he would have delivered humanitarian assistance to the displaced people of Eha-Amufu just like that he did during the Nimbo massacre.  “This is why we are happy that he is back; we welcome him and urge him to continue his role as the voice of millions of oppressed Nigerian people. He should continue his chari...

Security Forces in the state through a coordinated intelligence report has bursted the camp of the unknown gunmen at Akokwa, Arondizuogu after a long gun duel which resulted to the death of some of the criminals and others arrested. These criminal elements have been known to be behind several attacks in the state such as the killing of police men in Mbaise, Aba Branch in Ehime Mbano, burning down of police stations, attack and attempted kidnapping of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, abduction of Miss. P.P. Johnson, a female soldier in Okigwe and recently the attack in Akokwa that left many dead. It is obvious that these daredevil gunmen have been perpetuating their evil plans unabated until yesterday when their camp was bursted by security agencies. This is another assurance that our security operatives are leaving no stone unturned in the fight against banditry and other related activities. While it has become obvious that the activities of these non state actors are politically motivate...

In the early hours of Saturday, at Ede Oballa, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, the lifeless body of a vandal suspect was found within the space of a distribution transformer belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC). It is suspected that he was electrocuted while attempting to vandalize the distribution transformer which already had some of its cables severed. The deceased, identified as Tochukwu Onah (AKA Toshiba), an indigene of Ede-Oballa (the same community where the transformer is located), who until this tragic incident operated a barbing salon. Relaying this development known to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday, the Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, described the incident as very unfortunate, one which has cut the young man’s life short at its prime. Ezeh recalled the numerous cases of vandalism recorded by the company last year, which negatively impacted not just the quality of service to its customers, but also its revenue....