NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has condemned the morning attack at the Ogbaru Local Government Area Headquarters Secretariat by armed arsonists. The attack, which resulted in the destruction of four patrol vehicles belonging to the vigilantes, has been described as an act of cowardice. Notably, there were no casualties. The police public relations officer SP Ikenga Tochukwu in a press release in Awka stressed that, preliminary information indicates that the assailants, arriving in large numbers on motorcycles and a vehicle, began shooting indiscriminately. However, they faced strong resistance from the Vigilante Operatives until the police response team arrived. Due to the superior firepower of the security operatives, the gunmen fled the scene. Unfortunately, four operational vehicles of the security operatives were engulfed in flames and severely damaged. In response to this incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in ch...

Kenechukwu Ofomah Awka All is now set for the first-ever Wazobia Cultural Fiesta and Talent Hunt being put together by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Anambra State. This was revealed during a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Commissioner for Youths, Mr Patrick Aghamba, by the State NYCN Council, led by the State Chairman, Ambassador Comrade Obi Emeka Chukwudi, to garner the Ministry’s endorsement and partnership towards the event. The Wazobia Cultural Fiesta and Talent Hunt initiative is in line with the vision of the Chukwuma Soludo administration to promote Anambra as a safe haven for creative ventures. It also aims to promote the diverse cultural values and endowments of the various people of Nigeria, while encouraging unity and patriotism among the young people. The event is billed to happen on the 27th of July, 2024. Speaking during the visit, the State NYCN Chairman, Ambassador Comrade Obi Emeka Chukwudi, said the initiative is part of the Council’s a...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The traditional ruler of Umueri community in Anambra-east Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Majesty Igwe Sir Bennett Izuchukwu Emeka, has said that Anambra-North senatorial zone of the state is complaining of neglect while critical infrastructures are being distributed to other zones of the state by the current administration.  Igwe Emeka who spoke exclusively with this journalist at the state assembly complex Awka shortly after the 8th assembly one year anniversary celebration on Wednesday, advised members of the 8th legislature to make laws that would help Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo distribute infrastructure equitably across the state so that no region or senatorial zone will feel deprived or neglected.  He said, " My royal advise to the lawmakers is to first and foremost maintain peace and tranquility in Anambra State.  Then secondly, they should be able to guide the governor by making laws that will help ...

The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described as unacceptable the proposal to create Orlu State out of the present Imo State.  It could be recalled that the bill, sponsored by Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, member representing Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has already passed first reading.  But addressing journalists in Enugu on Thursday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike urged the National Assembly to jettison any plan to create Orlu State.  Okwu, who described it as an invitation to chaos in the South-East, said it negates the spirit of equity and justice.  He said whereas the South-East was desirous of an additional state to be at par with other regions, the proponents of Orlu State were championing a selfish and divisive agenda, which would only worsen the cries of marginalisation in the zone.  According to him, “the...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The lawmaker representing Aguata 2 State Constituency in the 8th legislature of Anambra State and House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health Hon. Tony Ifedilichukwu Muobike says the 8th assembly has surpassed the achievements of previous assemblies in just one year.  Muobike who spoke exclusively with this journalist in his office at the assembly complex Awka, noted that with the vibrant, focussed and result-oriented leadership of Rt.Hon. Somtochukwu Nkemakonam Udeze, the 8th assembly has been able to pass 11 bills into law in just one year and the laws, according to him, have been assented to by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.  Muobike said the 8 assembly is a composition of thorough-bred legislators who in the last one year have ensured quality representation of their various constituencies, vibrant lawmaking as well as diligently executed oversight duties through various committees of the House of Assembly.  The lawmake...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  Members of Anambra State Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF) have appealed to the State Government to sustain the presence of Ocha Brigade at the Ifite -Aroma park inorder to discourage the blocking of roads. The members of the group also commended the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade Mr. Celestine Anere for prompt response to their demands of decongesting the roads to ward off miscreants in the name of Keke drivers. They prayed that the continuous presence of the Ocha Brigade will help in giving Aroma the status of third arm zone of the state. According to the group, ifite-Aroma junction is the heart of the state capital and the state must do every thing to maintain sanity among the operators of Keke in the state. Speaking to our correspondent,the coordinator of Keke drivers in Anambra State Comrade Osita Obi commended the MD of Ocha Brigade for his magnanimity in responding to the challenges of the drivers by sending his men to clear the area of t...

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has commended the Anambra State Government and the State House of Assembly members, as His Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo CFR signs into law a 21 years jail term,with no option of fine on any person found culpable of cult-related activities today the 11/6/2024.  In a press release made available to Nigerian Notch, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu said that the CP, applauded, the approval for legal confinement of six months or the option to pay half a million naira on anyone harassing innocent individuals to obtain illegal tolls, illegal scalpers, or any related activities in the State. The CP however stressed that these developments shall further re-echo the campaign and stand against touting and cultism, especially the Police advocacy program; and Campaign Against Cultism and other related vices He said that POCAVCO, a program targeted to sensitize the youths on th...

There is imminent loss of electricity distribution in the South East as the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, today without notification locked out the staff of the company in Enugu, south east Nigeria for reasons that are yey to ascertained at the moment. This is so, because the management of the company through it's Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh explained in a press release issued to this medium.  He said that "On arriving for work this morning, we were surprised to meet our Corporate Head Office sealed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA)." "This development is strange because there was no notice of any sort by the agency to our organisation." "We were informed by the Security Men on duty that in the early hours of today (Tuesday), at about 1.53am, a group of men came and locked up the gates, claiming that the State Governor directed the action." "Our Abakpa, Awkunanaw, and Ogui D...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police have declared that there will be no protest whatsoever in the state on June 12 declared as Democracy Day in the country.  The Police Commissioner CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has directed all law-abiding citizens in the state to go about their daily lawful businesses and disregard threats of planned protest to truncate Democracy Day celebration in the state.  A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga reads, " The Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam urges Ndi Anambra and residents alike to dissociate themselves from any act that threatens our public peace and national unity and reiterates that the Command shall live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons. This affirmation is given after ...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka Petty traders selling fruits, vegetables and other related items by the roadside in Awka heaved a sigh of relief as Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo commissioned 50 unit free shops known as Solution Arena built by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) along Club Road Awka last weekend.  The commissioning of the multi-million naira project marked the end of street trading in the capital city as some of the traders who were present at the commissioning ceremony testified that the 50 unit free shops were a laudable and commendable initiative by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) as it would go a long way to alleviate their sufferings as well as eradicate menace associated with trading along the roads.  Mrs. Ifeoma Nwadimma who sells vegetables, confirmed to this journalist that hawking her wares hasn't helped her but the construction of the Solution Arena by ACTDA would help her find a more permanen...

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has distanced itself from a planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood.  This is also as the Igbo group urged the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate during the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi to accept the outcome of the polls and move on.  A group, South Unity Youth Coalition, had announced a mass protest on June 12, Democracy Day, to demand the removal of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The coalition believes that Professor Yakubu’s leadership has severely compromised the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process. On his part, Obi had on Saturday while reacting to South-Africa's presidential election, said the last general election was plagued with fraud and widespread irregularities. However, in a statement by Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the National Pre...

Senator  Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah CON, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and the Chairman Ad-hoc Committee, investigating the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Projects of Nigerian Refineries, has responded to Mr. Chinedu Okoli (aka Flavour Nabania)'s recent statement regarding his decision to hold his father's burial in Enugu due to insecurity in his hometown, Umunze, Orumba South LGA, Anambra State. In a press release made available to Nigerian Notch by Kamen Chuks Ogbonna, Special Adviser Media and Strategic Communications to Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah (CON), stated that Senator Ubah, would have secured Orumba and the entire Anambra South senatorial district if the state government hadn't stopped his security initiative, despite its success in the Nnewi Pilot program.  He stressed that his security initiative launched in 2023, aimed at providing a comprehensive security coverage for Anambra South senatorial district. Following its success in Nnewi...

BY  RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka  From investigations, it is indicative that mere anarchy has been loosed upon Nnobi community in Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State as two quarters, Ebenesi and Awuda are currently enmeshed in supremacy battle over who lords it on the other.  While accusing fingers point in the direction of Ebenesi quarter as secretly plotting to dethrone His Royal Majesty Igwe Nick Obi over alleged inordinate ambitions of some dramatis personae who are said to be endlessly and selfishly interested to become the Igwe even when the incumbent traditional ruler is still alive, hale and hearty.  The President-General Nnobi Welfare Organization (NWO) Barr. Dominic Savio Okpala, on the other hand, held that Awuda quarter which is the last in the order of seniority, has always constituted a cog in the community's wheel of progress.  Okpala who spoke exclusively with this journalist, opined that Awuda always exhibited superiori...

•‘I didn’t know I will come out of detention in Kebbi alive’ •Says Tinubu not exhibiting the values of democracy •‘Beko and I warned Saro-Wiwa not to return to PH’ The momentous events that shaped the Nigeria we know today, the June 12 presidential election, of 1993 stands out for good and not for worse or bad. The significance it embodies accounts for why the event still resonates 31 years later. Reflecting on the import of the poll, which was won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, Prof Odion Akhaine, who was detained for fighting for the revalidation of the election, laments that the ethos of June 12 is not being displayed by the current crop of leaders in Nigeria. He also shares his June 12 story, which explains the price some patriots paid to birth democracy in the country. Within the context of the significance June 12 has assumed in Nigeria’s history, do you think June 12 has been substantially immortalised? I think the best way to imortalise June 12 is to actually practic...