NIGERIAN NOTCH

Some concerned northerners on Friday in Kaduna asked the regime of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to arrest a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, or release ex-governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame in Correctional Centres over corruption charges. The group under the aegis of Concerned Northern Forum, a coalition of other organizations, also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence the prosecution of the former governor over alleged corruption. One of the leaders of the forum, and National President, Northern Nigeria Youth Forum, Alhaji Abdulsalam Kazeem, at a press conference held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, noted that they are bothered on what’s happening in Imo State because northerners are also residing in the state. The text of the press conference which was titled ‘Embezzlement of public funds: Arrest Senator Rochas Okorocha now or release Joshua Dariye and ex-governor Jolly Nyame.’ Attendees are Alhaji Kabiru Soba, President Arewa Yout...

....... Craves for Equity and Justice   Nollywood for Igbo Presidency a conglomeration of entertainers in Nigeria has once more thrown there weight behind the quest for Igbo Presidency. As stakeholders in the Nigerian socio-economic space, and a major contributor to the GDP growth of the national life of this country in the last 30 years, are however compelled by the present situation in the country, because of the recent realities of our national existence, to converge under the umbrella of Nollywood for Igbo Presidency to ensure that this dream becomes a reality. Nollywood for Igbo Presidency is non partisan national political support group, comprising of active practitioners in the Nigeria motion picture industry to get it right now. In a press release made available to Nigerian Notch Newspaper, the group said that "There motive is simply to mobilise and enlist as active practitioners and possibly as volunteers, for the singular purpose of drumming up support for the emerge...

Dr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba is an enigma personified. Dr Chuba Okadigbo used to call him " the Original Philosopher King" back in the days when he held sway as the most visible, young Igbo House of Reps legislator between 1999 - 2003 during which time he emerged the Guardian Newspaper National Legislator of the year 2001/2002.  The Okigwe South Federal Constituency and indeed the entire Okigwe had a good returns on its democratic investments for sponsoring such a firebrand egghead to the House of Representatives . Being the strongest voice in the House then, Ghali Umar N'abba made him the highly coveted House Committee Chairman on Works which enabled him see to the prompt rehabilitation of the then inpassable Anara - Oriagu - Umuahia highway among several others.  For most Okigwe and Imo elites, the greatest achievement of this quintessential silent achiever is  human capital development. No Okigwe politician, living or dead can equate him when it comes to brokering federal j...

By Valentine Ozigbo Saturday, February 27, 2021, was a solemn day for my wife and me. The previous day, we received news of the passing of Chief Uche Ezechukwu, a journalism heavyweight and a man I regarded as my mentor and elder brother.  Ezechukwu, known as Onwukwube Ndigbo, was just about everything anybody in the media world today would want to be. He was a celebrated author, a widely-read columnist, a highly sought-after speechwriter, a fearless journalist, and a multi-dimensional media entrepreneur. He served in various enviable positions, including as personal press secretary to General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaign spokesperson in 2003, member of the editorial boards of The Sun Newspaper and Authority. Also, he was instrumental in the founding of several newspapers in Nigeria, including Leadership.  A polyglot, Chief Ezechukwu distinguished himself right from his youth. He studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he ma...

Nnewi North LGA Chapter of the PDP last Saturday, enjoyed peace once more as a new chairman through consensus emerged after a long battle on who takes over from the late Chairman who died last year.       Bringing peace to the PDP family in Nnewi was one of the first task by Chief Olisa Metuh, after he wa released from incarnation. Before his timely intervention, PDP Nnewi was also almost broke into two factions, but all thanks for intervention over the weekend. This he has done as a stakeholder of the PDP who is also from Nnewi North. After a thorough meeting of PDP stakeholders in Nnewi,   Nonso Amachukwu was unanimously adopted to take charge of PDP Nnewi North pending when a congress is held, which will likely be after the guber election in the state   With, PDP unanimously resolving her leadership problem in Nnewi North, it is a clear indication that Chief Olisa Metu’s absence dealt a heavy blow to the fortunes of PDP in the state, before now. The...

Valentine Ozigbo, the frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant, for the 6th November Anambra State gubernatorial election, has advised on what he described as the "non-negotiable steps and factors" the party's stakeholders should take and consider, before throwing their weight behind a flagbearer. Mr Ozigbo made the assertion on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, when he attended a stakeholder's meeting of the South-East PDP held at the Enugu State Government House.  Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, submitted that the party stakeholders should do everything legally possible to ensure a free and fair primary election. He also maintained that the ancillary activities leading up to the primary are just as important.  He called for the party to engage in broad consultations among the party leadership and other relevant stakeholders like the National Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, the Nigerian Police to ensure that the PDP ...

A High Court in Owerri Imo State has struck out an application by Chinyere Amuchinwa (née Igwegbe), against the hearing of Chief Ohakim’s fundamental rights case against her and the Nigeria Police Force. In the application, Lady Amuchinwa, who accused Chief Ohakim of some wrongdoings for which Ohakim had sued her, applied to the court to refer Ohakim’s case against her from the High Court to the Court of Appeal. The originating case bears Suit No HOW/717/2020. Ms Amuchinwa, in her application, argued that under the constitution, the High Court could refer a case concerning an issue of interpretation and application of the constitution.  However, Barr Aloy Ejimakor, the counsel to Chief Ohakim, argued that the case before the court concerned enforcement of fundamental rights, and not the interpretation and application of the constitution. The presiding judge, Justice I.G. Chukwunyere, upheld Ejimakor’s arguments and ruled that, “This application is pre-emotive and is therefore refus...

  The long-awaited AstraZeneca – Oxford Covid-19 vaccines have arrived Nigeria. The vaccines arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport, Abuja around noon on Tuesday, onboard an Emirates airline. At the airport to receive the vaccines were the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Secretary General to the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha. Also present were the Minister for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Director General, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu among others.

...As OPOCA Commences Ex-Governor's Recall Process  The recall of the former governor of Imo State and senator representing Orlu Senatorial District (Imo West), Senator Rochas Okorocha, has been endorsed by Orlu Zone stakeholders comprising the traditional rulers, Council of Elders and 12 Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairmen from Orlu Zone. Recall that OPOCA, an apex political body in Orlu Zone has last week slammed a 48-hour ultimatum to Okorocha to apologise to Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who is also a prominent son of Orlu Zone and Ndi Imo for "shamefully leading thugs and his domestic hoodlums to unseal a property known as Royal Spring Palm Estate located along Akachi Road, Owerri, purportedly owned by his wife that was hitherto sealed by the State Government following a gazetted White Paper emanating from a Judicial Panel of Inquiry".  But, Okorocha, appears to have dismissed the ultimatum as he neither apologised to Gov. Uzodimma nor to Imo peo...

Valentine Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, on Saturday, February 27, 2021, commiserated with the family of late Bishop (Dr) Arthur Nwachukwu, a celebrated clergyman who was the founder and Bishop of Rhema Deliverance Mission International. Bishop Nwachukwu passed away at the age of 78.  During the condolence visit to the Nwachukwu's at their family home in Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr Ozigbo eulogized the late Bishop, describing him as "a gospel legend". "If you consider what the late Bishop Nwachukwu has achieved in this world, you can't but pay homage," the respected business leader and philanthropist said. "I am confident that Bishop's legacy of leadership and service to humanity will continue for generations to come. He was a gospel legend who has left an indelible mark in the history of Nigeria and Africa," Ozigbo added.  Ozigbo consoled the bereaved family and encouraged them...