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Tag: Anambra State

  • 2023 Elections: Obi, Soludo meet in Anambra state

    2023 Elections: Obi, Soludo meet in Anambra state

    Anambra state governor, Professor Charles Soludo on Friday received the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Peter Obi visited Soludo at the Governor’s lodge in Amawbia, Anambra State, on Friday.

    The announcement was made on Soludo’s various social media handles

    The tweet reads “Today after my engagement with the YESS family, I received in audience my brother and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in a private meeting at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

    “Mr. Obi is one of the two illustrious sons of our dear state gunning to be the president of Nigeria. The other is Justice Peter Umeadi of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

    “As the governor of these great Sons of the State, I am proud of this moment in history. And wish them the best of luck.”

    According to a press statement by the Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime, on Friday, Obi, was warmly received.

    “Mr. Obi is one of the two illustrious sons of our dear state gunning to be the president of Nigeria. The other is Justice Peter Umeadi of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

    “As the governor of these great Sons of the State, I am proud of this moment in history. And wish them the best of luck.”

    Recall that Obi became the governor of Anambra state after contesting under the platform of the The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on 17th March, 2006 before leaving for PDP and subsuquently LP to pursue his presidential ambition.

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  • Police arrest suspended LG Chairman over wife’s death in Anambra

    Police arrest suspended LG Chairman over wife’s death in Anambra

    The Transition Committee Chairman of  Nnewi North local government area of Anambra State, Mbazulike Iloka, who was recently suspended over the death of his wife has been arrested by the state  Police Command in the state.

    Recall that Iloka has been fingered in the death of his wife Chidiebere who died under controversial circumstances.

    Last Friday, Iloka was suspended by the state government, pending the conclusion of an investigation into the alleged murder and to avoid any interference.

    Iloka is now being detained by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, Anambra State (SCID) in Anambra state.

    At the moment, he’s facing charges of Culpable homicide.

    Confirming the arrest, the police spokesman in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspended LG Chairman had been in the custody of the police.

    Ikenga, appealed to members of the public to apply caution, saying that the matter is being properly investigated and an autopsy will be carried out to ascertain the exact cause of Chidiebere’s death.

    His words: “He is in our custody now and we urge the members of the public to be patient as the autopsy shall prove the cause of the wife’s death. Meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing, please.”

    A source said his arrest was consequent upon a petition by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Monday and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters.

    HURIWA reportedly dragged the suspended council boss to IGP Baba over issues bordering on domestic violence.

    Upon interrogation, the embattled chairman had claimed that the deceased slumped and died while serving him food.

  • Anambra gov, Soludo suspends LG chairman over wife’s death

    Anambra gov, Soludo suspends LG chairman over wife’s death

    The Transition Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, in Anambra State, Mr Mbazulike Iloka, has been suspended by the governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, over the hazy circumstances surrounding the death of his wife, Mrs Chidiebere Iloka.

    Chidiebere was said to have collapsed and died on Aug. 7 but some people alleged that she was a victim of domestic violence.

    Mr Tony Collins Neabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, who signed the suspension letter, said Mbazulike had to be suspended to make room for an unfettered investigation of the incident.

    “Following the sad and sudden death of your wife, the late Mrs Chidiebere Iloka on Aug. 7, there has been a massive public outcry over the circumstances leading to the cause of her death, including alleged possible homicide.

    “While you are presumed innocent until the completion of the investigation, it has become imperative that you should step aside to allow for unfettered investigation.

    “Consequently, you are directed to step aside and hand over the affairs of the local council to the Head of Local Government Administration not later than Aug. 12, until further notice,” it stated.

    Mazulike was sworn in alongside 20 other transition committee chairmen on Aug. 2.

  • Disaster averted after gas leakage spread panic across Onitsha

    Disaster averted after gas leakage spread panic across Onitsha

    Traders at the popular Building Materials market in Onitsha, Anambra, have lauded the Anambra State fire service for prompt response in tackling a possible outbreak of fire from gas leakage in the area.

    The traders made the commendation while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday on the averted incident in Onitsha.

    A trader, Mr Donatus Odozia, said the prompt intervention of the state fire service was the saving grace to what happened in Onitsha on Tuesday.

    According to him, if not for the prompt intervention of the state fire service, I don’t know what would have happened yesterday. They were the saving grace.

    “The loss of lives and property would have been so huge on the state and the people of this area. Thank God the gas leakage did not ignite to fire.

    “I really want to appreciate them for the adequate response to what could have been a very ugly incident yesterday,” he said.

    A vulcanizer, Mr Alex Nonso, lauded the effect of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra Command for mobilizing its team quickly to the scene of the incident .

    “First and foremost, we have God Almighty to thank for saving us all here yesterday, if not for God, we would have been counting our losses.

    “The road safety immediately started diverting vehicles to other routes and controlling the ones here, and they towed the tanker away from here for free vehicular movement,”.

    Another trader, Mrs Barbara Nwanyinkwo, said that God at every point in time protect His children, thanking God the incident did not happen at night.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FRSC command in the state, Mrs Margaret Onabe, while speaking on the incident, said that FRSC personnel were on ground when the incident happened and they immediately diverted vehicles to other routes.

    On his part, the state Fire Chief, Anambra Fire Service, Mr Martin Agbili, warned residents to always avert such areas when such situations arise, saying that they would definitely deployed personnel to intervene in the situation.

    “My advice to the people is to immediately evaluate the premises when such incidents happen, we are trained personnel, they are not.

  • BREAKING: Armed men abduct Anambra cleric

    BREAKING: Armed men abduct Anambra cleric

    Some yet-to-be identified armed men have abducted the Leader-General of All Christian Practical Praying Band, Elder Dan Nwokolo.

    The hoodlums, TheNewsGuru gathered, invaded the residence of the cleric in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State and abducted him after a midnight prayer session on Thursday.

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    A source in the community said the suspected kidnappers picked the cleric to an unknown destination.

    The source said no contact has been established with the man.

    The state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, did not confirm the incident as calls and text messages to his phone line for reaction, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

  • “I’ll not abandon Nigeria, if war breaks out” – Peter Obi

    “I’ll not abandon Nigeria, if war breaks out” – Peter Obi

    Labour party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he would not abandon Nigeria if war breaks out in the country.

     

    According to Obi, he would prefer to die in Nigeria than be a free man in another country.

     

    He revealed this during a virtual interactive session with more than 1,000 members of his foremost support group, the Peter Obi Support Network.

     

    Obi, who is aspiring to be Nigeria’s next President, pointed out that he has a focus on Nigeria despite having resided in the UK for over 10 years.

     

    The Labour Party Presidential candidate noted that he does not need the citizenship or residence rights of any other country because Nigeria remains his interest.

    Obi
    Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi

     

    In his words: “When I left the UK after residing there for over 10 years, I returned everything that belonged to them.

     

    “I have a singular focus on Nigeria, and I do not think I need the citizenship or residence rights of any other country when I haven’t finished exploiting my nature-given rights and privileges as a Nigerian.

     

    “If I am out of Nigeria today and there is a war in Nigeria, I will find a way to return to Nigeria because I will rather die in my country, Nigeria, than live free in another man’s country.”

     

    Obi appealed to Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to the country’s development.

     

    The Nigerian businessman and politician served as Governor of Anambra from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and from June 2007 to March 2014.

     

    In May 2022, he became the Labour Party nominee for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election.

     

    Born in Onitsha in 1961, Obi graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1984.

     

    Afterwards, he entered business and banking, eventually rising to hold several high-ranking executive positions at banks.

     

    By the early 2000s, Obi was the chairman of Fidelity Bank before leaving the position to enter politics.

     

    The aspiring president of Nigeria ran for governor in 2003, as a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

     

    After three years of legal battles, Obi was declared winner in 2006 and assumed office in March 2006.

     

    He was then impeached that November before the impeachment was overturned and he returned to office in February 2007.

     

    TheNewsguru.com recalls that Obi was removed when a new election was held in April 2007 but the judiciary intervened again and ruled that he should be allowed to complete a full four-year term.

     

    In 2010, he won re-election to a second term. Obi’s terms were marked by improvements in state finances, education, and healthcare.

     

    In May 2022, Obi became the presidential candidate of the LP in the upcoming 2023 general elections, after defecting from the PDP.

  • Boost for Soludo as Anambra receives maiden 13% derivation fund

    Boost for Soludo as Anambra receives maiden 13% derivation fund

    Governor Charles Soludo should have every cause to smile as the state receives its first 13percent derivation from Federal Government.

    This development has settled the prolonged controversy about oil yielding/producing status of Anambra State has at last now laid to rest permanently.

    The State Government has just confirmed receipt of Two hundred and sixty eight million, two hundred and thirty two thousand, nine hundred and thirty-nine Naira (N268,232,939), being her first share of the 13% derivation fund as an oil-producing state in the country.

    The state’s oil production status was confirmed by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) exactly one year ago on August, 24, 2021, vide a letter ref- RMC/O&G/48/VOL/I/55, signed by the RMAFC Secretary, M.B Shehu.

    Consequently the state became formally enrolled to the 13% derivation fund elitist chart in Nigeria.

    The cheering news of the receipt of the fund was confirmed by the Chief Press Secretary to Gov Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime. He also confirmed that it was N268,232,939
    that was received, not any of the figures earlier being erroneously being circulated in the media space by uninformed persons.

    According to him, “while it is true that Anambra State recieved its first 13% derivation fund as an oil-producing state this July; it is however untrue that the amount is N373 billion, as is being peddled in some media platforms.

    Shared monthly, the 13 per cent derivation fund comes from the Federation Account to oil-producing communities through the state governments, as enshrined in section 162(2)of the nation’s Constitution.

    The news was received with cheers all over the state.

  • Anambra First Lady, Nonye surprises Gov Soludo on birthday

    Anambra First Lady, Nonye surprises Gov Soludo on birthday

    As the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo marked his birthday on Thursday, his wife, Nonye Soludo pulled a surprise on him.

    Soludo, who clocked 62, shared photos from the celebration and revealed that for most of his marriage, his wife had managed to surprise him on his birthday.

    He captioned the photos: “For the most part of my years of marriage, my wife has continued to pull a coup on me every 28th of July.

    “Today, as usual, Nonye in connivance with family, friends and members of the Anambra State Executive Council pulled another birthday surprise on me.

    “I can only thank providence for yet another privilege of marking another birthday. I remember, in a special way, my age mates who have journeyed to the great beyond, and all those killed needlessly. It is my prayer that God accept their souls in paradise and grant us the grace to ensure that their death is not in vaịn.

    “I celebrate our lives. I celebrate our State. I celebrate providence. I thank you all for the good wishes.

    “I’ll be proceeding to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Awka custodial centre where I will be celebrating with the inmates. I am humbled by your outpouring of love”.

  • Anambra Assembly holds valedictory session for murdered colleague

    Anambra Assembly holds valedictory session for murdered colleague

    The Anambra State House of Assembly, has held a valedictory session in honour of the late Hon  Okechukwu Okoye, who was kidnapped and subsequently murdered by some unknown gunmen.

    Hon Okoye who represented Aguata II Constituency, died in May, 2022.

    Speaking the session, the member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Mr Onyebuchi Ofor, called on the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as well as security agencies to ensure those behind the barbaric act were exposed and brought to justice.

    Ofor, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Security, said those behind the killing will never find peace.

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    The Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, in his remarks, said a service of songs would be held on July 21, 2022, while the deceased body will be laid to rest the following day in his country home, Isuofia in the Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

    Okafor assured the Okoye family of their support before, during and after the burial.

    In their separate tributes during the valedictory session, Deputy Speaker, Mr Paschal Agbodike, Mr Lawrence Ezeudu, Mr Emeka Aforka, Mr Nonso Smart Okafor, Mr Obinna Emenaka, Mr Patrick Udoba, Mr Timothy Ifediorama, Mr Pete Ibida and Mr Catar Umeh, described the deceased member as a gentle and peace-loving man.

    In his vote of thanks, the elder brother to the deceased, Mr David Okoye, appealed to Soludo and the lawmakers to ensure justice for his brother.

    He noted that since the incident happened, no satisfactory action has been taken on the matter.

    The late Okoye is survived by his wife, Ngozi Lovina Okoye and two and half year old daughter, Chidiogo Okoye.

    The state Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, the state Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyaechebelu, SA to governor Soludo on Youth Development, Dr. Nelson Omenugha and SA to the governor on National/State Assembly Matters, Hon. Anayo Nebe, were present during the valedictory session.

  • Why we demolished Odumeje’s church building – Anambra Govt

    Why we demolished Odumeje’s church building – Anambra Govt

    The Anambra State Government has clarified why it demolished the church building of controversial Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Prophet Odumeje.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the clarification was made in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Charles Soludo, Christian Aburime.

    According to the statement, Prophet Odumeje failed to comply with the State government’s directive to remove illegal structures he built on the waterway.

    Recall that Odumeje’s church building was in March this year identified by the government as one of the buildings sitting on drainage channels, and marked for demolition, in line with Onitsha Urban Renewal Plan spearheaded by Soludo-led administration.

    The statement reads: “Following the expiration of the more than two weeks notice beginning from April 2022 served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, Anambra state government has begun demolition of such structures.

    “The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced the exercise from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.

    “The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences.

    “The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners were served notice to remove such illegal structures”.